In this dissertation I explore the cultures of death and dying in medical institutions, hospices and funeral work. I argue that not only are there competing cultures of death and dying in American society, but within these institutions that produce tension and conflict, sometimes among the workers, other times between the workers and those they serve, and other times between the institution and outside organizations. Medical institutions, by medicalizing death and dying, constructed a "death as enemy" orientation in which doctors fight death with the use of medical technology, practice detached concern from their patients, and marginalize religion and spirituality. On the other hand, a "suffering as enemy" orientation has also emerged, primarily in the form of palliative medicine, in which needless suffering is considered worse than death, therefore life-saving technology is removed, doctors empathize with patients and families, and spirituality is incorporated. Hospice started as a social movement to change how dying patients were treated at the end of life, addressing patients' physical, spiritual and emotional pain. However, the bureaucratization of hospice, particularly the Medicare Hospice Benefit, has led to a compromise of the social movement's ideals and these competing orientations shape how hospice workers, particularly nurses and social workers, express frustrations with their work. Funeral directors assert their jurisdictional claims of the right to handle the corpse and assuage the grief of the bereaved, through embalming, informal grief counseling and the funeral performance, but funeral directors encounter resistance from large funeral corporations and the funeral societies. Large corporations centralize embalming, turning the corpse from a craft to a product, recruit other professionals to practice grief counseling, and sell standardized funeral packages. Funeral societies challenge the necessity of embalming, funeral directors' expertise in grief counseling, and focusing on the value of simple, dignified and affordable funerals. I conclude this dissertation by showing how orientations toward death and dying vary in American society and these institutions because of tension between experts who espouse a particular orientation and activists who resist the claims of the experts.

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Diarrhea is common during critical illness; however, the etiology, definitions, incidence and risk factors for diarrhea and its impact on patient important outcomes require further investigation. There are many possible etiologies of diarrhea, including iatrogenic causes such as laxative medications, often administered as part of bowel protocols, as well as Clostriodiodes difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD). This thesis includes 6 chapters that address the knowledge gaps in the literature regarding the epidemiology of diarrhea in the intensive care unit (ICU), the impact of bowel protocols on diarrhea, and CDAD in critically ill adults. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to gaps in the literature that are addressed by the studies included in this thesis. Chapter 2 outlines the methodology used to inform the protocol for the Diarrhea, Incidence, Consequences and Epidemiology in the Intensive Care Unit (DICE-ICU) Study. Chapter 3 reports on the findings of DICE-ICU including the incidence, risk factors, definitions, and outcomes of patients who develop diarrhea in the ICU. Chapter 4 provides a content analysis of bowel protocols used in multiple ICUs. Chapter 5 summarizes a nested cohort study addressing the incidence, prevalence, timing, treatments, and outcomes of CDAD in critically ill patients enrolled in the PROSPECT Trial. Chapter 6 summarizes the work and discusses the strengths and limitations, implications and conclusions presented in this PhD thesis. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

No description available.

Bakgrund: Att genomgå hjärtkirurgi kan rädda en patients liv men det kan även leda till en ökad risk att drabbas av en komplikation som postoperativt delirium. Delirium är inte ett sjukdomstillstånd utan ett tillstånd av mental förvirring som påverkar patientens uppmärksamhet, medvetenhet och kognitiva förmåga. Postoperativt delirium kan leda till många negativa konsekvenser vilket kan medföra lidande för patienten. Vården ska ha som mål att lindra patientens lidande genom att se till hela patienten i den vårdande relationen, det är det som är kärnan i vårdvetenskap. Forskning har visat att det är viktigt för patientens postoperativa återhämtning att tidigt kunna upptäcka och förebygga postoperativt delirium. Det har framkommit att intensivvårdssjuksköterskor behöver ha ökad förståelse och kunskap om ämnet för att kunna upptäcka och förebygga postoperativt delirium efter hjärtkirurgi. Syfte: Syftet med studien är att identifiera riskfaktorer som kan påverka utvecklingen av postoperativt delirium bland intensivvårdspatienter efter