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Biomedical subjects

S Easton

Publications and source records attributed to S Easton.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Developing a model of collaborative research: the complexities and challenges of implementation.

While the benefits of collaborative research have been well documented, fewer publications exist regarding the complex, problematic issues involved in these undertakings. This paper offers an integrated collaborative research model to depict the complexities and challenges of initiation and implementation of a 2 1/2 year joint research project between a community hospital and a university school of nursing in Southern Ontario, Canada. A sampling of the experiences of the researchers are analyzed to clarify the dynamic and often competing issues and interactions involved in encouraging hospital-wide research involvement during periods of organizational growth and change. The model reflects the simultaneous interaction of organizational, change and collaborative processes while maintaining the rigor of the research (RCT), and ensuring minimal disruption to the service agency. Quantitative outcomes of this collaboration are presented through an analysis of participant involvement on multiple organizational levels. Recommendations for future collaborative research, including design and methodological issues and collaborative and change strategies are offered. The complexity of balancing the necessary trade-offs required of successful collaborative research are highlighted and will be useful to those considering and planning future collaborations.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of auditory hallucinations in nurses in mental health.

Seventy-nine nurses and student nurses working in the mental health field were asked to complete a questionnaire that asked about the prevalence of their experience of events that might be considered as examples of auditory hallucinations. Eighty-four per cent of the 55 nurses who returned the questionnaire described having experiences that might be described as auditory hallucinations. This level of prevalence is broadly consistent with other studies, and the difference between voices considered to indicate 'schizophrenia' and voices perceived as normal or unimportant is discussed. The relevance of these findings for the process of diagnosis and for the attitudes of nurses working in the mental health field towards voices reported by clients is highlighted.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1997

The efficacy and effectiveness of process consultation in improving staff morale and absenteeism.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to test the efficacy and effectiveness of process consultation consisting of a series of nurse manager-consultant problem-solving meetings for leadership development that would lead to their staff's improved morale, quality of care, and reduced absenteeism. METHODS: Thirteen consenting clinical inpatient units were stratified for four variables known to affect outcome and were then randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. The nurse managers from the seven experimental units were paired with outside nurse consultants from the McMaster University School of Nursing (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) in a cooperative form of retraining in problem-solving through process consultation. Morale was determined through measures of perceptions of the work environment, an attitude scale concerning work (alienation), a personality measure (hardiness), and one of each scale for work satisfaction and for sources of satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Demographic data and information regarding family life responsibilities were collected as well. Assessment of quality of care was determined by the frequency and type of incident reports and by patients' perception of their satisfaction. A ratio of absence hours to total paid hours of work was used to compare experimental and control units' absenteeism rates. RESULTS: Experimental subjects reported a statistically significant improvement in the characteristics of their work setting and in the quality of working relationships. The consultation process facilitated a perceived change in the organizational context of the experimental hospital units with less centralization of authority and more clarity about expectation. These organizational changes were accompanied by improved working relationships and less alienation from work. There was no statistically significant difference in absenteeism. However, a subanalysis of the units by "dose" of the intervention identified those who benefited from the effects of the consultation. Subjects whose nurse managers participated more actively in the consultation process accounted for the changes in working relationships and perceived organizational changes. The "low-dose" experimental subjects were more like the control subjects, with the exception of absenteeism, for which they had higher rates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that process consultation can alter the staff's perceptions of the characteristics of the work setting, can reverse negative attitudes (alienation), and can create a more positive and supportive working environment (improved working relationship). However, the results suggest the need to target this type of intervention to managers who have the personal resources to engage in self-evaluation and personal development and thus to participate in the consultative process.

Absenteeism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A retrospective study into the effects of operator experience on the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of gastric neoplasia in dogs.

The accuracy of three diagnostic techniques in two separate time periods was examined. In the first time period, 18 dogs were referred to the University of Bristol with signs suggestive of gastric neoplasia. Of these 18 dogs, 7 had a positive diagnosis of gastric neoplasia from histopathology samples (38% prevalence). The sensitivity of ultrasound was found to be 42.9% with a specificity of 63.6%. A year later the study was repeated with 40 cases referred for investigation. Of these 40 dogs, 16 had a positive histopathologic diagnosis of gastric neoplasia (40% prevalence). At this time the sensitivity of ultrasound had increased to 81.3 % and the specificity had increased to 70.8 %. The increase in sensitivity was attributed to an increase in operator experience in the performance of the ultrasound examination. This improvement in sensitivity and experience resulted in a greater accuracy at detecting the presence of gastric neoplasia.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

InstantCath from Hollister: pre-lubricated self-catheterization.

Over the centuries a variety of substances have been used to make a hollow tube to pass through the urethra to empty a poorly functioning bladder. The ancient Greeks used dried water reeds from the riverbank. The Romans and the Egyptians experimented with gold and silver. Following the industrial revolution stainless steel was used and catheters are still manufactured today using stainless steel. PVC and plastic catheters became popular in the 1970s and various hydrophilic coatings have been added to provide self-lubrication of the catheter when it comes into contact with water. The most recent development in the clean, intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) range is the Hollister InstantCath which is a self-lubricating catheter that does not require any water. It has shown itself to be well received by patients and is a welcome addition to the choice available to healthcare professionals and their patients when instigating CISC as therapy.

Equipment Design↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Life-long education: problem-based learning. Part 1.

In the first of two articles, the authors describe how nurses in the urology department at Battle Hospital overcame several obstacles and developed a new learning module which could eventually be used by all nurses whatever their experience. The second article will discuss how the module has developed and will be published shortly.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Solving the problem of life-long learning. Part 2.

In their first article, the authors made the case for the use of problem-based learning as a vehicle for post-registration clinical nursing courses. In this second article, they describe how they implemented this approach in the clinical area and the impact on the professional development of the course participants.

Clinical Competence↗