Sandra L. Carroll

Caregivers’ contributions to heart failure self-care: A systematic review:

Aims: The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review answering the following questions: (a) what specific activities do caregivers (CGs) contribute to patients’ self-care in heart failure (HF)?; and (b) how mature (or developed) is the science of the CG contribution to self-care? Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched using the terms heart failure and caregiv* as well as the keywords ‘careers’, ‘family members’ and ‘lay persons’ for studies published between 1948 and September 2012. Inclusion criteria for studies were: informal CGs of adult HF patients–either as dependent/independent variable in quantitative studies or participant in qualitative studies; English language. Exclusion criteria for studies were: formal CGs; pediatric, adult congenital, or devices or transplant CGs; mixed diagnosis; non-empiric reports or reports publishing duplicate results. Each study was abstracted and confirmed by two authors. After CG activities were identified and theoretically categorized, an analysis across studies was conducted. Results: Forty papers were reviewed from a pool of 283 papers. CGs contribute substantively to HF patients’ self-care characterized from concrete (weighing the patient) to interpersonal (providing understanding). Only two studies attempted to quantify the impact of CGs’ activities on patients’ self-care reporting a positive impact. Our analysis provides evidence for a rapidly developing science that is based largely on observational research. Conclusions and implications of key findings: To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to examine CGs’ contributions in depth. Informal caregivers play a major role in HF self-care. Longitudinal research is needed to examine the impact of CGs’ contributions on patient self-care outcomes.

Management of Patients With Refractory Angina: Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Pain Society Joint Guidelines

Refractory angina (RFA) is a debilitating disease characterized by cardiac pain resistant to conventional treatments for coronary artery disease including nitrates, calcium-channel and β-adrenoceptor blockade, vasculoprotective agents, percutaneous coronary interventions, and coronary artery bypass grafting. The mortality rate of patients living with RFA is not known but is thought to be in the range of approximately 3%. These individuals suffer severely impaired health-related quality of life with recurrent and sustained pain, poor general health status, psychological distress, impaired role functioning, and activity restriction. Effective care for RFA sufferers in Canada is critically underdeveloped. These guidelines are predicated upon a 2009 Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Position Statement which identified that underlying the problem of RFA management is the lack of a formalized, coordinated, interprofessional strategy between the cardiovascular and pain science/clinical communities. The guidelines are therefore a joint initiative of the CCS and the Canadian Pain Society (CPS) and make practice recommendations about treatment options for RFA that are based on the best available evidence. Concluding summary recommendations are also made, giving direction to future clinical practice and research on RFA management in Canada.

High dose alfentanil pre-empts pain after abdominal hysterectomy

&NA; This study tested the hypothesis that high dose systemic alfentanil administered before and during abdominal hysterectomy would pre‐empt post‐operative pain to a greater extent than administration of either low dose alfentanil or no alfentanil perioperatively. Patients (ASA 1 or 2) were randomly assigned to group 1 (n = 15), no opioid; group 2 (n = 15), low dose alfentanil; or group 3 (n = 15), high dose alfentanil. Anaesthesia was induced in group 1 with midazolam and thiopentone and was maintained with isoflurane and 70% N2O in O2. Anaesthesia was induced in group 2 with midazolam, thiopentone and i.v. alfentanil (30 &mgr;g kg−1), and was maintained with isoflurane, 70% N2O in O2, and bolus doses of i.v. alfentanil (10–20 &mgr;g kg−1) every hour. Anaesthesia was induced in group 3 with midazolam and i.v. alfentanil (100 &mgr;g kg−1), and was maintained with 70% N2O in O2, and an infusion of i.v. alfentanil (1–2 &mgr;g kg−1 min−1). Blood samples were drawn at 30 and 120 min after surgery and assayed for plasma alfentanil. Morphine consumption and VAS pain scores were consistently lowest in group 3 over the 48 h study period. A composite measure of pain and morphine consumption was significantly lower in group 3 than group 2 up to 6 h after surgery, and siificantly lower than group 1 up to 12 h. No adverse effects were observed. A 6‐month follow‐up did not reveal any significant differences among the three groups. It is concluded that intra‐operative high dose alfentanil anaesthetic pre‐empts post‐operative pain after abdominal hysterectomy, but the effects are small and of short duration. Surgical procedures carried out under general anaesthesia using standard (and even high) doses of opioids intraoperatively provide sub‐optimal protection from the injury barrage brought about by incision and subsequent noxious surgical events.

