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Biomedical subjects

Alison While

Publications and source records attributed to Alison While.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Impact of clinical nurse specialists in multiple sclerosis--synthesis of the evidence.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological condition demanding a broad range of interventions and support. Multiple sclerosis nurse specialists are emerging as a leading force in providing care to this group of patients. AIM: This review aimed to identify and synthesize the evidence on the role of clinical nurse specialists in meeting the care needs of people with multiple sclerosis. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature addressing the role of the multiple sclerosis nurse specialist was undertaken. The review examined both the appropriateness and effectiveness of the multiple sclerosis nurse specialist role. The content of each item identified in the review was analysed, examining the structure, process and outcomes variables associated with the role. Materials containing an explicit methodology were critically appraised using established schedules and graded as strong, moderate or weak. The data were then synthesized in tables, thematically and using a quasi-judicial approach called the 'System of Reasoning'. FINDINGS: Fifty-five items were examined and most (53%; n = 18) were descriptive in nature. There was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the multiple sclerosis nurse role makes a difference to care. However, evidence was found to support current descriptions of the role - meaning? and there appeared to be a good fit between the role and the care needs of people with multiple sclerosis. CONCLUSION: A systematic overview of the attributes of the multiple sclerosis nurse role is provided which should help service providers, nurses and other professionals consider how multiple sclerosis nurse specialists roles can contribute to the care of people with this condition. While there is little current evidence of effectiveness for the multiple sclerosis nurse specialist role, there is evidence for its appropriateness, although more rigorous primary research is required to test this.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Nurses' experiences of working in emerging primary care groups.

Primary care in England is being restructured and reorganized around primary care groups and primary care trusts, and a new system of clinical governance has been put in place to standardise levels of clinical care. There has been little exploration of the effect of these changes on the working practices of nurses in primary care. Telephone interviews were conducted with 20 nurses working in two primary care groups. The participants described an involvement in traditional roles within primary care. Access to information was problematic, with poor information technology support a particular problem. The respondents reported limited engagement with the primary care groups and the implementation of clinical governance. Ongoing staff shortages and the resulting increased workloads were identified as 'disablers' that need to be addressed as they will limit the capacity of the nurses to embrace new ways of working and prevent full engagement in the primary care trusts.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2002

Medicines management in care homes for older people: the nurse's role.

Increasing attention is being paid to the inappropriate use of medicines in UK care homes for older people. While polypharmacy may sometimes be necessary, older people can be particularly sensitive to the effects of medicines due to physiological chances, while the effect of a mixture of medicines is often unknown. The harmful consequences of inappropriate prescribing for older people unnecessarily add to overall health-care expenditure and the workload of staff. Community nurses can play an important role in attenuating some of these problems while enhancing the quality of life of older people in care homes. The growing population of older people and burgeoning health-care expenditure on medicines demands that greater attention is given to medicine management among older people so that the efficacy of therapeutic regimes are maximized.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Mind the gap: voluntary sector pregnancy advice service.

This article describes a voluntary pregnancy advisory service in a deprived inner city area and summarizes some descriptive statistics kept relating to one year (2000). The evidence suggests that this service was acceptable to women in the local area and frequently used by them. Possible reasons why the service may be acceptable are discussed, followed by an attempt to explore how such voluntary sector organizations could work in partnership with the health services, both by supplementing them, and also by providing an interface between the local community and the health services to encourage appropriate and effective use of the statutory services by more marginalized members of the communities which they serve.

Adolescent↗