California's methane super-emitters.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and is targeted for emissions mitigation by the US state of California and other jurisdictions worldwide1,2. Unique opportunities for mitigation are presented by point-source emitters-surface features or infrastructure components that are typically less than 10 metres in diameter and emit plumes of highly concentrated methane3. However, data on point-source emissions are sparse and typically lack sufficient spatial and temporal resolution to guide their mitigation and to accurately assess their magnitude4. Here we survey more than 272,000 infrastructure elements in California using an airborne imaging spectrometer that can rapidly map methane plumes5-7. We conduct five campaigns over several months from 2016 to 2018, spanning the oil and gas, manure-management and waste-management sectors, resulting in the detection, geolocation and quantification of emissions from 564 strong methane point sources. Our remote sensing approach enables the rapid and repeated assessment of large areas at high spatial resolution for a poorly characterized population of methane emitters that often appear intermittently and stochastically. We estimate net methane point-source emissions in California to be 0.618 teragrams per year (95 per cent confidence interval 0.523-0.725), equivalent to 34-46 per cent of the state's methane inventory8 for 2016. Methane 'super-emitter' activity occurs in every sector surveyed, with 10 per cent of point sources contributing roughly 60 per cent of point-source emissions-consistent with a study of the US Four Corners region that had a different sectoral mix9. The largest methane emitters in California are a subset of landfills, which exhibit persistent anomalous activity. Methane point-source emissions in California are dominated by landfills (41 per cent), followed by dairies (26 per cent) and the oil and gas sector (26 per cent). Our data have enabled the identification of the 0.2 per cent of California's infrastructure that is responsible for these emissions. Sharing these data with collaborating infrastructure operators has led to the mitigation of anomalous methane-emission activity10.

Prevention and Rehabilitation After Heart Transplantation: A Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology, Heart Failure Association of the ESC, and the European Cardio Thoracic Transplant Association, a Section of ESOT.

Little is known either about either physical activity patterns, or other lifestyle-related prevention measures in heart transplantation (HTx) recipients. The history of HTx started more than 50 years ago but there are still no guidelines or position papers highlighting the features of prevention and rehabilitation after HTx. The aims of this scientific statement are (i) to explain the importance of prevention and rehabilitation after HTx, and (ii) to promote the factors (modifiable/non-modifiable) that should be addressed after HTx to improve patients' physical capacity, quality of life and survival. All HTx team members have their role to play in the care of these patients and multidisciplinary prevention and rehabilitation programmes designed for transplant recipients. HTx recipients are clearly not healthy disease-free subjects yet they also significantly differ from heart failure patients or those who are supported with mechanical circulatory support. Therefore, prevention and rehabilitation after HTx both need to be specifically tailored to this patient population and be multidisciplinary in nature. Prevention and rehabilitation programmes should be initiated early after HTx and continued during the entire post-transplant journey. This clinical consensus statement focuses on the importance and the characteristics of prevention and rehabilitation designed for HTx recipients.