hjärtkirurgi. Metod: En systematisk litteraturstudie där kvantitativa artiklar har analyserats efter Bettany-Saltikov och McSherry (2016) analysmetod. Resultat: Analysen resulterade i fyra kategorier: Patientens bakgrund, Tiden i hjärt-lungmaskin, Längden av respiratorbehandling samt Komplikationer till följd av hjärtkirurgi som är riskfaktorer som visade sig påverka utvecklingen av postoperativt delirium. Slutsats: Den samlade kunskapen som föreliggande studie har givit kan ligga till grund för intensivvårdssjuksköterskor i vården av patienter med postoperativt delirium. Intensivvårdssjuksköterskor ska ha med sig i den vårdande relationen att patientens situation är komplex och att det de utsätts för kan bidra till ökat lidande för patienten. Mer forskning behövs kring riskfaktorer för postoperativt delirium och hur den mentala förvirringen påverkar patienten och dess anhöriga. / Background: Heart surgery can save a patient's life but can also lead to an increased risk of suffering from a complication such as postoperative delirium. Delirium is not an illness but a state of mental confusion that affects the patient's attention, awareness and cognitive ability. Postoperative delirium can lead to many negative consequences which can cause patient suffering. Nursing care has aimed to alleviate a patient's suffering by seeing the entire patient in the caring relationship. This is the core in nursing science. Research has shown that it is important for the patient's postoperative recovery to be able to detect and prevent postoperative delirium in an early stage. It has appeared that intensive care nurses need more education and knowledge in this area in order to be able to detect and prevent postoperative delirium after heart surgery. Aim: The aim of the study is to identify risk factors that are associated with the development of postoperative delirium after heart surgery within patients in the intensive care unit. Method: A systematic literature review that analyzed quantitative articles according to a method of analysis by Bettany-Saltikov and McSherry (2016). Result: Four categories emerged from the analysis: Patients background, length of mechanical ventilation, Heart- and lung machine duration and Complications after heart surgery that were risk factors which affected the development of postoperative delirium. Conclusion: The overall knowledge that the study has provided can form a basis for intensive care nurses in the care of patients with postoperative delirium. Further research is needed on risk factors for postoperative delirium and how the mental confusion affects both the patient and relatives. More research is also needed about how postoperative delirium can be prevented.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-01-12T16:02:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Nádia Ferreira Gonçalves - 2013.pdf: 1051840 bytes, checksum: 75498ee692a1a652339e16003a0de36c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-01-16T10:42:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Nádia Ferreira Gonçalves - 2013.pdf: 1051840 bytes, checksum: 75498ee692a1a652339e16003a0de36c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-16T10:42:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Nádia Ferreira Gonçalves - 2013.pdf: 1051840 bytes, checksum: 75498ee692a1a652339e16003a0de36c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Compliance with preventive measures by health professionals is a large challenge, and it is believed that in the intensive care unit, especially those classified as neonatal and pediatric, contamination of goods, equipment, and environmental surfaces contribute significantly to the increased epidemiology of healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and microbiological profiles of tools, equipment, and ambient surfaces contaminated with antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus spp. in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. It is a cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out from August 2011 to September 2012, in a neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit specializing in maternal and child health of the public health system in GoiâniaGoiás, Brazil. Samples were collected using sterile swabs moistened with saline solution 0.9%, which were subjected to microbiological processing consisting of isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Analysis and interpretation of results followed. Of the 137 samples, 1 02 were identified as Staphylococcus spp. and, in six of the 12 incubators, different strains of these microorganisms were isolated, totaling 108 isolates. Among the isolates, only four were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, and the remaining 104 were coagulasenegative Staphylococcus. During the processing of isolates it was revealed that 74.5% of the tools, surfaces and equipment were infected by Staphylococcus spp., and of these, more than 80% were resistant to antimicrobials. In