Motivational interviewing to change quality of life for people with chronic heart failure: a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic heart failure have a reduced quality of life due in part to their limited range of physical activity and independence. OBJECTIVES: The paper examines whether a physical activity 'lifestyle' intervention, based on motivational interviewing, will improve quality of life at five months from baseline, compared with conventional treatment. METHODS: Sixty older patients with chronic heart failure were randomly assigned to either a 'standard care', 'motivational interviewing' or 'both' treatment groups for five months in 2002. The primary outcome measures were the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 Health Survey, the disease-specific Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire and the Motivation Readiness for Physical Activity scale. RESULTS: There were non-significant differences between the groups at baseline for age, coronary risk factors, severity of chronic heart failure, ejection fraction, specific laboratory tests, length of hospitalisation, medication and social support. Following treatment there was a significant increase (p<0.05) for three of the dimensions of the health survey in the 'motivational interviewing' group. All groups improved their scores (p<0.05) on the heart failure questionnaire. Over the five month period there was a general trend towards improvements in self-efficacy and motivation scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that a 'motivational interviewing' intervention, incorporating behaviour change principles to promote physical activity, is effective in increasing selected aspects of a general quality of life questionnaire and a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire. Thus a 'motivational interviewing' approach is a viable option compared with traditional exercise programming. It is important to test these motivational interviewing interventions more widely, especially to match individuals to treatments.     

Factors influencing medication adherence in South Asian people with cardiac disorders: An ethnographic study

BackgroundSouth Asians experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease than any other ethnic group. Some evidence suggests that South Asians may be less adherent to cardiac medication regimens than Whites residing in Canada. Identification of the key factors contributing to adherence may assist this growing population to optimize their cardiac health.AimTo explore key factors associated with adherence to cardiac medications among South Asian people with cardiac disease.MethodsEthnography was used to highlight population specific themes and domains related to medication adherence. Ethnographic observations were undertaken of patients, as well as their family (primary care) physicians and pharmacists (including their staff), while in physician offices and pharmacies. A purposive sample of patients (n = 8), as well as physicians (n = 3) and pharmacists (n = 2) underwent in-depth interviews. Field note and interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using ethnographic domain and thematic analysis.ResultsThe patients relied on family members for instrumental support in remaining adherent with their medications. Relationships with healthcare professionals who demonstrated clear communication and cultural awareness was associated with enhanced medication adherence. Memory mechanisms needed to be individualized and were generally ‘low technology’. While prepackaging of medications enhanced adherence, patients who used them were less knowledgeable about their medications.ConclusionsHealthcare providers should understand the importance of including family members in the care of South Asian people with heart disease. They also need to appreciate that the quality of provider–patient relationships are important to South Asian patients and will influence adherence to healthcare regimens. Expanding the role of nurse in the primary healthcare team could provide a cost-effective means of enhancing medication adherence.     

Motivational interviewing as a smoking cessation strategy with nurses: An exploratory randomised controlled trial

Background

Despite the important role that health professionals have in reducing tobacco use, many have a smoking habit themselves. The prevalence of smoking is particularly high among nurses.

Objective

To test the efficacy, acceptability and feasibility of a motivational interviewing (MI) based smoking cessation intervention with nurses.

Design

Two group parallel experimental design with random allocation to groups.

Setting

A large teaching hospital in the North of Spain.

Participants

Nurses who smoked (n = 30) were randomised into two groups: motivational interviewing based intervention (n = 15) and usual care (n = 15).

Methods

Motivational interviewing based intervention consisted of four individual MI sessions. Usual care consisted of brief advice. Variables considered to assess efficacy were biochemically verified smoking cessation, mean cigarettes smoked, stages of change, self-efficacy and depression score. Variables to assess acceptability and feasibility included participant satisfaction, adherence to MI, and duration of sessions. Data were collected at: baseline, end of intervention and three months after the end of the intervention.

Results

At three month follow up, compared with the control group, more nurses in the intervention group had quit (absolute difference 33.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6–58.2). In the nurses who did not quit, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the number of cigarettes smoked per day, although progress in the stages of change was greater in the intervention group compared to the control group. Measures of acceptability and feasibility indicated good satisfaction with the intervention, with high levels of attendance and completion.

