Can Waist-to-Height Ratio and Health Literacy Be Used in Primary Care for Prioritizing Further Assessment of People at T2DM Risk?

BACKGROUND: To identify people at risk of type 2 diabetes. Primary health care needs efficient and noninvasive screening tools to detect individuals in need of follow-up to promote health and well-being. Previous research has shown people with lower levels of health literacy and/or well-being scores are vulnerable but may benefit from intervention and follow-up care. AIMS: This cross-sectional study, aimed to identify people at risk for type 2 diabetes by comparing the Finnish Diabetes Risk instrument with the waist-to-height ratio. Further, the difference was examined in health literacy and well-being scale scores in the countryside versus town areas, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 220, aged 18-75 years, participated. Thereof, 13.2% displayed biomarkers at prediabetes level of HbA1c (39-47 mmol/mol); none had undiagnosed diabetes. Of the participants, 73% were overweight or obese. Waist-to-height ratio demonstrated 93.1% of the prediabetes group at moderate to high health risk and 64.4% of the normal group, with an area under the curve of 0.759, sensitivity of 93.3%, and specificity of 63.1%. Residency did not influence prediabetes prevalence, health literacy, or well-being. CONCLUSION: Waist-to-height ratio and the Finnish Diabetes Risk instrument may be suitable for identifying who need further tests and follow-up care for health promotion in primary care.

Using HbA1c measurements and the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score to identify undiagnosed individuals and those at risk of diabetes in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of people in Northern Iceland with prediabetes, at risk of developing T2DM or with manifest undiagnosed T2DM, as this information is lacking in Iceland. METHODS: A cross-sectional study. Clients of the three largest primary health care centres in the Health Care Institution of North Iceland (HSN) were invited to participate if fulfilling the following inclusion criteria: a) aged between 18 and 75 years, b) not diagnosed with diabetes, c) speaking and understanding Icelandic or English fluently and d) living in the included service area. Data collection took place via face-to-face interviews between 1 March 2020 and 15 May 2021. Participation included answering the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC), measuring the HbA1c levels and background information. RESULTS: Of the 220 participants, 65.9% were women. The mean age was 52.1 years (SD ± 14.1) and FINDRISC scores were as follows: 47.3% scored ≤8 points, 37.2% scored between 9 and 14 points, and 15.5% scored between 15 and 26 points. The mean HbA1c levels in mmol/mol, were 35.5 (SD ± 3.9) for men and 34.4 (SD ± 3.4) for women, ranging from 24 to 47. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was found in 32% of men and 35.9% of women. Prevalence of prediabetes in this cohort was 13.2%. None of the participants had undiagnosed T2DM. Best sensitivity and specificity for finding prediabetes was by using cut-off points of ≥11 on FINDRISC, which gave a ROC curve of 0.814. CONCLUSIONS: The FINDRISC is a non-invasive and easily applied screening instrument for prediabetes. Used in advance of other more expensive and invasive testing, it can enable earlier intervention by assisting decision making, health promotion actions and prevention of the disease burden within primary health care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is a pre-phase of the registered study "Effectiveness of Nurse-coordinated Follow up Program in Primary Care for People at risk of T2DM" at www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov (NCT01688359). Registered 30 December 2020.

Basic mobility, accidental falls, and lifetime physical activity among rural and urban community-dwelling older adults: a population-based study in Northern Iceland.

The objective of this research was to investigate late-life physical functioning and lifetime history of physical activity (PA) among older adults in rural and urban Arctic communities. Data was collected in a cross-sectional, population-based study among 65 to 92-year-old community-dwelling Icelanders (N = 175, 41% ≥75-year-old, 43% women, 40% rural). Late-life physical functioning was operationalised as: basic mobility (Timed Up and Go in seconds, TUG); fall risk (TUG≥12 sec); a fall (≥1 fall/year); and recurrent falls (≥2 falls/year). PA history was based on a self-assessment. Compared to urban participants, rural participants were more likely to have fallen recently, be at fall risk, and describe more PA history. Among urban participants, no fall in the past year was independently associated with more PA in middle adulthood; and worse basic mobility and late-life fall risk were independently associated with being in the ≥75-year-old group. Among rural participants, recurrent falls were independently associated with being a man; and better basic mobility was independently associated with more PA in late adulthood. To conclude, this evidence supports an important association between better late-life physical functioning and more mid- and late-life PA and encourages further research to understand high fall risk among older men in Arctic rural areas.

