Effectiveness of a health communication intervention on health literacy in the first year following kidney transplantation - A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a new health communication intervention focusing on knowledge management skills on health literacy and medication adherence during the first year following kidney transplantation. METHODS: We randomized 195 patients during 2020-2021, to either intervention- or control group. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and at 12 months post-transplantation with a 12-month response rate of 84%. Health literacy was measured by the multidimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) instrument. Medication adherence was measured by the self-reported questionnaire (BAASIS©). RESULTS: Results showed that the intervention group had a significant increase in 2 HLQ domains compared to the control group capturing the "ability to appraise health information" Domain 5, (p-value = 0.002) and the "ability to navigate the healthcare system" Domain 7, (p-value <0.04). The effect sizes of SRM were 0.49 (Domain 5) and 0.33 (Domain 7). Medication adherence was comparable in the groups at any measure points. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to important knowledge about how a health communication intervention focusing on knowledge translation using motivational interviewing techniques positively strengthens health literacy in kidney transplant recipients. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Current patient education practice may benefit from focusing on knowledge translation in combination with motivational interview technique.

"A bit of everything": Health literacy interventions in chronic conditions - a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate health literacy (HL) interventions in chronic conditions by exploring theoretical perspectives, intervention content and effectiveness. METHOD: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane, CINAHL, EMBASE, ERIC, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Standardised systematic review methods were used, and sequences informing our research question were extracted and analysed. The study includes a descriptive summary of the included papers. RESULTS: We included 39 unique interventions, with diabetes and heart disease as the most targeted chronic conditions. Fifty-four percent of papers included a definition of HL, but the studies showed significant heterogeneity of theoretical underpinnings, modes, measures and content. We identified 23 HL measures, mostly assessing functional HL. The HL interventions were often more complex than the measures indicated. A significant change in HL was found in 28 studies. Study quality was generally poor. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions optimizing HL appear important to improve health outcomes in chronic conditions. To ensure cumulative knowledge development of this field we need theory-based interventions, consistency in methods and more tailored and comprehensive measures to capture the interventions' complexity. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A more valid understanding of HL interventions and measurements is needed to reach an agreed understanding of their components and intentions.

The importance of shared meaning-making for sustainable knowledge translation and health literacy.

The aim of the present paper is to describe and discuss how recent theories about translation, bridging medical and humanistic understandings of knowledge translation, in the medical humanities can bring about a new understanding of health literacy in the context of patient education. We argue that knowledge translation must be understood as active engagement with contextual meaning, considering the understandings, interpretation, and expertise of both patient and health care provider (deconstruction of the distinction between biomedical and cultural knowledge). To illustrate our points, we will describe the case of Jim, a kidney transplant recipient who received standard patient education but lost the graft (the new kidney). If we apply Kristeva's view to this context, graft function is not merely biology but a complex biocultural fact. In this perspective, graft function is seen as a phenomenon that embraces translation between health as a biomedical phenomenon and healing as lived experience, and that opens for shared meaning-making processes between the patient and the health care provider. In Jim's case, this means that we need to rethink the approach to patient education in a way that encourages the patient's idiosyncratic way of thinking and experiencing, and to transform health information into a means for sustaining Jim's singular life - not biological life "in general." The patient education programme did not take into consideration the singularities of Jim's biographical temporality, with its changes in everyday life, priorities, attitudes, and values. Hence, we claim that health literacy should involve a simultaneous interrogation of the patients and the health professional's constructions of knowledge.

Intervening on health literacy by knowledge translation processes in kidney transplantation: A feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Patients awaiting kidney transplantation need to be prepared ahead of the upcoming transplantation by developing targeted pre- and post-transplant knowledge. On this background, we designed a new health literacy intervention, including a film and a counselling session, based on motivational interviewing for dialysis patients provided by dialysis nurses. AIM: To explore patients' and nurses' experiences of the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, focusing on the patient as a prepared knowledge actor. DESIGN: An explorative qualitative study. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Data included in-depth interviews with nine patients and three nurses who participated in the intervention. The interviews were audiotaped and analysed following Kvale and Brinkmann's method for thematic data analysis. FINDINGS: Three main themes were identified: a different kind of health intervention stimulating new insight; a challenging kind of health conversation and changed relationships and increased security. CONCLUSIONS: Both the patients and the nurses had an overall positive attitude toward the intervention, providing a kind of dialogue to prepare dialysis patients going through kidney transplantation. The nurses found the MI methodology to be challenging. When introducing a comprehensive communication method like MI, potential training and supervision needs for the nurses must be addressed.

Digital storytelling in clinical replacement studies: Nursing students' experiences.

BACKGROUND: Reflection through shared storytelling is an established and well-documented way of learning in clinical placement studies in nursing education. Digital development has provided storytelling activities with increased possibilities. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore nursing students' experiences with student-created digital storytelling as a tool for reflection during clinical placement studies. METHODS: The study employed an explorative qualitative design. Five semi-structured focus group interviews with students (=37) from two different nursing education institutions in Norway were conducted during fall 2016 and spring 2017. FINDINGS: The findings showed that the use of the student-created digital storytelling was a trigger for engagement, promoted feelings of ownership of the reflection, and resulted in a deeper understanding. However, the study also revealed that the storyteller might be placed in a vulnerable position. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Student-created digital storytelling seems to be valuable for processes of reflection in clinical placement studies in nursing education. However, one should be aware of aspects concerning the vulnerable role of the storyteller as sharing multimedia technology messages with peer students seems to make students feel more exposed.

