PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Coutu-Wakulczyk

Publications and source records attributed to G Coutu-Wakulczyk.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Pilot study of a home-based asthma health education program.

OBJECTIVE: Caring for a child with asthma can affect the parent's coping and well-being and coping strategies. This study examined the influence of a home-based asthma health education program on parental coping and quality of life. DESIGN: Randomized controlled non-blinded clinical trial. SETTING: Northern community pediatrician's office. PATIENTS: Families whose children, under the age of 11, had chronic stable asthma, and who presented to the pediatrician's office for continuing care; those with an acute exacerbation of asthma were excluded. INTERVENTIONS: Families were randomly assigned to receive either a single two-hour, standardized home-based asthma health education session or a booklet representing conventional care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: One and three-months following the intervention, assessments were obtained for coping measured by Hymovich's Parent Perception Inventory (PPI), quality of life measured by the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver Quality of Life Questionnaire (PACQLQ) and change in asthma measured by the Caregiver Perception of Change (CPC) survey. RESULTS: Forty families were recruited and randomized; baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At the final follow-up, reduction in parental need for asthma information (p = 0.04), reduction in parental concerns (p = 0.02) and increased use of coping strategies (p = 0.04) were observed in the home-based care group. Improvement was noted in the parent's perception of their child's asthma in the home-based asthma education group (p = 0.01). Quality of life as measured by the PACQLQ remained unchanged over the intervention period (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the use of a one-time, flexible, home-based intervention to assist families caring for children with asthma should be considered and appears effective.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Nursing curricula and violence issues.

This article presents the findings of a survey of Canadian schools of nursing (N = 155) that determined the extent to which violence-related content is addressed in nursing curricula. The study yielded a response rate of 88%. Theoretical content regarding violence against children and women of all ages, and suicide as a response to abuse formed part of the curriculum of all schools of nursing, if only in readings. Child abuse and suicide received the greatest number of hours of instruction, followed by woman abuse, sexual assault, and elder abuse. University schools of nursing provided the greatest number of hours of instruction when compared with other types of schools. Schools in Western and Atlantic Canada provided the greatest number of hours of instruction on woman abuse when compared with other regions of the country. The majority of university schools provided experiential instruction in the area of violence, with the other types of schools providing very little such instruction. Findings revealed a sensitivity to the importance of including content on violence in nursing curricula; however, the approach to this content is largely incidental and heavily dependent on individual faculty interests. Implications of this study point to the need for the systematic inclusion of violence-related content and the sharing of resources among schools of nursing.

Canada↗
PubMed1997

Association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity and hand symptoms reported by operators of power tools.

An association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity at the fingertips and symptoms of reduced manipulative function, as established by responses to a questionnaire, was demonstrated in a population of 81 manual workers from the mining industry (62 power-tool operators and 19 nonusers). Mechanoreceptor-specific vibrotactile thresholds were determined for the slowly adapting type I (SAI) and fast-adapting types I and II (FAI and FAII) receptors at the fingertip of the third digit of each hand. Statistically significant threshold shifts in SAI and/or FAII acuity were found in persons responding affirmatively to questions concerning finger/hand numbness, blanching, and difficulty buttoning clothing. The best predictors of a quantitative change in tactile acuity were questions relating to difficulty manipulating small objects and buttoning clothing, yielding positive predictive values of from 90% to 100% and false positive rates of from 0% to 2.8%. The demonstration of an association between a quantitative measure of tactile acuity at the fingertips and some symptom reports, obtained by means of a questionnaire, provides the basis for the development of a screening procedure for persons at risk of such disturbances in hand function.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The consensual approach in geriatrics].

Caregivers are often ill-equipped to cope with repeated verbal and physical aggression by geriatric residents with cognitive deficits. Cooperation from other members of the health care team is rarely automatic and there is little adherence to established interventions. This article offers valuable insights on patient care to caregivers who work with aggressive individuals in geriatric settings. With the consensual approach, nursing assistants and attendants who are assigned to these patients daily are able to participate in the problem-solving process. They help design the approach and willingly become stakeholders in the actions presented by the patient care plans. By the end of the process they are able to view the aggressive person as someone worthy of attention and love, rather than a disruptive element to be endured.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Basic nursing education and attitude towards the elderly].

