Introduction: Primary care is the first point of contact for patients in most Western healthcare systems, addressing acute,chronic and preventive health needs. Registered nurse‐led first visits (new episode) consultations have shown promise inimproving accessibility and meeting the growing demand for timely care. Understanding how patients evaluate their interactions with registered nurses is a crucial first step towards identifying communication needs and promoting person‐centredcare. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore patients' expectations and experiences with registered nurse communication in primary care consultations.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. The QUOTE‐COMM (Quality Of communication Through the patient'sEyes) questionnaire, with three scales (affect‐oriented, task‐oriented and therapy‐oriented), was completed by patients beforeand after RN‐led consultations to assess their expectations and experiences.

Results: A total of 138 patients participated in the study. Patients reported high expectations and positive experiences regardingregistered nurses' communication during consultations. The highest scores were observed on the affect‐oriented scale. Nosignificant differences were found between patient expectations and experiences in relation to patient age, sex and educationallevel. However, patients whose native language was not Swedish rated the affect‐oriented scale less positively. Additionally,longer consultations were associated with higher satisfaction at 2 weeks follow‐up.

Discussion: This study highlights patients' high expectations and positive experiences in connection with communication inregistered nurse consultations. The findings underscore the need for further research into various aspects of communicationwith patients in primary care, aiming to better understand and enhance the quality of care in this setting.

Conclusion: Patients appear to have high expectations in connection with registered nurse communication in primary care,and it seems that registered nurses overall succeed in meeting these expectations.

Patient or Public Contribution: The study was conducted within Swedish primary care, where patient and publicinvolvement in research is considered essential. Registered nurses assisted with patient recruitment, and a total of 138 patients

Aim

This paper examines a theory and practice developed framework aimed at guiding person-centred communication in registered nurse–patient encounters. The primary objective is to refine and present a data- and theory-driven framework tailored to the demands of nursing practice and those receiving care. To achieve this, the COMCARE model is introduced, providing practical guidance for understanding and implementing strategies for nurses' communication and caring behaviours.

Design

This theoretical paper addresses theory and research on communication strategies during registered nurse–patient encounters based on the principles of caring and person-centredness.

Results

The COMCARE model outlines communication strategies to guide registered nurses to ensure caring and supportive interactions, aligning with the principles of person-centred care. COMCARE builds on the necessary communication skills for person-centred registered nurses–patient encounters and clarifies key components of such communication, with related goals. The key components proposed are related to empathic listening and asking questions, responding and acknowledging, guiding and using clear communication, supportive communication, and appraising and confirming communication. Person-centred communication requires a broad repertoire of skills to be applied and tailored to individuals in various situations and practices.

Conclusion

The COMCARE model provides an overview of the communication skills essential for person-centred care, emphasising guidance for nursing practice to support patients' optimal well-being and health. This framework highlights the importance of communication skills in shaping patient experiences and outcomes and underscores the need for their application and implementation in caring and nursing practice. Effective communication by registered nurses and other healthcare professionals is vital for delivering high-quality care. The COMCARE framework offers practical guidance and serves as a foundation for future training and education for nursing students, as well as informing policy and research in this area. Further research is needed to test and validate the COMCARE model in clinical settings.

Introduction

Emerging adults with chronic conditions, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), face vulnerability during transition to adulthood and transfer to adult care. Facilitating transition preparation, disease-related knowledge acquisition, self-management, and follow-up has proved to improve transition readiness and experiences. Few studies exist on conditions related to emerging adults’ transition and transfer, and how these associate with other relevant variables. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of emerging adults with T1D regarding transitional care before transfer, and to explore potential correlates of these experiences.

Research design and methods 

A cross-sectional study including 162 emerging adults with T1D was performed at eight Swedish adult diabetes clinics. The primary outcome was transition and transfer experiences measured by TEXP-Q (Transitional care EXPeriences Questionnaire)—a novel PREM (patient-reported experience measure). Correlations between TEXP-Q and sex, glycated hemoglobin, time to follow-up, empowerment, the healthcare climate in adult care, and diabetes self-efficacy were investigated.

Results 

The mean average score of TEXP-Q (range 1–5) was 3.6±0.7 for the total scale, and for subscales: Healthcare-provider communication 4.5±0.7, autonomy and participation 3.5±0.9, and transition and transfer preparation 3.0±1.1. Sex proved to be significant only for transition and transfer preparation (p=0.004), demonstrating better perceived preparation among men compared with women. Positive experiences from transition and transfer were associated with higher level of empowerment (rho 0.34, p<0.001), diabetes self-efficacy (rho 0.32, p<0.001) and satisfaction with the healthcare climate in adult care (rho 0.36, p<0.001).

Conclusion 

In this study we used a novel measure, TEXP-Q, to explore experiences of transitional care preparation among emerging adults with T1D. While most participants reported high satisfaction with the healthcare-provider communication, fewer reported feeling sufficiently prepared for the transition and transfer processes. The potential correlates investigated could not with conviction be regarded as important for the transition and transfer experiences. Using TEXP-Q in clinical practice may provide vital information when evaluating existing healthcare practices for emerging adults with T1D, and when planning for improvement of care offered to emerging adults in preparation for transition and transfer.

