Hanan Al-Faraj, Cleopatra Kum, Lynn Warner, Rebecca C Lee, Richard Becker, Tamilyn Bakas
{"title":"Mental Health Factors and Lifestyle Adherence After Myocardial Infarction: An Integrative Review.","authors":"Hanan Al-Faraj, Cleopatra Kum, Lynn Warner, Rebecca C Lee, Richard Becker, Tamilyn Bakas","doi":"10.1177/01939459251326816","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251326816","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors following myocardial infarction can improve clinical health outcomes and lower cardiovascular risk factors among patients. However, adhering to a healthy lifestyle after having a myocardial infarction can be challenging, especially for those experiencing poor mental health.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Based on a conceptual model derived from Lazarus and Folkman's Theory of Stress and Coping and the Health Belief Model, this integrative review focuses on mental health factors associated with adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors post-myocardial infarction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method was used to search and select relevant literature from the EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases between 2013 and 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 35 articles were included in the review. Based on the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model criteria, 34 studies were of good quality (B). Mental health factors related to healthy lifestyle behaviors after myocardial infarction included the following: (1) personality factors and coping (eg, neuroticism, agreeableness, and optimism); (2) psychological symptoms (i.e., depression, anxiety, and fear); (3) appraisal (ie, illness perception); (4) health beliefs (ie, susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, cues to action, and self-efficacy); and (5) motivation. Social support and demographic characteristics were also related to adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This review highlights the role of mental health factors in adhering to healthy lifestyle behaviors among persons with myocardial infarction. Comprehensive theoretically based approaches are needed to develop future interventions for promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors in individuals post-myocardial infarction.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251326816"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dania M Abu-Alhaija, Hanan Al-Faraj, Elaine Miller, Gordon L Gillespie
{"title":"Psychometric Testing of the Revised Oncology Nurses Health Behaviors Determinants Scale.","authors":"Dania M Abu-Alhaija, Hanan Al-Faraj, Elaine Miller, Gordon L Gillespie","doi":"10.1177/01939459251324835","DOIUrl":"10.1177/01939459251324835","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chemotherapy exposure is an occupational risk that affects oncology nurses and is linked to several negative health consequences. Oncology nurses' adherence to chemotherapy handling guidelines is critical to protect themselves from this hazardous drug exposure. Several personal and workplace-related factors affect nurses' adherence to these guidelines.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the revised Oncology Nurses Health Behaviors Determinants Scale (HBDS-ON) that measures factors affecting nurses' adherence to chemotherapy handling guidelines.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. One hundred twenty-three oncology nurses were recruited through convenience sampling from 2 hospital settings in the Midwest United States and through social media. Participants completed 3 online surveys: (1) the Revised Hazardous Drugs Handling Questionnaire, (2) the revised HBDS-ON, and (3) a demographic questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Exploratory factor analysis revealed a conceptually reasonable 7-subscale structure of the revised HBDS-ON. The psychometric properties of the scale were supported by convergence validity, regression model testing, and internal consistency reliability. Oncology nurses reported adherence to chemotherapy handling guidelines 55% of the time. The cues to action in the workplace, nurses' perceived barriers, institutional response to chemotherapy exposure incidents, and personal protective equipment availability and accessibility were associated with oncology nurses' adherence to chemotherapy handling guidelines.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The revised HBDS-ON demonstrates reliability and validity and can be used to measure factors at workplace and personal levels that affect nurses' adherence to chemotherapy handling guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251324835"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peipei Huang, Yuxin He, Jingjing Shang, Yidan Sun, Hui Li, Qiuhui Wu, Sai Cao, Mei Li
{"title":"Construction and Validation of a Prediction Model for Postoperative Fatigue Syndrome in Chinese Patients with Lung Cancer.","authors":"Peipei Huang, Yuxin He, Jingjing Shang, Yidan Sun, Hui Li, Qiuhui Wu, Sai Cao, Mei Li","doi":"10.1177/01939459251325490","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251325490","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) is prevalent in patients with lung cancer after surgery but often overlooked clinically, affecting patient care and recovery. Predictive models for assessing the risk and severity of postoperative fatigue in persons diagnosed with lung cancer are lacking.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To develop a predictive model for POFS in patients with lung cancer to address under-recognition and its impact on recovery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from 203 lung cancer surgery patients were analyzed through univariate analysis to compare the relevant factors between 2 groups . Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were used to screen potential key predictors. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent influencing factors and build a nomogram. Receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the discrimination, accuracy, and clinical usability of the prediction model, with internal validation by the Bootstrap method.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 203 patients, 57.1% developed POFS. The prediction model included 5 significant predictors: sleep quality, pain, activated partial thromboplastin time, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio. The nomogram based on this model achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.870, indicating good accuracy, with strong predictive power in internal validation. DCA showed clinical utility when the probability of POFS was above approximately 13%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We found a high prevalence of POFS in survivors with lung cancer and successfully constructed a comprehensive nomogram with 5 factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251325490"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Effectiveness of Reminiscence Interventions on Depression and Depressive Symptoms in Community-dwelling Older Adults without Significant Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Yuxuan Yang, Hongfei Li, Xiaomei Cong, Juliette Shellman","doi":"10.1177/01939459251324833","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251324833","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Along with the global rise in the population of older adults, addressing depression among this population has become a critical public health concern. Reminiscence therapy is one of the interventions shown to be effective in reducing depression and depressive symptoms.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To systematically summarize the effectiveness of reminiscence interventions in reducing depression and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults without significant cognitive impairment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The literature search was conducted through four electronic databases: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus for studies published in English. Risks of bias were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Appraisal Instrument.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The systematic review included 11 studies involving 650 community-dwelling older adults, with mean ages ranging from 65.3 to 78.7. Nine articles found reminiscence therapy effective in alleviating depression and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults without significant cognitive impairment. Structured reminiscence interventions were effective in reducing depression and depressive symptoms in six out of seven studies. Group reminiscence interventions demonstrated significant improvements in depression in 87.5% of studies. Memories triggers, suggested by four included studies, were practical tools to help initiate reminiscence sessions. All included studies were rated as having a low risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Reminiscence has the potential as a valuable and effective treatment for depression and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults without significant cognitive impairment. Future research should focus on exploring diverse modalities, incorporating active control groups, and having longer follow-up periods to assess sustained benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251324833"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eunae Ju, Yuqing Guo, Jung In Park, Julie Kim, Annie Qu, Jung-Ah Lee
{"title":"Sleep Quality of Persons with Dementia and Family Caregivers in Korean Americans: Wearable Technology to Study the Dyadic Association.","authors":"Eunae Ju, Yuqing Guo, Jung In Park, Julie Kim, Annie Qu, Jung-Ah Lee","doi":"10.1177/01939459251323675","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251323675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sleep disturbances, such as difficulty in falling asleep and multiple awakenings at night, are prevalent among persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (hereafter dementia), resulting in advanced cognitive impairment and increased behavioral problems. Additionally, family caregivers (eg, spouses or offspring) suffer from reduced sleep quality as a result of sleep disturbances in the persons with dementia (PWDs) they care for. Relatively little is known about the interaction of sleep parameters in dyads (PWD-caregiver) as paired units among understudied immigrant minorities, particularly Korean Americans.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To describe dyads' sleep parameters (ie, total/deep/rapid eye movement/light sleep, awake duration, latency duration, sleep efficiency) using wearable technology (smart-rings) and sleep diaries, and to identify interrelationships among sleep parameters between PWD and caregivers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This 4-week observational study used smart-ring monitoring, a sleep survey, and self-reported sleep diaries to explore sleep associations of Korean American dyads recruited from the community. Pearson correlations were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 11 dyads participated in the study. The mean age of PWD was 82.7 years (standard deviation (SD) = 2.3); of caregivers 69.1 years (SD = 10.2). Nine PWD (81.8%) were male, all caregivers (100%) were female, and 4 dyads (36.4%) slept in the same bed. Sleep parameters of PWD were significantly correlated with those of caregivers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings