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Displaying (1 - 11 of 11)
- Title
- Associations between Relational Aspects of Care and Self-Reported Health Status of Residents Living in Long Term Residential Care Homes
- Contributor
- Mary K DeLong (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Lena Cuthbertson (second reader), Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- Person-centred care acknowledges the person behind the patient and can enhance the quality of life of long term care residents. Relational aspects of health care are foundational to person-centred care; this study examines associations between relational aspects of care and residents’ self-reported mental and physical health. A secondary analysis of British Columbia Residential Care Survey data (N = 2,108) used hierarchical multivariate linear regression to evaluate the extent to which relational aspects of care explain variation in self-reported physical and mental health, relative to other care experiences. Relative improvement in relational aspects of care was associated with greater self-reported physical and mental health. For self-reported physical health, relational aspects accounted for 34.5% of the explained variance (R2 = 0.279), and for self-reported mental health, accounted for 48.3% of the explained variance (R2 = 0.274). Relational aspects of care do positively influence residents’ physical and mental health outcomes.
- Publication Year
- 2018
- Title
- Avoiding Futility: How Nurses and Physicians Experience Emotions, Psychosocial Factors, and Their Professional Roles as Influencing the End-of-Life Decision Making Process
- Contributor
- Melissa J. De Boer (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham (second reader), Patricia Porterfield (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- In this qualitative study, five nurses and four physicians from intensive care settings were interviewed about their experiences of the end-of-life (EOL) decision making process. For both professional groups, a shared mission to avoid futility was identified as foundational and climactic aim to the process. This desire heavily shaped initiation and engagement of what was presented as an ambiguous decision making process. Three themes emerged of elements that most influenced their variable experiences of the EOL decision making process: moral weightiness, family receptiveness, and the individual philosophy of approach. These findings emphasize the wide amount of subjective variability experienced and shed light on the competing emotional, psychological, and social interests for ICU nurses and physicians in the EOL decision making process. There must be greater understanding of the EOL decision making process in an intensive care context to provide better support to nurses and physicians.
- Publication Year
- 2018
- Title
- Compassion fatigue and its association with workplace empowerment in acute care settings
- Contributor
- Danielle Lisa Katherine Chatterton (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Angela Wolff (thesis supervisor), Landa Terblanche (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- Compassion fatigue (CF) has been found to influence nursing care providers (NCP) in a variety of specialized areas; however, general medicine unit settings are often overlooked. A potential way to mitigate CF could be through the use of organizational empowerment structures. 117 nursing care providers (NCP) and health care attendants (HCAs) who provided direct patient care in the hospital medical unit context were surveyed using a cross-sectional survey design. Five units from four hospitals of a large, urban health authority in British Columbia participated. Findings revealed that 55% of the sample reported moderate to severe levels of CF. Accessibility to resources was the only organizational empowerment structure that explained variability in the sample's experience of CF (p < 0.01). In addition, the variance of CF was partially explained by the participants' highest level of education and marital status (p < 0.05). Further investigation is needed to further assess CF mitigation.
- Publication Year
- 2014
- Title
- Investigation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale’s Questions in the Screening of Postpartum Depression in Men
- Contributor
- Asha R. Parmar (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Maggie Theron (second reader), Reina van Lagen (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- This study was designed to investigate whether the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which is widely used to screen for PPD in women, is an appropriate tool for men. Six men in their first year postpartum were interviewed between January 2013 and June 2013. The participating men were from a small northern community in the Peace Country region of Alberta. In order to understand how men interpreted the EPDS, cognitive interviews were conducted following guidelines by Willis (2005) to examine the following four cognitive methods of retrieval: comprehension, decision making, memory recall, and response making. The findings provided valuable information regarding the use of the EPDS to screen for paternal PPD. It is recommended that nurses consider men’s interpretations of the EPDS questions as part of the PPD screening. Further research is needed to determine appropriate EPDS cutoff scores for men in the postpartum period and the use of the EPDS in different populations.
- Publication Year
- 2015
- Title
- Life Satisfaction and Associated Predictors in An Older Adult Population
- Contributor
- Gwendolyn M. Williams (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Angela C. Wolff (second reader), Marvin Mc Donald (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- Older adults are increasing in numbers worldwide. Life satisfaction, a component of subjective wellbeing, is believed to be indicative of successful aging and longevity in older adults. The aim of this investigation was to explore socio-demographic, social support, and health-related factors explaining life satisfaction among community dwelling older adults. An ordinal logistic regression was conducted on data collected by the Canadian Community Health Survey 2015-2016 (N = 2678). Older men had higher life satisfaction, as did those attaining secondary school education. The factors explaining life satisfaction were perceived general and mental health, perceived life stress, having a strong sense of belonging to a local community, and physical activity. This result indicates that emphasizing healthy lifestyle practices earlier in life and keeping older adults active and socially engaged could increase and ensure satisfaction with life as people age. In designing, implementing, and evaluating care, clinicians should consider and utilize this construct.
- Publication Year
- 2020
- Title
- Northern rural nurses’ self-perceived competence in addressing the spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting conditions by using a palliative approach
- Contributor
- Ibolya Agoston (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Jean- François Desbiens (second reader), Barbara Pesut (external examiner), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- Spirituality has been long recognized as part of holistic nursing care. This study examined the degree of self-perceived competence of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and care-aides in addressing spiritual needs of patients with advancing life-limiting conditions who are in need of a palliative approach. The sample included 189 providers, at twenty rural hospitals, residential and homecare settings in Northern British Columbia, who participated in a provincial survey with the Initiative for a Palliative Approach in Nursing: Education and Leadership (iPANEL). Descriptive statistical analyses and multivariate linear regression were conducted to compare RNs, LPNs and CAs and to examine factors that explain variation in their self-perceived competence to addressing spiritual needs. RNs in homecare had the highest levels of self-perceived competence among care providers across settings. The statistically significant predictors were: self-perceived levels of knowledge and education on spiritual needs, nursing education levels, being older, English as primary language.
