Latest Evidence on Alcohol and Pregnancy.

Alcohol increases risk for miscarriage, birth defects and other problems, and it is the sole cause of the range of physical, developmental and cognitive problems known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which can affect up to 5 percent of all pregnancies. Many women report drinking early in pregnancy, often before they know they're pregnant. When knowledgeable of the latest research evidence, nurses can counsel women of the risks alcohol use poses to a healthy pregnancy.

Sharing the wisdom of nursing by writing for publication.

Nurses share their experiences, wisdom and insights through storytelling. Writing these stories for publication can serve to extend the reach of nursing practice. Writing for publication is a skill that all nurses can develop. It could be considered a professional obligation, as well as an act of generosity. The process of writing involves selecting a topic, working through an initial draft, reviewing, revising and finally submitting for publication. For the nursing profession to contribute fully to the advancement of health care, nurses need to present themselves as competent, thoughtful leaders able to express themselves clearly and effectively. Writing for publication helps accomplish this goal.

Developing great abstracts and posters: how to use the tools of science communication.

All nurses, clinicians and researchers are encouraged to share information on the programs they develop or the studies they conduct. This communication serves to advance the knowledge and clinical wisdom of the nursing and other health care professions. One way to do this is to submit an abstract or poster to a conference, where you can present your findings to other health care professionals. This article gives useful tips for developing successful abstracts and posters.

Research on developmental care: helping both preemies and parents.

Developmental care for premature infants was introduced by Dr. Heidi Als more than 20 years ago, and has become an accepted standard of care. Research into developmental care has shown some benefits in neonatal outcomes, but there is no standard definition of developmental care, and its practice can vary widely across different neonatal units. Dr. Bernadette Melnyk developed a program entitled "Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment" (COPE) to help parents of premature infants learn about the common appearance and behaviors of these infants, and about developmentally appropriate parenting skills. COPE has helped to reduce parental anxiety and stress and to improve outcomes for premature infants.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer: research on how women respond to genetic testing.

Researchers are exploring how women with an identified risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) or a diagnosis of breast or ovarian cancer choose to undergo testing, respond to the results, engage in prevention or screening and make decisions for the future. Nurses will need to develop knowledge of genetics, genetic testing and conditions such as HBOC to provide optimal care for their patients.

The art and science of cancer education and evaluation: toward facilitating improved patient outcomes.

Cancer education is a constantly evolving field, as science continues to advance both our understanding of cancer and its effects on patients, families, and communities. Moving discoveries to practice expeditiously is paramount to impacting cancer outcomes. The continuing education of cancer care professionals throughout their practice life is vital to facilitating the adoption of therapeutic innovations. Meanwhile, more general educational programs serve to keep cancer patients, their families, and the public informed of the latest findings in cancer research. The National Cancer Institute conducted an assessment of the current knowledge base for cancer education which involved two literature reviews, one of the general literature of the evaluation of medical and health education efforts, and the other of the preceding 5 years of the Journal of Cancer Education (JCE). These reviews explored a wide range of educational models and methodologies. In general, those that were most effective used multiple methodologies, interactive techniques, and multiple exposures over time. Less than one third of the articles in the JCE reported on a cancer education or communication product, and of these, only 70% had been evaluated for effectiveness. Recommendations to improve the evaluation of cancer education and the educational focus of the JCE are provided.

Patient-provider communication and self-care behavior among type 2 diabetes patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether diabetes self-care behaviors mediate the association between patient-provider communication (PPC) and diabetes outcomes. METHODS: An ethnically diverse sample of 752 patients with type 2 diabetes was recruited from 3 different health systems. Subjects were interviewed by telephone about their general and diabetes-specific PPC, diabetes self-care behaviors (medication use, glucose testing, eating, and physical activity), and functional status (physical and mental). Glycemic control was assessed with the HbA1c assay. Statistical tests of the hypothetical path model were adjusted for age, gender, marital status, income, ethnicity, medication regimen, and number of comorbid conditions. RESULTS: General PPC was associated with mental functioning and physical functioning, and diabetes-specific PPC was associated with glycemic control. However, these associations were not mediated by self-care behaviors, which were independently associated with diabetes outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although self-care and PPC are both important determinants of diabetes patients' health status, these effects are independent. Thus, attempts to improve diabetes outcomes must focus on both good communication and the direct enhancement of illness self-management behaviors.