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H Care (h + care)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Predictors of entering 24-h care for people with Alzheimer's disease: results from the LASER-AD study

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 11 2009
Stephanie Habermann
Abstract Objectives Many studies have investigated predictors of people with dementia entering 24-h care but this is the first to consider a comprehensive range of carer and care recipient (CR) characteristics derived from a systematic review, in a longitudinal cohort study followed up for several years. Methods We interviewed 224 people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their carers, recruited to be representative in terms of their severity, sex and living situation as part of the LASER-AD study; and determined whether they entered 24-h care in the subsequent 4.5,years. We tested a comprehensive range of characteristics derived from a systematic review, and used Cox proportional hazard regression to determine whether they independently predicted entering 24-h care. Results The main independent predictors of shorter time to enter 24-h care were the patient being: more cognitively or functionally impaired (hazard ratio (HR),=,1.09; 95% CI,=,1.06,1.12) and (HR,=,1.04 95% CI,=,1.03,1.05), having a paid versus a family carer (HR,=,2.22; 95% CI,=,1.39,3.57), the carer being less educated (HR,=,1.43; 95% CI,=,1.12,1.83) and spending less hours caring (HR,=,1.01; 95% CI,=,1.00,1.01). Conclusion As having a family carer who spent more time caring (taking into account illness severity) delayed entry to 24-h care, future research should investigate how to enable carers to provide this. Other interventions to improve patients' impairment may not only have benefits for patients' health but also allow them to remain longer at home. This financial benefit could more than offset the treatment cost. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

The family and nurse in partnership: Providing day-to-day care for rural cancer patients

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2005
Lesley M. Wilkes
Abstract Objective:,To explore demands made on family members in managing symptoms and providing for the day-to-day care of relatives with cancer in rural New South Wales and how specialist palliative care nurses support these family members. Design:,Cross sectional qualitative study. Setting:,Seven health centres across rural New South Wales that cover a broad geographical area and reflect the diversity in economic conditions, population density and distance from three major urban centres in New South Wales. Subjects:,The study involved two groups of participants. The first group consisted of one or more members of families of oncology patients who were accessed through health workers at the seven centres. Nineteen family members from 17 families were interviewed. The second group comprised 10 nursing staff working as specialist palliative care nurses across the same geographical area as the families. Main outcome measures:,Physical care and symptom management were the two main areas of interest. Results:,The rural experience of caring for palliative care patients was challenging, with support nurses needing to take into consideration all aspects of the patients' and families' living environments. Conclusion:,There is a need for equipment and basic resources to be readily available to practitioners, funding for ongoing education and 24-h care. [source]

Maternity care options influence readmission of newborns

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2008
Lotta Ellberg
Abstract Aim: To analyse morbidity and mortality in healthy newborn infants in relation to various routines of post-natal follow-up. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: maternity care in Sweden. Population: healthy infants born at term between 1999 and 2002 (n = 197 898). Methods: Assessment of post-natal follow-up routines after uncomplicated childbirth in 48 hospitals and data collected from the Swedish Medical Birth Register, Hospital Discharge Register and Cause-of-Death Register. Main outcome measure: neonatal mortality and readmission as proxy for morbidity. Results: During the first 28 days, 2.1% of the infants were readmitted generally because of infections, jaundice and feeding-related problems. Infants born in hospitals with a routine neonatal examination before 48 h and a home care programme had a readmission rate [OR, 1.3 (95% CI, 1.16,1.48)] higher than infants born in hospitals with routine neonatal examination after 48 h and 24-h care. There were 26 neonatal deaths. Conclusion: Post-delivery care options and routines influence neonatal morbidity as measured by hospital readmission rate. A final infant examination at 49,72 h and an active follow-up programme may reduce the risk of readmission. [source]