Ulrika Pöder

Objective and Subjective Factors as Predictors of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Parents of Children with Cancer – A Longitudinal Study

Background Parents of children with cancer report post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) years after the childs successful treatment is completed. The aim of the present study was to analyze a number of objective and subjective childhood cancer-related factors as predictors of parental PTSS. Methods Data were collected from 224 parents during and after their childs cancer treatment. Data sources include self-report questionnaires and medical records. Results In a multivariate hierarchical model death of the child, parents perception of child psychological distress and total symptom burden predicted higher levels of PTSS. In addition, immigrants and unemployed parents reported higher levels of PTSS. The following factors did not predict PTSS: parent gender, family income, previous trauma, childs prognosis, treatment intensity, non-fatal relapse, and parents satisfaction with the childs care. Conclusions Although medical complications can be temporarily stressful, a parents perception of the childs distress is a more powerful predictor of parental PTSS. The vulnerability of unemployed parents and immigrants should be acknowledged. In addition, findings highlight that the death of a child is as traumatic as could be expected.

The frequency of and reasons for acute hospital transfers of older nursing home residents

The purpose of the study was to examine the frequency of and reason for transfer from nursing homes to the emergency department (ED), whether these transfers led to admission to a hospital ward, and whether the transfer rate differs as a function of type of nursing home provider and to identify the frequency of avoidable hospitalizations as defined by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). The design was retrospective, descriptive. Data were collected in a Swedish municipality where 30,000 inhabitants are 65 years or older. Structured reviews of the electronic healthcare records were performed. Included were residents living in a nursing home age 65+, with healthcare records including documented transfers to the ED during a 9-month period in 2010. The transfer rate to the ED was 594 among a total of 431 residents (M=1.37 each). 63% resulted in hospitalization (M=7.12 days). Nursing homes transfer rate differed between 0.00 and 1.03 transfers/bed and was higher for the private for-profit providers than for public/private non-profit providers. One-fourth of the transfers were caused by falls and/or injuries, including fractures. The frequency of avoidable hospitalizations was 16% among the 375 hospitalizations. The proportion of transfers to the ED ranged widely between nursing homes. The reasons for this finding ought to be explored.

The ethics of coercive treatment of people with dementia

The aim of the present study was to describe how registered nurses in nursing homes ensure legal security, good and safe nursing care and uphold the dignity of nursing home residents with severe dementia without violating residents’ integrity. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 charge nurses in a county in central Sweden. The transcribed interviews were examined using manifest and latent content analyses. The manifest analysis identified actual local routines involving coercive treatment and registered nurses’ descriptions of complications and alternative measures. The latent analysis resulted in three themes describing nursing strategies: one with coercive treatment, one with coercive treatment under specific circumstances and one to prevent coercive treatment. Interpretations of legal terms regarding coercive treatment and inadequate gerontological nursing training and understaffing seem to preserve the use of coercive treatment.

Medication administration accuracy : using clinical observation and review of patient records to assess safety and guide performance improvement

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Medication-related errors are common and can occur at every step of the medication process. The aim was to explore (1) the extent to which nurses perform fundamental safe practices related to medication administration (MA); (2) the frequency and characteristics of MA errors; and (3) the clinical significance of medication types (classes) subject to error. METHODS A descriptive, exploratory cross sectional design with point in time sampling was used combining direct observations, conducted by naïve observers, and medical record review. A convenience sample of three adult surgical units was drawn from a 1000-bed university hospital. Seventy-two patient-nurse MA encounters were observed including 306 MA doses based on a minimum sample of 100 doses per unit. The Medication Administration Accuracy Assessment developed by the Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes in the United States was used. RESULTS Observed adherence to MA safe practices varied between units. Identity control (9%), explaining medication to patient (11%) and medication labelled throughout the process (25%) were found to be safe practices with greatest deviation. 18% of doses involved a MA error (n = 54). Wrong time (9%) was the most common MA error, typically involving analgesics. CONCLUSIONS Given recent reports suggesting MA safe practices are strongly associated with MA errors, it is timely to strengthen RN awareness of the critical role of safe practices in MA safety. In nursing education, clinical examination using the six safe practices studied herein may enhance medication administration accuracy.

Challenges of safe medication practice in paediatric care – a nursing perspective

To explore nurses’ experiences of handling medications in paediatric clinical practice, with a focus on factors that hinder and facilitate safe medication practices.

