Telemedicine practices in adult patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac rhythm disorder associated with embolic stroke risk, decreased functional capacity, and worsening quality of life. Increasing patient access to atrial fibrillation specialists via telemedicine has the potential to improve patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this systematic review was to describe atrial fibrillation telehealth education treatment programs unrelated to postablation or early detection of atrial fibrillation. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and CINAHL databases were searched using key terms identified by the authors and informed by a panel of clinicians with expertise in cardiac electrophysiology. CONCLUSIONS: Little literature exists on educational telehealth programs for atrial fibrillation treatment unrelated to postablation or early detection of atrial fibrillation. Only three studies met our inclusion criteria. Three themes emerged from review of these studies: (a) atrial fibrillation requires specialty care that is difficult to obtain; (b) comprehensive atrial fibrillation education should include a broad overview of the condition, management options, stroke prevention, and symptom management; and (c) telemedicine is effective for diagnosing and managing atrial fibrillation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Telemedicine clinics for atrial fibrillation represent an emerging form of clinically important health care delivery. These clinics can potentially decrease wait time for specialty care access, reduce unnecessary emergency department visits, reduce stroke risk, and increase guideline adherence. Nurse practitioners are well suited to create and lead telemedicine atrial fibrillation clinics with relevant clinical expertise and collaborative skills.

Acute blood loss anemia after COVID-19 nasopharyngeal sampling.

ABSTRACT: Long-term care residents with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience high mortality rates and require frequent screening. Most resident testing occurs via nasopharyngeal swab that potentially causes epistaxis with rates of 5% to 8% in healthy populations. It is estimated that 48% of long-term care residents receive oral anticoagulation that increases risk of bleeding. A long-term care resident receiving oral anticoagulation experienced an episode of acute blood loss anemia after nasopharyngeal sampling. Current medications were not reviewed before testing, and oral anticoagulation was not held resulting in acute blood loss anemia. A medication review is indicated for skilled nursing and assisted living residents to identify oral anticoagulation before nasopharyngeal testing. Less invasive testing may be recommended or should bleeding occur, discontinuation of oral anticoagulation for a short term may be appropriate.

Factors Predicting Sodium Intake of Korean Americans with Type 2 Diabetes.

The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications including cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease threaten Korean Americans (KAs). High dietary sodium intake contributes to both conditions. The purpose of the study was to assess dietary sodium consumption and to examine the predictors of sodium intake among KA with T2DM. A total 232 KA who had uncontrolled diabetes participated in this study. The majority of the sample (69%) consumed more sodium than current national guidelines. A high level of energy intake was the strongest predictor for sodium intake with gender and marital status also related. Our findings identified predictive factors to excessive sodium intake and these data support the need for culturally-tailored education about appropriate dietary sodium and energy intake are needed for patients about T2DM.

Family Presence During Trauma Resuscitation: Family Members' Attitudes, Behaviors, and Experiences.

BACKGROUND: The paradigm is shifting from separating family members from their children during resuscitation to one of patient- and family-centered care. However, widespread acceptance is still lacking. OBJECTIVE: To measure attitudes, behaviors, and experiences of family members of pediatric patients during the resuscitation phase of trauma care, including family members who were present and those who were not. METHODS: An observational mixed-methods study using structured interviews and focus groups was conducted at 3 level 1 pediatric trauma centers. Family members of children who met trauma team activation criteria (N = 126; 99 present, 27 not present) were interviewed; 25 also participated in focus groups. RESULTS: Mean attitude scores indicated a positive attitude about being present during the resuscitation phase of trauma care (3.65; SD, 0.37) or wanting to be present (3.2; SD, 0.60). Families present reported providing emotional support (94%) for their child and health care information (92%) to the medical team. Being present allowed them to advocate for their child, understand their child's condition, and provide comfort. Families in both groups felt strongly that the choice was their right but was contingent upon their bedside behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings demonstrated compelling family benefits for presence during pediatric trauma care. This study is one of the first to report on family members who were not present. The practice of family presence should be made a priority at pediatric trauma centers.