Making Europe health literate: including older adults in sparsely populated Arctic areas.

BACKGROUND: Older people have been identified as having lower health literacy (HL) than the general population average. Living in sparsely populated Arctic regions involves unique health challenges that may influence HL. The research aim was to explore the level of HL, its problematic dimensions, and its association with the selection of contextual factors among older adults living in sparsely populated areas in Northern Iceland. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study based on a stratified random sample from the national register of one urban town and two rural areas. The study included 175 participants (57.9% participation rate) who were community-dwelling (40% rural) and aged 65-92 years (M 74.2 ± SD 6.3), 43% of whom were women. Data were collected in 2017-2018 via face-to-face interviews, which included the standardised European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire-short version (HLS-EU-Q16) with a score range from 0 to 16 (low-high HL). RESULTS: The level of HL ranged from 6-16 (M 13.25, SD ± 2.41) with 65% having sufficient HL (score 13-16), 31.3% problematic HL (score 9-12) and 3.7% inadequate HL (score 0-8). Most problematic dimension of HL was within the domains of disease prevention and health promotion related to information in the media. Univariate linear regression revealed that better HL was associated with more education (p=0.001), more resiliency (p=0.001), driving a car (p=0.006), good access to health care- (p=0.005) and medical service (p=0.027), younger age (p=0.005), adequate income (p=0.044) and less depression (p=0.006). Multivariable analysis showed that more education (p=0.014) and driving a car (p=0.017) were independent predictors of better HL. CONCLUSION: Difficulties in HL concern information in the media. HL was strongly associated with education and driving a car however, not with urban-rural residency. Mobility and access should be considered for improving HL of older people.

Use of psychiatric medication in three Arctic nursing homes: association with dementia and psychiatric symptoms.

As more people reaches advanced age, more people experience cognitive impairment and dementia. Dementia is a degenerative disease in which behavioural and psychological symptoms frequently occur, resulting in admissions to nursing homes (NHs), where the most common treatment has been medical treatment. The aim was to compare three rural Arctic NHs in Iceland in their use of psychiatric medication, type of dementia among residents, level of cognitive impairment and selected quality indicators, as well as considering national data, for the period 2016-2018. Data from the interRAI-MDS 2.0 evaluation were used. Residents with severe cognitive impairment used more antipsychotic medications, and residents with mild and severe cognitive impairment used more antidepressants than residents with no cognitive impairment did. Diagnoses of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) are more common in the capital area and the national average than they are in the rural NHs. This indicates need for diagnostic assessments of ADRD to be conducted in rural areas. Benchmarking is beneficial for local and national regulatory bodies to find areas for improvement. The NHs did not have a lower quality of care compared with the whole country, but areas for improvement were identified. One of the NHs has already started this process.

Young adults with type 1 diabetes and their experiences with diabetes follow-up and participation in the DiaPROM pilot trial: A qualitative study.

AIM: To explore young adults' experiences of outpatient follow-up appointments, completing electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), and using the Problem Areas In Diabetes (PAID) scale during the Diabetes Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (DiaPROM) pilot trial. METHODS: We performed a qualitative study among 19 young adults (aged 22-39 years) with type 1 diabetes who participated in the pilot trial. Between February and June 2019, we conducted individual, semi-structured telephone interviews with participants from the intervention and control arms. We analysed the data using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Our analyses generated three themes, each with two subthemes: (1) Follow-up with limitations; (i) Marginal dialogue about everyday challenges, (ii) Value of supportive relationships and continuity, indicate that previous follow-up had been experienced as challenging and insufficient. (2) New insights and raised awareness; (i) More life-oriented insights, (ii) Moving out of the comfort zone, suggest mostly positive experiences with completing questionnaires and discussing the PAID scores. (3) Addressing problem areas with an open mind; (i) Need for elaboration, (ii) Preparedness for dialogue, indicate that both openness and explanations were vital in the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Participants characterised the previous follow-up as challenging and insufficient. They described completing and using the PAID as somewhat uncomfortable yet worthwhile. Our findings also suggest that by utilising diabetes distress data alongside health and biomedical outcomes, consultations became more attuned to the young adults' wishes and needs, mainly because the dialogue was more focused and direct. Hence, the PAID has the potential to facilitate person-centredness and improve patient-provider relationships.

