Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences最新文献

Background: Cystic fibrosis imposes a significant treatment burden on children and their informal caregivers, who have to change their routines to carefully adhere to medication and exercise as treatment regimes. Although informal caregivers are known to be key players in the daily management of these children, their own voice is scarcely explored, often hindering personalisation of care. The main objective of the study was to map the multifactorial impact of cystic fibrosis, as well as identify barriers and facilitators perceived by parental caregivers in managing the disease in the paediatric age.

Methods: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted involving six fathers and 14 mothers of 15 children and adolescents (6-18 years; 40% male) diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results: Four main themes emerged from the analysis: (1) perceived impact of the disease; (2) facilitators of disease management; (3) adherence to treatment; and (4) physical activity. Findings emphasised the emotional impact of the disease, especially when diagnosed at a later stage of development. Increased knowledge seemed to facilitate adaptation and daily management, as well as a normalisation of attitudes by parents. All parents recognised physical activity as an important part of treatment, although financial and logistical factors (e.g., reconciling schedules) were important barriers to adherence.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that disease management and specifically adherence to treatment recommendations is impacted by early diagnosis, attitudes towards the disease, social support and financial constraints. Future interventions should focus on identifying the needs and supporting the whole family to cope with the demands of the disease, namely by improving knowledge about the benefits of different intervention approaches.

Background: The Managerial Ethical Profile (MEP) scale was developed to measure the perceived impact of different elements of common ethical frameworks on managerial ethical decision-making.

Aim: To translate, culturally adapt and perform preliminary psychometric testing of the MEP scale in the Finnish health and social care sector.

Design: The MEP scale was translated and culturally adapted according to the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) protocol based on a cross-sectional online survey.

Participants: Finnish health and social care managers and experts.

Ethical consideration: Research permits were obtained from all participating organisations in accordance with the organisations' guidelines. Participation was voluntary and participants gave informed consent.

Methods: Translation and cultural adaptation of the Finnish version of the MEP scale (MEP-Fin) was performed and perceived relevance and content validity were assessed. An online survey was distributed to homecare service managers in 2022, and a total of 68 managers participated. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, Pearson's correlation coefficients and Cronbach's alphas).

Results: The translation, cultural adaptation and preliminary psychometric testing process identified issues regarding the understanding of the MEP scale in the Finnish context. The MEP-Fin showed high overall content validity (S-CVI/Ave 0.91). The mean score for the comprehensibility of the scale was 8.4. Content validity was high for all individual items (I-CVI range: 0.56 to 1.00), except for one item (0.38). The Cronbach's alphas for the eight subscales were between 0.51 and 0.93, and for the whole scale, 0.84.

Conclusions: The systematic translation and cultural adaptation process resulted in a conceptually equal MEP-Fin, which was perceived as thorough and relevant. It showed good coverage, content validity and internal consistency. Preliminary psychometric testing provided information on the characteristics of the MEP-Fin for validation. Further studies with larger data sets and different cultures are needed.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the transplant readiness levels of patients awaiting organ transplantation, to assess the ability of the patient to adjust to life post-transplant, and to conduct a validity and reliability assessment of the organ transplant readiness scale to be able to offer patients the support they require.

Method: This Methodological descriptive study was conducted between December 2023 and February 2024 on 227 patients awaiting kidney transplantation. The data were evaluated using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 and IBM SPSS AMOS 23 programs. Descriptive statistics (n, %) were given for categorical variables. In evaluating the scores given by experts, the Content Validity Index (CVI) and Content Validity Rates (CVR) were calculated. The characteristics of the participants were examined with frequency and percentage distributions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and item-total correlation were used to evaluate the data for construct validity.

Results: The total Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Turkish scale was 0.94. From the confirmatory factor analysis, the results of the model-fit index were: RMSEA: 0.099, GFI = 0.829, NFI: 0.886, IFI: 0.919, CFI = 0.918, RFI: 0.85. According to the explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, 11 items with low factor loads were discarded, and the scale was finalised as 21 items. The Organ Transplant Readiness Scale was determined to have a 5-factor structure: knowledge, treatment compliance, healthy living, cognition, and social support. Test-retest reliability evaluated using intraclass correlation was found to be 0.99.

Conclusions: The Turkish version of the Organ Transplant Readiness Scale, prepared for patients waiting for organ transplantation, would be a valid and reliable measurement tool for Turkish society. The findings showed that the Turkish version of the scale consists of 5 subscales, and the Cronbach's alpha value of the scale was high. This scale can determine the needs of patients preparing for organ transplantation and guide nurses in planning the nursing care. Thus, it can give healthcare professionals an idea about how ready patients are for organ transplantation and how patients will be able to adapt after organ transplantation.

Aim: This review focuses on the use of the term inner strength (IS) in empirical studies in a health care context.

Method: After database searches during the period 1990-2024, 64 articles were selected for summative content analysis.

Result: The findings were divided into three groups: Group 1, studies where IS was stated in the aim; Group 2, where IS was not stated in the aim but described as a concept; and Group 3, where IS was used as a lay term. All articles in Group 1 described IS as 'A connectedness grown in relationship'; several articles described it as 'An internal powerful resource', 'A process of growth and transition' and as 'A positive view of life'. These four themes were also found in Group 2, but in this group, IS was also used to describe 'A characteristic of self' and 'A courage to stand up for oneself'. The articles in Group 1 and Group 2 seemed to use IS as a cluster concept, that is, various descriptions might be aspects of a common phenomenon. In Group 3, IS was used as a lay term without further reflection on the meaning of the term.

Conclusion: The use of the term IS indicates that it is a cluster concept involving several aspects. Overall it is described as an important inner resource grown in connectedness with others and developed throughout life in a life worth living.

