Danish men's experiences of cardiovascular screening and their views on preventive cardiovascular medication: A qualitative explorative nurse study.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored Danish men's experience of participating in a screening program for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and their perceptions of preventive medication for CVD before and after participation in the screening program. METHODS: An exploratory phenomenological-hermeneutical study. Fifteen men from a cardiovascular screening program for men aged 65-74 years participated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted before screening and one year later (2015-2017). The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Kvale and Brinkmann's approach to data analysis. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified: (i) seeking confirmation and control of health: familiarity with CVD; understanding the screening program; confirmation of health; perception of preventive medication, and (ii) sense of own health and prevention: experiences with the screening program; accept or denial of diagnosis and preventive medication. CONCLUSION: A minority of the men understood the nature of the diseases for which they were being examined. The invitation for screening and the outcome of the examinations must be communicated more skilfully. The health providers need to engage early in treatment after the screening and provide an individualised plan that addresses patients concerns and knowledge based on their needs.

From Suspicion to Recognition-Being a Bystander to a Relative Affected by Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Within cardiac research, an overwhelming number of studies have explored factors related to pre-hospital delay. However, there is a knowledge gap in studies that explore the bystander's experiences or significance when an individual is affected by acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We conducted an interview study with 17 individuals affected by ACS and the bystander(s) involved and performed a qualitative thematic analysis. In the pre-hospital phase, the bystander moved from suspicion of illness to recognition of illness while trying to convince the individual affected by ACS (p-ACS) to respond to bodily sensations. This led to conflicts and dilemmas which affected the bystander both before and after the p-ACS was hospitalized. Bystanders may influence pre-hospital delay in both positive and negative direction depending on their own knowledge, convictions, and the nature of their interaction with the p-ACSs. The bystander's influence during the pre-hospital delay is more extensive than previously recognized.

Randomised trial of telephone counselling to improve participants' adherence to prescribed drugs in a vascular screening trial.

A total of 1446 participants, 65- to 74-year-old men diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or high blood pressure (HB) in the Viborg Vascular (VIVA) screening trial, were consecutively included and randomised to a telephone counselling (TC) or no TC 3 months after being screened positive. Data from VIVA were linked to data from Danish registers from 2007 to 2016. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of proportion of days covered by statin, antithrombotic drugs and antihypertensive agents and for each specific drug class at 6-month follow-up. The same outcomes were assessed at 12 and 60 months and considered secondary outcomes. Outcome measures are reported as risk differences (RD). There were no differences between the groups in relation to the composite of all three drug classes over 6 months of follow-up, RD = 4.1 (95% CI: -1.0; 9.1). A significant increase in redeemed statin prescriptions was observed in the intervention group at 6 months, RD = 9.8% (CI 95%: 0.5; 19.0). There was no intervention effect observed after 12 and 60 months. TC 3 months after screening improved adherence to statin at 6-month follow-up, but had no effect on the composite treatment, statins, antithrombotic or antihypertensive treatment over 60 months of follow-up.

The experience of being a couple during an intensive care unit admission.

BACKGROUND: In critical care nursing, a trend has been seen towards growing attention to the family experience of critical illness. Despite trends moving towards care of the family as a unit, previous research has focused on individual family members' experience of critical illness. Exploring the life world of the family, especially that of spouses and their interaction, is essential to providing family-centred critical care and has not previously been described. AIM: To explore the lived experience of being a couple during admission to an intensive care unit. DESIGN: Data were collected through dyadic semi-structured interviews with four couples who had experienced admission to an intensive care unit. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. METHOD: Grounded in the phenomenological-hermeneutic tradition, data were analysed using Ricoeur's theory of interpretation, using a method described by Dreyer and Pedersen. RESULTS: By way of analysis, the life world of being a couple during admission to an intensive care unit was disclosed and divided into themes: For better and for worse; The meaningful proximity; and Being a couple. CONCLUSION: Although critical illness brings a sudden disruption of a couple's twosomeness, the need to remain, act as and be seen and cared for as a couple persists during admission to an intensive care unit. Therefore, couples need to be cared for as individuals and as a unit, underlining the need to follow trends towards family-centred critical care.

A Realistic Evaluation of Danish Perioperative Nurses' Documentation Practices.

