Caring burden and quality of life among the caregivers of people living with dementia - a cross-sectional study in Udupi district of Karnataka.

Dementia is a chronic disorder of the brain that affects cognitive performance. The caregivers of individuals with dementia experience a greater burden that affects their Quality of Life (QoL). This cross-sectional study conducted in India was designed to assess the caring burden and QoL among the caregivers of people with dementia, as well as to ascertain the relationship between QoL scores and burden. Our sample included 80 caregivers of people with dementia. Most of the caregivers (n = 59, 73.8%) had a higher level of caregiver burden. There was a negative correlation between caregiver burden scores and QoL. A higher level of caregiver stress and low QoL were experienced by caregivers of dementia patients. In developing countries like India, counseling, and education on home health care for people with dementia should be provided to reduce the burden and enhance the QoL of caregivers.

Effects of yoga on anxiety, pain, inflammatory and stress biomarkers in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The most common surgical method of managing coronary artery disease is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Stress, anxiety, and pain are commonly identified postoperative symptoms and are closely correlated to patient recovery. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to investigate the effects of yoga interventions on anxiety, pain, inflammatory and stress biomarkers in CABG surgery patients. METHODS: and analysis: The databases PUBMED, The Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched from the inception to December 2022. The quantitative research studies that evaluated the effects of yoga on anxiety, pain, inflammatory and stress biomarkers in CABG patients were included. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Cochrane guidelines and is reported using the PRISMA checklist. The RevMan 5.4 software was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, representing 1227 patients with a mean age of 58 years. All studies have reported that yoga interventions significantly reduced anxiety, pain, inflammatory and stress biomarkers in the experimental group compared to the control group. According to the GRADE criteria, moderate quality of evidence was found on effects of yoga intervention in CABG surgery patients. CONCLUSION: Yoga has been shown to benefit patients undergoing CABG surgery. It can be used as an adjunctive intervention. However, more rigorous randomized controlled trials are required to generate high-quality evidence for yoga interventions. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020175833.

The Effects of Inhalational Lavender Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality in Hemodialysis Patients: A Before-and-After-Intervention Trial.

One of the most essential physical prerequisites for human survival is sleep. Patients undergoing hemodialysis often experience a lack of sleep, and it is one of the decisive variables in dialysis patients' quality of life. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of inhaling lavender essential oil on sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. A total of 30 patients were enrolled in the before-and-after intervention trial, which took place in a tertiary care hospital's dialysis unit. The study participants were selected using the purposive sampling technique and they received lavender oil inhalation therapy. The sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The mean age of the participants was 55.11 (SD = 8.45) years. The mean posttherapy Pittsburgh Global Sleep Quality Index score was 8.8 ± 1.89 compared with the pretherapy score of 14.73 ± 1.53. Patients undergoing hemodialysis experienced a substantial improvement in sleep quality ( P < .05). Aromatherapy using lavender oil is effective in enhancing sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.

Effectiveness of music on anxiety and pain among cardiac surgery patients: A quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of music on anxiety and pain among patients following cardiac surgery. BACKGROUND: Cardiac surgery affects patients physically, psychologically and socially. Anxiety and pain are the usual problems among patients following cardiac surgery. DESIGN: The study design is a systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: The Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) and Web of Science databases were searched for randomized controlled trials from January 2000 to December 2017. REVIEW METHODS: The Cochrane collaboration guidelines were followed and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was used to summarize the quality of evidence. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included in systematic review and 13 in meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that there was a significant reduction in anxiety and pain among patients who received musical intervention compared with those who did not. CONCLUSION: Music has positive benefits on anxiety and pain. However, well-designed and high-quality trials are needed to generate higher quality evidence.

Effects of foot massage and patient education in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety, pain, and fatigue are common postoperative problems that disturb the recovery and quality of life in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. These postoperative problems are associated with prolonged recovery and decreased quality of life. This study was aimed at evaluating the combined effects of foot massage and patient education on anxiety, fatigue, pain, self-efficacy, and quality of life in patients undergoing CABG surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial (RCT), 130 participants were randomly allocated to experimental (n = 65) and control (n = 65) groups. The experimental group received a combination of foot massage and patient education as interventions and the control group received usual care of the hospital. RESULTS: The experimental group had a significant decrease in anxiety (p = 0.001), fatigue (p = 0.001), pain (p = 0.001), and increased self-efficacy (p = 0.001) and quality of life (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The combined form of foot massage and patient education is effective in decreasing anxiety, fatigue, pain, and increasing self-efficacy and the quality of life. These interventions will support the recovery of patients and reduce their suffering.

