Scandinavian journal of caring sciences
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Assessment of pain, depression, and anxiety by visual analogue scale in Japanese women with rheumatoid arthritis Visual analogue scales (VAS) of depression and anxiety were compared with standard full-length measures of these variables and with VAS of pain (VAS Pain). This was a good way to develop a practical methodology for the routine assessment of pain and affect in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The reliability of VAS Pain was studied by test-retest. ⋯ We also investigated the relationship between VAS Pain and C-reactive protein (CRP). In 145 female RA patients, VAS of depression and anxiety were significantly correlated with full-length measures of these variables, and accounted for the majority of the explained variance in VAS Pain, while the full-length standard measures contributed little more. In conclusion, VAS measurements of pain and affect were comprehensible, easily filled-out, and reliable in a sample of Japanese women with RA, and could capture some aspect of affective distress unique to RA patients.
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Comparative Study
Does physical exercise in addition to a multicomponent smoking cessation program increase abstinence rate and suppress weight gain? An intervention study.
Does physical exercise in addition to a multicomponent smoking cessation program increase abstinence rate and suppress weight gain? An intervention study Tobacco use is considered the single most preventable cause of premature morbidity and mortality. Smoking cessation programs aim at two interrelated purposes, to help people to give up smoking and to prevent relapse. A multicomponent intervention consisting of nicotine replacement therapy, health education, behaviour modification therapy and counselling is widely recommended in the health care literature. ⋯ The small sample size in the study detracts from the significance of the findings. However, a trend is observed showing that physical exercise increases the abstinence rate of participants. The conclusion is drawn that a multicomponent smoking cessation program that includes physical exercise might be an effective intervention, but further studies with a larger sample size are needed.
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This study examined job satisfaction among occupational therapists in Swedish psychiatric care, and investigated how clinical supervision, organizational aspects and demographic characteristics contributed to job satisfaction. We received 332 returned questionnaires, corresponding to a response rate of 66.9%. Job satisfaction factors that emerged were: general satisfaction with work, communication and co-operation among team members, managerial feedback, the patients' influence on care and the relatives' influence on care. ⋯ This study revealed a fairly satisfactory situation, possibly thanks to social support, advantageous care-planning strategies and supervision. However, managerial staff must be aware that measures need to be taken continuously to counteract detrimental forces. The study pointed to a need for further research that relates occupational therapists' job satisfaction with issues such as support, control and individual need for growth.
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Increasing muscular atrophy and joint instability in the post-polio syndrome (PPS) leads to muscle and joint pain. The aim of this study was to describe how persons with post-polio syndrome (PPS) perceive their pain and how the pain affects their everyday lives. The Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI-S) was used together with supplementary questions concerning location and verbal description of the pain. ⋯ Activities such as outdoor work, social and other activities away from home involve difficulties, according to the results. The study group could manage their pain, experienced social support, and especially women managed to carry out household chores despite their pain. The MPI-S demonstrates acceptable reliability for this study group.
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing and medical intervention programme for the prevention and treatment of delirium in elderly patients treated for femoral neck fractures. Forty-nine patients consecutively admitted to an orthogeriatric rehabilitation unit in a county hospital in northern Sweden were compared with historical cohorts of corresponding patients in the same and other hospitals. There was a total reorganization of nursing and medical care of patients with femoral neck fractures. ⋯ The main result of the study was that the incidence of delirium was significantly lower than in all previously published studies. The incidence of other postoperative complications was also lower, and a larger proportion of the patients regained independent walking ability and could return to their previous living conditions on discharge. It can be concluded that the intervention programme reduced the incidence and duration of delirium and improved functional outcome for elderly patients treated for femoral neck fractures.