Psychological interventions for depression and anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease, heart failure or atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety occur frequently (with reported prevalence rates of around 40%) in individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF) or atrial fibrillation (AF) and are associated with a poor prognosis, such as decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and increased morbidity and mortality. Psychological interventions are developed and delivered by psychologists or specifically trained healthcare workers and commonly include cognitive behavioural therapies and mindfulness-based stress reduction. They have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety in the general population, though the exact mechanism of action is not well understood. Further, their effects on psychological and clinical outcomes in patients with CHD, HF or AF are unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of psychological interventions (alone, or with cardiac rehabilitation or pharmacotherapy, or both) in adults who have a diagnosis of CHD, HF or AF, compared to no psychological intervention, on psychological and clinical outcomes. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases from 2009 to July 2022. We also searched three clinical trials registers in September 2020, and checked the reference lists of included studies. No language restrictions were applied. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing psychological interventions with no psychological intervention for a minimum of six months follow-up in adults aged over 18 years with a clinical diagnosis of CHD, HF or AF, with or without depression or anxiety. Studies had to report on either depression or anxiety or both. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were depression and anxiety, and our secondary outcomes of interest were HRQoL mental and physical components, all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty-one studies (2591 participants) met our inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies included people with CHD, five with HF and none with AF. Study sample sizes ranged from 29 to 430. Twenty and 17 studies reported the primary outcomes of depression and anxiety, respectively. Despite the high heterogeneity and variation, we decided to pool the studies using a random-effects model, recognising that the model does not eliminate heterogeneity and findings should be interpreted cautiously. We found that psychological interventions probably have a moderate effect on reducing depression (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.65 to -0.06; 20 studies, 2531 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) and anxiety (SMD -0.57, 95% CI -0.96 to -0.18; 17 studies, 2235 participants; moderate-certainty evidence), compared to no psychological intervention. Psychological interventions may have little to no effect on HRQoL physical component summary scores (PCS) (SMD 0.48, 95% CI -0.02 to 0.98; 12 studies, 1454 participants; low-certainty evidence), but may have a moderate effect on improving HRQoL mental component summary scores (MCS) (SMD 0.63, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.26; 12 studies, 1454 participants; low-certainty evidence), compared to no psychological intervention. Psychological interventions probably have little to no effect on all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.81, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.69; 3 studies, 615 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) and may have little to no effect on MACE (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.92; 4 studies, 450 participants; low-certainty evidence), compared to no psychological intervention. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that psychological interventions for depression and anxiety probably result in a moderate reduction in depression and anxiety and may result in a moderate improvement in HRQoL MCS, compared to no intervention. However, they may have little to no effect on HRQoL PCS and MACE, and probably do not reduce mortality (all-cause) in adults who have a diagnosis of CHD or HF, compared with no psychological intervention. There was moderate to substantial heterogeneity identified across studies. Thus, evidence of treatment effects on these outcomes warrants careful interpretation. As there were no studies of psychological interventions for patients with AF included in our review, this is a gap that needs to be addressed in future studies, particularly in view of the rapid growth of research on management of AF. Studies investigating cost-effectiveness, return to work and cardiovascular morbidity (revascularisation) are also needed to better understand the benefits of psychological interventions in populations with heart disease.

Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis.

AIMS: Coronary heart disease is the most common reason for referral to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) globally. However, the generalizability of previous meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is questioned. Therefore, a contemporary updated meta-analysis was undertaken. METHODS AND RESULTS: Database and trial registry searches were conducted to September 2020, seeking RCTs of exercise-based interventions with ≥6-month follow-up, compared with no-exercise control for adults with myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or following coronary artery bypass graft, or percutaneous coronary intervention. The outcomes of mortality, recurrent clinical events, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis, and cost-effectiveness data were narratively synthesized. Meta-regression was used to examine effect modification. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A total of 85 RCTs involving 23 430 participants with a median 12-month follow-up were included. Overall, exercise-based CR was associated with significant risk reductions in cardiovascular mortality [risk ratio (RR): 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-0.86, number needed to treat (NNT): 37], hospitalizations (RR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.67-0.89, NNT: 37), and myocardial infarction (RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.96, NNT: 100). There was some evidence of significantly improved HRQoL with CR participation, and CR is cost-effective. There was no significant impact on overall mortality (RR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.89-1.04), coronary artery bypass graft (RR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.80-1.15), or percutaneous coronary intervention (RR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.69-1.02). No significant difference in effects was found across different patient groups, CR delivery models, doses, follow-up, or risk of bias. CONCLUSION: This review confirms that participation in exercise-based CR by patients with coronary heart disease receiving contemporary medical management reduces cardiovascular mortality, recurrent cardiac events, and hospitalizations and provides additional evidence supporting the improvement in HRQoL and the cost-effectiveness of CR.

