Heart Failure Caregiver Self-Care: A Latent Class Analysis

Mapping the Caregiver Experience: Predicting Dimensions of Caregiver Strain Through Task-Based Profiles

Objective: Family caregiving is a prevalent, diverse, and often challenging experience. We develop caregiving activity profiles to better understand how sets of care-tasks contribute to various aspects of strain.Methods: Using diary data from a survey of 213 family caregivers in the U.S., we perform latent class analysis to group commonly occurring care-related tasks into activity profiles. We then use these classifications to predict physical, financial, and emotional strain.Main Findings: We identified 4 unique activity profiles based on a set of 36 daily caregiving activities performed. Activity profiles varied significantly across the three analyzed strain dimensions.Conclusion: Activity profiles present opportunities to better understand how caregiving tasks are related to specific types kinds of caregiving strain.

Compliance with standard precautions among hematology nurses: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Standard precautions (SP) are an important method for preventing and controlling hospital infections. However, the level of compliance with standard precautions in haematology nurses is not high. This study identified various types of hematological nurses in Chongqing and the factors that influence their compliance with SP.

METHODS

Hematology nurses from 33 Chongqing central hospitals were chosen as study participants for a cross-sectional survey in November 2022. Latent class, univariate and logistic regression were used to analyze nurses' SP compliance and its influencing factors.

RESULTS

With a 98% response rate, we gathered 702 valid surveys in total. The compliance with nurses' SP was classified into 2 latent classes: low (42.1%) and high (56.9%). The results of binary logistic regression analysis revealed that recruitment methods, participation in standard preventive knowledge training, organizational support, depersonalization, and personal achievement were the main factors influencing compliance with nurses' SP (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Hematology nurses demonstrated modest compliance with SP, with some variation. Nursing management should monitor the compliance characteristics of various nurses' SP, adopt targeted intervention strategies, and improve SP compliance.

What are the needs and experiences of caregivers of people with heart failure? A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The global burden of heart failure is estimated to be around 64 million people, with many needing care and support for daily living activities. These needs are usually filled by close relatives, often a spouse, and therefore someone of a similar age to the person for whom they care.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore the needs and experiences of caregivers caring for a person with heart failure through a qualitative interview approach.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted in a large region in South England. 17 caregivers were interviewed using a semi-structured approach and the data analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes were identified from the data: a) Taking on the role of caregiver with the sub-themes of: acceptance and life changes; b) Getting to grips with being a caregiver with sub-themes: carrying out the care and coping with the care; c) Impact on own health and wellbeing: sub-themes of physical health and mental and emotional health and finally: d) Need for information and Support with sub-themes: trying to get knowledge and making sense.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown that heart failure caregiving can have a negative impact on caregivers' own health and wellbeing and involves complex care delivery for which they receive little support. Caregivers of people with heart failure report having significant information needs in order to understand the reasons for the care they provide yet feel marginalised by health care professionals.