Working with seniors implies a change in outlook from caregiving to a more global psychosocial approach. Nurses' inappropriate attitudes toward seniors can have far-reaching implications for seniors themselves. A negative attitude can accentuate their cognitive problems, while a positive one can promote their autonomy. According to the literature, nurses' educational level has a bearing on whether or not they adopt a positive attitude toward this age group. This Quebec study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nurses' initial training on their attitudes toward seniors in acute care hospitals. A sample of 636 registered nurse members of the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) were randomly selected and stratified into three groups by initial training (hospital, community college and generic baccalaureate in nursing). Kapos' (1972) self-report attitude opinion scale was used for evaluation. A 67 per cent return rate was attained for a total of 425 respondents. The three groups were compared using variance analyses and Scheffé comparisons test. Results indicate that nurses with a bachelor's degree have more positive attitudes toward seniors in comparison to hospital and community college trained nurses. This outcome reinforces the position taken by various North American professional nursing associations and corporations that a bachelor's degree in nursing should be the only recognized entry level to the profession. On an administrative level, this study can be used as a guideline in selecting nursing personnel most qualified and with a positive attitude to provide quality care to seniors.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

French-language validation of the DACL and MAACL-R.

The objective of this methodological pilot study was to make a contribution to the French-language validation of the Depressive Adjective Check List (DACL) Set 2 of Forms, E, F, G trait version (Lubin, 1981) and to that of the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL-R; Zuckerman & Lubin, 1985). The importance of the study was to validate the French-language translation of these instruments to assess nonclinical depression or dysphoria and affect in two French- and English-speaking convenience sample groups. The Check Lists were administered to 183 Canadian subjects 60 years of age and over of both sexes from rural areas in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, Canada. In order to ensure that the words chosen carried the same connotation as in the English language, a translation-retranslation technique was used. The data collected from this study suggest that the DACL Form G would be most valid to use with either language and/or site in the protocol for future studies.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Mental health and support of women treated for breast cancer].

This article presents the results of a pilot-study conducted on a small sample of women with breast cancer and the members of their social support system. The purpose was to determine the potential link between the mental health of the breast cancer patient and their support system. Mental health was assessed with the SCL-90-R (Derogatis, 1977), a self-report scale composed of 90 items divided into nine categories, offering three global indicators of distress: the Global Severity Index (GSI); the Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI), and the Positive Symptom Total (PST). The SCL-90-R was distributed to a sample of 14 subjects: seven women treated for breast cancer and seven significant others (social support). The results led to the definition of symptoms such as hostility, phobic anxiety and psychosis specific to either the woman or the support system.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1992

Anxiety and family needs of the relatives of cardiac medical-surgical ICU patients.

The purpose of this study was to seek information on the perceived needs of family members visiting a patient in a critical care unit (ICU) of two hospitals located in Sudbury, Ontario. The sample included fifty-one family members visiting cardiovascular surgical patients (CVS) and forty-four family members visiting cardiovascular medicine patients (CVM). The study was part of a larger project conducted on a convenience sample of 166 subjects visiting an ICU patient. Data was gathered using a self-report questionnaire, the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) (Molter and Leske, 1983), and Spielberger's (1983) State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Information was also collected about worries, knowledge, spiritual needs and the distance of subjects' residence from the site of hospitalization. The sample for both groups was predominantly female. The State Anxiety Scale of the STAI yielded mean scores for both groups which were significantly higher than those obtained by Spielberger (1983) (CVS: z = -3.28, p less than .0001; CVM: z = -3.41, p less than .0001).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Needs and anxiety levels in relatives of intensive care unit patients.

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived needs and anxiety levels of adult family members of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The study was conducted over a 3-month period, on a convenience sample of 166 subjects selected from the total adult population of family members visiting an ICU patient in three Sudbury hospitals. Data were gathered using a self-report questionnaire, the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) and Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Interviews were conducted in French or English according to the subject's preference. The major variables examined were: family needs; state and trait anxiety; on-site sources of worry; spiritual needs; level of knowledge of ICU from past experience or pre-surgery education; sociodemographic data. The Situational Anxiety Scale yielded a mean score of 45.24 and the Trait Anxiety Scale a mean score of 37.3. Inferential statistics demonstrated that family needs and situational anxiety were significantly related (P less than 0.0002). Furthermore, worries, trait anxiety, age and family needs explained 38% of the variation of situational anxiety. As well, spiritual needs and situational anxiety explained 33% of the variation of family needs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

[Initial validation of a new scale for needs: the inventory of family needs].

This article presents the initial validation study results of a new scale to measure family needs: l'Inventaire des besoins des familles (IBF) (Chartier & Coutu-Wakulczyk, 1988). The scale is available in both French and English. Based on the perceptual theory, the IBF is a self-report scale composed of 33 items. It also offers three (3) different sub-scores of the importance of needs: the Global Score of Needs (GSN), the Intensity Need Index (INN) and the Total Number of Needs (TNN). The IBF was first validated on a sample of 207 subjects drawn from the adult population of immediate family members visiting a patient in a surgical intensive care unit in the CHUS in Sherbrooke. The reliability yielded a 0.91 Cronback Alpha coefficient and the homogeneity coefficient for Spearman-Brown and Guttman procedures were 0.89 and 0.86 respectively. The principal component factor analysis and factorial matrices lead to examine the conceptual structure of five independent factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Transcultural validation of a measurement scale].

