Evaluation of a self-regulation based psycho-educational pilot intervention targeting children and adolescents with epilepsy in Greece.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the development and initial evaluation of a minimal structured psycho-educational intervention for children and adolescents with epilepsy. The intervention aimed at increasing the understanding and personal control (self-management) of epilepsy, and at reducing psychological distress, sleep problems and somatic complaints.

Method: Twelve patients participated in our intervention and another 12, matched on age and gender, served as the control group.

Differences in Physical and Psychosocial Characteristics Between CFS and Fatigued Non-CFS Patients, a Case-Control Study.

Purpose: The main research question is: "Do CFS patients differ from fatigued non-CFS patients with respect to physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional determinants?" In addition, group differences in relevant outcomes were explored.

Method: Patients who met the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria for CFS were categorized as CFS; these patients were mainly recruited via a large Dutch patient organization. Primary care patients who were fatigued for at least 1 month and up to 2 years but did not meet the CDC criteria were classified as fatigued non-CFS patients.

Determinants of methotrexate adherence in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, weekly intake of methotrexate (MTX) is the basic drug treatment. This observational study aims to investigate how many RA patients are adherent in terms of MTX intake and to identify determinants of non-adherence. Intake of MTX (orally or via injection) was recorded in 129 RA patients with an electronic monitoring system (MEMS(®)) during 16 weeks.

Psychosocial job characteristics and psychological distress / well-being: the mediating role of personal goal facilitation.

Objective: This study examined the mediating role of personal goal facilitation through work (PGFW), defined as perceptions of the extent to which one's job facilitates the attainment of one's personal goals, in the association between psychosocial job characteristics and psychological distress and job-related well-being.

Material And Methods: Questionnaire data from 217 nurses (84% female, with a mean age of 42.7 years, SD=7.

The contribution of illness perceptions to fatigue and sleep problems in youngsters with epilepsy.

Purpose: The present study aims to explore the extent to which gender, epilepsy severity and illness perceptions predict fatigue and sleep problems in youngsters with epilepsy.

Method: Structured interviews were conducted in 100 young patients (Mage = 13,9, SD = 2.21; 41% girls) and data were analyzed by means of multiple hierarchical regression analyses.

Occupational coping self-efficacy explains distress and well-being in nurses beyond psychosocial job characteristics.

Aim: The main purpose of the present study was to extend the Job Demand Control Support (JDCS) model analyzing the direct and interactive role of occupational coping self-efficacy (OCSE) beliefs.

Background: OCSE refers to an individual's beliefs about their ability to cope with occupational stressors. The interplay between occupational stressors, job resources, and self-efficacy beliefs is poorly investigated.

Explaining Physical Activity Maintenance After a Theory-Based Intervention Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Process Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: Regular physical activity (PA) benefits patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly when maintained over time. Research in this area has largely focused on factors associated with initiating PA, while factors contributing to PA maintenance, particularly after lifestyle interventions, have received less attention. This study examined whether higher levels of autonomous motivation, self-efficacy for PA, and greater use of self-regulation skills mediated PA initiation and maintenance 6 months after a theory-based motivational interviewing and self-regulation coaching intervention.

Illness perceptions determine psychological distress and quality of life in youngsters with epilepsy.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the extent to which gender, epilepsy severity, and self-regulation concepts (illness perceptions, autonomous treatment regulation, perceived autonomy support by parents) predict psychological distress and quality of life (QoL) in young patients with epilepsy. Structured interviews were conducted in 100 patients (Mage=13.9, SD=2.

Association of goal orientation with work engagement and burnout in emergency nurses.

Objectives: Goal orientation is a mindset towards the achievement of work-related goals, and it has been found to be related to occupational well-being. This study explored to what extent the 4-dimensional model of goal orientation adds additional variance to the explanation of burnout and work engagement in emergency nurses, after controlling for demographics, job characteristics and organizational variables.

Methods: Self-report questionnaires including the Leiden Quality of Work Questionnaire for Nurses, Goal Orientation Questionnaire, Maslach Burnout Inventory and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale were completed by 170 out of 274 emergency nurses from 13 secondary Belgian hospitals (response rate 62%).

Identifying effective techniques within psychological treatments for irritable bowel syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Psychological interventions can alleviate the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and psychological distress commonly reported among IBS sufferers. However, the theoretical underpinnings and intervention techniques used by such interventions vary considerably. This study aimed to identify which theoretical approaches and techniques lead to greater improvements in IBS symptoms and psychological well-being within psychological interventions for IBS.

Determinants and prevalence of burnout in emergency nurses: a systematic review of 25 years of research.

Background: Burnout is an important problem in health care professionals and is associated with a decrease in occupational well-being and an increase in absenteeism, turnover and illness. Nurses are found to be vulnerable to burnout, but emergency nurses are even more so, since emergency nursing is characterized by unpredictability, overcrowding and continuous confrontation with a broad range of diseases, injuries and traumatic events.

Objectives: This systematic review aims (1) to explore the prevalence of burnout in emergency nurses and (2) to identify specific (individual and work related) determinants of burnout in this population.

Causes and consequences of occupational stress in emergency nurses, a longitudinal study.

Aim: This longitudinal study examines the influence of changes over time in work and organisational characteristics on job satisfaction, work engagement, emotional exhaustion, turnover intention and psychosomatic distress in emergency room nurses.

Background: Organisational and job characteristics of nurses are important predictors of stress-health outcomes. Emergency room nurses are particularly exposed to stressful work-related events and unpredictable work conditions.

Targeting motivation and self-regulation to increase physical activity among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised controlled trial.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of targeting both the motivation and action phases of behaviour change in a 5-week intervention to increase physical activity (PA) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not meeting current PA recommendations. In a randomised controlled trial, a control group—which received a group-based patient education session led by a physical therapist—was compared to a treatment group which received the education session plus a motivational interview from a physical therapist and two self-regulation coaching sessions from a rheumatology nurse. Outcomes included leisure-time PA, days per week with at least 30 min of moderate-intensity PA, self-efficacy and autonomous motivation (cognitions which predict PA initiation and maintenance), disease activity, functional status, depressive symptoms and fatigue.

A self-regulation lifestyle program for post-cardiac rehabilitation patients has long-term effects on exercise adherence.

As maintenance of lifestyle change and risk factor modification following completion of cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to be notoriously difficult, we developed a brief self-regulation lifestyle program for post-cardiac rehabilitation patients. Randomized-controlled trial. Following completion of cardiac rehabilitation 210 patients were randomized to receive either a lifestyle maintenance program (n = 112) or standard care (n = 98).

Lifestyle modification programmes for patients with coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Lifestyle modification programmes for coronary heart disease patients have been shown to effectively improve risk factors and related health behaviours, quality of life, reincidence, and mortality. However, improvements in routine cardiac care over the recent years may offset the incremental benefit associated with older programmes.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of lifestyle modification programmes for coronary heart disease patients developed over the last decade (1999-2009) by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Changes in illness perceptions and quality of life during participation in cardiac rehabilitation.

Background: The beliefs patients hold about their disease and corresponding treatment have been shown to predict recovery in cardiac patients.

Purpose: However, it is not known to what extent these beliefs change during participation in cardiac rehabilitation and whether this is related to psychological indicators of outcome.

Method: Illness perceptions and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) were measured upon entry to (T0) and completion of (T1) a 3-month outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in 158 cardiac patients.

The impact of traumatic events on emergency room nurses: findings from a questionnaire survey.

Background: Emergency Nurses are routinely confronted with work related traumatic events and hectic work conditions. Several studies report a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in these nurses. Coping and social support seem to play an important role in the development of PTSD.

Lifestyle- and behaviour-change interventions in musculoskeletal conditions.

This review discusses several health behaviours associated with the progression and impact of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including weight management, physical activity, medication adherence and smoking. An overview of current theories of behaviour-change is provided in terms of principles that can guide medical practice. Finally, evaluation studies of interventions targeting weight loss, physical activity and medication adherence in patients with OA or RA are presented and discussed.

Protocol for the "four steps to control your fatigue (4-STEPS)" randomised controlled trial: a self-regulation based physical activity intervention for patients with unexplained chronic fatigue.

Background: Unexplained Chronic Fatigue is a medical condition characterized by the presence of persistent, severe and debilitating medically unexplained fatigue, leading to impaired functioning and lower quality of life. Research suggests that physical activity can contribute to the reduction of fatigue and other somatic symptoms and can thus significantly improve physical functioning and quality of life in these patients. Based on the self-regulation (SR) theory of behaviour change, we developed a brief physical activity program for patients suffering from unexplained chronic fatigue which focuses on the training of self-regulation skills, the "4-STEPS to control your fatigue" program.

Beyond resolutions? A randomized controlled trial of a self-regulation lifestyle programme for post-cardiac rehabilitation patients.

Background: As lifestyle adherence and risk factor management following completion of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) have been shown to be problematic, we developed a brief self-regulation lifestyle programme for post-CR patients.

Design: Randomized-controlled trial.

Methods: Following completion of CR 210 patients were randomized to receive either a lifestyle maintenance programme (n = 112) or standard care (n = 98).

Effect of self-efficacy and physical activity goal achievement on arthritis pain and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To examine physical activity and achievement of physical activity goals in relation to self-reported pain and quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: At baseline, 271 patients with RA were asked to specify a physical activity goal, and filled in questionnaires assessing physical activity, motivation, and self-efficacy for physical activity, arthritis pain, and quality of life. Six months later, patients indicated to what extent they had achieved their baseline physical activity goal and completed the same set of questionnaires.

Exploring the burden of emergency care: predictors of stress-health outcomes in emergency nurses.

Aims: This paper is a report of a study that examines (1) whether emergency nurses differ from a general hospital nursing comparison group in terms of job and organizational characteristics and (2) to what extent these characteristics predict job satisfaction, turnover intention, work engagement, fatigue and psychosomatic distress in emergency nurses.

Background: The work environment and job characteristics of nurses are important predictors of stress-health outcomes. Emergency nurses are particularly exposed to stressful events and unpredictable work conditions.

Job characteristics, organizational conditions, and distress/well-being among Italian and Dutch nurses: a cross-national comparison.

Background: Among health care workers, nursing has been identified as particularly stressful. Several studies have shown cross-national differences in nurses' levels of occupational stress and burnout.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to compare job characteristics, organizational conditions, and strain reactions in Italian (N = 609) and Dutch (N = 873) nurses.