Reducing Avoidable Hospital Transfers From Nursing Homes in Austria: Project Outline and Baseline Results.

Hospital transfers from nursing homes (NHs) are frequent, burdensome for residents, and often avoidable. The evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions to reduce avoidable transfers is limited, and most projects focus on nurses' knowledge and skills. In the present project, interventions focusing on nurses and physicians are integrated, elaborated, and implemented in 17 NHs.

[Palliative care in nursing homes : Results of a survey about knowledge and self-efficacy of nursing staff].

Background: Nursing homes are confronted more and more with palliative care patients, which present a challenge for nursing and medical personnel. Deficits in the palliative care of geriatric patients have been repeatedly demonstrated and many nursing home residents, especially those suffering from dementia, are undersupplied regarding pain management.

Objectives: The present study was carried out to measure the knowledge and self-efficacy of nursing staff in the province of Carinthia (Austria) regarding palliative care of nursing home residents.

[From the nursing home to hospital and back again… A mixed methods study on hospital transfers from nursing homes].

Hospital transfers from nursing homes are frequent, costly, often preventable, and can have negative effects on the residents' health. The present study investigated the current situation in Carinthia (Austria) regarding the characteristics of relocated nursing home residents, the proportion of avoidable transfers, the consequences of relocation from the physicians' and nurses' perspectives and ways for improving nursing home care. Retrospectively, the documentations of a regional hospital (N=4149), a rescue service (N=10754), and a social insurance agency (N=7051) were analysed; qualitative interviews with physicians (N=25) and nursing administrators (N=16) were conducted.

[Cancer pain from the nurses' perspective--findings from Austria].

The present study addresses the issue of cancer pain from the perspective of Austrian nurses. By the means of a standardised questionnaire 332 nurses (79 percent female, 63 percent with age < 40) were asked about causes and triggers of cancer pain, patients' burden of pain, used analgesics and their side effects, and the authority by whom they want to be informed about an own malignant disease. The respondents mentioned a wide range of causes, triggers and multipliers of cancer pain.

[Quality of life and pain in hospitalized geriatric patients].

Background: To determine objective and subjective indications of quality of life in hospitalized geriatric patients.

Methods: Data were collected on 267 items using standardized interviews of 90 patients, including B-L and SF-36.

Results: In comparison to the control population, geriatric patients have worse SF-36 values; 91% have pain, and 63% depression and elevated B-L values.

[Activities offered in nursing homes--a study of usage and satisfaction].

The following survey aims to ascertain the range of activities offered by different nursing homes, the extent to which residents use these activities as well as the satisfaction of residents and nursing staff concerning these activities. Focus is put on activating activities and activities of residents' own initiative. The analysis, which is based on 255 residents and 171 nursing staff from 11 nursing homes, shows a clear distinction between the various homes as to their ranges of activities.

[Pain experience and pain therapy of tumor patients in the view of general practitioners].

Aim: The aim of the study presented in this paper is to find out how general practitioners evaluate their cancer patients' health, quality of life and type and extent of pain. In addition the study aims to get information about the training in pain therapy and palliative medicine.

Methods: A representative sample of 440 of all Austrian general practitioners was interviewed via a standardized questionnaire.

[Results of a poll of cancer patients with respect to pain and quality of life].

Aim: Bernatzky et al. recently published a study on the prescribing practices of general practitioners in Austria with respect to the prescribing of opioids in cancer patients. The aim of the study was to assess the adequately of pain therapy and the resulting quality of life in chronic cancer patients.

[Unprotected helping behavior--social representations in nursing].

Considering current changes in health and nursing professions the emotional concepts ("social representations") of nurses regarding their working conditions are a very interesting question. This study investigates the imaginations of nurses about "unprotected help behaviour" ("ungeschutztes Hilfehandeln") as far as the attitude toward and the character of their work is concerned. Summing up the results one can see that these imaginations are connected with images of readiness for action, communication, performance and conscientiousness.