four, MLSB phenotype was detected. As for oxacillin-resistant isolates, 82.3 % had resistance confirmed by Etest®. Upon completion of the analysis, it became clear that the tools, surfaces and equipment used in pediatric neonatal intensive care units are reservoirs of bacteria. This immediately highlights an important contributor to the epidemiology of HAIs: compliance with procedure for the safety of infants and healthcare workers, since these findings signal gaps in the work process and therefore in the processing of these items. Therefore, it is believed that the perception of the professionals who work in health facilities (related to the risks of cross-contamination) is of unique value to understanding the need to adopt safe work practices. It is hoped, that contributing to the development of other studies, with the goal of identifying possible gaps, involving both the management of the service and standard operating procedures for the cleaning and disinfection of ambient surfaces, tools and equipment in compliance with guidelines. / A adesão às medias preventivas pelos profissionais de saúde é um amplo desafio e, acredita-se que na unidade de terapia intensiva, em especial nas de caráter neonatal e pediátrico, a contaminação de artigos, superfícies ambientais e equipamentos contribua expressivamente para o avanço da cadeia epidemiológica das Infecções Reacionadas à Assistência à Saúde (IrAS). Objetivou-se neste estudo analisar os aspectos epidemiológicos e microbiológicos de artigos, superfícies ambientais e equipamentos contaminados por Staphylococcus spp. resistentes aos antimicrobianos em unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrica. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico tipo transversal desenvolvido de agosto de 2011 a setembro de 201 2, nas unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrica de uma instituição especializada em saúde materna e infantil do Sistema Único de Saúde de Goiânia-Goiás, Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de swab, coletou-se amostras biológicas dos artigos, superfícies ambientais e equipamentos existentes nas unidades selecionadas para estudo. Realizou-se fricção bidirecional com swab estéril umedecido em solução salina a 0,9%; em seguida foi feito o processamento laboratorial dos espécimes, com isolamento, identificação e teste de suscetibilidade dos micro-organismos aos antimicrobianos; por fim, a análise e interpretação dos resultados. Das 1 37 amostras, em 1 02 foram identificados Staphylococcus spp. sendo que, em seis das 12 incubadoras foram isoladas diferentes cepas desses micro-organismos, totalizando 1 08 isolados. Dentre os isolados, apenas quatro foram identificados como Staphylococcus aureus, e os 104 restantes de Stafilococos coagulase negativo. Durante o processamento dos isolados, verificou-se que 74,5% dos artigos, superfícies e equipamentos se encontravam contaminados por Staphylococcus spp., destes mais de 80%, resistentes aos antimicrobianos testados. Mas em apenas quatro foi detectado o fenótipo resistente a macrolídeos, lincosamidas e estreptogramina B (MLSB). Quanto aos isolados resistentes à oxacilina, 82,3% tiveram a resistência confirmada pelo Epsilometer Test (Etest®). Ao concluir as análises, evidenciou-se que artigos, superfícies e equipamentos de unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal e pediátrica, são reservatórios de bactérias. Logo, representam importante papel na cadeia epidemiológica das IrAS, o que configura inconformidades com a segurança do recém nascido e do trabalhador, uma vez que, esses achados sinalizam falhas no processo de trabalho e consequentemente no processamento desses artefatos. Nessa direção, acreditase que a percepção dos profissionais que laboram em estabelecimentos de saúde relacionada aos riscos de contaminação cruzada é de singular valor para compreenderem a necessidade de adotarem atitudes seguras no ato laboral. Espera-se ainda, contribuir com o desenvolvimento de outros estudos, com o objetivo de compreender as possíveis falhas envolvendo o tanto a gestão do serviço, quanto aos processos de trabalho e de limpeza e desinfecção das superfícies ambientais, artigos e equipamentos em conformidade com as diretrizes.

ABSTRACT  Background: ICU diaries are initiated by critical care nurses to document events that take place during patients’ ICU stays with the aim to help patients recall memories of what happened. The relationship dimension in the Fundamentals of Care (FoC) framework begins with the ability of nurses to connect with patients, and through this connection, nurses try to meet and help the patient to meet his/her fundamental needs. The role of ICU diaries in establishing a nurse-patient relationship is unknown. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the use of the ICU diary as a tool to strengthen nurse-patient relationships.  