Biomedical subjects

Susan O Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to Susan O Murphy.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Level of fatigue in women receiving dose-dense versus standard chemotherapy for breast cancer: a pilot study.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine whether women receiving dose-dense chemotherapy for breast cancer experience different levels of fatigue than women receiving standard chemotherapy regimens for the disease. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental pilot study. SETTING: Private physicians' offices in California. SAMPLE: 15 women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer receiving dose-dense or standard chemotherapy. The average female participant was 48 years old (mean = 48.3), was married (80%), and had a college degree (73%). METHODS: The revised Piper Fatigue Scale was completed by patients at three different times: pretreatment, three days after their cycle 1 chemotherapy dose, and three days after their cycle 2 chemotherapy dose. Patients returned completed surveys by mail. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Fatigue levels associated with chemotherapy. FINDINGS: Pretreatment total fatigue scores were not significantly different in the dose-dense and standard chemotherapy groups. Total fatigue scores were significantly higher in the dose-dense group at the cycle 1 and 2 time points. Fatigue scores were significantly higher in women who had undergone a mastectomy, were working, were HER2 positive, and had a tumor size larger than 2 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Dose-dense chemotherapy resulted in significantly greater fatigue. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses should educate women receiving dose-dense chemotherapy as part of informed consent and assist them in preparing and planning for fatigue. Information about which patients are more likely to experience significant fatigue allows nurses to judge the frequency with which they need to assess and manage fatigue to improve patient outcomes.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Increasing self-efficacy and knowledge through a seizure education program for special education teachers.

Since the passage of the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act and the 1986 PL99-457 amendment, many children aged birth to 3 years with special health care needs are enrolled in early intervention programs. Educators working in early intervention services often need to respond to and manage seizure activity and medical emergencies for special needs children. To do so, they need to have knowledge and confidence in their ability to intervene effectively. This intervention study was designed to address the knowledge and self-efficacy of 28 special needs educators on seizure management. The intervention resulted in increased knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to seizure management and their ability to interact supportively with families.

California↗

PubMed2004

Evaluation of an anaphylaxis training program for unlicensed assistive personnel.

This study evaluated a training program designed to prepare unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in high school settings to recognize and respond effectively to an anaphylactic emergency. Subjects included 53 adults employed by a high school district in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. A training model was developed based on Bandura's theory of sources of self-efficacy. Knowledge and perceived self-efficacy of participants were measured before and after the training program to determine if a theory-based anaphylaxis recognition and epinephrine auto-injector training program would increase participants' knowledge and self-efficacy in responding to an anaphylactic emergency. Paired t tests revealed significant improvement in scores for both knowledge and perceived self-efficacy following the intervention (p < .001). This theory-based training program offers a valuable model for other school nurses in providing knowledge and skill training for unlicensed assistive personnel in other health emergencies.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Does mindfulness decrease stress and foster empathy among nursing students?

This pilot study of baccalaureate nursing students explored the effects of an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course on stress and empathy. The course was intended to provide students with tools to cope with personal and professional stress and to foster empathy through intrapersonal knowing. A convenience sample of 16 students participated in the course, used guided meditation audiotapes at home, and completed journal assignments. Stress and empathy were measured using paired sample t tests. Participation in the intervention significantly reduced students' anxiety (p > .05). Favorable trends were observed in a number of stress dimensions including attitude, time pressure, and total stress. Two dimensions of empathy--personal distress and fantasy--also demonstrated favorable downward trends. Regular home meditation was correlated with additional benefit. Participants reported using meditation in daily life and experiencing greater well-being and improved coping skills as a result of the program. Findings suggest that being mindful may also decrease tendencies to take on others' negative emotions. Coping with stress and fostering the affective domain are important facets of nursing education that may be facilitated by mindfulness training.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immigrant Asian Indian women and postpartum depression.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of postpartum depressive symptomatology in a sample of immigrant Asian Indian women and to establish whether cultural factors such as arranged marriage or gender of the newborn are associated with differences in depression scores. DESIGN: Quantitative, descriptive study. SETTING: Ten private obstetric and pediatric offices in Northern California. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 58 self-selected immigrant Asian Indian women between 2 weeks and 12 months postpartum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Depressive symptomatology as measured by the 35-item self-report Postpartum Depression Screening Scale. RESULTS: There was a minor depressive symptomatology rate of 28% and an additional major depressive symptomatology rate of 24%. No differences in depression scores were found with regard to arranged marriage or the gender of the newborn. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that Asian Indian women living in the United States are just as likely to experience postpartum depressive symptomatology as White women. Therefore, it is critical to identify and refer women at risk for postpartum depression to ensure they do not become part of the 50% who remain undiagnosed. Health care providers need to become cognizant of the potential for postpartum depression and become skilled in the detection of this mood disorder.

Adaptation, Psychological↗