Nursing care documentation is an important aspect of clinical decision-making processes and affects patient safety. Documentation in the perioperative setting has been described as poor and incomplete and varies among nurses. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine perioperative nurses' documentation practices using a realistic evaluation framework that focuses on relationships between context, mechanisms, and outcomes. Through participant observations using multiple qualitative data-generation methods, the study found that perioperative nurses' documentation practices are driven by a mix of educational, cultural, and organizational factors, including competing demands, local values and traditions, and everyday circumstances. Understanding the cultures of different subgroups in the perioperative setting may help improve nurses' documentation practices.

From Bodily Sensations to Symptoms: Health Care-Seeking Practices Among People Affected by Acute Coronary Syndrome.

The reduction of prehospital delay for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is widely discussed within cardiac research. Medically informed literature generally considers patient hesitancy in seeking treatment a significant barrier to accessing timely treatment. With this starting point, we conducted an interview study with people previously hospitalized for ACS and with the bystanders involved in their decision to contact the health care system. The analysis was conducted in two stages: first, a systematic extraction of key information; second, an in-depth analysis informed by medical anthropology. This led us to understand the prehospital period as an interpretation process where bodily sensations appeared as symptoms. Informants vacillated between sensations, knowledge, interpretations, and emotions as they struggled to preserve everyday ordinariness. They were led to contact the health care system by bodily discomfort rather than a rational decision to reduce risk. The paradigmatic implications from medical anthropology proved an important alternative to the medical paradigm.

Adherence to Prescribed Drugs Among 65-74 Year Old Men Diagnosed with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or Peripheral Arterial Disease in a Screening Trial: A VIVA Substudy.

OBJECTIVE: Adherence to antiplatelet and statin therapy in participants diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was examined in a vascular screening trial. METHODS: This was a population based cohort study. The study population consisted of 65-74 year old men diagnosed with AAA or PAD in the Viborg Vascular (VIVA) multifaceted screening trial for CVD. Data from the VIVA screening cohort were linked to data from Danish registers from 2007 to 2016. Initiation of antiplatelet and statin treatment was measured within 120 days after screening. Persistence was defined as no treatment gap >100 days between two prescription renewals after screening. A proportion of days covered ≥80% over five years of follow up was used as a categorical cut off for adherence. RESULTS: Among the 18,748 screened participants, 618 with AAA and 2051 with PAD were identified. Among non-users at baseline, 65% and 62% initiated antiplatelet and statin treatment, 57% and 59% persisted with antiplatelet and statin use, and 60% and 57% were adherent, respectively. Among users at baseline, 73% and 69% had filled an antiplatelet or statin prescription, respectively, within 120 days after screening. Further, 79% and 73% persisted with their antiplatelet and statin treatment, and 89% and 83% were adherent, respectively. CONCLUSION: In a vascular screening trial, six of every 10 non-users initiated preventive treatment; among these, the adherence rate was 57-60%. Among users at baseline, the five year adherence to antiplatelet and statin treatment exceeded 80%. The effectiveness of screening initiatives might be improved by measures to improve the fulfilment of preventive medication.

A population-based screening study for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in Danish postmenopausal women: acceptability and prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Reducing women's cardiovascular risk and the economic costs associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes (DM) continues to be a challenge. Whether a multifaceted CVD screening programme is beneficial as a preventive strategy in women remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CVD and DM as well as the acceptability toward screening and preventive actions. METHODS: An observational study was performed among all women born in 1936, 1941, 1946 and 1951 living in Viborg Municipality, Denmark, from October 2011. In total, 1984 were invited to screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid plaque (CP), hypertension (HT), atrial fibrillation (AF), DM and dyslipidaemia. Participants with positive tests were offered prophylactic intervention including follow-up consultations in case of AAA, PAD and/or CP. Participants with AAA ≥ 50 mm were referred to specialists in vascular surgery. Women with AF or potential familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) were referred to cardiology work-up. RESULTS: Among those invited, 1474 (74.3%) attended screening, but the attendees' share decreased with increasing age groups (p < 0.001). AAA was diagnosed in 10 (0.7%) women, PAD in 101 (6.9%) and CP in 602 (40.8%). The percentage of women with these conditions rose with increasing age group (p < 0.05). Unconfirmed potential HT was observed in 94 (6.4%), unknown AF in 6 (0.4%), DM in 14 (1%) and potential FH in 35 (2.4%). None of these findings differed across age groups. Among the 631 women diagnosed with AAA, PAD and/or CP, 182 (28.8%) were already in antiplatelet and 223 (35.3%) in lipid-lowering therapy prior to screening. Antiplatelet therapy was initiated in 215 (34.1%) and lipid-lowering therapy in 191 (30.3%) women. Initiation of antiplatelet and lipid-lowering therapy was further recommended to 134 (21.2%) and 141 (22.4%) women, respectively, who hesitated to follow the recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: The study recorded an acceptable total attendance rate, even though a significantly lower attendance rate was observed in the eldest women. The identified hesitation towards prophylactic therapy may affect the rationale and effectiveness of CVD screening, and hesitation seems a critical issue that should be addressed in the design of future screening programmes.

