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Apr 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-23-4412
Bist AmritCorresponding author
Background People may have both negative and positive attitudes about other people, their way of living and those attitudes can be influenced by various factors. LGBTIQ individuals are facing various difficulties and barriers to run their daily life due to different attitudes of people. Attitudes may be different from person to person influenced by their knowledge, acceptance behaviour and understanding. By finding out the associated factors that influences the attitude of people we can change people’s view towards LGBTIQ individuals. Each and every person deserves to be treated equally regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, and preferences. Methods This was a cross-sectional study in which the sample size was 423 and the study population was nursing students. A simple random sampling method was used to select sample for the study. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data was entered in EPI 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS 25. A descriptive statistic was used to find out the frequency and percentage and analysis (chi-square) was used to find out the association between the dependent and independent variables. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Results showed that 87.2% have positive attitudes towards LGBTIQ individuals, and the majority (56.6%) have knowledge about homosexuality. Similarly, more than two-thirds (82.7%) of respondents were not homophobic, and 50.4% showed positive stereotypes about LGBTIQ individuals. Religion (p=0.030), caste (p=0.001) and Family type (p=0.016) were statistically significant with regard to the attitudes of students towards LGBTIQ. Conclusion The majority of students had positive attitudes towards LGBTIQ individuals and few had negative attitudes. Almost half of the respondents had adequate knowledge about homosexuality. The majority of students were not homophobic and few were homophobic. Half had positive stereotypes and about other half had negative stereotypes.
May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-5835.jcpn-19-2741
Ladislav ValachCorresponding author
Lindenstrasse 26, 3047 Bremgarten, Switzerland
After pointing out the wide scope of issues in nursing and summarizing some of the attempts in nursing to deal with this problem of wide scope we propose a conceptual consideration to address this issue anew. We suggest that the contextual action theory is well equipped to provide an economical and concise way of integrating various approaches and disciplines as well as different tasks a nursing conceptualization has to address, particularly in dealing with the issue of practice. We describe what action is, how it could be seen as a system and how it could be useful in nursing practice. Specifically, we detail the application of the contextual action theory in devising nursing procedures, in providing theories and research methods in nursing research and in evaluation processes in nursing. In addressing some limitations of the suggested approach, we stress that it is not a theory of everything and that it does not deliver ready-made instruments for obtaining quantitative data.
Jan 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-9273.jbtm-17-1619
M Fenske JoanCorresponding author
Private Practice as Nurse Consultant
This 11440 word manuscript relates a case study derived from field experiences. The format is unique. By describing the fictional character, the manuscript integrates a narrative story line. This is a case study portraying a fictional patient who is determined to take her life. Self distruction is overtly characterized. Holistic Nursing Practice emphasis is upon positive reinforcement.
Aug 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-9273.jbtm-16-1175
Yeh Pi-MingCorresponding author
RN. Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Health Professionals, Missouri Western State University, USA.
Objective: To examine the relationships between Australian nursing students’ anxiety, depression, personality and family interaction with psychological well-being and suicidal ideation. Participants: A sample of 201 nursing students completed a series of structured questionnaires in an Australian University. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used. After explanation of this study, 201 nursing students voluntarily participated. Six reliable and structured questionnaires were used to do data collection. SPSS was used for data analysis including descriptive data, Pearson Correlation, and Stepwise Multiple Regression. Results: Anxiety and depression were positively associated with suicidal ideation and had negative relationships with psychological well-being. Positive personality and family interaction were positively associated with psychological well-being and negatively with suicidal ideation. Parents’ harsh discipline had a negative relationship with the nursing students’ psychological well-being. Conclusions: Depression, personality, and positive family interaction were significant predictors of Australian nursing students’ psychological well-being. Anxiety, depression, and harsh discipline were significant predictors of suicidal ideation
May 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-5526.jmid-25-5466
McCue JohnCorresponding author
Information on adverse drug event (ADE) assessment and prevention within Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is difficult for clinicians to use and produces wide-ranging results. Challenges include inconsistent ADE and drug product definition and documentation, workflows, terminology standardization, interoperability, and clinical decision support (CDS) to inform clinical decision-making within EHRs. These factors contribute to care issues for clinicians, such as alert fatigue and provider burden for clinicians and medical errors, patient harm, and even death for patients. Clinicians play the primary role in documenting, reviewing, detecting, and preventing ADEs within EHRs. It is essential that clinicians, clinical informaticists, nursing informaticists, pharmacy informaticists, and the health informatics profession understand the current electronic ADE paradigm to advocate for improved detection and prevention of ADEs within EHRs.
Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-22-4255
Alex G. MeelaCorresponding author
Nutrition during pregnancy is of utmost important to ensure positive pregnancy outcomes after delivery. This study examined the utilization of nutrition services provided at health facilities to pregnant women. A cross sectional study design, involving 105 pregnant women and 5 RCH providers from 2 health facilities was used. Structured questionnaires, and structured observations were used in data collection. SPSS software version 25 was used in data analysis. Results showed that, RCH providers had inadequate nutrition knowledge due to limited nutrition courses during nursing training and on job trainings/seminars. All RCH providers advised that, nutrition knowledge is important to pregnant women hence they were responsible for its delivery. In adequate staff and lack of teaching materials contributed to the poor delivery of quality nutrition education to all pregnant women as it was observed that there is variations in nutrition information given to women. More than a half of all pregnant women (63%) started their ANC clinic during their first trimester where they received all nutrition services including education on importance of nutrition during pregnancy which helped them to be aware of the relationship between diet maternal nutrition and birth outcomes (63.8%). Most common food group that has been consumed more by pregnant women was grains, roots and tubers and plantains, while also there was high consumption of fruits and vegetables by all women as they are being more emphasized during routine clinics to prevent anemia. Also, there are some barriers that were identified by the service providers which makes their work difficult such as inadequate teaching materials like brochures, posters and jobs aids, also shortage of staff was found to be the core cause of services being provided occasionally as it is the RCH nurse who provide the education and counselling as there is no any nutritionist hired by government at the facility. Regional and district nutrition officers should coordinate and conduct on job training to health providers on issues related to nutrition in order to update their nutrition knowledge and facilitate clear, accurate and more evidence based nutrition information delivered.
Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-22-4255
Alex. G MeelaCorresponding author
Nutrition during pregnancy is of utmost important to ensure positive pregnancy outcomes after delivery. This study examined the utilization of nutrition services provided at health facilities to pregnant women. A cross sectional study design, involving 105 pregnant women and 5 RCH providers from 2 health facilities was used. Structured questionnaires, and structured observations were used in data collection. SPSS software version 25 was used in data analysis. Results showed that, RCH providers had inadequate nutrition knowledge due to limited nutrition courses during nursing training and on job trainings/seminars. All RCH providers advised that, nutrition knowledge is important to pregnant women hence they were responsible for its delivery. In adequate staff and lack of teaching materials contributed to the poor delivery of quality nutrition education to all pregnant women as it was observed that there is variations in nutrition information given to women. More than a half of all pregnant women (63%) started their ANC clinic during their first trimester where they received all nutrition services including education on importance of nutrition during pregnancy which helped them to be aware of the relationship between diet maternal nutrition and birth outcomes (63.8%). Most common food group that has been consumed more by pregnant women was grains, roots and tubers and plantains, while also there was high consumption of fruits and vegetables by all women as they are being more emphasized during routine clinics to prevent anemia. Also, there are some barriers that were identified by the service providers which makes their work difficult such as inadequate teaching materials like brochures, posters and jobs aids, also shortage of staff was found to be the core cause of services being provided occasionally as it is the RCH nurse who provide the education and counselling as there is no any nutritionist hired by government at the facility. Regional and district nutrition officers should coordinate and conduct on job training to health providers on issues related to nutrition in order to update their nutrition knowledge and facilitate clear, accurate and more evidence based nutrition information delivered.
Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn2474-9273.jbtm-23-4712
Erika HumphreysCorresponding author
The effectiveness of treating anxiety with Reiki is explored within ten quantitative studies. Methodology utilized for a critical appraisal and systematic review of the literature is explained with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Theoretical framework for the project is grounded in the work of Hildegard Peplau, whose nursing theory based on the therapeutic use of self is foundational for Reiki implementation. A thorough critique of the literature is conducted for key components of robustness and believability. This critique is conducted using a structured guide addressing synthesized strengths and weaknesses of the body of literature. A synthesis of the literature explores the findings of the studies. This synthesis reports on Reiki’s effectiveness in treating anxiety within a variety of patient settings and populations, its effect on subscales of anxiety, physiological manifestations of anxiety and pain associated with anxiety. Cultural considerations effecting Reiki’s potential effectiveness are discussed. Gaps in the literature are examined, including the studies’ narrow sample population, lack of participant exclusionary factors for controlled outcome data, and the lack of studies across time. Implications for future research are discussed with recommendations for expanded research that includes a broader variety of settings, age groups, and patient diagnoses, including anxiety disorders, for research data that is transferable. Implications for further practice for the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) are explored, with the potential benefits for both providers and patients, including improved patient satisfaction and expansion of provider treatment modalities.
