Heart failure is a chronic illness requiring self-management to prolong individual lifespan while improving quality of life. The intent of this doctoral project was to conduct a quality improvement (QI) program focused on systematically educating patients about a two gram sodium diet, by using an educational pamphlet, provider-based patient-centered teaching, and follow up during the transition period between hospital discharge and first outpatient visit. This QI project provided systematic education for newly diagnosed heart failure patients to increase knowledge about a two gram sodium diet and facilitate translation of knowledge into self-management. The QI project used the plan, do, study, act model and was implemented by the Heart Failure Educator at Banner University Medical Center-Tucson. Patients were given the Sodium Restriction Questionnaire, to determine baseline knowledge and behavior, then educated on a two gram sodium diet and given a pamphlet with the same information for home reference. At home, patients were expected to document daily sodium intake and weight and received a phone call twice a week to obtain these values. Twice a week, patients received visual feedback to illustrate their self-management from a graph that represented personal sodium and weight values. After two weeks the same questionnaire was given to determine possible improvement. The average pre assessment questionnaire score was 19 and the average post assessment score was 21.2, showing an average improvement score of 2.2. All five patients, 100%, consumed less sodium and ingested less than two grams during the second week of monitoring sodium intake and daily weight compared to week one. Three patients, 60%, had lower average daily weight during week two by three to five pounds compared to week one. On average the patients consumed 307.18 milligrams less sodium and weighed 2.56 pounds less during week two. Results suggest that educating patients on a two gram sodium diet and providing transitional support from hospital to home, using individualized graphs and patient recording of daily sodium intake and weight, improved self-management behavior and knowledge as evidenced by improved average weight and sodium consumption and an average two point increase on the post assessment questionnaire.

Bakgrund: Hjärtsvikt medför en förkortad överlevnad där andfåddhet och trötthet är de vanligaste symtomen.  Distriktssköterskan arbetar utifrån en helhetssyn som respekterar patientens autonomi, integritet och att patienten ska vara delaktig i sin vård för att skapa förutsättningar för egenvård. Syftet var att beskriva vad som kunde påverka egenvården för patienter med diagnosen hjärtsvikt. Metod: Den metod som användes var metasyntes. De tolv inkluderade artiklarna granskades och teman och kategorier bildades. Resultat: Fem nyckelteman sammanställdes; viktigt att få tidig hjälp för att känna igen symtom och förebygga med egenvård, informationen har betydelse för egenvården, bemötande och kommunikation emellan vårdgivare och patient har betydelse för följsamheten vid egenvård, medverkan/engagemang stärker egenvården hos patienten samt depression ett hinder för egenvård. Patienter önskade ökade kunskaper och stöd, som stärkt och hjälpte deras förmåga till att övervinna hinder i egenvården. Slutsats: Kommunikation, tid och engagemang är faktorer som ökade välbefinnandet och livskvalitet hos patienter med diagnosen hjärtsvikt, dessa faktorer bör distriktssköterskan ta med sig i sin fortsatta yrkesutövning. / Background:  Heart failure results in a shortened survival where breathlessness and fatigue are the most common symptoms. District nurses work from a holistic approach that respects patient's autonomy, integrity and wish involvement from patients in order to create conditions for self-care. The aim of this study was to describe the experience and what can affect self-care for patients diagnosed with heart failure. Method: The method used was a metasynthesis. The twelve inculded articles were reviewed and themes and categories was formed. Results: Five key themes were created and presented as:  Important to get early help to recognize the symptoms and prevent with self-care, information has significance for self-care, treatment and communication between healthcare provider and patient is important for compliance in self-care, involvement / commitment strengthens the self-care of the patient and the depression is a barrier to self-care. Patients desired to have more knowledge and support to strengthen their capacity in order to help them to overcome obstacles in their self-care. Conclusion: Communication, time and commitment are factors that increase the well-being and quality of life in patients diagnosed with heart failure, these factors should be the district nurse bring in its continued occupation.

