Research in gerontological nursing
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The grief that nurses experience when patients and residents die can be complex and has been linked to both problematic (e.g., depression) and beneficial (e.g., gains in coping) outcomes. In this study, 380 nursing assistants working in the nursing home setting were surveyed to gain an understanding of the relationship between grief and well-being. ⋯ Conversely, participants who experienced greater growth from their grief reported significantly lower levels of burnout, higher levels of psychological and physical well-being, and higher levels of job satisfaction. These findings suggest that grief may be an important determinant of well-being in nursing assistants, which, in turn, may impact quality of care in the nursing home.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Reiki on anxiety, depression, pain, and physiological factors in community-dwelling older adults.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Reiki as an alternative and complementary approach to treating community-dwelling older adults who experience pain, depression, and/or anxiety. Participants (N = 20) were randomly assigned to either an experimental or wait list control group. ⋯ Significant differences were observed between the experimental and treatment groups on measures of pain, depression, and anxiety; no changes in heart rate and blood pressure were noted. Content analysis of treatment notes and interviews revealed five broad categories of responses: Relaxation; Improved Physical Symptoms, Mood, and Well-Being; Curiosity and a Desire to Learn More; Enhanced Self-Care; and Sensory and Cognitive Responses to Reiki.
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Clinical Trial
"Easing the way" for spouse caregivers of individuals with dementia: a pilot feasibility study of a grief intervention.
A multicomponent intervention targeting grief symptoms in spouse caregivers of individuals with dementia was pilot tested in this feasibility study. Twenty spouse caregivers completed the study within the 5-month protocol. ⋯ Increases in quality of life and decreases in grief persisted at the 8-month follow up for caregivers who continued to provide care in the home. The Easing the Way intervention protocol is a promising caregiver program that warrants further testing in a randomized controlled study.
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This article reports findings from a pilot study that enabled family caregivers to use videophone technology to participate in hospice interdisciplinary team meetings. The goal of the study was to ascertain which issues were important to caregivers and the hospice team. A qualitative content analysis of video-recorded team meetings between team members and caregivers was conducted. ⋯ Hospice staff asked 396 questions, with the majority consisting of Yes/No questions (66.5%), mainly used to ask about the overall condition of the patient (22.2%). Data from this study suggest that when given the opportunity to participate in hospice team meetings, caregivers will ask questions of hospice staff. In addition, in light of prior research, this study's findings suggest that caregivers may have questions that go unaddressed, specifically regarding pain and medication.
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Exercise is an adjunct intervention for treating osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain, but many older adults, especially those with cognitive impairment, refuse to participate because of their frailty. Tai chi is a gentle alternative to Western-style aerobic exercise. ⋯ Strategies included networking and staying connected with site staff, using various recruiting approaches, providing incentives/motivation, and using informal leaders or residents as a way to recruit participants. Finally, modifying strict study criteria, securing staff for recruiting, and considering alternative designs to the classical RCT can also help overcome recruitment challenges.