To Örebro University

Background: While urinary incontinence (UI) is a common and worrying issue among older people, promoting the use of evidence to prevent UI onset has rarely been studied. An earlier study that was conducted in nursing homes suggests that UI can be better assessed and managed, but the prevention of UI onset requires attention to the issue by staff within acute care settings. Aim: To report on the internal facilitators’ (IF) transition, identifying the 'know-do gap' between evidence and practice in UI prevention in orthopaedic care.

Methods: The Onset PrevenTion of Incontinence in Orthopaedic Nursing and rehabilitation (OPTION) pilot was carried out in two Swedish orthopaedic units of different size and location. The pilot project included a programme to support nursing and rehab staff to facilitate knowledge translation (KT). Five IFs were interviewed at baseline, and one and three months after the intervention was completed, and non-participant observations were performed during the KT-intervention. Interviews and observations were triangulated, depicting when and how the IFs identified the present, local UI practice, the evidence on UI, and the know-do gap in preventing UI onset in older patients undergoing hip surgery.

Results: Preliminary results indicate that before the study, neither the IFs nor their fellows at the units were aware that they could prevent UI onset. Rather, through mapping their context and matching the evidence provided by the dialogue with the experts in the KTintervention, the IFs became aware of which practice was evidence based and which evidence to implement, and how to facilitate KT and promote evidence use.

Conclusion: The OPTION pilot indicates that KT can be promoted by tailored implementation strategies and tailoring evidence, supported by IFs awareness and understanding of the local know-do gap, and strategies to overcome barriers and promote use of evidence.

Aims: To report on the development and initial testing of a clinical tool, The Patient Preferences for Patient Participation tool (The 4Ps), which will allow patients to depict, prioritize, and evaluate their participation in health care.

Background: While patient participation is vital for high quality health care, a common definition incorporating all stakeholders' experience is pending. In order to support participation in health care, a tool for determining patients' preferences on participation is proposed, including opportunities to evaluate participation while considering patient preferences.

Methods: Exploratory mixed methods studies informed the development of the tool, and descriptive design guided its initial testing. The 4Ps tool was tested with 21 Swedish researcher experts (REs) and patient experts (PEs) with experience of patient participation. Individual Think Aloud interviews were employed to capture experiences of content, response process, and acceptability.

Results: 'The 4Ps' included three sections for the patient to depict, prioritize, and evaluate participation using 12 items corresponding to 'Having Dialogue', 'Sharing Knowledge', 'Planning', and 'Managing Self-care'. The REs and PEs considered 'The 4Ps' comprehensible, and that all items corresponded to the concept of patient participation. The tool was perceived to facilitate patient participation whilst requiring amendments to content and layout.

Conclusions: A tool like The 4Ps provides opportunities for patients to depict participation, and thus supports communication and collaboration. Further patient evaluation is needed to understand the conditions for patient participation. While The 4Ps is promising, revision and testing in clinical practice is required.

Aims: To describe the accuracy and continuity of discharge information for patients with eating difficulties after stroke.

Design: Prospective, descriptive.

Methods: The study investigated a sample of 15 triads, each including one patient with stroke along with his patient record and discharge summary and two nursing staff in the municipal care to whom the patient was discharged. Data were collected by observations of patients' eating, record audits and interviews with nurses. Data were analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics.

Results: Accuracy of recorded information on patients' eating difficulties and informational continuity were poor, as was accuracy in the transferred information according to nursing staff's perceptions. All patients were at risk of undernutrition and in too poor a state to receive rehabilitation. Nevertheless, patients' eating difficulties were described in a vague and unspecific language in the patient records. Co-ordinated care planning and management continuity related to eating difficulties were largely lacking in the documentation. Despite their important role in caring for patients with eating difficulties, little information on eating difficulties seemed to reach licensed practical nurses in the municipalities.

Conclusions: Comprehensiveness in the documentation of eating difficulties and accuracy of transferred information were poor based on record audits and as perceived by the municipal nursing staff. Although all patients were at risk of undernutrition, had multiple eating difficulties and were in too poor a state for rehabilitation, explicit care plans for nutritional problems were lacking.

Relevance to clinical practice: Lack of accuracy and continuity in discharge information on eating difficulties may increase risk of undernutrition and related complications for patients in continuous stroke care. Therefore, the discharge process must be based on comprehensive and accurate documentation.

Continuity of care is a key issue in the care for elderly people, for example, those having experienced stroke, particularly with regards to informational and managerial continuity based on patient record data. The study aim was to explore municipal nursing staff's (n=30) perceptions of discharge information provided to them for stroke patients with eating difficulties. Structured interviews were used and data were analysed by content analysis and descriptive statistics. Results showed that nursing staff perceived informational continuity and accuracy of information on patients' eating difficulties as poor and that little information on eating difficulties reached licensed practical nurses, who instead relied on their own assessments of patients' eating ability. Co-ordinated care planning and management continuity were largely lacking, increasing the risk for undernutrition and related complications for the patients.

