Helga Jonsdottir

University of Iceland | HI · Faculty of Nursing

Aim The increase in the number of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the disease burden, has prompted concerted efforts to improve healthcare, particularly outpatient services. In line with these attempts the Partnership‐Based Nursing Practice Theoretical Framework for People with COPD was developed to guide outpatient nur...

Aim: to explore experiences of being mentored and the contribution of the mentoring to leadership and professional development of doctorally prepared nurses and doctoral nursing students participating in the Nurse-Lead programme. Background: Mentoring is considered important for career development of academic nurses. Doctorally prepared nurses n...

Aim: Develop and test a data collection tool-Neurological End-Of-Life Care Assessment Tool (NEOLCAT)-for extracting data from patient health records (PHRs) on end-of-life care of neurological patients in an acute hospital ward. Design: Instrument development and inter-rater reliability (IRR) assessment. Method: NEOLCAT was constructed from pat...

Objective: To assess sense of security, health literacy, and the association between sense of security and health literacy during COVID-19 self-isolation. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey all adults who caught COVID-19 from the onset of the pandemic until June 2020 in Iceland and received surveillance from a special COVID-19 outpatient cl...

Background Twins and late preterm (LPT) infants are at an increased risk of being breastfed to a lesser extent than term singletons. This study aimed to describe the initiation and duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding at the breast for mothers of LPT twins and term twins during the first 4 months and to explore the breastfeeding experiences...

Background Our study aimed to map functioning and contextual factors among community-dwelling stroke survivors after first stroke, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and to explore if these factors differ among older-old (75 years and older), younger-old (65-74 years), and young (18-65 years) stro...

Aim To describe nursing surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐infected patients through remote telephone calls and in an on‐site urgent clinic during the first wave of the pandemic as experienced by nurses providing the care. Design Qualitative descriptive study. Methods Data were collected through seven semi‐structured, audio‐recor...

We used explorative interviews to gauge (inter)personal, physiological, and emotional challenges of seven rural cancer patients who traveled long distances to cancer treatment centers. After a thematic analysis, we foregrounded experiences of temporality by using a phenomenologically inspired approach. The analysis resulted in three themes: (a) An...

Aim To provide insight into the contribution of nursing to the establishment and running of a hospital‐based outpatient clinic for COVID‐19 infected patients, and thereby to inform the development of similar nursing care and healthcare more generally. Design Qualitative descriptive study centred on collaboration between nurse managers and research...

Aim This study aimed to explore how stroke survivors deal with stroke‐related impairments when rebuilding their lives in the community and their experiences of exercising at home. Design An explorative and descriptive qualitative study. Methods A purposive sample of ten stroke survivors residing at home was recruited to explore experiences of reb...

Aim: Little attention has been paid to breastfeeding late preterm (LPT) infants. This study compared breastfeeding, worries, depression and stress in mothers of LPT and term-born infants throughout the first year. We also described factors associated with shorter breastfeeding duration of LPT infants. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study of t...

Background: Elucidating factors that influence physical recovery of survivors after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay is paramount in maximizing long-term functional outcomes. We examined potential predictors for poor long-term physical recovery in ICU survivors. Methods: Based on secondary analysis of a trial of 50 ICU patients who underwent mo...

Background: Technical applications can promote home-based exercise and physical activity of community-dwelling stroke survivors. Caregivers are often able and willing to assist with home-based exercise and physical activity but lack the knowledge and resources to do so. ActivABLES was established to promote home-based exercise and physical activit...

Background: Novel technical solutions are called for to promote home-based exercise among community-dwelling stroke survivors supported by their caregivers. Lack of resources and knowledge about how to accomplish it, has been demonstrated. The objective of this study is to describe in detail the development of ActivABLES, a technical intervention...

The objective of this workshop was to determine current nursing research priorities in critical care, adult pulmonary, and sleep conditions through input from consumer (patient, family, and formal and informal caregivers) and nursing experts around the world. Working groups composed of nurses and patients selected potential research priorities base...