Global perspectives on heart disease rehabilitation and secondary prevention: a scientific statement from the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions, European Association of Preventive Cardiology, and International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death, morbidity, disability, and reduced health-related quality of life, as well as economic burden worldwide, with some 80% of disease burden occurring in the low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings. With increasing numbers of people living longer with symptomatic disease, the effectiveness and accessibility of secondary preventative and rehabilitative health services have never been more important. Whilst LMICs experience the highest prevalence and mortality rates, the global approach to secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation, which mitigates this burden, has traditionally been driven from clinical guidelines emanating from high-income settings. This state-of-the art review provides a contemporary global perspective on cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention, contrasting the challenges of and opportunities for high vs. lower income settings. Actionable solutions to overcome system, clinician, programme, and patient level barriers to cardiac rehabilitation access in LMICs are provided.

Exploring perceptions of what increased gender diversity might bring to the nursing profession.

AIMS: To explore university nursing students and academic staff's perceptions of what increased gender diversity might bring to the nursing profession. DESIGN: An exploratory study with students and academic staff from two university nursing schools. METHODS: Students and staff in two university nursing schools were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey (October-November 2022). The survey focused on gender diversity within nursing and patient care, asking respondents about existing barriers to gender diversity and inviting ideas on increasing gender diversity within nursing. The survey findings helped inform questions, which were used to further explore views and thoughts of gender diversity within nursing through semi-structured one-to-one interviews (January-February 2023). RESULTS: Nearly, two-thirds (64%, n = 69) of survey respondents strongly agreed/agreed that the lack of gender diversity in nursing negatively impacted delivering care to a gender-diverse society. Most (84%, n = 90) strongly agreed/agreed that increased gender diversity within the nursing workforce would positively contribute to nursing. Three-quarters (75%, n = 74) strongly agreed/agreed that working with a more gender-diverse nursing workforce would enrich their experience as a nurse. Three themes emerged from the interview data: shared stereotypes; improved care through knowledge, better relations and the presence of a gender-diverse workforce; a culture of welcome: suggested changes for the future. CONCLUSION: Most of those who participated in the study believe there are benefits to be gained from greater gender diversity within nursing. This study provides insight into the lack of gender diversity in the nursing environment, highlights how this might impact patient care and suggests actions to make nursing a more inclusive profession. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Practical solutions were suggested, including the greater visibility of trans and non-binary persons in advertisement and recruitment campaigns to ensure nursing is viewed as a career choice for "all". Including a space for considered pronouns on university application forms, hospital documentation and name badges. Gender-neutral titles and uniforms should be considered for all nursing staff, and more gender-neutral toilets should be made available for staff and patients in university and hospital settings. IMPACT: This study addressed the lack of gender diversity in nursing and explored what an increase in gender diversity might bring to the nursing profession. The main findings were: (i) Less than a tenth (9%, n = 12) of respondents described their team of colleagues as being "extremely gender diverse". (ii) Most (84%, n = 90) strongly agreed/agreed that increased gender diversity within the nursing workforce would be a positive attribute to nursing. (iii) Three-quarters 75% (n = 74) strongly agreed/agreed that working with a more gender-diverse nursing workforce would enrich their experience as a nurse. (iv) Many stereotypes still exist in nursing and tackling them is important to make the profession more inclusive. (v) A nurse's gender can impact the care they provide. (vi) A more gender-diverse workforce would better reflect the population it serves. (vii) This research will have an impact on the nursing profession globally. REPORTING METHOD: The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ) was used as a guide throughout data collection and analysis. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Every step of the study, including the survey and interview schedule, was co-constructed using an iterative approach with service users, students and staff who had personal experience of gender diversity and were a core part of the study team.

