Characteristics of Nursing Homes with High Rates of Urinary Tract Infections among Their Residents with Obesity.

Nursing home residents with obesity are at high risk for contracting urinary tract infections. In this research study, we found nursing homes in multi-facility chain organizations, for-profit status, nursing home size, obesity rate of resident population, and market competition were significantly associated with rates of urinary tract infections among residents with obesity.

Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Dimensions of the Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Experience in Men With Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) have received little research attention. To address this gap in our knowledge, we examined the LUTS experience in men with PD, guided by The Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms. METHODS: A qualitative design was used to explore the LUTS experience in this population. Participants were recruited from a Veterans' Affairs PD Center. Maximum variation sampling was used to select diverse participants for audiotaped open-ended interviews. Additional data sources included field notes collected during interviews and observation of a PD support group. The template organizing analytic approach was used to code transcribed interviews and field notes. RESULTS: Cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of the LUTS experience were identified. Participants attributed LUTS to aging, medications, and effects of motor symptoms on their ability to respond to the urge to void. There was little awareness of the neurologic contributions of PD to LUTS, and most viewed LUTS as "something that you have to put up with." Negative effects of LUTS on self-identity were noted, which jeopardized relationships, intimacy, participation in social activities, and travel. Affective responses to LUTS, particularly embarrassment, had a profound impact on quality of life. Behavioral strategies to manage LUTS focused on "being prepared to go when you need to go" and consisted mostly of trial-and-error efforts. CONCLUSION: Misconceptions about LUTS among men with PD may result in underreporting, missed opportunities for professional assistance, and diminished health-related quality of life. Future research should focus on developing and testing nursing interventions to address cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of the LUTS experience in men with PD.

Characteristics of United States nursing homes with high percentages of stage 2-4 pressure injuries among high-risk nursing home residents with obesity.

Obesity rates in nursing homes (NHs) are increasing. Residents with obesity are at risk for poor outcomes such as pressure injuries (PIs) due to special care needs such as bariatric medical equipment and special protocols for skin care. PIs among resident populations is a sign of poor quality NH care. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to identify characteristics of NHs with high rates of stage 2-4 PIs among their high-risk residents with obesity. Resident assessment data were aggregated to the NH level. NH structure and process of care and antecedent conditions of the residents and environment measures were used in bivariate comparisons and multivariate logistic regression models to identify associations with NHs having high rates of stage 2-4 PIs among high-risk residents with obesity. We identified three characteristics for which the effect on the odds was at least 10% for clinical significance - for-profit status, large facilities, and the hours of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) per patient day (HRPPD). This study identified several NH characteristics that are associated with higher risk for PIs, which can be targeted with evidence-based interventions to reduce the risk of these adverse safety events occurring.

The Experience of Women Who Care for Spouses With Parkinson's Disease and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the symptoms, bother, impact, and attribution of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and management strategies from the perspective of the spouse caregiver. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design with semistructured interviews was guided by the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms and family systems theory. SETTING: Women were recruited from a Parkinson's Center at a Veterans Affairs hospital in the northeastern part of the United States. Their veteran husbands received care for Parkinson's disease at the center. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 15 female spouse caregivers of men with Parkinson's disease and associated LUTS. METHODS: Purposive sampling was used to select caregiver participants for audiotaped interviews. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the participants. A directed content analysis was used to code transcribed interviews and field notes. RESULTS: The cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of caring for a spouse with LUTS were identified. Participants were knowledgeable about the direct effect of Parkinson's disease on the bladder. Their affective responses included experiencing bother, emotional distress from the impact of LUTS on their lives, and empathy for their husbands. Participants tried many behavioral strategies to manage LUTS but received limited professional assistance for daily LUTS management. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary, patient- and family-centered approaches that provide education, treatment, and support are needed to promote better management of LUTS, maintain patient dignity, and reduce burden for the patient and family.

Lower urinary tract symptoms in men with Parkinson disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence, presentation, and predictors of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD). METHODS: Guided by the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms, this retrospective exploratory study used data abstracted from admission clinical records of 271 male patients with idiopathic PD enrolled in a movement disorders clinic at a large metropolitan Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the eastern region of the United States. Data from the admission questionnaire, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, and Mini Mental State Examination were abstracted by trained research assistants. Interrater reliability for the abstraction process was 0.99 in a randomly selected 10% sample of records. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of LUTS. Logistic regression was used to determine LUTS risk factors and predictors. RESULTS: At least one LUTS was reported by 40.2% of participants. Incontinence was the most prevalent symptom, affecting almost 25% of participants, followed by nocturia (14.8%) and frequency (13.7%). Of the 10 identified risk factors for LUTS, four significant predictors were discovered: number of non-PD medications (p < .05), PD duration (p < .05), number of comorbidities (p < .05), and history of a hernia diagnosis (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment for LUTS should be a component of every evaluation of a patient with PD. Our findings offer a preliminary profile of the male PD patient with LUTS, which is an important step toward effective screening, detection, and access to care and treatment. Next steps in research include further work to identify predictors of LUTS in both male and female PD populations, explore patient perspectives, begin trials of interventions for LUTS in the PD population, and analyze the economic impact.