Implementation of a multi-professional standardized care plan in electronic health records for the care of stroke patients

AIMS To compare staff opinions about standardized care plans and self-reported habits with regard to documentation, and their perceived knowledge about the evidence-based guidelines in stroke care before and after implementation of an evidence-based-standardized care plan (EB-SCP) and quality standard for stroke care. The aim was also to describe staff opinions about, and their use of, the implemented EB-SCP. BACKGROUND To facilitate evidence-based practice (EBP), a multi-professional EB-SCP and quality standard for stroke care was implemented in the electronic health record (EHR). METHOD Quantitative, descriptive and comparative, based on questionnaires completed before and after implementation. RESULTS Perceived knowledge about evidence-based guidelines in stroke care increased after implementation of the EB-SCP. The majority agreed that the EB-SCP is useful and facilitates their work. There was no change between before and after implementation with regard to opinions about standardized care plans, self-reported documentation habits or time spent on documentation. CONCLUSIONS An evidence-based SCP seems to be useful in patient care and improves perceived knowledge about evidence-based guidelines in stroke care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT For nursing managers, introduction of evidence-based SCP in the EHR may improve the prerequisites for promoting high-quality EBP in multi-professional care.

Transfer of nursing home residents to emergency departments: organizational differences between nursing homes with high vs. low transfer rates

To explore possible factors in the organization of nursing homes that could be related to differences in the rate of transfer of residents from nursing homes to emergency department.

Factors affecting the implementation process of clinical pathways : A mixed method study within the context of Swedish intensive care

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Clinical pathways (CPs) can improve quality of care on intensive care units (ICUs), but are infrequently utilized and of varying quality. Knowledge regarding factors that facilitate versus hinder successful implementation of CPs is insufficient and a better understanding of the activities and individuals involved is needed. The aim of this study was to explore the implementation process of CPs within the context of ICUs. METHODS An exploratory design with a sequential mixed method was used. A CP survey, including all Swedish ICUs, was used to collect quantitative data from ICUs using CPs (n = 15) and interviews with key informants (n = 10) were used to collect qualitative data from the same ICUs. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were used, and the quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated. RESULTS The CP implementation was conceptualized according to two interplaying themes: a process to realize the usefulness of CPs and create new habits; and a necessity of enthusiasm, support and time. Multiple factors affected the process and those factors were organized in six main categories and 14 subcategories. CONCLUSIONS Bottom-up initiatives, interprofessional project groups and small ICUs seem to enhance successful implementation of CPs while inadequate electronic health record systems, insufficient support and time constrains can be barriers. Support regarding the whole implementation process from centralized units at the local hospitals, as well as cooperation between ICUs and national guidance, has the potential to raise the quality of CPs and benefit the progress of CP implementation.

A nationwide postal questionnaire survey: the presence of airway guidelines in anaesthesia department in Sweden

BackgroundIn Sweden, airway guidelines aimed toward improving patient safety have been recommended by the Swedish Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. Adherence to evidence-based airway guidelines is known to be generally poor in Sweden. The aim of this study was to determine whether airway guidelines are present in Swedish anaesthesia departments.MethodsA nationwide postal questionnaire inquiring about the presence of airway guidelines was sent out to directors of Swedish anaesthesia departments (n = 74). The structured questionnaire was based on a review of the Swedish Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care voluntary recommendations of guidelines for airway management. Mean, standard deviation, minimum/maximum, percentage (%) and number of general anaesthesia performed per year as frequency (n), were used to describe, each hospital type (university, county, private). For comparison between hospitals type and available written airway guidelines were cross tabulation used and analysed using Pearson’s Chi-Square tests. A p- value of less than 0 .05 was judged significant.ResultsIn total 68 directors who were responsible for the anaesthesia departments returned the questionnaire, which give a response rate of 92% (n 68 of 74). The presence of guidelines showing an airway algorithm was reported by 68% of the departments; 52% reported having a written patient information card in case of a difficult airway and guidelines for difficult airways, respectively; 43% reported the presence of guidelines for preoperative assessment; 31% had guidelines for Rapid Sequence Intubation; 26% reported criteria for performing an awake intubation; and 21% reported guidelines for awake fibre-optic intubation. A prescription for the registered nurse anaesthetist for performing tracheal intubation was reported by 24%. The most frequently pre-printed preoperative elements in the anaesthesia record form were dental status and head and neck mobility.ConclusionsDespite recommendations from the national anaesthesia society, the presence of airway guidelines in Swedish anaesthesia departments is low. From the perspective of safety for both patients and the anaesthesia staff, airway management guidelines should be considered a higher priority.

How anaesthesiologists understand difficult airway guidelines : an interview study

Abstract Background: In the practice of anaesthesia, clinical guidelines that aim to improve the safety of airway procedures have been developed. The aim of this study was to explore how anaesthesiologists understand or conceive of difficult airway management algorithms. Methods: A qualitative phenomenographic design was chosen to explore anaesthesiologists’ views on airway algorithms. Anaesthesiologists working in three hospitals were included. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted. Results: Four different ways of understanding were identified, describing airway algorithms as: (A) a law-like rule for how to act in difficult airway situations; (B) a cognitive aid, an action plan for difficult airway situations; (C) a basis for developing flexible, personal action plans for the difficult airway; and (D) the experts’ consensus, a set of scientifically based guidelines for handling the difficult airway. Conclusions: The interviewed anaesthesiologists understood difficult airway management guidelines/algorithms very differently.