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Biomedical subjects

M McSweeney

Publications and source records attributed to M McSweeney.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Effects of communication with important social referents on beliefs and intentions to use condoms.

Data from a 1989 survey using the condom attitude and belief instrument with 310 clients from two sexually transmitted disease clinics identified significant social referents who influence condom-use intentions. They are sexual partner, father and friends. The present study found that communication with these referents had a positive net effect on beliefs about and intentions to use condoms. Implications applicable for intervention programmes to increase condom use are to promote talking about condoms between the sexual partners and important social referents and to develop such communication skills.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

A descriptive study of sibling visitation in the NICU.

Factors that foster sibling involvement with the newborn and the early stages of the attachment process were cited by key experts: Brazelton and Kennell viewed organization as an essential component of any successful sibling involvement program; Rait and Barnard saw recognition of siblings' needs as vital in any effort to help them process the entire experience; and Consolvo recognized attitudinal issues as playing a key role in implementing and accepting sibling involvement. The interviews with the head nurses identified some common themes within their unique programs that centered around families, the NICU atmosphere, and the promotion of sibling activities. A liberal visiting policy was recognized in all the units, promoting the concept of family-centered care and allowing parents, siblings, and grandparents the opportunity to be supportive together. The flip side of having such a liberal visitation program was the sibling's exposure to a noisy, hurried atmosphere and parents' high anxiety level and the staff's concern about the preterm infant being subjected to a noisier, brighter, more stressful environment and possible exposure to infectious disease. The promotion of sibling activities was a recurring theme in all the head nurse interviews. Examples varied from unit to unit, but the implementation of growth and development principles, along with creativity and innovation, indicated that the overall efforts of these units in promoting sibling involvement was commendable.

Humans↗
PubMed1989

Leisure: how to promote inpatient motivation after discharge.

1. A group of psychiatric inpatients followed plans to participate in leisure activities after discharge at significantly higher levels when treated with classes and written contracts; or classes, written contracts, and musical entertainment; rather than with classes alone. 2. Inpatient classes for psychiatric patients should be coupled with other interventions, such as contracts or musical entertainment, to assist patients to attain therapeutic goals after discharge. 3. The utilization of written goal-setting contracts seems to have merit as a routine nursing intervention with psychiatric inpatients. 4. The use of a written contract left with the patient may promote or enhance a nurse/patient transaction.

Female↗
PubMed1987

Measures of mother-child interaction: a comparison of three methods.

Three methods of recording mother-child interaction were compared in a sample of 136 adolescent mothers with children ranging in age from 8 to 27 months. Mother-child interaction was rated during in-home observations using Barnard's Teaching Scale, Schaefer's Attachment Inventory, and Clarke-Stewart's Rating Scales. The results indicate that each measure complements the other two, and that their interrelationships support the validity of the dimensions each describes. Yet, analyses indicate that they do not share common underlying factors. The findings suggest that each measure contributes to a more complete description of mother-child interaction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

A comparison of patient acuity and nursing resource use.

An analysis of patient records in four different DRG categories estimated direct nursing care requirements. The evaluation of these results showed a great range in direct hours of nursing care, as well as resultant cost of nursing care within and among the DRG categories. Nursing resource use is widely fluctuating based on acuity levels, length of stay, and DRG category. Thus, it was concluded the variables inherent in a model to predict cost rely on determinants of the functional needs of the individual patient.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of the auscultatory method in predicting feeding tube location.

A clinical study was conducted to determine the extent to which sounds generated by air insufflations through feeding tubes could be used to predict where the tubes' ports ended in the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach or proximal small intestine), and to differentiate between gastric and respiratory placement. Sounds generated by a series of air insufflations through the tubes of 85 acutely-ill adult subjects were recorded. One hundred fifteen usable tape-recordings of sound sequences were obtained. The principal investigator later played the tapes for the research team members (who were also skilled clinicians) so that they could independently record their impressions of the sounds. (No identification of subjects or tube positions were given on the tapes; however, each site of auscultation was announced.) The results were collated and compared against the hypotheses and actual tube location (as determined by X-ray). Overall, the average percentage of correct classifications of each tape was 34.4%. Descriptive data were reported for three subjects with feeding tubes inadvertently positioned in the respiratory tract; air insufflations were clearly audible in 2 of the 3 cases. Clinicians should not rely on the auscultatory method to differentiate gastric from intestinal placement, nor gastric from respiratory placement of feeding tubes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of pH measurements in predicting feeding tube placement.

The extent to which pH values of aspirates from feeding tubes could be used to differentiate between (a) gastric and intestinal placement, and (b) gastric and respiratory placement were determined in a clinical study. The sample consisted of 181 adult subjects, 94 with small-bore nasogastric tubes and 87 with nasointestinal tubes. Data were collected at the time of initial tube placement and again, when possible, after one or two days of tube feedings. Using color coded pH-paper, a total of 247 readings were made concurrently with x-rays to determine feeding tube position. Findings indicated that pH readings were often effective in differentiating between gastric and intestinal placement (p less than .0001). For example, approximately 81% of the aspirates from nasogastric tubes had pH values ranging from 1 through 4, while almost 88% of the aspirates from nasointestinal tubes had pH values of 6 or greater. Only one aspirate from a tube inadvertently placed in the lung was tested; as expected it had an alkaline pH.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of feeding tube properties and three irrigants on clogging rates.

An experimental study was conducted on 3 consecutive 12-hour days to determine if selected physical properties of feeding tubes (material and diameter) affect tube clogging. Effectiveness of three irrigant fluids (cranberry juice, Coca-Cola, and water) in preventing tube clogging was studied. One hundred eight tubes were connected to gravity flow feeding bags containing isotonic enteral formula; 54 polyurethane and 54 silicone tubes were equally divided as to external diameters of 8 French (Fr), 10 Fr, and 12 Fr. At 4-hour intervals, flow regulators on the feeding bags were adjusted to a rate of 50 ml/hour. Fluid volumes delivered per minute were measured for each tube at 2-hour intervals. One set of tubes at each station was irrigated periodically with cranberry juice, Coca-Cola, or water. On each of the 3 days, analyses revealed significant, p less than .05, effects for tube material, cranberry juice contrasted with Coca-Cola and water as irrigants, and time. Polyurethane was consistently superior to silicone as a tube material, and cranberry juice was consistently inferior to both Coca-Cola and water as an irrigant. Tube diameter had no significant effect on the incidence of tube clogging.

Beverages↗