Nurses’ and Physicians’ Opinions on Aggressiveness of Treatment for General Ward Patients

2006 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Svantesson ◽  
Peter Sjökvist ◽  
Håkan Thorsén ◽  
Gerd Ahlström
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Professional Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Full Treatment ◽  
Nurses And Physicians ◽  
One Year ◽  
A Minor ◽  
General Wards

The aim of this study was to evaluate agreement between nurses’ and physicians’ opinions regarding aggressiveness of treatment and to investigate and compare the rationales on which their opinions were based. Structured interviews regarding 714 patients were performed on seven general wards of a university hospital. The data gathered were then subjected to qualitative and quantitative analyses. There was 86% agreement between nurses’ and physicians’ opinions regarding full or limited treatment when the answers given as ‘uncertain’ were excluded. Agreement was less (77%) for patients with a life expectancy of less than one year. Disagreements were not associated with professional status because the physicians considered limiting life-sustaining treatment as often as the nurses. A broad spectrum of rationales was given but the results focus mostly on those for full treatment. The nurses and the physicians had similar bases for their opinions. For the majority of the patients, medical rationales were used, but age and quality of life were also expressed as important determinants. When considering full treatment, nurses used quality-of-life rationales for significantly more patients than the physicians. Respect for patients’ wishes had a minor influence.

Long-term effects of a Swedish lifestyle intervention programme on lifestyle habits and quality of life in people with increased cardiovascular risk

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 613-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Lidin ◽  
Elin Ekblom-Bak ◽  
Monica Rydell Karlsson ◽  
Mai-Lis Hellénius
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Intervention Programme ◽  
Lifestyle Habits ◽  
Group Sessions ◽  
One Year

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a structured intervention programme on lifestyle habits and quality of life after six months and one year in participants with increased cardiovascular risk. Methods: Participants aged ≥18 years with increased cardiovascular risk were referred from primary health care and hospitals. The programme was launched at an outpatient clinic in a department of cardiology at a university hospital. It consisted of individual visits to a nurse for a health check-up and lifestyle counselling at baseline, after six months and at one year. In addition, five group sessions – focusing on nicotine, alcohol, physical activity, eating habits, stress, sleep and behavioural change – were offered to the participants and their relatives or friends. Lifestyle habits and quality of life were assessed with questionnaires at baseline, after six months and at one year. Results: One hundred participants (64 women, 36 men, age 58±11 years) were included in the programme. Compared with the baseline, significant and favourable changes in reported lifestyle habits were noted. Exercise levels were higher after one year and sedentary time decreased from 7.4 to 6.3 h/day. Dietary habits improved and the number of participants with a high consumption of alcohol decreased. Quality of life improved after one year. Conclusions: Participating in a structured lifestyle programme resulted in improved lifestyle habits and quality of life over one year in people with increased cardiovascular risk. Components such as an inter-professional teamwork, a focus on lifestyle rather than the disease, and combining individual visits and group sessions, might be central to the positive outcome of the programme.

scholarly journals Quality of life of men with AIDS and the model of social determinants of health

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilmara Holanda da Cunha ◽  
Maria Luciana Teles Fiuza ◽  
Elucir Gir ◽  
Priscila de Souza Aquino ◽  
Ana Karina Bezerra Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
One Year

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the quality of life (QoL) of men with AIDS from the perspective of the model of social determinants of health (MSDH). METHOD: cross-sectional study conducted in an outpatient infectious diseases clinic from a Brazilian university hospital over the course of one year with a sample of 138 patients. A form based on the MSDH was used to collect sociodemographic data addressing individual, proximal, intermediate determinants and the influence of social networks together with an instrument used to assess the QoL of people with HIV/AIDS. The project was approved by the Institutional Review Board (Protocol No. 040.06.12). RESULTS: according to MSDH, most men with AIDS were between 30 and 49 years old (68.1%), mixed race (59.4%), heterosexual (46.4%), single (64.5%), Catholic (68.8%), had a bachelor's degree (39.2%), had no children (61.6%), and had a formal job (71.0%). The perception of QoL in the physical, level of independence, environment, and spirituality domains was intermediate, while QoL was perceived to be superior in the domains of psychological and social relationship. A perception of lower QoL was presented by homosexual (p=0.037) and married men (p=0.077), and those with income below one times the minimum wage (p=0.042). A perception of greater QoL was presented by those without a religion (p=0.005), living with a partner (p=0.049), and those who had a formal job (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: social determinants influence the QoL of men with AIDS.

