Biomedical subjects

A C All

Publications and source records attributed to A C All.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Quality of life and chronic nonmalignant pain.

Chronic nonmalignant pain is a prevalent and costly phenomenon. Chronic pain induces stressors that affect personal and work lives of sufferers. Because of this interference, quality of life is impacted. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the impact of stressors on the quality of life of adult patients with chronic pain. The framework guiding this study was Neuman's Systems Model based on the concepts of stress and reaction to stress. A descriptive correlational research design was used to compare participants' quality of life according to their health and function; family, psychological, spiritual, and socioeconomic status; and the stressors of age, gender, income, marital and work status, occupation, monthly treatment costs, and type of insurance. Each participant was administered the Ferrans and Powers Quality-of-Life Index and a demographic survey. Results revealed that a higher quality of life was associated with participants who were older, female, and employed, whereas a lower quality of life was associated with participants with a low income, higher treatment costs, and a lack of workmen's compensation insurance. Based on Neuman's model, the implications of chronic pain sufferers' resistance to the negative impact of various stressors are discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2001

Values identified in different groups of Air Force nurses.

Fundamental personal values are reflected in the choices and decisions made in every aspect of our lives. This descriptive study identified values held by a convenience sample of 224 Air Force nurses stationed at four U.S. Air Force medical facilities. Study participants identified seven of eight literature-supported values in the categories "important" or "very important" across the demographic factors of age, gender, educational level, military rank, marital status, and years of Air Force or civilian nursing experience. These seven values were ability utilization, achievement, altruism, autonomy, economic reward, economic security, and personal development. Personnel using this information may ease the transition process to military nursing, facilitate job placement to positions reflecting personally held values, and provide valuable insight for Air Force nurse recruiters who have limited knowledge of the nursing profession. In all, this would promote job satisfaction and Air Force nurse retention.

Aerospace Medicine↗

PubMed2000

Quality in health care and ethical principles.

Quality in health care and ethical principles The last three decades have seen rapid changes in the way United States of America (USA) health care has been delivered, financed and regulated. Four major stakeholders have emerged in the health care debate: patients, providers, payers and public regulatory agencies. These groups do not agree on a definition of quality health care. This paper suggests five ethical principles - autonomy, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence, and prudence - be included in the framework of quality health care. A framework that outlines possible relationships among these ethical attributes and four major stakeholders is presented.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMed1999

Remediating the effects of sarcopenia in the elderly client's plan of care.

Because home care nurses are in close contact with frail elders, it is important that they recognize sarcopenia and understand options available to remediate the dangerous consequences of this condition. This article describes an overview of human aging and muscle mass loss, the effects of regular exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, and functional capacity, and implications for creating interdisciplinary plans of care that impact outcomes.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1997

The effects of an HIV/AIDS educational programme on the anxiety level of nursing students.

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious disease that has special concern for the health care provider. AIDS has continued to grow despite control efforts. As the disease infectivity period remains lengthy, and the heterosexual population is affected to a greater degree, the level of anxiety has also risen despite educational endeavours. Many fears and anxieties have been associated with AIDS patients by health care workers. The reduction of stress, perceived risk and discomfort following educational efforts have been supported in past research. Educational programmes will need to be given for current health care workers at all levels as well as nursing students. Future nurses must be prepared to meet this challenge. This study was conducted using a convenience sample of nursing students at a university in western United States. Its purpose was to assess any changes that occurred in state anxiety following an educational presentation. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as the measurement instrument. Some anxiety levels were significantly reduced.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Cognitive/concept mapping: a teaching strategy for nursing.

Cognitive/concept mapping is an educational strategy that takes into consideration the principles of educational psychology. The most important single factor that influences learning is what the learner already knows. Nursing students face a great need to understand the larger questions and problems of their chosen field. Unless there is understanding, students may only commit unassimilated data to short-term memory and no meaningful learning will occur. The purpose of the following paper is to present concept mapping as a learning/teaching strategy for nursing students and nursing faculty. Examples of maps will be presented along with suggestions about how they can be used to plan care for a particular client or to learn more about the nursing care of a specific disease process.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1997

Caring for the patient with interstitial cystitis.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic, painful, debilitating bladder disorder which predominantly affects women. The etiology of IC is unknown, the diagnosis is difficult to make, and treatments are aimed at minimizing symptoms. IC affects every aspect of an individual's life. Both generalist and advanced practice nurses play a vital role in enhancing the IC patient's quality of life through emotional support and education.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Raynaud's disease: patient education as a primary nursing intervention.

The terms Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomenon are often used interchangeably to identify two distinct disease states that initially appear with similar symptoms but then have very different sequelae. Triggered primarily by cold weather, both conditions commonly result in a vasospastic response predominantly observed in the fingers and toes. A review of the relevant health care literature indicates that there is little, if any, information available on Raynaud's disease that would be of particular and specific interest to the nursing profession. So that they can provide appropriate patient teaching, nurses need to be familiar with the precipitating factors, signs and symptoms, evaluation methods, and treatments of Raynaud's disease. This article focuses specifically on Raynaud's disease, which affects many women but relatively few men. A historic perspective on this disease state is provided, and postulated pathophysiologic mechanisms for the onset of this condition are addressed. The patient who is experiencing symptoms of this disease may have complaints of pain and numbness particularly in the fingers. The nurse's primary role is patient education so that the onset of symptoms associated with this disease can be identified and minimized. A discussion of nursing implications with a focus on teaching is provided. A case study is presented of a patient with Raynaud's disease, which will serve to highlight and expound on key information provided throughout the text of this article.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

A literature review: assessment and intervention in elder abuse.

1. Abuse of the elderly occurs slightly less than child abuse. 2. Despite rising concerns about elder abuse, there are no uniform, comprehensive definitions of the term elder abuse. 3. Identification of abuse is easy only in cases in which outright battering is visible.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pain, cancer, and older adults.

Pain is the most common symptom associated with cancer. Despite the fact that appropriate pain management exists, cancer pain often is inadequately controlled. Sixty percent to 85% of individuals with advanced cancer have either severe or chronic pain. Issues associated with cancer pain and pain management in later life include the effect of pain on the person, friends, and family; the influence of hope; the perception that older adults are less sensitive to painful stimuli; the special problems of drug management in older adults; and the unique issues of older women affected by cancer. This article concludes with implications for nurses. Future research needs to be directed to pain management at home, the ethics of pain management, pain in the cognitively impaired person, and the specific needs of older women.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The scope of practice of diabetes educators in the state of Georgia.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the scope of practice trends of diabetes educators in the state of Georgia. METHODS: The Diabetes Educator Responsibilities Questionnaire (DERQ) was sent to 221 members of the American Association of Diabetes Educators listed in the 1995 membership directory in Georgia. Of the 221 members, 97 returned completed questionnaires. This population of healthcare professionals comprised the sample population. RESULTS: In assessing the primary responsibilities of the sample, more than 50% of the respondents performed six of the nine educator roles. Less than 50% of the respondents indicated that they "Always" or "Frequently" used behavior modification strategies in teaching people with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The questionnaire used in this study should be expanded to elicit more detailed information regarding decisions to use or not use behavior modification techniques in diabetes education.

Behavior Therapy↗