Endocrine Abstracts

In 2007 a qualitative study of 36 patients’ observations of diseases, care and life disorders associated with Acromegaly was conducted. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are described. The sample cuts across both gender and age. Seven patients didn’t want to participate. The reason for this is only known for some of them. A literature search in a pilot study of nine patients revealed that this patient group was qualitative unexplored. Research interviews were conducted at the control hospitalization. The Data Protection Agency approved the project, and the patients were informed of the rules for participation. An Interview guide was used, and interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Interviews were recorded, and transcription was performed by the researcher.

The patients’ statements were categorized by Eriksson’s disease, care and life disorders and the three operational levels from Kvale’s analysis model were used.

The research project’s most spectacular findings were that:

i) The patients didn’t experience that caregivers had knowledge of the disease and symptoms

ii) Other patients with Acromegaly were an important source of information

iii) Being a teaching object for junior doctors was informative educational.

Subsequently various initiatives were undertaken to optimize nursing. Among other things, hiring a specialist chief nurse, an informative theme evening for the staff, preparation of a short-term record for documentation, endocrinology training program, and in 2011 a quantitative survey of 20 patients was completed. Patients’ experiences of nursing in the control admissions were in focus. The inclusion criterion was that the patients had followed the control admissions since 2005. The results were: a greater satisfaction with call letter, receipt and hospitalization, a significant positive change in nursing since 2007, and the staff showed greater interest and commitment. However, there is still room for improvement as to daily discomfort.