Carina Persson - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Carina Persson

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2019

Background: There is a lack of knowledge about factors associated with health-related quality of ... more Background: There is a lack of knowledge about factors associated with health-related quality of life in cardiac arrest survivors and their spouses. In addition, survivors and spouses are likely to affect each other’s health-related quality of life. Aims: The aim was to investigate if a distressed personality and perceived control among cardiac arrest survivors and their spouses were associated with their own and their partner’s health-related quality of life. Methods: This dyadic cross-sectional study used the actor–partner interdependence model to analyse associations between a distressed personality (type D personality), perceived control (control attitudes scale), and health-related quality of life (EQ index and EQ visual analogue scale). Results: In total, 126 dyads were included in the study. Type D personality and perceived control in cardiac arrest survivors were associated with their own health-related quality of life. In their spouses, a significant association was found f...

European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2012

Qualitative Health Research

Research results suggest that illness can undermine patients’ dignity and that dignity can be und... more Research results suggest that illness can undermine patients’ dignity and that dignity can be understood as an experience formed in communion with others. The aim of this study was, therefore, to illuminate the meanings of lived experiences of dignity as an intersubjective phenomenon from the perspective of dyads in palliative care. The authors analyzed transcripts from interviews with nine dyads using a phenomenological–hermeneutical method. Within the contexts of the dyadic relationship and the dyadic–health care professional relationship, the authors’ interpretation revealed two meanings based on the participants’ lived experiences: “Being available,” related to responding and being responded to in terms of answerability and we-ness, and “Upholding continuity,” linked to feeling attached through the maintenance of emotional bonds and being connected through upholding valued activities and qualities in daily living. The authors further reflected on the meanings in relation to phil...

BMC Palliative Care

Background Despite complex illness trajectories and a high symptom burden, palliative care has be... more Background Despite complex illness trajectories and a high symptom burden, palliative care has been sub-optimal for patients with end-stage kidney disease and hemodialysis treatment who have a high rate of hospitalization and intensive care towards end of life. There is a growing awareness that further development of palliative care is required to meet the needs of these patients and their family members. In this process, it is important to explore healthcare professionals’ views on provision of care. The aim of this study was therefore to describe nurses’ and physicians’ perspectives on end-of-life and palliative care of patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis. Methods Four focus group interviews were conducted with renal nurses (17) and physicians (5) in Sweden. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data. Results Participants were committed to giving the best possible care to their patients, but there were challenges and barriers to providing quality palliative c...

Nursing Ethics

Background: Nurses and physicians in nephrology settings provide care for patients with end-stage... more Background: Nurses and physicians in nephrology settings provide care for patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving hemodialysis treatment along a complex illness trajectory. Aim: The aim was to explore physicians’ and nurses’ perspectives on the trajectories toward the end of life involving decisions regarding hemodialysis withdrawal for patients with end-stage kidney disease. Research design and participants: A qualitative research approach was used. Four mixed focus group interviews were conducted with renal physicians (5) and nurses (17) in Sweden. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse data. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained (Dnr 2014/304-31). Findings and discussion: Findings illuminated multi-faceted, intertwined processes encompassing healthcare professionals, patients, and family members. The analysis resulted in four themes: Complexities of initiating end-of-life conversations, Genuine attentiveness to the patient’s decision-making proc...

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 2016

Living with chronic illness is a family affair that involves ongoing changes and challenges in ev... more Living with chronic illness is a family affair that involves ongoing changes and challenges in everyday life. When life changes, the environment is important for family health and well-being. The relation between a place and a family is rarely described, and therefore the aim of this study was to explore the meaning of place for family well-being in families living with chronic illness. A qualitative design was chosen. Data were collected by photovoice combined with narrative family research interviews with 10 families living with chronic illness. A phenomenological hermeneutic analysis was used to interpret the data. The results showed that the meaning of place for family well-being in families living with chronic illness can be described as ''a shared respite.'' This main theme included three subthemes: ''a place for relief,'' ''a place for reflection,'' and ''a place for recreation .'' These results were further understood by means of the concept place security. Feeling well means having place security in these families. Through knowledge about the meaning of place for family well-being, health care personnel can stimulate families living with chronic illness to find respite in places that contribute to well-being, both in familiar and new places.

Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2016

All families face normative transitions. Some are perceived as stressful and calls for family res... more All families face normative transitions. Some are perceived as stressful and calls for family resources to maintain or restore family well-being. In times of illness, families also need to develop strengths and capabilities to enhance family well-being. The way these are developed is related to family hardiness. Family hardiness is thus seen as a family resource, and the Family Hardiness Index (FHI) was developed to measure family stress resistance and adaptation resources. The index was not available in Swedish and no extensive international psychometric evaluation was found. Therefore, the aim was to translate and validate the Swedish version of the FHI. The study was approved by a Regional Ethical Review Board. Data from 174 Swedish participants, family members to persons with cognitive dysfunctions (n = 95) and nursing students (n = 79) were included. Family members were enrolled in outpatient clinics in primary care and rehabilitation, and nursing students at a nursing school. Psychometric properties were evaluated through calculations of missing data, distributions of item and scale scores, item correlations, Cronbach's alpha, confirmatory factor analyses and correlations with theoretically related constructs. Sample scores had acceptable data quality, internal consistency for the FHI total scale was satisfactory (α = 0.86), and construct validity was supported. Our findings cast some doubt on the intended interpretation since confirmatory factor analyses showed that a modified four-subscale version, excluding one subscale, showed best fit. The Control subscale lacked important psychometric properties in terms of homogeneity, internal consistency and construct validity. The sample size was probably sufficiently large for the factor analyses, but the subgroup analyses should be treated with caution. The conclusion is that the Swedish version of the FHI is a promising scale for assessing family hardiness, but more solid evidence for the factor structure in various Swedish and international samples is needed.