Hypoglycaemia in older home-dwelling people with diabetes- a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycaemia is associated with cognitive and functional decline in older people with diabetes. Identification of individuals at risk and prevention of hypoglycaemia is therefore an important task in the management of diabetes in older home-dwelling individuals. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the literature on hypoglycaemia in home-dwelling older people with diabetes. METHODS: This scoping review included original research articles on hypoglycaemia in older (≥ 65 years) individuals with diabetes from developed countries. A broad search of the databases Cinahl, Embase and Medline was performed in July 2018. The report of the scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. RESULTS: Our database search identified 577 articles of which 23 were eligible for inclusion. The identified literature was within four areas: 1) incidence of hypoglycaemia in older home-dwelling people with diabetes (11/23 articles), 2) risk factors of hypoglycaemia (9/23), 3) diabetes knowledge and self-management (6/23) and 4) consequences of hypoglycaemia for health care use (6/23). The majority of the literature focused on severe hypoglycaemia and the emergency situation. The literature on diabetes knowledge and management related to preventing adverse events relevant to older home-dwellers, was limited. We found no literature on long-term consequences of hypoglycaemia for the use of home health care services and the older persons' ability to remain home-dwelling. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a lack of studies on prevention and management of hypoglycaemia in the older individuals' homes. Such knowledge is of utmost importance in the current situation where most western countries' governmental policies aim to treat and manage complex health conditions in the patient's home. Future studies addressing hypoglycaemia in older individuals with diabetes are needed in order to tailor interventions aiming to enable them to remain home-dwelling as long as possible.

A Digital Lifestyle Program in Outpatient Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle is important in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study's aim was to investigate whether a healthy-lifestyle-supporting smartphone application could affect treatment outcomes at an endocrinology outpatient clinic. METHODS: Consecutively invited patients were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group after age and gender stratification. In addition to standard care, intervention group participants used a smartphone application to access a lifestyle program (SidekickHealth) through which they received personalized recommendations and education about healthy lifestyles. Tests at baseline and every other month for six months included body weight and blood tests for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and blood lipids, as well as questionnaires about distress related to diabetes, health-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Statistics included comparisons both within and between groups. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (23 women) were included, whereof 30 finished, 15 in each group (19% dropout); the average age was 51.2 ± 10.6 (25-70) years. No significant differences emerged between groups, but within the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in HbA1c from 61 ± 21.4 to 52.7 ± 15.2 mmol/mol, in disease-specific distress from 19.5 ± 16.5 to 11.7 ± 13.4, and in anxiety symptoms from 5.4 ± 4.0 to 4.1 ± 3.8. No significant changes occurred within the control group. The application usage was most frequent during the first months and differed interpersonally. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the SidekickHealth digital lifestyle program could potentially enhance outpatient treatment in T2DM, in terms of both glycemic control and psychological well-being but larger confirmative studies are needed.

Instruments for Patient Education: Psychometric Evaluation of the Expected Knowledge (EKhp) and the Received Knowledge of Hospital Patients (RKhp).

