Mid Sweden University

Aim: To explore and gain a deeper understanding of how registered nurses in palliative care develop personal and professional approaches in confidential conversations with patients. Design: A qualitative study using focus groups. Method: Between March and May 2024, 22 registered nurses working in specialised palliative care in the northern region of Sweden participated in five focus groups. The discussions were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using interpretive description. Findings: Registered nurses pursued meaningful, supportive interactions during confidential conversations. Their reflections revealed vulnerabilities and the importance of continuous self-reflection, fostering growth, resilience and professional development. They sought ways to process emotional challenges, from individual reflection to peer discussions and structured supervision, refining their approaches. Four themes emerged: balancing external demands with inner motivation, recognising personal limitations, managing compassion with professional responsibility and gradually building trust. Conclusion: Reflection and continuous professional development are essential for navigating confidential conversations in palliative care. These practices help registered nurses balance empathy with boundaries whilst managing emotional and professional challenges. Peer support and shared learning, as well as fostering self-awareness and emotional resilience can enhance care quality and promote sustained professional growth across healthcare settings. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareThis study highlights the emotional challenges registered nurses face in confidential conversations with patients at the end of life. Reflection and support help them handle these challenges and promote person-centred care by enabling patients to express their inner thoughts and wishes. The findings apply to palliative care and other settings caring for patients at the end of life. Reporting Method: Findings were reported following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.

Managers in psychiatric outpatient care may play a crucial role in motivating staff to adopt new approaches, often navigating challenges such as organisational resistance and the complexities of the care environment. This study describes managers? experiences motivating staff to adopt a new approach by implementing a lifestyle program for individuals with mental illness in an outpatient psychiatric setting. Interviews with seven managers revealed an overarching theme of a ?learning-oriented relationship,? emphasising the importance of mutual engagement and staff development. The findings highlight that building relationships and prioritising staff development enhance engagement and facilitate meaningful change. A learning-focused leadership style?marked by inspiration, support, and trust?emerged as a key driver of sustainable change and the adoption of health-promoting practices. This leadership approach may not only aid the implementation of new initiatives but also foster a workplace culture grounded in collaboration, growth, and shared purpose. The study also underscores the importance of training managers in frameworks like Self-Determination Theory, focusing on inspirational motivation and personalised support. Embodying genuine care managers can create an empowering environment that enables staff to embrace and sustain new practices. Future research should explore perspectives to refine strategies for implementation in complex healthcare settings.

ABSTRACT Aim To explore and gain a deeper understanding of older persons' experiences of care encounters when their home becomes a workplace. Background Worldwide healthcare services are increasingly being provided in older persons' homes by registered nurses. This presents new challenges as the home environment of older persons now doubles as a workplace for healthcare professionals. However, there is limited research available on how older persons experience care encounters when their homes serve as workplaces and how this influences their overall well-being and quality of life. Design A qualitative hermeneutic study. Methods In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted in Sweden from October 2023 to January 2024 with 10 purposefully selected older persons (aged 65+). Each participant received regular visits from a home care nurse in their home to address specific care needs, such as wound care, medication administration, blood sampling and general supervision. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a hermeneutic interpretation. Findings The hermeneutic analysis emerged with one main theme: ?Experiencing care encounters at home as a lottery?, with two underlying themes: ?Adapting to loss of control in the private sphere? and ?Striving for independence while navigating daily living?. Conclusions Older persons try to control their lives despite the challenges associated with ageing and receiving care at home. They strive to maintain their independence and autonomy, which reflects their desire for self-determination. Supporting these efforts in an interdependent relationship can enhance their well-being and quality of life. Reporting Method Findings were reported following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution Data were collected by patient interviews. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care This study emphasises the importance of supporting older persons in maintaining control over their lives while being cared for in their homes. In the care encounters with home care nurses, their well-being and quality of life can be improved by respecting their autonomy, involving them in decision-making and offering tailored support.

