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Background
Lay family caregivers of patients receiving palliative care often confront stressful situations in the care of their loved ones. This is particularly true for families in the home-based palliative care settings, where the family caregivers are responsible for a substantial amount of the patient’s care. Yet, to our knowledge, no study to date has examined the family caregivers’ exposure to critical events and distress with home-based palliative care has been reported from Germany. Therefore, we attempt to assess family caregiver exposure to the dying patient’s critical health events and relate that to the caregiver’s own psychological distress to examine associations with general health within a home-based palliative care situation in Germany.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 family caregivers with home-based palliative care in the Federal State of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. We administered the Stressful Caregiving Adult Reactions to Experiences of Dying (SCARED) Scale. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models relating general health (SF-36) were used to analyze the data.
Results
The frequency of the caregiver’s exposure, or witness of, critical health events of the patient ranged from 95.2% “pain/discomfort” to 20.8% “family caregiver thought patient was dead”. The highest distress scores assessing fear and helpfulness were associated with “family caregiver felt patient had enough’” and “family caregiver thought patient was dead”. Linear regression analyses revealed significant inverse associations between SCARED critical health event exposure frequency (beta = .408, p = .025) and total score (beta = .377, p = .007) with general health in family caregivers.
Conclusions
Family caregivers with home-based palliative care in Germany frequently experience exposure to a large number of critical health events in caring for their family members who are terminally ill. These exposures are associated with the family caregiver’s degree of fear and helplessness and are associated with their worse general health. Thus the SCARED Scale, which is brief and easy to administer, appears able to identify these potentially upsetting critical health events among family caregivers of palliative care patients receiving care at home. Because it identified commonly encountered critical events in these patients and related them to adverse general health of family caregivers, the SCARED may add to clinically useful screens to identify family caregivers who may be struggling.
Land cover change is a dynamic phenomenon driven by synergetic biophysical and socioeconomic effects. It involves massive transitions from natural to less natural habitats and thereby threatens ecosystems and the services they provide. To retain intact ecosystems and reduce land cover change to a minimum of natural transition processes, a dense network of protected areas has been established across Europe. However, even protected areas and in particular the zones around protected areas have been shown to undergo land cover changes. The aim of our study was to compare land cover changes in protected areas, non-protected areas, and 1 km buffer zones around protected areas and analyse their relationship to climatic and socioeconomic factors across Europe between 2000 and 2012 based on earth observation data. We investigated land cover flows describing major change processes: urbanisation, afforestation, deforestation, intensification of agriculture, extensification of agriculture, and formation of water bodies. Based on boosted regression trees, we modelled correlations between land cover flows and climatic and socioeconomic factors. The results show that land cover changes were most frequent in 1 km buffer zones around protected areas (3.0% of all buffer areas affected). Overall, land cover changes within protected areas were less frequent than outside, although they still amounted to 18,800 km2 (1.5% of all protected areas) from 2000 to 2012. In some parts of Europe, urbanisation and intensification of agriculture still accounted for up to 25% of land cover changes within protected areas. Modelling revealed meaningful relationships between land cover changes and a combination of influencing factors. Demographic factors (accessibility to cities and population density) were most important for coarse-scale patterns of land cover changes, whereas fine-scale patterns were most related to longitude (representing the general east/west economic gradient) and latitude (representing the north/south climatic gradient).
Background
This study describes a low-cost and time-efficient clinical sensory test (CST) battery and evaluates its concurrent validity as a screening tool to detect somatosensory dysfunction as determined using quantitative sensory testing (QST).
Method
Three patient cohorts with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS, n = 76), non-specific neck and arm pain (NSNAP, n = 40) and lumbar radicular pain/radiculopathy (LR, n = 26) were included. The CST consisted of 13 tests, each corresponding to a QST parameter and evaluating a broad spectrum of sensory functions using thermal (coins, ice cube, hot test tube) and mechanical (cotton wool, von Frey hairs, tuning fork, toothpicks, thumb and eraser pressure) detection and pain thresholds testing both loss and gain of function. Agreement rate, statistical significance and strength of correlation (phi coefficient) between CST and QST parameters were calculated.
Results
Several CST parameters (cold, warm and mechanical detection thresholds as well as cold and pressure pain thresholds) were significantly correlated with QST, with a majority demonstrating >60% agreement rates and moderate to relatively strong correlations. However, agreement varied among cohorts. Gain of function parameters showed stronger agreement in the CTS and LR cohorts, whereas loss of function parameters had better agreement in the NSNAP cohort. Other CST parameters (16 mN von Frey tests, vibration detection, heat and mechanical pain thresholds, wind-up ratio) did not significantly correlate with QST.
