Research in nursing, midwifery, and the allied health professions.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to David R Thompson.
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The study identified barriers to research implementation experienced by nurses, midwives and health visitors in five trusts and one health authority in Yorkshire, UK. Funk et al. (Appl. Nurs. Res. 4(1) (1991a) 39, Appl. Nurs. Res. 4(2) (1999b) 90) developed the BARRIERS to research utilisation questionnaire over 10 years ago, but no replication, in size (n = 1989) and extent, of that study appeared to have occurred. The staff population (n = 4501) were sent the BARRIERS questionnaire. 44.6% (n = 2009) were returned. Findings suggested nurses need time to read and apply research; authority to change practice; critical appraisal skills, an understanding of statistics and support of managers and peers (particularly doctors) to achieve successful practice change.
We systematically reviewed studies examining information needs of post-myocardial infarction patients and their families. Electronic databases and bibliographies of relevant papers were searched and experts in the field contacted to find relevant studies. A standardised data form was used to extract data on study populations, instruments and results. Of 14 published studies, 6 used the same instrument. Information about risk factors ranked as the most important category overall, followed by information on cardiac anatomy and physiology, medications, and physical activity. Information about miscellaneous items, diet, psychological factors, and the CCU, although ranked lower, were still rated important. Some variation between settings was evident. Patients preferred physicians over nurses as information givers. Differences were found between patient and nurse ratings of information categories. Differences were found in the self-perceived information needs of patients responding to different instruments, indicating a priming effect. Changes in ranking of information categories between CCU, PCCU and PD are congruent with decreasing levels of patient dependency. The information needs of women and other post-MI subgroups, including the elderly, minority ethnic groups, patients with severe coronary disease, and deprived patients, have not been assessed. Patients have not been involved in the design of information needs assessment instruments.
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BACKGROUND: What people believe about their illness may affect how they cope with it. It has been suggested that such beliefs stem from those commonly held within society. This study compared the beliefs held by people with angina, regarding causation and coping in angina, with the beliefs of their friends who do not suffer from angina. METHODS: Postal survey using the York Angina Beliefs Questionnaire (version 1), which elicits stress attributions and misconceived beliefs about causation and coping. This was administered to 164 people with angina and their non-cohabiting friends matched for age and sex. 132 people with angina and 94 friends completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: Peers are more likely than people with angina to believe that angina is caused by a worn out heart (p < 0.01), angina is a small heart attack (p = 0.02), and that it causes permanent damage to the heart (p < 0.001). Peers were also more likely to believe that people with angina should take life easy (p < 0.01) and avoid exercise (p = 0.04) and excitement (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The beliefs of the peer group about causation and coping in angina run counter to professional advice. Over time this may contribute to a reduction in patient concordance with risk factor reduction, and may help to create cardiac invalids.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of individualised educational behavioural treatment delivered by cardiac nurses in hospital compared to usual care for patients following acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients were randomised to receive the intervention or usual care. Outcome assessment was by self-report questionnaire (the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Dartmouth COOP Health Status), interview at 1 month, and self-report at 3 and 12 months. The primary outcome was improvement in the Dartmouth COOP total score from baseline to 3 months. RESULTS: Four patients needed to be treated to give an additional patient with improvement in health status at 3 months (number needed to treat [NNT] 4, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] 3 to 12). The intervention group were more confident about returning to activities 1 month after discharge from hospital. Treated patients had fewer further treatment needs. CONCLUSIONS: An individualised educational behavioural treatment delivered by cardiac nurses in hospital may have substantial benefits. A large-scale pragmatic RCT is needed.
BACKGROUND: The study was performed to examine the effects of giving patients with acute myocardial infarction an advice and relaxation audio tape within 24 h of admission to hospital. METHODS: A prospective, two-group design was used with 243 subjects randomised to receive either the advice and relaxation tape or a music tape of their choice within 24 h of sustaining a myocardial infarction. Outcomes comprised anxiety, cardiac misconceptions, lifestyle change, attendance at a cardiac rehabilitation programme, and quality of life. RESULTS: Although the advice and relaxation tape reduced the number of cardiac misconceptions this did not lead to any improvements in outcome, whilst in hospital or at 6 months. Both tapes were equally appreciated by the patients, 98% of whom said that they would recommend them to other patients. CONCLUSIONS: An advice and relaxation tape reduces cardiac misconceptions but does not confer any other benefits over a music tape.
Nurses are increasingly being involved in initiatives to improve the co-ordination, delivery and eventual outcomes of health care. Key components of these initiatives include application of evidence-based treatments, ensuring individualised follow-up and the provision of "seamless" care overall. There is evidence in key areas that nurse-led interventions for patients with heart disease are effective, and that they are likely to work in other areas if properly supported and appropriate structures and systems are put in place to promote such practice. Given the promising results to date, it would be disappointing if these issues remain unresolved and the potential value of this type of interventions unfulfilled.
