1
|
Halevi Hochwald I, Green G, Sela Y, Radomyslsky Z, Nissanholtz-Gannot R, Hochwald O. Converting qualitative data into quantitative values using a matched mixed-methods design: A new methodological approach. J Adv Nurs 2023; 79:4398-4410. [PMID: 36938982 DOI: 10.1111/jan.15649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quantifying qualitative data as part of mixed-methods research (MMR) can add to the study results' analysis. Comparable results may reinforce the conclusions, while differences hold an opportunity for an in-depth discussion. To date, there is little guidance for researchers seeking to quantify their qualitative data. OBJECTIVES Describing conversion of qualitative data to quantitative values, comparison with matched questionnaire results, discussing the benefits of this process and the matched MMR design. METHODS We describe in detail how qualitative data from 46 interviews were converted into quantitative values (i.e., quantitative-qualitative values, QQVs) using MMR design, enabling a comparison of results from interviews and questionnaires obtained from the same participants. This process was embedded in a larger MMR study on family-caregivers caring for people-with-end-stage-dementia conducted between the years 2020-2021. RESULTS A QQV was generated for three main themes and compared to the questionnaires' scores regarding the same topics. There were no significant differences between the scores regarding 'satisfaction with nurses and physicians care', and 'discussion with nurses and physicians about end-of-life care'. However, for 'burden', the QQV score was significantly higher than the questionnaires' score. DISCUSSION We described how to use a matched MMR design to produce and compare QQV from interviews with questionnaire scores. This methodology may allow further valuable discussion if the results are either similar or not, and for better integration and easier presentation of the results. Comparable results can reinforce the conclusions from both parts of the MMR study, while differences hold an opportunity for an in-depth discussion regarding their meaning and context. Although we claim that this methodology can be embedded in the MMR structure and contribute significantly to the discussion's depth, it by no means replaces the traditional MMR design. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION No patient or public contribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gizell Green
- Nursing Department, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Yael Sela
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Social and Community Sciences, Ruppin Academic Center, Emeq-Hefer, Israel
| | - Zorian Radomyslsky
- Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Ori Hochwald
- Department of Neonatology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Radomyslsky Z, Kivity S, Lidar S, Bentur N, Korn L, Nissanholtz-Gannot R, Sternberg S, Halevi Hochwald I, Reges O, Alon Y, Saban M. Association between COVID-19 vaccination and critical outcomes among older adults with dementia: a comparative cohort study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1281266. [PMID: 37849724 PMCID: PMC10578450 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As COVID-19 vaccines became available, understanding their potential benefits in vulnerable populations has gained significance. This study explored the advantages of COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with cognitive disorders by analyzing health-related variables and outcomes. Methods A prospective cohort study analyzed electronic medical records of 25,733 older adults with cognitive disorders and 65,544 older adults without cognitive disorders from March 2020 to February 2022. COVID-19 vaccination status was the primary exposure variable, categorized as fully vaccinated or unvaccinated. The primary outcomes measured were all-cause mortality and hospitalization rates within 14 and 400 days post-vaccination. Data on vaccination status, demographics, comorbidities, testing history, and clinical outcomes were collected from electronic health records. The study was ethically approved by the relevant medical facility's Institutional Review Board (0075-22-MHS). Results Vaccinated individuals had significantly lower mortality rates in both groups. In the research group, the mortality rate was 52% (n = 1852) for unvaccinated individuals and 7% (n = 1,241) for vaccinated individuals (p < 0.001). Similarly, in the control group, the mortality rate was 13.58% (n = 1,508) for unvaccinated individuals and 1.85% (n = 936) for vaccinated individuals (p < 0.001), despite higher COVID-19 positivity rates. In the research group, 30.26% (n = 1,072) of unvaccinated individuals tested positive for COVID-19, compared to 37.16% (n = 6,492) of vaccinated individuals (p < 0.001). In the control group, 17.31% (n = 1922) of unvaccinated individuals were COVID-19 positive, while 37.25% (n = 18,873) of vaccinated individuals tested positive (p < 0.001). Vaccination also showed potential benefits in mental health support. The usage of antipsychotic drugs was lower in vaccinated individuals (28.43%, n = 4,967) compared to unvaccinated individuals (37.48%, n = 1,328; 95% CI [0.92-1.28], p < 0.001). Moreover, vaccinated individuals had lower antipsychotic drug prescription rates (23.88%, n = 4,171) compared to unvaccinated individuals (27.83%, n = 968; 95% CI [-1.02 to -0.63], p < 0.001). Vaccination appeared to have a positive impact on managing conditions like diabetes, with 38.63% (n = 6,748) of vaccinated individuals having diabetes compared to 41.55% (n = 1,472) of unvaccinated individuals (95% CI [0.24, 0.48], p < 0.001). Discussion The findings highlight the importance of vaccination in safeguarding vulnerable populations during the pandemic and call for further research to optimize healthcare strategies for individuals with cognitive disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Kivity