Feb 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-23-4452
Mango LucioCorresponding author
Interruptions during pharmacological therapy in a hospital ward can be a source of error. We therefore considered two Operating Units of a hospital by asking the following questions: are the nursing staff who administer drug therapy at the set times able to do so with maximum concentration and without interruptions? If yes, how? If not, why and what for? Furthermore, are there organizational and non-organizational improvement strategies so that nurses are less interrupted during therapy and therefore do not cause adverse drug events that could cause harm to the patient? The results that emerged from the data analysis make us reflect considerably on how much interruptions during therapy are to be paid attention to as a problem to which solution proposals can be found.
Jul 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-21-3881
Tanwir FarzeenCorresponding author
Associate Professor-HOD Periodontology, Bahria University Medical & Dental College
Phenomenology is a ritual of Qualitative research methodology. Interviews in healthcare enables researchers to recognise and understand data from lived experiences of the participants by using Phenomenological approach. The purpose of this article is to review the various face to face in depth interviews conducted using Husserl’s descriptive, Heidegger’s interpretive phenomenology or Hermeneutic phenomenological approach in healthcare. The in-depth interview will help to understand the health issues and ethical issues faced by participants. Methodology Four articles were selected based on phenomenological approach. Article.1 was based on Hermeneutic Phenomenology approach. In this study thirteen women were taken as sample. Sampling was done by snowball method. The women were asked to share their rural maternity experience. Data was analyzed without any influence of the researcher. Article.2 was based on Transcendental phenomenology. There were 15 students from 4 different cultural background belonging to different health professional programmes like nursing, medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and physical therapy. Triangulation methods were used and semi structured interviews were conducted, recorded and transcribed. Health professional students shared their lived experience with patients. Article.3 was based on a study conducted using both Transcendental phenomenology for patients interviews and Hermeneutic phenomenology for healthcare professionals’ interviews. The semi structured interview of patient was taken to understand and record their lived experience with the medication without any bias or interpretation and data received was bracketed. The healthcare professionals’ interviews were conducted on Hermeneutic strategy regarding the medications they prescribe for life threatening illnesses. Article 4 was based on Hermeneutic phenomenological approach. There were nine patients selected and in depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. The patients shared their experience of living with a life limiting illness.
Dec 2020
K. Gusdal AnnelieCorresponding author
School of Health, Care, and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Eskilstuna/Västerås, Sweden
More than 90% of people with dementia develop behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. First-line care strategies in dementia care should consider a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The present single-case research study aimed to evaluate the use of virtual reality in the context of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, quality of life, and medication use among people with dementia. Ten persons with dementia used virtual reality for a mean of twice per week for eight weeks. In each virtual reality session, lasting for a maximum of 30 minutes, the persons with dementia chose one to three short films from 11 different films: a hen run, a farm with animals, two cafés, an old-fashioned grocery shop, a local river, a square in the local city, a museum, a castle, a fishing boat and an Austrian mountain scenery. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected pre-, during, and post-intervention. No major differences in the quantitative data in terms of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, quality of life, or medication use were observed. However, the qualitative data showed that the use of virtual reality provided the persons with dementia with short-term enjoyment, heightened energy and alertness, and an experience of reminiscence. The use of virtual reality may therefore serve as a complementary tool to the existing non-pharmacological management techniques of people with dementia in nursing homes.
Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-5257.ijgp-20-3299
Luis Turabian JoseCorresponding author
Specialist in Family and Community Medicine, Health Center Santa Maria de Benquerencia, Regional Health Service of Castilla la Mancha (SESCAM), Toledo, Spain
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is something new that baffles us. The dominant health model and the theory that supported it until before COVID-19 are refuted or invalidated by observing the current tragically situation, which also implies lasting changes in that new medical model. Consequently, once the urgency of the epidemic is over, the conceptual and organizational building of medical care can no longer be rebuilt in the same way. Based on the COVID-19 experience, it is necessary to rethink what kind of knowledge can emerge. Some of the concepts with clinical-epidemiological implications that have to be re-evaluated since the COVID-19 pandemic are: 1. Large epidemics or changes do not arise from an event similar to the "Big Bang", but rather they develop slowly and underground, so a surveillance system must be instituted; 2. Re-evaluate what we understand by "evidence-based medicine"; 3. Patient-centered care is inadequate and must be replaced by community-centered care; 4. Telecare and changes in the organization of consultations; 5. Hospitals and health centers are "biological bombs" that act as vectors of disease and must change their architecture, organization and use; 6. The end of the nursing home model; 7. Change of habits; and 8. Social media can democratize information and help communities organize.
