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Prevention, Nursing and Treatment Monitoring of Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases...
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Prevention, Nursing and Treatment Monitoring of Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults and Elderly People

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 11168

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yari Longobucco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, FI, Italy
Interests: frailty; older adults; sarcopenia; family and community nursing; health promotion; health literacy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It has been apparent for years that we have been moving toward an increase in overall life expectancy. The interval between overall life expectancy and healthy life expectancy actually represents the average time during which the population's living conditions are characterized by comorbidities and disabilities. The main determinants of these conditions are given by chronic-degenerative diseases. Chronic diseases and multimorbidity are often accompanied by a condition known as frailty, a condition of accelerated aging, defined by a state of vulnerability to poor homeostasis resolution after a stressful event, as a consequence of the cumulative decline of many physiological systems over the course of a lifetime. In fact, frailty is considered the antechamber of disability, and its early identification and treatment are the only way to interrupt this natural course, shifting toward so-called healthy and active aging. Not surprisingly, frailty is more prevalent in patients affected by rheumatic diseases, regardless of age and is associated with high disease activity to affect the clinical outcomes, largely due to chronic inflammation. The treatment of these underlying conditions may prevent frailty, or at least lead to improved health outcomes. The purpose of this Special Issue is to take stock of the latest evidence on this topic, such as, but not limited to:

  • Self-care in autoimmune and chronic diseases;
  • Determinants of therapeutic adherence in patients treated with antirheumatics;
  • Advances in prevention of disease worsening;
  • Relevance of disease monitoring both in person or with telehealth;
  • Role and tools of the family and community nurse in the assessment of frailty and chronic conditions;
  • Treatment of frailty and progress monitoring;
  • Role of insomnia in quality of life;
  • Relationship of frailty and sarcopenia with autoimmune diseases;
  • Role of health literacy, both of patient and caregiver, in the management of chronic and autoimmune diseases and frailty;
  • Role of chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of frailty;
  • Competencies and responsibilities of nurses in the management of chronic and autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Yari Longobucco
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chronic diseases
  • autoimmune diseases
  • rheumatic diseases
  • muscoskeletal diseases
  • nursing
  • frailty
  • disease monitoring
  • telehealth
  • self-care
  • family and community nursing
  • nurses' responsibilities
  • nurses' competencies
  • therapeutic adherence

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 995 KiB  
Article
Systemic Sclerosis Patients Experiencing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program: The Beneficial Effect on Their Psychological Status and Quality of Life
by Khadija El Aoufy, Arianna Pezzutto, Alessandra Pollina, Laura Rasero, Stefano Bambi, Silvia Bellando-Randone, Serena Guiducci, Susanna Maddali-Bongi and Marco Matucci Cerinic
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032512 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Psychological concerns in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients represent an important issue and should be addressed through non-pharmacological treatments. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on psychological variables and the perspectives [...] Read more.
Psychological concerns in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients represent an important issue and should be addressed through non-pharmacological treatments. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program on psychological variables and the perspectives and experiences of patients with an SSc diagnosis. Notably, 32 SSc patients were enrolled and assigned to either the intervention (MBSR) group or the waitlist group. Inclusion criteria were (i) age ≥ 18 years, SSc diagnosis according to EULAR/ACR diagnostic criteria and informed consent. Exclusion criteria were previous participation in any Mind-Body Therapy or psychiatric diagnosis. Quantitative and qualitative outcomes were investigated through clinometric questionnaires and individual interviews. MBSR did not significantly impact outcomes such as physical functionality, anxiety, hopelessness, depression, physical health status, perceived stress, mindfulness and mental health status. For the anger evaluation, statistically significant differences are found for both controlling and expressing anger, indicating that the MBSR program had a favorable impact. As for qualitative results, more awareness of daily activities, stress reduction in terms of recognizing the causes and implementing self-strategies to prevent them, adherence to therapy, and recognition of the effect of medication on their bodies were reported. In conclusion, it is important to highlight the absence of negative or side effects of the MBSR program and the positive impact on patients’ experience and perspective; thus, we suggest this approach should be taken into account for SSc patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Nursing and Treatment Monitoring of Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults and Elderly People)
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12 pages, 325 KiB  
Article
Medication Literacy in Chinese Patients with Stroke and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Xiao Chang, Kai Wang, Yuting Wang, Houmian Tu, Guiping Gong and Haifeng Zhang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(1), 620; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010620 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1381
Abstract
In China, stroke is characterized by high incidence, recurrence, disability, economic burden, and mortality. Regular and effective medication therapy can reduce stroke recurrence. High medication literacy is vital for the success of tertiary prevention measures aimed at preventing recurrence and minimizing disability. A [...] Read more.
In China, stroke is characterized by high incidence, recurrence, disability, economic burden, and mortality. Regular and effective medication therapy can reduce stroke recurrence. High medication literacy is vital for the success of tertiary prevention measures aimed at preventing recurrence and minimizing disability. A cross-sectional survey using a medication literacy questionnaire was conducted between January and May 2022 on 307 inpatients of a Class III Grade A hospital in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. The demographic and clinical data of the patients were obtained from medical records. The health literacy of the patients was moderate, with 36.8% exhibiting adequate medication literacy. Univariate analysis identified significant differences in the medication literacy of the patients, depending on education level, annual income, family history of stroke, number of health problems, age, daily medication times, and brain surgery history. Multiple regression analysis revealed that education level, annual income, family history of stroke, and number of health problems significantly influenced medication literacy. In patients with stroke who are older and have a low education level, more health problems, no history of surgery, or no family history of stroke or medication guidance, medication knowledge and attitude can be improved to enhance medication safety and guarantee tertiary-level prevention of stroke. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Nursing and Treatment Monitoring of Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults and Elderly People)