- Department of Health System Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Shira Lidar
- Department of Health System Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Netta Bentur
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Liat Korn
- Department of Health System Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Rachel Nissanholtz-Gannot
- Department of Health System Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Mayers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shelley Sternberg
- Department of Health System Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Orna Reges
- Department of Health System Management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Yaniv Alon
- Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mor Saban
- Nursing Department, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Green G, Halevi Hochwald I, Radomyslsky Z, Nissanholtz-Gannot R. Family Caregiver's Depression, Confidence, Satisfaction, and Burden Regarding End-of-Life Home Care for People With End-Stage Dementia. Omega (Westport) 2022:302228221147961. [PMID: 36573833 DOI: 10.1177/00302228221147961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
To detect differences between two care services units: regarding family-caregiver (FC) depression, perceived-burden and confidence in the provision of care to people with end-stage dementia (PWESD); examine predictors such as FC age, depression, confidence in the provision of care to PWESD and satisfaction with the community-home-care service to burden; and explore a mediation model.The participants were 139 FC, caring for PWESD living at home. The questionnaire was composed of FC background characteristics, perceived-burden, satisfaction with the community-home-care services, depression, and confidence in the provision of care to the PWESD. HCUs' FC felt significantly more burdened than HHUs' FC. Furthermore, satisfaction with the community-home-care services mediated the relationship between FC confidence in the provision of care to the PWESD and FC burden. The study results may affect the development of end-of-life care policies and services which meet the needs of PWESD and their FC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gizell Green
- School of Nursing, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Zorian Radomyslsky
- Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Halevi Hochwald I, Arieli D, Radomyslsky Z, Danon Y, Nissanholtz-Gannot R. Emotion work and feeling rules: Coping strategies of family caregivers of people with end stage dementia in Israel-A qualitative study. Dementia (London) 2022; 21:1154-1172. [PMID: 35130758 PMCID: PMC9189436 DOI: 10.1177/14713012211069732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background End stage dementia is an inevitable phase following a prolonged deterioration. Family
caregivers for people with end stage dementia who live in their home can experience an
emotional burden. Emotion work and “feeling-rules” refers to socially shared norms and
self-management of feelings, as well as projecting emotions appropriate for the
situation, aiming at achieving a positive environment as a resource for supporting
others’ wellbeing. Objectives Exploring and describing the experience of family caregivers of people with end stage
dementia at home, in Israel, unpacking their emotional coping and the
emotional-strategies they use, and placing family caregivers' emotion work in a cultural
context. Method We conducted fifty qualitative interviews using semi structured interviews analyzed
through a thematic content analysis approach. Findings Four characteristics of emotion work were identified: (1) sliding between detachment
and engagement, (2) separating the person from their condition (3), adoption of
caregiving as a social role and a type of social reinforcement, and (4) using the
caregiving role in coping with loneliness and emptiness. The emotional coping strategies
are culturally contextualized, since they are influenced by the participants’ cultural
background. Discussion This article’s focus is transparent family caregivers' emotion work, a topic which has
rarely been discussed in the literature is the context of caring for a family member
with dementia at home. In our study, emotion work appears as a twofold concept: the
emotion work by itself contributed to the burden, since family caregivers' burden
experience can evolve from the dissonance between their “true” feelings of anger and
frustration and their expected “acceptable” feelings (“feeling-rules”) formed by
cultural norms. However, emotion work was also a major source of coping and finding
strength and self-meaning. Understanding and recognizing the emotion work and the
cultural and religious influence in this coping mechanism can help professionals who
treat people with end stage dementia to better support family-caregivers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Halevi Hochwald
- Department of health systems management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; School of Nursing, Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel
| | - Daniella Arieli
- School of Nursing, Max Stern Yezreel Valley, Israel; Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel
| | - Zorian Radomyslsky
- Department of health systems management, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yehuda Danon