AIM: To examine the barriers that nurses feel prevent them from using research in the decisions they make. BACKGROUND: A sizeable research literature focusing on research utilization in nursing has developed over the past 20 years. However, this literature is characterized by a number of weaknesses: self-reported utilization behaviour; poor response rates and small, nonrandom sampling strategies. DESIGN: Cross-case analysis involving anonymised qualitative interviews, observation, documentary audit and Q methodological modelling of shared subjectivities amongst nurses. The case sites were three large acute hospitals in the north of England. One hundred and eight nurses were interviewed, 61 of whom were also observed for a total of 180 h, and 122 nurses were involved in the Q modelling exercise (response rate of 64%). RESULTS: Four perspectives were isolated that encompassed the characteristics associated with barriers to research use. These related to the individual, organization, nature of research information itself and environment. Nurses clustered around four main perspectives on the barriers to research use: (1) Problems in interpreting and using research products, which were seen as too complex, 'academic' and overly statistical; (2) Nurses who felt confident with research-based information perceived a lack of organizational support as a significant block; (3) Many nurses felt that researchers and research products lack clinical credibility and that they fail to offer the desired level of clinical direction; (4) Some nurses lacked the skills and, to a lesser degree, the motivation to use research themselves. These individuals liked research messages passed on to them by a third party and sought to foster others' involvement in research-based practice, rather than becoming directly involved themselves. CONCLUSIONS: Rejection of research knowledge is not a barrier to its application. Rather, the presentation and management of research knowledge in the workplace represent significant challenges for clinicians, policy-makers and the research community.
BACKGROUND: The burden of illness associated with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) has determined this as a key focus for research at a basic science, individual and population level. Although considerable research has been conducted on specific aspects of the experience of CHD, such as anxiety or depression, there is a lack of research investigating the global aspects of the illness experience from the individual's perspective. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research examining the cross-cultural experiences of patients from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds (NESB). Given the multicultural nature of Australian society, and that health and illness are culturally constructed experiences (Manderson 1990), it is important to include the perspectives of people from minority cultures in health related research in order to provide culturally sensitive and appropriate health care and information during an illness. Further, the potential to prevent and modulate the course of CHD, by strategies such as smoking cessation and lipid management, mandate a health promotion agenda based on equity and access for all members of society. AIMS: This article discusses cultural aspects of CHD in relation to nursing and allied health care during the recovery phase of an acute cardiac event. It reviews the research that has been conducted in this area, focusing on the Chinese-Australian population. LITERATURE SEARCH: The CINAHL, MEDLINE, FAMILY (Australian Family and Society Abstracts Database), PsychINFO, and Multicultural Australian and immigration Studies (MAIS) databases were searched, identifying literature published from 1982. Keywords used were Chin* (Chinese, China), Asia* (Asia, Asian), experience, adjustment, psychological, heart, coronary, cardiac, health and services. Reports not written in English were excluded. Australian Government reports were also searched, as well as hand searching of nursing and medical textbooks. These searches resulted in over 1000 articles. However, only around 50 were relevant for this review. IMPLICATIONS: Chinese-Australians are one of the fastest growing populations in Australia, and are at increased risk of CHD upon settling to Australia. Recommendations for future research and for the practice of nursing are provided.
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Despite the documented evidence of the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in enhancing recovery and reducing mortality following a myocardial infarction, only about one third of patients participate in such programs. Adherence to these programs is an even bigger problem, with only about one third maintaining attendance in these programs after 6 months. This review summarizes research that has investigated barriers to participation and adherence to CR programs. Some consistent factors found to be associated with participation in CR programs include lack of referral by physicians, associated illness, specific cardiac diagnoses, reimbursement, self-efficacy, perceived benefits of CR, distance and transportation, self-concept, self-motivation, family composition, social support, self-esteem, and occupation. Factors associated with non-adherence include being older, female gender, having fewer years of formal education, perceiving the benefits of CR, having angina, and being less physically active during leisure time. However, many of the studies have methodologic flaws, with very few controlled, randomized studies, making the findings tentative. Problems in objectively measuring adherence to unstructured, non-hospital-based programs, which are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional programs, are discussed. Suggestions for reducing barriers to participation and adherence to CR programs, as well as for future research aimed at clearly identifying these barriers, are discussed.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to establish the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the Cardiovascular Limitations and Symptoms Profile (CLASP) in a group of patients with chronic stable angina. METHODS: After 226 patients with angina had been recruited, they were randomly allocated to one of three groups: a 10-week hospital-based angina management program (n = 75; men = 56; age = 60 +/- 8 years), routine care (n = 74; men = 52; age = 61 +/- 7 years), and exercise therapy (n = 77; men = 60; age = 60 +/- 7 years). All the patients were assessed with CLASP on two occasions: at baseline and at 10 weeks. The Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Sleep Problems Questionnaire (SPQ) also were administered at the same time. RESULTS: Significant positive correlations between the actual number of angina episodes and the CLASP angina subscale scores (r =.60, P <.001) were observed. The CLASP subscale scores for shortness of breath (r = -.36; P <.001) and ankle swelling (r = -.24; P <.001) were significantly correlated with the total treadmill time. The CLASP tiredness subscale score showed a significant positive correlation with the SPQ score (r =.48; P <.001). The CLASP subscale scores were significantly correlated with their corresponding SIP subscale scores: the tiredness score with the sleep and rest score (r =.49; P <.001), the social and leisure score with the recreation and pastimes score (r =.41; P <.001), the home score with the home management score (r =.45; P <.001), and the mobility score with the mobility (r =.37; P <.001) and total treadmill time scores (r = -.49; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings show CLASP to be a reliable, valid, sensitive measure of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic stable angina. Before it can be recommended for all patients with heart disorders, similar data will be required from other diagnostic groups such as patients with heart failure or those who have sustained an acute myocardial infarction.