The aim was to compare coping strategies and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with such strategies and QOL in persons from two general Swedish populations as well as to investigate relationships between personal characteristics and coping strategies. Methods:A cross-sectional, comparative and correlational design was used to examine data from three sources. The patient group (n=124), defined using ICD-10, was selected consecutively from two hospitals in central Sweden. The population group (n=515) consisted of persons drawn randomly from the Swedish population. Data were collected with questionnaires in 2011; regarding QoL, Swedish population reference data from 1994 were used. Results: Overall, women used more coping strategies than men did. Compared to the general population data from SF-36, patients with CHF rated lower QoL. In the regression models, perceived low ‘efficiency in managing psychological aspects of daily life’ increased use of coping. Other personal characteristics related to increased use of coping strategies were higher education, lower age and unsatisfactory economic situation. Conclusion: Differences between the patients and the general Swedish population showed an unclear pattern for coping and a clear pattern for QoL. To deal with the psychological consequences of daily life, men with CHF and persons in the general Swedish population seemed to use both problem- and emotion-focused coping. 

In Sweden there are approximately about 3500 end-stage renal disease and 250 000 chronic heart failure patients. 

Objectives: The original purpose of the study was to determine differences between two groups of patients with chronic illness (end-stage renal disease and chronic heart failure) regarding the following study variables: coping, sense of coherence, self-efficacy and quality of life. Following this, the aim was to explore the relationships between demographic variables (sex, age, educational level and living area) and quality of life as well as between coping, sense of coherence, self-efficacy and quality of life for the combined sample of patients with end-stage renal disease and chronic heart failure.

Methods: A comparative and correlative design was used with a sample of 100 patients (n=41 end-stage renal disease, n=59 chronic heart failure). The data were collected during 2004, using four standardized questionnaires and regression analyses were conducted.

Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups. Positive correlations were identified between sense of coherence, general self-efficacy and quality of life, whereas negative correlations emerge between emotion-focused coping, sense of coherence, general self-efficacy and quality of life. Sense of coherence, general self-efficacy and emotion-focused coping explained 40% of the variance in quality of life. Those with low sense of coherence and general self-efficacy showed negative correlations between emotion-focused coping and quality of life, whereas no such correlations were shown for those with high values on sense of coherence and general self-efficacy.    

Conclusions: The present results on coping and quality of life correspond with previous research regarding how other groups with chronic illness handled their daily life. Preliminary results indicate that how individuals tackle their present situation is more important than which chronic illness they have. Women used more emotion-focused coping than men, which constitute an important finding for further research.

Aim: To study differences between two groups, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and chronic heart failure (CHF), regarding sense of coherence (SOC), General Self-efficacy (GSE), and quality of life (QoL) as well as relationships between these variables. 

Design: Descriptive, comparative and correlative design.  

Sample: A Swedish sample of 100 patients (59 CHF and 41 ESRD) was included. The mean age was 68 years (46 – 80 years).  

Measures: Data were collected with the SOC, the GSE and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ). Age, sex, educational level and living area were also examined.    

Data analysis: Differences were tested with chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test and correlations with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. 

Results: Both SOC (r=0.58, P<0.01) and GSE (r=0.46, P=<0.01) were positively correlated with LSQ. No significant differences between the two groups were found for the study variables. Older persons (>65 years) rated their personal relationships within QoL higher (P=0.045) and older ESRD patients their SOC stronger (P=0.049). Men with CHF rated their self-efficacy higher (P=0.034).

Conclusions: Our preliminary results indicate that it seems more important how the individual tackle their present situation than what chronic illness they have.  

