UNSTRUCTURED The use of Facebook groups by health care researchers and professionals for chronic ... more UNSTRUCTURED The use of Facebook groups by health care researchers and professionals for chronic disease management, namely type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease, is in its early stages and challenges are emerging. While Facebook groups offer great potential to deliver health support, research of Facebook groups for chronic disease management remains in its infancy, with robust evidence not yet available. Designing Facebook groups that are acceptable to users, health care researchers as well as health care professionals is a challenge, and there is a poor fit with traditional research and evaluation methods. Key recommendations for future research of Facebook groups for chronic disease management include: (1) iterative content development with input from the target patient population; (2) further understanding of the potential role of group “champions”; (3) ensuring the social media policies of health care institutions allow for real time online communication; and (4) ...
IntroductionScreening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in people ≥65 years is now recommended by guid... more IntroductionScreening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in people ≥65 years is now recommended by guidelines and expert consensus. While AF is often asymptomatic, it is the most common heart arrhythmia and is associated with increased risk of stroke. Early identification and treatment with oral anticoagulants can substantially reduce stroke risk. The general practice setting is ideal for opportunistic screening and provides a natural pathway for treatment for those identified.This study aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing screening for AF in rural general practice using novel electronic tools. It will assess whether screening will fit within an existing workflow to quickly and accurately identify AF, and will potentially inform a generalisable, scalable approach.Methods and analysisScreening with a smartphone ECG will be conducted by general practitioners and practice nurses in rural general practices in New South Wales, Australia for 3–4 months during 2018–2019. Up to 10...
As survival improves in the congenital heart disease (CHD) population, health-related quality of ... more As survival improves in the congenital heart disease (CHD) population, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes become increasingly important. While surgery improves survival, poor HRQOL occurs postoperatively and cardiac-related HRQOL outcomes are rarely reported. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses of general and cardiac-related HRQOL in CHD surgical children and young adults. Medline, CINAHL and EMBASE were searched. Quantitative designs with a minimum of 80% CHD surgical patients and mean age ≤18 years compared with healthy controls were included in the review. Data were analysed in RevMan V.5.3 using a random effects model. General and cardiac-related HRQOL. Studies (n=20) were conducted in high-income countries and included 3808 patients plus 2951 parental reports of patients. HRQOL was worse in postoperative patients with CHD versus healthy controls in all domains with the largest difference seen for physical function (standard mean difference (SMD) of -0....
Introduction Despite cardiac rehabilitation being recommended in clinical practice guidelines int... more Introduction Despite cardiac rehabilitation being recommended in clinical practice guidelines internationally these services are underutilised, programmes are not standardised and quality improvement methods and outcomes are rarely published. National registries are an important strategy to characterise service delivery, quality and outcomes, yet the number, type and components of national cardiac rehabilitation registries have not been reported. Aims To identify and describe national and international cardiac rehabilitation registries, and summarise their key features. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature reporting on cardiac rehabilitation registries at a national and international level. A search of four databases was conducted in July 2016, with two reviewers independently screening titles/abstracts and full texts for inclusion. Data were extracted from included studies, independently checked by a second reviewer and synthesised qualitatively. Results Eleven articles were included in the review comprising seven national registries and one international registry (of 12 European countries) for a total sample of 265,608 patients. Data were most commonly provided to the registry by a web-based application, and included individual-level data (i.e. sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and clinical measurements). When reported, service-level data most commonly included wait times, programme enrolment and completion. The overarching governance, funding modes (e.g. industry ( n = 2), government ( n = 1)), and incentives for registry participation (e.g. benchmarking, financial reimbursement, or mandatory requirement) varied widely. Conclusion The use of national and international registries for characterising cardiac rehabilitation and providing a benchmark for quality improvement is in its early stages but shows promise for national and global benchmarking.
Assessment of physical activity (PA) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants is critical to ... more Assessment of physical activity (PA) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants is critical to monitor changes. However, the validity and reliability of PA measures to assess PA throughout the day, not only during exercise training, is poorly investigated. To establish a reliable and valid measure to assess overall PA in CR participants. A narrative literature review was performed based on a systematic search of Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE and PubMed databases. Eight studies comparing two or more PA measures with at least one direct measure met the inclusion criteria. Methodological designs were heterogeneous. Correlations and levels of agreement between self-reported measures and direct measures were weak to moderate, while the correlations between direct measures were high. Of the direct measures, the SenseWear armband (BodyMedia Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA) had the highest validity, and the PA diary and MobilePAL questionnaires performed better than other self-reported PA measures. Direct measures were more valid and reliable than self-reported measures. No recommendation for a definitive PA measure was made due to lack of strong evidentiary support for one PA measure over another. There is a need for accurate measures of overall PA in evaluating current and changing PA levels following CR.