published_or_final_version / Physiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Hjärtvikt är en vanligt förekommande kronisk sjukdom i Sverige som ger symtomen trötthet, andfåddhet och ben svullnader. Personers förmåga att utöva en god egenvård är en mycket viktig del, och kan öka livskvalitén och överlevnaden vid hjärtsvikt. Litteraturgenomgången tyder på att det hos vissa personer med hjärtsvikt finns en bristande förmåga att utöva egenvård. Syfte: Att beskriva och identifiera vilka faktorer som påverkar personers egenvård vid hjärtsvikt. Metod: En litteraturöversikt med kvalitativ ansats utfördes. Totalt 10 studier granskades och analyserades med hjälp av Fribergs femstegsmodell. Resultat: Ur granskningen och analysen kom fem subteman fram som sedan delades in i två huvudteman. Huvudteman blev sociala faktorer och hälsofaktorer. Resultatets underteman blev miljöfaktorer, erfarenhet och kunskap, relationer och stöd, emotionella uttryck samt fysiologiska faktorer. Några av de faktorer som redovisades i resultatets olika underteman var ålder, tillgänglighet, nedstämdhet och bristfällig kunskap, de faktorerna påverkade egenvården hos personer. Slutsats: Det är viktigt att som sjuksköterska vara medveten om att olika faktorer kan ha olika betydelse för personens egenvårds hantering, vikten av personcentrerad omvårdnad är tydlig Nyckelord: hjärtsvikt, omvårdnad, egenvård, egenvårdshantering / Heart failure is a common chronic disease occurring in Sweden. Symptom that can arise is fatigue, shortness of breath and edema. The ability to practice a good self-care is a really important part and can increase the quality of life and the survival with heart failure. A review of previous studies suggests that some person’s with heart failure have a lacking ability to practice an adequate self-care. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe and identify the factors that influence a person’s self-care in heart failure. Method: A literature review with a qualitative approach was carried out. A total of 10 studies was reviewed and analyzed with the use of the five step-model created by Friberg. Result: Out of the survey and the analysis, five subthemes were found which later were divided into two themes. The themes that were created were social factors, and health factors. The subthemes of the result were factors in the environment, experience and knowledge, relations and support, emotional expression and physiological factors. Some of the factors that will be found in the subthemes are, age, availability, depression and lack of knowledge, which was factors that gave an impact to the self-care of a person. Conclusion: It is important as a nurse to be aware of the fact that different factors could have various meanings for a person’s self-care management, the importance of person-centered-care is very clear. Keywords: heart failure, self-care, nursing, self-care management