This study aimed to describe and compare breastfeeding progression, infants' feeding behaviours, maternal feeding difficulties, and mothers' usage of breastfeeding interventions for singleton late preterm (LPT) and term infants. A further aim was to identify associated factors for exclusive breastfeeding at breast at 1 month in LPT infants. This wa...

Purpose: To explore facilitating and inhibiting factors in the inpatient care of patients with functional neurological disorders as experienced by interdisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals. Method: Qualitative focus group interviews were conducted with 18 healthcare professionals of various professions. Data were analyzed using qualitativ...

BACKGROUND Technical applications can promote home-based exercise and physical activity of community-dwelling stroke survivors to improve function and decrease physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. Informal caregivers are often able and willing to assist with home-based exercise and physical activity but may lack knowledge and practical resou...

BACKGROUND Novel technical solutions are called for to promote home-based exercise and facilitate engagement in physical activity among community-dwelling stroke survivors supported by their caregivers in the home environment. Lack of knowledge and resources on what to do and how to accomplish this has been demonstrated. OBJECTIVE To describe in d...

Intensive care nursing is a relatively new specialty area in nursing. The need for highly sophisticated nursing care of patients in life-threatening conditions is expanding. Knowledge to illuminate the care is growing, but still there are areas where evidence is limited. One of these areas is aftercare of patients with a compromised physical and ps...

Leadership in nursing science in Iceland is and has been spearheaded by the urge to advance nursing practice. To reach that goal, four interrelated elements are essential: quality nursing education, autonomy of nurses, and a vision for a unique knowledge base on which to ground the nursing practice, all of which generates sufficient and skilled wor...

Complexity leadership in the collaboration between academia and clinical nursing is gaining momentum. In this chapter, the focus is on our attempts to embrace complexity leadership as faculty members who hold joint positions at the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Iceland and Landspitali, the National University Hospital of Iceland. We put e...

This book explores the leading role played by nursing science in the European Nordic countries. Recognized leaders in nursing research from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, reflect on the leadership of nurses, the societal developments and the state of nursing science in their country, and the successes and remaining challenges nurses...

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is well recognised as an important component of palliative care. However, there is still a need to explore ways in which it can become a part of routine practice, ensuring a timely and person-centred discussion. Objectives: To explore patients newly diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and their family memb...

Purpose Although mobilization is a widely practiced intervention for patients who are critically ill, the clinical reasoning and decision-making processes used by physical therapists to maximize its effectiveness warrants elucidation. This study's purpose was to investigate factors guiding physical therapists' clinical reasoning and decision-making...

Recruitment, the process of accessing, screening, selecting and retaining participants for research remains a challenge. In a randomized controlled trial, partnership-based self-management intervention for patients who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in its initial stages, and their families, a theoretical framework developed for...

Background Nurses often have difficulties with using interdisciplinary stroke guidelines for patients with stroke as they do not focus sufficiently on nursing. Therefore, the Stroke Nursing Guideline (SNG) was developed and implemented. The aim of this study was to determine the implementation and feasibility of the SNG in terms of changes in docum...

Background Stroke patients with severe symptoms of hemispatial neglect (HN) are known to experience a weaker recovery than those less affected from the outset. Correct identification of HN is therefore important throughout the course of rehabilitation. Objectives To explore: (i) the course of clinical symptoms in stroke patients with moderate/seve...

Aims: To describe a structured three-month nurse-led follow-up of patients after discharge from intensive care and measure its effects on health status. Background: Patients requiring intensive care stay frequently have lengthy and incomplete recovery suggesting need for additional support. The effects of intensive care nurse-led follow-up have...

Aim: To describe the characteristics of couple-based intervention studies that address sexuality following cancer. Background: Sexuality-related problems are common among cancer survivors and their partners. Design: Systematic literature review with a narrative summary of results. Data sources: Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, C...

Objectives: To compare psychological recovery of patients receiving structured nurse-led follow-up and patients receiving usual care after intensive care discharge. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Setting: Single centre, university hospital, mixed intensive care patient population. Main outcome measures: Symptoms of post-traumatic stress d...

Aims and objectives: To gain insight into the lived experience of learning about having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for patients and their families. Background: COPD often progresses for years. Adjustment to declining health is gradual and the disease may have developed considerably when health care is sought and people are diag...