PURPOSE: In patient education, there is a need for valid and reliable instruments to assess and tailor empowering educational activities. In this study, we summarize the process of producing two parallel instruments for analyzing hospital patients' expectations (Expected Knowledge of Hospital Patients, EKhp) and received knowledge (Received Knowledge of Hospital Patients, RKhp) and evaluate the psychometrics of the instruments based on international data. In the instruments, six elements of empowering knowledge are included (bio-physiological, functional, experiential, ethical, social, and financial). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The original Finnish versions of EKhp and RKhp were tested for the first time in 2003, after which they have been used in several national studies. For international purposes, the instruments were first translated into English, then to languages of the seven participating European countries, using double-checking procedure in each one, and subsequently evaluated and confirmed by local researchers and language experts. International data collection was performed in 2009-2012 with a total sample of 1,595 orthopedic patients. Orthopedic patients were selected due to the increase in their numbers, and need for educational activities. Here we report the psychometrics of the instruments for potential international use and future development. RESULTS: Content validities were confirmed by each participating country. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original theoretical, six-dimensional structure of the instruments. For some subscales, however, there is a need for further clarification. The summative factors, based on the dimensions, have a satisfactory internal consistency. The results support the use of the instruments in patient education in orthopedic nursing, and preferably also in other fields of surgical nursing care. CONCLUSION: EKhp and RKhp have potential for international use in the evaluation of empowering patient education. In the future, testing of the structure is needed, and validation in other fields of clinical care besides surgical nursing is especially warranted.

[Physical activity and depression among older community-dwelling adults in urban and rural areas: Population based study].

INTRODUCTION: The aim was to explore physical activity (PA) in different daily contexts, among older adults in Northern Iceland; and by urban-rural living, age-group and sex. Moreover, to study the association between PA and depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was cross-sectional, population based and data was collected in 2017-'18 in Northern Iceland. The 175 community-dwelling participants (participation rate 59.7%) were 65-92 years old, 43% were women, and 40% lived in rural areas. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was used to obtain a total PA score and three subs-scores reflecting PA associated with leisure-time, household and work. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to detect depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Total PA was the same for urban and rural people, men were more active than women, and the 65-74 years age-group was more active than the 75-92 years age-group. People in rural areas were more likely to do work-related PA than people in urban areas, as was the 65-74 years age-group compared to the 75-92 years age-group. Men were more PA during household than women. Higher total PA and the sub-scores of PASE had significant association with fewer depressive symptoms. PA in leisure-time was the only PASE sub-score with a significant and independent association with fewer depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The results improve the knowledge on PA among older community-dwelling adults, and its relationship with depressive symptoms. Although PA in different contexts has various health benefits, an emphasis on leisure-time PA may have the most beneficial effect on mental health.

Emotions of Orthopaedic Arthroplasty Patients: A European Survey.

METHODS: This was a pre/post-observational study examining patients' emotions before and during elective knee or hip replacement surgery for osteoarthritis in seven European Union countries to identify factors related to better emotional status at discharge. INSTRUMENTS: In addition to demographic data, information was collected on quality of life (EuroQoL five-dimension questionnaire), hospital expectations (Knowledge Expectations of Hospital Patients Scale), symptoms, and experienced emotions. ANALYSIS: Total negative emotions scores at baseline and discharge were transformed into median values. Multivariate analysis identified the baseline factors related to better emotional status at discharge. RESULTS: Patients (n = 1,590), mean age 66.7 years (SD = 10.6), had a significant reduction in the frequency of total negative emotions at discharge as compared with baseline. The multivariate model showed better health status (odds ratio [OR] = 1.012; p = .004), better emotional status at baseline (≥24 points), and shorter duration of hospital stay (OR = 0.960; p = .011) as independent factors associated with better emotional status at discharge (OR = 4.297; p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing elective knee or hip replacement surgery for osteoarthritis improve their emotional status during hospitalization, with fewer negative emotions at discharge. Good emotional status, feeling of higher health status at baseline, and shorter hospitalization were independently associated with better emotional status at discharge.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire, HLS-EU-Q16: the Icelandic version.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy (HL) is defined as the knowledge and competences of people to meet the complex demands of health in modern society. It is an important factor in ensuring positive health outcomes, yet Iceland is one of many countries with limited knowledge of HL and no valid HL measurement. The aim of this study was to translate the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire- short version (HLS-EU-Q16) into Icelandic, adapt the version, explore its psychometric properties and establish preliminary norms. METHODS: The HLS-EU-Q16 translation model included three steps: 1) translation-back-translation of HLS-EU-Q16 including specialists' review (n = 6); 2) cognitive interviewing of lay people (n = 17); and 3) psychometric analysis with survey participants. The HLS-EU-Q16 includes 16 items, with scores ranges from zero (low/no HL) to 16 (high HL). Statistics included were descriptive, internal consistency measured by Cronbach's α, exploratory factor analysis, and multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: After the translation and cognitive interviewing, 11 of the HLS-EU-Q16 items were reworded to adapt the instrument to Icelandic culture while maintaining their conceptual objectives. Survey participants were 251. Internal consistency of the translated and adapted instrument was α = .88. Four factors with eigenvalues > 1.0 explained 62.6% of variance. Principal component analysis with Oblimin rotation presented four latent constructs, "Processing and Using Information from the Doctor" (4 items, α = .77), "Processing and Using Information from the Family and Media" (4 items, α = .85), "Processing Information in Connection to Healthy Lifestyle" (5 items, α = .76), and "Finding Information about Health Problems/Illnesses" (3 items, α = .73). Lower self-rated health was an independent predictor of lower HL (ß = -.484, p = .008). Preliminary norms for HL ranged from five to 16 (M 13.7, SD ± 2.6) with 72.5% with sufficient HL (score 13-16), 22% with problematic HL (score 9-12) and 5.5% with inadequate HL (score 0-8). CONCLUSIONS: The Icelandic version of HLS-EU-Q16 is psychometrically sound, with reasonably clear factor structure, and comparable to the original model. This opens possibilities to study HL in Iceland and compare the results internationally. The translation model introduced might be helpful for other countries where information on HL is missing based on lack of validated tools.