Clinical and demographic moderators of self-care and hospitalizations in pre-coronary artery bypass grafting patients: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To examine the influence of clinical and demographic factors on self-care behaviour and hospitalization rates among patients with coronary heart disease awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting. BACKGROUND: Appropriate self-care behaviour can improve the management of patients with coronary heart disease and reduce hospitalization rates among those awaiting coronary artery bypass graft surgery. However, little is known about the influence of clinical and demographic factors on self-care or hospitalizations in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A convenience sample of 99 participants diagnosed with coronary heart disease awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting surgery were recruited from an outpatient clinic of a public tertiary hospital in southern Thailand. Data were collected on clinical (left ventricular ejection fraction, symptom severity and comorbid disease) and demographic (age, education level and marital status) factors, self-care behaviour and hospitalization rates. Path analysis using LISREL was performed to examine the influence of self-care on hospitalizations, with clinical and demographic factors as moderators. RESULTS: Path analysis showed that clinical and demographic factors accounted for nearly half of the variance (46%) in self-care, and that self-care accounted for nearly half of the variance (48%) in hospitalization rates. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that clinical and demographic factors play an important role in self-care behaviour, and in turn hospitalization rates of pre-coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients. It is suggested that the period pre-surgery is an ideal time to introduce programmes designed to bolster self-care and minimize uncertainty among this patient population and that nurses are well-positioned to do so. REPORTING METHOD: Study methods and results reported in adherence to the STROBE checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients contributed their consent, time and data to the study.

Development of a short form of the Cardiac Distress Inventory.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac distress may be viewed as a persistent negative emotional state that spans multiple psychosocial domains and challenges a patient's capacity to cope with living with their heart condition. The Cardiac Distress Inventory (CDI) is a disease-specific clinical assessment tool that captures the complexity of this distress. In busy settings such as primary care, cardiac rehabilitation, and counselling services, however, there is a need to administer briefer tools to aid in identification and screening. The aim of the present study was to develop a short, valid screening version of the CDI. METHODS: A total of 405 participants reporting an acute coronary event in the previous 12 months was recruited from three hospitals, through social media and by direct enrolment on the study website. Participants completed an online survey which included the full version of the CDI and general distress measures including the Kessler K6, Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and Emotion Thermometers. Relationship of the CDI with these instruments, Rasch analysis model fit and clinical expertise were all used to select items for the short form (CDI-SF). Construct validity and receiver operating characteristics in relation to the Kessler K6 were examined. RESULTS: The final 12 item CDI-SF exhibited excellent internal consistency indicative of unidimensionality and good convergent and discriminant validity in comparison to clinical status measures, all indicative of good construct validity. Using the K6 validated cutoff of ≥ 18 as the reference variable, the CDI-SF had a very high Area Under the Curve (AUC) (AUC = 0.913 (95% CI: 0.88 to 0.94). A CDI-SF score of ≥ 13 was found to indicate general cardiac distress which may warrant further investigation using the original CDI. CONCLUSION: The psychometric findings detailed here indicate that the CDI-SF provides a brief psychometrically sound screening measure indicative of general cardiac distress, that can be used in both clinical and research settings.

Experiences of people with long COVID: Symptoms, support strategies and the Long COVID Optimal Health Programme (LC-OHP).

