Lifelong treatment with gammaglobulin for primary antibody deficiencies: the patients' experiences of subcutaneous self-infusions and home therapy |
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| Authors: | Ann Gardulf RN PhD,Hjordis Bjorvell RN,Vagn Andersen MD,Janne Bjorkander MD,Diddi Ericson RN,Stig S Frø land MD,Rolf Gustafson MD PhD,Lennart Hammarstrom MD,Tuna Nystrom RN,Bjø rn Sø eberg MD,CI Edvard Smith MD |
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| Affiliation: | Nursing Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, and Departments of Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karolmska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm;Associate Professor, Nursing Research Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Karolmska Hospital, Karohnska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden;Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine TTA, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark;Associate Professor, Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;Staff Nurse, Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;Professor, Section of Clinical Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Medical Department A, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway;Specialist in Infectious Diseases and in Clinical Immunology, Departments of Immunology, Microbiology Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, Huddinge University Hospital;Associate Professor, Departments of Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Immunology, Huddinge University Hospital;Staff Nurse, Departments of Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Immunology, Huddinge University Hospital, Karohnska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden;Specialist in Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine TTA, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark and;Associate Professor, Departments of Immunology, Microbiology, Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Division of Clinical Immunology, Karohnska Institute at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | ![]()
Primary antibody deficiencies are chronic conditions and the patients usually need lifelong replacement therapy with gammaglobulin to prevent or reduce infections It has been shown that the gammaglobulm can be given safely as subcutaneous infusions, instead of intramuscular injections or intravenous infusions The major aim of this multi-centre study was to investigate the perceptions of the subcutaneous method among patients using it, both in hospital settings and as self-infusions at home The study included 152 patients 89 women, 63 men, mean age 44 years (range 18-76) Data were collected by using questionnaires The patients were found to have a strongly positive attitude towards receiving the replacement therapy as subcutaneous infusions, perceived the method as effective in preventing infections and wished to retain the treatment However, the younger patients found the subcutaneous infusions more uncomfortable and were less determined to continue with the therapy as compared with the older individuals The responsibility for self-infusions at home was accepted by the patients, leading to an increased independence from the health care personnel and to a feeling of flexibility and freedom As these patients have a chronic disease and are in need of lifelong treatment, it is important to discuss the development of structured education and training programmes in which special emphasis is placed on the support of the younger patients It is suggested that Orem's nursing model of self-care may serve as a conceptual framework for nurses working in this specific area of nursing care |
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