Family Dynamics and the Alzheimer's Disease Experience.

Using constructivist grounded theory, this study explored how family groups respond to Alzheimer's disease in its early stages. Seven family units (N = 22) participated in a series of 26 longitudinal interviews and 14 other family caregivers took part in three focus groups at a later stage for refinement and verification of the findings. Data analysis revealed four types of family dynamics: close dynamics at the start that were maintained throughout the experience, close dynamics at the start which became conflicting, conflicting dynamics at the start which remained problematic, and conflicting dynamic at the start which became closer over time. Factors such as prior relationships and family history, motivation to care, family organization, communication, and the family vision for future shaped the development of these dynamics. This theory of family dynamics in Alzheimer's disease has the potential to inform the development of more adequate early interventions for families living with the illness.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Testing of the Spanish Version of Iceland Health Care Practitioner Illness Beliefs Questionnaire.

The beliefs of nursing professionals who care for families experiencing illness are fundamental to the quality of the nurse-family relationship and the level of the nurse's involvement in the therapeutic process of Family Systems Nursing. It is essential to have valid and reliable instruments for assessing nurses' illness beliefs, especially in the Spanish context where no instruments have been identified to date. The Iceland Health Care Practitioner Illness Beliefs Questionnaire (ICE-HCP-IBQ) is a reliable and valid measure of professionals' beliefs about their understanding of the meaning of the illness experience of families. The purpose of this study was to adapt and psychometrically test the Spanish version of the ICE-HCP-IBQ (N = 249 nurses). The exploratory factor analysis showed one-factor solution with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .91) and test-retest reliability (r = .72, p < .01). This questionnaire is a promising tool for mapping nurse's illness beliefs and monitoring the effectiveness of family nursing educational interventions in the Spanish context.