Health Status and Self-care Outcomes After an Education-Support Intervention for People With Chronic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: The rising cost of hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) care mandates intervention models to address education for self-care success. The effectiveness of memory enhancement strategies to improve self-care and learning needs further examination. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of an education-support intervention delivered in the home setting, using strategies to improve health status and self-care in adults/older adults with class I to III HF. Our secondary purpose was to explore participants' subjective perceptions of the intervention. METHODS: This study used a randomized, 2-group design. Fifty people were enrolled for 9 months and tested at 4 time points-baseline; after a 3-month education-support intervention; at 6 months, after 3 months of telephone/e-mail support; and 9 months, after a 3-month period of no contact. Advanced practice registered nurses delivered the intervention. Memory enhancement methods were built into the teaching materials and delivery of the intervention. We measured the intervention's effectiveness on health status outcomes (functional status, self-efficacy, quality of life, emotional state/depressive symptoms, and metamemory) and self-care outcomes (knowledge/knowledge retention, self-care ability). Subjects evaluated the usefulness of the intervention at the end of the study. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 62.4 years, with a slight majority of female participants. Participants were well educated and had other concomitant diseases, including diabetes (48%) and an unexpected degree of obesity. The intervention group showed significant improvements in functional status, self-efficacy, and quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire); metamemory Change and Capacity subscales (Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire); self-care knowledge (HF Knowledge Test); and self-care (Self-care in Heart Failure Index). Participants in both groups improved in depressive scores (Geriatric Depression Scale). CONCLUSIONS: An in-home intervention delivered by advanced practice registered nurses was successful in several health status and self-care outcomes, including functional status, self-efficacy, quality of life, metamemory, self-care status, and HF knowledge.

Excessive daytime sleepiness in Taiwanese people with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Excessive daytime sleepiness can increase heart failure (HF) mortality, cause poor medication adherence, and worsen quality of life in people with HF. Recognition of excessive daytime sleepiness can help improve HF management outcomes. PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify the determinants of daytime sleepiness in patients with HF in Taiwan. METHODS: A cross-sectional and correlational study design was employed. We used nonprobability sampling to recruit 133 participants during their regular visits to a cardiovascular outpatient department of a medical center. Instruments used included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Symptom Subscale of Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. RESULTS: Excessive daytime sleepiness occurred in 23.3% of study participants. Significant determinants of excessive daytime sleepiness were daytime dysfunction, body mass index, and HF symptom frequency. Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was correlated with excessive daytime sleepiness but was not identified as a determinant. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Approximately one quarter of participants reported subjective excessive daytime sleepiness, suggesting that recognition of this symptom should be incorporated into HF management. Interventions for improving daytime dysfunction, decreasing body mass index, and ameliorating HF symptoms may help improve excessive daytime sleepiness. Habitual daytime napping may assist Taiwanese patients with chronic HF to overcome poor nocturnal sleep and restore energy. However, extra daytime sleep and changes in the duration and pattern of daytime napping during the HF trajectory should be recognized early to maintain daytime functioning. Medical treatments may help control HF symptoms. Optimizing medications to minimize adverse effects may help patients maintain better treatment adherence.

Early enteral nutrition in critically ill patients.

Malnutrition in the critically ill patient is associated with adverse outcomes such as increased morbidity, infectious processes, and length of stay. Alterations to the gastrointestinal system during critical illness can be devastating. Current evidence suggests that, in the presence of a functioning gut, initiating early enteral nutrition therapy (within 24-48 hours of intensive care unit admission) results in enhanced tissue repair, preservation of immune competence, and conservation of the integrity of gut flora. Recommendations for practice include development of a national nutrition support protocol for widespread use in the intensive care unit.

Explanatory models of heart failure etiology.

Chronic health failure is a leading cause of hospital readmissions and is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. Explanatory models of illness can provide insight about how people with heart failure perceive their etiology of heart failure. Six themes were found in this descriptive, qualitative study to explore the perceived origin of heart failure in 50 participants. Forty percent of the people were unaware of why they had the diagnosis. Misconceptions and misinformation were common, including confusion about whether the symptoms themselves caused the disease.

Self-reported health-related quality of life and sleep disturbances in Taiwanese people with heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been viewed as the most important clinical outcome of heart failure (HF) management. However, information about the predictors of HRQOL in Taiwanese people with HF is limited, especially for the effects of sleep disturbances on HF. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of HRQOL in Taiwanese people with HF, especially focusing on the extent to which sleep variables are related to HRQOL. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was used. A nonprobability sample of 125 participants was recruited from the outpatient departments of 2 hospitals located in southern Taiwan. Participants were face-to-face individually interviewed to complete the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. Data for concomitant health problems and HF characteristics were collected from the medical records. RESULTS: The mean Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score for HRQOL in this sample was 70.50 (SD, 19.63). Health-related quality of life physical symptom had the highest score, and the psychological satisfaction domain had the lowest. Six predictors of the HRQOL were identified by using a 3-step hierarchical multiple regression analysis with forward method. The predictors were education (R² = 0.09), New York Heart Association functional class (R² = 0.398), Charlson Comorbidity Index number (R² = 2.6), subjective sleep quality (R² = 0.037), sleep disturbances (R² = 0.015), and sleep latency (R² = 0.018), and together they accounted for a total of 58.5% of the variance in HRQOL. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses should use a holistic perspective to help patients understand and manage the impact of HF on their daily lives. Effective interventions for improving HRQOL should be designed based on patients' needs and lifestyles. The study findings could serve as a baseline for further longitudinal studies to explore the long-term effects of correlates and causal relationships among the variables in this Taiwanese population with HF.