Self-rated health and socio-economic status among older adults in Northern Iceland.

Little is known about self-rated health (SRH) of older people living in more remote and Arctic areas. Iceland is a high-income country with one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the world, which may influence SRH. The research aim was to study factors affecting SRH, in such a population living in Northern Iceland. Stratified random sample according to the place of residency, age and gender was used and data collected via face-to-face interviews. Inclusion criteria included community-dwelling adults ≥65 years of age. Response rate was 57.9% (N = 175), average age 74.2 (sd 6.3) years, range 65-92 years and 57% were men. The average number of diagnosed diseases was 1.5 (sd 1.3) and prescribed medications 3.0 (sd 1.7). SRH ranged from 5 (excellent) to 1 (bad), with an average of 3.26 (sd 1.0) and no difference between the place of residency. Lower SRH was independently explained by depressed mood (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80-0.96), higher body mass index (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.87-0.99), number of prescribed medications (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78-1.00) and perception of inadequate income (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.21-0.98). The results highlight the importance of physical and mental health promotion for general health and for ageing in place and significance of economic factors as predictors of SRH.

[Health and survival in Icelandic nursing homes 2003 - 2014, before and after the setting of stricter criteria for nursing home admission in December 2007].

INTRODUCTION: Many factors influence the nursing needs and survival of nursing home residents, including the admission criteria. The aim of the study was to compare health, survival and predictors for one- and two-year survival of people entering Icelandic nursing homes between 2003-2007 and 2008-2014. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive, comparative study. The data was obtained from a Directorate of Health database for all interRAI assessments of Icelandic nursing homes from January 1, 2003, to December 31, 2014 (N = 8487). RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the health and survival of new nursing home residents before and after December 31, 2007. In the latter period, the mean age was 82.7 years. In the previous period, it was 82.1 years, and the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, diabetes and COPD increased between the periods. One-year survival decreased from 73.4% to 66.5%, and two-year survival decreased from 56.9% to 49.1%. The strongest mortality risk factors were heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as high scores on the CHESS scale and ADL long scale. CONCLUSION: After 2007, new residents were older, in poorer health, and their life expectancy was shorter than for those moving to nursing homes before that. The results suggest that the aim of the regulatory change was achieved, i.e., to prioritise those in worst health. Their care needs may therefore be different and greater than before.

[Prevalence of Poor Sleep Quality and Sleep Disturbances in Icelanders with Multiple Sclerosis].