INTRODUCTION: Long COVID (LC) is a multisystem illness, with fluctuating symptoms that affect the daily activities of patients. There are still no standardised diagnostic criteria or treatment approaches for managing LC. The LC-Optimal Health Programme (LC-OHP) was designed to support the mental wellbeing and physical health of people with LC. Gaining an in-depth understanding of patients' experiences and support strategies is imperative to identifying appropriate supports to guide them through their recovery. This study aimed to elicit the experiences and perceptions of adults with LC regarding symptoms, support strategies and the LC-OHP. METHODS: As part of a wider randomised controlled trial of the LC-OHP, participants in the intervention group had their sessions audio-recorded. Transcripts were thematically analysed to identify common emergent themes. FINDINGS: The LC-OHP was delivered to 26 participants. Data were collected between January 2022 and February 2023. Four main themes emerged: 'Symptoms and impact of LC'; 'Other sources of support and perceived challenges'; 'Strategies to support LC' and 'Perceptions of the LC-OHP'. CONCLUSION: LC experiences were mostly described as fluctuating and burdensome that significantly impacted daily activities, and physical and mental health. The LC-OHP was perceived as beneficial. Access and experiences of other sources of support were varied. Increasing LC awareness amongst health practitioners and the wider community has the potential to improve the experiences of those affected by LC. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The LC-OHP was derived from the OHP. It was adapted to people with LC following consultation with practitioners at an LC clinic. Additionally, the mode and timing of delivering the programme to this population were taken into account for its delivery at the convenience of participating patients. While considering that fatigue and brain fog are amongst the most reported complaints of people with LC, public members with LC were not involved directly in this study; however, feedback obtained from practitioners working with this population was implemented in amending the programme and its delivery. Additionally, feedback from patients with other chronic health conditions who used the OHP in previous studies has been implemented to make the programme more user-friendly. Moreover, feedback obtained from participants receiving this programme in this study was implanted immediately and shared with other participants. Finally, this study was overviewed by a data management committee that included two public members with LC, who contributed and provided guidance to support this study.

Interventions to support mental health in people with long COVID: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Long COVID (LC) is a multisystem disease with symptoms lasting weeks or months beyond the acute COVID-19 infection. Several manifestations are reported by people with LC, including effects on mental health, with varying degrees of psychological distress and disturbances to daily activities. Research conducted to identify effective interventions to support mental health among people with LC has been limited by the breadth and scope of studies. AIM: This review aims to identify interventions being tested to support mental health of people with LC. METHODS: A scoping review was conducted by searching five databases for articles published between January 2020 and early October 2022 to identify research evaluating interventions focused on improving mental health symptoms associated with LC. Results from all sources were checked for eligibility by two reviewers, and agreements were resolved by discussion. Gray literature and reference list of included studies and relevant reviews were scrutinised to identify any additional studies. Data extraction was conducted by one reviewer and checked by another reviewer for accuracy. RESULTS: Of the 940 studies identified, 17 were included, the design of which varied but included mainly case studies (n = 6) and clinical trials (n = 5). Several interventions were described, ranging from single interventions (e.g., pharmacologic) to more holistic, comprehensive suites of services (pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic). Several mental health outcomes were measured, mostly anxiety and depression. All included studies were reported to be associated with improvements in participants' mental health outcomes. CONCLUSION: This scoping review identified studies reporting on a variety of interventions to support mental health among people with LC. Although positive changes were reported by all studies, some were case studies and thus their findings must be interpreted with caution. There is a need for more research to be conducted to identify the impact of interventions on mental health of people with LC.

Challenges in heart failure care in four European countries: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: In Europe, more than 15 million people live with heart failure (HF). It imposes an enormous social, organizational and economic burden. As a reaction to impending impact on healthcare provision, different country-specific structures for HF-care have been established. The aim of this report is to provide an overview and compare the HF-care approaches of Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the UK, and to open the possibility of learning from each other's experience. METHODS: A mixed methods approach was implemented that included a literature analysis, interviews and questionnaires with HF-patients and caregivers, and expert interviews with representatives from healthcare, health service research and medical informatics. RESULTS: The models of HF-care in all countries analyzed are based on the European Society of Cardiology guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of HF. Even though the HF-models differed in design and implementation in practice, key challenges were similar: (i) unequal distribution of care between urban and rural areas, (ii) long waiting times, (iii) unequal access to and provision of healthcare services, (iv) information and communication gaps and (v) inadequate implementation and financing of digital applications. CONCLUSION: Although promising approaches exist to structure and improve HF-care, across the four countries, implementation was reluctant to embrace novel methods. A lack of financial resources and insufficient digitalization making it difficult to adopt new concepts. Integration of HF-nurses seems to be an effective way of improving current models of HF-care. Digital solutions offer further opportunities to overcome communication and coordination gaps and to strengthen self-management skills.

Swept under the carpet: a qualitative study of patient perspectives on Long COVID, treatments, services, and mental health.

