Nordic Journal of Nursing Research

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Editorial
Free accessEditorialFirst published December, 2015pp. 193-195
Family-centred care: The role of consumer organisations and the need for further research
Linda Shields
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 196-202
Självskattad hälsa hos äldre kvinnor och män – En tvärsnittsstudie
Bodil WesterholmAnn-Louise Glasberg
Abstract
Background
The aging population is a challenge for the health care in Finland. Disease prevention and health promotion improves the quality of life for the elderly and reduces health-care costs. Knowledge about the health of the elderly is crucial in order for improvements to be carried out.
Aim
The aim of this study was to describe disease prevalence and self-rated health among 65-, 70-, 75- and 80-year-old women and men in three municipalities in Ostrobothnia, Finland.
Method
Altogether 502 persons, out of which 274 were women, participated in the present research. The participants completed a form comprising 75 questions. Data were analysed by means of descriptive and comparative statistics.
Findings
The results showed that the most common national disease was hypertension, followed by cancer and diabetes. Stroke and myocardial infarction were the least frequent among the participants. Nevertheless, the majority of older people felt that their health was good. However, women stated more frequently than men that they were subject to a group named ‘other diseases’ than men, and they feared more so than men that something might happen to them. A tenth of the population felt the emptiness of life.
Conclusions
The results indicate that there are no gender differences in the most common national diseases but women suffer more from ‘other diseases’ and from fear although the majority of the population were satisfied with their health.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 203-209
Upplevelse av trygghet och otrygghet bland patienter med hjärtsvikt som får avancerad sjukvård i hemmet
AnneCharlotte SöderbergMonica Rydell KarlssonCaroline Löfvenmark
Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study was to describe the experience of security and insecurity in patients with chronic heart failure who were treated by Advanced Home Care (AHC) in a city in Sweden.
Background
It is common for patients with heart failure to have frequent readmissions to hospital due to deterioration. The patients have various symptoms such as breathing problems, oedema and fatigue. Being cared for by AHC has become more common for patients with heart failure to reduce deterioration of heart failure and prevent hospitalization.
Method
A qualitative method with semi-structured interviews was used. Eight patients with heart failure participated in the study. The interviews were analysed by content analysis.
Findings
Three categories were identified: ‘home care’, ‘the social network’ and ‘internal and external resources’.
Conclusion
The experience was complex and depended on several factors both within and outside the health care situation. The need for access to a multidisciplinary team was great and it was important that the nursing staff had time to listen. It was important that the care had focus on the patient’s perspective to create security and avoid insecurity.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 210-217
Skolsköterskans rolltransformering till den nya hälsofrämjande positionen
Malin Rising HolmströmMarie HäggströmLisbeth Kristiansen
Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study was to describe the role transformation of school nurses towards primary health promotion, and secondary preventive and health treatment work.
Background
According to the Swedish educational act, the school nurse profession has changed towards being mainly health promotion and secondary preventive and health treatment work.
Method
The study consisted of a qualitative study design with content analysis inspired by Elo and Kyngäs. Sixteen individual interviews were conducted with school nurses from across one county.
Findings
The role transformation towards a more health promotion was described by school nurses’ statements. The process of the transformation differed among the school nurses. Three categories illuminated their work; professional approach, student-centred and collaboration.
Conclusion
The role transformation process required enhanced relation and communicational skills. Structured collegial supervision might support the process.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 218-226
Muligheder og barrierer for udvikling af den kommunale palliative indsats: Evaluering af et aktionsforskningsinspireret projekt
Mette Raunkiær
Abstract
Aim
This study is based on a project inspired by action research with the aim to elucidate possibilities and barriers for the organizational and professional development of community palliative care services.
Background
Many people with life-threatening diseases want to stay in their own homes as long as possible. Therefore, community palliative care services are significant. Experience concurrently shows several interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial challenges between professions and different organizations.
Method
The evaluation consisted of continuous reflections of practice by the involved professionals, an interview study with 21 professionals and a questionnaire survey among 88 professionals and 13 relatives.
Results
The evaluation showed that the guideline system The Gold Standard Framework and EORTC-QLQ-C15-PAL in combination with more locally-developed interventions, according to the professionals, had improved the community palliative care services. However, the results also showed barriers for improvement and change of practice: such as mainly insufficient management, lack of commitment among some of the professionals to work with the new interventions, insufficient information technology, reorganization, cost-cutting, and differently structured organizations.