Review

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44 pages, 767 KiB  
Review
Community Health Assessment Tools Adoptable in Nursing Practice: A Scoping Review
by Chiara Pazzaglia, Claudia Camedda, Nikita Valentina Ugenti, Andrea Trentin, Sandra Scalorbi and Yari Longobucco
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031667 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3647
Abstract
The WHO European Region defined the role of a new central professional for primary care, the Family and Community Nurse (FCN). The introduction of an FCN in the framework of health policies highlights a key role of nurses in addressing the needs of [...] Read more.
The WHO European Region defined the role of a new central professional for primary care, the Family and Community Nurse (FCN). The introduction of an FCN in the framework of health policies highlights a key role of nurses in addressing the needs of families and communities. A scoping review was conducted in order to identify and describe the available tools which have been adopted for the assessment of community health needs by FCNs. A comprehensive literature review on the Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycInfo databases was conducted including all studies up to May 2021. A total of 1563 studies were identified and 36 of them were included. The literature review made it possible to identify studies employing twelve different community assessment tools or modalities. Referring to the WHO framework proposed in 2001, some common themes have been identified with an uneven distribution, such as profiling the population, deciding on priorities for action and public healthcare programs, implementing the planned activities, an evaluation of the health outcomes, multidisciplinary activity, flexibility and involving the community. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first attempt to provide an overview of community assessment tools, keeping the guidance provided by the WHO as a reference. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Nursing and Treatment Monitoring of Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults and Elderly People)
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Other

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12 pages, 1357 KiB  
Concept Paper
A Middle-Range Theory of Social Isolation in Chronic Illness
by Paolo Iovino, Ercole Vellone, Nadia Cedrone and Barbara Riegel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064940 - 10 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3950
Abstract
Chronic illnesses and social isolation are major public phenomena that drive health and social policy worldwide. This article describes a middle-range theory of social isolation as experienced by chronically ill individuals. Key concepts include social disconnectedness, loneliness, and chronic illness. Antecedents of social [...] Read more.
Chronic illnesses and social isolation are major public phenomena that drive health and social policy worldwide. This article describes a middle-range theory of social isolation as experienced by chronically ill individuals. Key concepts include social disconnectedness, loneliness, and chronic illness. Antecedents of social isolation include predisposing factors (e.g., ageism and immigration) and precipitating factors (e.g., stigma and grief). Outcomes of social isolation include psychosocial responses (e.g., depression and quality of life), health-related behaviors (i.e., self-care), and clinical responses (e.g., cognitive function and health service use). Possible patterns of social isolation in chronic illness are described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Nursing and Treatment Monitoring of Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases in Adults and Elderly People)
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