Best practice techniques for administration of injections: impact of lecture based interactive workshops on training of nurses

To determine if a structured workshop on best practice technique for the administration of injections for nurses results in an improvement in knowledge on the subject. Nurses attended an interactive lecture-based workshop on best practice technique for the administration of injections. Participants had to accept an invitation to the presentation prior to the training event. They completed a multiple choice question [MCQ] test, derived from topics covered in the presentation, prior to the lecture. The MCQ test was repeated after the lecture to assess retention and application of knowledge. Thirty-eight nurses participated in the workshop. There was a significant improvement in mean test scores after the lecture when compared with pre-lecture scores [Mean=16.5, SD=3.7 vs. Mean=7.8, SD=1.9, p<0.001]. Lecture based workshop on best practice techniques of administration of injections helps improve nurses knowledge. It also helps in overcoming deficiencies in nurses training

Effects of environmental tobacco smoke on the respiratory health of children

Infections of the respiratory tract are the most common acute illness of childhood. Apart from the morbidity [and occasional mortality] attributable to respiratory infections, they also represent risk factors for asthma and possibly other chronic respiratory effects in later life. Children's exposure to harmful substances of tobacco smoke begins at prenatal period, if pregnant woman smokes after the delivery, it continues postnatally to be paced. Children are especially sensitive to the respiratory effects of environmental tobacco smoke [ETS] exposure. ETS exposure is a significant and avoidable risk factor for respiratory diseases among children. ETS is a wide-spread environmental pollutant that has been long linked with respiratory problems. In children of all ages ETS exposure has been found to be associated with increased respiratory symptoms such as wheeze and cough. The role ETS plays in the development of atopy is of great interest, as atopy is closely related to the development of childhood asthma. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is preventable. This review discusses primarily on impact of ETS on during the fetal period and infancy and childhood. This paper reviews of several articles between year 1992- 2009 obtained from the internet; Pubmed and Medline

Maternal risk factors affecting newborn parameters

Pregestational body mass index [BMI] which is one of the best markers of nutritional status can be one of many variables affecting fetal growth. We wanted to determine the relations between various prepregnancy BMI categories, parity and newborn Ponderal indexes, birthweights in our population. For the assessment of the functional significance of BMI during pre-pregnancy, data from 264 women living in Sakarya were used. Maternal age, pregestational weight, height, parity were obtained from self-report at interview. We evaluated the relationship between maternal age, parity, pregestational weight and BMIs and newborn parameters as birthweight and Ponderal index. Average of the birth weight was 3.340 +/- 400gr, of the birth height was 50.53 +/- 1.66cm, of Ponderal index was 25.54 +/- 2.06. The mean of maternal BMI was 23.06 +/- 3.64, of parity was 2.14 +/- 1.17. When BMI groups were compared with birthweight [p: 0.026] and parity [p: 0.02], it was observed that it had significant relationship. Statistical differences were not observed between maternal pregestational BMI and newborn Ponderal index [p:0.466]. Nutritional conditions should be corrected in pregestational life to reduce the possibility of low birth weight newborn

Knowledge, attitudes and behaviors concerning sun protection/skin cancer among adults in Turkey

To document the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adults concerning sun protection and skin cancer. This was designed as descriptive and correlational study. The study group comprised of 1020 adults aged 18 to 75, chosen from all seven geographical regions in Turkey. Participants living in East and Southeast Anatolia regions had statistically less knowledge concerning sun protection and skin cancer. The knowledge scores of women were higher than men. The knowledge scores of those in younger age group, students and university graduates were higher than others. Women were sunbathing more often than men to have a darker skin and also were taking more protective measures against skin cancer. Education level, gender and living in a coastal region effect level of knowledge, attitude and behavior about sun protection/skin cancer