Patients’ decision making to accept or decline an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death

Background  Patients are offered implantable defibrillators (ICDs) for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, patients’ decision‐making process (DMP) of whether or not to accept an ICD has not been explored. We asked patients about their decision making when offered an ICD.

Metoprolol prophylaxis against postoperative atrial fibrillation increases length of hospital stay in patients not on pre-operative β blockers: the β blocker length of stay (BLOS) trial

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of heart surgery, affecting 20–40% of patients. In recent guidelines of the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology, β blocker (BB) treatment has been recommended as a first line choice for the prevention of postoperative AF.1 Although the efficacy of re-administration of BB to post-cardiac surgery patients has been evaluated, the effectiveness of prophylactic BB in patients without prior BB treatment has not been adequately studied. In order to evaluate whether preoperative BB use affects the outcome of prophylactic BB treatment after heart surgery, an analysis was performed using the data of the largest double blind, placebo controlled, randomised trial of prophylactic BB treatment (metoprolol) for reduction in hospital length of stay following heart surgery, known as the β blocker length of stay (BLOS) study.2 In the BLOS study 1000 patients undergoing elective open heart surgery were randomised equally to metoprolol (100–150 mg/day) or double blind placebo, started within 12 hours of arrival in the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery. The patients were followed for postoperative AF, length of hospital stay, and cost of in-hospital care. …

Readability and content of patient education material related to implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Background:Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly offered to patients for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Candidates for ICD receive ICD-related patient education material when they make decisions to consent or decline a primary prevention ICD. Printed patient education material directed at ICD candidates has not been the focus of direct appraisal. Objective:We evaluated the readability and content of ICD-related print education materials made available to patients who were enrolled in a study involving patient decision making for ICD from 3 ICD sites in southern Ontario, Canada. Methods:All ICD print materials referred to during interviews and/or that were available in ICD site waiting rooms were collected for analysis. Readability testing was conducted using the “simple measurement of gobbledygook” and Fry methods. The material was evaluated according to selected plain-language criteria, thematic content analysis, and rhetoric analysis. Results:Twenty-one print materials were identified and analyzed. Documents were authored by device manufacturers, tertiary care hospitals, and cardiac support organizations. Although many documents adhered to plain-language recommendations, text-reading levels were higher than recommended. Twelve major content themes were identified. Content focused heavily on the positive aspects of living with the device to the exclusion of other possible information that could be relevant to the decisions that patients made. Conclusions:Print-based patient education materials for ICD candidates are geared to a highly literate population. The focus on positive information to the exclusion of potentially negative aspects of the ICD, or alternatives to accepting 1, could influence and/or confuse patients about the purpose and implications of this medical device. Development of print materials is indicated that includes information about possible problems and that would be relevant for the multicultural and debilitated population who may require ICDs. The findings are highly relevant for nurses who care for primary prevention ICD candidates.

Estimating the Risks and Benefits of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Generator Replacement: A Systematic Review.

Every 4–7 years an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) pulse generator must be replaced surgically. This procedure is not without risk. In some cases, the risk versus benefit ratio may be against replacement. We aimed to synthesize the evidence on risks, benefits, and costs related to ICD replacement.

Effectiveness of percutaneous laser revascularization therapy for refractory angina.