Conclusion
Some of the tests in the CST could help detect somatosensory dysfunction as determined with QST. Parts of the CST could therefore be used as a low-cost screening tool in a clinical setting.
Significance
Quantitative sensory testing, albeit considered the gold standard to evaluate somatosensory dysfunction, requires expensive equipment, specialized examiner training and substantial time commitment which challenges its use in a clinical setting. Our study describes a CST as a low-cost and time-efficient alternative. Some of the CST tools (cold, warm, mechanical detection thresholds; pressure pain thresholds) significantly correlated with the respective QST parameters, suggesting that they may be useful in a clinical setting to detect sensory dysfunction.
Background and aims
In 2008, the International Association for the Study of Pain Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG) proposed a clinical grading system to help identify patients with neuropathic pain (NeP). We previously applied this classification system, along with two NeP screening tools, the painDETECT (PD-Q) and Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs pain scale (LANSS), to identify NeP in patients with neck/upper limb pain. Both screening tools failed to identify a large proportion of patients with clinically classified NeP, however a limitation of our study was the use of a single clinician performing the NeP classification. In 2016, the NeuPSIG grading system was updated with the aim of improving its clinical utility. We were interested in field testing of the revised grading system, in particular in the application of the grading system and the agreement of interpretation of clinical findings. The primary aim of the current study was to explore the application of the NeuPSIG revised grading system based on patient records and to establish the inter-rater agreement of detecting NeP. A secondary aim was to investigate the level of agreement in detecting NeP between the revised NeuPSIG grading system and the LANSS and PD-Q.
Methods
In this retrospective study, two expert clinicians (Specialist Pain Medicine Physician and Advanced Scope Physiotherapist) independently reviewed 152 patient case notes and classified them according to the revised grading system. The consensus of the expert clinicians’ clinical classification was used as “gold standard” to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the two NeP screening tools.
Results
The two clinicians agreed in classifying 117 out of 152 patients (ICC 0.794, 95% CI 0.716–850; κ 0.62, 95% CI 0.50–0.73), yielding a 77% agreement. Compared to the clinicians’ consensus, both LANSS and PD-Q demonstrated limited diagnostic accuracy in detecting NeP (LANSS sensitivity 24%, specificity 97%; PD-Q sensitivity 53%, specificity 67%).
Conclusions
The application of the revised NeP grading system was feasible in our retrospective analysis of patients with neck/upper limb pain. High inter-rater percentage agreement was demonstrated. The hierarchical order of classification may lead to false negative classification. We propose that in the absence of sensory changes or diagnostic tests in patients with neck/upper limb pain, classification of NeP may be further improved using a cluster of clinical findings that confirm a relevant nerve lesion/disease, such as reflex and motor changes. The diagnostic accuracy of LANSS and PD-Q in identifying NeP in patients with neck/upper limb pain remains limited. Clinical judgment remains crucial to diagnosing NeP in the clinical practice.
Implications
Our observations suggest that in view of the heterogeneity in patients with neck/upper limb pain, a considerable amount of expertise is required to interpret the revised grading system. While the application was feasible in our clinical setting, it is unclear if this will be feasible to apply in primary health care settings where early recognition and timely intervention is often most needed. The use of LANSS and PD-Q in the identification of NeP in patients with neck/upper limb pain remains questionable.
Introduction Development and implementation of appropriate health policy is essential to address the rising global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate existing health policies for integrated prevention/management of NCDs among Member States of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We sought to describe policies’ aims and strategies to achieve those aims, and evaluate extent of integration of musculoskeletal conditions as a leading cause of global morbidity.
Methods Policies submitted by OECD Member States in response to a World Health Organization (WHO) NCD Capacity Survey were extracted from the WHO document clearing-house and analysed following a standard protocol. Policies were eligible for inclusion when they described an integrated approach to prevention/management of NCDs. Internal validity was evaluated using a standard instrument (sum score: 0–14; higher scores indicate better quality). Quantitative data were expressed as frequencies, while text data were content-analysed and meta-synthesised using standardised methods.
Results After removal of duplicates and screening, 44 policies from 30 OECD Member States were included. Three key themes emerged to describe the general aims of included policies: system strengthening approaches; improved service delivery; and better population health. Whereas the policies of most countries covered cancer (83.3%), cardiovascular disease (76.6%), diabetes/endocrine disorders (76.6%), respiratory conditions (63.3%) and mental health conditions (63.3%), only half the countries included musculoskeletal health and pain (50.0%) as explicit foci. General strategies were outlined in 42 (95.5%) policies—all were relevant to musculoskeletal health in 12 policies, some relevant in 27 policies and none relevant in three policies. Three key themes described the strategies: general principles for people-centred NCD prevention/management; enhanced service delivery; and system strengthening approaches. Internal validity sum scores ranged from 0 to 13; mean: 7.6 (95% CI 6.5 to 8.7).