This monography presents the validation study results of a new scale to measure family needs: The Family Needs Inventory (IBF) (Chartier and Coutu-Wakulczyk, 1988). The scale is available in both French and English from the Departement des sciences infirmières of the Université de Sherbrooke. Based on a perceptual framework, the IBF is a self-report scale composed of 33 items. It offers three different subscores of the importance of needs: the global score of needs, the intensity need index and the total number of needs. The IBF was validated on a sample of 400 subjects. These subjects were drawn from the adult population of immediate family members visiting a patient in surgical or medical intensive care units in three different geographical regions, in Québec, northeast Ontario and France. The reliability yielded a 0.90 Cronback Alpha coefficient and the homogeneity coefficient for Spearman-Brown and Guttman procedures were 0.88 respectively. The principal component factor analysis and factorial matrices lead to examine the conceptual structure of five independent factors.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1990

[Nursing research and you].

In this article the author shows how important it is for nurses at all levels of the profession to get involved in nursing research. She highlights the advantages of research, in terms of job satisfaction and quality care. The article answers the five most frequently asked questions: What is nursing research? What purpose does it serve? How is it carried out? What role does the health care provider play? What are the benefits?

Humans↗
PubMed1990

French validation of the critical care family needs inventory.

This study is a contribution to the French validation of Molter and Leske Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI). The importance of this validation study is based on the presumption that evaluation of family needs relies on the use of measures that are reliable and valid for a specific population. The preliminary validation of the French text of the CCFNI was carried out by back translation method of the French form into English by three translators. Then the final French version was selected. The study was conducted in the surgical intensive care unit of the University Hospital in Sherbrooke, Canada. The sample consisted of 207 voluntary subjects selected from adult members of the immediate family visiting a patient in the intensive care unit. The data collection was spread over a 10-week period. The French version of the CCFNI was given to subjects for self-reporting at the end of a 15-minute face-to-face interview. The reliability of the French version yielded 0.91 as Cronbach alpha coefficient. The Spearman-Brown split-half coefficient was 0.89, and the Guttman split-half coefficient was 0.88. Principal-component analysis and factorial matrices were used to examine the clustering structure of the French version of this instrument.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Families in ICU: their needs and anxiety level.

In the course of their care-giving activities nurses deal with family members as well as with patients. The dimension of family involvement becomes even more crucial when patients are hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The purpose of this study was to identify: 1. The perceived needs and anxiety levels of adult family members of ICU patients; 2. The relationship between perceived needs and situational anxiety levels; and 3. The sociodemographic factors having an influence on the needs and anxiety level of family members. Over a 10-week-period, a convenience sample of 207 subjects was formed from the total adult population of immediate family members visiting a patient in a 9-bed ICU of a 388-bed university hospital. The data were gathered by a face to face interview, a self-report questionnaire of the French version of the Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (Molter & Leske, 1983), and the A-Scale of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1970). The major variables investigated were: family needs; situational anxiety; on-site sources of worry; level of knowledge with respect to the ICU setting from experience or pre-surgery education; and finally, sociodemographic data. The sample was predominantly female (75%) and the mean age was 45.43 s.d.-15.19, ranging from 18 to 91 years. The average number of respondents per family was 2.3 with a range of 1 to 5. The Situational Anxiety Scale of the STAI yielded a mean score of 47.88 +/- 12.02 ranging from 21 to 76.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Contribution to the validation of the SCL-90-R in French-speaking women.

This study is a contribution to the French validation of the Derogatis (1977) Symptom Check-List SCL-90-R. Norms reflecting the mental health status of a representative sample of French-speaking women from Montreal, Canada, are provided. Results indicated that the women in our sample generally obtained higher raw scores than those reported by Derogatis for the nonpatient group for the nine symptom scales and the three global scores. The reliability of the French version yielded a satisfactory Cronbach alpha of .91. High and significant positive correlations were found on the test-retest as well as on the Spearman-Brown split-half test. Validity was assessed using the principal component analysis on six factors accounting for 88% of the variance. The correlations between the symptom scales ranged from .32 to .74, indicating the relative independence of the dimensions of the French version of the SCL-90-R. The usefulness of the method will be enhanced by further cross-validation and concurrent validity studies including patient populations.

Adult↗