Magnus Lindberg

Overcoming obstacles for adherence to phosphate binding medication in dialysis patients : a qualitative study

Objective The aim of this study was to explore obstacles to adherence to phosphate binding medication and to describe the measures taken by dialysis patients to overcome these obstacles. Setting A Swedish renal unit. Method Ten patients undergoing dialysis were interviewed. The interviews were semi-structured and were analysed according to qualitative content analysis. Main outcome measure Statements about barriers and the ways to overcome these. Results Non user-friendly drug compound, feeling of discomfort, forgetfulness, polypharmacy and patient ignorance were identified as obstacles to adherence to phosphate binding medication. Measures taken by the patients to handle obstacles were identified as using a dispensing aid, consuming extra water and exercising routines. Conclusion Dialysis patients identify obstacles that impede patient adherence to prescribed phosphate binding medication. The patients overcame most obstacles by self-management but not always in concordance with treatment requirements. Our findings imply that the ways the patient conquer each barrier need to be considered when strategies for self-management are promoted.

Interdialytic weight gain and ultrafiltration rate in hemodialysis: Lessons about fluid adherence from a national registry of clinical practice

Excessive interdialytic weight gain (IWG) and ultrafiltration rates (UFR) above 10 mL/h/kg body weight imply higher morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of high fluid consumers, describe UFR patterns, and describe patient characteristics associated with IWG and UFR. The Swedish Dialysis DataBase and The Swedish Renal Registry of Active Treatment of Uremia were used as data sources. Data were analyzed from patients aged ≥18 on regular treatment with hemodialysis (HD) and registered during 2002 to 2006. Interdialytic weight gain and dialytic UFR were examined in annual cohorts and the records were based on 9693 HD sessions in 4498 patients. Differences in proportions were analyzed with the chi‐square test and differences in means were tested using the ANOVA or the t test. About 30% of the patients had IWG that exceed 3.5% of dry body weight and 5% had IWG ≥5.7%. The volume removed during HD was >10 mL/h/kg for 15% to 23% of the patients, and this rate increased during the first dialytic year. Patient characteristics associated with fluid overload were younger age, lower body mass index, longer dialytic vintage, and high blood pressure. By studying IWG and dialytic UFR as quality indicators, it is shown that there is a potential for continuing improvement in the care of patients in HD settings, i.e., to enhanced adherence to fluid restriction or alternatively to extend the frequency of dialysis for all patients, e.g., by providing daily treatment.

Subgroups of haemodialysis patients in relation to fluid intake restrictions: a cluster analytical approach.

AIMS To determine whether definable subgroups exist in a sample of haemodialysis patients with regard to self-efficacy, attentional style and depressive symptomatology and to compare whether interdialytic weight gain varies between patients in groups with different cognitive profiles. BACKGROUND Theory-based research suggests that cognitive factors (e.g. self-efficacy and attentional style) and depressive symptomatology undermine adherence to health protective regimens. Preventing negative outcomes of fluid overload is essential for haemodialysis patients but many patients cannot achieve fluid control, and nursing interventions aimed to help the patients reduce fluid intake are ineffective. Understanding the interaction between cognitive factors and how this is related to adherence outcomes might therefore lead to the development of helpful nursing interventions. DESIGN Explorative cross-sectional multicentre survey. METHODS The sample consisted of 133 haemodialysis patients. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. A brief self-report form and data on interdialytic weight gain was also used. Two-step cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups. One-way analysis of variance (anova) or Pearsons chi-square test was used for comparing subgroups. RESULTS Three distinct subgroups were found and subsequently labelled: (1) low self-efficacy, (2) distraction and depressive symptoms and (3) high self-efficacy. The subgroups differed in fluid intake, but not in age, dialysis vintage, gender, residual urine output or in receiving any fluid intake advice. CONCLUSIONS Clinically relevant subgroups of haemodialysis patients could be defined by their profiles regarding self-efficacy, attentional style and depressive symptoms. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Based on this study, we would encourage clinical practitioners to take into account cognitive profiles while performing their work. This is especially important when a targeted nursing intervention, which aims to encourage and maintain the patients fluid control, is introduced.

