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Biomedical subjects

Sande Gracia Jones

Publications and source records attributed to Sande Gracia Jones.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

HIV-positive women and minority patients' satisfaction with inpatient hospital care.

Although patient satisfaction has been examined in relation to HIV services for ambulatory and managed care, less is known about perceptions of hospital care, particularly for HIV-positive women and minorities. The purpose of this study was to examine HIV-positive women and minority patients' satisfaction with hospital care. The study was part of a larger funded study that explored potential health care disparities for HIV-positive women and minority persons in the era of HIV combination drug therapy. A convenience sample of 50 HIV-positive persons was recruited from four medical centers/hospitals in a South Florida community. The multi-ethnic sample included 31 women and 19 men. The survey tool used was Cleary's HIV-Infected Patient's In-Hospital Questionnaire. Findings revealed that participants were generally satisfied with their hospital care. Physicians, nurses, and the hospital environment received satisfactory ratings. However, several problem areas were identified, including pain management and education on side effects of HIV medications, indicating the need for interventions to improve care. Experimental AIDS drugs were discussed with less than half of the participants, suggesting that HIV-positive women and minority patients may not have equal access to clinical drug trials. Further research is also needed to determine whether attitudes conveyed by health care providers influence HIV-positive patients to be wary of advance directives. The competence of nurses experienced in acute-care nursing of persons with HIV/AIDS was an important factor in patient satisfaction. A lack of experienced acute-care AIDS nurses may ultimately lead to a decrease in HIV-positive patients' satisfaction with hospital care.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of a human immunodeficiency virus rule out tuberculosis critical pathway as an intervention to decrease nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis in the inpatient setting.

Nosocomial transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is a recognized risk in health care settings, and is a particular concern in settings where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons receive care. TB control guidelines have been effective in prevention of nosocomial TB outbreaks and protection of patients and health care workers. In 1993 a South Florida academic medical center noted an increase in TB cases, particularly in HIV-infected persons who had been inpatients. A multidisciplinary team developed an HIV Rule Out TB Critical Pathway as an intervention to deter nosocomial transmission of TB. The pathway was implemented in 1995 on the Special Immunology/Infectious Disease (SI/ID) inpatient unit. This paper describes an evaluation study conducted to determine the effectiveness of the pathway as an intervention to deter nosocomial TB in relation to two areas: (1) early identification of HIV-infected patients with potential TB, followed by immediate placement in respiratory isolation and (2) protection of SI/ID unit personnel from occupational TB exposure. A retrospective review was conducted in June 1999 on the medical records of all patients who had been placed on the HIV Rule Out TB Critical Pathway from 1995-1998. A review was also done of the medical center's confirmed TB cases, and employee health records for tuberculin skin testing (TST) of employees during this time period. The review demonstrated that all HIV-infected patients with confirmed TB had been identified, placed on the pathway and admitted to respiratory isolation at the onset of hospital admission, deterring the potential for a nosocomial TB outbreak. However, in 1998 two SI/ID staff converted from a nonreactive to a reactive TST. Although the pathway was only partially successful in TB protection for staff members, other factors may have caused the TST conversions. A study recommendation is that institutions develop an HIV Rule Out TB Critical Pathway, along with a Rule Out TB Pathway for patients who are not HIV-infected but present with symptoms that may be indicative of TB infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

Using nursing research projects to meet Magnet Recognition Program standards.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program recognizes facilities that demonstrate excellence in nursing services, development of a professional milieu and growth and development of the nursing staff. The Magnet program is based on the American Nurses Association's which serves as the evaluation framework for determination of Magnet recognition. The role of research and its impact on nursing practice is an important criterion. The authors describe how one medical center successfully used ongoing nursing research projects to highlight how the institution met the Magnet standards.

Benchmarking↗
PubMed2002

Taking HAART in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Drug therapy for HIV/AIDS has come a long way since the 1980s when the focus was treating opportunistic infections that often accompany HIV. Today, caregivers target HIV itself with highly active (or highly aggressive) antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that interrupts viral replication.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The other side of the pill bottle: the lived experience of HIV-positive nurses on HIV combination drug therapy.

A qualitative study of nine HIV-positive nurses was conducted to explore the experience of daily life for HIV-positive nurses taking HIV combination drug therapy. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of factors relating to HIV medication adherence and nonadherence. The study also provided new knowledge on what it is like to be a nurse who is HIV-positive. Implementation of the study and analysis of the data were done using an integrated method for conducting phenomenological research. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted around the United States with three women and six men who were HIV-positive nurses. Participants had acquired HIV via three modes: occupational exposure, sexual transmission, and contaminated blood products. The nurses were taking HIV antiretroviral medications in various combinations. Analysis of the nurses' interviews revealed six major themes that described the experience of day-to-day life for HIV-positive nurses on HIV combination drug therapy. The metaphor that emerged across the narratives was the Double-Edged Sword of Being a Nurse on the Other Side, in the role of patient. The metaphor described the life-changing experience of being an HIV-positive nurse attempting to adhere to the prescribed HIV combination drug regiment. While many of the study findings were congruent with the literature, new components of the experience emerged. The study gave voice to a group of nurses who previously have been described only in terms of HIV/AIDS statistics.

Adaptation, Psychological↗