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Marijke Veenstra

Publications and source records attributed to Marijke Veenstra.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Measuring health-related quality of life in young adolescents: reliability and validity in the Norwegian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) generic core scales.

BACKGROUND: Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) studies concerning children and adolescents are a growing field of research. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) is considered as a promising HRQOL instrument with the availability of age appropriate versions and parallel forms for both child and parents. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian translation of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 generic core scale in a sample of healthy young adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 425 healthy young adolescents and 237 of their caregivers participating as a proxy. Reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis and by exploring the intercorrelations between and among the four PedsQL subscales for adolescents and their parents. RESULTS: All the self-report scales and proxy-report scales showed satisfactory reliability with Cronbach's alpha varying between 0.77 and 0.88. Factor analysis showed results comparable with the original version, except for the Physical Health scale. On average, monotrait-multimethod correlations were higher than multitrait-multimethod correlations. Sex differences were noted on the emotional functioning subscale, girls reported lower HRQOL than boys. CONCLUSION: The Norwegian PedsQL is a valid and reliable generic pediatric health-related Quality of Life measurement that can be recommended for self-reports and proxy-reports for children in the age groups ranging from 13-15 years.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Predictors of job satisfaction among doctors, nurses and auxiliaries in Norwegian hospitals: relevance for micro unit culture.

OBJECTIVE: To explore what domains of work are important for job satisfaction among doctors, nurses and auxiliaries and to discuss differences between professional groups in the perspective of micro team culture. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey data from hospital staff working clinically at inpatient hospital wards in Norway in 2000. MEASURES: Linear regression models predicting job satisfaction for the three professions were compared. First, five domains of hospital work were examined for general job satisfaction. Based on the result of the first regression, five items concerning local leadership were explored in a second regression. RESULTS: A total of 1814 doctors, nurses and auxiliaries working at 11 Norwegian hospitals responded (overall response rate: 65%). The only domain of work that significantly predicted high job satisfaction important for all groups was positive evaluation of local leadership. Both steps of analyses suggested that professional development is most important for doctors. For registered nurses, experiencing support and feedback from the nearest superior was the main explanatory variable for job satisfaction. Job satisfaction of auxiliaries was equally predicted by professional development and local leadership. The results are discussed and interpreted as reflections of cultural values, loyalties and motivation. CONCLUSION: The professional values of medicine, the organizational and holistic skills of nurses and the practical experience of auxiliaries should all be valued in the building of interdependent micro teams.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Patient experiences with information in a hospital setting: associations with coping and self-rated health in chronic illness.

The structural relations between patient experiences with information provided by hospital staff, coping behaviour and changes in self-rated health were studied in a cohort of people with chronic illness (n=556) over a period of 2 years. A structural equation approach was applied to model cross-sectional and longitudinal effects. Positive experiences with information were cross-sectionally but not longitudinally associated with improved self-rated health. Patient experiences with information are not related to avoidance coping, but positive experiences contribute to more frequent use of supportant coping. The findings in the present study indicate that measures of patient experiences with information are not merely a reflection of patients' health or coping behaviour. More theoretical work is required to describe the relationships between different patient reported outcomes. The insight into mechanisms underlying changes in physical and mental health in chronic illness could be further improved by evaluating the effects of specific educational and psychosocial interventions in a longitudinal design.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2006