Medication discrepancy: A concordance problem between dialysis patients and caregivers

Objectives. Extensive drug utilization, and non-concordance between the patient and the caregiver about prescriptions and actual medicine intake, are associated with the risk of non-adherence to medication as well as medication-related illness. To achieve reliable estimates of drug use, it is important to consider the patients self-reported drug utilization as well as to consult his/her medical record. The present multicentre study was conducted with the aim of examining the self-reported drug consumption of dialysis patients and its congruence with medical records. Material and methods. Consumption of pharmaceutical agents was recorded by 204 patients undergoing haemo- or peritoneal dialysis at 10 Swedish clinics. Drug record discrepancies were identified by comparing the self-reported use of prescribed medicines with the subsequently obtained medication lists. Results. The median drug intake was 11 prescribed medicines and by including on-demand drugs this increased to 12. Discrepancies between the self-reported use of prescribed drugs and the medical record were prevalent in 80.4% of cases, with a median of three discrepancies per patient. Conclusions. Dialysis patients have an extensive need for medication but there is an undesirable deviation between consumption and prescription. A single medication list, accessible for the patient and for all prescribers, is a possible solution to achieve concordance but other measures, such as analysis of the reasons for discrepancy and tailored measures, would also benefit concordant medicine-taking.

Competencies for practice in renal care : a national delphi study

The aim of this study was to describe essential competencies relevant for professional renal nursing in Sweden. A Delphi study with four rounds was conducted from November 2008 to April 2009. A national sample of renal nurses was used to achieve consensus about the core competencies required. The 43 competencies were reviewed for face validity by external experts representing general nursing, renal nursing, stakeholders and nephrologists. The core competencies were categorised in nine areas according to their structure; nursing and medical science, information and teaching, examinations and therapies, promoting health and preventing ill health, palliative care, safety and quality, care environment, research and development and management and cooperation in the patient care pathway. Altogether these categories represent a national description of competence in renal nursing.SUMMARY The aim of this study was to describe essential competencies relevant for professional renal nursing in Sweden. A Delphi study with four rounds was conducted from November 2008 to April 2009. A national sample of renal nurses was used to achieve consensus about the core competencies required. The 43 competencies were reviewed for face validity by external experts representing general nursing, renal nursing, stakeholders and nephrologists. The core competencies were categorised in nine areas according to their structure; nursing and medical science, information and teaching, examinations and therapies, promoting health and preventing ill health, palliative care, safety and quality, care environment, research and development and management and cooperation in the patient care pathway. Altogether these categories represent a national description of competence in renal nursing.

Self-efficacy in relation to limited fluid intake amongst Portuguese haemodialysis patients.

SUMMARY Self-efficacy is a temporary and influenceable characteristic, related to situations and tasks, mediating health-promoting behaviours. This study aimed to evaluate psychometric properties of a Portuguese version of the Fluid Intake Appraisal Inventory, and to describe self-efficacy in relation to limited fluid intake amongst Portuguese haemodialysis patients. Respondents were recruited from three dialysis units, and 113 of 155 eligible patients gave their informed consent. The translated scale was distributed and collected by the head nurses. Interdialytic weight gain was calculated as percentage of dry weight. Satisfactory psychometric properties were estimated in the Portuguese context. The participants’ self-efficacy in relation to low fluid intake was asymmetrically distributed; the majority had moderately to high self-efficacy while some patients had very low self-efficacy to limited fluid intake. There was a significant difference in self-efficacy to fluid restrictions; patients with a weight gain of 3.5% or less presented higher self-efficacy scores than did patients exceeding the cutoff point.

