Introduction : Structural cardiac malformations affects 0.8-1% of children born worldwide, in Sweden 800-1000 children per year. Most children with congenital heart disease and their families will have frequent and lifelong contact with highly specialized care. Awareness of the parents experience is crucial in order to improve the nursing care. These experiences will be illustrated using a theoretical model of family-based nursing. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe experiences of being a parent to a child with a congenital heart disease. Method:A review of the literature was undertaken using systematic review principles. The search strategy included four electronic bibliographic databases, using the search terms experience, heart defects congenital, heart disease congenital, parent, parents and arenting. Nine studies focused on parent's experience. Seven used solely qualitative methodology and two studies used mixed methods. The analysis was performed and guided by qualitative content analysis. Results: Analysis of the nine studies on parents experience revealed two categories and six subcategories. The categories were: "feelings and need at the time of diagnosis" and "the time at home". Parents of children with congenital heart disease needed support from both health care and from their own social network. Their need was greatest at the time of diagnosis and surgery. Gradually everyday life stabilised. The result shows the parent's experience of anxiety and stress as a common path through the entire process. In time, the parents started to use different coping strategies to handle the situation. Conclusion: Nurses who meet parents of children with congenital heart disease should be aware of the need for repeated information, both oral and written. It is also important to provide information to siblings and relatives. Though familyfocused care the nurse can support parents in their parenting role and also include siblings. Sufficient information leads to better coping and parents feel more comfortable to take care of the sick child and their family.

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-127).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 209-255).

Thesis (M.S.)--Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003. / Sambanis Athanassios, Committee Member ; Sotiropoulos Fotis, Committee Member ; Yoganathan Ajit, Committee Chair. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 239-243).

Thesis (M.S.)--Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. / Sambanis Athanassios, Committee Member ; Sotiropoulos Fotis, Committee Member ; Yoganathan Ajit, Committee Chair. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 239-243).

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

No description available.

Motivation Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most important causes of mortality and morbidity in South Africa. The major risk factors are prevalent in both the developed and developing areas of the world, among all social classes, and are of similar public health significance in all countries regardless of their level of development. This indicates that much scope remains for further reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates in developed countries and for preventing the emerging CHD epidemic in poorer nations. This study aims at identifying the beliefs of the South African adult population regarding food and cardiovascular health and to therefore identify target groups for education programs. Objectives To investigate the beliefs of South African adults towards the importance of the link between food and cardiovascular health, especially between the different races, living standards, age and gender groups. Also to determine whether this population looks for the Heart Foundation symbol on food products, as well as where the link between food and heart disease ranks in terms of importance compared to other highly prevalent diseases. Method The design of the study was a randomized cross-sectional study. Trained field workers administrated questionnaires by conducting face-to-face interviews with consumers in the language of their choice. Two thousand South African individuals (1 6 years and older) were randomly selected from metropolitan areas in South Africa. The data was weighted to be representative of the total South African metropolitan consumer population, based on gender, age and race distribution (n=10 695 000). The total population was representative of both genders (5 423 000 men and 5 272 000 women) and major race groups (2 615 000 whites, 6 252 000 blacks, 1 255 000 coloureds and 573 000 Indians), from different age and living standards groups. The market research group, MARKINOR, was contracted to collect the data. Quantitive data was statistically analysed in order to generate the relevant descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and statistical tests. Results The majority of the population found the link between food and cardiovascular risk related health issues to be important, especially the higher LSM groups within the different race groups. The link between food and weight loss was considered the least important compared to other cardiovascular risk factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, healthy blood vessels). Only 35% of the study population agreed with the statement that they look for the Heart Foundation symbol, while 46% disagreed with the statement. There was a greater tendency for the higher LSM groups to look for the Heart Foundation symbol than the lower LSM groups. Heart disease was considered just as important and in some cases more important when compared with HIVIAIDS and cancer. Conclusions This study shows that the metropolitan South African adult population is aware of the importance of food on CVD. Nutritional education needs to be aimed at both genders and all ages of the lower socio-economic groups of South Africa. The reasons why such a large percentage of the South African metropolitan adults do not look for the Heart Foundation symbol, or are undecided about it, needs to be investigated and addressed. Prevention programs promoting a healthy lifestyle, which would address the risk factors associated with CVD, should be received with a positive attitude. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

An abnormal chronotropic response to exercise is a common finding following surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) which has generally been attributed to a putative sympathetic dysfunction. There exists little information on sympathetic function in patients operated for a congenital heart defect to support such a claim. This study used spectral analysis of heart rate (HRV) and blood pressure (BPV) variability to examine sympathovagal influences on the sinus node in 9 adolescents operated for TOF 13.0 +/- 1.12 years previously and in 8 healthy age and sex-matched control (CTRL) subjects. Continuous ECG and BP recordings were obtained under supine or seated resting positions, with or without controlled respiration at 0.20 Hz (CR); after passive 85° head-up tilt (HUT); during cycling at steady-state heart rates of 100 and 120 bpm (Ex 100, Ex 120), and after 10 and 20 minutes of passive seated recovery. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The purpose of this research study was to examine the nature and scope of nutrition counseling and/or education available to cardiac patients and the role of the Registered Dietitian (RD) in Cardiac Rehab Phase II Programs. One hundred and fifty programs were surveyed in regards to their program and the programs elements in regards to nutrition topics. To our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically examine the nature and scope of nutrition counseling and/or education and the role of the Registered Dietitian in Cardiac Rehab Phase II Programs.The results indicated that almost 75% of the programs surveyed offered nutrition counseling and/or education, regardless of the region examined. Also the majority of the programs were identified to have a Registered Dietitian on staff, but less than half reported a Registered Dietitian employment as full-time. There were also significant differences in regards to nutrition education topics among the regions. The results also uncovered a discrepancy between the perceived importance of having a Registered Dietitian on staff and their role as the primary provider of nutrition counseling and/or education. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences