Self Care (self + care)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Developing a parenting skills-and-support intervention for mothers with eating disorders and pre-school children part 1: qualitative investigation of issues to include

EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 5 2007
Rachel Bryant-Waugh
Abstract Objective This study aimed to (i) identify themes and issues that might usefully be addressed in a skills-and-support intervention for mothers with eating disorders who have children less than 5 years of age, and (ii) determine the most appropriate format for such an intervention. Method Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with seven mothers with eating disorders and pre-school children, and four local health professionals working with mothers of pre-school children. Results Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed 10 themes: ,Passing on Traits', ,Food Preparation and Provision', ,Interactions Around Food and Mealtimes', ,Mother's Intake', ,Self Care', ,Self Identity and Parental Expectations', ,Impact on General Parent,Child Relationship', ,Need for Control', ,The Group Experience' and ,Practicalities and Format'. Discussion Findings highlight a number of difficulties and concerns experienced by mothers with eating disorders who have pre-school age children. An intervention incorporating the identified themes could provide important support to this patient group and potential benefit to their offspring. © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source]


A review of the information and support needs of family carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2009
Ann-Louise Caress
Aims and objectives., The objectives of this narrative review were to identify: (1) The information and support needs of carers of family members with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; (2) appropriate interventions to support carers in their caregiving role; (3) information on carers' needs as reported in studies of patients living with COPD in the community. Background., Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major health problem in the UK resulting in significant burden for patients, families and the health service. Current National Health Service policies emphasise, where medically appropriate, early discharge for acute exacerbations, hospital-at-home care and other models of community care to prevent or reduce re-hospitalisations of people with chronic conditions. Understanding carers' needs is important if health care professionals are to support carers in their caregiving role. Design., A narrative literature review. Methods., Thirty five papers were reviewed after searching electronic databases. Results., Few studies were identified which addressed, even peripherally, carers' needs for information and support, and no studies were found which described and evaluated interventions designed to enhance caregiving capacity. Several studies of hospital-at-home/early discharge, self care and home management programmes were identified which included some information on patients' living arrangements or marital status. However, there was little or no detail reported on the needs of, and in many cases, even the presence of a family carer. Conclusions., This review highlights the dearth of information on the needs of carers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and the need for future research. Relevance to clinical practice., There is little research based knowledge of the needs of carers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and interventions to assist them in providing care. This knowledge is critical to ensure that carers receive the information they need to carry out this role while maintaining their own physical and emotional health. [source]


The meaning of self-care for people with chronic illness

JOURNAL OF NURSING AND HEALTHCARE OF CHRONIC ILLNE SS: AN INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010
Debbie Kralik RN
kralik d, price k & telford k (2010) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness2, 197,204 The meaning of self-care for people with chronic illness Aim., To reveal the meaning of self-care as described by men and women living with chronic conditions. Background., Chronic illness self-care and self-management are terms that have been used interchangeably in the literature. Self-care in the context of chronic illness has received some research attention, but remains an under-explored concept. Methods., Conversation data were gathered using longitudinal email groups facilitated by the first author over a 21-month period between 2003,2005, with 42 men and women living with chronic illness. Results., Self-care is a process of adaptation in response to learning about oneself and about ways to live well with illness. Developing capacity to self care impacted significantly on the way participants experienced illness, their view of themselves and of their future. Conclusions., People living with chronic illness describe the process of self-care as transformational in terms of feelings about their selves and reclaiming a sense of order. It enables them to move forward with a sense of the future. The primary health care principle of holistic assessment, taking account of the wider context of people's lives, is of heightened importance when educating about self-care. Relevance to clinical practice., Health care workers can assist people by acknowledging that chronic illness self-care is a process that gradually evolves and is borne out of listening to the person's priorities and finding ways for strategies to fit harmoniously alongside those priorities. [source]


Barriers to the self-care of type 2 diabetes from both patients' and providers' perspectives: literature review

JOURNAL OF NURSING AND HEALTHCARE OF CHRONIC ILLNE SS: AN INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009
Sandra PY Pun MHA
Aim., To review systematically the literature about barriers to diabetes self-care from both patients' and healthcare providers' perspectives. Background., Diabetes mellitus is a global health concern due to rapidly increasing prevalence. The healthcare costs for diabetes care and related complications are high. Tight glycaemic control achieved by intensive therapy has been shown to lower the risk of complications. Despite the provision of comprehensive management programmes, patients are often unable to achieve the desired outcomes. It is essential to understand the barriers to diabetes self-care in order to promote successfully self-care behaviours. Methods., A search of OVID Medline (R), CINAHL, Cochrane Library and British Nursing Index was carried out during 1986,2007 using keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, self care, patient compliance, patient adherence and barriers to diabetes self care. Manual searching of relevant nursing journals and sourcing of secondary research extended the search. Results., A total of 16 original research papers using various methods including survey, descriptive correlational, sequential explanatory mixed-method and qualitative exploratory design were reviewed. In total, over 8900 patients and 4550 healthcare providers were recruited from over 28 countries in these studies. Major barriers identified included psychosocial, socioeconomic, physical, environmental and cultural factors. Conclusions., Healthcare providers can enhance patient empowerment and participation with family support to achieve feasible targets. Better health care delivery systems and reforms that improve affordability, accessibility, and efficiency of care are essential for helping both providers and patients to meet desirable standards of diabetes care. Relevance to clinical practice., Understanding barriers to diabetes self-care is the first step in facilitating providers to identify their role in enabling patients to overcome these barriers. Healthcare providers can develop strategies to clarify and individualise treatment guidelines, implement continuing education, improve communication skills, and help motivate patients to achieve desired behavioral changes. [source]


Rehabilitation of surgical cancer patients at University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
Rajesh Yadav MD
Abstract With early detection and treatment, survival rates for many types of cancer have improved. Long term survivors have number of issues, which can include functional deficits, pain, fatigue, lymphedema and altered bowel and bladder function. Simple activities such as mobility and the ability to perform self care can be limited. In addition, re-integration into society with activities such as driving, social interaction and return to work are often problematic. The goal of cancer rehabilitation is to improve quality of life by minimizing disability and handicap caused by cancer and associated treatments. Initial rehabilitation interventions usually occur in an inpatient setting as patients often experience a decline in functional status due to cancer progression and or surgical treatment. Rehabilitation interventions reduce the debility and functional deficits and add to the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing surgical treatments. The rehabilitation team can assist not only with acute decline in functional status but also with re-integration back in society. Both general and specific rehabilitation interventions based on diagnoses are reviewed. J. Surg. Oncol. 95:361,369. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Self-rated health status in spinocerebellar ataxia,Results from a European multicenter study,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 5 2010
Tanja Schmitz-Hübsch MD
Abstract Patient-based measures of subjective health status are increasingly used as outcome measures in interventional trials. We aimed to determine the variability and predictors of subjective health ratings in a possible target group for future interventions: the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). A consecutive sample of 526 patients with otherwise unexplained progressive ataxia and genetic diagnoses of SCA1 (117), SCA2 (163), SCA3 (139), and SCA6 (107) were enrolled at 18 European referral centers. Subjective health status was assessed with a generic measure of health related quality of life, the EQ-5D (Euroqol) questionnaire. In addition, we performed a neurological examination and a screening questionnaire for affective disorders (patient health questionnaire). Patient-reported health status was compromised in patients of all genotypes (EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) mean 61.45 ± 20.8). Specifically, problems were reported in the dimensions of mobility (86.9% of patients), usual activities (68%), pain/discomfort (49.4%), depression/anxiety (46.4%), and self care (38.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed three independent predictors of subjective health status: ataxia severity, extent of noncerebellar involvement, and the presence of depressive syndrome. This model explained 30.5% of EQ-VAS variance in the whole sample and might be extrapolated to other SCA genotypes. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society [source]