Cardiovascular research frequently involves comparing patient-reported outcomes across groups. These groups can include individuals from different countries or those have different cardiovascular conditions, and it is frequently assumed that their understanding of the assessed outcome is similar. However, to ascertain that this is indeed the case, measurement invariance needs to be evaluated. This psychometric property helps us understand whether a test measures the same underlying construct in the same way across different groups. In the absence of measurement invariance, conclusions regarding group comparisons of the construct at hand may be inappropriate. This Methods Corner paper provides an overview of measurement invariance and an example of how it can be evaluated. 

Effective antiretroviral therapy has extended the life expectancy of people living with HIV and in Western countries, with 50% of individuals in Western countries now aged 50 or older. The aim was to review empirical research on adults who are 60 years or older on their experiences of living with HIV and their healthcare needs. A scoping review with a systematic literature search in Cinahl, Psycinfo and PubMed was performed in February and March 2022. A total of 4757 references, published 2012-2022, were screened and 20 studies were included. The findings indicate that the experiences and needs of older adults living with HIV vary depending on whether they are in the younger or the eldest part of the cohort. Overall, the group lives with multiple chronic conditions, is at a higher risk of cognitive limitations and reports more loneliness than people with no HIV. Limited qualitative research was available. Thus, future research should describe the subjective experiences of older adults to understand psychosocial aspects that impact successful ageing. This knowledge can inform interventions and services to support the well-being of older adults living with HIV, not only in Western countries but globally as the ageing population living with HIV continues to grow. 

Effective antiretroviral therapy has extended the life expectancy of people living with HIV and in Western countries, with 50% of individuals in Western countries now aged 50 or older. The aim was to review empirical research on adults who are 60 years or older on their experiences of living with HIV and their healthcare needs. A scoping review with a systematic literature search in Cinahl, Psycinfo and PubMed was performed in February and March 2022. A total of 4757 references, published 2012-2022, were screened and 20 studies were included. The findings indicate that the experiences and needs of older adults living with HIV vary depending on whether they are in the younger or the eldest part of the cohort. Overall, the group lives with multiple chronic conditions, is at a higher risk of cognitive limitations and reports more loneliness than people with no HIV. Limited qualitative research was available. Thus, future research should describe the subjective experiences of older adults to understand psychosocial aspects that impact successful ageing. This knowledge can inform interventions and services to support the well-being of older adults living with HIV, not only in Western countries but globally as the ageing population living with HIV continues to grow.

Guidelines and consensus in cardiovascular care in recent years have called for patients to be more involved in their care, which can be achieved by becoming more empowered. Yet, there is little clarity on how healthcare professionals can help the patients achieve this goal. The present paper defines patient empowerment, its benefits and the different strategies that can be used in healthcare to empower them. Moreover, potential barriers in the empowering process are also discussed.

Background

During transition to adulthood and transfer to adult healthcare, emerging adults with chronic conditions are at risk of deteriorating disease control, well-being, and acute, as well as long-term complications. Despite an increasing call for person-centred healthcare services attuned to young peoples’ needs, few validated instruments exist pinpointing adolescents’ and emerging adults’ experiences of preparation for transition and transfer. Thus, the overarching purpose of this study was to develop a person-centred, clinically applicable instrument (Transitional care EXPeriences Questionnaire, TEXP-Q) adjustable to different chronic conditions, although the focus in the present study was Type 1 Diabetes. The specific aim was, therefore, to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of TEXP-Q in emerging adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Methods

Initial development of the TEXP-Q was inspired by existing research. Items were formulated in accordance with consensus recommendations for developing patient-reported measures, and extra consideration was taken to ensure person-centredness. Psychometric evaluation comprised two phases: In phase I, data from cognitive interviews, content validity indexing, and judgement of an expert panel provided information on face and content validity. In phase II, data from a cross-sectional study conducted at eight adult diabetes outpatient clinics in Sweden (n = 163) allowed for explorative factor analysis (EFA), as well as calculation of content validity, reliability and responsiveness.

Results

Combining results from cognitive interviews, content validity index values and expert panel judgement, a test version of TEXP-Q was developed, the content and face validity of which were considered good. This version consisted of 17 items answered on a five-point Likert scale, and three open-ended questions answered in free text. During EFA, four items were removed, and a three-factor solution was recognised as most adequate, accounting for 60% cumulative variance and one single cross-loading. After EFA, the instrument comprised 13 questions, divided into three latent factors. Cronbach’s alpha for the complete instrument was 0.866, which indicates good internal consistency. Crohnbach’s alpha approximated to 0.8 for all factors respectively.

Conclusion

TEXP-Q is a newly developed, person-centred instrument which has proven to be both valid and reliable when applied to youths with T1D. The questionnaire fills a need for instruments focusing on emerging adults’ experiences of preparation for transition and transfer.