Conclusion Relative to other NCDs, musculoskeletal health did not feature as prominently, although many general prevention/management strategies were relevant to musculoskeletal health improvement.
This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial.
Objectives: To identify emancipatory strategies to strengthen the social protagonism of recyclable materials collectors in the light of entrepreneurial Nursing care.
Methods: Qualitative study carried out in two stages: field approach from healthcare interventions in a Recycling Materials Association, and individual interviews conducted between October and December 2018.
Results: The analysis resulted in three thematic categories: Social contribution of recyclable materials collectors; From the assistentialist perception to entrepreneurial Nursing care; Emancipatory strategies of recycling work.
Final Considerations: The emancipatory strategies to strengthen the social protagonism of recyclable materials collectors in the light of entrepreneurial Nursing care are related to the appreciation, recognition and enhancement of social work that has been already performed by these professionals, and to the creation of spaces for the socialization of experiences, expectations and perspectives.
Niche-based species distribution models (SDMs) have become an essential tool in conservation and restoration planning. Given the current threats to freshwater biodiversity, it is of fundamental importance to address scale effects on the performance of niche-based SDMs of freshwater species’ distributions. The scale effects are addressed here in the context of hierarchical catchment ordering, considered as counterpart to coarsening grain-size by increasing grid-cell size. We combine fish occurrence data from the Danube River Basin, the hierarchical catchment ordering and multiple environmental factors representing topographic, climatic and anthropogenic effects to model fish occurrence probability across multiple scales. We focus on 1st to 5th order catchments. The spatial scale (hierarchical catchment order) only marginally influences the mean performance of SDMs, however the uncertainty of the estimates increases with scale. Key predictors and their relative importance are scale and species dependent. Our findings have useful implications for choosing proper species dependent spatial scales for river rehabilitation measures, and for conservation planning in areas where fine grain species data are unavailable.
Niche-based species distribution models (SDMs) play a central role in studying species response to environmental change. Effective management and conservation plans for freshwater ecosystems require SDMs that accommodate hierarchical catchment ordering and provide clarity on the performance of such models across multiple scales. The scale-dependence components considered here are: (a) environment spatial structure, represented by hierarchical catchment ordering following the Strahler system; (b) analysis grain, that included 1st to 5th order catchments; and (c) response grain, the grain at which species respond most, represented by local and upstream catchment area effects. We used fish occurrence data from the Danube River Basin and various factors representing climate, land cover and anthropogenic pressures. Our results indicate that the choice of response grain – local vs. upstream area effects – and the choice of analysis grain, only marginally influence the performance of SDMs. Upstream effects tend to better predict fish distributions than corresponding local effects for anthropogenic and land cover factors, in particular for species sensitive to pollution. Key predictors and their relative importance are scale and species dependent. Consequently, choosing proper species dependent spatial scales and factors is imperative for effective river rehabilitation measures.