Ejc Suppl, 2007

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is recognized as a significant prognostic factor in lung cancer... more Background: Quality of life (QoL) is recognized as a significant prognostic factor in lung cancer patients, most of whom have a poor prognosis. In Greece partners play a substantial role during patients' illness trajectory. The purpose of this study is the comparison of Greek patients' and their partners' perceptions about patients' QoL during chemotherapy. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer and their partners (n = 40) hospitalized in departments in the metropolitan area of Athens. Patients and partners completed in the same day, the same measurement instruments in separate rooms, one after the other. Measurement instruments completed at three different points during (before, in the middle and after) chemotherapy course were: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and LC13, and Partner Relationship Inventory. Instruments had appropriate psychometric characteristics in the study sample. Results: Almost all of the couples were married (97.5%). The majority of patients were male (95%) with mean age 60.3 years, advanced disease (62.5%) and 59% metastasis. Partners mean age was similar to patients (55.1 years). High attrition rate reduced sample size during chemotherapy to 25 couples at second measurement and to 10 couples at the third. The most common attrition factors were patient's death (33.3%) and partners' denial (26.7%) to participate to the study, at the second measurement and partners' denial (26.7%), chemotherapy discontinuation due to disease control (26.7%) and patient's death (20%) at the third one. Partners evaluated sufficiently patients' QoL with EORTC scale during chemotherapy. Statistically significant differences were observed only in fatigue (p = 0.030) at the first measurement and emotional functioning (p < 0.001) at the second. Partners overestimated their responses about patients fatigue and emotional functioning during chemotherapy. Demographic and clinical data was not related with the level of agreement between patients and partners estimations about patients' QoL. Contrary partners' perception of the quality of couple relationship (p = 0.046) affected negatively the level of agreement with patients. Conclusions: This first Greek study comparing patients and partners perceptions about patients QoL recognized the significance of partnership relationship when partners are used as proxy estimators of patients QoL, despite high attrition rate of patients.

International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptation, 2012

Problem solving is recognized as a skill, helping families of children with disabilities to manag... more Problem solving is recognized as a skill, helping families of children with disabilities to manage problems in everyday life. Family problem-solving skills may therefore be seen as an important outcome of a child and youth habilitation service. The aim of this pilot feasibility study was to examine the design of a future web-based questionnaire study focusing on problem-solving patterns in relation to resources in families of children with disabilities. The descriptive statistical analyses built on data from 13 families and findings showed an overall satisfactory score distribution for three of the included instruments, whereas two instruments showed floor effects in one third of the items. Findings indicated design problems with data collection related to adapting questionnaires to a web-based survey format and to problems with the stop function that was added. Implementing the main study using web-based surveys needs critical considerations according to the choice of the web tool ...

Little is known about how significant others experience their own situation when a family member ... more Little is known about how significant others experience their own situation when a family member becomes seriously ill. To illuminate the meanings of significant others&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; experiences of their situation after a family member had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, we analyzed narratives from 12 significant others, using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. Findings revealed 4 themes: feeling dislocated in life, being in an altered relationship, being in a struggle, and feeling secure. When reflecting on these findings, we considered the transition theories and works of Ricoeur and Lögstrup. The significant others&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; experiences indicated a transition process because of the changes brought about by the diagnosis of lung cancer and a struggle to endure and overcome difficulties and distress on the way to regaining a smooth functioning life. Furthermore, the diagnosis of lung cancer had altered the relationship toward the next of kin and meant not only feelings of increased closeness but also loss of intimacy and reciprocity. The significant others suffered in this process of transition, and healthcare professionals, who recognize the World Health Organization&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s definition of palliative care, may consider the findings of this study useful when reflecting on their care of families.

Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 2015

The General Functioning Scale (GFS) was developed to assess self-perceived overall family functio... more The General Functioning Scale (GFS) was developed to assess self-perceived overall family functioning. The scale has satisfactory psychometric properties, is internationally recognised and has been used in different contexts. However, no validated Swedish version is available. Healthy family functioning can support patients and help them adhere to treatment regimens. Moreover, it maintains the physical and emotional health and that of the family as a unit. Yet, there is limited information regarding family functioning postgastric bypass surgery. Thus, it is important to use validated instruments to understand family functioning in bariatric contexts. To evaluate aspects of reliability and validity in GFS in a Swedish bariatric sample, focusing on factor structure. The Swedish version of the GFS (S-GFS) was administered on two occasions to 163 participants who had undergone gastric bypass surgery 6-8 weeks prior to testing. Internal consistency, temporal stability and construct validity were assessed. Data were positively skewed. The S-GFS showed good internal consistency (ordinal α = 0.92) with a sufficient overall mean interitem correlation (0.500) and adequate temporal stability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.833). After modifying response alternatives, confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable fit for a one-factor model. The scale is a promising tool for assessing family functioning in bariatric settings. The S-GFS showed satisfactory reliability - consistent with prior research - and acceptable validity in the study sample. This study contributes to the limited research on the scale&amp;amp;amp;#39;s validity. However, the S-GFS needs to be evaluated in different cultural and clinical contexts, focusing on various aspects of validity and responsiveness (sensitivity to detect significant change over time) in different samples.

European Journal of Cancer Supplements, 2007