Doris Gundersen

Publications (6)6.65 Total impact

• Article: Multiple symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Norway.

  Signe Berit Bentsen, Doris Gundersen, Joerg Assmus, Heidi Bringsvor, Astrid Berland
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  ABSTRACT: This paper examines the prevalence of multiple symptoms and the relationships between future expectations and multiple symptoms in a cross-sectional study of 100 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A questionnaire was used to examine the patients' symptoms of breathlessness, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, fatigue, and pain, and their outlook for the future. All patients reported breathlessness, 64% anxiety, 69% depression, 28% sleeplessness, 72% fatigue, and 45% pain. Those with anxiety reported significant depression (P < 0.001), and those with fatigue reported significant depression (P = 0.004). Patients who reported pain also reported significant sleeplessness (P = 0.022). A negative outlook for the future was reported by 42% of patients who also reported significantly more anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, fatigue, and pain (P ≤ 0.049). Multiple symptoms are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and patients with a pessimistic view of the future reported more symptoms. Those with multiple symptoms and a negative outlook toward the future may benefit from interventions to help them achieve a more positive outlook for the future, which may relieve symptom burden.
  Nursing and Health Sciences 01/2013; · 0.68 Impact Factor
• Article: Patient safety and falls: A qualitative study of home care nurses in Norway.

  Astrid Berland, Doris Gundersen, Signe Berit Bentsen
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  ABSTRACT: This study explored patient safety and falls, based on the experiences of home care nurses. Four focus group interviews were conducted with 20 home care nurses. The data were analyzed by content analysis. This study identified the following four themes: (i) patient safety was not viewed as primary prevention; (ii) the lack of investigation into causes of falls; (iii) the frailty of older people who can no longer live at home independently and safely; and (iv) patient autonomy versus patient safety. In this study, we showed that home care nurses felt that healthcare personnel were more concerned with the treatment of falls, rather than fall prevention. In addition, home care nurses rarely focused on falls before they occurred. The patient's autonomy was placed before patient safety. This study illustrates that home care nurses might be more aware of fall prevention in clinical practice. Additional research is recommended to shed more light on this topic.
  Nursing and Health Sciences 10/2012; · 0.68 Impact Factor
• Article: Patient safety culture in home care: experiences of home-care nurses.

  Astrid Berland, Anne Lise Holm, Doris Gundersen, Signe Berit Bentsen
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  ABSTRACT: To explore home-care nurses' experiences of patient safety in their delivery of home care to older clients. High-risk organisations, such as the airline industry and the petroleum industry, have long been preoccupied with safety. Only recently has this also become a central theme in health care. Four focus group interviews with 20 nurses who work in home care. A qualitative thematic analysis was performed. One main theme was identified: struggling with responsibility in different situations. It comprises five subthemes: poor work morale and work ethic; documentation; lack of functional leadership; competence; and lack of updated routines and guidelines. Patient safety culture is compromised by a lack of leadership, lack of responsibility among leadership, lack of routines, failure to update procedures, and a lack of knowledge and education among health-care workers. Nurse managers need to be made more aware of the dilemmas faced by nurses, how they struggle with their responsibilities, how they experience powerlessness in certain situations, and the lack of support they receive in decision-making.
  Journal of Nursing Management 09/2012; 20(6):794-801. · 1.18 Impact Factor
• Article: Evidence-based practice in primary care-An explorative study of nurse practitioners in Norway.

  Astrid Berland, Doris Gundersen, Signe Berit Bentsen
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  ABSTRACT: Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been a priority in health care in recent decades. However, few studies have investigated EBP in primary care. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge that nurses with a bachelor's degree use in their clinical practice of primary care. Focus group interviews were used. The sample consisted of 20 nurses in primary care practice. The data were analysed with systematic text condensation. Our findings show that most nurses use their own knowledge, their colleagues' knowledge, knowledge acquired during nursing education, nursing literature, and guidance from expert personnel, but seldom use research. We recommend improving and developing the clinical practice of primary care. Referring to and analysing specialist and scientific data about specific topics may lead nurses to critically evaluate their clinical practice, and may enhance their theoretical and scientific knowledge related to clinical practice.
  Nurse education in practice 05/2012;
• Source

  Available from: Astrid Berland

  Article: Patient safety and job-related stress: a focus group study.

  Astrid Berland, Gerd Karin Natvig, Doris Gundersen
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  ABSTRACT: This study focused on work-related stress among nurses working with critically ill patients. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of work-related stress with regard to patient safety. The study uses a qualitative design based on focus group interviews with nurses who work with acute, critically ill patients in hospitals. Two regional hospitals were chosen. Inclusion criteria for the focus group panels included the following: nurses with advanced training in anesthesiology, intensive care, or operating-room nursing. Twenty-three nurses were chosen and they were divided into four groups. This study shows that a demanding work environment together with minimal control and social support from colleagues results in increased stress that can often have an effect on patient safety.
  Intensive and Critical Care Nursing 05/2008; 24(2):90-7.
• Article: Sexual side effects associated with valproate.

  Christopher D Schneck, Marshall R Thomas, Doris Gundersen
  Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 11/2002; 22(5):532-4. · 4.10 Impact Factor