Aug 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2876
Oladejo T AdepojuCorresponding author
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices directly affect the nutritional status of children under two years of age, and ultimately, impact child survival. These practices are influenced by maternal knowledge and attitudes as well as socio-demographic and cultural factors; and an understanding of such factors is important to scaling up IYCF practices. This study was designed to assess the role of religion on knowledge, attitude and infant feeding practices among Christian and Muslim lactating mothers in Ibadan North Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State. The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 lactating mothers in the LGA. Eight focus group discussions were carried out among Christian and Muslim lactating mothers. An adapted pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics and IYCF knowledge, attitude and practices of the respondents. Knowledge on IYCF was assessed on 14-item scale, and the scores categorised as: ˂5.60 poor, 5.60–10.88 fair, and ˃10.88 good knowledge. Attitude was assessed on 13 statements from the IOWA Infant Feeding Attitude scale with lowest and highest obtainable score of 13 and 65 respectively. A score of ˂44 was ranked as poor, and ˃44 points good. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA. Qualitative data was analysed thematically. Mean age of respondents was 30.0±4.9 years, 55.9% were Muslims, and 63.8% had fair knowledge. There was no significant difference in fair knowledge categorisation (63.7%, 63.8%), but there existed slight difference in good (20.7%, 21.3%) and poor (15.6%, 14.9%) knowledge of the Muslim and Christian respondents respectively. Mothers with poor attitude constituted 56.0%. Muslim religion directly supports pre-lacteal feeding and duration of breastfeeding while the other indirectly supports breastfeeding. Religious practices directly and indirectly affect knowledge, attitude and practices of nursing mothers on infant feeding; hence, healthcare Professionals should pay more attention to nutrition education in religious houses using the infant and young child feeding module.
Jan 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-19-2608
W. Harvey PeterCorresponding author
Conjoint Clinical Professor, Deakin University, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health
In the light of various complaints about the quality of care provided by and operation of aged care facilities across Australia, the Commonwealth Government has announced a Royal Commission into the activities of the sector. As the proportion of Australians over 65 continues to grow with the ageing of the ‘Baby Boomer’ generation, more Australians are seeking secure aged care arrangements to meet their increasingly complex living and healthcare needs. We hear much comment today about the concept of healthy ageing and the importance of older people staying connected to and active in their communities. Not only does this ongoing connectivity support better lifestyles and health status, it provides an avenue for older people to contribute to the support of others once their more formal working lives are concluded. Unfortunately, the gap between the rhetoric and the reality of ageing in Australia is strained and it appears that much about the operations of the aged care sector today is less than satisfactory. While some well-funded retirees can afford comfortable and fulfilling living arrangements, many others are left in less ideal circumstances. With aged care organisations currently building the next generation of ‘hotel’ style living arrangements for cashed up self-funded retirees, others are being left behind financially and in terms of the quality of their care. At the same time, maltreatment and abuse of residents is coming to light, as in the ‘Oakden Nursing Home’ situation in South Australia, for example. Consequently, the Federal Government has now launched a formal inquiry into the activities of organisations running aged care facilities in Australia. The inquiry is designed to assess the operation of this industry with a focus on the economics of aged care centres, the quality of care, the food and recreational activities provided and the challenge of staffing these facilities to keep residents safe and well as they age in dignity.
