This study examined possible predictors of adjustment to breast cancer. Sixty-one women participated soon after they were diagnosed with Stage I or Stage II breast cancer. Measures were gathered at diagnosis and again 4 months later. Predictor variables included aspects of the disease and treatment process and reported coping behavior. The most consistent predictor of distress and, to a lesser extent, quality of life, was avoidant coping: women who reported more avoidant coping were more distressed. These data fit well with most previous research and suggest one way of identifying women who may be more at risk for special difficulties coping with the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Use of risperidone in a paediatric population: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of risperidone on functional impairment in a paediatric sample and to document the range of adverse drug reactions. METHODS: Risperidone treatment in children and adolescents (n = 51) with severe behavioural disturbances was assessed retrospectively to determine clinical response and adverse events. The change in patient functional performance during treatment was assessed using the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children Measure of Function (MOF) score. Changes in target behaviours (such as severe aggression) were also assessed. RESULTS: The average duration of follow up was 9 months. Clinical improvement was demonstrated in 76% of the sample. There was a statistically significant improvement in the mean MOF with risperidone therapy (10.61 with 99% confidence interval 6.6-14.6). Risperidone appeared to be particularly useful in patients with autistic spectrum disorders. Twenty-five of the 51 patients (49%) experienced side-effects including sedation (27%), weight gain (20%), anticholinergic (10%) and extrapyramidal (8%) side-effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that risperidone is an effective agent in severely behaviourally disturbed paediatric patients. However, risperidone use is limited by the high frequency of side-effects. Randomized controlled trial data are required to determine the safety and efficacy of risperidone.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metacognition and medication adherence: how do older adults remember?

Fifty-one older adults (M age = 75.9 years, SD = 6.9) reported their use of memory strategies for taking of medication using the Prospective Memory for Medication Questionnaire. Older adults used internal strategies more often when the domain was restricted to medication taking but used external strategies more often when queried across a variety of everyday situations. Surprisingly, the hypothesis that medical factors would be the primary determinants of older adults' reports of memory strategy use and perceived adherence was not supported. Metamemorial variables of non-domain-specific memory self-efficacy and memory anxiety in everyday life were significant predictors of strategy use and perceived adherence over and above variables related to the domain of health.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dementia in acute units: agitation.

Despite the prevalence of disturbed behaviour in people with dementia, little research has gone into understanding such behaviour and managing it effectively. This article, the penultimate in the series, examines the causes and management of restlessness and agitation in people with dementia, and proposes a holistic approach.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Healthcare as quality trendsetter.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Governing Board↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nut allergy and acute anaphylaxis management.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Study on the dynamics of algal bloom and its influence factors in Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong.

In this paper, the semi-enclosed bay named Tolo Harbour and Channel in Hong Kong, which was frequently attacked by red tides, was used as a case study. Data sets related to marine water quality, river nutrients, and meteorological conditions recorded between 1988 and 1999 were chosen for statistical analysis. A multivariate analysis showed that algal growth, represented by the chlorophyll a concentration, had obvious spatial and temporal variations in the study area. The chlorophyll a concentration had a consistently decreasing trend from the inner part of the Harbour and surface waters to the outer part and bottom waters. The temporal variations had a markedly seasonal variation with high bioproductivity in spring and winter. There were long-term fluctuations in the chlorophyll a concentration with a high-low-high pattern in the study period. Nutrients and hydrological and meteorological conditions were important factors of algal bloom. Besides nitrogen, which was the most critical factor of algal bloom for the whole water body, total phosphorus in the surface waters and phosphate (PO4) and silica (SiO2) in the bottom waters also showed strongly positive or negative correlations with the chlorophyll a level. For the meteorological conditions, global solar radiation was the key factor of massive algal bloom in the study period, while rainfall and wind direction were the most important factors of seasonal variation.

Chlorophyll↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Calculating nursing turnover in NSW.

A study of nursing staff turnover is being carried out by the Nursing Research Team from the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education for the New South Wales College of Nursing and the New South Wales Department of Health. The general aim of the study is to provide information about the annual rate of loss of registered nurses from public hospitals and licensed private hospitals in NSW. This paper provides background details about the project and recent attempts to understand the problem of nursing staff turnover. Brief mention is made of Australian and overseas literature and recent calls for methodological and conceptual precision in calculation nursing turnover. Reference is made to 'Nursing Turnover Indices' and other statistical descriptors used to guide this research.

Databases, Factual↗