An interview-based study of nonattendance at screening for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in older women: Nonattendees' perspectives.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study explored nonattendees' perspectives on a screening programme for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus among women aged 60-77 years. BACKGROUND: Nonattendance in screening is a common concern and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Whether nonattendees need targeted information to participate in screening is unknown. Thus, it is important to explore the reasons for nonattendance, particularly as nonattendees' perspectives have not been fully explored. DESIGN: An interview study. METHODS: The data were obtained through semistructured interviews with 10 women sampled from a population who declined to participate in a women's screening programme for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Additionally, reflective notes on the interview context were documented. The data were collected in 2013. Kvale and Brinkmann's method for data analysis was applied. RESULTS: All informants found the screening offer personally irrelevant, but this belief was changeable. The informants' perceptions of screening were based on subjective health and risk beliefs, personal knowledge of diseases and the screening programme, and distrust in the healthcare system. CONCLUSION: Personal experiences, beliefs and self-protective strategies influence individuals' subjective interpretations of a screening programme's relevance. The perception that screening is irrelevant seems to be rooted in nonattendees' personal health-related assessment and knowledge. Consequently, whether nonattendance is determined by an informed decision is questionable. Negative experiences with the healthcare system led to hesitation towards screening in general. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study is relevant to healthcare workers as well as decision-makers from a screening and preventive perspective. The findings highlight important issues that should be addressed to encourage invitees to accept screening invitations and to facilitate informed decision-making about screening participation.

Danish Perioperative Nurses' Documentation: A Complex, Multifaceted Practice Connected With Unit Culture and Nursing Leadership.

Researchers have described the documentation practices of perioperative nurses as flawed and characterized by subjectivity and poor quality, which is often related to both the documentation tool and the nurses' level of commitment. Studies suggest that documentation of nursing care in the OR places special demands on electronic health records (EHRs). The purpose of this study was to explore how the use of an EHR tailored to perioperative practice affects Danish perioperative nurses' documentation practices. This study was a follow-up to a baseline study from 2014. For three months in the winter of 2015 to 2016, six participants tested an EHR containing a Danish edition of a selected section of the Perioperative Nursing Data Set. This study relied on realistic evaluation and participant observations to generate data. We found that nursing leadership was essential for improving perioperative nurses' documentation practices and that a tailored EHR may improve documentation practices.

How family interactions about lifestyle changes affect adolescents' possibilities for maintaining weight loss after a weight-loss intervention: a longitudinal qualitative interview study.

AIM: This study aims to examine how family interactions related to lifestyle changes influence adolescents' potential for maintaining weight loss after participating in a weight-loss treatment programme. BACKGROUND: Obesity among adolescents is a large and complex health problem worldwide. Family support is crucial if adolescents are to benefit from weight-loss intervention. DESIGN: Qualitative research interviews with families who participated in a weight-loss programme. METHODS: The sample consisted of 10 families selected among participants in a 1-year multidisciplinary family-based weight-loss programme. Three rounds of semi-structured interviews stretching over 5 years (2010-2015) were transcribed verbatim, then analyzed using Kvale and Brinkmann's framework for working with qualitative research interviews. FINDINGS: Five years after the intervention ended, we found that a family's interactions were a key factor in how the family handled challenges involved in changing its diet and increasing physical activity and that daily activities in modern families influenced their interaction, as activities demanded so much of the family that it was difficult to sustain the lifestyle changes necessary for the adolescent to maintain achieved weight loss. Supporting the adolescent was far more difficult than families expected; more time-consuming and also a cause of family conflicts. Siblings who did not need to lose weight played a major, but overlooked, role. CONCLUSION: The family's interactions and its handling of lifestyle changes were important to the adolescent's maintained weight loss. It is fundamental that the entire family is supportive, regardless of family structure and these issues ought to be addressed in future interventions.

