Margareta Gustafsson

The relationship between function, quality of life and coping in patients with low-grade gliomas

ObjectivesThe principal aim of the study was to describe function, quality of life and coping with illness-related problems in patients with low-grade gliomas (LGG), to evaluate the need of support. A second aim was to investigate how function, quality of life and coping were related.Materials and methodsThirty-nine patients with a diagnosis of LGG answered the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). The patients’ level of function was assessed in accordance with the WHO performance status scale.Results and discussionNearly all patients were capable of self-care, but less than half were able to carry out normal activities without restriction. Problems with fatigue, sleep disturbances and pain were most frequent. Most difficulties were reported in the domains, Role, Cognitive and Emotional functioning. Seventeen patients (45%) had scores indicating low overall quality of life. Ratings of overall quality of life and fatigue had the strongest relationship. The trend in the results suggested that mental problems have a stronger impact on quality of life than physical ones. Emotion-focused coping dominated. There was a significant relationship between coping by escape-avoidance and lower level of emotional functioning.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate that a multidisciplinary team is needed for assessment and treatment of the different problems in patients with LGG. Furthermore, special attention should be paid to patients who use coping by escape-avoidance, as this is associated with emotional distress.

Trauma-related distress and mood disorders in the early stage of an acute traumatic hand injury.

The aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of trauma-related distress and mood disorders in the early stages after acute traumatic hand injuries and identify characteristics associated with these reactions. Data were obtained from 112 patients by means of mailed questionnaires and medical records. Nearly half of the patients had increased levels of intrusive and avoidance symptoms, indicating trauma-related distress. One-third showed signs of a mood disorder. Mood disorders were associated with the need for help with activities of daily living, pain and avoidance symptoms. The study showed that emotional problems in the early stages after injury are related to the consequences of both the injury and the traumatic experience. Negative reactions to the sight of the hand were associated with both trauma-related distress and mood disorders, suggesting that observation of the reactions to the sight of the hand could help to identify patients in need of psychological support.

Intermittent versus indwelling urinary catheterisation in hip surgery patients: A randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis

BACKGROUND Hip surgery is associated with the risk of postoperative urinary retention. To avoid urinary retention hip surgery patients undergo urinary catheterisation. Urinary catheterisation, however, is associated with increased risk for urinary tract infection (UTI). At present, there is limited evidence for whether intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation is the preferred choice for short-term bladder drainage in patients undergoing hip surgery. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate differences between intermittent and indwelling urinary catheterisation in hip surgery patients in relation to nosocomial UTI and cost-effectiveness. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial with cost-effectiveness analysis. SETTING The study was carried out at an orthopaedic department at a Swedish University Hospital. METHODS One hundred and seventy hip surgery patients (patients with fractures or with osteoarthritis) were randomly allocated to either intermittent or indwelling urinary catheterisation. Data collection took place at four time points: during stay in hospital, at discharge and at 4 weeks and 4 months after discharge. RESULTS Eighteen patients contracted nosocomial UTIs, 8 in the intermittent catheterisation group and 10 in the indwelling catheterisation group (absolute difference 2.4%, 95% CI -6.9-11.6%) The patients in the intermittent catheterisation group were more often catheterised (p<0.001) and required more bladder scans (p<0.001) but regained normal bladder function sooner than the patients in the indwelling catheterisation group (p<0.001). Fourteen percent of the patients in the intermittent group did not need any catheterisation. Cost-effectiveness was similar between the indwelling and intermittent urinary catheterisation methods. CONCLUSIONS Both indwelling and intermittent methods could be appropriate in clinical practice. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages but by not using routine indwelling catheterisation, unnecessary catheterisations might be avoided in this patient group.

A prospective study of nosocomial urinary tract infection in hip fracture patients.

AIM To investigate risk factors and consequences of nosocomial urinary tract infection in hip fracture patients. BACKGROUND Nosocomial urinary tract infection is a well-known problem in hip fracture patients. There are several risk factors for nosocomial urinary tract infection described in the literature. DESIGN Prospective observational study with a descriptive and comparative design. METHODS Hip fracture patients were included consecutively between April 2006-March 2007. Excluded were those under 50, having an indwelling urinary catheter, signs of cognitive impairment or additional severe physical problems at the time of admission. To verify nosocomial urinary tract infection, a urine specimen was taken at admission and discharge. Patients with and without nosocomial urinary tract infection were compared. RESULTS The study included 86 hip fracture patients, of whom 45 (52·3%) contracted nosocomial urinary tract infection in hospital. Earlier reported risk factors for nosocomial urinary tract infection were not confirmed in this study, with one exception: diabetes. All diabetic patients in the study contracted urinary tract infections. Patients receiving cloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis for wound infection contracted UTI less often than other patients. There were no statistical differences between groups with regard to urinary tract infection frequency four months after fracture or with regard to mortality after one year. CONCLUSION Diabetes was the only previously known risk factor for nosocomial urinary tract infection confirmed among hip fracture patients in this study. Cloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis for surgery seemed to offer a certain protection against nosocomial urinary tract infection. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses in clinical practice should be aware of the risk of urinary tract infections in hip fracture patients and especially in hip fracture patients with diabetes. Patients given cloxacillin as antibiotic prophylaxis seem less likely to contract nosocomial urinary tract infection.