This paper presents four different tangible interactive prototypes designed to support the continuation of balance rehabilitation at home. The interactive prototypes are designed to provide a more enjoyable and experience when performing balance rehabilitation exercises. Early results from preliminary tests with stroke survivors and rehabilitation...

In this paper we outline the initial stages of a human centered design process aimed at the design of novel technology (tangible interactive objects) for stroke survivors. We found it useful to support standard methods, such as interviews and focus groups, with a video prototype in order to make the concept of tangible interaction, which was novel...

Pain is a personal experience and patient provider communication therefore an essential part of diagnosis and treatment where the patient's perspective needs to be central. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to investigate chronic-pain-related patient provider communication in the context of socio-demographic variables, pain vari...

Pain is a personal experience and patient-provider communication therefore an essential part of diagnosis and treatment where the patient's perspective needs to be central. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to investigate chronic-pain-related patient-provider communication in the context of sociodemographic variables, pain varia...

Aims To investigate the use of Complimentary/Alternative therapy for chronic pain in nationwide sample. Methods In this cross-sectional study a postal questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables (e.g. gender, education, income and residence), pain characteristics (severity and interference with daily life), health related quality of life a...

Purpose: To explore the usefulness of conventional tests for assessing spatial neglect and contrast these tests with daily challenges encountered by patients after discharge from rehabilitation to home. Methods: A mixed method prospective study of 15 patients with neglect after a right hemisphere stroke, <1 month after discharge to home. Data we...

Aim and objectives: To analyse and synthesise the structure, content, types of outcome variables and advantages of nurse-led follow-up of adult patients after discharge from intensive care units. Background: Follow-up service after discharge from the intensive care unit has been suggested as a way of supporting recovery of patients. Nevertheless...

To evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-month, partnership-based self-management programme for patients with mild and moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Self-management is a widely valued concept used to address contemporary issues of chronic health problems. Findings of self-management programmes for people with chronic obstructive pulmo...

Aims To investigate patients’ perception of chronic pain related patient-provider communication in relation to socio-demographic and pain-related variables. Methods Apostal questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables, pain characteristics, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain-related health care utilization and perceived patient pr...

Aims To investigate predictors for health-care utilization for chronic pain and whether there are gender differences in variables predicting chronic pain-related health care utilization. Methods A postal questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables, pain characteristics, health related quality of life (HRQoL) and pain related health care ut...

We used a phenomenological approach to gain insight into the experiences of self, other, and world in patients with hemispatial neglect within the first month following stroke. Comprehensive descriptions of circumstances were conjoined with open-ended interviews of 12 participants. The neglect experience was captured in the overarching theme, "gett...

The aim of this review is to extend professional understanding of the various mechanisms that make smoking cessation difficult for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Smoking in people with COPD is a major challenge for health care today. In spite of significant advances in knowledge about the processes of nicotine addiction...

Background Individuals with chronic pain are among the most frequent users of health care. Still, a significant percentage does not utilize health care for pain. A range of factors predict chronic pain-related health care utilization.DesignA cross-sectional study aimed at identifying predictors of chronic pain-related health care utilization and co...

In this article, we review the latest trends of data collection methods in phenomenological nursing studies. Subsequently, by using a philosophical analysis, mainly inspired by Merleau-Ponty's embodied phenomenology and a case construction of an individual with hemi-spatial neglect-a common disorder following stroke-we explore the concepts "body sc...

To explore and describe the experience of eating and eating-related difficulties in stroke survivors living at home. The ability to consume food and to take pleasure in eating is an essential part of life. For people with stroke, eating difficulties are frequent. A phenomenological perspective of stroke survivors' experience of eating difficulties...

To establish the scope of the problem of chronic pain in the population, we need to extend the focus on prevalence, the most frequently studied factor. Among other important factors is the complex relationship between the temporal characteristics of pain and their impact on peoples' lives. The purpose of the present study was to describe the charac...

