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Biomedical subjects

Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins

Publications and source records attributed to Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Assessing role activities of individuals receiving long-term hemodialysis: psychometric testing of the revised Inventory of Functional Status-Dialysis (IFS-Dialysis).

The purpose of the study was to examine the reliability and validity of the revised IFS-Dialysis, a theory-based self-report measure of the extent to which individuals receiving long-term hemodialysis are actually performing role activities. The IFS-Dialysis was administered to 186 individuals receiving hemodialysis. Chronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency reliability, and structural equation modeling was used to assess the construct validity of the revised measure. Alpha reliability for the total instrument was 0.88, and subscale alpha coefficients ranged from 0.75 to 0.85. Construct validity of the IFS-Dialysis was supported by the significant relationship of each item to its respective subscale latent variable, and model testing indicated a good fit of the measurement model to the data. The IFS-Dialysis can be used to obtain clinical assessments of the extent to which individuals receiving long-term hemodialysis treatments are engaging in role activities. Interventions can then be implemented to facilitate an optimal level of activity performance for each individual.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Psycho-educational strategies to promote fluid adherence in adult hemodialysis patients: a review of intervention studies.

BACKGROUND: We reviewed psycho-educational intervention studies that were designed to reduce interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) in adult hemodialysis patients. Our goals were to critique research methods, describe the effectiveness of tested interventions, and make recommendations for future research. METHODS: Medline, PsychInfo, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Applied Health (CINAHL) databases were searched to identify empirical work. Each study was evaluated in terms of sample, design, theoretical framework, intervention delivery, and outcome. RESULTS: Nine studies were reviewed. Self-monitoring appears to be a promising strategy to be considered to reduce IDWG. Theory was not usually used to guide interventions, designs generally had control groups, interventions were delivered individually, more than one intervention was delivered at a time, the duration of the intervention varied greatly, there was no long-term follow-up, IDWG was the only outcome, and IDWG was operationalized in different ways. CONCLUSIONS: Theoretical models and methodological rigor are needed to guide future research. Specific recommendations on design, measurement, and conceptual issues are offered to enhance the effectiveness of future research.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Self-management of chronic kidney disease.

Living with chronic kidney disease usually involves management of other chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, and often requires a change in the patient's way of life: medical and emotional aspects of the disease must be handled, symptoms interpreted and reported, partnerships with health care providers forged, and new resources used. Nurses can help patients maneuver this initially frightening and sometimes difficult terrain with strategies tailored to the stage of the disease.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2003

Staff nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding hemodialysis facilities.

While one suggested cause of the current nursing shortage is nurses' negative perceptions of the work environment, little is known of nephrology nurses' perceptions of the dialysis work environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which staff nurses who work in freestanding hemodialysis facilities rate the presence of organizational characteristics common to magnet hospitals in their current job. Study findings indicate that staff nurses in hemodialysis units identify several notable features of magnet hospitals in their work settings. However, a majority of nurses disagreed that many attributes of magnet hospitals are present in hemodialysis work environments. This study provides a preliminary description of some of the factors that affect nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding dialysis facilities. Further work is needed in this area.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2003

Staff nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding hemodialysis facilities.

While one suggested cause of the current nursing shortage is nurses' negative perceptions of the work environment, little is known of nephrology nurses' perceptions of the dialysis work environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which staff nurses who work in freestanding hemodialysis facilities rate the presence of organizational characteristics common to magnet hospitals in their current job. Study findings indicate that staff nurses in hemodialysis units identify several notable features of magnet hospitals in their work settings. However, a majority of nurses disagreed that many attributes of magnet hospitals are present in hemodialysis work environments. This study provides a preliminary description of some of the factors that affect nurses' perceptions of the work environment in freestanding dialysis facilities. Further work is needed in this area.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Hemodialysis patients' symptom experiences: effects on physical and mental functioning.

Dialysis patients experience numerous symptoms, some serious in terms of medical outcomes and all serious in terms of potential reductions in functioning and well-being. This cross-sectional study used self-reports of hemodialysis patients to catalogue symptoms; hypothesizing that frequently experienced symptoms, regardless of acuity, negatively affect functioning and well-being. Data were collected from 307 randomly selected hemodialysis patients from 14 dialysis facilities. Twenty-two of the 47 symptoms queried had mean experience scores of > or = 1 on a scale of 0-4, that is, were experienced by patients at least "a little of the time." Seventeen of these 22 symptoms were significantly correlated (< or = .01) with the SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) scale, Mental Component Summary (MCS) scale, or both. All but four of these 17 symptoms (dry mouth, itchy skin, lack of appetite, and restless legs) clustered around fatigue/sleep, sexual concerns, or mobility. Linear multiple regression showed age, diabetes, the fatigue/sleep and mobility clusters, and itchy skin to be negatively associated with the PCS (p < or = .01). The fatigue/sleep cluster was also negatively associated with the MCS. Because previous research has shown the PCS and MCS to be associated with morbidity and mortality, management of common, non-acute symptoms may have long-term benefits for hemodialysis patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