Background: Patients older than 75 years with heart failure (HF) are at increased risk for mortality and hospital admissions. Echocardiography and brain natriuretic peptides (BNP, NTproBNP) are important diagnostic tools but sparsely evaluated in elderly PHC patients. Aims: Validate the clinical diagnosis of HF, investigate the types of HF and underlying cardiovascular disorders with focus on sex and age differences. Explore the sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values (NPV, PPV) of BNP and NT-proBNP in patients with systolic HF. Study the associations of HF or NTproBNP on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Study the prognostic value of different biomarkers and HF, on all-cause and cardiovascular hospitalizations. Methods: Patients with suspected HF were recruited from one selected PHC and registered on a prespecified record and referred for an echocardiographic examination and a final cardiologist consultation. Blood samples for natriuretic peptides were stored frozen at – 70° C. Death certificates were used to register all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. To register hospitalisations, medical records were used and classification was defined according to ICD-10. Results The GPs identified 121 women and 49 men with suspected HF of whom 39% (51 women and 16 men) were above 80 years. Myocardial infarction (OR:4,3 CL: 1,8-10,6) hypertension (OR:3,4 CI:1,6-6,9) atrial fibrillation (OR:2,8 CL:1,0-7,9) predicted a confirmed diagnosis of HF. Confirmed HF was verified in 45% of the patients and was significantly more common in men than women (p=0,02). The best NPV was 88 % for NT-proBNP (200 ng/L) and 87 % for BNP (20 pg/ml). Age and male gender were independently associated with higher levels of NT-proBNP. During the 10-year follow up, 71 out of 144 patients died. In univariate Cox regression analysis, significant associations were found for overall HF (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.15- 3.01), isolated systolic HF (HR:1.95; 95% CI:1.06-3.61), and combined (systolic and diastolic) HF (HR:3.28; 95% CI:1.74-6.14) with all-cause mortality, but not for isolated diastolic HF. In multivariable analysis, age (HR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.06-1.17), kidney dysfunction (HR:1.91; 95% CI:1.11- 3.29), smoking (HR:3.70; 95% CI:2.02-6.77), and NTproBNP (HR:1.01; 95% CI:1.00-1.02), but not any type of HF, significantly predicted all-cause mortality. During ten years, 136 (80%) patients were hospitalised with 660 and 207 for all-cause and cardiovascular hospitalisations, respectively. Age (OR:1.1; 95% CI:1.01-1.15) and underlying heart disease (OR:3.5; 95% CI:1.00-11.89), significantly predicted all-cause hospitalisation. Overall HF (HR:1.8; 95% CI:1.06-2.94) significantly predicted time to first all-cause hospitalisations. For cardiovascular hospitalisations age (OR:1.1;95%CI:1.01-1.12), underlying heart disease (OR:3.4;95%CI:1.04-11.40) and NTproBNP ≥800 ng/L (OR:4,3;95%CI:1.5-12.50) were significant predictors. Conclusion: A confirmed diagnosis of HF was present in 45% of the patients. NPV was high, but not as high as in younger patients with HF. Patients with systolic HF had a higher mortality than patients with diastolic HF compared to patients with no HF. Patients with combined HF were at even higher risk for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Age, kidney dysfunction, NTproBNP and smoking predicted mortality. Age and underlying heart diseases were predictors for all-cause hospitalisations and together with NTproBNP they also predicted cardiovascular hospitalisations.

No description available.

A descriptive design was used in this study to describe the feeding behaviors (as defined by changes in body position) in infants with congestive heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease. In addition, short term physiologic changes associated with the behaviors were measured through the use of pulse oximetry and cardiorespiratory monitors. Nine infants were observed in this study as they were being fed by their nurses. The method chosen was naturalistic observation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the demographic data and the measured physiologic variables. A point by serial correlation was conducted to describe any relationships between the position changes and the measured physiologic variables. Statistically significant relationships were found between certain positions and oxygen saturation, heart rate and respiratory rate. The results indicate that infants do experience position changes that are accompanied by changes in physiologic variables during feeding. These position changes can be categorized as infant-mediated or nurse-mediated.

Bakgrund: Antalet patienter med hjärtsvikt kommer att öka i framtiden då fler äldre överlever en hjärtinfarkt vilket är en vanlig orsak till hjärtsvikt. Många patienter med hjärtsvikt väljer att vårdas i sitt hem vilket innebär en utmaning för distriktssköterskor i den kommunala hälso- och sjukvården. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att belysa distriktssköterskors stöd till patienter med svår hjärtsvikt som vårdas i hemmet inom kommunal hälso- och sjukvård. Metod: Genom intervjuer samlades data in från sex distriktssköterskor. Data analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Resultat: Ur analysen framträdde fem kategorier: samordna och utföra vårdinsatser, bygga upp nära samspel med anhöriga, följas åt från ett palliativt skede till slutet, bristande läkarmedverkan samt brister i organisationen. Konklusion: I resultatet framkommer att det är viktigt att distriktssköterskan känner sina patienter väl för att kunna ge rätt stöd. Det framträder också att anhöriga har behov av stöd för att orka och känna trygghet vilket kan vara avgörande om patienten kan vårdas i hemmet. Brister finns både internt och externt som kan ge konsekvenser. Fortsatta studier kan vara inom en kommun med läkarunderstödda team tillsammans med kommunal hälso- och sjukvård. / Background: The number of patients with heart failure will increase in the future as more older people survive a heart attack, which is a common cause of heart failure. Many heart failure patients choosing to receive care in their home which poses a challange for district nurses in the community health-care.  Aim: The aim of this study is to illuminate districtnurse´s support for patients with grave heart failure at home in community home care Method: Six interviews were conducted with districtnurse´s. The data from these interviews were analyzed with an inductive content analysis.  Results: From the analysis, five major categories were found; coordinate care efforts, build close interactions with relatives, follow each other from a palliative stage to the end, lack of physician involvement and deficiencies in the organization. Conclusion: The result shows that it is important that the district nurse know their patient´s well in order to provide the proper support. It also appears that relatives need support to cope and feel secure, which can be crucial if the patient can be cared for at home. Deficiencies are both internally and externally that can have consequenses. Further studies may be within a municipality with a physician-sponsored team together with community health-care.