Jun 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-18-2110
Xu WeiCorresponding author
School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University
Purpose: There are nearly 170,000 new cases of breast cancer in China every year, and this number is showing an increasing trend. Mental health plays an important role in promoting the physical rehabilitation of patients. Therefore, attention paid to their psychological problems needs to be reinforced. The current study aims to investigate the mental health states of the breast cancer patients and provides the references for their psychosomatic rehabilitation in the future work. Methods: A total of 643 breast cancer patients completed the whole study. A questionnaire survey on anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) was conducted in Jiangsu Women and Children Health Hospital. Results: 13.53% breast cancer patients had anxiety; 21.5% had depression; the prevalence of PTSD was 7.15%, while the prevalence of PTG was 26.12%; Anxiety levels in older patients were significantly lower than those in the other two groups; PTG levels in older patients were significantly lower than those in the other two groups. Conclusion: Breast cancer patients have certain emotional distress and stress symptoms, but they also experience psychologically positive changes. And age shows various differences on anxiety and PTG. Clinical medical personnel should pay attention to the patient's psychological rehabilitation when concerning about the physical rehabilitation of patients. Patients in different ages have different mental health problems, thus the medical staff shall provide differential nursing plans for them.
Sep 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-17-1724
Wanby PärCorresponding author
Section of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
Hypovitaminosis D is common among older people and treatment with vitamin D is associated with reduced risk of falls and fractures. This paper provides a cost analysis of assessing the vitamin D status of and providing the pharmaceuticals for elderly citizens in Kalmar County, Sweden (population approximately 230,000). Four hypothetical interventions were analyzed: (a) systematic vitamin D/calcium supplementation to all elderly (≥75 years), (b) assessment of vitamin D status in elderly and supplementation to those with insufficient levels, (c) systematic vitamin D/calcium supplementation to all nursing-home residents, and (d) assessment of vitamin D status in nursing-home residents and supplementation to those with insufficient levels. The calculations were based on an estimated reduction in overall costs due to the assessed number of hip fractures after vitamin D/calcium supplementation. The annual net economic benefit of vitamin D/calcium supplementation was estimated at (a) €304,000, (b) €860,000, (c) €755,000, and (d) €740,000. The provision of systematic vitamin D supplementation to nursing-home residents would provide a substantial net economic benefit to society and assessment of the vitamin D status before starting supplementation does not seem to be necessary. Although assessment of all elderly citizens would be more comprehensive, the true proportion with insufficient vitamin D levels in the general population is uncertain and to reaching consensus on the most advantageous daily vitamin D intake, vitamin D blood levels are necessary. Also, systematic supplementation to all elderly would result in other outcomes that could be worth the cost, but that remains to be evaluated.
Aug 2017
Toren OrlyCorresponding author
Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Mount Scopus
Aim: To assess the extent and directions of internal hospital turnover of registered nurses and to examine the associated factors and stressors. Background: Internal turnover of hospital nurses is mainly horizontal. Occurring on a large scale, it could lead to dropout of skilled personnel, burdening hospitals both financially and in terms of human resources, affecting the quality of care. Methods: A secondary analysis based on data from the national study on "Patterns and trends of the nursing workforce in Israel". A structured telephone interview was conducted of 2,098 hospital nurses (October 2008-February 2009). Results: The rate of internal turnover between hospital departments was 29.7%. The main departments from which nurses moved were medical and surgical. The main departments from which nurses moved were oncology departments, Intensive Care Units, nursing administration. The major work-related stressor concerned salary (59%), two predictors of internal turnover were nurses with children under the age of 18 and academic degree nurses. Conclusions and Implications for Health Policy: Internal turnover rate in Israeli hospitals is moderate, with high rates in medical and surgical departments. It is vital to identify the main factors associated with high turnover rates and implement focused managerial retention strategies and other intervention programs.
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-5835.jcpn-17-1562
V. Seeman MaryCorresponding author
Professor Emerita, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 260 Heath Street W. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5P 3L6.
Second-generation antipsychotics have relatively recently become available in long-acting intramuscular formulations (LAIs) and have been receiving a substantial amount of pharmaceutical industry promotion on the grounds that they improve treatment adherence in patients with psychotic illness. LAIs do have some drawbacks, however, which is the topic area covered by this review. A Global Scholar search of the nursing and medical literature reveals several factors that can negatively impinge on the clinical efficacy of LAIs: 1. The extent of training of injection personnel 2. The quality of surveillance of patient symptoms and side effects 3. The skilled use of the full range of injection techniques 4. The extent of drug accumulation over time 5. The potential loss of drug dose flexibility 6. The impact of exercise and temperature on drug distribution 7. The burden of the medication routine and the social burdens of LAIs 8. The safety of LAIs during pregnancy 9. The perceived coerciveness of LAIs 10. Issues of overdose and polypharmacy 11. Issues of cost 12. The important issue of responsibility for self-management of illness. Although the evidence is clinical and anecdotal, LAIs appear to work well for many patients, but their drawbacks are not negligible. Clinicians need to weigh individual risks and benefits when making treatment decisions.
Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-5835.jcpn-17-1580
Ronit Calderon-MargalitCorresponding author
Objective. To describe the attitudes and behavior of registered nurses in their professional interaction toward unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) and to identify areas to develop policy for an effective nursing development and workforce planning. Background: One of the challenges health care systems have been addressing is the integration of the UAPs into the nursing care delivery systems. Study Design: Aphenomenological study involving registered nurses, staff and managerial positions. Data were collected using an in-depth semi-structured interview. Findings: Nurses report an increased task management workload which may lead to a decline in the quality of nursing care. Structural factors that are related to nurses and to UAPs were mentioned as affecting the quality of their professional and collaborative interaction. Conclusions: Training nurses to work with UAPs while developing their communication and managerial skills may improve the quality of care and increase their level of satisfaction.
Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-17-1575
Renaux CharlotteCorresponding author
Univ.Lille, CNRS, UMR9193 – SCALab – Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, F-59000 Lille, France ;
Background and Objective: Behavioral procedures have proven to be effective with elderly adults in nursing home. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a shaping procedure as a means of increasing writing performance. More specifically, our aim was to reeducate a motor behavior in a patient for whom the behavior was no longer present. Materials and Methods: The participant was an elderly (76-year-old) who had sequelae from a cardiovascular accident since 2011, and was asked to write some selected words. Data were collected though face-to-face interviews then analyzed using cotation methods. Results: The shaping and chaining procedures were efficient and performance of writing increased, even for infrequent words. Conclusion: Increasing writing performance is possible for the elderly people, even if they have suffered from cardiovascular accidents in the past. Here we used a successful brief shaping procedure to enhance quickly that ability.
Apr 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-17-1483
Dorfman JonCorresponding author
Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center Worcester, MA
Background: Discharge disposition planning begins at admission and is frequently one of the first questions posed to healthcare providers by patients and families. We hypothesized that pre-injury functional status would predict discharge disposition. Methods: We linked prospective data from the Worcester, MA cohort of the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis (GLOW) study and the UMassMemorial Level 1 Trauma Center Registry to determine predictors of discharge disposition for female geriatric (over the age of 55) trauma patients using bivariate comparisons and multivariable modeling. Results: 154 women of 5,091 in the Worcester GLOW cohort were evaluated for traumatic injury at UMassMemorial and were discharged alive either to their home (n=30) or to rehabilitation, skilled nursing, or nursing home facilities (n=124). The mean age was 79 years and the majority (99%) was white. There were no statistically significant differences in comorbidities or injury severity score between the groups. All women with femur fractures were discharged to a facility. The most common injury among women discharged home was traumatic brain injury. While univariate analysis revealed differences in pre-injury activity status, only age remained statistically different in a logistic regression model predicting discharge to facility (OR 2.61 per additional 10 years of age, 95% CI 1.62 to 4.19, p<0.0001). Conclusions: The majority of elderly women are not discharged home after injury. Pre-injury activity status was not associated with discharge disposition when accounting for other factors. It appears that physical function, which deteriorates with age, is a proxy for aging in older women at risk for osteoporosis.
Oct 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2329-9487.jhc-16-1301
Sung KiwolCorresponding author
College of Nursing, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, South Korea.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation of depressive symptoms in the relationship between cardiovascular risk and the health conservation of community-dwelling vulnerable diabetic elderly in order to provide a basis for planning nursing interventions to improve the health conservation of vulnerable diabetic elderly. Methods: The participants were 99 vulnerable diabetic elderly who registered at the community health centers in D city. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and analyzed with the SPSS-WIN 19.0 program. The instruments were Sung’s Health Conservation Scale, the Arizona Heart Institute Cardiovascular Risk Factor Questionnaire, and the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form-Korea version (GDSSF-K). Results: The mean score for health conservation was 100.52. Overall depressive symptoms were 11.84, cardiovascular risk was 20.35. There were significant correlations among the three variables: health conservation, depressive symptoms, and cardiovascular risk. Also, depressive symptoms had a proportional mediating effect in the relationship between cardiovascular risk and health conservation. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, health management programs focusing on cardiovascular risk management and depressive symptom improvement are highly recommended to promote health conservation in the vulnerable diabetic elderly