A population survey of prevalence rates of antenatal depression in the Irish obstetric services using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Ireland has the second-highest birth rate in Europe and poorly developed perinatal psychiatry services. There are no screening services for antenatal depression and no data available on prevalence rates of depression among women attending the Irish obstetric services. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rates of depression during pregnancy in a population sample in Ireland using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as a screening tool.

Responding to the support needs of front-line public health nurses who work with vulnerable families and children: a qualitative study.

Background: This paper reports on a research study to inform the development of a specialist role to support front line public health nurses (PHNs) working with vulnerable families and at risk children in Ireland.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the position of a leading role and explore the implications of such change.

Methods: Focus group and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with ten purposively selected participants in public health nursing, social work and a non-governmental children's organisation working in disadvantaged areas in Dublin.

Optimising self-care support for people with heart failure and their caregivers: development of the Rehabilitation Enablement in Chronic Heart Failure (REACH-HF) intervention using intervention mapping.

Background: We aimed to establish the support needs of people with heart failure and their caregivers and develop an intervention to improve their health-related quality of life.

Methods: We used intervention mapping to guide the development of our intervention. We identified "targets for change" by synthesising research evidence and international guidelines and consulting with patients, caregivers and health service providers.

Assessing parenteral diuretic treatment of decompensated heart failure in the community.

Referrals of 46 patients with decompensated end-stage heart failure were reviewed by a community heart-failure specialist nurse as part of a pilot study to determine patient numbers suitable for parenteral diuretic treatment at home, and the appropriateness of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Carer's Stress Scales. Triage of patients resulted in the following care pathways: 14 (30%) received intravenous therapy, 11 (24%) received subcutaneous therapy, 9 (20%) required adjustment of medication, 8 (17%) could not be treated because of limited staffing resource, 4 (9%) met study exemption criteria. There were no adverse events following furosemide infusion.