Implementation of a new patient education programme for renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Nurses' strategies regarding patient education should be informed by the best available research evidence. Clinical nurses play an essential role in implementing new patient education programmes for renal transplant recipients. AIM: This study investigated transplant nurse job satisfaction, competence, training and perceptions of quality of care in relation to the implementation of a new, evidence-based, patient education programme. This paper reports the results from the first part of an implementation study. METHODS: Data were collected in the form of a survey from 50 clinical transplant nurses at a single national transplant centre in Norway in 2015, six months after the patient education programme was implemented. A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. RESULTS: Seventy-two percent of the respondents reported that they had sufficient knowledge about the new programme; 54.4 % stated that the new programme resulted in renal transplant recipients being better educated. The new programme was found to be more structured, patient-centered and visible for the nurses across the wards, as compared with their previous practice. Nurses with less nursing experience were significantly more motivated about the new patient education programme, than the more experienced nurses (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nurses were generally satisfied with their new patient education practice. Knowledge derived from the research evidence on patient education was found to be valuable and transferable to everyday clinical nursing practice.

Limited evidence for the effectiveness of educational interventions for renal transplant recipients. Results from a systematic review of controlled clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the content and evaluate the effectiveness of patient education programs for renal recipients. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were identified through systematic literature searches in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, Embase, CINAH, and ERIC. Reference lists and reviews were also examined. Methodological quality was evaluated according to criteria developed by the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group. Interventional effects were summarized qualitatively. RESULTS: Nine trials were included, and three were RCT's. The educational interventions varied regarding focus, timing and intensity. No studies were assessed to have low risk of bias. Only two studies, which had a moderate risk of bias, reported beneficial effects in favor of the educational interventions. The strongest evidence was found for the use of preparatory video-assisted teaching prior to discharge and monthly pharmaceutical counseling. CONCLUSION: Few included studies with moderate to high risk of bias suggest limited evidence for the effects of educational interventions for renal recipients. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Studies with stronger designs and improved reporting standards are needed. Future educational interventions should include a holistic educational approach and be provided in both early and later stages post transplantation. Furthermore, additional long-term outcome measures are needed.

The effect of an educational intervention for renal recipients: a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to test the efficacy of an educational intervention on renal recipient's knowledge, compliance, self-efficacy, and quality of life. METHODS: In total, 159 renal recipients were randomized to the intervention (N = 77) or control group (N = 82). A total of 139 participants reached second measure point (7-8 wk post-Tx), and 120 participants reached third measure point (six months post-Tx). The intervention consisted of five tailored one-to-one sessions. Primary outcome was measured by a knowledge questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were measured by "The General- Self-efficacy Scale," SF-12 and by number of patient observations (Compliance). RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of knowledge were found in the experimental group compared with the control group at both measure points (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004). Compliance was significantly higher in the experimental group at second measure point (p = 0.000). At third measure point, the experimental group reported significantly better scores on self-efficacy (p = 0.036) and mental score of quality of life (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This structured, tailored educational intervention, applied in a 7-8 wk post-transplant period, increased renal recipients' levels of knowledge on both short and long terms. Furthermore, the intervention was beneficial for patients' compliance, self-efficacy, and mental quality of life.

Renal recipients' educational experiences in the early post-operative phase--a qualitative study.

Renal recipients need to acquire significant amount of knowledge for their life post-transplantation. More knowledge on kidney recipients' experiences after transplantation with regard to the patient education provided is needed. Sixteen renal recipients were interviewed 4-6 weeks post-transplantation about content and methods in the patient education programme. Data were analysed in the hermeneutic tradition. The patients experienced barriers towards learning in the early post-operative phase. Kidney transplantation was expressed as a 'turning point in life', causing learning difficulties because of both physical and mental stress. Survival knowledge was the label for topics concerning medication and rejection as they were experienced as essential for life. Situational knowledge, that is, knowledge related to recipients' individual life situations, requires further details in the main topics provided. The difference between knowing and practising what was taught was experienced as troublesome. The recipients expressed that a supportive learning atmosphere characterized by patience, respect, continuity and active participation was essential. This study revealed new knowledge about renal recipients' need for individual application of the educational content, as well as cognitive difficulties, and other factors impacting on learning in the early post-operative phase. The patients' perspective is an important and useful aid in creating effective interventions in this field.

Patients' level of knowledge measured five days after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Kidney recipients' knowledge is important in terms of coping with short-term problems posed by transplantation and the long-term outcome. Little attention has been given to the development of instruments for measuring patient's knowledge in this field. AIM: The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a knowledge questionnaire for kidney recipients and to explore possible factors related to the knowledge level. METHODS: The sample consisted of 159 kidney recipients at a Norwegian transplant center, answering the questionnaire five d post-transplantation. RESULTS: The questionnaire was generated on the basis of literature review and clinical experience - and was pilot tested. Mean score of the questionnaire was 11, of 19 obtainable points. Longer duration of kidney disease was significantly correlated with an increased knowledge level, whereas the longer the time on dialysis prior to transplantation and post-operative complications were found to have significantly negative impact on total knowledge score. CONCLUSIONS: The positive impact of disease duration may suggest that insight gained over time makes patients better prepared for the transplantation itself and for life post-transplant. However, the negative impact of dialysis duration could be attributed to impaired cognitive function imposed by chronic dialysis treatment. Further research is needed regarding the questionnaire's responsiveness to educational interventions.