Access to the world after myocardial infarction: experiences of the recovery process.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a traumatic health event and at the same time a transition of vital importance in human life. The purpose of this study was to elucidate recovery patterns after myocardial infarction with regard to the content of patients' experiences. The study used a descriptive design and a qualitative method.

Memory in relation to depth of sedation in adult mechanically ventilated intensive care patients.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between memory and intensive care sedation.

Design And Setting: Prospective cohort study over 18[Symbol: see text]months in two general intensive care units (ICUs) in district university hospitals.

Patients: 313 intubated mechanically ventilated adults admitted for more than 24 h, 250 of whom completed the study.

Mental health professional support in families with a member suffering from severe mental illness: a grounded theory model.

The aim of this study was to develop a model of mental health professional (MHP) support based on the needs of families with a member suffering from severe mental illness (SMI). Twelve family members were interviewed with the focus on their needs of support by MHP, then the interviews were analyzed according to the grounded theory method. The generated model of MHP support had two core categories: the family members' process from crisis to recovery and their interaction with the MHP about mental health/illness and daily living of the person with SMI.

Effects of long-term nocturnal oxygen treatment in patients with severe heart failure.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in patients with heart failure (HF) and leads to disturbed sleep. The objective of this study was to determine the persistent effects of long-term nocturnal oxygen treatment in patients with severe HF regarding (1) objective outcomes, such as sleep, SDB, cardiac function, and functional capacity; (2) subjective outcomes, such as self-assessed sleep difficulties, daytime sleepiness, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL); and (3) the relationship between objective and subjective outcomes. In this open nonrandomized experimental study, 22 patients, median age 71 years, with severe HF were studied before and after 3 months of receiving nocturnal oxygen.

The usefulness of a multidisciplinary educational programme after breast cancer surgery: a prospective and comparative study.

The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate a multidisciplinary educational programme with traditional follow-up visits to a physician after breast cancer surgery in terms of well-being, aspects of self-care and coping ability 1 year after diagnosis. A reduction in the intensity of follow-up after breast cancer surgery is recommended. New follow-up models are being debated and could be of interest.

Computer-based education for patients with chronic heart failure. A randomised, controlled, multicentre trial of the effects on knowledge, compliance and quality of life.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a single-session, interactive computer-based educational program on knowledge, compliance and quality of life in heart failure patients with special emphasis on gender differences.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-four patients, mean age 70 years, from five heart failure clinics were randomised to either receiving only standard education (n=72) or standard education and additional computer-based education (n=82).

Results: Knowledge was increased in both groups after 1 month with a trend towards higher knowledge (P=0.

Bone mineral density in relation to body mass index among young women: a prospective cohort study.

Aim: To identify important predictors among lifestyle behaviours and physiological factors of bone mineral density (BMD) in relation to body mass index (BMI) among young women over a 2-year period. DESIGN, SAMPLE AND MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected in 1999 and 2001. Healthy young women (n=152) completed a questionnaire.

Nurse specialists in adult congenital heart disease: the current status in Europe.

Aim: Recommendations for the management of adults with congenital heart disease indicate that specialist referral centres should employ nurse specialists who are trained and educated in the care for these patients. We surveyed the involvement, education and activities of nurse specialists in the care for adults with congenital cardiac anomalies in Europe.

Methods: The Euro Heart Survey on Adult Congenital Heart Disease has previously showed that 20 out of 48 specialist centres (42%) have nurse specialists affiliated with their programme.

Life events, social support and sense of coherence among frequent attenders in primary health care.

Objectives: The aim of this survey was to compare stressful life events, social support and sense of coherence (SOC) between frequent attenders (FAs) and normal attenders (controls) in primary health care.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a primary healthcare centre in the south-west of Sweden.

Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to 263 frequent attenders and 703 normal attenders.

Women's social support and social network after their first myocardial infarction; a 4-year follow-up with focus on cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: Knowledge about women's recovery following a myocardial infarction (MI) with focus on how their social support and network change over time as a result of participation in a cardiac rehabilitation programme (CRP) is not well established.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe and compare social support and network changes over a 4-year period in women with a first MI, based on socio-demographic and situational data.

Method: A longitudinal, comparative study with a non-randomised design including pre- and post-tests (1 and 4 years after MI) was carried out in 18 hospitals in Sweden.

Long-term quality of life and uncertainty in patients living with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Purpose: This study describes the quality of life (QOL) and uncertainty in patients who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and predicts QOL at long-term follow-up.

Methods: Long-term follow-up was defined as 6.9 years +/- 1 year (range 4.

Striving for emotional survival in palliative cancer nursing.