demonstrate that PWD's sleep parameters (eg, deep sleep) were significantly correlated with those of caregivers' parameters. This study shows the feasibility of using wearable device to measure dyadic sleep quality for both PWD and their caregivers, particularly within immigrant populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251323675"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Factors Facilitating Care in Male Infertility Treatment: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Mehrdad Abdullahzadeh, Zohreh Vanaki, Eesa Mohammadi, Jamileh Mohtashami","doi":"10.1177/01939459251323682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251323682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Male infertility treatment has gained prominence in the literature, yet the factors facilitating its care remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of men with primary infertility regarding factors that facilitate care in male infertility treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eleven men experiencing infertility were recruited through purposive sampling in Iran and were interviewed between June 2022 and May 2023. Graneheim and Lundman's inductive content analysis method was utilized to analyze data while adhering to Lincoln and Guba's trustworthiness criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>\"Managing Rigorous Treatment\" emerged as the central theme, comprising partner support, encouragement from family and friends, spiritual guidance, effective health care communication, and financial assistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The research highlights the significance of partner support, health care participation, and financial, spiritual, and social assistance in facilitating care during male infertility treatment. It emphasizes the influence of cultural and social factors on the treatment process. Health care providers are encouraged to use these findings to improve patient-centered care, taking into account cultural and socioeconomic factors to enhance outcomes in male infertility treatment and support couples facing male infertility in achieving their goals of becoming parents.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251323682"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Variability of Terminology Used to Describe Unwanted Workplace Behaviors in Nursing: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Krishna Lambert, Karen Francis, Kathleen Tori","doi":"10.1177/01939459251323680","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251323680","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Unwanted workplace behaviors impact all organizations, but in the discipline of nursing, these behaviors impact both the welfare of nurses and the quality and safety of patient care. The terminology adopted to describe these behaviors varies widely, leading to confusion and inconsistency in research and practice.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This scoping review aims to explore the variability in the terminology used to describe unwanted workplace behaviors in nursing, identify the most commonly used terms, and analyze the implications of this variability for research, policy, and practice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Population, Concept, and Context mnemonic was used to frame the review, as recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using relevant databases. Keywords used in the search included \"moral harassment, nursing, definition, meaning, description,\" \"Shaming,\" \"Mobbing,\" \"Bullying,\" \"Vertical violence,\" \"Horizontal violence,\" \"Incivility,\" \"Microaggression,\" \"Lateral violence.\" Boolean operators (AND, OR) were used to combine search terms appropriately.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The initial search yielded 299 references. Following full-text screening, 51 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. The review revealed 13 different terms used to describe unwanted workplace behaviors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The review highlights a lack of consensus across the discipline. There is a call for a singular term to be applied across the field which would support policy implementation and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251323680"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143651812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sleep in Residential Aged Care: A Secondary Qualitative Analysis of Data from the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.","authors":"Aisling Smyth, Patricia Cain, Sabine Pangerl, Christopher Gordon, Kasia Bail, Davina Porock","doi":"10.1177/01939459251324831","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459251324831","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sleep is a crucial healing and restorative component of older person care but is often negatively impacted through the effects of institutionalization in residential aged care (RAC). Currently, information about how sleep occurs is limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Through the lens of person-centered care, this study examined submissions to the Australian Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Commission was established in 2018 with the aim of protecting and improving the safety, quality of life, and well-being of people receiving aged care. The commission received 10 000+ submissions from a range of stakeholders, including consumers, family members, expert witnesses, healthcare professionals, and industry. Using a big qualitative data approach with 33 sleep-related keywords, submissions were analyzed using thematic analysis to understand how institutional practices impact individual sleep