Joyce Newman Giger

Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors: Characteristics of Caregivers at Risk for Depression

Objective: To examine characteristics that best predict family caregivers of stroke survivors at risk for depression. Survivor and caregiver demographic variables and caregiver general health, problem-solving skills, social support, satisfaction with rehabilitation health care services, preparedness, and burden were examined. Design: A correlational design. Participants: Seventy-four family caregivers of individuals receiving inpatient stroke rehabilitation were interviewed 1–2 days prior to their relative’s discharge. Main Outcome Measure: The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (L. S. Radloff, 1977). Results: Caregivers at risk for depression had a negative orientation toward solving problems, a lack of caregiver preparedness, and impaired social functioning secondary to their own health. Conclusions: Rehabilitation psychologists should be aware that these variables are important in predicting family caregivers of stroke survivors at risk for depression.

Sociodemographic, physical and psychosocial factors associated with depressive behaviour in family caregivers of stroke survivors in the acute care phase.

Primary objective: This study examined sociodemographic, physical and psychosocial characteristics of family caregivers of stroke survivors at risk for depression. Research design: A correlational study. Methods and procedures: Data were collected from 52 family caregivers and care recipients with ischemic stroke. Data were collected 1–2 days before discharge from a rehabilitative facility and at 5, 9 and 13 weeks post-discharge. Main outcomes and results: Compared to African Americans, Caucasians had ∼3.7 times higher odds of being at risk. The odds of being at risk for depressive behaviour decreased by 30% for each unit increase in belonging and increased by 5% for each unit increase in burden. Conclusions: Family caregivers who are isolated from others may benefit from therapeutic interventions that facilitate social interaction and decrease caregiver burden. Ethnic differences in caregiver depression merit further research.

Personal characteristics, health status, physical activity, and quality of life in cardiac rehabilitation participants.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between personal factors, health status, and adherence to physical activity behavior, and quality of life in cardiac rehabilitation participants. The record of 146 subjects, who met inclusion criteria were obtained from the University Cardiac Rehabilitation Database. Change scores in physical activity were used as a proxy for adherence. Participants who were categorized as not working, female gender, and at high-risk health status had lower means and lower improvement scores from repeated measures analysis of variance. This study found that some personal factors and health status are significant factors influencing the participants adherence to physical activity recommendations and quality of life in this cardiac rehabilitation program.

Cultural competency matters

Canada is one of the most multi‐cultural countries in the world. Because of this, a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and personal differences exists. These factors affect patients, their families and health care professionals. Nurses in particular need to be aware of these differences since they are the people most likely to interact closely with patients and all others who are associated with a particular case. Addresses some of those common differences and provides an awareness for professionals who deal with these issues.

Changing Nursing Students' Attitudes: An Exploratory Study

Stereotypes, competition, and limited contact can contribute to nursing students from different programs developing negative attitudes about one another. This study applies an attitude change model to a small sample of nursing students in different programs to determine if this negative attitude can be changed.