Journal of immigrant and minority health, Jan 13, 2017
Health outcomes and impact of cardiovascular disease vary between populations, where ethnic minor... more Health outcomes and impact of cardiovascular disease vary between populations, where ethnic minorities and immigrant groups are more likely to be disadvantaged. Compared with the majority residents, health outcomes, especially short-term mortality from coronary heart disease event are worse in people of Chinese ethnicity, potentially due to poor self-management and experiences with the healthcare system in host countries. A scoping review was conducted. Four overarching themes were found: (1) understanding of heart disease, risk factors and symptom recognition, (2) adherence to medication and lifestyle modification, (3) health service/information choice, and (4) family role in disease self-management and decision making. All themes were greatly influenced by English language proficiency and cultural practices. English language proficiency and cultural practices should be taken into consideration when providing healthcare services for people of Chinese ethnicity, as it plays an impor...
International journal of nursing practice, Jan 28, 2017
To assess the effectiveness of a 12-week school-based educational preventive program for type 2 d... more To assess the effectiveness of a 12-week school-based educational preventive program for type 2 diabetes by change in weight and fasting blood glucose level in Jordanian adolescents. Sixteen percent of Jordanian adults have obesity-related type 2 diabetes and 5.6% of obese adolescents examined, however one-third unexamined. Rates in Arabic countries will double in 20 years, but this can be prevented and reversed by controlling obesity. A single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted in 2 unisex high schools in Irbid, Jordan, in 2012. Intervention and control participants, aged 12 to 18 years, were visibly overweight/obese. They were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 205) or control (n = 196) groups. At-risk students were assessed before and after the 12-week intervention, for change in weight and fasting blood glucose level following preventive instruction and parent-supported changes. Mean age of participants was 15.3 years with equal percentages of both males ...
To examine clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and predictors of HRQOL f... more To examine clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and predictors of HRQOL for uncomplicated field triage ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients aged ≥70 years and <70 years after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Pre-hospital field triage for PPCI is associated with lower mortality but the impact of age and other factors on HRQOL remains unknown. 77 field triage STEMI patients were assessed for HRQOL using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at 4 weeks and 6 months after PPCI. Regression analysis showed improvements in SF-12 domains and angina stability for older people. Age predicted lower physical function (p = 0.001) and better SAQ QOL at 6 months (p = 0.003). Age, length of hospitalization, recurrent angina and hypertension were important predictors of HRQOL with PPCI. Assessment of HRQOL combined with increased support for physical and emotional recovery is needed to improve clinical care fo...
... NSW. Margaret Fry Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW... more ... NSW. Margaret Fry Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW. Christine ... doctors. BMJ, 324(7341), 819-823. Kinnersley, P., Anderson, E., Parry, K., Clement, J., Archard, L., Turton, P., et al. (2000). Randomised ...
Patients in hospital are increasingly being moved between clinical units and between bedspaces; h... more Patients in hospital are increasingly being moved between clinical units and between bedspaces; however, the impact of patient transfers and bedspace moves on nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; workload is not known. Time studies are an established observational research method that can be used to determine the duration of time taken to perform an activity or process. This review systematically searched four databases for literature published between 2000 and 2013 for observational time study techniques and patient transfers as a nurse activity. Eleven publications from three countries were included in the review. All studies used timing techniques to explore nurse work associated with the transfer process. The review highlights the duration of time spent by nurses on certain aspects of the transfer process. However, as few studies published results from timings, the impact on nurse time is likely to be higher than indicated. Further research is recommended.
People with a long-term urinary catheter living in the community often experience catheter-relate... more People with a long-term urinary catheter living in the community often experience catheter-related issues, however, the frequency and extent of these issues has not been well described in the literature. A survey on issues clients (n = 62) experience with their long-term urinary catheter was conducted in one community health service. The majority (79%) had experienced at least one issue in the last two years, 62% had urinary tract infections, 33% had an emergency department visit and 29% had leakage. Discomfort at catheter change was at least moderate in 32% and predictive of more interference from the catheter in clients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; daily lives and 55% reported at least moderate interference from the catheter in their daily lives. In conclusion, most clients with long-term urinary catheters experience issues and interventions need to be assessed for effectiveness in decreasing these problems.
