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Biomedical subjects

S L Dibble

Publications and source records attributed to S L Dibble.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

A description of the gender differences in risk behaviors in young adults with genital herpes.

The purpose of this paper is to describe gender differences in risk behaviors--substance use and sexual behavior--in young adults with genital herpes. Two-hundred fifty-two young adults with genital herpes were recruited into the study via newspaper advertisements in a West Coast metropolitan area. As a part of a large randomized clinical trial, participants completed questionnaires measuring demographic characteristics and the risk behaviors of substance use and sexual behavior. Participants had a mean age of 27.1 years and were largely Caucasian, employed, college-educated, and heterosexual. Women were two years younger than men and had less income. Gender differences were found in both substance use and sexual behavior. Men were more likely to report current use of illicit drugs than were women. Men were also more likely to report a history of gonorrhea, and urethral discharge. Women reported initiating sex at an older age and having fewer sexual partners over their lifetimes than men. There were no gender differences in use of condoms or spermicides specifically to prevent transmission of genital herpes. Further study is needed of these young adults as they are at high risk for transmission of the disease and also for contracting other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Sensitive interventions are needed with this high-risk population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Clinical features and psychosocial factors in young adults with genital herpes.

Clinical features of genital herpes, perceived causes, stress symptoms, treatments, and psychosocial factors in 70 young adults as compared to normative data for non-patient controls are described. The clinical features of the disease were congruent with those of other groups studied. Stress was viewed as the major cause of recurrence, headaches the major stress symptom, and acyclovir (an antiviral drug), was the major treatment. Statistically significant differences were found between scores obtained from the sample of young adults with genital herpes on three of four standardized psychological instruments when compared with normative data for non patient controls. Young adults with genital herpes had a lower self concept, more psychopathology, a greater frequency of daily hassles, and less intensity of uplifts. No differences were found, however, between the two groups in scores on depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The problem of pain in outpatients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and causes of pain in a group of outpatients with breast cancer and to evaluate the effects of pain on the patient's activities of daily living (ADL), mood, and quality of life (QOL). DESIGN: Descriptive and correlational. SETTING: Sixteen outpatient facilities that are part of the Oncology Nursing Research Network. SAMPLE: A convenience sample of 97 outpatients who were actively being treated for breast cancer. METHODS: Patients completed a demographic questionnaire, a cancer pain questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States, and the Multidimensional Quality of Life Scale--Cancer. Patients' medical records were reviewed. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Pain intensity, pain duration, changes in ADL, changes in mood, and changes in QOL. FINDINGS: Forty-seven percent of the patients with breast cancer reported experiencing cancer-related pain. Patients with cancer-related pain had significantly higher mood disturbance scores and significantly lower QOL scores. CONCLUSIONS: Pain is a significant problem for outpatients with breast cancer that negatively affects mood, QOL, and functional status. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Future research is needed to determine the most effective strategies for treating pain associated with breast cancer. In addition, oncology nurses should perform ongoing assessments of patients' pain and the impact of the pain on various aspects of patients' lives.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1995

Perceptions of the mammography experience.

