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Biomedical subjects

K L Easton

Publications and source records attributed to K L Easton.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The incidence of drug-related problems as a cause of hospital admissions in children.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of hospital admissions for drug-related problems (DRPs) among children, and to examine cases for causality, preventability and clinical severity. DESIGN: Prospective assessment involving review of case notes and parent interview to determine if an admission was associated with a DRP. PATIENTS AND SETTING: All patients admitted to a large university-affiliated paediatric hospital in Melbourne, Victoria, for medical reasons (i.e., not surgical, trauma or oncology patients) during 56 consecutive days from 24 June to 19 August 1996 for which a DRP could be identified. Patients whose parents or guardians could not communicate adequately in English were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The incidence, type, causality, preventability and clinical severity of DRPs associated with admission. RESULTS: Of 1682 eligible patients admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital during the study period, 58 admissions (3.4%) were associated with DRPs. Non-compliance was implicated in 50%. Causality was ranked as "definite" (34.5%), "possible" (56.9%) and "doubtful" (8.6). Two-thirds of admissions associated with DRPs were deemed preventable. Although no patients died from DRPs, four were admitted to the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of DRPs as a cause of hospital admission in this study falls within the range of incidences published for the Australian adult population (range, 2.4%-22%). In contrast to findings among Australian adults, a high proportion of admissions for DRPs in this study were associated with non-compliance. The high percentage of preventable admissions indicates that further study is necessary to characterise risk factors within this population and to test prevention strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Defining the concept of self-care.

Self-care is a concept frequently referred to in both the theory and the clinical practice of nursing. This article presents an overview of self-care theory as described by Henderson, Hall, and Orem. Self-care theory operates on the assumption that all individuals have a need to care for themselves. While this premise may be true, it poses difficult questions for the nurse who must intervene with patients who refuse to achieve their maximum level of independence. When a disease process occurs that alters self-image, some patients (particularly elderly females who have cared for others most of their adult lives) may consciously opt to become the ones cared for. This choice gives them a temporary sense of control over a situation in which they feel helpless. When nursing care is directed toward returning control of the situation to the patient, the process of self-care and healing can begin.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Developing and implementing a stroke education series for patients and families.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the major reason for disability in American adults (Sullivan, 1992). Stroke can be a recurrent disease, but most strokes are preventable. Patient and family education about stroke is a vital link in eliminating the knowledge deficit that can help lead to stroke. This article describes the process of developing and implementing a stroke education program that involves both patients and their significant others. In 1990, rehabilitation nurses at St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers in Hammond, IN, identified 11 essential areas for education and grouped them into six 1-hour teaching sessions. A program was developed and held weekly for a trial period of 3 months. It was so well received that it continues to be a permanent part of the rehabilitation program. Such structured teaching in a relaxed atmosphere better prepares patients for discharge and eases the transition to the home environment.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of a nurse-managed follow-up program for rehabilitation patients after discharge.

Former patients in a rehabilitation unit at a large Midwestern hospital continued to actively seek services provided by the inpatient nursing staff, primarily through telephone contact, long after their discharge. A proactive formal follow-up program managed by an advanced practice nurse in rehabilitation was proposed as a better means of providing continuing care for rehabilitation patients after discharge. To examine the efficacy of the nurse-managed follow-up program, a randomized clinical trial was conducted. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. Comparisons were made between the two groups on several outcome measures at 4 months after discharge. Outcomes included Functional Independence Measure (FIM) instrument scores, complication rates, rehospitalizations, and anxiety levels. The organizational outcomes included number and types of calls to staff, as well as time spent by staff nurses and social workers. The results indicated significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of anxiety levels, the number of calls made to the unit, and the amount of time spent by staff nurses and social workers.

Aftercare↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The poststroke journey: from agonizing to owning.

Stroke is a leading cause of death among older adults. Despite the high incidence of stroke, little research has been done on the poststroke recovery process. The purpose of this article is to present a descriptive or explanatory model for poststroke rehabilitation and recovery that includes six stages.

Adaptation, Psychological↗