Impact of caregiver relationship on self-care in patients with Parkinson's disease: A cross-sectional study using Riegel's theory of self-care of chronic illness.

AIMS: To explore how the characteristics of patients and caregivers affect self-care in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: A multicentre cross-sectional study. METHOD: We followed the STROBE checklist. Parkinson's disease patients aged 50 years and older and their caregivers were recruited from two tertiary hospitals and the Korean Parkinson's Disease Association website. Patient characteristics, including social support, relationship quality with caregivers, self-care efficacy and self-care, were analysed. Caregiver characteristics were also evaluated, including caregiving duration, social support, relationship quality with patients, contribution to patients' self-care efficacy and contribution to patients' self-care. RESULTS: The characteristics of patients and caregivers (103 pairs) were hierarchically regressed into patient self-care domains (maintenance, monitoring and management). Most patients and caregivers gave a self-care efficacy and self-care management rating of moderate. In three regression models, patient self-care efficacy was positively related to three domains of patient self-care. Self-care maintenance decreased as patients' disease duration increased. Self-care monitoring was positively related to the education level of patients and caregiving duration. Self-care management showed an inverse relationship with caregiving duration and a positive relationship with caregiver contribution. CONCLUSION: Self-care efficacy was important in promoting PD patients' self-care maintenance, monitoring and management. The contributions of caregivers were also critical in increasing PD patients' self-care management. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: To increase patients' self-care efficacy and self-care, educational interventions containing information about the disease, symptom management, and problem-solving should be implemented. Since caregivers are deeply involved in patients' self-care, educational interventions for caregivers should also be provided. IMPACT: This study closed the literature gap by examining the self-care efficacy and self-care of Korean PD patients. Findings demonstrated the importance of caregiver roles on patients' self-care and health. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Two tertiary hospitals and the Korean Parkinson's Disease Association assisted during the recruitment process.

School connectedness mediates the association of social function with depressive symptoms in teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms commonly co-occur in teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and poor social function is a known predictor of depressive symptoms. This study's purpose was to determine whether school connectedness mediates the association between social function and depressive symptoms in teenagers with ADHD. METHOD: In this secondary analysis, we selected 313 (74%) of 425 teenagers with ADHD (male 72%, mean age = 15 years) who had completed data on depressive symptoms, social function, and school connectedness in the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study. The mediation effect of school connectedness was tested by multiple regression using SPSS PROCESS macro with 5000 bootstrap samples controlling covariates (teenagers' age, gender, and race, their relationship with primary caregivers, type of school teenager attends, time of living with primary caregivers, and primary caregivers' education). RESULTS: Social function predicted depressive symptoms (direct effect = -0.132, 95% CI = -0.218, -0.045). School connectedness mediated the relationship between social function and depressive symptoms (indirect effect = -0.084; 95% CI = -0.130, -0.045). CONCLUSION: This study points to the importance of considering school factors in understanding depression symptoms in children with ADHD. Also, clinicians should consider asking teenagers about school-related factors such as school connectedness which is likely important in understanding the experience of depressive symptoms in this population. Identifying ways to help enhance school connectedness for young people with ADHD should be prioritized.

Race Moderates the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Self-care Confidence in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: African Americans are at the highest risk of developing heart failure (HF) compared with other races and are hospitalized at 7 to 8 times the rate of Whites. Poor overall self-care, low self-care confidence, and lower levels of perceived social support are factors related to increased risk for hospitalizations in HF. Yet, limited evidence is available regarding the factors that may differentially impact self-care confidence by race in patients with HF. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine to what extent race moderates the relationship between perceived social support and self-care confidence. METHOD: This is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from African American and White patients with HF in North America (n = 429). Patients completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Self-Care Confidence Scale of the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index. A moderation analysis was conducted using hierarchal linear regression. RESULTS: Sample mean age was 60.8 ± 11.5 years, 22.4% were African American, and 54.7% were in New York Heart Association class I or II. Moderation analyses yielded a significant interaction of perceived social support and race, showing White patients, not African Americans, have significantly different self-care confidence scores depending on level of social support: White, b = 0.224, 95% confidence interval [0.046-0.094], t = 5.65, and P < .001; African American, b = -0.776, 95% confidence interval [-0.049 to 0.060], t = 0.212, and P = .832. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show a variable effect of perceived social support on self-care confidence as a function of race, suggesting the need for further research to develop and test interventions tailored to race and levels of social support in HF.

Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and Risk in Family Caregivers of Adults With Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers experience psychological distress or physical strain that may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to describe the current evidence and gaps in the literature on measures used to assess CVD outcomes in family caregivers, the association of caregiving with CVD incidence/risk outcomes, and associated factors in family caregivers of patients with chronic disease. METHODS: Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for English-language, peer-reviewed studies published from 2008 to 2020 that examined CVD incidence and risk among family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions. RESULTS: Forty-one studies were included in this review. The measures used to assess CVD risk were categorized into biochemical, subclinical markers, components of metabolic syndrome, and global risk scores. Compared with noncaregivers, caregivers were more likely to have higher CVD incidence rates and objectively measured risk. Cardiovascular disease risks were also increased by their caregiving experience, including hours/duration of caregiving, caregivers' poor sleep status, psychological symptoms, poor engagement in physical/leisure activities, and care recipient's disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were limited longitudinal studies in caregivers of patients with diverse health conditions, we found evidence that caregivers are at high risk of CVD. Further research for various caregiver groups using robust methods of measuring CVD risk is needed. Caregiver factors should be considered in developing interventions aimed at reducing CVD risk for caregivers.

Perceived Control Prevents Perception of Negative Changes in Life as a Result of Caring for a Patient With Heart Failure.

INTRODUCTION: Family caregivers of patients with heart failure (HF) commonly experience emotional distress and caregiving burden. Despite their caregiving distress, caregivers may experience positive or negative changes in their life compared with before caregiving. Greater perceived control is associated with better health outcomes, but little is known about whether perceived control is related to caregivers' perceptions of positive or negative changes in life, independent of their distress and burden in providing care for patients with HF. The specific aims were to compare emotional distress and caregiving burden between caregivers who perceived positive versus negative changes in life due to caregiving and to examine whether perceived control predicts the perception of positive or negative changes in life while controlling for emotional distress and caregiving burden. METHODS: Primary caregivers of patients with HF (N = 140, 75% women) completed questionnaires about perceived positive or negative changes in life as a result of caregiving, perceived control, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and caregiving burden. Independent t test, χ2, and logistic regressions were used to accomplish specific aims. RESULTS: Compared with caregivers who reported positive changes in life (42%), caregivers who perceived negative changes in life (58%) had higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and caregiving burden. Lower level of perceived control was an independent predictor of perceived negative changes in life, controlling for age, gender, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and caregiving burden (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.99; P = .0038). CONCLUSION: Greater perceived control played a protective role for caregivers independent of caregiver burden. Interventions designed to enhance perceived control may improve caregivers' perceptions of changes in their life.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge and end-of-life device deactivation: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: End-of-life implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation discussions should commence before device implantation and be ongoing, yet many implantable cardioverter defibrillators remain active in patients' last days. AIM: To examine associations among implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge, patient characteristics and attitudes to implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using the Experiences, Attitudes and Knowledge of End-of-Life Issues in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients Questionnaire. Participants were classified as insufficient or sufficient implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge and the two groups were compared. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients ( n = 270, mean age 61 ± 14 years; 73% male) were recruited from cardiology and implantable cardioverter defibrillator clinics attached to two tertiary hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, and two in Kentucky, the United States. RESULTS: Participants with insufficient implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge ( n = 77, 29%) were significantly older (mean age 66 vs 60 years, p = 0.001), less likely to be Caucasian (77% vs 87%, p = 0.047), less likely to have received implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks (26% vs 40%, p = 0.031), and more likely to have indications of mild cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score <24: 44% vs 16%, p < 0.001). Insufficient implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge was associated with attitudes suggesting unwillingness to discuss implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation, even during the last days towards end of life ( p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients, especially those who are older or have mild cognitive impairment, often have limited knowledge about implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation. This study identified several potential teachable moments throughout the patients' treatment trajectory. An interdisciplinary approach is required to ensure that discussions about implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation issues are initiated at appropriate time points, with family members ideally also included.

Psychological Aspects of Heart Failure.

Psychological conditions such as depression can have a greater impact on morbidity and mortality outcomes than traditional risk factors for these outcomes. Despite their importance, it is rare for clinicians to assess patients for these conditions and rarer still for them to consistently and adequately manage them. Illumination of the phenomena of comorbid psychological conditions in heart failure may increase awareness of the problem, resulting in improved assessment and management.