Hjärtsvikt är ett sjukdomstillstånd som utmanar patienten både fysisk, psykisk och socialt och utgör idag den vanligaste diagnosen för patienter över 65 år. Därmed är det även den vanligaste inläggningsorsaken för patienter i denna åldersgrupp. Syftet med litteraturstudien var att belysa hur patienter som lever med hjärtsvikt upplever sin hälsa och egenvård. Metoden grundar sig på Polit och Beck (2012) genomförande av en litteraturstudie där en nio-stegsmodell använts som mall för utförandet av litteraturstudien. Sammanlagt elva vetenskapliga kvalitativa studier granskades efter sökningar i de elektroniska databaserna CINAHL och PubMed. De valda studierna kvalitetsgranskades, dataanalyserades och bearbetades vilket resulterade i tre kategorier. Resultatets tre huvudkategorier var fysisk upplevelse, psykisk upplevelse samt social upplevelse. Kategorierna består av patienters upplevelse av hälsa och egenvård. Slutsats Patienter som lever med hjärtsvikt världen över upplever hälsa och egenvård på olika sätt relaterat till hur och om egenvård utförs samt patientens inställning till sitt sjukdomstillstånd.

Bakgrund: Hjärtsvikt är en kronisk sjukdom som ökar med stigande ålder över hela världen. Personer med hjärtsvikt har en hög symtombörda och det leder till begränsningar såväl psykiskt som fysiskt och socialt. Syfte: Att beskriva upplevelser i livets slutskede hos personer som lever med svår hjärtsvikt. Metod: Litteraturöversikt baserad på 13 kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar som analyserades enligt Fribergs modell. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fem kategorier; Begränsningar i det dagliga livet, En förändrad identitet, Att uppleva trygghet, Att leva mellan hopp och förtvivlan och att planera för livets slut. Slutsats: Personer som lever med hjärtsvikt i livets slutskede upplever att de blir påverkade fysiskt, psykiskt, socialt och existentiellt i det dagliga livet. Personerna upplever en förlust av identitet. Att känna trygghet och kontinuitet upplevdes som viktiga komponenter för att hantera sjukdomens oförutsägbara natur. / Background: Heart failure is a chronic disease, increasing in the world as the population gets older. Persons living with heart failure has high symtom burden and that leads to limitations in a physical, psychological and social way. Aim: To describe experiences in the end of life among person´s living with advanced heart failure. Method: A literature study based on 13 scientific qualitative articles that was analyzed according to Friberg´s model. Results: The analysis resulted in five categories; Limitations in the daily life, a changed identity, sense of security, Living between hope and despair and Planning for the end of life. Conclusion: Persons living with advanced heart failure in the end of life experience that they become affected in their daily life in a physical, psychological, social and existential way. They experience a loss of their identity. To feel secure and continuity are important factors in dealing with the uncertainty of the disease.