Lifestyle programs are effective in improving the health of persons living with severe mental illness. However, the implementation of these programs and making them a sustainable part of daily care remain challenging. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to describe how staff worked with and experienced a lifestyle program in a municipality mental health care setting over time. The program intended to support persons living with severe mental illness to overcome health challenges. Data was collected at three time points spanning 7?years. The staff motivated the participants with SMI with severe mental illness to take part in the program, prepared them, and gave them individualized lifestyle support. A key factor of the program?s implementation was the staff?s interest and engagement in lifestyle questions. According to the staff it was apparent that small efforts such as running the present program could give synergic health effects such as improved mental- and social health. This study shows that it is feasible to conduct this lifestyle program in ordinary care without considerable resources. However, support from management is crucial, as well as the development of guidelines and routines of the work with lifestyle questions.

Background: Patients with palliative care needs live with the reality of limited time due to illness or age, eliciting emotional and existential responses. A failure to address their existential needs can lead to significant suffering. A person-centred approach is paramount to effectively address these needs, emphasising holistic care and effective communication. Although existing communication models focus on predefined frameworks, a need exists to explore more spontaneous and confidential conversations between patients and nurses. Confidential conversations have the potential to build therapeutic relationships and provide vital emotional support, highlighting the need for further research and integration into palliative care practice. This study aims to more deeply understand the meaning of confidential conversations for patients with palliative care needs. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 patients in the context of specialised palliative care. A hermeneutic analysis was used to gain a deeper understanding of the meanings of the conversations. Results: The patients had varying experiences and wishes concerning confidential conversations. They strived for self-determination in finding confidants, seeking trust and comfort in their interactions with nurses. Trust was crucial for creating a safe space where patients could express themselves authentically. In shared belonging, confidential conversations with a nurse provided validation and relief from life’s challenges. Experiences of feeling unheard or rejected by a nurse could intensify loneliness, prompting individuals to withdraw and remain silent. Regardless of the motives behind their choices, it was crucial that patients felt respect and validation in their decisions. Their autonomy could thus be recognised, and they felt empowered to make decisions based on their unique preferences. Conclusions: Patients value trust and understanding, particularly in confidential conversations with nurses, which offer solace, validation and empowerment. However, indifference can increase patients’ suffering, fostering self-doubt and reluctance to engage further. To address this, health care can prioritise empathic communication skills, offer ongoing support to nurses, and promote continuity in care through investment in training and resources. Additionally, adopting a person-centred approach in confidential conversations is crucial, considering patients’ varying preferences. 

Attention deficiency hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychiatric disability characterized by attention problems, impulsivity, and hyperactivity that can affect education, working life, social relationships, and physical and mental health. Research shows a shortened life expectancy in adults with ADHD which has to do with impaired lifestyle habits. In the field of health sciences, it is important to alleviate suffering, promote health, and prevent ill health. The purpose of this chapter is to describe factors that affect the health and lifestyle of adults with ADHD. The method is a literature search. Adults with ADHD were affected by cognitive impairments that affected life to a large extent. Lifestyle habits with a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and drug use were more common in people with ADHD. In addition, comorbidity with both physical and mental health is common. Loneliness and deteriorating quality of life plague many people with ADHD. Combined treatment methods with psychosocial interventions are important. Health-promoting lifestyle programs where support for physical, mental, and social health is important. Conclusion: Research on lifestyle programs for adults with ADHD is lacking. There is some research that supports the idea that continuous health-promoting lifestyle programs based on interpersonal relationships, health education, and health discussions as well as cognitive support can be useful for lifestyle changes among people with ADHD.

Background

In palliative care, registered nurses provide advanced nursing care to relieve patients’ symptoms and increase their quality of life based on physical, mental, social and existential dimensions. Conversations, often about existential issues, are an important part of nursing and can affect quality of life positively. Confidential conversations between patients and nurses occur naturally while other nursing activities are being performed. Despite their great importance for palliative care these are rarely described.