Method: A literature review with inductive content analysis of 20 primary articles. The results were interpreted and discussed using the establishing relationship dimension of the FoC framework. Findings: The statements of patients and nurses about the use of diaries reflect a strong nurse-patient relationship dimension. When combined with ICU follow-up sessions, the relationship is further strengthened, as there is more understanding and knowledge of the bond retrospectively. Conclusion: All elements of the FoC establishing relationship dimension, namely focus, knowing, trusting, anticipating and evaluating are visible in the diaries, and several statements by nurses suggest that using the diaries may have a positive effect on the nurse-patient relationship. However, to what extent the nurse-patient relationship is strengthened by the use of the diaries is less clear and remains an open question. To answer this question, controlled comparative studies would be required. / SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: IVA-dagböcker initieras av intensivvårdssjuksköterskor för att dokumentera vad som händer under en patients IVA-vistelse, med syftet att hjälpa patienter att senare komma ihåg vad de varit med om. Dimensionen etablera vårdrelation i ramverket Fundamentals of Care (FoC) börjar med sjuksköterskors förmåga att anknyta till patienter, och genom denna anknytning försöker sjuksköterskorna att möta och hjälpa patienten för att tillfredsställa dennes fundamentala behov. Det är inte känt vilken roll IVA-dagbok spelar i att etablera en vårdrelation mellan sjuksköterska och patient. Syfte: Studiens syfte var att undersöka användning av IVA-dagbok som ett verktyg för att stärka vårdrelation mellan sjuksköterska och patient. Metod: Litteraturöversikt med induktiv innehållsanalys av 20 originalartiklar. Resultaten tolkades och diskuterades inom ramen för FoC-dimensionen etablera vårdrelation. Resultat: Det patienter och sjuksköterskor säger om användning av IVA-dagbok ger uttryck för en stark vårdrelation. När dagboken efter att patienten skrivits ut används vid uppföljning på IVA stärks denna relation ytterligare, eftersom uppföljningen leder till att patienten får en fördjupad förståelse och kunskap om den vårdrelation som etablerats under vistelsen på IVA. Slutsats: Alla element i FoC-dimensionen etablera vårdrelation (vara närvarande, vara påläst, skapa förtroende, förutse behov, reflektera och utvärdera) är synliga i det patienter och sjuksköterskor säger om dagbok. Utsagor från flera sjuksköterskor tyder på att användning av IVA-dagbok kan ha en positiv effekt på vårdrelationen, men i vilken utsträckning dagboken stärker relationen är mindre klart och fortsätter att vara en öppen fråga. För att besvara denna fråga skulle kontrollerade jämförande studier behövas.

Trycksår är en vårdskada och uppkommer av långvarigt tryck utav utrustning eller benutskott. På barnintensivvårdsavdelning vårdas barn med observerbar svikt i minst ett organ, dessa barn har stor risk att utveckla trycksår. Patricia Benners omvårdnadsteori är teoretisk referensram för studien. Syftet med studien var att beskriva sjuksköterskans trycksårsförebyggande åtgärder för barn som vårdas på barnintensivvårdsavdelning. En systematisk litteratursökning genomfördes i tre databaser. Sökningen genererade elva resultatartiklar. Resultatet presenteras i tre kategorier: följa rutiner och riktlinjer, identifierade trycksårsrisker för patienter på avdelningar som bedriver barnintensivvård samt omvårdnadshandlingar och hjälpmedel. Resultatet påvisade att många trycksårs fall går att förebygga med rutiner, utbildning samt hjälpmedel. Barn med massiv svikt kunde vara så ostabila att trycksårsförebyggande åtgärder var omöjliga. Personal samt verksamhet kan med fördel implementera de evidensbaserade trycksårsförebyggande åtgärderna men fortsatt forskning utav utbredningen av trycksår på barnintensivvårdsavdelning i Sverige kan behöva genomföras. / Pressure ulcer is an injury caused by hospitalizations when sustained pressure over bony prominence or devices for a prolonged period of time pressure ulcer may appear. Critically ill infants and children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are at risk of developing pressure ulcer. Patricia Benner’s nursing theory is used as theoretical guideline for this study. The aim of this study was to describe preventing measures against pressure ulcers performed by nurses for infants and children admitted at PICU.  A systematic literature review was conducted and three databases resulting in eleven articles. The result was presented in three categories: follow routines and guidelines, identify associated risk factors for pressure ulcer on patients in the PICU and also practical nursing and tools. The result of this study showed that pressure ulcer can be prevented with guidelines, education and tools. For some patients in the PICU pressure ulcer could not be prevented due to their clinical instability. Hospital staff and board should implement evidence basted pressure ulcer prevention measures. Further research concerning Swedish practice could be needed.