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in children: a safe technique with major symptom relief and high parental satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is widely used for establishing enteral feeding. The aim of this study was to assess immediate and long-term results after PEG insertion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 121 children were retrospectively reviewed. Median age was 2.4 years (range, 4 months-13.2 years) at the time of PEG insertion. Patient morbidity, indications for PEG, preoperative findings and perioperative complications were registered retrospectively. Parents/caregivers of 85 children were interviewed for long-term results. RESULTS: Perioperative complications were seen in 12%. Twenty-four percent died at a median of 15 months (range, 1.5 months-8 years) after PEG. Eighty-five families were interviewed with a median follow-up time of 5.6 years (range, 1-10 years). A substantial majority (94%) of parents/caregivers reported that the PEG had a positive influence on their child's situation, and 98% would have chosen PEG insertion again. Vomiting/retching improved in 61% of the children, and oral intake enhanced in 43%. Stoma-related complications were frequent (73%). The gastrostomy tube was permanently removed at a median of 3 years (range, 7 months-7.3 years) after PEG placement in 25%. Delayed closure of the gastrocutaneous fistula after gastrostomy removal occurred in 48% of them. Time from insertion to removal was not predictive of delayed closure. CONCLUSION: PEG is a safe technique for establishing enteral feeding, even in very sick children. Major complications are rare, although most children experience minor stoma-related problems. Parents/caregivers report that the gastrostomy is of great help for themselves and their child.

Child↗
PubMed2005

[Mutual evaluation as a method of quality assurance in hospital units].

BACKGROUND: Mutual visit schemes have been used in quality assurance of general practice. We have examined the effect of mutual evaluation in the quality assurance of patient care in hospital units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four university hospital units for medical gastroenterology received and performed one visit each. The visits were performed by one doctor and two nurses and lasted two days. The visit resulted in written reports that were first discussed locally and subsequently jointly in connection with a seminar. The evaluation was based on reported experiences, proposed improvements and surveys of patient satisfaction before and after the mutual evaluation process. A method was developed for surveying patient satisfaction with outpatient endoscopy. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: The mutual evaluation created enthusiasm, increased understanding and generated many proposals for improvement. Some improvement was observed in patients' satisfaction with the information given. The study suggests that mutual evaluation is a suitable method for quality assurance of patient care in hospital units.

Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal↗
PubMed2005

Relationships between health domains and sense of coherence: a two-year cross-lagged study in patients with chronic illness.

The latent structure of Sense of Coherence (SOC) and its relationship with three domains of health (body function, activity and participation) were studied in a cohort of people with chronic illness (n = 771) over a period of 2 years. A structural equation approach with cross-lagged and synchronous models was applied to each combination of SOC and domain of health. Over the 2-year period SOC had enhanced body function and participation. Conversely, levels of activities as well as body function had contributed to SOC 2 years later. Significant synchronous effects were found that indicated the presence of reciprocal causation between SOC and all three domains of health. These findings challenge existing SOC theory and suggest that SOC can be considered a relevant outcome variable in chronic illness care.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

Association of changes in health-related quality of life in coronary heart disease with coronary procedures and sociodemographic characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on the association between the sociodemographic characteristics of a patient with the change in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following invasive coronary procedures, and the results remain inconclusive. The objective of the present study was to measure the temporal changes in HRQOL of patients with coronary heart disease, and assess how these changes are associated with invasive coronary procedures and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 254 patients with angina pectoris and 90 patients with acute coronary syndrome. HRQOL was assessed with the multi-item scales and summary components of the SF-36, both 6 weeks and 2 years after baseline hospitalization in 1998. Paired t-tests and multiple regression analyses were used to assess temporal changes in HRQOL and to identify the associated factors. RESULTS: Physical components of HRQOL had improved most during the 2 years following invasive coronary procedures. Our findings indicated that patients with angina pectoris who were younger, male, and more educated were most likely to increase their HRQOL following invasive coronary procedures. When adjusting for baseline HRQOL scores, invasive coronary procedures and sociodemographic characteristics did not explain temporal changes in patients with acute coronary syndrome, possibly due to higher comorbidity. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic characteristics should be taken into account when comparing and interpreting changes in HRQOL scores in patients with and without invasive coronary procedures.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2004

The Patient Experiences Questionnaire: development, validity and reliability.