Conclusion

This study found a beneficial effect of motivational interviewing on nurses’ smoking cessation. The intervention was acceptable for nurses and a number of aspects were identified that need to be considered prior to conducting a larger scale in order to optimise the intervention. Using MI might be a novel approach to the problem of health professionals who smoke.     

Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of chronic disease self-management support for older Australians with multiple chronic diseases

The prevalence of older Australians with multiple chronic diseases is increasing and now accounts for a large proportion of total health care utilisation. Chronic disease self-management support (CDSMS) has become a core service component of many community based health programs because it is considered a useful tool in improving population health outcomes and reducing the financial burden of chronic disease care. However, the evidence base to justify these support programs is limited, particularly for older people with multiple chronic diseases. We describe an ongoing trial examining the effectiveness of a particular CDSMS approach called the Flinders Program. The Flinders Program is a clinician-led generic self-management intervention that provides a set of tools and a structured process that enables health workers and patients to collaboratively assess self-management behaviours, identify problems, set goals, and develop individual care plans covering key self-care, medical, psychosocial and carer issues. A sample of 252 older Australians that have two or more chronic conditions will be randomly assigned to receive either CDSMS or an attention control intervention (health information only) for 6 months. Outcomes will be assessed using self-reported health measures taken at baseline and post-intervention. This project will be the first comprehensive evaluation of CDSMS in this population. Findings are expected to guide consumers, clinicians and policymakers in the use of CDSMS, as well as facilitate prioritisation of public monies towards evidence-based services.     

A randomised controlled trial to evaluate a nurse-led programme of support and lifestyle management for patients awaiting cardiac surgery 'Fit for surgery: Fit for life' study.

BACKGROUND: The 'Fit For Surgery' programme was based on previous studies suggesting improvement in risk factors contributing to coronary disease while patients wait for cardiac surgery. AIM: To evaluate our nurse-led programme in a randomised controlled trial with 188 patients. METHODS: Patients listed for coronary artery bypass surgery with at least one poorly controlled risk factor were randomised to standard care or the intervention which provided lifestyle counselling and preparation for surgery at monthly intervals. Primary outcome measurements were anxiety, blood pressure, cholesterol, length of stay and body mass index. Costs of the intervention were also collected. RESULTS: For both groups blood pressure and total cholesterol improved (Blood pressure mm Hg (Control -9.11 (CI -4.89, -13.33); Intervention -13.02 (CI -8.76, -U17.29) both p<0.01); total cholesterol (Control -0.20 (CI -0.03, -0.37) p=0.02, Intervention -0.18 (CI -0.02, -0.34) p=0.03). However there were no significant differences between the groups. Cost minimization analysis showed that the total costs were less in the intervention group due to fewer admissions (total costs pound10,754 (3746) v pound13,047 (5835), CI -3743, -843; p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The nurse-led programme did not appear to reduce risk factors prior to coronary artery bypass surgery. However, the intervention appears to reduce overall healthcare utilization.     

电话随访护理对行冠状动脉介入支架治疗患者用药依从性及治疗效果的影响

目的：探讨电话随访护理对冠状动脉介入支架治疗后用药依从性及治疗效果的影响。方法：选择冠状动脉介入支架治疗患者180例,随机分为对照组（90例）和干预组（90例）,对照组常规发放健康教育手册、出院小结、告知出院后用药情况、如何改善生活方式和复查门诊时间,干预组在对照组基础上进行电话随访护理,每月电话随访1次,对患者进行健康宣教,对用药、运动、饮食、生活方式进行指导,随访患者病情变化,及时解答患者关心问题、用药疑问;干预前和干预后12个月采用服药依从性问卷,分析两组患者干预前后依从性评分的变化,比较两组1年内心脏主要不良事件发生情况。结果：干预前两组患者一般情况、用药方案及用药依从性评分差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,电话随访后12个月,干预组用药依从性评分高于对照组（P<0.05）;1年随访内干预组再次血运重建、心脏总主要不良事件发生情况明显低于对照组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：对出院后的冠状动脉介入支架治疗患者进行电话随访护理,能有效提高患者用药依从性,降低患者心脏主要不良事件发生率,改善患者预后。     

Cardiometabolic health nursing to improve health and primary care access in community mental health consumers: Protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background

People with a serious mental illness are at significantly greater risk of poor cardiometabolic health with recent studies showing a greater than two-fold increase in the risk of obesity, infectious diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Contributing factors to this disparity include poorer health behaviours such as suboptimal physical activity, poor diet, smoking, alcohol and illicit drug misuse. In particular, the limited access to primary health care experienced by people with a serious mental illness has been highlighted. Persons with a serious mental illness are around 30% less likely than those without serious mental illness to receive health assessments, hospital admissions or procedures for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and are less likely to undergo cancer screening or receive vaccinations. Studies show that mental health consumers may be more likely to use mental health services rather than primary care for contact with the health care system. However mental health nurses report several barriers to their capacity to provide cardiometabolic health care crucial for the treatment of people with a serious mental illness.