Aim

To gain a deeper understanding of how nurses in palliative care experience and describe confidential conversations with patients.

Method

Secondary analysis of data from 17 open-ended face-to-face interviews with registered nurses in palliative care was conducted. Qualitative content analysis using an inductive approach was used to gain a deeper understanding and analyse the latent content.

Results

The confidential conversation was considered an important part of palliative care and is the nurse’s responsibility. This responsibility was described as complex and placed various demands on the nurses, both personal and professional. A prerequisite for the conversation was the interpersonal relationship. The conversation allowed the patient to process important matters not previously addressed or put into words. It had no predetermined content, was unplanned and entirely on the patient’s terms. For nurses the conversation could be experienced both as draining and a source of power and strength. The nurses also described safeguarding the patient through the conversation.

Conclusion

Nurses’ confidential conversations with patients are essential in palliative care and must be highlighted more to increase the quality of palliative care. The confidential conversations often have an existential content and are challenging for the nurses. Therefore, nurses need time, knowledge, and supervision to increase their conversation skills.

Bakgrund: I palliativ omvårdnad identifierar, bedömer och bemöter sjuksköterskan fysisk, social, psykisk och existentiell hälsa för såväl patient som närstående samt planerar, genomför och utvärderar åtgärder. Samtal är en viktig omvårdnadshandling med syfte att förbättra patienternas livskvalitet och möjliggöra en värdig död. Samtalen om existentiella frågor har positiva effekter på livskvalitet och samtalet erbjuder existentiellt stöd i olika åldrar och sjukdomsgrupper vid obotlig sjukdom som exempelvis cancer, organsvikt, demenssjukdom. Det finns olika former av samtal i palliativ vård. Sjuksköterskans förtroliga samtal som ofta sker spontant vet vi lite om Det förtroliga samtalet finns inte heller explicit beskrivet som begrepp i vårdvetenskaplig forskning. Syfte: Att få en djupare förståelse för innebörden av förtroliga samtal i palliativ vård utifrån sjuksköterskors och patienters perspektiv. Metod: Kvalitativ ansats med sjuksköterskor och patienter som i intervjuer beskriver sina erfarenheter av förtroliga samtal. Resultat: Analys av insamlade data med sjuksköterskor pågår och beräknas avslutas hösten 2022. Rekrytering och insamling av data med patienter beräknas påbörjas hösten 2022. Preliminära resultat i delstudie I visar att samtalen är en viktig del i den palliativa omvårdanden och sjuksköterskans självklara ansvar. Såväl ansvaret som samtalet i sig beskrivs som komplext och ställer olika typer av krav på sjuksköterskan. I samtalet kan patienten med palliativ vårdbehov få möjlighet att bearbeta saker som inte tidigare bearbetats och sätta ord på det som behöver sättas ord på. Samtalet inte har något förutbestämt innehåll, sker ofta i anslutning till någon annan omvårdnadssituation och sker helt på patientens villkor då det är patienten somhåller i taktpinnen. Betydelse: Samtal är mycket viktig del av omvårdnaden, trots det upplever vårdpersonal av olika skälutmaningar i att genomföra samtal. Personalens vilja att hjälpa, lindra symtom och plågor samt att främja en värdig död är ofta en stark drivkraft. I förtroliga samtal med en sjuksköterska får patienter möjlighet att hantera sin situation, sin sjukdom, sina förluster, sitt beroende av hjälp och stöd samt sin livssituation vilket kan leda till ökad livskvalitet och känsla av oberoende och värdighet. Kontexten palliativ vård är viktig i det förtroliga samtalet, där livets sista tid, döendet och döden är närvarande. Studien med patienter kommer att ligga till grund för en digital interaktiv utbildningsintervention om existentiella samtal riktad till vårdpersonal. Det är centralt att medarbetare i teamet runt patienter med palliativ vårdbehov har kunskaper, förmåga och mod att initiera och samtala kring patienters existentiella tankar och funderingar vid obotlig sjukdom.