Hintergrund: Im Zuge der weltweiten Flüchtlingsbewegungen ist in den letzten Jahren eine hohe Anzahl an geflüchteten Personen nach Deutschland gekommen. Laut amtlicher Statistik lebten Ende 2018 ca. 1.780.000 Schutzsuchende in Deutschland (Statistisches Bundesamt 2019). Der Anteil weiblicher Schutzsuchender beträgt ca. 37,4 Prozent. Zirka 51 Prozent der geflüchteten Frauen, die in Deutschland ankommen und Asyl beantragen, befinden sich im gebärfähigen Alter zwischen 15 und 45 Jahren (Statistisches Bundesamt 2019a; _b). Darüber, wie viele schutzsuchende Frauen schwanger eingereist sind oder zum Zeitpunkt ihres Aufenthaltes in der Erstaufnahmeeinrichtung schwanger geworden sind, liegen keine Daten vor. Ebenso fehlen bisher in Deutschland repräsentative gesundheitsbezogene Daten von Schutzsuchenden (Frank, Yesil-Jürgens & Razum et al. 2017). Insbesondere zu den gesundheitlichen Problemlagen und Bedürfnissen von schutzsuchenden Frauen im Bereich Schwangerschaft, Geburt und postpartaler Phase liegen keine Erkenntnisse vor (Bozorgmehr, Mohsenpour & Saure et al. 2016; Heslehurst, Brown & Pemu et al. 2018). Internationale Studien deuten allerdings darauf hin, dass die gesundheitsbezogene Bedarfslage schutzsuchender Frauen komplex ist (Gagnon, Zimbeck & Zeitlin et al. 2009;van den Akker & van Roosmalen 2016). Die systematische Identifizierung von Versorgungsbedarfen und eine bedarfsgerechte Versorgungsplanung sind deshalb derzeit kaum möglich (Mörath 2019). Aus rechtlicher Perspektive ist diese unbefriedigende Situation ebenfalls problematisch (Klotz 2018). Die Umsetzung des völkerrechtlich bindenden internationalen Rechts auf ein für sie [Anmerk. d. V. : die Person] erreichbares Höchstmaß an körperlicher und geistiger Gesundheit (BGBI. 1976), welches von Deutschland 1976 ratifiziert wurde, sowie des UN-Übereinkommens zur Beseitigung jeder Diskriminierung der Frau von 1979 (BGBI. 1985) und der in der EU-Richtlinie 2013/33/EU in Kapitel IV aufgeführten Bestimmungen für schutzbedürftige Personen erfordert für diese spezifische Personengruppe vielfache Bemühungen. Denn die Förderung und Verbesserung der sexuellen und reproduktiven Gesundheit bzw. Rechte von schutzsuchenden Frauen kann einen Beitrag zu ihrer gesellschaftlichen Integration nach sich ziehen (Janssens, Bosmans & Temmerman 2005). Zuzüglich zur rechtlichen Situation schutzsuchender Frauen gilt das Recht ihrer Kinder auf Gesundheit. Im Artikel 24 der UN-Kinderrechtskonvention (UN, Committee on the Rights of the Child 2013) ist dieses verankert und unterstreicht u. a. für die Vor- und Nachsorge relevante Versorgungsbereiche wie z. B. prä- und postnatale Versorgung der Mütter, Aufklärung über Gesundheit und Ernährung u. w. m. (Deutsches Institut für Menschenrechte 2017).
Hintergrund:
Wenn freiberufliche Hebammen die Geburtshilfe aufgeben hat dies in Bayern drastische Konsequenzen. Fast drei Viertel der bayerischen Kreißsäle arbeiten im Belegsystem, d.h. mit freiberuflichen Hebammen im Schichtdienst. Die wissenschaftliche Aufbereitung von Stress bei der Arbeit kann dazu beitragen, die Abwanderung freiberuflicher Hebammen aus der Geburtshilfe zu erklären.
Ziel:
Das Ziel war die Messung der Prävalenz von Gratifikationskrisen nach Siegrist als Prädiktor für zukünftige Berufsausstiege freiberuflicher Hebammen in Bayern.
Methodik:
Das Modell der Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) misst die Ratio aus beruflicher Verausgabung und dafür erhaltener Belohnung. Erhöhte ERI-Ratio Werte (≥1) weisen auf Gratifikationskrisen hin, welche als Prädiktor für Arbeitsstress und daraus resultierende Berufsausstiege gewertet werden können. Die Prävalenz solcher Gratifikationskrisen wurde in einer onlinebasierten Querschnittstudie an einer Stichprobe von 107 freiberuflichen Hebammen in Bayern gemessen.
Ergebnisse:
Die befragten Hebammen (N=45) hatten im Jahr 2013 im Median 50 Geburten betreut (SD 54,6) und hatten 10 Jahre Berufserfahrung (SD 9,7). Die Prävalenz von Gratifikationskrisen betrug in der Gesamtstichprobe 73% (n=33), im Median 1.2 (SD 0,3). Als belastend gaben die befragten Hebammen ihre finanzielle Entlohnung an und dass sie eine Verschlechterung ihrer beruflichen Situation erwarteten. Freiberufliche Hebammen im Kreisssaal-Schichtdienst gaben außerdem den Faktor „Zeitdruck“ als besonders belastend an. Als Belohnungsfaktor nannten die befragten Hebammen die Anerkennung von Kolleginnen und Kollegen und anderen beruflich wichtigen Personen.
Schlussfolgerung:
Für die Mehrheit der befragten Hebammen in der Geburtshilfe stehen berufliche Verausgabung und dafür erhaltene Gegenleistungen nicht im Verhältnis. Die hohe Prävalenz von Gratifikationskrisen in der Stichprobe kann als Prädiktor für zukünftige Berufsausstiege interpretiert werden. Dies ist ein deutlicher Hinweis auf zukünftige Leistungseinschränkungen in der Geburtshilfe in Bayern.