BACKGROUND: Few studies have specifically addressed quality of life issues for elderly hospice patients. The purpose of this study is to explore various factors and service patterns of the quality of life of end-of-life care for the elderly. METHODS: We collect the data and make small-scale exploratory study via semi-structured individual interviews. Data were collected from the family of 2 elderly cancer patients receiving hospice services, and the data were analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: After investigation, we found that elderly people in hospice care, regardless of age, are suffering from physical and psychological pain and do not want to spend the rest of their lives in the hospital, but want to die in their own homes. CONCLUSIONS Both hospitalization and in-home care can improve resource utilization, and the key is to find various factors affecting the quality of life. Improving the quality of life is what patients and their families need most.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Female ; Health Personnel ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Hospice Care ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Patients ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Quality of Health Care ; statistics & numerical data ; Social Work

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the intensive care unit (ICU) experiences of cardiovascular surgery (CS) patients and to define the associations between their ICU experiences and related factors. METHODS: The study used a descriptive design. In total, 106 CS patients were interviewed at least 24 hours after discharge from an ICU in an educational research hospital in Ankara, Turkey between January and July 2012. Data were collected using the Intensive Care Experience Scale (ICES), a sociodemographic and clinical characteristics data form and two open-ended questions inquiring about smells and light. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 15.0. RESULTS: The patients were moderately aware of their ICU environments, partly recalled their ICU experiences, highly recollected frightening experiences, and expressed good satisfaction with care. Age, education, marital status, and pain were associated with ICU experiences. Patients who sensed smell had higher scores of frightening experiences than those who did not. Patients who were annoyed with excessive light reported less satisfaction with care than those who were not. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that measuring the patients' characteristics and environmental factors may be beneficial for healthcare teams to improve the recovery of CS patients in the ICU.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures/*psychology ; Critical Care/*psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Light ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction/*statistics & numerical data ; Patients/*psychology ; Smell ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Turkey

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and preliminarily evaluate the reliability and validity of the Symptom-Management Self-Efficacy ScaleeBreast Cancer (SMSES-BC) related to chemotherapy. METHODS: The study included three stages. This paper presents the results of stage 2 and stage 3. In total, 34 items in the SMSES-BC were found during stage 1 from qualitative findings, a literature review, and expert suggestions; the 34 items were used for the psychometric properties test. Test-retest reliability and Cronbach alpha were assessed in the first sample, which included 45 participants for the pilot test (stage 2). The second sample, which included 152 patients, was used to assess the construct validity and concurrent validity (stage 3). RESULTS: The pilot test results revealed a test-retest reliability of .73 (p < .001) and Cronbach alpha coefficient of .96 for the total scale. Three factors (managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, acquiring problem solving, and managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances) were identified from exploratory factor analysis. Correlation coefficient r was .40 (p < .001), which supported the association between SMSES-BC and the General Self-Efficacy Scale for concurrent validity. CONCLUSIONS: The study results demonstrate acceptable reliability and validity for the SMSES-BC that was developed for measuring symptom-management self-efficacy related to chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer. This study suggests further research to validate the construct of the SMSES-BC.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*psychology ; Drug Therapy/*psychology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Patients/*psychology ; Pilot Projects ; Psychometrics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Self Care/*psychology ; Self Efficacy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taiwan

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of patients with atrial fibrillation regarding the disease, to reveal their feelings, thoughts and wishes, and to investigate their perspectives and coping behaviors towards their condition. METHODS: Phenomenological methodology was used. The study population consisted of a total of 225 patients treated by the cardiology department of a university hospital, while the study sample consisted of 32 patients who met the inclusion criteria. A semistructured interview addressed perceptions of patients with atrial fibrillation regarding the disease. Data were collected by asking the participants the three questions on the In-depth Individual Interview Form. Data were analyzed using the continuous comparative method of Colaizzi. RESULTS: In the study sample, 50.0% of participants were female, 69.0% were married, and the mean age was 66.90 years (+/- 7.90 years). As a result of the content analysis, four main themes and 15 subthemes were identified: patient's mental status regarding the disease, patient's social status regarding the disease, patient's physical condition regarding the disease, and disease management and coping with the disease. The study found that individuals with atrial fibrillation faced major limitations in their daily living activities and social lives due to the disease symptoms and warfarin use. CONCLUSIONS: Patients need to be provided with relevant individual training and counselling so that they lead more satisfactory lives. In addition, appropriate health appointment and monitoring systems should be developed for patients to reduce the problems associated with frequent follow-up appointments.
Activities of Daily Living/*psychology ; *Adaptation, Psychological ; Aged ; Atrial Fibrillation/*psychology ; Attitude to Health ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patients/*psychology ; Quality of Life/*psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Turkey

The definition of a "good" psychiatrist has varied over the past decades due to changing roles of psychiatrists. Studies on the qualities of "good" psychiatrists have been completed in many countries. However, no such study has been undertaken in Korea. In Korea, recent growing interest in psychiatry demands the identification of qualities for a good psychiatrist. The purpose of this study was to define the qualities of a good psychiatrist in Korea, subsequently facilitating the improvement of psychiatric training programs. The questionnaire was based on a Singaporean survey with the permission from the original authors. Respondents were divided into patient group and psychiatrist group. The 40-item questionnaire contained items grouped into four themes: Professional, Personal Values, Academic Executive and Relationship. Of the four themes, both patient and psychiatrist groups considered Professional as the most important, whereas Academic Executive as the least important. The mean scores for all items of each theme in the patient group were higher than those in the psychiatrist group, reflecting higher expectations for good psychiatrist in the patient group. Patients emphasized Relationship more than psychiatrists did. It is concluded that a good psychiatrist in Korea can be defined as "a good communicator and listener with a professional manner, who respects confidentiality and has good doctor-patient relationships."
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Female ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patients/*psychology ; Physician-Patient Relations ; Physicians/*psychology ; Psychiatry/*classification ; Republic of Korea ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Translating