experiences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three themes were identified highlighting tensions between institutional requirements and person-centered care: (1) Care practices of RAC staff may impact residents' sleep, (2) Tensions between provision of overnight care and preservation of sleep, and (3) The dignity of choice of residents including autonomy of sleep timing and their sleep environment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Opportunities to improve the quality of sleep experience and associated outcomes in Australian RAC exist. Improved staffing, planning for person-centered timing of care, and addressing the competing tensions of safety surveillance activities and person-centered care implementation in a home environment are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"1939459251324831"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143538045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Inga M Zadvinskis, Élise N Arsenault Knudsen, Ann C Falkenberg Olson, Rosemary W Eustace, Nancy M Albert, Colleen J Klein, Nicole L Bohr, Lisa E Guthrie, Martha Mathews Libster
{"title":"Exploring Inclusion by Creating Inclusion: A World Café Among Nurse Scientists.","authors":"Inga M Zadvinskis, Élise N Arsenault Knudsen, Ann C Falkenberg Olson, Rosemary W Eustace, Nancy M Albert, Colleen J Klein, Nicole L Bohr, Lisa E Guthrie, Martha Mathews Libster","doi":"10.1177/01939459241310751","DOIUrl":"10.1177/01939459241310751","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The concept of inclusion within diversity, equity, and inclusion has broad meanings and implications and has not been explored in nursing through a World Café.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To describe the process and experiences of 9 nurse scientists who hosted a World Café focused on inclusion, to share participants' insights, and to offer considerations to advance inclusion in nursing.</p><p><strong>Approach: </strong>We hosted and encouraged active participation in a World Café that focused on 7 inclusion topics in nursing during the 2024 Midwestern Nursing Research Society Annual Research Conference. During the 90-min World Café, 40 participants (\"members\") engaged in iterative rounds of small group dialogue, moving from table to table every 10 min and randomly changing groups. Table hosts welcomed new members, provided background information, and asked probing questions about topics related to inclusion. Members shared insights verbally and through creative expression using colored markers/pencils or craft supplies and creating images on paper tablecloths. Table hosts used notes, photographs of words and images from the paper tablecloths, and collective post-Café reflections to synthesize insights regarding inclusion.</p><p><strong>Discoveries: </strong>Across all topics, members stated that inclusion requires connecting as human beings, creating welcoming spaces, being open to others, and actively listening. Table hosts described the World Café process as engaging, invoking, and inspiring. Hosts found the World Café process itself to be inclusive, inviting diverse perspectives, and gleaning insights about inclusion in nursing. Considerations generated from this World Café offer tangible behaviors to promote inclusion across various nursing topics, roles, and settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"190-199"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142957798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sara Shearkhani, Yu Qing Bai, Kerry Kuluski, Geoffrey M Anderson, Walter P Wodchis
{"title":"Informal Caregiving: Health System Cost Implications.","authors":"Sara Shearkhani, Yu Qing Bai, Kerry Kuluski, Geoffrey M Anderson, Walter P Wodchis","doi":"10.1177/01939459241310285","DOIUrl":"10.1177/01939459241310285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Informal caregiving is seen as a low-cost substitute for care provided by health care professionals. However, caregiving is known to negatively impact caregivers' health and, subsequently, their health care use and costs. This could potentially offset the caregivers' contributions to the health care system.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We examined the impact of caregiving on costs associated with caregivers' use of publicly funded health care services in Ontario, Canada, in comparison with non-caregivers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We included Ontarians who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey-Healthy Aging Supplement Survey of 2008/09 and linked responses to health care administrative databases. A difference-in-differences design was used to capture differences in caregivers' and non-caregivers' total health care costs 1 and 2 years before and after caregiving start date. Generalized Linear Models were used to model the total health care costs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample size was 4275 with 1265 caregivers and 3010 non-caregivers. We found that while health care utilization increased over time, it increased by a lesser amount for caregivers than non-caregivers. Adjusted total health care costs for caregivers were 11.32% (SE = 0.05, ρ = 0.02) lower than non-caregivers 2 years into caregiving.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study reveals a critical gap in policy, practice, and research driven by a lack of routine data collection and caregiver identification. It also highlights the need for additional longitudinal research focusing on caregivers' objective health.</p>","PeriodicalId":49365,"journal":{"name":"Western Journal of Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":"140-148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11812279/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}