Aims and objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among older adults and are linked to adverse health outcomes. While warm footbaths are widely practised as a non-pharmacological intervention, their effectiveness and optimal parameters remain uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of footbaths on sleep quality and determine evidence-based procedural recommendations.

Methodological design and justification: Nine databases were systematically searched up to November 2023. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and certainty of evidence was graded via the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models.

Results: A total of 18 studies involving 950 older adults (aged ≥ 60 years; 52.3% female) were included. Warm footbaths significantly improved subjective sleep quality compared with non-footbath controls (SMD = -0.76; 95% CI: [-1.22, -0.29]; p = 0.001). Optimal effects were observed with water temperatures ≤ 40°C (SMD = -1.31; 95% CI: [-1.63, -0.99]; p < 0.001), immersion times ≥ 10 min (SMD = -0.96; 95% CI: [-1.36, -0.57]; p < 0.001) and intervention periods of at least one week (SMD = -1.06; 95% CI: [-1.64, -0.48]; p = 0.0003), which showed significant sleep quality improvements.

Conclusion: Warm footbaths before bedtime may enhance perceived sleep quality in older adults, offering a simple, culturally adaptable intervention. Standardised protocols could strengthen their role in sleep hygiene practices. Future large-scale, multicentre trials integrating subjective and objective assessments are warranted to confirm efficacy and explore cross-cultural applicability.

Trial registration: International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY): INPLASY202290025.

Background: The preparation of a care plan is one of the duties of the nurse or midwife caring for the patient. In clinical practice, patient care is planned and implemented using NANDA-I diagnoses in the care plan. The ability to write a care plan is taught theoretically and practically during undergraduate education.

Aim: This study aimed to explore midwifery students' views on care plans.

Methods: In this qualitative study, the content analysis method was used to extract meaningful themes from the data and to reveal the relationships between these themes. The study used criterion sampling, a purposive sampling technique. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 12 midwifery students in clinical practice who completed the care plan form. Study data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained were analysed using MAXQDA.

Results: Four main themes emerged from the analysis of the student interviews: NANDA-I Diagnoses, Evaluation of the Forms, Problems Encountered in Filling the Forms and Suggestions/Expectations.

Conclusions: This study reveals the existence of various problems related to midwifery students' care plans. In order to solve the problems experienced in care plans, which are a part of clinical education, there is a need to integrate technology into health care services and to examine the opinions of students and educators in detail.

Background: Family caregivers play an important role in providing care and support to children with mental illness. Caring for a child with a mental disorder is heavy and stressful for family members.

Aim: The current review aimed to summarise the conclusions of these programs and identify the available gaps for planning and designing to help this family and the people in contact with it.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted until July 24, 2024. PRISMA guidelines were used in this study to retrieve all national and international studies. This research aimed to evaluate the correlation between interventions designed for caregivers of children with mental health disorders and a wide range of outcomes, including subjective and objective outcomes. Measures of burden, general well-being, quality of life, sleep quality, knowledge acquisition, self-efficacy, and physiological health-while contrasted with standard supportive practices or alternative control conditions.

Results: The findings of this study, which were based on the educational content provided to these families, were categorised into five categories: (1) psychoeducational psychotherapy, (2) parent management training, (3) telehealth interventions, (4) family therapies and (5) support groups.

Conclusions: Research has shown that targeted interventions can significantly increase the quality of life for caregivers of children with mental disorders, but more empirical research is needed to confirm the findings and develop stronger support systems alongside tailored programs that these caregivers need to face distinct challenges.

Prospero registration: CRD42024597965.

Background: The therapeutic relationship has been identified as essential for ensuring high-quality care in psychiatric outpatient services, as highlighted in several studies. This study focuses on the content of interactions between patients and staff in psychiatric outpatient care, as well as the quality of care provided, as perceived by the patients.

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between these interactions and aspects of the perceived quality of care from the perspective of patients in psychiatric outpatient services.

Methods: A sample of 706 patients from psychiatric outpatient clinics in Sweden completed the Verbal and Social Interaction Outpatient (VSI-OP) and the Quality in Psychiatric Care-Outpatient (QPC-OP) instruments. A structural equation model was conducted to explore these associations. The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Uppsala, Sweden (Dnr. 2018/186).

Results: The model revealed that the staff showing an interest in the patients' feelings, experiences and behaviour influences the patients' perceived quality of participation through an intricate network of mediator variables, including the staff's ability to establish a relationship, a good encounter, support and a high level of information to the patients. High levels of Participation/Empowerment indicate a high level of quality of care in a psychiatric outpatient context.

Implication for practice: The presented model provides an understanding of the associations between staff and patient interactions and perceived quality of care and sheds light on important aspects of quality of care from the perspective of the patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine patients' experiences with an educational leaflet containing information about how patients can participate in their care and keep themselves safe during their hospital stay.

Methods: Patients from different wards at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Skaraborg Hospital in Sweden were given the patient safety advisory during their hospital stay (n = 456). Patients (n = 219) completed a structured telephone interview 2-8 weeks after their discharge.

Results: 137 patients read the safety advisory during their stay and 82 patients did not. More patients who read the safety advisory stated that they received discharge instructions than patients who did not read it. The patients were overall positive towards the safety advisory. The advisory seemed to function as a reminder as the majority already knew the information. One quarter of participants reported that they changed their behaviour based on the safety advisory.

Conclusions: The safety advisory seemed to promote behavioural change as 25% stated that they altered their actions after reading it. One challenge when advising patients about patient safety is optimising how the information is given, as more than a third of the participants did not read the safety advisory despite receiving it. This study indicates that the educational leaflet could promote safety behavioural change among inpatients.