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances are common, underdiagnosed and have negative consequences for people with multiple -sclerosis. OBJECTIVE: Gather information about the prevalence of poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances in Icelanders with multiple -sclerosis. METHOD: A cross-sectional self-report survey. POPULATION: Icelanders with multiple sclerosis. SAMPLE: People with multiple sclerosis, who were on the online mailing list or had access to Facebook groups of the Multiple-Sclerosis-Society in Iceland. An electronic link with background questions and 4 questionnaires was available to participants. Questionnaires: The Pittsburgh- Sleep-Quality-Index (PSQI), the Insomnia-Severity-Index, the STOP-Bang-questionnaire and 5 diagnostic criteria for restless legs syndrome. Questionnaires were used to screen for poor sleep quality, and 7 different factors that can cause disturbed sleep. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 25. RESULTS: Almost 40% of Icelanders with multiple sclerosis participated or 234 persons. Mean age was 47 years (range 20-92) and 77% were female. The prevalence of poor sleep quality (PSQI>5), was 68%. The factors that most often caused dis-turbed sleep were; bathroom breaks (39%), pain (37%), insomnia symptoms (30%) and sleep apnea symptoms (24%). Majority of participants or 79% had at least one sleep disturbance and on average they had close to two. Insomnia symptoms were strongly related to poor sleep quality. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of poor sleep quality and sleep disturbances in people with multiple sclerosis needs to be addressed. PSQI can be used to screen for poor sleep quality and to assess whether further sleep evaluation is needed. Screening, diagnosis and treatment of insomnia should be implemented.

The psychosocial self-efficacy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

AIM: To analyse psychosocial self-efficacy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, evaluate associations between self-efficacy and metabolic control and background variables and determine psychometric properties of the Finnish Diabetes Empowerment Scale (Fin-DES-28). DESIGN: A descriptive correlational survey. METHODS: The data were collected with the Finnish Diabetes Empowerment Scale from 13-16-year-old adolescents with type 1 diabetes (N = 189, 34%) in one university hospital district area in 2014. RESULTS: The level of psychosocial self-efficacy was quite good. The highest scores were in managing the psychosocial aspects of diabetes, followed by assessing dissatisfaction and readiness to change and setting and achieving diabetes goals. The self-efficacy did not correlate with metabolic control or background variables. A positive association was found between self-efficacy and understanding of diabetes and its treatment, adjustment of diabetes to life and the relationship with the doctor and the nurse. The internal consistency of the Finnish Diabetes Empowerment Scale was adequate. The low response rate limits generalization.

Integrative review: Patient safety among older people with diabetes in home care services.

AIMS: To identify diabetes specific patient safety domains that need to be addressed to improve home care of older people; to assess research from primary studies to review evidence on patient safety in home care services for older people with diabetes. DESIGN: An integrative review. DATA SOURCES: Domains for patient safety in diabetes home care settings were identified by conducting two searches. We performed searches in: CINAHL, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library for the years 2000-2017. REVIEW METHODS: The first search identified frameworks or models on patient safety in home care services published up to October 2017. The second search identified primary studies about older people with diabetes in the home care setting published between 2000-2017. RESULTS: Data from the 21 articles populated and refined 13 predetermined domains of patient safety in diabetes home care. These were used to explore how the domains interact to either increase or reduce risk. The domains constitute a model of associations between aspects of diabetes home care and adverse events. The results highlight a knowledge gap in safety for older persons with diabetes, influenced by e.g. hypoglycaemia, falls, pain, foot ulcers, cognitive impairment, depression, and polypharmacy. Moreover, providers' inadequate diabetes-specific knowledge and assessment skills contribute to the risk of adverse events. CONCLUSION: Older persons with diabetes in home care are at risk of adverse events due to their reduced ability to self-manage their condition, adverse medication effects, the family's ability to take responsibility or home care service's suboptimal approaches to diabetes care.

