Thesis (Ph. D.)--Northwestern University, 1977. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

Increasing complexity in critical coronary care nursing and advancements in medical technology have resulted in the need for clearly articulated competencies consistent with current practice. This need has been identified both in the literature and in practice. The problem addressed in this study was to determine what competencies, beyond basic nursing preparation, are essential for the beginning level coronary care nurse in order to provide safe nursing practice. A three-round modified Delphi Technique was used to elicit the authority opinions of 14 experienced clinical nurse specialists currently practicing in the coronary care unit. The nurse experts identified and verified the essential cognitive and technical skills required for nurses at the beginning level of practice in coronary care units. Nine domains and 63 competency statements were generated and refined. All were designed to be learner oriented, behaviorally described, and measurable. Implications are discussed for the design of an orientation program for beginning level coronary care nurses as well as implications for further research. / Ed. D.

A patient monitoring system for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery has been developed. This monitoring system uses a SWAN 286-10 computer (fully IBM PC/AT compatible) and a DT280l-A Input/Output board to monitor seven surgical parameters. This system monitors six temperatures, the hemoglobin content, the arterial oxygen saturation, the venous oxygen saturation, the oxygen consumption, and the blood flow rate through the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Additionally, there are three individual timers available. Details and the evaluation of the hardware and software design of this monitoring system are presented. Also, recommendations for clinical use are discussed. / Master of Science / incomplete_metadata

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2002. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Introdução: Sono de qualidade ruim é uma situação frequentemente descrita em pacientes críticos. A etiologia das alterações do sono nesta população é multifatorial. Dentre os fatores modificáveis citam-se ruído, iluminação, dor, interações decorrentes dos cuidados ao paciente e medicamentos. O sono de má qualidade pode relacionar-se com mudanças no metabolismo, na função endócrina, em disfunção do sistema imunológico e ventilatório e em distúrbios cardiovasculares. Também acarreta consequências psicológicas como disfunção cognitiva e delírio. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de um protocolo para promoção da qualidade do sono em pacientes internados em uma unidade de cuidados coronarianos (UCC). Metodologia: Este estudo consistiu em um estudo quase-experimental, realizado em duas fases. Durante a primeira fase, o grupo controle (n = 58 pacientes) recebeu cuidados habituais e informações relativas ao sono foram coletadas por meio do Questionário do Sono de Richards-Campbell (RCSQ) - escala analógica visual de 100 mm, com pontuações mais altas representando sono de melhor qualidade - e do Questionário do Sono na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos (SICUQ) - escala discreta de 10 pontos, com maiores escores indicando maior interrupção do sono. Durante a segunda fase (n = 55 pacientes), um protocolo para promoção do sono foi implementado. As intervenções incluíram ações para redução do ruído e luminosidade, cuidados com analgesia, além de medidas gerais. Os dados relativos ao sono foram novamente coletados para avaliar o impacto dessas intervenções. Resultados: As principais barreiras ao sono identificadas pelo SICUQ foram dor 1 (1-5,5), luminosidade 1 (1-5) e ruído 1 (1-5). Dentre as fontes de ruído, as que apresentaram maiores escores foram alarmes dos monitores cardíacos 3 (1- 5,25), alarmes das bombas de infusão intravenosa 1,5 (1- 5) e alarmes dos ventiladores mecânicos 1 (1-5). Estas últimas significativamente reduzidas no grupo intervenção. Em relação ao RCSQ, o grupo intervenção obteve melhorias nos escores de profundidade do sono 81 (65-96,7) vs. 69,7 (50-90); p=0,046); fragmentação do sono 90 (65-100) vs. 69 (42,2-92,7); p=0,011); tempo para retomada do sono 90 (69,7 - 100] vs. 71,2 (40,7-96,5); p=0,007); qualidade do sono 85 (65-100) vs. 71,1 (49-98,1); p=0,026) e no escore global de qualidade do sono 83 (66-94) vs. 66,5 (45,7-87,2); p=0,002 em relação ao grupo controle. Conclusão: A implementação de um protocolo para promoção do sono foi factível e eficaz na melhora de vários parâmetros de qualidade do sono e na redução de algumas de suas barreiras em pacientes internados em uma UCC. / Introduction: Poor sleep is a frequent occurrence in the acute care unit. The etiology of disrupted sleep in this population is thought to be multifactorial. Modifiable factors include noise, light, pain, patient care interactions and medications. Disrupted sleep can be related to changes in metabolism and endocrine function, immune system dysfunction, ventilatory and cardiovascular disturbances and also psychological consequences like cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multi-intervention sleep care protocol in improving sleep quality in coronary care unit (UCC) patients. Methodology: This trial consisted in a quasi-experimental study, carried out in two phases. During the first phase the control group (n=58 patients) received usual care, and baseline sleep data was collected through the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) - visual analog scale of 100 mm, with higher scores representing higher quality sleep - and the Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit Questionnaire (SICUQ) - 10-point discrete scale, higher scores indicate greater sleep interruption. During the second phase (n=55 patients), a sleep promoting protocol was implemented. Interventions included actions to promote analgesia, to reduce noise and brightness and other general measures. Sleep data were collected again to assess the impact of these interventions. Results: The main barriers to sleep in the SICUQ were pain [median (interquartile range)] [1 (1.0-5.5)], light [1 (1.0-5.0)] and noise [1 (1.0-5.0)]. The most rated sources of sleep-disturbing noise were heart monitor alarm [3 (1.0-5.25)], intra venous pump alarm [1.5 (1.0-5.00)] and ventilator alarm [1 (1.0-5.0)]. All of the latter were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the baseline group. According to the RCSQ, the intervention group had better scores in overall sleep depth [median (interquartile range)] [81 (65-96.7) vs. 69.7 (50-90); p=0.046]; sleep fragmentation [90 (65-100) vs. 69 (42.2-92.7); p=0.011]; return to sleep [90 (69.7 - 100) vs. 71.2 (40.7-96.5); p=0.007]; sleep quality [85 (65-100) vs. 71.1 (49-98.1); p=0.026] and mean RCSQ score [83 (66-94) vs. 66.5 (45.7-87.2); p=0.002] medians than the baseline group. Conclusion: A multi-intervention protocol was feasible and effective in improving different sleep quality parameters and in reducing some barriers to sleep in CCU patients.

Type 2 diabetes is a global health problem. Evidence indicates that type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as a cardiac event, which usually require critical nursing care. Patients with type 2 diabetes and with a history of cardiac disease are at greater risk of a further cardiac event requiring readmission to hospital. Evidence indicates that improved diabetes management assists patients with type 2 diabetes to manage their condition efficiently, reduces risks of a further cardiac event, and therefore reduces hospitalisations. However, there is limited information found regarding a diabetes management program specifically for patients who have already had cardiac complications. Difficulties in developing patients' skills in managing and modifying their daily lives also present a challenge to coronary care staff. Therefore, there is a real need to develop a special diabetes management program for patients with diabetes who have experienced a critical cardiac event, which will be commenced in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). The aim of this research is to gain a greater understanding of the characteristics, secondly to obtain in-depth understanding of needs and experiences of patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalised for a critical cardiac event. A further aim is to develop and pilot test a diabetes management program, specific to the patients with diabetes in the context of the CCU. The design of this research employed three studies: Study I was an exploratory study, which obtained patients' demographic and disease characteristics from the hospital records of all patients with diabetes admitted to the CCU of one public hospital between 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2003. Study II used a qualitative interpretative approach and aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the perspectives of patients with type 2 diabetes who have experienced a critical cardiac event in managing their everyday lives with both diabetes and cardiac conditions. Study III included two parts. The first utilised the information from the first two studies and the literature (self-efficacy theory) to develop a diabetes self-management program specifically for patients with diabetes who have had a critical cardiac event. The second part pilot tested the newly-developed diabetes self-management program for patients with diabetes admitted to CCU following a critical cardiac event. The pilot study used a randomised controlled trial research design to evaluate the efficacy of the program. Study I collected data from one hospital's records retrospectively from 2000 to 2003. The results of Study I showed there were 233 (14.7%) patients admitted to CCU that had diabetes out of the total 1589 CCU admissions during the study period. More than 22% of CCU patients with diabetes were readmitted to hospital within 28 days, compared to 6% of CCU patients without diabetes. Patients with diabetes who had a longer CCU stay were more likely to be readmitted. These results indicate that a significant proportion of a CCU population had type 2 diabetes and is more likely to be readmitted to hospital. Study II used an interpretive approach comprising open-ended interviews to collect data from patients with type 2 diabetes experiencing a cardiac event who had a CCU admission in 2000-2003. The findings revealed that patients with diabetes who had a critical cardiac event experienced considerable feelings of hopelessness and fatigue. Patients also had concerns in the areas of self-confidence and confidence in health professionals. Patients indicated that greater self-confidence and confidence in health professionals would help their ability to manage their daily lives. Therefore, it is very important that intervention programs for these at-risk patients need to improve patients' confidence levels, and reduce their feelings of hopelessness and fatigue. The information gathered from Study I and Study II provided important insight into the development of an effective diabetes self-management specifically designed for patients with type 2 diabetes following a critical cardiac event, which is presented in Study III in this thesis. Study III also provided a preliminary evaluation of the newly developed program. The evaluation used a randomised controlled trial research design for the new program and the current educational program provided in the CCU. The results of the program indicate the feasibility of commencing the new diabetes self-management program in the CCU, and to be continued in wards or at home. The results also showed significant improvements in patients' knowledge in the experimental group, but not in other outcome variables (self-efficacy, vitality and mental health levels). However, as a small sample size was used in this pilot study, a larger study is needed to ensure adequate testing of the intervention. Future research is also recommended to incorporate the new diabetes self-management program into the current cardiac education program. Staff's further professional development in providing such a program also needs to be examined. Improvements in quality of care, and patients' quality of life are expected in the future.

