Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Noble-Adams.
In this paper the author describes the scientific conceptual framework of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. This includes the mechanisms of hair growth, the action of chemotherapeutic agents on the hair, how scalp cooling works and how the procedure is implemented. She critically examines the published literature on scalp cooling efficacy and describes when it should be used and the pros and cons of the treatment.
Dehydration is a common problem in the elderly and a frequent complication of advanced cancer. Subcutaneous fluid administration is an alternative method of parenteral rehydration that is effective and easy to initiate. This article will describe the indications for its use, the method and guidelines, efficacy, benefits, side effects and the nursing implications of this novel and under-used technique.
This article, the first of two looking at nursing ethics and research, outlines the foundations and development of an ethical framework for nursing research. The two dominant theories of ethics--utilitarianism and deontology--are described as they relate to the rights of individuals undergoing the research. Each of these approaches has limitations and in some instances choosing the right action may be difficult. The guiding ethical standards of beneficence/non-maleficence, respect for human dignity, justice, informed consent and vulnerable subjects are reviewed for the reader as they relate to undertaking research. This knowledge will help nurses conduct, participate in, or use research that is based on ethically sound principles. The second article will explore and explain the relationship between these guiding principles and the elemental steps of the research process.
In this article, the second in a series on ethics in nursing research, the author explores the relationship between the guiding ethical principles and the steps of the research process. In the first article (Vol 8(13): 888-92) the two dominant theories of ethics, utilitarianism and deontology, along with the guiding principles of beneficence/non-maleficence and respect for human dignity, justice, informed consent and vulnerable subjects were discussed as they relate to the rights of individuals undergoing the research. In this article, the author describes the association between these principles and the elemental steps of the research process which are: the selection of the research problem; data collection; sampling; informed consent; data analysis; and research presentation. The ethical conduct of many of these research steps is guided by ethics committees but for those that are not nurses need to rely on their own integrity, honesty and committment to the current prevailing ethical principles.
In this article, the first in a series of three, the author examines the phenomenon of radiation-induced skin reactions. This includes a description of the theoretical aspects of radiation and its effect on the skin, the prevalence and significance of skin reactions seen in clinical practice and a summary of the assessment tools that have been used in their evaluation. From this information, an analysis of the key signs and symptoms of radiation-induced skin reactions is presented. These clinical indicators and descriptors are then available to be used as the basis for the development of a comprehensive yet specific assessment tool. In part two, these descriptions are integrated into an assessment tool to measure radiation-induced skin reactions and the radiation-induced skin reaction assessment scale (RISRAS) is described. In part three the methods and results from the initial evaluation of the RISRAS are reported.
Radiation-induced skin reactions occur commonly in clinical practice and cause various problems for the patient. Assessment and treatment of these reactions is an important part of the healthcare professional's role in the radiotherapy unit. To accomplish this effectively a specific, yet comprehensive, measuring tool is needed. The first article in this three-part series (Vol 8(17): 1134-40) examined the phenomenon of radiation-induced skin reactions, including descriptions of how radiotherapy affects the skin and the prevalence and significance of these skin reactions. Using the literature, the most common signs and symptoms were isolated. This provided the basis for the development of a specific yet holistic assessment tool. In this article, an explanation of the methods used to collect and analyse data for the development of an assessment tool to measure radiation-induced skin reactions is described. The tool is called the Radiation-Induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale (RISRAS). In the third article in the series, the results of RISRAS's initial evaluation is reported along with its efficacy for clinical practice.
This article, the last in a three-part series, reports the methods used to evaluate the Radiation-induced Skin Reaction Assessment Scale (RISRAS), along with the results. For a newly developed tool, the results of the elementary reliability and validity testing were satisfactory. The RISRAS could be used in clinical practice following revision and further development and its introduction into clinical oncology practice is recommended as it will improve the assessment process of radiation-induced skin reactions and lead to better care for those patients undergoing radiotherapy. In the first article in the series (Vol 8(17): 1134-40), the extensive nature of radiotherapy-induced skin reactions were reported, along with their significance for the patient undergoing radiotherapy. Previously described assessment scales were examined in preparation for the development of the RISRAS. In the second article (Vol 8(18): 1208-11), the need for holistic yet specific assessment of these reactions was demonstrated and the methods used to develop the RISRAS were described.
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