- Publication Year
- 2014
- Title
- Nurses Perceptions of Supervisory Leadership for Patient Safety: A Narrative Synthesis
- Contributor
- Kathleen E.A. Samoil (author), Faith Richardson (second reader), Sheryl Reimer-Kirkham (second reader), Kris Gustavson (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- This thesis addressed whether trends could be found in studies that used questionnaires to ascertain nurses’ perceptions of supervisory leadership for safety in the context of patient safety culture. Thirty-five studies were analyzed. They used the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, Safety Attitudes Questionnaire, Safety Climate Survey, Survey on Safety in Nursing Homes, RN4CAST. One study used qualitative interviews. The result was that patient safety culture assessments should be interpreted relative to the context in which they are conducted. Results are not generalizable and trends among the studies could not be identified. Participants’ culture, workplace culture and geographic location were found to be important influences. It was also found to be important to reassess at intervals and examine the results in the context of the workplace at the time of each assessment. There is benefit to combining qualitative and quantitative methods to assess patient safety culture.
- Publication Year
- 2017
- Title
- Nurses’ perception of workaround use
- Contributor
- Casandra E. Jordan (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Darlaine Jantzen (second reader), Lynn Musto (external examiner), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- Workarounds are prevalent within the healthcare community, particularly in frontline nursing care. It has only been recent that the study of workarounds and their impact has emerged within healthcare literature. This interpretive description study was designed to investigate how nurses perceive workarounds, what they think about before, during and after the process, and what patient, environmental, and personal factors they consider during a workaround. Seven participants, including both Registered Nurses and Licenced Practical Nurses participated in interviews. Five themes were identified through qualitative analysis of the interviews highlighting emotional, mental and the professional impact of workarounds for nurses and their patients. The Implications to nursing practice include the value of nurses in creating frontline procedures, the responsibility of nurses to provide, the potential of current workarounds to produce practice based evidence and the need for nurses to be aware of the emotional and mental health risks of workaround use.
- Publication Year
- 2015
- Title
- Predicting the length of stay in older adults undergoing transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation
- Contributor
- Sharon Rong Wang (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Sandra Lauck (thesis supervisor), Jennifer Gibson (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- The predictors of the length of hospital stay (LOS) in older adults undergoing the transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TA TAVI) remained under-explored. The objective of this study was to identify patient’s individual characteristics, TA TAVI procedural details, and relevant post-procedure factors that were predictive of LOS after TA TAVI. A retrospective review of 128 consecutive medical charts was conducted, and 62 potential predictor variables were analyzed by utilizing various statistical analyses. This study identified five individual characteristics, procedural details, and post-procedure factors that were statistically significantly associated with the LOS following TA TAVI. Its findings may alert nurses to heed the implications of these predictors in TA TAVI patients and initiate nursing interventions to reduce the risk of prolonged LOS related complications. Future studies are recommended to confirm these findings and the effects of other potential predictors.
- Publication Year
- 2015
- Title
- The Subjective Experience of Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease: Using Online Communities to Combat Social Isolation.
- Contributor
- Nirvana White (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Faith Richardson (second reader), Gina Gaspard (external examiner), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- This thesis explores the ways people with early onset Alzheimer’s disease (EOAD) use online communities to address social isolation. Netnography and interpretive description directed the qualitative analysis of archived discussion threads (n=569) within an online forum involving 40 participants with EOAD. Online interaction fostered social connection and redefined life following diagnosis. Textual discourse focused on normalizing the experience of living with EOAD, promoting a community culture of belonging, and developing coping mechanisms intended to enhance self-care and preserve independence. Members found purpose in using the forum as a platform to empower users, or through learning about advocacy roles outside of the online environment. Technological concerns and caregiver involvement surfaced as potential factors impacting online interaction. Overarching findings were conceptualized as benefits offered through the communication medium or motivated by community members. Attention was drawn to technical and practical considerations that focused on enhancing the social experience and supporting overall well-being.
- Publication Year
- 2016
- Title
- Using Cognitive Interviews to Evaluate the Four-Item Dyadic Sexual Communication Scale in Couples Who Might Benefit From a Palliative Approach
- Contributor
- Patricia Chisholm (author), Richard Sawatzky (thesis supervisor), Robin Cohen (second reader), Maggie Theron (third reader), Trinity Western University SGS (Degree granting institution)
- Discipline/Stream
- Nursing
- Abstract
- Sexuality research with people with progressive chronic illnesses tends to focus on functional sexuality, neglecting other issues and aspects of the couple experience. This qualitative study used cognitive interviews to evaluate the appropriateness and acceptability of the four-item Dyadic Sexual Communication Scale (DSCS), and to understand perspectives on sexuality and dyadic sexual communication in couples who might benefit from a palliative approach. Four couples aged 30-90 participated in face-to-face interviews using think-aloud and probing techniques. Cognitive Aspects of Survey Methodology and grounded theory techniques were used for data analysis. Although most DSCS items were comprehensible, the semantics of two items caused confusion. Encouragingly, DSCS scores may identify couples struggling with dyadic sexual communication. In the context of progressive chronic illness couples were fixating on function, exploring alternatives, and communicating (non)mutuality. More sexuality research is needed with the DSCS and with this population.
- Publication Year
- 2017