Aims To investigate health care utilization in relation to chronic pain. Methods In this cross-sectional study postal questionnaires, measuring sociodemographic characteristics, pain, health related quality of life (HRQoL), attitudes to pain and health care utilization past six months, were sent to 4500 individuals aged 20–70 years, randomly drawn...

Background:Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is an event that has tremendous impact on the physical, cognitive and emotional well-being of individuals. Clinical experience and results of various studies indicate that survivors, in addition to having problems related to the underlying disease, have unique needs as a result of the cardiac arrest.Aim:The ma...

To synthesise findings from previously published studies on the effectiveness of self-management programmes for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Self-management is a widely valued concept to address contemporary issues of chronic health problems. Yet, findings of self-management programmes for people with chronic obstructive pulmo...

Tímarit hjúkrunarfraeðinga – 1. tbl. 89. árg. 2013 50 ÚTDRÁTTUR Til að tryggja þau gaeði, sem eru grundvallaratriði fyrir vellíðan heimilismanna á hjúkrunarheimilum, er nauðsynlegt að greina framlag hjúkrunarfraeðinga til hjúkrunar aldraðra. Tilgangur þessarar eigindlegu rannsóknar var að varpa ljósi á viðfangsefni hjúkrunarfraeðinga á hjúkrunarhei...

Purpose: To describe and identify various perspectives on eating difficulties following stroke to enable theory development and facilitate advancement of interventions. Methods: Concept analysis in line with Morse's principles of exploring pragmatic utility was used throughout the data collection and analysis. Peer-reviewed research on eating di...

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the Modified Patients' Perceived Involvement in Care Scale (M-PICS), I-PICS, an instrument measuring patients' perceptions of pain-related communication with health care providers (HCP). Methods: The M-PICS was translated into Icelandic according t...

Background/aims When studying chronic pain in the general population, other factors besides prevalence may be equally important to establish the scope of the problem. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important indicator for how chronic pain influences and interferes with the individual’s daily life. The relationships between different c...

Early identification of prodromal signs of acute deterioration of patients is essential in high quality care. Rigorous monitoring of patients is facilitated by risk assessment tools, e.g. the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS). The purpose of the study was to estimate the accuracy of nursing documentation according to parameters that comprise MEWS...

Aim: This paper presents a qualitative study on the experience of women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have repeatedly relapsed to smoking.

Reorienting the focus of health systems to incorporate a multifaceted approach that allows for comprehensive and humane health care is pending. Using the participatory paradigm approach, we describe a study of a partnership-based family nursing practice for people with breathing difficulties. We generated data through nine conversations with eight...

In the previous study the effects of reflexology on symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM) were investigated. In this paper it will be explored whether healing crisis is experienced after reflexology in the same sample of women. Multiple case study method as developed by Stake was used to investigate the effects of reflexology on six cases of women with FM...

To evaluate the outcome of a coherent nursing practice in the form of partnership that addresses the complexity of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a wide-ranging and progressive chronic disease that not only requires relentless attentiveness of the persons having the disease but also the f...

This paper is a report of a study conducted to assess the effectiveness of an educational intervention for people with type 2 diabetes based on self-completed instruments to identify particular areas of self-care needs. Diabetes is a demanding disease which requires self-care. Instruments that identify self-care needs or factors affecting self-care...

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/Open Tilgangur þessarar greinar er að skýra þróun lífsgæðahugtaksins. Bakgrunnur hugtaksins er kannaður, nálgun þess við heilbrigðishugtakið og notkunargildi innan heilbrigðisvísinda. Skoðuð er fræðileg umfjöllun um hugtakið og fjallað um rannsóknir á lífsgæ...

Prevalence of diabetes is increasing worldwide. Education is regarded as an essential part in diabetes care to enable people with diabetes self-care. Self-care in diabetes can be demanding and it is regarded impossible to separate treatment and education. Clinical guidelines in diabetes care recommend using empowerment approach in diabetes educatio...

The aim of this study was to measure validity and reliability of the Icelandic version of the Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES) among people with diabetes and to develop knowledge about Icelandic people with diabetes. For this purpose, DES was distributed along with the Diabetes Knowledge Test and the Problem Area in Diabetes scale in four diabetes...