The 1993 projections for breast cancer indicate a morbidity of 183,000 women with a mortality rate of 18%. Mammography is one of three approaches available for the early detection of breast cancer. However, underutilization has been reported and attributed to pain associated with the procedure, the expense to the consumer, and lack of referral by physicians. Other reasons for the low utilization rates include fears on the part of the woman of a positive diagnosis, radiation, and a possible mastectomy. This study provides an analysis of the responses of a convenience sample of 272 women, aged 30-90 years, to two open-ended questions about the mammography experience. The words and phrases women used to describe the mammography experience and the sensations experienced in their breasts during mammography were subjected to content analysis. The results of this study suggest that the word descriptors women use to describe their experience during mammography are highly individualistic and may not be totally captured by numeric or descriptive rating scales of pain intensity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Differences in pain knowledge and perception of the pain experience between outpatients with cancer and their family caregivers.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine if knowledge about pain and the perception of the pain experience differ when comparing outpatients experiencing cancer-related pain with their family caregivers. DESIGN: Quantitative, descriptive. SETTING: Sixteen oncology outpatient settings that are part of the Oncology Nursing Research Network. SAMPLE: Eighty-six outpatients with cancer-related pain and their family caregivers. METHODS: Patients and their family caregivers were recruited in the outpatient setting and asked to complete a demographic questionnaire and the Pain Experience Scale. The patients also were asked to complete the Karnofsky Performance Scale. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Patients' and their family caregivers' knowledge about pain and their perception of the pain experience. FINDINGS: No significant differences in knowledge scores were found between the patients and their family caregivers. A significant difference in the perception of the pain experience was found, with the family caregivers viewing the experience more negatively than the patients did. Family caregivers reported that (a) patients had significantly higher levels of pain compared to patient reports, (b) patients experienced significantly greater distress from their pain than the patients reported for themselves, and (c) family caregivers experienced significantly greater distress from the patients' pain than the patients reported for their caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatients with cancer and their family caregivers possess limited knowledge about pain and pain management and perceive the pain experience differently. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Outpatients and their family caregivers need to be better educated about how to manage cancer-related pain. In addition, to reduce patient and caregiver distress, oncology nurses need to facilitate communication between patients and family caregivers about the pain experience.

Caregivers↗
PubMed1994

Venous access device utilization in home care settings.

Home infusion therapy is the fastest growing segment of home care, yet little is known about the utilization of various venous access devices in the home. This study reports pioneering data from thirty seven hospital-based, community-based and home infusion pharmacy agencies across the country which provide home infusion therapy services. Venous access device utilization data for adults and children are compared and differences among agency types of home care providers are analyzed. Significant patient device utilization differences among different provider types and age groups are discussed in terms of their implications for clinicians, educators, policy makers and researchers.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Predictors of concerns and coping strategies of cancer chemotherapy outpatients.

The purpose of this study was to determine predictor variables of the number of concerns and coping strategies of cancer patients during a 6-month period of chemotherapy. The adult patients (N = 64) were diagnosed with selected types of cancer. Patients kept logs in which they recorded concerns and strategies for managing those concerns. Three significant predictors of patients who experienced greater numbers of concerns were identified. Patients with less vigor-activity, less of an internal locus of control, and who perceived the goal of their chemotherapy treatment to be curative reported greater concerns. These factors explained 55% of the total variance in the number of concerns. No significant predictors of coping strategies were obtained.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

Genital herpes: clinical features, sources of information, recurrences, and treatment in young adults.

A descriptive study of 252 young adults with genital herpes recruited from newspaper advertisements in a metropolitan area on the West coast revealed gender differences in clinical features of the disease, perceived causes of recurrences, and treatments used. Stress was the most frequently perceived cause of recurrences. Although 68% of participants perceived nurses to be a source of information about the disease, only 25% perceived nurses as a source of the best information they had received. Development of nursing interventions based on the experience and perceptions of patients is needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Pain with mammography: fact or fiction?

This article presents an overview of current knowledge about mammography-related pain and discomfort. Possible causes of pain and discomfort are discussed along with the results of two pilot studies that investigated the prevalence and severity of pain and discomfort associated with film-screen mammograms in a mobile screening program. Based on these studies, the authors conclude that pain is a problem for a significant number of women from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. A nursing care plan is provided to assist nurses in reducing mammography-related pain and discomfort.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Predictors of self-care: a test of Orem's model.