Ten years follow-up of health and disability in people with acute traumatic hand injury: pain and cold sensitivity are long-standing problems.

The aim of this study was to investigate health and disability in people with acute traumatic hand injury 10 years after the accident. A consecutive sample of patients from the Department of Hand Surgery was followed up by means of a postal questionnaire containing the instruments EQ-5D for assessment of health and DASH for assessment of disability. Questions were added about cold sensitivity, numbness and aesthetic problems. The 97 people with various acute hand injuries had greater problems with impairments of hand function than with limitations of activities and participation in daily life. Pain was more common than among the general Swedish population. Cold sensitivity was reported by 78% and was associated with both worse impairments and greater limitations on activity and participation. Despite problems with pain and cold sensitivity, they reported good health and a low degree of disability.

Work stress among newly graduated nurses in relation to workplace and clinical group supervision

AIM The aim was to investigate occupational stress among newly graduated nurses in relation to the workplace and clinical group supervision. BACKGROUND Being a newly graduated nurse is particularly stressful. What remains unclear is whether the workplace and clinical group supervision affect the stress. METHOD A cross-sectional comparative study was performed in 2012. Data were collected by means of a numerical scale measuring occupational stress, questions about workplace and clinical group supervision. One hundred and thirteen nurses who had recently graduated from three Swedish universities were included in the study. RESULTS The stress was high among the newly graduated nurses but it differed significantly between workplaces, surgical departments generating the most stress. Nurses who had received clinical group supervision reported significantly less stress. The stress between workplaces remained significant also when participation in clinical group supervision was taken into account. CONCLUSIONS Newly graduated nurses experience great stress and need support, especially those in surgical departments. Nurses participating in clinical group supervision reported significantly less stress. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT It is important to develop strategies that help to adapt the work situation so as to give nurses the necessary support. Clinical group supervision should be considered as an option for reducing stress.

Use of technical skills and medical devices among new registered nurses : A questionnaire study

BACKGROUND One comprehensive part of nursing practice is performing technical skills and handling of medical equipment. This might be challenging for new registered nurses (RNs) to do in patient-safe way. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe and compare the extent to which new RNs perform various technical skills and handle medical devices in different settings, and to investigate their possibility for continued learning in this respect. A further aim was to describe their perceptions of incident reporting related to technical skills and medical devices. DESIGN A cross-sectional study with descriptive and comparative design. PARTICIPANTS RNs who recently graduated from a nursing programme at three Swedish universities and had worked as a RN for up to 1 year were included in the study (n=113, response rate 57%). METHOD Data were collected by means of a postal questionnaire. RESULTS Half of the RNs reported that they performed several of the listed tasks every day or every week, regardless of workplace. These tasks were most frequently performed in surgical departments. The majority of the participants (76%) stated a need of continued practical training. However, less than half of them (48%) had access to a training environment. Several participants (43%) had been involved in incidents related to technical skills or medical devices, which were not always reported. Nearly a third of the participants (31%) did not use the existing guidelines when performing technical skills, and reflection on performance was uncommon. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of shared responsibilities between nurse educators and health care employers to provide learning opportunities for new RNs in technical skills, to maintain patient safety. To increase the safety culture where nursing students and new RNs understand the importance of using evidence-based guidelines and taking a reflective approach in the performance of technical tasks is needed.

A randomised controlled trial on the effect of clamping the indwelling urinary catheter in patients with hip fracture

AIM To investigate the effect of clamping the urinary catheter before its removal in patients with hip fracture. BACKGROUND Difficulties to return to normal bladder function after removal of the urinary catheter are frequent in patients with hip fracture. Clamping the urinary catheter before removal is proposed to shorten the amount of time required to return to normal bladder function. DESIGN A randomised controlled trial was conducted at the orthopaedic clinic at a Swedish university hospital. METHODS Patients with hip fracture aged > or = 50 without a urinary catheter, without cognitive impairment or additional severe physical problems at the time of admission (n = 113) were included. They were randomly assigned either to have their urinary catheter clamped before removal or to have their catheter removed with free drainage. Blinding was not possible because of the nature of the study. The primary outcome was the amount of time required to return to normal bladder function. Secondary outcomes were need for re-catheterisation and length of hospital stay. All patients were analysed in accordance with the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS The median time required to return to normal bladder function was six (Q(1) 4-Q(3) 8) hours in the clamped catheter group and four (Q(1) 3-Q(3) 7.25) hours in the free drainage group. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the time required to regain normal bladder function (p = 0.156), the number of patients requiring re-catheterisation (p = 0.904) and the mean time in hospital (p = 0.777). CONCLUSION This randomised trial did not show any advantage or disadvantage with clamping the urinary catheter before removal. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Clamping is an additional task for the nursing staff in the removal of the indwelling urinary catheter. Therefore, when considering the present results, it seems that clamping the indwelling urinary catheters in patients with hip fracture is not indicated.