Refractory angina is a debilitating disease characterized by persistent cardiac pain resistant to all conventional treatments for coronary artery disease. Percutaneous myocardial laser revascularization (PMLR) has been proposed to improve symptoms in these patients. We used meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of PMLR versus optimal medical therapy for improving angina symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and exercise performance; the impact on all-cause mortality was also examined. Seven trials, involving a total of 1,213 participants were included. Our primary analyses showed that at 12-month follow-up, those who had received PMLR had ≥2 Canadian Cardiovascular Society class angina symptom reductions, OR 2.13 (95% CI, 1.22 to 3.73), as well as improvements in aspects of HRQL including angina frequency, SMD = 0.29 (95% CI, 0.05 to 0.52), disease perception, SMD = 0.37 (95% CI, 0.14 to 0.61), and physical limitations, SMD = 0.29 (95% CI, 0.05 to 0.53). PMLR had no significant impact on all-cause mortality. Our secondary analyses, in which we considered data from one trial that featured a higher-dose laser group, yielded no significant overall impact of PMLR across outcomes. While PMLR may be effective for improving angina symptoms and related burden, further work is needed to clarify appropriate dose and impact on disease-specific mortality and adverse cardiac events.

Development and feasibility testing of decision support for patients who are candidates for a prophylactic implantable defibrillator: a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPatients, identified to be at risk for but who have never experienced a potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia, have the option of receiving an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) as prophylaxis against sudden cardiac death - a primary prevention indication. In Canada, there is no clear framework to support patients’ decision-making for these devices. Decision support, using a decision aid, could moderate treatment-related uncertainty and prepare patients to make well-informed decisions. Patient decision aids provide information on treatment options, risks, and benefits, to help patients clarify their values for outcomes of treatment options. The objectives of this research are: 1) develop a decision aid, 2) evaluate the decision aid, and 3) determine the feasibility of conducting a trial.Methods/designA development panel comprised of the core investigative team, health service researchers, decision science experts, cardiovascular healthcare practitioners, and ICD patient representatives will collaborate to provide input on the content and format of the aid. To generate probabilities to include in the aid, we will synthesize primary prevention ICD evidence. To obtain anonymous input about the facts and content, we will employ a modified Delphi process. To evaluate the draft decision aid will invite ICD patients and their families (n = 30) to rate its acceptability. After we evaluate the aid, to determine the feasibility, we will conduct a feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) in new ICD candidates (n = 80). Participants will be randomized to receive a decision aid prior to specialist consultation versus usual care. Results from the pilot RCT will determine the feasibility of research processes; inform sample size calculation, measure decision quality (knowledge, values, decision conflict) and the influence of health related quality of life on decision-making.DiscussionOur study seeks to develop a decision aid, for patients offered their first ICD for prophylaxis against sudden cardiac death. This paper outlines the background and methods of a pilot randomized trial which will inform a larger multicenter trial. Ultimately, decision support prior to specialist consultation could enhance the decision-making process between patients, physicians, and families, associated with life-prolonging medical devices like the ICD.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01876173

Impact of self-management interventions on stable angina symptoms and health-related quality of life: a meta-analysis

BackgroundChronic stable angina (CSA) has a major negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) including poor general health status, psychological distress, and inability to self-manage.MethodsWe used meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of self-management interventions for improving stable angina symptoms, HRQL and psychological well-being. Nine trials, involving 1,282 participants in total, were included. We used standard inverse-variance random-effects meta-analysis to combine the trials. Heterogeneity between trials was evaluated using chi-square tests for the tau-squared statistic and quantified using the I2 statistic.ResultsThere was significant improvement in the frequency of angina symptoms (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ], symptom diary) across trials, standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.30 (95% Confidence interval [CI] 0.14, 0.47), as well as reduction in the use of sublingual (SL) nitrates, SMD: -0.49 (95% CI -0.77, -0.20). Significant improvements for physical limitation (SAQ), SMD: 0.38 (95% CI 0.20, 0.55) and depression scores (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), SMD: -1.38 (95% CI -2.46, -0.30) were also found. The impact of SM on anxiety was uncertain due to statistical heterogeneity across trials for this outcome, I2 = 98%. SM did not improve other HRQL dimensions including angina stability, disease perception, and treatment satisfaction.ConclusionsSM interventions significantly improve angina frequency and physical limitation; they also decrease the use of SL nitrates and improve depression in some cases. Further work is needed to make definitive conclusions about the impact of SM on cardiac-specific anxiety.