Despite advancements in self-care for people with cancer, a profile of individuals who perform self-care behaviors has not been determined. Without these data, interventions cannot be targeted to specific patient groups that demonstrate the most need. This study's investigators used Orem's model of self-care to determine predictors of self-care behavior. The sample consisted of 127 adults with cancer who were to receive their first dose of chemotherapy (e.g., doxorubicin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, or cisplatin, given alone or in combination). Data were collected from the subjects prior to the first cycle and at drug nadir for each of the four chemotherapy cycles. Potential predictors of self-care included demographic variables, performance status, affective state, social support, ability to manage a situation, self-care ability, and prior health-promoting activities. Self-care was measured using a 40-item behavior checklist. Multiple regression techniques were used to obtain four significant predictors of self-care, which accounted for 47% of the variance. Subjects with lower performance status, higher anxiety, less social support, and more education performed more self-care. These findings clarify Orem's model with this clinical population and provide a patient profile of self-care for practice.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Predictors of general activity 8 weeks after cardiac surgery.

In this secondary analysis, the influence of mood states and self-efficacy beliefs on recovery of general activities 8 weeks after cardiac surgery were investigated. Study data were taken from a randomized clinical trial with 156 subjects who were either in an efficacy enhancement nursing care group (n = 75) or in a routine care group (n = 81). It was found that self-efficacy beliefs at time of hospitalization regarding ability to resume general activities after discharge, measured tension/anxiety at 4 weeks after surgery, and experimental group status explained 21% of the variation in self-reported recovery at 8 weeks.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Outpatient chemotherapy: patients' and family members' concerns and coping strategies.

Since the majority of cancer chemotherapy is given on an outpatient basis, it is important for nurses in the community to understand the concerns that patients and family members experience during the treatment and how they manage these concerns. The 64 adult patients were diagnosed with selected solid tumors or lymphoma and were initiating a course of chemotherapy. Sixty-nine family members participated as well. Each participant kept a log in which to record concerns and strategies taken to manage them. Patients reported fewer concerns than their families, but both had similar concerns and rated them as high in intensity. Patients performed more strategies than family members, but both rated the effectiveness of their strategies as moderately high and cited themselves as the sources of the strategies.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Clinical predictors of intravenous site symptoms.

The purpose of this prospective multi-site study was to determine the frequency of intravenous (IV) site symptoms and to develop a preliminary model of the factors implicated in the number of these symptoms. In a sample of 514 patients from four institutions, IV site symptoms including pain, redness, swelling, induration, and/or a venous cord were present in 205 (39.9%) of the patients. The IV catheters were in place an average of 48.7 hr. There were no significant differences in symptoms by hospital site. Using multiple regression techniques, a seven-factor model explained 18% of the variance in number of IV site symptoms. Further research is required to explore other potential causes for the numbers of IV site symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Oral mucositis is a painful complication of chemotherapy and can greatly affect patients' morbidity and mortality. Findings from two previous studies suggested a decrease in the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced mucositis in patients with solid tumors. The purposes of this study were to follow a large cohort of outpatients to determine the prevalence of mucositis and to identify whether certain clinical factors were significant in the development of mucositis. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: In this prospective study, a convenience sample of 199 outpatients was followed for three cycles or until mucositis developed. The clinical factors monitored included the following: pretreatment dental examination/repair; initial standard chemotherapy dosage; prophylactic use of colony-stimulating factors; and use of preventive mouthwashes or other prophylactic measures. RESULTS: Oral mucositis developed in 50 patients (25.1%). Prechemotherapy dental examination/repair and initial standard chemotherapy dosage were equivalent among both groups. Of the 48 patients in whom mucositis developed, 10 (20.8%) received prophylactic colony-stimulating factors. Of 134 patients in whom mucositis did not develop, 46 (34.3%) received prophylactic colony-stimulating factors. This difference was statistically nonsignificant. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Differences in the clinical factors investigated could not explain the lower prevalence of oral mucositis among the current patient cohort. The reason for the diminishing prevalence of this side effect remains unclear, and additional parameters, particularly detailed oral hygiene practices, should be evaluated. In the meantime, oncology clinicians should consider the teaching of patients and urging them to use good oral hygiene practices as necessary and potentially preventive measures against chemotherapy-induced mucositis.

Ambulatory Care↗