PURPOSE: This study was done to develop a measurement for stress experienced by patients with schizophrenia during hospitalization. METHODS: The preliminary tool was developed through in-depth interviews and a validity verification test of content. For data collection, 15 inpatients with schizophrenia were selected as participants for in-depth interviews and 195 patients admitted to one of eight psychiatric hospitals in four provinces were recruited as participants to test reliability and validity of the preliminary tool. RESULTS: The questionnaire was developed as a four-point Likert-type scale in a self-report form with 28 items. Factor analysis showed 28 items in six factors. Factors were named 'Unjust human rights infringement', 'Futureless life', 'Alienation from other family members', 'Infringement of basic needs', 'Infringement of personal preference' and 'Inconvenience of shared living'. The six factors explained 63.5% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha for the total items was .93 and for the factors ranged from .65 to .87. CONCLUSION: A tool to measure stress in patients hospitalized with schizophrenic was developed based on identified hospitalization stress experiences. Study results indicate that this tool can be used to evaluate hospitalization stress in these patients and will contribute to establishing nursing interventions for relief of hospitalization stress.
Adult ; Depression ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Psychiatric ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patients/*psychology ; *Program Development ; Questionnaires ; Schizophrenia/*diagnosis ; *Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: Despite the ready availability of pneumococcal vaccine, vaccination rates are quite low in South Korea. This study was designed to assess perceptions and awareness about pneumococcal vaccines among subjects at risk and find strategies to increases vaccine coverage rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross sectional, community-based survey was conducted to assess perceptions about the pneumococcal vaccine at a local public health center. In a tertiary hospital, an outpatient-based pneumococcal vaccine campaign was carried out for the elderly and individuals with chronic co-morbidities from May to July of 2007. RESULTS: Based on the survey, only 7.6% were ever informed about pneumococcal vaccination. The coverage rates of the pneumococcal vaccine before and after the hospital campaign showed an increased annual rate from 3.39% to 5.91%. The most common reason for vaccination was "doctor's advice" (53.3%). As for the reasons for not receiving vaccination, about 75% of high risk patients were not aware of the pneumococcal vaccine, which was the most important barrier to vaccination. Negative clinician's attitude was the second most common cause of non-vaccination. CONCLUSION: Annual outpatient-based campaigns early in the influenza season may improve pneumococcal vaccine coverage rates. Doctor's advice was the most important encouraging factor for vaccination.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Ambulatory Care ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Immunization Programs ; Male ; Patients/*psychology ; Physicians/*psychology ; *Pneumococcal Vaccines ; Republic of Korea ; Vaccination/*psychology

Adaptation, Psychological ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; therapy ; Patients ; psychology ; Singapore

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a tool for measuring the intra-operative caring as perceived by regional anesthesia patients. METHODS: A preliminary instrument with 54 questions, based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with 11 regional anesthesia patients, was developed. A group of experts revised individual questions, and 34 questions were finally selected. This tool was tested with 137 regional anesthesia patients admitted to D university hospital in B city from August to October 2008. RESULTS: The validity and reliability of the tool were tested using factor analysis. After item analysis, one question with a correlation coefficient under .30 was discarded After performing factor analysis on the final 33 questions, 7 factors were identified; holistic needs fulfillment, consideration, protective environment, cautiousness, concern, information, physical comfort. The total variance shown in the test was 73.5%. A Cronbach alpha of 0.96 showed the reliability of the instrument. CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that the tool is statistically reliable and valid to measure the intraoperative caring perceived by regional anesthesia patients. This tool can be utilized usefully in assessing the effects of nursing interventions for regional anesthesia patients.
Adult ; Anesthesia, Conduction ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Intraoperative Care ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nursing Evaluation Research ; Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology ; Patients/*psychology ; *Program Development ; Questionnaires

INTRODUCTIONWe sought to determine the opinions of patients, their visitors and healthcare workers regarding Influenza A (H1N1) response measures instituted within a tertiary hospital in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSThis questionnaire study was undertaken from 21 May 2009 to 31 August 2009.

RESULTSThere were 92 respondents, ranging in age from 15 to 77 years. Of the 90 who identified their role, 35.6% were patients, 12.2% visitors and 52.2% health care professionals. About 23% of respondents disagreed that one could have H1N1 without fever or fl u-like symptoms, while 14.3% thought influenza could not be caught from an asymptomatic infected person. About 30% perceived the H1N1 death rate as high. From this study, 82.2% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Singapore's H1N1 responses were essential, while 14.6% found it overdone. In particular, healthcare workers and doctors found their professional work to be inconvenienced. Although more than two-thirds of doctors held this view, an equal proportion agreed the outbreak response was essential.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a high level of acceptance of response measures as essential, despite the perceived inconvenience. We propose that the success of containment measures requires unity of purpose and understanding among stakeholders at all levels.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Attitude to Health ; Communicable Disease Control ; organization & administration ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Satisfaction ; Personnel, Hospital ; psychology ; Public Health ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Visitors to Patients ; psychology ; Young Adult