BACKGROUND: A constellation of often disabling long-term physical symptoms enduring after an acute SARS-COV-2 infection is commonly referred to as Long COVID. Since Long COVID is a new clinical entity, research is required to clarify treatment needs and experiences of individuals affected. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to provide insight into Long COVID treatment and service experiences and preferences of individuals experiencing Long COVID and the intersections with mental health. METHODS: The study was conducted out of a tertiary care mental health hospital, with online recruitment from the community across Canada. A total of 47 individuals (average age = 44.9) participated in one of 11 focus groups between June and December 2022. Five focus groups were conducted with participants who had pre-existing mental health concerns prior to contracting SARS-CoV-2, and six were with people with Long COVID but without pre-existing mental health concerns. A semi-structured interview guide asked about service experiences and service preferences, including mental health and well-being services. Discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using codebook thematic analysis. RESULTS: When accessing services for Long COVID, patients experienced: (1) systemic barriers to accessing care, and (2) challenges navigating the unknowns of Long COVID, leading to (3) negative impacts on patient emotional well-being and recovery. Participants called for improvements in Long COVID care, with a focus on: (1) developing Long COVID-specific knowledge and services, (2) enhancing support for financial well-being, daily living, and building a Long COVID community, and (3) improving awareness and the public representation of Long COVID. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial treatment barriers generate considerable burden for individuals living with Long COVID. There is a pressing need to improve treatment, social supports, and the social representation of Long COVID to create integrated, accessible, responsive, and ongoing support systems.

Anxiety and depression in patients aged 80 years and older following aortic valve therapy. A six-month follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about mental health following advanced cardiac procedures in the oldest patients. AIMS: To study changes in anxiety and depression from baseline to one- and six-month follow-up in older patients following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). METHODS: Prospective cohort study of patients ≥ 80 years undergoing elective TAVI or SAVR in a tertiary university hospital. Anxiety and depression were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Differences between TAVI/SAVR were analyzed using Welch's t test or chi-squared. Changes over time and group differences were established with longitudinal models using generalized least squares. RESULTS: In 143 patients (83.5 ± 2.7 years), 46% (n = 65) received TAVI. Anxiety was identified in 11% of TAVI patients at baseline. One- and six-months later, percentages were 8% and 9%. In SAVR patients, 18% had baseline scores indicating anxiety. One and six-months later, percentages were 11% and 9%. Depression was identified in 15% of TAVI patients. One- and six-months later, percentages were 11% and 17%. At baseline, 11% of SAVR patients had scores indicating depression. One- and six-months after SAVR, percentages were 15% and 12%. Longitudinal analyses showed reductions (P < 0.001) in anxiety from baseline to one-month, and stable scores between one- and six-months for both treatment groups. There was no change over time for depression among treatment groups (P = 0.21). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: SAVR or TAVI in patients ≥ 80 years was associated with anxiety reduction between baseline and follow-up. For depression, there was no evidence of change over time in either treatment group.

Impact of chronic kidney disease on illness perceptions, coping, self-efficacy, psychological distress and quality of life.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) negatively impacts psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL). Underpinned by the Common Sense Model (CSM), this study evaluated the potential mediating role of self-efficacy, coping styles and psychological distress on the relationship between illness perceptions and QoL in patients living with CKD. Participants were 147 people with stage 3-5 kidney disease. Measures included eGFR, illness perceptions, coping styles, psychological distress, self-efficacy and QoL. Correlational analyses were performed, followed by regression modelling. Poorer QoL was associated with greater distress, engagement in maladaptive coping, poorer illness perceptions and lower self-efficacy. Regression analysis revealed that illness perceptions predicted QoL, with psychological distress acting as a mediator. The proportion of variance explained was 63.8%. These findings suggest that psychological interventions are likely to enhance QoL in CKD, if they target the mediating psychological processes associated with illness perceptions and psychological distress.

Interventions for mental health, cognition, and psychological wellbeing in long COVID: a systematic review of registered trials.