- Department of health systems management, 42732Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Israel, caring for people with end-stage dementia confined to home is mainly done by home care units, and in some cases by home hospice units, an alternative palliative-care service. Because life expectancy is relatively unknown, and the patient's decision-making ability is poor, caring for this unique population raises ethical dilemmas regarding when to define the disease as having reached a terminal stage, as well as choosing between palliative and life-prolonging-oriented care. OBJECTIVES Exploring and describing differences and similarities of professional staff members' (PSMs') and family caregivers' perceptions of caring for people with end-stage dementia in two different settings. DESIGN Qualitative research, using semi-structured interviews analyzed through a thematic content-analysis approach. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-four interviews were conducted (24 PSMs and 40 family caregivers) in two care-settings-home hospice unit and home care unit. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS The study was approved by the Ethics Committee (BBL00118-17). FINDINGS We found dilemmas regarding palliative care to be the main theme, including definition of the disease as terminal, choosing "comfort" over "life-prolonging," clarifying patients' wishes and deciding whether or not to use artificial feeding. DISCUSSION Both PSMs and family caregivers deal with ethical dilemmas and have reached different conclusions, both legitimate. Comprehending dementia as a terminal disease influenced participants' perceptions of the relevancy of palliative care for people with end-stage dementia. Discrepancies between PSMs and family caregivers in caring for people with end-stage dementia were found in both home hospice unit and home care unit environments, raising potential conflicts regarding decisions for end-of-life care. CONCLUSIONS Communication between PSMs and family caregivers is crucial for the discussion about the discrepancies regarding the unique dilemmas of caring for people with end-stage dementia and bridging the gap between them. Lack of communication and resources can hamper the provision of an acceptable solution for quality and equality of care in the best interest of people with end-stage dementia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gila Yakov
- Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bentur N, Cohen-Mansfield J, Radomyslsky Z. Is Pain Assessment of Community-Dwelling Persons With Advanced Dementia by Family and Paid Care Workers Feasible? J Pain Symptom Manage 2021; 61:1028-1034. [PMID: 33186731 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The experience of pain is aggravated among older persons with advanced dementia (OPAD). It is often undetected and therefore untreated because of their limited capacity to identify and report their symptoms. Therefore, it is crucial to improve the pain identification skills of those who know and live with them. OBJECTIVES To compare the identification of pain among OPAD between family members and paid care workers and to compare the detection of pain through the use of two common assessment tools. METHODS This study is a cross-sectional comparison conducted between 82 dyads of informants: the family member of OPAD and the paid care worker, a total of 164 individuals. MEASUREMENTS The study used two previously validated pain assessment tools for persons suffering from dementia: the Pain Assessment in Noncommunicative Elderly persons tool (PAINE) and Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia tool (PAINAD), and a general impression question. RESULTS Both family members and paid care workers were able to successfully use both tools. The correlation between family members' ratings and paid care workers' ratings was statistically significant for all the assessments. The correlations between raters were higher when family members lived with the OPAD. The correlations between PAINE and PAINAD scores were moderate and significant, both among family members and paid care workers. CONCLUSION This study shows that it is feasible to improve the assessment and identification of pain among OPAD, through the use of validated tools by family members and paid care workers, suggesting the potential to improve quality of care and quality of life of OPAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Netta Bentur
- Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Stanley Steyer School of Health Professionals, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Jiska Cohen-Mansfield
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Minerva Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of End of Life, Igor Orenstein Chair for the Study of Geriatric, TelAviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Halevi Hochwald I, Radomyslsky Z, Danon Y, Nissanholtz-Gannot R. Challenges in home care at the end stage of dementia: Hospice units vs. home care units. A qualitative study. Death Stud 2020; 46:1667-1677. [PMID: 33040716 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1829748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Home hospice units specializing in palliative end-of-life care are uncommon despite the theoretical benefit for people with end stage dementia (PWESD). We described the challenges of caring for PWESD and their families using 24 semi-structured in-depth interviews with professional staff members from two care settings-home hospice units and home care units-in Israel. Staff described end-of-life care for PWESD in four sub-themes: dementia as an end-stage disease; appropriateness of palliative care for PWESD; a family member at the center of care; and "dying-in-place" versus hospitalization. Our findings may enable better services and quality of care for PWESD living at home.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Halevi Hochwald
- School of Nursing, Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Emek Yezreel, Israel
- School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Yehuda Danon
- School of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|