Attitudes toward patients with multidrug-resistant bacteria : scale development and psychometric evaluation

There is a need for validated assessment tools for measuring attitudes towards patients with multid-rug-resistant bacteria. Such an assessment tool was developed and psychometrically evaluated in the present study. A literature review and discussions with experts and key informants were used to develop the questionnaire. To ensure item adequacy and interpretability, face validity and pre-tests were performed. Item validity, content validity and internal consistency reliability were evaluated in a non-random sample of 329 hemodialysis nurses. The psychometric properties were satisfactory, indicating good item validity. The content validity revealed three appropriate factors with good internal consistency reliability. The haemodialysis nurses′ knowledge about multidrug-resistant bacteria was not sufficient, and their intentional behaviour was unsatisfactory with respect to infection control precautions. The multidrug-resistant bacteria Attitude Questionnaire would be a valuable tool, in nursing practice and nursing education, in promoting quality improvements in patient safety with regard to healthcare associated infections.

Clinical praxis for assessment of dry weight in Sweden and Denmark: A mixed-methods study

Overhydration is an independent predictor of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. More than 30% of HD patients are overhydrated, motivating the development of new methods for assessing hydration status. This study surveyed clinical praxis and local guidelines for dry weight (DW) assessment in Swedish and Danish HD units, and examined if differences in routines and utilization of bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and other assistive technology affected frequency of DW adjustments and blood pressure (BP) levels. Cross‐sectional information on praxis, guidelines and routines, plus treatment‐related data from 99 stratified patients were collected. Qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis and interpreted in convergence with statistical analysis of quantitative data in a mixed‐methods design. Local guidelines concerning DW existed in 54% of the units. A BIS device was present in 52%, but only half of those units used it regularly, and no correlations to frequency of DW adjustments or BP were found. HD nurses were authorized to adjust DW in 60% of the units; in these units, the frequency of DW adjustments was 1.6 times higher and systolic BP pre‐HD 8 mmHg lower. There is a wide variation in routines for DW determination, and there are indications that authorization of HD nurses to adjust DW may improve DW assessment. BIS is sparsely used; its implementation may have been delayed by uncertainty over how to manage the device and interpret measurements. Hence, better methods and guidelines for assessing DW and using BIS need to be developed.

Validation of a dutch self-efficacy scale for adherence to fluid allowance among patients on haemodialysis.

SUMMARY Many haemodialysis patients have problems limiting their fluid intake, and this might be influenced by their self-efficacy. Thus interventions to improve patients’ self-efficacy might lead to an improvement in their adherence to fluid restriction. The fluid intake appraisal inventory (FIAI) evaluates patients’ self-efficacy with regard to fluid intake. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the FIAI for use in the Netherlands. Four translators, seven experts, and four haemodialysis patients participated in the translation part of the study. Thirty-three patients from one dialysis centre in the Netherlands completed the Dutch FIAI. The instrument had good content validity (interdialytic weight gain was found to be negatively correlated with self-efficacy), internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha = 0.982), and stability (Spearmans rho = 0.823). These findings indicate that the Dutch FIAI can be used in clinical practice as a self-efficacy screening instrument for adult haemodialysis patients on fluid restriction.

Significant factors for work attractiveness and how these differ from the current work situation among operating department nurses

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim was to examine significant factors for work attractiveness and how these differ from the current work situation among operating department nurses. A second objective was to examine the associations between age, gender, length of employment, work engagement, work ability, self-rated health indicators and attractiveness of the current work situation. BACKGROUND The attractiveness of work is rarely taken into account in research on nurse retention. To expand this knowledge, it is relevant to examine factors that make work attractive and their associations with related concepts. DESIGN Correlational, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample. METHODS Questionnaires were answered by 147 nurses in four operating departments in Sweden. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS The nurses rated the significance of all factors of work attractiveness higher than they rated those factors in their current work situation; salary, organisation and physical work environment had the largest differences. The most significant attractive factors were relationships, leadership and status. A statistically significant positive correlation between work engagement and attractive work was found. In the multiple regression model, the independent variables work engagement and older age significantly predicted work attractiveness. CONCLUSIONS Several factors should be considered in the effort to increase work attractiveness in operating departments and thereby to encourage nurse retention. Positive aspects of work seem to unite work engagement and attractive work, while work ability and self-rated health indicators are other important dimensions in nurse retention. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE The great discrepancies between the significance of attractive factors and the current work situation in salary, organisation and physical work environment suggest ways in which work attractiveness may be increased. To discover exactly what needs to be improved may require a deeper look into the construct of the examined factors.