In this grounded theory study, the authors analyze interviews and participant observation data related to palliative cancer nursing in hospitals. Striving for Emotional Survival emerged as the pattern of behavior through which nurses deal with their main concern, the risk of being emotionally overloaded by their work. It involved three main strategies: Emotional Shielding through Professional Shielding or Cold Shielding; Emotional Processing through Chatting, Confirmation Seeking, Self-Reflecting, or Ruminating; and Emotional Postponing through Storing or Stashing.

What is supportive when an adult next-of-kin is in critical care?

There is little documented knowledge about what is supportive from the perspective of relatives with a critically ill next-of-kin in the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of the present study was to generate a theoretical understanding of what relatives experience as supportive when faced with the situation of having an adult next-of-kin admitted to critical care. The study was designed using a grounded theory methodology.

Narratives about resuscitation--family members differ about presence.

Background: Healthcare professionals disagree about admitting family members into the resuscitation room.

Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate family members' experiences and views about being present in the resuscitation room with a relative requiring resuscitation.

Results: Seventeen family members were interviewed.

Developing and testing a questionnaire to assess the quality of pain management in acute care in Sweden.

Pain management is an important indicator of the quality of patient care. The aim of this study was to develop and test a questionnaire to assess the quality of pain management in acute care in Sweden with emphasis on validity and reliability, as well as pain severity, interference with function, and patient participation. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with consecutively selected patients in pain (n=100 in study group I and n=127 in study group II) who completed the questionnaire.

Nurses' assessments and patients' perceptions: development of the Night Nursing Care Instrument (NNCI), measuring nursing care at night.

Background: Nursing care provided at night has a different purpose and objective to that provided during the day. A review of the literature does not reveal any scientifically tested research instruments for evaluating and comparing the nurse's assessment of nursing care with the patient's perception at night.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and test an instrument for evaluating nursing care and to compare nurses' assessments with patients' perceptions of nursing care provided at night.

Depression and health-related quality of life in elderly patients suffering from heart failure and their spouses: a comparative study.

Background: Little is known about the factors that influence the health outcome of elderly patients suffering from heart failure or the health of their spouses. The aim of this comparative study was to determine if older patients suffering from heart failure and their spouses experience similar levels of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and depression. The aim was also to identify those factors that contribute to HRQOL and depression in patient-spouse pairs.

Gender differences in health habits and in motivation for a healthy lifestyle among Swedish university students.

The aim of the present study was to investigate gender differences in students' health habits and motivation for a healthy lifestyle. The sample of students comprised a probability systematic stratified sample from each department at a small university in the south-west of Sweden (n = 479). A questionnaire created for this study was used for data collection.

Factors influencing nurse supervisor competence: a critical incident analysis study.

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify factors related to critical incidents that influence the competence of nurse supervisors.

Background: Nurse supervisors require considerable competence in order to help supervisees to reflect on their clinical work and to interpret the needs of the patient.

Method: A qualitative approach involving the critical incident technique was used.

The self-reported health condition of women after their participation in a stress management programme: a pilot study.

From a public health perspective, it is important to develop effective measures to deal with stress which are based on the individual's participation, such as stress management provided in group sessions. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare and evaluate the self-reported health condition of women in terms of their general symptoms, stress and sense of coherence (SOC) after participation in a stress management programme. The intervention, which had a modified crossover design and involved 40 women divided into two groups (G1 and G2), comprised eight meetings, the content of which was both theoretical and practical, and included information about stress, stress management, massage and mental training.

Ways of experiencing the life situation among United States patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: a qualitative study.

The purpose of this paper is to describe how a selected group of United States patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator perceived their life situation. A qualitative design based on the phenomenographic approach was chosen to describe the patients' conceptions of their life situation. Fourteen patients-eight men and six women, aged 21-84-were strategically selected to obtain as broad a variation as possible.

When the unreal becomes real: family members' experiences of cardiac arrest.

The aim of this study was to provide insight into family members' experiences related to cardiac arrest. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 17 family members approximately 5-34 months after the cardiac arrest of a relative. As the focus was on the family members' experiences seen from a holistic perspective, content analysis was chosen for the study.

Young women's lifestyle behaviours and their bone mineral density changes: a grounded theory analysis.

Background: Only limited information is available on healthy young women's perspective of their own lifestyle behaviours. By lifestyle behaviours, e.g.

Patients with heart failure in primary health care: effects of a nurse-led intervention on health-related quality of life and depression.

Aims: To determine the effects of a nurse-led intervention designed to improve self-management of patients with heart failure in a primary health care setting regarding health-related quality of life and depression.

Methods: Patients at eight primary health care centres were screened by the Diagnosis Related Groups registry for the diagnosis of heart failure and eligibility for a cluster randomised study. A total of 153 patients were included (n=78 in the intervention group, 54% males, mean age 79 years, 59% in New York Heart Association class III-IV).