UNSTRUCTURED The use of Facebook groups by health care researchers and professionals for chronic ... more UNSTRUCTURED The use of Facebook groups by health care researchers and professionals for chronic disease management, namely type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease, is in its early stages and challenges are emerging. While Facebook groups offer great potential to deliver health support, research of Facebook groups for chronic disease management remains in its infancy, with robust evidence not yet available. Designing Facebook groups that are acceptable to users, health care researchers as well as health care professionals is a challenge, and there is a poor fit with traditional research and evaluation methods. Key recommendations for future research of Facebook groups for chronic disease management include: (1) iterative content development with input from the target patient population; (2) further understanding of the potential role of group “champions”; (3) ensuring the social media policies of health care institutions allow for real time online communication; and (4) ...
IntroductionScreening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in people ≥65 years is now recommended by guid... more IntroductionScreening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in people ≥65 years is now recommended by guidelines and expert consensus. While AF is often asymptomatic, it is the most common heart arrhythmia and is associated with increased risk of stroke. Early identification and treatment with oral anticoagulants can substantially reduce stroke risk. The general practice setting is ideal for opportunistic screening and provides a natural pathway for treatment for those identified.This study aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing screening for AF in rural general practice using novel electronic tools. It will assess whether screening will fit within an existing workflow to quickly and accurately identify AF, and will potentially inform a generalisable, scalable approach.Methods and analysisScreening with a smartphone ECG will be conducted by general practitioners and practice nurses in rural general practices in New South Wales, Australia for 3–4 months during 2018–2019. Up to 10...
As survival improves in the congenital heart disease (CHD) population, health-related quality of ... more As survival improves in the congenital heart disease (CHD) population, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes become increasingly important. While surgery improves survival, poor HRQOL occurs postoperatively and cardiac-related HRQOL outcomes are rarely reported. To conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses of general and cardiac-related HRQOL in CHD surgical children and young adults. Medline, CINAHL and EMBASE were searched. Quantitative designs with a minimum of 80% CHD surgical patients and mean age ≤18 years compared with healthy controls were included in the review. Data were analysed in RevMan V.5.3 using a random effects model. General and cardiac-related HRQOL. Studies (n=20) were conducted in high-income countries and included 3808 patients plus 2951 parental reports of patients. HRQOL was worse in postoperative patients with CHD versus healthy controls in all domains with the largest difference seen for physical function (standard mean difference (SMD) of -0....
Introduction Despite cardiac rehabilitation being recommended in clinical practice guidelines int... more Introduction Despite cardiac rehabilitation being recommended in clinical practice guidelines internationally these services are underutilised, programmes are not standardised and quality improvement methods and outcomes are rarely published. National registries are an important strategy to characterise service delivery, quality and outcomes, yet the number, type and components of national cardiac rehabilitation registries have not been reported. Aims To identify and describe national and international cardiac rehabilitation registries, and summarise their key features. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature reporting on cardiac rehabilitation registries at a national and international level. A search of four databases was conducted in July 2016, with two reviewers independently screening titles/abstracts and full texts for inclusion. Data were extracted from included studies, independently checked by a second reviewer and synthesised qualitatively. Results Eleven articles were included in the review comprising seven national registries and one international registry (of 12 European countries) for a total sample of 265,608 patients. Data were most commonly provided to the registry by a web-based application, and included individual-level data (i.e. sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and clinical measurements). When reported, service-level data most commonly included wait times, programme enrolment and completion. The overarching governance, funding modes (e.g. industry ( n = 2), government ( n = 1)), and incentives for registry participation (e.g. benchmarking, financial reimbursement, or mandatory requirement) varied widely. Conclusion The use of national and international registries for characterising cardiac rehabilitation and providing a benchmark for quality improvement is in its early stages but shows promise for national and global benchmarking.
Assessment of physical activity (PA) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants is critical to ... more Assessment of physical activity (PA) for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) participants is critical to monitor changes. However, the validity and reliability of PA measures to assess PA throughout the day, not only during exercise training, is poorly investigated. To establish a reliable and valid measure to assess overall PA in CR participants. A narrative literature review was performed based on a systematic search of Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE and PubMed databases. Eight studies comparing two or more PA measures with at least one direct measure met the inclusion criteria. Methodological designs were heterogeneous. Correlations and levels of agreement between self-reported measures and direct measures were weak to moderate, while the correlations between direct measures were high. Of the direct measures, the SenseWear armband (BodyMedia Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA) had the highest validity, and the PA diary and MobilePAL questionnaires performed better than other self-reported PA measures. Direct measures were more valid and reliable than self-reported measures. No recommendation for a definitive PA measure was made due to lack of strong evidentiary support for one PA measure over another. There is a need for accurate measures of overall PA in evaluating current and changing PA levels following CR.