Objectives

To assess the impact of a specialist Cardiometabolic Health Nurse on the physical health care of community based mental health consumers.

Setting

Community mental health facility in a large regional centre in Central Queensland, Australia.

Design/methods

Community based mental health consumers will be randomised to receive either usual care, or consultations with a Cardiometabolic Health Nurse. The Cardiometabolic Health Nurse will be responsible for assessing the client and coordinating cardiometabolic health care as required. Post intervention review of health records will be performed with the primary outcome measure being self-reported physical health. Secondary outcomes include the utilisation of primary care services and changes in health behaviours. We hypothesise that the Cardiometabolic Health Nurse will increase the utilisation of health care services for mental health consumers.

Results

Data collection commenced in March 2013 and will conclude September 2013. Preliminary finding are expected in December 2013.     

Medication adherence and predictive factors in patients with cardiovascular disease: A comparison study between Australia and Iraq

Background: Adherence to cardiac medication regimes is essential for effective treatment of cardiovascular disease but is unsatisfactory in Australia and little studied in Iraq.Aim: This study evaluated and compared adherence to cardiac medications and potentially predictive factors based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) in patients with cardiovascular disease admitted to hospital and attending cardiac services in Australia and Iraq.Methods: A cross-sectional multi-centre comparative study involving 246 cardiac patients was conducted in Australia (one hospital in Sydney) and Iraq (three cardiac hospitals in Baghdad) between October 2016 and December 2017. Adherence to medications and related factors were examined using established, validated questionnaires, formally translated and validated into Arabic for Iraqi participants. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine those factors independently predictive of cardiac medication adherence, in Australia and Iraq.Findings: A significantly higher proportion (64.3%) of Iraqi than Australian (37.5%) cardiac patients reported medium/low levels of adherence to their cardiac medications. After adjusting for confounding factors, the ability to correctly self-administer and refill medications, and beliefs about cardio-protective medication were identified as independent predictors of cardiac medication adherence behaviour in both Australian and Iraqi participants. In Iraq, patients recruited from out-patient cardiac clinics were significantly more likely to report adherent behaviours that patients recruited as in-patients of the cardiac ward.Conclusion: Non-adherence to cardiac medications differed but was sub-optimal in both Australian and Iraqi patient samples, in both countries, adherence was associated with patients’ beliefs about medications, and ability to self-administer and refill medications. Clinical nurses and pharmacists need to investigate these factors at every point in the cardiac trajectory to optimise medication adherence.     

Evaluation of specific and non-specific effects in homeopathy: feasibility study for a randomised trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, in terms of acceptability to patients, physicians and other staff; data return and statistical power of a study to elucidate the relative contributions of specific and non-specific effects in homeopathic treatment of dermatitis. DESIGN: Randomised, controlled 4-arm trial, 2 arms double-blind. SETTING: Outpatient clinic, Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-five adult patients with dermatitis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly allocated to: 'fast track' open verum homeopathy, 'fast track' double-blind verum homeopathy, 'fast track' double-blind placebo homeopathy or waiting list control. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One hundred millimeter visual analogue scale of overall symptom severity; 10 point digital scores of sleep, itching, skin condition; weekly 5-point Likert scale of topical steroid use; Dermatology Life Quality Index at entry and completion. RESULTS: Recruitment was below target, but the study was acceptable to staff and feasible. Blinded patients were more likely to withdraw (P=0.021, chi2 test). After correction for baseline differences and multiple comparisons, no outcome measure showed statistically significant between group differences. Blindness appeared to have a negative effect, but this was confounded by differential withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: A definitive trial of this design is unlikely to discriminate the relative contributions of the non-specific and specific effects to the outcome of homeopathic treatment of dermatitis, because of patient preference issues.