scholarly journals Dysthanasia: nursing professionals' perception

2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 443-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milene Barcellos de Menezes ◽  
Lucilda Selli ◽  
Joseane de Souza Alves
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Pain And Suffering ◽  
One Year ◽  
Nursing Professionals

Dysthanasia means slow and painful death without quality of life. This study aimed to know whether nurses identify dysthanasia as part of the final process of the lives of terminal patients hospitalized at an adult ICU. This is an exploratory-qualitative study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten nurses with at least one year of experience in an ICU, and interpreted through content analysis. Results indicate that nurses understand and identify dysthanasia, do not agree with it and recognize elements of orthonasia as the adequate procedure for terminal patients. We conclude that nurses interpret dysthanasia as extending life with pain and suffering, while terminal patients are submitted to futile treatments that do not benefit them. They also identify dysthanasia using elements of orthonasia to explain it.

Recurrent acute otitis media detracts from health-related quality of life

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Kujala ◽  
O-P Alho ◽  
A Kristo ◽  
M Uhari ◽  
M Renko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Otitis Media ◽  
Acute Otitis Media ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Recurrent Acute Otitis Media ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
One Year

AbstractObjective:Acute otitis media causes discomfort to children and inconvenience to their parents. This study evaluated the quality of life in children with recurrent acute otitis media aged less than 24 months.Methods:Quality of life was evaluated in 149 children aged 10 to 24 months who were referred to the Oulu University Hospital on account of recurrent acute otitis media. The children were treated with or without surgery. Age-matched controls were selected randomly from the general child population. Parents completed the Child Health Questionnaire.Results:The children with recurrent acute otitis media had a significantly poorer quality of life than control children. The control children with a history of a few acute otitis media episodes had a significantly poorer quality of life than those without any such history. The quality of life of the children with recurrent acute otitis media improved during the one-year follow up, regardless of the treatment, but did not reach the same level as healthy children.Conclusion:Acute otitis media detracted from quality of life when a generic measure was used. The mode of treatment used to prevent further recurrences of acute otitis media did not influence quality of life improvement.

Impact of facilities management on the quality of life for the elderly in care and attention homes – Cross-validation by quantitative and qualitative studies

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1070-1090 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-yung Leung ◽  
Jingyu Yu ◽  
Ming L. A. Chong
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Services ◽  
One Year ◽  
Management Of Care ◽  
The Relationship

The rapid increase in elderly population has increased demand on care services and care and attention homes in Hong Kong. Elderly residents in care and attention homes rely heavily on facilities to maintain their quality of life. However, many care and attention homes are not purpose-built for elderly people. This paper investigates the relationship between facilities management of care and attention homes and elderly quality of life using both quantitative and qualitative data. A questionnaire was distributed among elders of eight recruited care and attention homes with four categories (government-financed non-purpose-built, government-financed purpose-built, self-financed non-purpose-built and self-financed purpose-built) in Hong Kong. Selected care and attention homes were a good mixture of operating types, building age and building types. A total of 56 questionnaires were completed by both elderly residents and staff in care and attention homes (37.5% were male and 62.5% were female), followed by semi-structured interviews; 48.2% of respondents were over 80 years of age and 93% had lived in C&A homes for more than one year. The findings identified 19 indoor facilities factors and also measured elderly quality of life. The results showed that space identification, distance, ventilation, furniture, non-slip floors and recreation facilities were positively related to elderly quality of life. Based on these findings, several practical recommendations are proposed, including allocating larger spaces for bedrooms, designing ventilation, installation of non-slip flooring, family-like furniture and the arrangement of recreational facilities.

