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Biomedical subjects

V Wade

Publications and source records attributed to V Wade.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Women recovering from first-time myocardial infarction (MI): a feminist qualitative study.

Although myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death and disablement for women internationally, little is known about women's recovery. This paper describes an exploratory descriptive study that was informed by feminist principles, and which aimed to explore the recovery experiences of a group of women survivors of first-time MI in the initial period following discharge from hospital. A total of 10 female survivors were interviewed using an open-ended semi-structured interview schedule administered at 7, 14 and 21 days post-hospital discharge. Findings revealed that recovery was experienced as a complex process, initially characterized by fear and uncertainty. Over the duration of the study these feelings were replaced with a more positive outlook, a return of energy, and a sense of confidence in the future. Participants identified an unmet need for reliable information which persisted over the duration of the study. The findings of this study have implications for nursing practice and research. Chief among these is the issue of effective provision of information to women following an acute MI. The importance of providing relevant information to be understood and retained by people experiencing crisis cannot be overstated. Equally important are the provision of opportunities for patients to have regular contact with health professionals to question and seek clarifying information. These findings should now be tested on larger populations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Health status, perceptions of coping, and social support immediately after discharge of survivors of acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The period immediately after discharge from the hospital after an acute myocardial infarction is a stressful and vulnerable time about which little is known. OBJECTIVE: To explore health status, perceptions of coping, and social support among survivors of a recent myocardial infarction in the first 3 weeks after discharge from hospitals in southwestern Sydney, Australia. METHODS: A descriptive, exploratory approach with a triangulated methodology was used to assess the experiences of 38 survivors, detect patterns in these experiences, explore the health-support needs of survivors, and determine changes in health status in the first 3 weeks after discharge. Quantitative data were collected with the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, New York Heart Association classification, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Scale, and the Jalowiec Coping Scale. A semistructured interview schedule provided additional qualitative data about the experiences of the survivors. RESULTS: The health status of participants was relatively stable during the 3-week period; most had no activity limitation due to dyspnea or angina. However, the subjects' health status was considerably lower than that of their age-matched population. The most common and most effective coping strategies adopted during this period were confrontation, optimism, and self-reliance. In addition, the subjects experienced anxiety, depression, ambiguity and uncertainty, fear of recurrence of the infarction and of deterioration in health, of boredom and of inertia. CONCLUSION: These findings can help nurses in hospital and community settings assist survivors of acute myocardial infarction to prepare for and deal effectively with experiences during convalescence.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

The experiences of female spouses of survivors of acute myocardial infarction: a pilot study of Lebanese-born women in south-western Sydney, Australia.

Lebanese migrants form a significant proportion of the population in southwestern Sydney (SWS), and in New South Wales, Australia. This pilot study was undertaken in south-western Sydney, a rapidly expanding and socioeconomically disadvantaged region, to explore the experiences of English speaking women of Lebanese origin whose spouses had recently experienced an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven Lebanese-born women at 2- and 4-week intervals, following the discharge of their husbands from hospital. Qualitative analysis of narrative text revealed four distinct themes. These were: struggle to resolve distress; intensive monitoring of the AMI survivor; searching for avenues of support; and reflecting on the future. Study findings are discussed in relation to the literature. Implications for nursing practice and research are drawn from study findings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

A prospective randomized trial of an urban general practice attachment for medical students.

A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of a new model for providing urban general practice attachments for final-year medical students at the Flinders University of South Australia. All the student groups in that year were randomized prospectively to either the standard student attachment, as run by the university, or to an attachment organized by a project team from a local network of general practitioners. Students in the intervention group had their personal learning goals assessed and matched with their general practice preceptors, and the students were set a task that developed their contact with other health resources in the community. Results from an evaluation questionnaire completed by the students at the end of their terms showed that the students in the intervention group rated their general practice preceptors more highly, had more contact with allied health and community organizations, felt that they had met their own learning goals to a greater extent, and enjoyed their term more. Student examination results showed that the students in the intervention group did not perform as well in one of the four areas of their end of term examination as did the students in the standard attachment. The additional cost of providing the intervention was estimated to be A$340 per student. We conclude that long-term decisions about adopting this new model of organizing general practice attachments on a wider scale will need to balance the apparent benefits against the increased resources required.

Education, Medical, Undergraduate↗
PubMed1996

Specifying an open clinical laboratory information system.

This paper presents an overview of the architectural infrastructure in which existing laboratory information systems can be made to interoperate with additional modules offering a range of advanced clinical laboratory functionalities. The infrastructure is based on an open distributed computing platform, and its specification is described using the open distributed processing reference model.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed1996

Computational viewpoint of the OpenLabs architecture.

The computational viewpoint of the OpenLabs architecture specification concentrates on the definition of the functional interfaces between the logical modules that make up the clinical laboratory as defined in the enterprise and information viewpoints. A method is presented which transforms the information models into a specification written in Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1). It is then shown how the specification can be translated into an Interface Definition Language (IDL) of a 'middleware' product which can then be compiled for implementation on a distributed system.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed1996

Managing the operation of open distributed laboratory information systems.

This paper examines how the concepts and designs of workflow management systems and distributed systems management can be integrated and customized to manage open laboratory computing services. The paper outlines the objectives of managing laboratory computing services and identifies techniques and designs which facilitate this management. The paper also outlines the implementation of an open laboratory service management system.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed1995

The OpenLabs approach to clinical laboratory computing.

This paper describes the architectural infrastructure to support a number of advanced functionalties for the clinical laboratory developed by OpenLabs. This infrastructure is based on an open distributed computing platform. A brief overview is given of the advanced functionalities provided by the OpenLabs modules through the novel application of knowledge-based systems, databases, and telematics; we also describe the communications architecture which allows these modules to interoperate with each other and with existing Laboratory Information Systems and instruments. The OpenLabs approach to the provision of generic interfaces to such existing systems is described, together with the OpenLabs Service Manager which supports the automated management of the laboratory in this distributed computing environment.

Artificial Intelligence↗
PubMed1987

The effect of meptazinol on the guinea-pig sphincter of Oddi in-vitro.

Meptazinol causes a dose-dependent contraction of the guinea-pig sphincter of Oddi in-vitro. This was antagonized by atropine in concentrations which blocked the contractile response to acetylcholine but not that to KCl. Naloxone was unable to block the response of the tissue to meptazinol, and other opioid drugs had inconsistent effects. Although meptazinol has significant anticholinesterase activity on this preparation, comparison with neostigmine suggests that this is irrelevant to its contractile action.

Acetylcholine↗