Rationale: A growing number of middle-aged people are engaged in informal care of their parents while employed. To provide support as employers, co-workers or staff, health care professionals need insight into the experiences of people managing these responsibilities. Aim: To elucidate the experience of providing informal care to an ageing parent while managing the responsibilities of a working life. Methods: Narrative interviews were performed with 11 persons with experience of the phenomenon. Transcribed interviews were analysed with phenomenological hermeneutics. Ethics: Informed consent was given prior to the interviews. The study was approved by a research ethics committee. Findings: Providing informal care to an ageing parent while also pursuing a working life implies seeking balance: a balance between providing support to the parent's needs and one's responsibilities at work. Being employed supports this balance as it provides both fulfilment and refuge. Being capable of managing both roles grants a sense of satisfaction, supporting one's sense of balance in life. The balance can be supported by sharing the responsibility of caring for the ageing parent with others. Study limitations: Despite perceived saturation and an effort to provide for the possibility to consider internal consistency, the findings should be considered as a contribution to the understanding of the phenomenon, as experienced by individuals in their life world. Conclusions: It is essential to recognise the impact that providing care for an ageing parent may have on the lives of a growing number of people, particularly if they have employment responsibilities. Acknowledgement by others supports one's ability to attain balance; as co-workers and managers, we can acknowledge the efforts of an informal caregiver and as health care staff recognise the valuable contribution made by people in mid-life who provide informal care for their ageing parents.

Purpose: To depict what patients describe as patient participation and whether descriptions of patient participation are affected by gender, age, healthcare contact, and duration of disease.

Data sources: Current patients (n= 362) responded to a questionnaire on participation.

Data synthesis: Patients' descriptions focused on having knowledge, rather than being informed, and on interacting with health professionals, rather than merely partaking in decision making.

Conclusions: Patients' descriptions of participation correspond with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health's definition, which includes "being involved in a life situation." Healthcare legislation and professionals employ a narrower concept of patient participation as defined by, e.g., Medical Subject Headings.

Practice implications: Findings suggest that health professionals need to embrace what patients describe as participation.

Aims and objectives. The aim was to elucidate patients' lived experience of the care pathway of going through open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm. Background. Open surgical treatment has a great impact on patients' health-related quality of life both before and after treatment. The transition from being independent and asymptomatic to dependent on nursing care can be difficult. To facilitate this process and provide high-quality care, patients' needs must be better understood. Design. An exploratory descriptive design was chosen to describe and understand patients' lived experience. Method. Audio-taped interviews were performed three months postoperatively, covering the care pathway before and after surgery. Interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Results. The informants made a transition from becoming aware of the deadly risk associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm to gradually understanding the physical and emotional impact of the surgical procedure during the recovery process. The experience of not understanding fully the risks of undergoing surgery or its consequences on daily life made the informants unprepared for complications and limitations during the recovery period. Many concerns emerged, with a need for more dialogue and opportunities to understand their own care than those provided by the health care staff. Conclusions. To facilitate the transition process, health care staff should consider patients' unpreparedness for the physical and emotional impact that can follow diagnosis and treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm and recognise the need for dialogue to enhance participation during recovery. Relevance to clinical practice. Throughout the care pathway, patients' need for information and for opportunities to reflect on bodily and emotional reactions to the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm should be recognised by nurses and physicians to support patients getting realistic expectations of the consequences of treatment and facilitate participation in decisions concerning care and medical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to depict patient non-participation as described by a diverse group with recent experiences of being patients. BACKGROUND: Patient participation is regarded as a primary condition for optimal quality of care, suggesting that non-participation should be avoided. A common understanding of the concept of patient non-participation is needed. A discrepancy in definitions of patient non-participation has been found in health-care interactions, health-care classifications and health-care research, and little is known of what patient non-participation represents to patients. STUDY DESIGN: A survey consisting of closed-ended and open-ended questions was administered to persons that had recently been patients to gather respondents' descriptions of what they considered as patient non-participation. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse free-text descriptions, and descriptive statistics were used for the close-ended alternatives. FINDINGS: Lacking information (e.g. not being provided with appropriate information) and lacking recognition (e.g. not being listened to and/or lacking recognition as an individual with individual needs and concerns) were significant aspects of patient non-participation. Furthermore, non-participation encompassed facing organization-centred, as opposed to patient-centred, health care as well as feeling insecure in health care interactions. CONCLUSION: The findings provide input for a better understanding of what patients experience as non-participation. Organising for the caregivers to be able to thoroughly listen to the patients' illness narratives would easily reduce the risk of patient's experiencing what is described as non-participation and would provide a sound base for patient learning needs.

This study explored patients' experiences of participation and non-participation in their health care. A questionnaire-based survey method was used. Content analysis showed that conditions for patient participation occurred when information was provided not by using standard procedures but based on individual needs and accompanied by explanations, when the patient was regarded as an individual, when the patient's knowledge was recognized by staff, and when the patient made decisions based on knowledge and needs, or performed self-care. Thus, to provide conditions for true patient participation, professionals need to recognize each patient's unique knowledge and respect the individual's description of his or her situation rather than just inviting the person to participate in decision making.