SAMMANFATTNING   Bakgrund: Tidigare studier visar att patienter påverkas både fysiskt och psykiskt vid överflyttning från en miljö till en annan. Att överflyttas från den specialiserade, högteknologiska intensivvårdsavdelningen till en vårdavdelning kan skapa upplevelser och känslor av stress, oro, ångest, osäkerhet, depression, sömnstörningar, minnesbortfall, mardrömmar med mera. Syfte: Att utforska hur miljöns utformning för vårdandet påverkar patientens välbefinnande efter överflyttning från intensivvårdsavdelning till kirurgisk vårdavdelning. Metod: Syftet besvarades med hjälp av upprepade observationer med informella intervjuer av tre patienter som hade vårdats på en intensivvårdsavdelning och hade överflyttats till en kirurgisk vårdavdelning. Deduktiv innehållsanalys användes och utgick från en tidigare skapad modell av begreppet miljö. Resultat: Patienternas välbefinnande påverkades av miljön efter överflytten till den kirurgiska vårdavdelningen. Resultatet presenteras efter modellens kategorier atmosfär, omvärld, omgivning, medelpunkt och förhållande. Slutsats: Att överflyttas till en lägre vårdnivå som en vårdavdelning är en stor omställning för patienterna både fysiskt och psykiskt. Resultatet stödjer att det finns en kunskapslucka som består av skillnader i miljön, skillnader i sjuksköterskors kompetens och skillnader i kommunikationen mellan intensivvårdsavdelningar och vårdavdelningar. Det är viktigt att tydliga rutiner finns kring hur en intensivvårdspatient ska tas emot och vårdas vid överflyttningen till en vårdavdelning. För att miljöombytet inte ska bli för omfattande för patienten kan överflyttning först ske till en intermediärvårdsavdelning innan vidare överflyttning till en vårdavdelning sker. / ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies showed that patients are affected both physically and mentally when they transferring from one environment to another. To be transferred from the specialized, high-tech intensive care to a ward can create experiences and feelings of stress, worry, anxiety, insecurity, depression, sleep disorders, memory loss, and nightmares with more. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how environmental design for care affects the patient's well-being after transfer from intensive care to the surgical ward. Method: The aim was answered with help from repeated observations with informal interviews with three patients who had been treated in an intensive care unit and had been transferred to a surgical ward. Deductive content analysis was used and was based on a previously created model. Result: The patients' well-being was affected by the environment after transfer to the surgical ward. The results are presented according to the categories atmosphere, entourage, surroundings, midpoint and relationship. Conclusion: Be transferred to a lower level of care as a ward is a big change for the patients both physically and psychologically. The result supports that there is a knowledge gap which consist of differences in the environment, differences in nurses' skills and differences in communication between intensive care units and wards. It is important that there are clear procedures on how an intensive care patient to be received and cared for at the transfer to a ward. To move from one environment to another should not be too extensive for the patient can first be transfer place to an Intermediate Care Facility before further transfer to a ward occurs.

Bakgrund: År 2012 skapades Sveriges första nationella program och kunskapsstöd för palliativ vård. Den palliativa vården finns beskriven av Socialstyrelsen utifrån fyra hörnstenar, symtomlindring, multiprofessionellt samarbete, stöd till anhöriga samt kommunikation och relation. Det är oftast sjuksköterskan som identifierar behovet av palliation, men läkaren är den som fattar beslutet om palliation ska påbörjas. Detta kan vara en lång process och orsaka barnet onödigt lidande. Syfte: Att beskriva sjuksköterskans erfarenheter av att avsluta livsuppehållande behandling för att övergå till palliativ vård på barnintensiven. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie. Sex individuella semistrukturerade intervjuer med utbildade intensivvårdssjuksköterskor på en barnintensivvårdsavdelning i Sverige genomfördes. Dessa analyserades med utgångspunkt från Elo och Kygnäs metod för kvalitativ innehållsanalys och utmynnade i tre huvudkategorier. Resultat: Sjuksköterskornas erfarenheter av att avbryta livsuppehållande vård för att övergå till palliativ vård presenterades i resultatet utifrån tre huvudkategorier, Det oåterkalleliga livet, Sista tiden av livet samt Vad kan sjuksköterskan göra för anhöriga?. Slutsats: Att avbryta livsuppehållande vård för att övergå till palliativ vård är ett komplext och etiskt svårt beslut. / Background: In 2012 Sweden created its first natinal program and knowledge base for palliative care. Palliative care is described by the Swedish National Board through four bases, symptom relifes, multi-professional cooperation, support to relatives, and communication and relationship. It is usually the nurse that identifies the need for palliation, but the doctor is the one that makes the decision to begin palliative care. This can be a long process and cause the child unnecessary suffering. Aim: To describe the intensive care nurses experiences in ending life support and the transition to palliative care of children intensive care. Method: The study was conducted as a qualitative interview study. Six individual semi-structured interviews with intensive care nurses at a childrens intensive care unit in Sweden was carried out . These interviews were analyzed on the basis of Elo and Kygnäs method of qualitative content analysis and resulted in three main categories. Result: The nurses' experiences of withdrawing lifesustaining treatment and the transition to palliative care was presented in the result within three main categories, ”The irrevocable life”, ”The end of life” and ”What can the nurse do for the family?”. Conclusion: To discontinue life-sustaining care and transition to palliative care is a complex and difficult ethical decision.