Martin P. Houze

Nurse-Patient Communication Interactions in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND The inability to speak during critical illness is a source of distress for patients, yet nurse-patient communication in the intensive care unit has not been systematically studied or measured. OBJECTIVES To describe communication interactions, methods, and assistive techniques between nurses and nonspeaking critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. METHODS Descriptive observational study of the nonintervention/usual care cohort from a larger clinical trial of nurse-patient communication in a medical and a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. Videorecorded interactions between 10 randomly selected nurses (5 per unit) and a convenience sample of 30 critically ill adults (15 per unit) who were awake, responsive, and unable to speak because of respiratory tract intubation were rated for frequency, success, quality, communication methods, and assistive communication techniques. Patients self-rated ease of communication. RESULTS Nurses initiated most (86.2%) of the communication exchanges. Mean rate of completed communication exchange was 2.62 exchanges per minute. The most common positive nurse act was making eye contact with the patient. Although communication exchanges were generally (>70%) successful, more than one-third (37.7%) of communications about pain were unsuccessful. Patients rated 40% of the communication sessions with nurses as somewhat difficult to extremely difficult. Assistive communication strategies were uncommon, with little to no use of assistive communication materials (eg, writing supplies, alphabet or word boards). CONCLUSIONS Study results highlight specific areas for improvement in communication between nurses and nonspeaking patients in the intensive care unit, particularly in communication about pain and in the use of assistive communication strategies and communication materials.

Symptom clusters in adults with chronic health problems and cancer as a comorbidity.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To identify and compare symptom clusters in individuals with chronic health problems with cancer as a comorbidity versus individuals with chronic health problems who do not have cancer as a comorbidity and to explore the effect of symptoms on their quality of life. DESIGN Secondary analysis of data from two studies. Study 1 was an investigation of the efficacy of an intervention to improve medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Study 2 was an investigation of the efficacy of an intervention for urinary incontinence (UI) in older adults. SETTING School of Nursing at the University of Pittsburgh. SAMPLE The sample for study 1 was comprised of 639 adults with RA. The sample for study 2 was comprised of 407 adults with UI. A total of 154 (15%) subjects had a history of cancer, 56 (9%) of the subjects with RA and 98 (25%) of the subjects with UI. METHODS Analysis of existing comorbidity and symptom data collected from both studies. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Symptom clusters, chronic disease, and cancer as a comorbidity. FINDINGS Individuals with chronic health problems who have cancer may not have unique symptom clusters compared to individuals with chronic health problems who do not have cancer. CONCLUSIONS The symptom clusters experienced by the study participants may be more related to their primary chronic health problems and comorbidities. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Additional studies are needed to examine symptom clusters in cancer survivors. As individuals are living longer with the disease, a comprehensive understanding of the symptom clusters that may be unique to cancer survivors with comorbidities is critical.

Subjective and Objective Appraisal of Activity in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective. This study examined the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), daytime sleepiness, functional activity, and objective physical activity. Setting. Subjects (N = 37) being evaluated for OSA were recruited from a sleep clinic. Participants. The sample was balanced by gender (53% male), middle-aged, primarily White, and overweight or obese with a mean BMI of 33.98 (SD = 7.35; median BMI = 32.30). Over 40% reported subjective sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) ≥10) and had OSA (78% with apnea + hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5/hr). Measurements. Evaluation included questionnaires to evaluate subjective sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)) and functional outcomes (Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ)), an activity monitor, and an overnight sleep study to determine OSA severity. Results. Increased subjective sleepiness was significantly associated with lower scores on the FOSQ but not with average number of steps walked per day. A multiple regression analysis showed that higher AHI values were significantly associated with lower average number of steps walked per day after controlling patients age, sex, and ESS. Conclusion. Subjective sleepiness was associated with perceived difficulty in activity but not with objectively measured activity. However, OSA severity was associated with decreased objective physical activity in aging adults.

Accuracy of measures of medication adherence in a cholesterol-lowering regimen.

This study examined the concordance between multiple measures of adherence, as well as sensitivity to detection of poor adherers, specificity, and predictive validity using a daily cholesterol-lowering regimen. Participants (N = 180) aged 24 to 60 years participated in an adherence ancillary study in a clinical trial. Males constituted 53.9% of this well-educated, community sample. Data on adherence were collected over a 6-month period, using electronic monitoring, self-report, specific recall, and pill counts. Electronically monitored (odds ratio [OR] = 5.348) and Shea self-report (OR = 2.678) predicted cholesterol lowering. Days (78.9%) and intervals (84.2%) adherent and the Shea (73.7%) were sensitive to the detection of poor adherers. Moderate associations were found between measures of the same type. Low correlations were found otherwise. The electronic monitor was the most accurate and informative measure. The Shea self-report was the most accurate brief, global estimate of adherence. Other measures were not associated with clinical outcome or sensitive to poor adherence.

