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This research examined provider and hospital factors associated with patients’ perceptions of how often explanations of new medications were “always” given to them, using Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. HCAHPS results were obtained for October 2012 to September 2013, from 3,420 hospitals and combined with a Magnet-designated hospital listing. Multiple regression examined correlates of new medication communication, including health care provider factors (perceptions of nurse and physician communication) and health care system factors (magnet designation, hospital ownership, hospital type, availability of emergency services, and survey numbers). Nurse and physician communication was strongly associated with new medication communication (r = .819, p < .001; r = .722, p < .001, respectively). Multivariable correlates included nurse communication (p < .001), physician communication (p < .001), hospital ownership, availability of emergency services, and survey numbers. There was a significant relationship between patients’ perceptions of nurse and physician communication and the explanations they had received about their new medications during hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Managing medications for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is challenging for caregivers. Information about caregivers' strategies to manage these challenges is needed to inform intervention development. Objective: This study aimed to understand caregivers' medication management experiences by analyzing online community discussions. Methods: Posts were extracted from the ALZConnected® Forum using keywords "medication" and "drug" via web scraping. The researchers applied thematic analysis. Results: Four major themes emerged: (1) role transition of medication management responsibilities, (2) caregivers' uncertainty about medication purpose and values, (3) conflicts between the care recipients and caregivers, and (4) difficulty accessing and affording medications. Conclusions: The experiences shared on a non-moderated, unstructured online forum indicate that medication management is challenging and overwhelming for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Since this is a progressive disease with various stages and changing needs, caregivers' strategies vary and are often limited by available resources and support. Health care providers should offer training and support for caregivers to navigate the transfer of medication management responsibilities and changing care needs as the disease progresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the development and psychometric testing of the Kidney Transplant Self-Management Scale (KT-SMS). The instrument development phase included the following: (a) conceptual definition, item generation, and framework; (b) face validity assessment; and (c) content validity assessment. The psychometric testing phase included the following: (a) construct validity testing; (b) internal consistency reliability testing; (c) convergent validity testing; and (d) predictive power of the KT-SMS using a cross-sectional sample of kidney transplant recipients (N = 153). Factor analysis results supported the 16-item KT-SMS as multidimensional with five domains (medication adherence, cardiovascular risk reduction, protecting kidney, ownership, and skin cancer prevention). Internal consistency reliability for the total scale and five subscales was adequate. Convergent validity was supported as the intercorrelations of the KT-SMS total score with the five subscales were significant. The KT-SMS total score and five subscales were significantly correlated with self-efficacy for managing chronic disease, patient activation, and health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This web-based study recruited kidney transplant recipients from Facebook using three recruiting methods over a 5-week period. Participants completed 125 survey items via REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) survey. Facebook recruitment generated 153 eligible participants who completed surveys. The average survey response time was 15.07 min (SD = 6.12; range: 4-43), with a low missing item rate (<5%). Facebook's standard ads were most effective for recruiting subjects (n = 78, 51%), followed by three targeted Facebook kidney transplant support groups (n = 52, 34%) and a pay-to-promote study page (n = 12, 7.8%). The average cost paid for each valid survey was US$2.19 through standard Facebook ads and US$2.92 from the study page. The cost for online survey completion is economically feasible even for those with limited funds. Issues related to online surveys including extreme survey response times and participant misrepresentation were reported in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]