BACKGROUND: Among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, a substantial proportion are experiencing ongoing symptoms for months after infection, known as 'long COVID'. Long COVID is associated with a wide range of physical and neuropsychological symptoms, including impacts on mental health, cognition, and psychological wellbeing. However, intervention research is only beginning to emerge. This systematic review synthesizes currently registered trials examining interventions for mental health, cognition, and psychological wellbeing in patients with long COVID. METHODS: Standard systematic review guidelines were followed. Trials registered in two large trial registries in 2020 to May 2022 were reviewed. Included studies were narratively synthesized by type of intervention and a risk-of-bias assessment was conducted. RESULTS: Forty-two registered trials were included, with a total target sample size of 5814 participants. These include 11 psychological interventions, five pharmacological and other medical interventions, and five evaluating herbal, nutritional, or natural supplement interventions. An additional nine trials are examining cognitive and neurorehabilitation interventions and 12 are examining physiotherapy or physical rehabilitation. Most trials are randomized, but many are feasibility trials; trials are evaluating a wide spectrum of outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: While there is a newly emerging body of research testing interventions for mental health, cognition, and psychological wellbeing in long COVID, the breadth and scope of the research remains limited. It is urgently incumbent on researchers to expand upon the intervention research currently under way, in order to generate high-quality evidence on a wide range of candidate interventions for diverse long COVID patient populations.

Association between participation self-efficacy and participation in stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND: Most stroke survivors face restrictions in functional disability and social participation, which can impede their recovery and community reintegration. Participation self-efficacy refers to survivors' confidence in using strategies to manage participation in areas including community living and work engagement. This study aimed to assess the association between participation self-efficacy and participation among stroke survivors. METHODS: This study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design with a convenience sample of 336 stroke survivors recruited from five hospitals in China. Participation self-efficacy was measured using the Chinese version of the Participation Strategies Self-Efficacy Scale (PS-SES-C) and participation measured using the Chinese version of the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI-C). The association between participation self-efficacy and participation was examined using multiple regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 69.9 ± 11.5 years, with most (81.6%) having an ischaemic stroke, and more than half (61.6%) a first-ever stroke. After adjustment for potential confounders, every 10-point increase in the PS-SES-C total score was significantly associated with an average 1.3-point increase in the RNLI-C total score (B = 1.313, SE = 0.196, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that participation self-efficacy is significantly associated with participation among Chinese community-dwelling survivors of a mild or moderate stroke. This suggests that rehabilitation programmes for stroke survivors may be more effective if they incorporate participation-focused strategies designed to enhance self-efficacy. (229 words).

The cardiac distress inventory: A new measure of psychosocial distress associated with an acute cardiac event.

BACKGROUND: Many challenges are posed by the experience of a heart attack or heart surgery which can be characterised as 'cardiac distress'. It spans multiple psychosocial domains incorporating patients' responses to physical, affective, cognitive, behavioural and social symptoms and experiences related to their cardiac event and their recovery. Although some measures of the psychological and emotional impacts of a cardiac event exist, none provides a comprehensive assessment of cardiac distress. To address this gap, the study aimed to develop a Cardiac Distress Inventory (CDI) using best practice in instrument design. METHOD: An item pool was generated through analysis of cognate measures, mostly in relation to other health conditions and through focus group and individual review by a multidisciplinary development team, cardiac patients, and end-users including cardiac rehabilitation co-ordinators. The resulting 144 items were reduced through further reviews to 74 for testing. The testing was carried out with 405 people recruited from three hospitals, through social media and by direct enrolment on the study website. A two-stage psychometric evaluation of the 74 items used exploratory factor analysis to extract the factors followed by Rasch analysis to confirm dimensionality within factors. RESULTS: Psychometric analysis resulted in the identification of 55 items comprising eight subscales, to form the CDI. The subscales assess fear and uncertainty, disconnection and hopelessness, changes to roles and relationships, overwhelm and depletion, cognitive challenges, physical challenges, health system challenges, and death concerns. Validation against the Kessler 6 supports the criterion validity of the CDI. CONCLUSION: The CDI reflects a nuanced understanding of cardiac distress and should prove to be a useful clinical assessment tool, as well as a research instrument. Individual subscales or the complete CDI could be used to assess or monitor specific areas of distress in clinical practice. Development of a short form screening version for use in primary care, cardiac rehabilitation and counselling services is warranted.