Conclusion
The interventions encouraged the community development palliative care, but also showed that there were barriers for the change process. There is a need for research and development of how to lead and manage change processes and methods of cooperation in community palliative care.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 227-234
Social function after solid organ transplantation: An integrative review
Josefin CavalliniAnna ForsbergAnnette Lennerling
Abstract
The way organ transplant recipients depend on social interactions to develop and experience social health and well-being is similar to that of the general population. A transplant may result in a close to full recovery of health status, but the physical and social problems can persist in some patients. The focus on improving the recipients’ social participation has therefore become an important issue. The purpose of this integrative literature review was study social function after solid organ transplantation, that is, kidney, liver, lung or heart. An integrative review was performed on studies that matched the selection criteria and published in peer-reviewed journals from January 2000 to December 2014. The information from the text was extracted and patterns of social function were categorized into different subgroups that were further looked at, and five categories emerged: 1) work, 2) education, 3) daily activities and leisure, 4) social adaption and 5) barriers. The key aspects of social functioning involve five vital domains, that is, work, education, daily activities and leisure, social adaption and barriers. Returning to work appears to be the most important for the recipients independently of the transplanted organ.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 235-240
Challenges in the standardization of nursing education in Europe: A literature study focusing on the implementation of qualification frameworks
Trude Fløystad EinesKarl Yngvar Dale
Abstract
Two European qualification frameworks for higher education have been developed over the past decades. One of the goals of these are to promote common descriptions of learning outcomes at various levels within higher education. This article describes a) how national qualification frameworks have been perceived within bachelor nursing education, and b) the correspondence between learning outcomes and assessment methods. Evidently, a key factor for success is that the governing entities create a climate for good cooperation within and between the education institutions. However, our findings suggest that the communication between the experts and the educational institutions, who worked with the development and implementation of the national qualifications frameworks, has been far from good enough. Furthermore, there is a need to develop valid criteria for nursing competence, which in turn, could be integrated into the QFs and the NQFs. In this manner, on might secure that nursing education will uphold and meet the highest standards in all educational systems across Europe.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 241-248
Experience of psychotropic drug use among young people with mental health problems
Anne Kjersti Myhrene SteffenakBodil Wilde-LarssonIngeborg Hartz
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Abstract
The aim of the study is to describe the experience of psychotropic drug use among young people with mental health problems. Young people experience mental health problems, and some will need to take psychotropic drugs for either a short or a long time. Psychotropic drugs may be effective in reducing mental distress, but raise questions about increasing use, side effects, long-term treatment and off-label use. Qualitative interviews were accomplished with eight young people who had taken psychotropic drugs. Three categories were identified: ‘Effects of psychotropic drugs’, ‘Access of professional care and follow-up’ and ‘Social life and psychotropic drug use’. The young people experienced both beneficial and undesired effects from the psychotropic drugs. They experienced lack of access to professional support and follow-up. Life with family and friends was influenced negatively by psychotropic drug use and the young people were afraid of being lonely and stigmatized. The results may have implications for those who work with young people. Young people striving with mental health problems and psychotropic drug use have to have access to professional support and follow-up. Knowledge about effects of psychotropic drug use among young people is needed. The work about openness about mental health problems among young people has to continue.
Research article
Free accessResearch articleFirst published December, 2015pp. 249-255
Applying the Delphi method to generate interventions to reduce unnecessary interruptions in clinical nursing
Sussie LaustsenLotte Brahe
Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe a panel process of selecting interventions to reduce unnecessary interruptions in clinical nursing. Interruptions in nursing may jeopardise patient safety, disorganise planning, and lead to ineffective working procedures. The Delphi panel process may be useful to create consensus on interventions to reduce interruptions. Using the Delphi method, a structured group-based decision-making tool, a panel of 14 nurses agreed on interventions to reduce interruptions. The results showed that a consensus on reducing interruptions was reached in four focus areas: expectations, physical framework, work procedures, and medication room procedures. The panel process was chosen as a means to involve nursing staff to create consensus and ownership about interventions. Our conclusions are that the Delphi panel process was a feasible method of selecting multi-factorial interventions to reduce interruptions. The panel process contributed to dialogue, staff involvement, and competency development. Further prospective studies are needed to explore whether these multi-factorial interventions can reduce unnecessary interruptions and improve patient safety.

January-December 2015