Adherence to a low-sodium diet in patients with heart failure is best when family members also follow the diet: a multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to a low-sodium diet (LSD) is difficult without continuous support from spouses or family members. Whether having a family member follow an LSD improves patient adherence has not been tested objectively. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of family adherence to an LSD on patient adherence to an LSD and to examine whether this effect differed by relationship status and living arrangement. METHODS: In this secondary data analysis, we analyzed data from 379 outpatients with heart failure who had objective evidence of adherence to an LSD (ie, a 24-hour urinary sodium excretion). The t test, analysis of variance, and logistic regressions were used to compare levels of adherence among groups that were categorized by family adherence to an LSD, relationship status, and living arrangement with family member and to predict the likelihood of being adherent to an LSD (24-hour urinary sodium excretion <3000 mg) by the groups. RESULTS: Compared with patients whose family did not follow an LSD, patients whose family member followed an LSD had lower average urinary sodium excretion (3651 vs 4280 mg; P = .003) and were 1.6 times more likely to be adherent to an LSD (95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.4; P = .035). Patients whose spouses followed the LSD had lower sodium excretion than did patients whose spouses did not follow the LSD (3730 vs 4534 mg; P = .012). Patients whose nonspousal family member followed an LSD were 4 times more likely to be adherent than were patients whose spousal member did not follow an LSD (odds ratio, 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.81-8.58; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Living with a spouse or other family member improved patient adherence to LSD only when the spouse or family member also followed the LSD. These results suggest that interventions aimed at improving LSD adherence should target patient and family member dyads to encourage family members to follow the LSD with patients.

Living labs for a mobile app-based health program: effectiveness of a 24-week walking intervention for cardiovascular disease risk reduction among female Korean-Chinese migrant workers: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The risk of Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) among adult populations is influenced by environmental factors, and immigrant populations tend to be more vulnerable. This study examined the effectiveness of a 24-week walking program based on social-cognitive determinants through mobile app for CVD risk reduction among female Korean-Chinese middle-aged workers. METHODS: This study used a parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants were recruited by distributing posters and flyers and randomly assigned to either the standard treatment (ST, n = 22) or enhanced treatment group (ET, n = 28). Participants were provided with a mobile app linked to Fitbit Alta for 24 weeks and instructed to walk at least 30 minutes five times a week and moderate-intensity physical activity. The ET group had additional interventions that enhanced social-cognitive determinants such as self-efficacy, social support. All participants were guided to voluntary physical activity during the 12-week maintenance period. Data were analyzed by the Mann Whitney U-test and a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: There were significant between-group differences regarding the number of steps (B = 1.295, P < .001) and moderate physical activity time (OR = 6.396, P = .030) at week 12. ET group had significant changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (B = 10.522, P = .007), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (B = -16.178, P = .024), total cholesterol (B = -20.325, P = .039), fasting blood sugar (B = - 8.138, P = -.046). In addition, there was a significant reduction of 10-year CVD risk for the ET group over 12 weeks compared to the ST group (B = -0.521, P<. 001). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term studies are needed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in large-scale migrant workers and to confirm the direct and insdirect effects of social-cognitive determinants on health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was retrospectively registered in WHO ICTRP (KCT0006467) August 19th, 2021. ( https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=KCT0006467.

Critical care nursing practice regarding patient anxiety assessment and management.

Anxiety is common in critically ill patients and can adversely affect recovery if not properly assessed and treated. The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify the clinical indicators that critical care nurses consider to be the defining attributes of anxiety in critically ill patients; and (2) delineate the interventions that critical care nurses use to alleviate anxiety in their patients. A total of 2500 nurses who worked in adult critical care areas were randomly selected from the membership of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Nurses selected were mailed a survey designed to determine what they considered to be the important attributes of anxiety in their patients and what interventions they commonly used to manage anxiety. The 593 nurses (31.6% response rate) who responded identified 70 individual anxiety indicators and 61 anxiety management strategies that were categorized into four and three major categories, respectively. The four major anxiety assessment categories were: (1) physical/physiological; (2) behavioral; (3) psychological/cognitive; and (4) social. The three major anxiety management strategies were: (1) care techniques; (2) improving knowledge and communication; and (3) support. Critical care nurses reported numerous and distinctive anxiety indicators and management strategies. Further research is needed to examine exactly how appropriate and effective these assessment indicators and management strategies are.