Nurse Faculty Scholars - Cardiac

The effect of cardiac genetic testing on psychological well-being and illness perceptions

kdeming — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 14:30:03 +0000

Published Date:

Wed, 2014-01-15 (All day)

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of positive cardiac genetic diagnoses, ICD discharges, and arrhythmias on measures of psychological well-being.

Objective: To assess the effects of positive cardiac genetic diagnoses, ICD discharges, and arrhythmias on measures of psychological well-being. Methods: Fifty-eight adults with prior cardiac genetic testing were enrolled. Patient well-being was determined using the SF-36 (QoL), HADS-A and HADS-D (anxiety/depression), and IPQ-R (patients’ perceptions of illness). Patients with positive and negative cardiac genetic test results were compared using non-parametric statistics.

The effects of guided imagery on sleep and inflammatory response in cardiac surgery: a pilot randomized controlled trial

kdeming — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:54:44 +0000

Published Date:

Wed, 2012-11-28 (All day)

The goal of this preliminary investigation was to lay the groundwork to test the applicability of using guided imagery as a sleep-promoting intervention immediately following cardiac surgery.

The goal of this preliminary investigation was to lay the groundwork to test the applicability of using guided imagery as a sleep-promoting intervention immediately following cardiac surgery. Specific aims include:

1. evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of integrating the guided imagery program in order to promote sleep and reduce the inflammatory response following cardiac surgery

A Survey of nurses in the mechanical circulatory support programs in the United States. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care.

kdeming — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:15:50 +0000

Published Date:

Fri, 2011-07-01 (All day)

This purpose of this study was to examine the role of nurses working in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) programs in the United States through a description of role characteristics, including demographic information, qualifications, compensation, job preparation, work setting and responsibilities, scope of practice, contributions to patient care, and organizational outcomes.

Surveys were mailed to 189 nurses at 95 MCS programs, with a response rate of 63% (n = 119). However, 11% of respondents did not meet the inclusion criteria, and thus the final sample totaled 106 participants. Results showed descriptive statistics and an analysis of contents showed many similarities among the nurses, along with some differences in work characteristics, compensation, scope of practice, and other items. The findings in this first national survey illustrate the multifaceted roles and related skill sets required of registered professional/advanced practice nurses in America’s rapidly growing MCS programs. The common use of “ventricular assist device coordinator” as job title for these specialized and highly skilled nurses is incongruent with their role in these programs.

Frequency Domain and Time Complex Analyses Manifest Low Correlation and Temporal Variability When Calculating Activation Rates in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

lsharp — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 19:01:20 +0000

Published Date:

Wed, 2011-01-05 (All day)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) activation rates have been calculated using both frequency domain and time complex analyses. Direct comparisons of these methods are limited. We report: (1) their correlation when measuring AF activation rates, (2) comparisons of recording durations required to minimize variability, and (3) differences in the temporal reproducibility.

Methods: AF activation rates were calculated using domain frequency (DF) (via fast Fourier transform) and time complex (TC) (via beat-to-beat activation measurements) analyses. We compared: (1) AF frequencies derived from each method; (2) successively longer subinterval durations to their 16-second reference intervals, and (3) the correlation between consecutively collected 8-second segments and segments collected 10 minutes apart.

Results: There was low intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.234) when comparing AF activation rates derived using DF versus TC analysis. There was no difference in the frequencies between any of the subintervals compared to their 16-second reference intervals, but variability of measurements was higher for intervals <8 seconds (P < 0.01). Correlations between successive segments and segments taken 10 minutes apart were 0.92 and 0.75 using DF analysis (P < 0.001), and 0.72 and 0.49 using TC analysis (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: There is low correlation between the DF and TC methods of analyzing AF activation rates. While AF rates do not differ between subintervals and 16-second reference electrograms, the variability of measurements is dependent upon the subinterval duration, and increases for durations less than 8 seconds. AF rates were prone to change over a 10-minute time period. These results point out existing clinical limitations of measuring atrial activation rates in AF patients.