Biomedical subjects

R A Sisson

Publications and source records attributed to R A Sisson.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

Cognitive status as a predictor of right hemisphere stroke outcomes.

The care of stroke patients continues to present a challenge to health care professionals. There is evidence that the quality of life following a stroke is related to functional status and also emotional, behavioral and cognitive abilities. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between emotional, behavioral and cognitive status and functional activity status of stroke survivors. The sample of 15 right hemisphere stroke patients was seen at four time periods after the stroke and they were assessed using the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale (NRS) and the Barthel Functional Index (BFI). The most frequently occurring mental status changes at six months were somatic concern, memory deficit, depressive mood and mental fatigue. There was a correlation between cognitive ability and functional ability. Although there was improvement over time in the scores of the NRS and BFI, there remained sufficient cognitive impairment to affect functional ability. Findings indicated the need for nurses to assess mental status when planning rehabilitation to establish realistic goals. Further research is needed with larger samples to examine the effects of stroke outcomes on functional ability.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1987

The neurobehavioural rating scale: assessment of the behavioural sequelae of head injury by the clinician.

To investigate the inter-rater reliability and validity of the Neurobehavioural Rating Scale at various stages of recovery after hospitalisation for closed head injury, we studied 101 head trauma patients who had no antecedent neuropsychiatric disorder. The results demonstrated satisfactory inter-rater reliability and showed that the Neurobehavioural Rating Scale reflects both the severity and chronicity of closed head injury. A principal components analysis revealed four factors which were differentially related to severity of head injury and the presence of a frontal lobe mass lesion. Although our findings provide support for utilising clinical ratings of behaviour to investigate sequelae of head injury, extension of this technique to other settings is necessary to evaluate the distinctiveness of the neurobehavioural profile of closed head injury as compared with other aetiologies of brain damage.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Life after a stroke: coping with change.

Individuals who have had a stroke must cope with many changes in their lives. Initially, the focus is on the physical changes and functional abilities; however, coping with the emotional and cognitive changes also requires attention. Changes in mental status can affect a person's rehabilitation outcomes. This study describes the predominant themes related by stroke survivors that affected their recovery. Eleven right-hemisphere stroke patients (6 women and 5 men) were interviewed four times (at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months) after their stroke. The descriptions of personal changes, feelings, and experiences were categorized and analyzed for recurrent themes. The major mental changes were in mood, judgment, memory, and personality. At 6 months, the predominant themes were depression, memory loss, nervousness, irritability, frustration, lack of energy, and decreased initiative. These mental changes are important for nurses to consider when planning rehabilitation goals.

Activities of Daily Living↗