The documentation practice of perioperative nurses: a literature review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To explore and present the existing knowledge of the documentation practices of perioperative nurses in the operating room. BACKGROUND: Studies demonstrate that the documentation of nursing care provided is important for the continuity of patient care as well as patient safety. Nurses find that documenting their perioperative services is important to the surgical pathway; however, a number of studies indicate that the documentation practices of perioperative nurses are characterised by subjectivity, randomness and poor quality. DESIGN: A literature review with a systematic search of scientific material. METHOD: The content of the studies included was analysed using content analysis as suggested by Krippendorff. The materials were acquired by searching electronic databases. The search was performed for the period 1995-2015 and resulted in 12 studies. RESULTS: Three general themes were found to be important for perioperative nurses' documentation practices: (1) the documentation tool must be adapted to the clinical practice; (2) nurses document to improve patient safety and protect themselves legally; and (3) traditions and conditions for documentation. CONCLUSION: Nurses considered documenting their perioperative practices very important. It was of vital importance that the tool used be adapted to the actual clinical practice and to relevant regulations regarding form and content. Nurses' subjective perceptions of and opinions on the effect of documentation influenced their documentation practices, which were widely governed by habits and traditions. Nurses document to safeguard patients against errors but also to protect their own legal status. Nurses also use documentation as proof of their nursing and as 'a window' to gain recognition for their professional practice. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Our review demonstrates that a focus on the documentation traditions of perioperative nurses combined with training, structure and improved technical tools may facilitate the documentation and thereby improve patient safety.

Limited availability of childhood overweight and obesity treatment programmes in Danish paediatric departments.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity has tripled over the past 30 years. One in five children in Denmark is overweight, a condition which is accompanied by serious medical and psychosocial complications. So far, an overview of the Danish treatment of childhood overweight and obesity has been lacking. METHODS: Telephone interviews with all Danish paediatric departments were conducted in 2014. The results, constituting a baseline, were analysed using the clinical guidelines for overweight and obesity published by the Danish Paediatric Society's Overweight Committee in 2015. RESULTS: About 32% of the 19 departments had multi-dis-cip-linary programmes resembling the guideline recommendations. Roughly 37% of the departments offered considerably less comprehensive programmes than proposed by the guidelines, and roughly 32% offered only a general basic consultation. Body mass index was the primary parameter used to decide whether obesity management was indicated, varying from the > 90 to the > 99 percentile for sex and age. CONCLUSIONS: In Denmark, one third of paediatric departments nearly complied with the national clinical guidelines. Another third of departments offered less comprehensive programmes. The final third offered no multidisciplinary treatment programme for the target group. The criteria for referral to the paediatric departments that offered obesity programmes were heterogeneous. FUNDING: Funding for this study was received from Region Midtjyllands Sundhedsvidenskabelige Forskningsfond, Familien Hede Nilsens Fond and Søster Marie Dalgaards Fond. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

Severely overweight children and dietary changes--a family perspective.

AIM: This article is a report on a descriptive qualitative case study of the dietary change experiences of overweight children and their families. BACKGROUND: Obese children are at risk of experiencing a complicated childhood and becoming obese adults with associated ill health and premature death. The prevalence of obesity among children appears to be rising rapidly. In Europe, prevalence rates for overweight children are 10-40%, and generally this prevalence has tripled during the past 30 years. METHOD: The study was conducted as a qualitative longitudinal case study on the basis of 2-3 annual interviews with four overweight Danish children, six parents and four siblings from April 2006 to September 2008. Altogether 61 interviews were conducted. In the data analysis process, a thematic, phenomenological approach was used. FINDINGS: The following themes were identified: the reactions and attitudes of children with the sub-themes taking ownership of dietary changes and vulnerability reactions; and the reactions and attitudes of parents with the sub-themes personal acceptance and support, indulgence and protection, setting limits and barriers to successful dietary change. The children were under pressure, showed signs of stigmatization and marginalization, and developed self-protecting strategies. The parents tried to cope to the best of their ability, needed help, but felt rejected by professional key persons and authorities. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the study, it was hypothesised that a prejudice-free, individually accepting and supporting intervention must be provided for each family over time to ensure successful weight loss.