The effects of an olive-oil massage on hemodialysis patients suffering from fatigue at a hemodialysis unit in southern India - a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects that an olive oil massage has on fatigue among patients undergoing hemodialysis, and the associated sociodemographic factors that can reduce fatigue. METHODS: The study used true experimental pre- and post-test research design. A total of 200 patients were recruited in a selected hemodialysis unit in southern India and were allocated to either a study or control group by randomization, with 100 patients in each group. All the patients in the intervention group were given a lower back and lower leg massage using olive oil at the beginning, and after every hour, of their hemodialysis using olive oil for a period of eight weeks. In contrast, the control group continues to receive routine care. The level of fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale both before and after massage therapy. RESULTS: Between 73 and 80% of patients were suffering from severe fatigue and the mean fatigue score was 5.53 (SD 1.82) and 5.56 (SD 1.57) for the study and control group, respectively. After eight weeks of massage therapy, the results showed that 53% of patients in the study group showed borderline fatigue, with a mean score of 4.39 (SD 2.37), whereas in the control group 73% patients showed severe fatigue, with a mean score of 5.17 (SD 2.00). The independent t-test between the study and the control group showed a statistically significant reduction in fatigue in the study group with a mean difference (MD) of 3.56 (t=-1.24; p=0.000). There were also statistically significant changes noted in gender and in the duration of the hemodialysis (χ 2 = 6.043; p=0.049) and (χ 2 = 6.611; p=0.046) respectively. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that patients undergoing hemodialysis experienced moderate to severe levels of fatigue. In patients with no or mild anemia, massage has been shown to decrease fatigue and increase energy levels among patients undergoing hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease.

Effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIM: To appraise the evidence concerning the effect of reflexology on the anxiety in patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures. BACKGROUND: Anxiety, fear, and other unpleasant emotional experiences are common among patients before and after cardiovascular interventional procedures. The higher anxiety may affect prognosis and recovery of patients. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library), EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched between 2001-2017. REVIEW METHODS: Randomized controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures were included. Meta-analysis was done using Revman 5.3. RESULTS: Ten trials, representing 760 patients with the mean age of 59, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Reflexology significantly decreased the anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures in the treatment group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Reflexology has some positive effects on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures. It may be a useful complementary therapy and further research is necessary to create reliable evidence.

Community-based educational intervention on necklace method as a natural family planning amongst reproductive age group women in India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a community-based educational intervention on necklace method as a natural family planning amongst reproductive age group women. This approach helps women decide on their reproductive health choices and avoid ill health, impact and long-term consequences of unwanted pregnancy that lead to unsafe abortion. METHODS: A total of 120 women were selected using non-probability purposive sampling technique. The knowledge and practice of participants were assessed using the structured knowledge questionnaire and practice checklist followed by a community-based educational intervention to participants, which covered aspects such as meaning, purposes and criteria; steps of the procedure; and advantages and disadvantages of the necklace method. The methods of teaching were lecture cum discussion and demonstration. The collected data were analysed using SPSS version 21. RESULTS: The levels of knowledge (t = 14.571, P = 0.023) and practice (t = 14.571, P = 0.026) significantly improved after administering the community-based educational intervention. Knowledge and practice positively correlated with each other (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses play a vital role in educating women and creating awareness regarding modern and safe family planning methods. These methods are effective and essential to avoid unwanted pregnancy and thus greatly impact the health of women.

Effect of Complementary Therapies in Patients Following Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Cardiovascular diseases are increasing rapidly and have become a major health problem worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease are increasing rapidly, predominantly in the developing countries. Patients with cardiovascular disease who do not respond to routine medical treatment will have to follow cardiac surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to apprise the evidence of the effect of various complementary therapies on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A comprehensive literature search was made on PubMed-Medline, CINAHL, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases for original research studies published between 2000 and 2015. Original articles that reported the effect of complementary therapies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Twenty-eight studies were analyzed, and they have produced conflicting results. Most of the studies (n = 25) have documented the effects of complementary therapies on improving postoperative outcomes of patients, whereas other studies (n = 3) found no evidence of improvement. Although methods varied considerably, most of the studies included in this review reported positive results. Therefore, there is some evidence that complementary therapies can lead to positive postoperative outcomes. Evidence of the efficacy of complementary therapies in cardiac surgical patients remains inconclusive. Additional research is needed to provide a strong evidence base for the use of complementary therapies to improve postoperative outcomes and recovery in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.