Prospective memory impairment in chronic heart failure: a replication study.

Cognitive deficits are common in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), but little attention has been given to the investigation of prospective memory (PM) - the ability to execute delayed intentions. Importantly, many aspects of PM are crucial for patient implementation of HF self-care behaviours. Here we provide a replication of our original work involving PM in patients with HF. We compared a group of 51 HF patients to 41 closely matched controls. The primary outcome measure was a laboratory test of PM, Virtual week, which closely simulates PM tasks in daily life. A series of background cognitive tests were also administered. Consistent with our previous work, the HF group had significant PM impairment compared to controls, and these difficulties were generalised across different types of PM tasks. Surprisingly, we did not find any differences in the background cognitive tasks between groups. Compared to controls, the HF group had significant and similar sized deficits on all task parameters assessed (event, time, regular, irregular) of PM function, which likely impacts engagement in HF self-care.

Moderating the relationship between diabetes distress and mastery: the role of depression and empowerment.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition primarily self-managed by the individual. Mastery is a protective factor linked to better control of chronic conditions, effective self-management and improved medication adherence. Mastery appears increasingly important as treatment regimens and self-management demands become more complex and burdensome. Diabetes distress negatively impacts self-management, glycaemic control and treatment adherence. Understanding the relationship between diabetes distress and mastery may provide opportunities to improve condition management and adherence . This relationship may be impacted by other factors affecting the individual's perceived sense of control over their condition. This study examined the role of diabetes empowerment and depression in the relationship between diabetes distress and mastery. Data were drawn from a randomised controlled trial of 131 adults with type 2 diabetes transitioning to injection therapy. Participants completed measures of diabetes distress , mastery , depression and empowerment . Diabetes distress and depression were negatively associated with mastery, whilst diabetes empowerment was positively associated . A significant interaction effect (b = .024, t(112) = 3.79, p = <.005) confirmed the relationship between diabetes distress and mastery was moderated by depression. Findings highlight the additive deleterious effects of depression. Interventions to improve mastery among those living with type 2 diabetes should address diabetes distress and depression to optimise outcomes.

Critical elements in nursing graduates' transition to advanced practice roles and their perceived impact on patient care: an exploratory, descriptive study of graduates' and their managers' perceptions.

BACKGROUND: While there is a growth in the number of advanced practice nurses, there is a dearth of research examining their role transition from registered nurses. This study aimed to identify critical elements in the career path of nursing graduates who have taken up advanced practice roles and examine their perceived impact on patient care. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive study was performed. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face with 10 nursing graduates now in advanced practice roles, and their ten respective managers. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for latent and manifest content analyses. RESULTS: The nursing graduates, six of whom were male, had a mean age of 35 years. All possessed a master's degree and formal post-registration education and/or training. Six had at least three years' experience as an advanced practice nurse. The managers, all female, had a mean age of 49 years. Eight had at least one year's experience in their current position. Six key themes emerged: prior enhancement of personal and professional knowledge and skills; active participation in clinical roles and knowledge translation in preparation for advanced practice; adapting to new and diverse advanced practice nursing responsibilities; role of advanced practice nurses in leadership; personal qualities crucial for success in advanced practice; and provision of evidence-based patient-centered care. CONCLUSIONS: Postgraduate education, management knowledge and leadership skills, and active participation in clinical roles and knowledge translation appear crucial ingredients for promotion of nursing graduates to advanced practice roles. Other ingredients include a positive outlook, flexibility and adaptability, and good interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills.