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Home Management of Warfarin Treatment Through a Real-Time Supervised Telemedicine Solution: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Brasen, CL, Madsen, JS, Parkner, T, Brandslund, I
Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association. 2019;(2):109-115
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many patients are undergoing oral anticoagulation treatment with vitamin K antagonists, which necessitates measuring international normalized ratio (INR) several times each month. INTRODUCTION Patients can learn to measure their INR at home and choose their own dose for the next period with potential gains in treatment quality and reduced healthcare expenses. This is, however, connected to the potential problem of losing tight external control of the patient treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a randomized controlled trial using the telemedicine software CSO/AC together with the INR point-of-care-test CoaguChek XS for 10 months to investigate the use of criteria-driven healthcare interactions. A total of 87 patients were divided into two groups. The patient self-management (PSM) group was surveilled using the criteria INR <1.8, INR >4.5, change in warfarin/week >1.25 mg, missing INR or dosage. The patient self-testing (PST) group was handled as routine care. RESULTS A total of 84 patients were followed for 10 months. No differences were seen in average INR or fraction of INR in therapeutic range (2-3) in the two groups or the start compared with the end. The PST group was handled using 4.2 interactions per month whereas the PSM group used 1.1 interactions per month. No adverse effects of PSM were observed. DISCUSSION Using criteria-driven interactions enabled a considerable reduction in interactions per month. The two groups were comparable in terms of treatment effect and safety. CONCLUSIONS Using criteria to guide PSM interactions maintains good treatment effect while reducing healthcare expenses.
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Engaging people with chronic kidney disease in their own care an integrative review.
Almeida, OAE, Santos, WS, Rehem, TCMSB, Medeiros, M
Ciencia & saude coletiva. 2019;(5):1689-1698
Abstract
The treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) places a major burden on patients and their families. Interventions such as nutritional management, medication regimen, and renal replacement therapies require active patient participation. An integrative literature review was carried out to identify articles on the engagement and participation of people with CKD in their care. The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) "Kidney Failure, Chronic", "Self Care", and "Patient Participation" were used to conduct a search on the following databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the U.S. National Library of Medicine® (Medline/PubMed), Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (Bireme). A total of 21 articles published between 2012 and 2016 were selected. The most commonly used data collection and analysis techniques were semi-structured interviews and phenomenological thematic analysis, respectively. The articles were categorized into the following thematic groups: illness management and treatment; involvement in the decision-making process; advanced care plan; and home peritoneal dialysis. We found that there is a lack of qualitative research in certain areas, namely kidney transplant recipients and people with initial stages of CKD. People with CKD should be encouraged to actively engage in their own care, which in turn requires the knowledge, motivation and support of health professionals.
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Role of Diabetes Education Program in Controlling Posttransplant Diabetes in a Recent Renal Transplant Bodybuilder: Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Othman, N, Gheith, O, Al-Otaibi, T, Abdou, H, Halim, MA, Mahmoud, T, Nair, P, Yagan, J, Maher, A, Dahab, M, et al
Experimental and clinical transplantation : official journal of the Middle East Society for Organ Transplantation. 2019;(Suppl 1):169-171
Abstract
Posttransplant diabetes is a common complication of solid-organ transplantation. We present the possible role of diabetes education in improvement of posttransplant diabetes in a 36-year-old bodybuilder who was a kidney transplant recipient. The patient had been abusing some medications to help in bodybuilding. He underwent living unrelated-donor renal transplant with thymoglobulin induction and was maintained on steroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil. Posttransplant diabetes was confirmed by blood tests. His blood sugar was partially controlled by 3 oral agents. The patient participated in our structured diabetes education program. This program was created to cover different items related to diabetes control, including diet, proper exercise, blood sugar monitoring, sick day management, and pathophysiologic roles of diabetes medications. Within 4 months of participation in this program, the patient's blood sugar became well controlled and his diabetes medications started to be minimized. He presently has stable graft function with hemoglobin A1c level around 5.6% on only diet management. Bodybuilders are at risk of deterioration of their kidney function. A proper diabetes education program is recommended to help renal transplant recipients with early posttransplant diabetes mellitus to control their disease. Success requires close evaluation and a multidisciplinary approach.
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The Effect of Self-Care Education on the Quality of Life in Children with Allergic Asthma.
Mosenzadeh, A, Ahmadipour, S, Mardani, M, Ebrahimzadeh, F, Shahkarami, K
Comprehensive child and adolescent nursing. 2019;(4):304-312
Abstract
Asthma is a condition where the airways become tiny and swollen producing extra mucus. This can cause breathing difficulty and wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Self-care education affects the quality of life of children. This study examined the effect of self-care education on quality of life for children between 8 and 11 years with allergic asthma. This study was a randomized controlled trial. Study sample included 70 children between 8 and 11 years with asthma allergy referred to Children's Hospital Clinic of Khorramabad, Lorestan Province in 2015; they were selected by possible non-consecutive sampling method. Children were divided by random sampling of blocks, and classified into two groups of 35 patients each in the experimental and control groups. Both groups were matched for age and sex of children's and parents' educational level and initial quality of life scores were analyzed (using covariance analysis). At the beginning, quality of life was calculated by the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) for each of the group. The intervention was carried out in four sessions of 45 minutes of self-care education for children in the case group. No intervention was done in the control group. Eight weeks later quality of life was measured in each of the group. There was a significant difference between increase values of PAQLQ in the intervention group and control group (p < 0.001). These results show that self-care education enhances the quality of life in asthmatic children.
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Users' acceptability of a mobile application for persons with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study.
Torbjørnsen, A, Ribu, L, Rønnevig, M, Grøttland, A, Helseth, S
BMC health services research. 2019;(1):641
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of mobile health apps is now common in diabetes self-management and acceptability of such tools could help predict further use. There is limited research on the acceptability of such apps: use over time, the factors and features that influence self-management, how to overcome barriers, and how to use an app in relation to health-care personnel. In this study, we aimed to obtain an in-depth understanding of users' acceptability of a mobile app for diabetes self-management, and to explore their communication with health-care personnel concerning the app. METHODS The study had a qualitative descriptive design. Two researchers conducted 24 semi-structured in-depth interviews with adults with type 2 diabetes who had used a digital diabetes diary app for 1 year, during participation in the Norwegian Study in the EU project RENEWING HeALTH. We recruited the participants in a primary health-care setting. The transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis on developing themes, which we interpreted according to a theory of acceptability. We used NVivo 11 Pro during the process. RESULTS The users' acceptability of the app diverged. Overall, the responses indicated that the use of a digital diabetes diary requires hard work, but could also ease the effort involved in following a healthy lifestyle and better-controlled levels of blood glucose. Crucial to the acceptability was that a routine use could give an overview of diabetes registration and give new insights into self-management. In addition, support from health-care personnel with diabetes knowledge was described as necessary, either to confirm the decisions made based on use of the app, or to get additional self-management support. There were gradual transitions between practical and social acceptability, where utility of the app seems to be necessary for both practical and social acceptability. Lack of acceptability could cause both digital and clinical distress. CONCLUSIONS Both practical and social acceptability were important at different levels. If the users found the utility of the app to be acceptable, they could tolerate some lack of usability. We need to be aware of both digital and clinical distress when diabetes apps form a part of relevant health-care. TRIAL REGISTRATIONS Self-management in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Using the Few Touch Application, NCT01315756, https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01315756 March 15, 2011.
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Dietary Self-Monitoring Through Calorie Tracking but Not Through a Digital Photography App Is Associated with Significant Weight Loss: The 2SMART Pilot Study-A 6-Month Randomized Trial.
Dunn, CG, Turner-McGrievy, GM, Wilcox, S, Hutto, B
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2019;(9):1525-1532
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dietary self-monitoring (DSM) of foods and beverages is associated with weight loss in behavioral interventions; however, DSM may be burdensome, and adherence may decrease over time. Novel methods of DSM, including apps that track food using photographs, may decrease burden, increase DSM adherence, and improve weight loss. OBJECTIVE The objective was to test a mobile photo DSM app compared to a calorie-tracking DSM app on tracking frequency and weight loss in a remotely delivered behavioral weight-loss intervention. DESIGN This was a 6-month (October 2016 to April 2017) randomized trial. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Participants were adults (n=41) classified as overweight or obese (body mass index 25 to 49.9) from South Carolina. INTERVENTION Participants received remotely delivered twice-weekly behavioral weight-loss podcasts and tracked diet using a calorie-tracking DSM app (Calorie Group) or a photo DSM app (Photo Group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Main outcomes were the number of days diet was tracked, podcasts downloaded, and weight change at 6 weeks and 6 months. STATISTICAL ANALYSES Researchers used nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests and χ2 analysis to test for differences between groups at baseline; repeated-measures models to estimate weight change and Spearman correlations to determine relationships between DSM frequency, podcasts downloaded, and weight change at 6 months. RESULTS There were no differences between groups for the number of days that diet was recorded (P=0.18), which was low overall (<30% of days) but was statistically significantly and strongly correlated with weight change for all participants pooled (r=0.63; P<0.001) and for the calorie tracking group (r=0.70; P=0.004), but not the photo tracking group (r=0.51; P=0.06). Participants in both groups had significant weight loss at 6 months (Photo Group, -2.5±0.9 kg; P=0.008; Calorie Group -2.4±0.9 kg; P=0.007), with no differences between groups at either 6 weeks (P=0.66) or at 6 months (P=0.74). CONCLUSIONS As part of a remotely delivered weight loss intervention, frequency of DSM was significantly associated with overall weight loss for participants using a calorie DSM app but not a photo DSM app. DSM was low regardless of group and weight loss was significant, although minimal. Increasing user engagement with any DSM may be important to increase self-monitoring and improve weight loss.
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Efficacy of an internet-based exposure treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines) with and without therapist guidance: a randomized controlled trial.
Campos, D, Bretón-López, J, Botella, C, Mira, A, Castilla, D, Mor, S, Baños, R, Quero, S
BMC psychiatry. 2019;(1):86
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internet-based treatments appear to be a promising way to enhance the in vivo exposure approach, specifically in terms of acceptability and access to treatment. However, the literature on specific phobias is scarce, and, as far as we know, there are no studies on Flying Phobia (FP). This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an Internet-based exposure treatment for FP (NO-FEAR Airlines) that includes exposure scenarios composed of images and sounds, versus a waiting-list control group. A secondary aim is to explore two ways of delivering NO-FEAR Airlines, with and without therapist guidance. METHODS A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in which 69 participants were allocated to: 1) NO-FEAR Airlines totally self-applied, 2) NO-FEAR Airlines with therapist guidance, 3) a waiting-list control group. Primary outcome measures were the Fear of Flying Questionnaire-II and the Fear of Flying Scale. Secondary outcomes included the Fear and Avoidance Scales, Clinician Severity Scale, and Patient's Improvement scale. Behavioral outcomes (post-treatment flights and safety behaviors) were also included. Mixed-model analyses with no ad hoc imputations were conducted for primary and secondary outcome measures. RESULTS NO-FEAR Airlines (with and without therapist guidance) was significantly effective, compared to the waiting list control group, on all primary and secondary outcomes (all ps < .05), and no significant differences were found between the two ways of delivering the intervention. Significant improvements on diagnostic status and reliable change indexes were also found in both treatment groups at post-treatment. Regarding behavioral outcomes, significant differences in safety behaviors were found at post-treatment, compared to the waiting list. Treatment gains were maintained at 3- and 12-month follow-ups. CONCLUSION FP can be treated effectively via the Internet. NO-FEAR Airlines helps to enhance the exposure technique and provide access to evidence-based psychological treatment to more people in need. These data are congruent with previous studies highlighting the usefulness of computer-assisted exposure programs for FP, and they contribute to the literature on Internet-based interventions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first RCT to investigate the effectiveness of an Internet-based treatment for FP and explore two ways of delivering the intervention (with and without therapist guidance). TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02298478 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02298478 ). Trial registration date 3 November 2014.
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COPD patients need more information about self-management: a cross-sectional study in Swedish primary care.
Sandelowsky, H, Krakau, I, Modin, S, Ställberg, B, Nager, A
Scandinavian journal of primary health care. 2019;(4):459-467
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Abstract
Objective: In Sweden, patients with chronic conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), often receive education at specialized nurse-led clinics at primary health care centers (PHCCs). Identifying patients' needs for information about COPD is the key to individualized care. This study aimed to assess self-reported needs for information about COPD in primary care patients with either moderate (GOLD 2) or severe (GOLD 3) COPD and identify patient characteristics and exacerbation patterns associated with the findings.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: Twenty-four PHCCs in Stockholm, Sweden.Subjects: Randomly selected primary care patients with COPD in GOLD stages 2 and 3 (n = 542).Main outcome measures: The Lung Information Needs Questionnaire (LINQ) was used to assess perceived information needs. Spirometry results and descriptive, self-reported data on patient factors such as exacerbation history, treatment, smoking, weight/height, comorbidities, health care contacts, education and symptoms were collected.Results: Overall, the greatest reported needs were for information about self-management and diet. GOLD 2 patients (68%) expressed greater needs for information than GOLD 3 patients (32%). We found significant associations between high information needs and patient-related factors such as 'No assigned GP' (OR = 4.32 [95% CI 2.65-7.05]) and 'No contact with COPD nurse in the past 12 months' (OR = 1.83 [95% CI 1.19-2.81]).Conclusion: COPD patients felt they knew too little about self-management of their disease. Low information needs were strongly associated with continuity in patient-GP consultations and moderately associated with contact with a COPD nurse. These associations were strongest in patients with moderate COPD.Key points: As patients with COPD often have multimorbidity, identifying patients' needs for information about COPD is essential to providing individualized patient education and care. In this study of 542 patients from 24 Swedish primary care centers, we found that:Patients with COPD, particularly those with moderate airflow limitation (i.e. GOLD 2) felt they needed more information about COPD than currently provided by health care professionals in primary care.Low information needs were strongly associated with continuity in patient-GP consultations and moderately associated with contact with a COPD nurse. GPs' part in COPD patient education should not be overlooked, as individualized COPD care relies on GPs' expertise in managing patients with multimorbidity.
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Knowledge and attitude about diabetes self-care of older adults in primary health care.
Borba, AKOT, Arruda, IKG, Marques, APO, Leal, MCC, Diniz, ADS
Ciencia & saude coletiva. 2019;(1):125-136
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the knowledge about diabetes, the attitude for self-care and associated factors through a cross-sectional study, the baseline of a randomized clinical trial with elderly diabetic in primary health care in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. We used the Diabetes Knowledge Scale (DKN-A) and Diabetes Attitudes Questionnaire (ATT-19). Of the 202 elderly, 77.7% had insufficient knowledge of the disease, especially for ketonuria, food replacement and were unaware of the causes and care of hypoglycemia. As for attitude, 85.6% had a negative psychological adjustment for diabetes. The logistic regression model showed that living alone was a protective factor (OR = 0.24; 95% CI 0.09-0.65; OR = 0.22; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.71), and low education, a risk factor (OR = 7.78; 95% CI 3.36-18.01; OR = 13.05; 95% CI 4.63-36.82) for the insufficient knowledge and the negative attitude for self-care, respectively. The findings reinforce the need for interdisciplinary educational actions that include socioeconomic, psycho-emotional and educational aspects in diabetes management to maintain elderly autonomy and functionality.
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An educational intervention on foot self-care behaviour among diabetic retinopathy patients with visual disability and their primary caregivers.
Li, J, Gu, L, Guo, Y
Journal of clinical nursing. 2019;(13-14):2506-2516
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of a 12-week educational intervention on foot self-care behaviour among diabetic retinopathy patients with visual disability and their primary caregivers in China. BACKGROUND Diabetes with the coexistence of diabetic retinopathy and foot problems complicating diabetes not only represents a personal disaster, but also becomes a serious burden to public health in China. A foot self-care educational intervention is both cost-effective and feasible even in a health resource-limited setting, which should be developed and evaluated. DESIGN Quasi-experimental. METHODS From July-September 2017, we enrolled 80 eligible hospitalised diabetic retinopathy patients and their primary caregivers by convenient sampling method in a first-class comprehensive hospital in Nantong, in China. Before and after the educational intervention that is in accordance with the TREND statement (for details, see the "Supplementary File 1"), researchers and subjects filled out the self-designed questionnaire on foot problems complicating diabetes and the Diabetic Foot Self-care Behavior Scale, respectively. RESULTS Scores of foot self-care behaviour among the subjects significantly improved from 54.19 ± 8.01-75.85 ± 5.04. The number of patients with fasting blood glucoses <7.0 mmol/L improved from 43 (53.75%)-80 (100%). The results of incidence of foot problems complicating diabetes were not statistically significant. The complete execution of each item in Diabetic Foot Self-care Behavior Scale of subjects was apparently higher. CONCLUSIONS This educational intervention can facilitate positive foot self-care behaviours among the diabetic retinopathy patients with visual disability and their primary caregivers in China. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This study adds to the evidence of the effectiveness of an educational intervention to foster positive foot self-care behaviours. This educational intervention appears to be prospective in promoting diabetic home-based self-management in China, and the delivery method of the intervention may be applied to other chronic diseases.