Introdução: Sono de qualidade ruim é uma situação frequentemente descrita em pacientes críticos. A etiologia das alterações do sono nesta população é multifatorial. Dentre os fatores modificáveis citam-se ruído, iluminação, dor, interações decorrentes dos cuidados ao paciente e medicamentos. O sono de má qualidade pode relacionar-se com mudanças no metabolismo, na função endócrina, em disfunção do sistema imunológico e ventilatório e em distúrbios cardiovasculares. Também acarreta consequências psicológicas como disfunção cognitiva e delírio. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de um protocolo para promoção da qualidade do sono em pacientes internados em uma unidade de cuidados coronarianos (UCC). Metodologia: Este estudo consistiu em um estudo quase-experimental, realizado em duas fases. Durante a primeira fase, o grupo controle (n = 58 pacientes) recebeu cuidados habituais e informações relativas ao sono foram coletadas por meio do Questionário do Sono de Richards-Campbell (RCSQ) - escala analógica visual de 100 mm, com pontuações mais altas representando sono de melhor qualidade - e do Questionário do Sono na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos (SICUQ) - escala discreta de 10 pontos, com maiores escores indicando maior interrupção do sono. Durante a segunda fase (n = 55 pacientes), um protocolo para promoção do sono foi implementado. As intervenções incluíram ações para redução do ruído e luminosidade, cuidados com analgesia, além de medidas gerais. Os dados relativos ao sono foram novamente coletados para avaliar o impacto dessas intervenções. Resultados: As principais barreiras ao sono identificadas pelo SICUQ foram dor 1 (1-5,5), luminosidade 1 (1-5) e ruído 1 (1-5). Dentre as fontes de ruído, as que apresentaram maiores escores foram alarmes dos monitores cardíacos 3 (1- 5,25), alarmes das bombas de infusão intravenosa 1,5 (1- 5) e alarmes dos ventiladores mecânicos 1 (1-5). Estas últimas significativamente reduzidas no grupo intervenção. Em relação ao RCSQ, o grupo intervenção obteve melhorias nos escores de profundidade do sono 81 (65-96,7) vs. 69,7 (50-90); p=0,046); fragmentação do sono 90 (65-100) vs. 69 (42,2-92,7); p=0,011); tempo para retomada do sono 90 (69,7 - 100] vs. 71,2 (40,7-96,5); p=0,007); qualidade do sono 85 (65-100) vs. 71,1 (49-98,1); p=0,026) e no escore global de qualidade do sono 83 (66-94) vs. 66,5 (45,7-87,2); p=0,002 em relação ao grupo controle. Conclusão: A implementação de um protocolo para promoção do sono foi factível e eficaz na melhora de vários parâmetros de qualidade do sono e na redução de algumas de suas barreiras em pacientes internados em uma UCC. / Introduction: Poor sleep is a frequent occurrence in the acute care unit. The etiology of disrupted sleep in this population is thought to be multifactorial. Modifiable factors include noise, light, pain, patient care interactions and medications. Disrupted sleep can be related to changes in metabolism and endocrine function, immune system dysfunction, ventilatory and cardiovascular disturbances and also psychological consequences like cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multi-intervention sleep care protocol in improving sleep quality in coronary care unit (UCC) patients. Methodology: This trial consisted in a quasi-experimental study, carried out in two phases. During the first phase the control group (n=58 patients) received usual care, and baseline sleep data was collected through the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) - visual analog scale of 100 mm, with higher scores representing higher quality sleep - and the Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit Questionnaire (SICUQ) - 10-point discrete scale, higher scores indicate greater sleep interruption. During the second phase (n=55 patients), a sleep promoting protocol was implemented. Interventions included actions to promote analgesia, to reduce noise and brightness and other general measures. Sleep data were collected again to assess the impact of these interventions. Results: The main barriers to sleep in the SICUQ were pain [median (interquartile range)] [1 (1.0-5.5)], light [1 (1.0-5.0)] and noise [1 (1.0-5.0)]. The most rated sources of sleep-disturbing noise were heart monitor alarm [3 (1.0-5.25)], intra venous pump alarm [1.5 (1.0-5.00)] and ventilator alarm [1 (1.0-5.0)]. All of the latter were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the baseline group. According to the RCSQ, the intervention group had better scores in overall sleep depth [median (interquartile range)] [81 (65-96.7) vs. 69.7 (50-90); p=0.046]; sleep fragmentation [90 (65-100) vs. 69 (42.2-92.7); p=0.011]; return to sleep [90 (69.7 - 100) vs. 71.2 (40.7-96.5); p=0.007]; sleep quality [85 (65-100) vs. 71.1 (49-98.1); p=0.026] and mean RCSQ score [83 (66-94) vs. 66.5 (45.7-87.2); p=0.002] medians than the baseline group. Conclusion: A multi-intervention protocol was feasible and effective in improving different sleep quality parameters and in reducing some barriers to sleep in CCU patients.

Introdução: Sono de qualidade ruim é uma situação frequentemente descrita em pacientes críticos. A etiologia das alterações do sono nesta população é multifatorial. Dentre os fatores modificáveis citam-se ruído, iluminação, dor, interações decorrentes dos cuidados ao paciente e medicamentos. O sono de má qualidade pode relacionar-se com mudanças no metabolismo, na função endócrina, em disfunção do sistema imunológico e ventilatório e em distúrbios cardiovasculares. Também acarreta consequências psicológicas como disfunção cognitiva e delírio. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de um protocolo para promoção da qualidade do sono em pacientes internados em uma unidade de cuidados coronarianos (UCC). Metodologia: Este estudo consistiu em um estudo quase-experimental, realizado em duas fases. Durante a primeira fase, o grupo controle (n = 58 pacientes) recebeu cuidados habituais e informações relativas ao sono foram coletadas por meio do Questionário do Sono de Richards-Campbell (RCSQ) - escala analógica visual de 100 mm, com pontuações mais altas representando sono de melhor qualidade - e do Questionário do Sono na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos (SICUQ) - escala discreta de 10 pontos, com maiores escores indicando maior interrupção do sono. Durante a segunda fase (n = 55 pacientes), um protocolo para promoção do sono foi implementado. As intervenções incluíram ações para redução do ruído e luminosidade, cuidados com analgesia, além de medidas gerais. Os dados relativos ao sono foram novamente coletados para avaliar o impacto dessas intervenções. Resultados: As principais barreiras ao sono identificadas pelo SICUQ foram dor 1 (1-5,5), luminosidade 1 (1-5) e ruído 1 (1-5). Dentre as fontes de ruído, as que apresentaram maiores escores foram alarmes dos monitores cardíacos 3 (1- 5,25), alarmes das bombas de infusão intravenosa 1,5 (1- 5) e alarmes dos ventiladores mecânicos 1 (1-5). Estas últimas significativamente reduzidas no grupo intervenção. Em relação ao RCSQ, o grupo intervenção obteve melhorias nos escores de profundidade do sono 81 (65-96,7) vs. 69,7 (50-90); p=0,046); fragmentação do sono 90 (65-100) vs. 69 (42,2-92,7); p=0,011); tempo para retomada do sono 90 (69,7 - 100] vs. 71,2 (40,7-96,5); p=0,007); qualidade do sono 85 (65-100) vs. 71,1 (49-98,1); p=0,026) e no escore global de qualidade do sono 83 (66-94) vs. 66,5 (45,7-87,2); p=0,002 em relação ao grupo controle. Conclusão: A implementação de um protocolo para promoção do sono foi factível e eficaz na melhora de vários parâmetros de qualidade do sono e na redução de algumas de suas barreiras em pacientes internados em uma UCC. / Introduction: Poor sleep is a frequent occurrence in the acute care unit. The etiology of disrupted sleep in this population is thought to be multifactorial. Modifiable factors include noise, light, pain, patient care interactions and medications. Disrupted sleep can be related to changes in metabolism and endocrine function, immune system dysfunction, ventilatory and cardiovascular disturbances and also psychological consequences like cognitive dysfunction and delirium. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multi-intervention sleep care protocol in improving sleep quality in coronary care unit (UCC) patients. Methodology: This trial consisted in a quasi-experimental study, carried out in two phases. During the first phase the control group (n=58 patients) received usual care, and baseline sleep data was collected through the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) - visual analog scale of 100 mm, with higher scores representing higher quality sleep - and the Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit Questionnaire (SICUQ) - 10-point discrete scale, higher scores indicate greater sleep interruption. During the second phase (n=55 patients), a sleep promoting protocol was implemented. Interventions included actions to promote analgesia, to reduce noise and brightness and other general measures. Sleep data were collected again to assess the impact of these interventions. Results: The main barriers to sleep in the SICUQ were pain [median (interquartile range)] [1 (1.0-5.5)], light [1 (1.0-5.0)] and noise [1 (1.0-5.0)]. The most rated sources of sleep-disturbing noise were heart monitor alarm [3 (1.0-5.25)], intra venous pump alarm [1.5 (1.0-5.00)] and ventilator alarm [1 (1.0-5.0)]. All of the latter were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the baseline group. According to the RCSQ, the intervention group had better scores in overall sleep depth [median (interquartile range)] [81 (65-96.7) vs. 69.7 (50-90); p=0.046]; sleep fragmentation [90 (65-100) vs. 69 (42.2-92.7); p=0.011]; return to sleep [90 (69.7 - 100) vs. 71.2 (40.7-96.5); p=0.007]; sleep quality [85 (65-100) vs. 71.1 (49-98.1); p=0.026] and mean RCSQ score [83 (66-94) vs. 66.5 (45.7-87.2); p=0.002] medians than the baseline group. Conclusion: A multi-intervention protocol was feasible and effective in improving different sleep quality parameters and in reducing some barriers to sleep in CCU patients.

This project offers evidence and data to measure how progressive and sustained mobilization strategies that are implemented by nurses impact early discharge on a single stay Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit for patients undergoing first-time Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) surgery.

Text in English / International studies have demonstrated that Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) can have a significant impact on the Quality of Life (QOL) of patients. This is often due to factors that cause considerable psychological distress and has not been investigated in South Africa before. This research study thus investigated factors that influence QOL in patients with ICDs who are followed up in the Cardiac Clinic at Groote Schuur Hospital. The objectives were to describe demographic, clinical, ICD and patient support characteristics; to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression; to assess QOL and to establish factors that influence depression, anxiety and QOL. The method involved a quantitative approach and a descriptive, cross-sectional and correlational design. All eligible patients with ICDs from the Cardiac Clinic were invited to participate. Participants completed a Demographic and Clinical Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the SF-36v2 Health Survey. A descriptive analysis of frequencies and summary statistics were done, followed by a regression, comparison and correlational analyses. A total of 70 patients (57 years mean, 65% male) participated in the study. The HADS mean score for anxiety was 6.50, SD 4.52 and for depression 4.96, SD 3.36. The SF-36v2 QOL Physical Component Summary (PCS) mean score was 43.83, SD 9.43 and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) was 47.81, SD 10.71. Factors associated with depression, anxiety and poor QOL included having more than 5 ICD shocks (appropriate or inappropriate). Patients who felt that the ICD influenced their lifestyle positively, was 10.46 times more like to have mental well-being. This study showed that patients with ICDs managed in the state sector, is a vulnerable population. They often live far from hospital, have a high unemployment rate and a poor income. The HADS revealed that 21.4% of the patients had depressive symptoms and 28.6% fulfilled criteria for anxiety. The SF-36v2 revealed that the QOL of patients with ICDs was significantly lower than the norm, with regard to their physical and mental well-being. The study highlights the need for psychological and social support of patients living with ICDs. Keywords: quality of life; implantable cardioverter defibrillator; sudden cardiac death; arrhythmia; anxiety; depression; HADS; SF36v2. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)