An intervention to maximize medication management by caregivers of persons with memory loss: Intervention overview and two-month outcomes

Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This trial examined a tailored, problem-solving intervention designed to maximize medication management practices among caregivers of persons with memory loss. Eighty-three community-dwelling dyads (patient + informal caregiver) with a baseline average of 3 medication deficiencies participated. Home- and telephone-based sessions were delivered by nurse or social worker interventionists and addressed basics of managing medications, plus tailored problem solving for specific challenges. The outcome of medication management practices was assessed using the Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) and an investigator-developed Medication Deficiency Checklist (MDC). Linear mixed modeling showed both the intervention and usual care groups had fewer medication management problems as measured by the MedMaIDE (F = 6.91, p < .01) and MDC (F = 9.72, p < .01) at 2 months post-intervention. Reduced medication deficiencies in both groups suggests that when nurses or social workers merely raise awareness of the importance of medication adherence, there may be benefit.

Cancer and treatment-related symptoms are associated with mobility disability in women with ovarian cancer: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of symptom-related mobility disability and identify specific symptoms and other factors associated with mobility disability among a national sample of ovarian cancer (OC) survivors. METHODS Descriptive, correlational secondary analysis of a National Ovarian Cancer Coalition mailed survey of women with a history of OC (n=713). We used the Symptom Representation Questionnaire (SRQ), the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) Interference Scale, and medical and demographic information to determine prevalence of symptom-related mobility disability. We constructed a multiple linear regression model to determine the relative contributions of specific symptoms and other factors to mobility disability. RESULTS A majority of the sample (60.0%) reported symptom-related mobility disability. Independent predictors included: > one comorbidity (β=0.112, p=0.001), active OC (β=0.111, p=0.037), abdominal bloating (β=0.097, p=0.006), fatigue (β=0.314, p<0.001), lack of appetite (β=0.072, p=0.045), numbness/tingling (β=0.134, p<0.001), and pain (β=0.194, p<0.001). The model explained 41.5% of the variance in symptom-related mobility disability (R2=0.415). Unexpectedly, age (β=-0.028, p=0.412) and current chemotherapy (β=0.107, p=0.118) were not significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS Symptom-related mobility disability is common among women with OC and is associated with medical comorbidities, abdominal bloating, fatigue, lack of appetite, numbness/tingling, and pain. Longitudinal research should clarify the relationship of these symptoms to mobility disability and determine whether effective symptom management minimizes disability.

Adherence to Medical Advice: Processes and Measurement

Much of the research of the past few decades has approached adherence from a global perspective. The multiple processes underlying adherence to medical advice have not been examined for the identification of phase-specific covariates or for the identification of phase-specific interventions. This chapter reviews the multiple processes that underlie adherence including the phases of adoption through continuance, the influence of measurement and analysis strategies, as well as the impact of a global approach on the identification of predictors and interventions. It is recommended that future research examine more specifically each phase in the process of adhering using sensitive measures and analytic approaches appropriate to the measures and the distribution of data.

Effect of nocturia on next-day sedentary activity in adults with type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE Nocturia, a common cause of disturbed sleep quality and next-day fatigue, may contribute to difficulty with diabetes self-management. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect nocturia has on next-day subjectively measured mental and physical energy and objectively measured physical activity. METHODS This secondary analysis utilized sleep diaries over one week which measured nocturia frequency and other sleep quality indicators (wake after sleep onset, sleep quality and sleep duration) along with next-day reports of mental and physical energy. Next-day physical activity was measured with the BodyMedia Sensewear armband. RESULTS Sleep quality and sleep duration were associated with next-day physical and mental energy. Nocturia frequency (≥2 times per night) was associated with increased next-day sedentary activity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that nocturia could negatively affect next-day physical activity in people with diabetes.

Medication reconciliation: A vital process to correct medication mismanagement

use mix. APOE ε4 carriers showed larger increases in ventricle volume and decreases in right-hippocampal volumes if living in neighborhoods with low street intersection density and land use mix, respectively. Significant increases in amyloid b burden were found only in APOE ε4 carriers from areas with below-average dwelling and intersection densities (Table 2). Conclusions: These preliminary findings indicate possible associations of urban environment characteristics with brain imaging measures, especially in those with a higher genetic risk. Further investigations are warranted.