scholarly journals Quality of life of women with gynecologic and breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Rev Rene ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Verônica Aparecida Ferreira ◽  
Isis Do Nascimento Teixeira Silveira ◽  
Nathália Silva Gomes ◽  
Mariana Torreglosa Ruiz ◽  
Sueli Riul da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Adjuvant Chemotherapy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Quality Of Life Measures ◽  
One Year

Objective: analyzing the quality of life of women with gynecologic and breast cancer, undergoing antineoplasticchemotherapy for at least one year after treatment completion. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study conductedin a University Hospital. To analyze quality of life, a sociodemographic and clinical data questionnaire and WHOQOL-brefwere used. Results: 30 women with an average age of 52 years were interviewed; most were diagnosed with breast cancerand received adjuvant chemotherapy. Regarding quality of life, the most negatively affected domains were the physical andpsychological domains, followed by environmental and social domains. Conclusion: including quality of life measures inclinical practice appears to be crucial in promoting comprehensive care to patients and their families.

O Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo Emergente de Médicos em Relação a Cuidados Paliativos/ The Collective Subject Discourse Emerging Physicians Regarding palliative Care

1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrine de Freitas Valeriano ◽  
Thais de Paiva Guimarães Barreiro ◽  
José Vitor Da Silva ◽  
Jorge Leonardo Narcy ◽  
Maria Tereza de Jesus Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Social Representations ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Relieve Pain ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
Negative Feelings

Objetivos: conhecer os significados e os sentimentos emergentes dos médicos em relação aos cuidados paliativos, bem como identificar a atuação desses profissionais frente aos pacientes com necessidades de cuidados paliativos numa instituição hospitalar da cidade de Pouso Alegre-MG. Materiais e métodos: o presente trabalho foi de abordagem qualitativa, do tipo exploratório e transversal.  A amostra foi de 25 médicos atuantes no Hospital Universitário Samuel Libânio, Pouso Alegre, MG. A amostragem foi do tipo intencional ou teórica. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e usaram-se as estratégias metodológicas do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (DSC) para a análise e tratamento dos dados. Resultados e discussão: do tema “significado de cuidados paliativos”, emergiram-se as ideias de cuidados diversificados, aliviar a dor e o sofrimento e proporcionar conforto. Do tema “sentimento ao prestar assistência”, as representações sociais dos médicos foram diversos sentimentos negativos, diversos sentimentos positivos e sentimentos ambivalentes. Sobre o “atendimento aos pacientes”, os médicos mencionaram as ideias de oferecer conforto e qualidade de vida, atendendo o paciente normalmente e dando atenção. Conclusão: A atuação profissional dos médicos abordados, em paliação, visa a oferecer conforto e qualidade de vida, mas se verifica que há uma diversidade de significados e sentimentos em relação aos cuidados paliativos na percepção destes profissionais.  Palavras chave: Cuidados paliativos; Medicina; Terminalidade.   ABSTRACT Objectives: To know the meanings and feelings emerging of physicians in relation to palliative care, and to identify the role of these professionals against patients in need of palliative care in a hospital in the city of Pouso Alegre-MG. Materials and methods: This study was a qualitative, exploratory and cross. The sample consisted of 25 doctors working at the University Hospital Samuel Libânio, Pouso Alegre, MG. Sampling was the intentional or theoretical. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and used up the methodological strategies of the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) for the analysis and processing of data. Results and discussion: theme "meaning of palliative care," sprang up ideas diversified care, relieve pain and suffering and provide comfort. Theme "feeling to assist" the social representations of the doctors were many negative feelings, many positive feelings and ambivalent feelings. On the "patient care" physicians mentioned the ideas of comfort and quality of life, given the patient normally and paying attention. Conclusion: The role of physicians addressed in palliation, aims to offer comfort and quality of life, but it turns out that there is a diversity of meanings and feelings in relation to the perception of palliative care professionals.  Keywords: Palliative care; Medicine; Terminality.

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