OBJECTIVE: . To describe the development of the Patient Experiences Questionnaire (PEQ) and to evaluate reliability and validity of constructed summed rating scales. DESIGN: Literature review, focus groups and pilot surveys. Two national cross-sectional studies performed in 1996 and 1998. SETTING: Two postal surveys in a national sample of 14 hospitals stratified by geographical region and hospital size. Subjects. Patients consecutively discharged from surgical wards and wards of internal medicine. The surveys included 36 845 patients and 19 578 responded (53%). RESULTS: We constructed 10 summed rating scales based on factor analysis and theoretical considerations: Information on future complaints, Nursing services, Communication, Information examinations, Contact with next-of-kin, Doctor services, Hospital and equipment, Information medication, Organization and General satisfaction. Eight scales had a Cronbach alpha coefficient of >0.70, the remaining two were >0.60. Repeatability was >0.70 for five scales and >0.60 for the remaining scales. CONCLUSIONS: The PEQ is a self-report instrument covering the most important subjects of interest to hospital patients. Results are presented as 10 scales with good validity and reliability. It emphasizes practicability and comprehensibility while at the same time providing sufficient information about domains applicable to most patients admitted to medical and surgical wards.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2003

Patient experiences with information in a hospital setting: a multilevel approach.

BACKGROUND: Patients tend to be critical of poor communication and the provision of information from health professionals. One explanation may be related to organizational aspects characterizing the hospital unit. Studies have indicated quality of contact with nursing staff to be a major determinant of patients' experiences with information. Yet many studies do not simultaneously analyze the effects of patient and unit characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To explore the extent to which variation in patients' experiences with the provision of information from hospital staff are associated with differences between patients, and the extent to which they are associated with differences between hospital wards. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of patients nested within hospital wards including hospital administrative data and survey data on patients' experiences with hospital care and nurses' assessments of working conditions and job satisfaction. RESULTS: Multilevel regression analysis indicated low intraward correlation and high within ward variability. In explaining variability in experiences with information, patients' sense of coherence was the most important patient-level characteristic. The percentage of nurses satisfied with their work contributed to an additional proportional reduction in variance between hospital wards. CONCLUSIONS: This study has illustrated the use of multilevel methods in analyzing patient perceptions of hospital care. Ward-level factors are at most modestly related to patients' experiences with information. The effect of hospital, department, and ward characteristics is likely to be mediated through the existence of microunits within hospital wards. Quality of contact with nursing staff may be a characteristic of the microunit rather than an organizational characteristic related to hospital wards.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Multilevel analysis in health services research: a tutorial.

This article describes a well developed, but not yet widespread, statistical method. It presents its distinguishing characteristic (and pre-empts the misunderstanding that all it is about, is including predictors from more than one level). It walks the reader through a simplified example: how can multilevel analysis be used to explain variances in patient satisfaction with the way hospital work is organized. It also discusses the importance of the disciplinary setting for the extra benefit provided by multilevel analysis, as compared to traditional contextual analysis.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

[The hospital organization as the staff see it].

BACKGROUND: Reorganisation has become the slogan of how to improve health service without increasing expenses. The question is whether we have the knowledge necessary to build good hospital organisations. The inside information of staff members is one important source for information about hospital organisation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Foundation for Health Services Research performed surveys among doctors, nurses and auxiliaries in Norwegian hospitals in 1998, 2000 and 2001. The questionnaire maps the following dimensions of hospital work: general job satisfaction, workload, leadership, work organisation, professional and personal feedback, competence, continuity, cooperation and architecture. This article presents data from the 2000 study. RESULTS: About 75% out of 1,832 respondents claim to be satisfied with their jobs, nurses more so than doctors. Small hospitals are experienced as a better place to work than large ones in nearly all respects. Younger employees and staff with a foreign cultural background are less satisfied with their jobs, work organisation and skills. Leadership, professional development as well as personal and professional support seem to be important for job satisfaction in hospitals. Different organisational features motivate doctors and nursing staff. INTERPRETATION: Hospitals seems to be organised for experienced and Norwegian staff. The actual situation is high personnel turnover with young, inexperienced and mobile health professionals.

Adult↗