Journal of immigrant and minority health, Jan 13, 2017
Health outcomes and impact of cardiovascular disease vary between populations, where ethnic minor... more Health outcomes and impact of cardiovascular disease vary between populations, where ethnic minorities and immigrant groups are more likely to be disadvantaged. Compared with the majority residents, health outcomes, especially short-term mortality from coronary heart disease event are worse in people of Chinese ethnicity, potentially due to poor self-management and experiences with the healthcare system in host countries. A scoping review was conducted. Four overarching themes were found: (1) understanding of heart disease, risk factors and symptom recognition, (2) adherence to medication and lifestyle modification, (3) health service/information choice, and (4) family role in disease self-management and decision making. All themes were greatly influenced by English language proficiency and cultural practices. English language proficiency and cultural practices should be taken into consideration when providing healthcare services for people of Chinese ethnicity, as it plays an impor...
International journal of nursing practice, Jan 28, 2017
To assess the effectiveness of a 12-week school-based educational preventive program for type 2 d... more To assess the effectiveness of a 12-week school-based educational preventive program for type 2 diabetes by change in weight and fasting blood glucose level in Jordanian adolescents. Sixteen percent of Jordanian adults have obesity-related type 2 diabetes and 5.6% of obese adolescents examined, however one-third unexamined. Rates in Arabic countries will double in 20 years, but this can be prevented and reversed by controlling obesity. A single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted in 2 unisex high schools in Irbid, Jordan, in 2012. Intervention and control participants, aged 12 to 18 years, were visibly overweight/obese. They were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 205) or control (n = 196) groups. At-risk students were assessed before and after the 12-week intervention, for change in weight and fasting blood glucose level following preventive instruction and parent-supported changes. Mean age of participants was 15.3 years with equal percentages of both males ...
To examine clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and predictors of HRQOL f... more To examine clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and predictors of HRQOL for uncomplicated field triage ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients aged ≥70 years and <70 years after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Pre-hospital field triage for PPCI is associated with lower mortality but the impact of age and other factors on HRQOL remains unknown. 77 field triage STEMI patients were assessed for HRQOL using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) at 4 weeks and 6 months after PPCI. Regression analysis showed improvements in SF-12 domains and angina stability for older people. Age predicted lower physical function (p = 0.001) and better SAQ QOL at 6 months (p = 0.003). Age, length of hospitalization, recurrent angina and hypertension were important predictors of HRQOL with PPCI. Assessment of HRQOL combined with increased support for physical and emotional recovery is needed to improve clinical care fo...
... NSW. Margaret Fry Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW... more ... NSW. Margaret Fry Nursing, Midwifery and Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney NSW. Christine ... doctors. BMJ, 324(7341), 819-823. Kinnersley, P., Anderson, E., Parry, K., Clement, J., Archard, L., Turton, P., et al. (2000). Randomised ...
Patients in hospital are increasingly being moved between clinical units and between bedspaces; h... more Patients in hospital are increasingly being moved between clinical units and between bedspaces; however, the impact of patient transfers and bedspace moves on nurses&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; workload is not known. Time studies are an established observational research method that can be used to determine the duration of time taken to perform an activity or process. This review systematically searched four databases for literature published between 2000 and 2013 for observational time study techniques and patient transfers as a nurse activity. Eleven publications from three countries were included in the review. All studies used timing techniques to explore nurse work associated with the transfer process. The review highlights the duration of time spent by nurses on certain aspects of the transfer process. However, as few studies published results from timings, the impact on nurse time is likely to be higher than indicated. Further research is recommended.
People with a long-term urinary catheter living in the community often experience catheter-relate... more People with a long-term urinary catheter living in the community often experience catheter-related issues, however, the frequency and extent of these issues has not been well described in the literature. A survey on issues clients (n = 62) experience with their long-term urinary catheter was conducted in one community health service. The majority (79%) had experienced at least one issue in the last two years, 62% had urinary tract infections, 33% had an emergency department visit and 29% had leakage. Discomfort at catheter change was at least moderate in 32% and predictive of more interference from the catheter in clients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; daily lives and 55% reported at least moderate interference from the catheter in their daily lives. In conclusion, most clients with long-term urinary catheters experience issues and interventions need to be assessed for effectiveness in decreasing these problems.
Uploads