Aim The aim of the present study was to describe staff members' perceptions of an information and communication technology (ICT) support package during the process of implementation. Background ICT in dementia care will likely increase in the future. The diffusion of new innovations can be better understood through diffusion research. Methods Fourteen staff members in dementia care were interviewed, in groups, once before the new ICT, twice during its implementation and once after. Data were analysed using qualitative content analyses. The ICT included monitors/alarms: passage alarms, fall detectors, sensor-activated night-time illumination of the lavatory, and communication technology: Internet communication and additional computers. Results The results showed two themes 'Moving from fear of losing control to perceived increase in control and security' and 'Struggling with insufficient/deficient systems'. Conclusions Staff perceptions of ICT were diverse and changed during the implementation. Benefits were more pronounced than disadvantages, and improvements were described both in care and in staff job situation. Implications for nursing management Functioning and use of ICT may relate to design as well as by application and the surrounding structure, and the whole system: the organizational structure, the employers and the new product needs to be taken into consideration when implementing new technology.

We studied relatives' opinions of IT support at a residential home for persons with dementia. We also investigated the relatives' perceptions of irritations and life satisfaction before and after increased IT support. This was accomplished using an experimental group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 8) of subjects in dementia care. The design was quasi-experimental with baseline assessments and three follow-ups. Data were collected using two questionnaires measuring opinions of the IT support: irritations in care (the Nursing Home Hassles Scale) and life satisfaction (the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire). Results showed that relatives' opinions of IT support were generally positive. In the experimental group, relatives' perceptions of practical/logistical irritations decreased between baseline and 12-month follow-up. In the control group, there was an increase in the total Nursing Home Hassles score between baseline and three-month follow-up. This difference did not persist at seven- and 12-month follow-ups. No significant differences were found for life satisfaction. We conclude that relatives had positive opinions of IT support, and their perceptions of practical/logistical irritations decreased after implementation of the IT support package.

AIMS: To evaluate validity and reliability of three questionnaires measuring 'work satisfaction', 'patient care' and 'staff health' for staff in elderly care and to study the relationship between staff members' satisfaction with work and perceived stress.

BACKGROUND: Increased workload, difficulties in recruiting and retaining nurses are reported in elderly care. Valid and reliable instruments measuring staffs' perceptions of work are needed.

METHODS: A convenience sample of 299 staff answered the questionnaires.

RESULTS: Factor analysis of 'work satisfaction' gave eight factors, 'patient care' four factors and 'staff health' two factors, explaining 52.2%, 56.4% and 56.8% of the variance. Internal consistency was mostly satisfactory. Multiple regression analysis revealed a model that explained 41% of the variance in perceived stress symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: There was support for the instruments' validity and reliability. Older age, higher scores/satisfaction with workload, cooperation, expectations and demands, personal development and lower scores on internal motivation contributed to less stress.

We measured staff members' satisfaction with their work beforeand after increased information technology (IT) support in dementiacare. Comparisons were also performed of perceived life satisfactionand sense of coherence. Data were collected before, and 6 and12 months after implementation of the first part of an IT supportproject. Instruments used were the Satisfaction with Work Questionnaires,the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ) and the Sense of Coherence(SOC) scale. The study was performed in a residential home forpersons with dementia. The participants were 33 staff members.The IT technology included general and individualized passagealarms, sensor-activated night-time illumination, fall detectorsand Internet communication. Results showed that staff members'job satisfaction and perceived quality of care improved in comparisonwith the control group. Personal development, workload, expectationsand demands, internal motivation and documentation, as wellas the total scores for 'psychosocial aspects of job satisfaction'and 'quality of care aspects', increased in the experimentalgroup. There were significant interaction effects for the factorsfamily relation, close friend relation (LSQ), the total SOCscale and the meaningfulness subscale. The study showed thatIT support in dementia care increased staff members' satisfactionwith their work in several ways.

During the last ten years, the inclusion of education in health information systems has assumed an important role in graduate programs for health professionals. More recently, attention has focused on undergraduate programs. Throughout the world schools of nursing, organisations and associations are addressing the issue of educational offerings in nursing informatics. This paper reports on the status of nursing informatics at undergraduate level. Nurse academics from Gavle and Lund in Sweden, and from Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, took part in a survey of the respective nursing courses. The purpose of the study was to identify and describe examples of types of nursing informatics courses in Australia and Sweden A convenient sample of academics were approached and interviewed The results of the survey illustrate, in the schools surveyed, the slow emergence of nursing informatics into nursing curricula.