Perceived consequences, changeability and personal control of coronary heart disease are associated with health-related quality of life.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore changes in illness perception and health-related quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease following percutaneous coronary intervention from the time when patients were discharged from hospital and five months later and to investigate association between illness perception and physical and mental health-related quality of life at five-month follow-up. BACKGROUND: Illness perception is known to influence patients' motivation to engage in preventive behaviour. DESIGN: Prospective and comparative with two measurement points: at discharge from hospital (time 1) and five months later (time 2). METHODS: Two self-administered questionnaires were used as follows: the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised measured illness perception and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) measured physical and mental health-related quality of life. The sample consisted of patients with coronary heart disease admitted to University Hospital between November 2011-April 2012. RESULTS: A total of 69 questionnaires were returned for both measurement times. Most responders were male (71%), mean age was 68·9 (SD 10·3) years. Health-related quality of life increased over time, and illness perception changed; five months after discharge, participants were more aware that the disease was chronic and could worsen suddenly, and they perceived that the disease had less of a consequence on their lives compared to when they were staying in the hospital. Associations between increased personal control, changeability of the disease, perceptions of less of a consequence of the disease on daily life and increased health-related quality of life were demonstrated at time 2. CONCLUSION: Perceptions of personal control, changeability and consequences of the disease should be assessed and discussed with cardiac patients, as these illness perceptions are related to physical and mental health-related quality of life. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Increased understanding of consequences of the disease, personal control and perceived changeability of the illness affects health-related quality of life; these are factors that nurses in clinical practice can influence and thereby improve patients' outcomes.

Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients' Education on Financial Issues and Its Connection to Reported Out-of-Pocket Costs-A European Study.

PURPOSE: Total joint arthroplasty is accompanied by significant costs. In nursing, patient education on financial issues is considered important. Our purpose was to examine the possible association between the arthroplasty patients' financial knowledge and their out-of-pocket costs. METHODS: Descriptive correlational study in five European countries. Patient data were collected preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively, with structured, self-administered instruments, regarding their expected and received financial knowledge and out-of-pocket costs. FINDINGS: There were 1,288 patients preoperatively, and 352 at 6 months. Patients' financial knowledge expectations were higher than knowledge received. Patients with high financial knowledge expectations and lack of fulfillment of these expectations had lowest costs. CONCLUSION: There is need to establish programs for improving the financial knowledge of patients. Patients with fulfilled expectations reported higher costs and may have followed and reported their costs in a more precise way. In the future, this association needs multimethod research.

Spouse-related factors associated with quality of recovery of patients after hip or knee replacement - a Nordic perspective.

BACKGROUND: Today's shorter hospital stays mean that patients may need support from informal caregivers during their recovery period. The responsibility for providing this support shifts from the healthcare staff to their family members fairly early in the recovery process. Spousal caregivers are considered to be the primary caregivers as their relationship with the patient is more interdependent than that of other family members or caregivers. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to describe spouse-related factors that were associated with patients' quality of recovery on discharge from hospital after elective hip or knee replacement. DESIGN: The design was prospective, descriptive and comparative, with two measurements, before arthroplasty and on discharge. SETTINGS: Two Finnish, three Icelandic and two Swedish university or community hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of spouses and patients. The inclusion criteria were as follows: age ≥18 years, ability to complete the questionnaires, and ability to understand Finnish/Icelandic/Swedish. The patients were asked to identify one family member. Spouses were those defining themselves as a wife, husband or cohabiting partner. Out of 463 spouses, 306 (66%) were included. The mean age of the included spouses was 64 years and 54% of them were females. METHODS: Self-reported instruments were used on expected and received knowledge, access to knowledge, emotional state and quality of recovery. RESULTS: If the spouses were or had been employed in healthcare or the social services, their partner had greater quality of recovery (p = 0.006). Spouses experiencing negative emotions had partners who experienced lower quality of recovery (p <0.001). Spouses who felt that nurses had enough time for them (p = 0.044) and explained matters concerning their family members' care and treatment (p = 0.011) had partners who experienced greater quality of recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Spouses' emotional state played an important role in the patients' quality of recovery (QoR), with uncertainty and depressive state as the main predictors. The importance of nurses explaining matters sufficiently to spouses was emphasized, while spouses' fulfilment of knowledge expectations was not associated with patients' recovery.