ABSTRACT
The Walsall Community Risk Score Calculator has been in use of the past 8 years. Outcomes from a trust-wide prevalence audit identified that this assessment tool may benefit from re-evaluation. This study examined the tool's validity and reliability and has resulted in some changes being made to the original score. To assess validity, a cross-sectional study of 720 patients was undertaken looking at the incidence of pressure damage, despite intervention, over a 12-week period. Using logistic regression analysis new weightings for each category were developed. This also led to the removal of one factor (bodily pain) which did not appear to contribute to increased risk of pressure damage. The updated score shows an improved prediction of pressure sore development compared with the existing method.
Subject(s)
Nursing Assessment/methods , Pressure Ulcer/diagnosis , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Logistic Models , Multivariate Analysis , Pressure Ulcer/epidemiology , Reproducibility of Results , Risk Assessment , Sensitivity and Specificity , United Kingdom/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Randomised controlled trials are typically cited as the 'best' form of study design to be used when comparing the efficacy or effectiveness of different devices such as pressure-redistributing beds and mattresses. This article presents a RCT that compared two forms of alternating pressure air mattress. No statistically significant differences were found between the incidence of sores upon the two mattresses. However the study was under-powered, and so was unlikely to identify differences in efficacy should they have existed. In discussion it is suggested that randomised controlled trials may be less useful to those purchasing mattresses than 'weaker' study designs that capture the experience of the users of such devices.
Subject(s)
Beds , Clinical Nursing Research/methods , Clinical Nursing Research/standards , Pressure Ulcer/nursing , Pressure Ulcer/prevention & control , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
The Walsall Community Risk Score Calculator has been in use for the past 8 years. Outcomes from a trust-wide prevalence audit identified that this assessment tool may benefit from re-evaluation. This study examined the tool's validity and reliability and has resulted in some changes being made to the original score. To assess validity, a cross-sectional study of 720 patients was undertaken looking at the incidence of pressure damage, despite intervention, over a 12-week period. Using logistic regression analysis new weightings for each category were developed. This also led to the removal of one factor (bodily pain) which did not appear to contribute to increased risk of pressure damage. The updated score shows an improved prediction of pressure sore development compared with the existing method.
Subject(s)
Community Health Nursing/methods , Nursing Assessment/methods , Pressure Ulcer/epidemiology , Pressure Ulcer/nursing , Analysis of Variance , Bias , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Incidence , Logistic Models , Male , Nursing Audit , Nursing Evaluation Research , Predictive Value of Tests , Pressure Ulcer/etiology , Prevalence , Reproducibility of Results , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Leg ulcer management is increasingly becoming a nurse-led specialty with practitioners implementing evidence-based care that is efficient, effective and resourceful. A large percentage of patients with leg ulceration are treated in the community. This article will discuss the healing rates and management of venous leg ulcers, many of which were longstanding problems, in a community leg ulcer clinic.
Subject(s)
Community Health Centers/organization & administration , Community Health Nursing/organization & administration , Leg Ulcer/nursing , Humans , Nursing Audit , Organizational Objectives , Recurrence , United Kingdom , Wound HealingABSTRACT
Hydrophobic organic matter accumulates under the surface film of water bodies to form the surface microlayers. Heterotrophic microorganisms use this organic matter for growth, and they, in turn, are fed upon by Anopheles mosquito larvae and other animals. From laboratory experiments we show that two species of mosquito larvae, Anopheles gambiae and An.quadrimaculatus, grew most rapidly where surface microlayers were present and, especially, where labile dissolved organic matter was added to promote growth of microorganisms. The importance of microorganisms was confirmed by the addition of gentamicin antibiotic, which suppressed the microbiota and reduced the growth of larvae feeding on surface microlayers. Anopheles larvae grew well on a suspension of finely ground fish food to which the antibiotic had been added, showing that reduced growth was not due to gentamicin itself. Because sub-surface microorganisms are the components of the larval diet that most affect growth, we discuss their relevance to strategies for larval control of Anopheles mosquitoes.
Subject(s)
Animal Feed , Anopheles/growth & development , Amino Acids , Animals , Gentamicins , Glucose , LarvaABSTRACT
Health care professionals in all specialties strive for high standards of care for their patients. This is particularly relevant in the area of wound management as major advances have been achieved over the past decade. However, there are many areas where improvements can still be achieved. This article highlights the area of cavity wound management in the community.
Subject(s)
Bandages , Community Health Nursing , Wounds and Injuries/nursing , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Wound HealingABSTRACT
Reports of childhood sexual experiences with adults were collected from 120 women attending general-practice surgeries and 115 women psychiatric patients. The method of study, research team and county of residence were the same for the two groups. The psychiatric patients tended to report rates of events higher than the general-practice attenders by a factor of 2-3. The results suggest an association between such experiences and later psychiatric patienthood and are compatible with a causal role for them in some cases.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Age of Onset , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Sexual Behavior , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This article describes results from one of the sites involved in a multi-centred comparative study designed to assess the performance of a collagen-alginate dressing used in the treatment of leg ulceration. The research methods used in the trial, as well as the results, will be of interest to practising nurses. Those involved in similar work are invited to submit articles to be considered for publication in future issues of this supplement.
Subject(s)
Bandages , Nursing Care , Alginates , Clinical Nursing Research , Collagen , HumansABSTRACT
A group of 115 female psychiatric in-patients and out-patients were studied, using a self-report questionnaire followed by interview, for evidence of childhood sexual activity with adults. About half of the sample reported some childhood sexual experience, ranging from full sexual intercourse to sexual suggestions. Future research should study the possible role of such experience in the genesis of subsequent psychiatric disorder.
Subject(s)
Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Sexual Behavior , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Ambulatory Care , Child Abuse, Sexual/complications , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Mental Disorders/etiology , Middle Aged , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This article describes results from one of the sites involved in a multi-centred comparative study designed to assess the performance of a collagen-alginate dressing used in the treatment of leg ulceration. The research methods used in the trial, as well as the results, will be of interest to practising nurses. Those involved in similar work are invited to submit articles to be considered for publication in future issues of this supplement.
ABSTRACT
A total of 158 women presenting with clinical eating disorders have been investigated using a self-report questionnaire and subsequent interview concerning their recollections of sexual experiences with adults before the age of 16 and later adverse sexual experiences. About a third reported events in childhood and over half described some adverse experiences. It may be that these experiences are relevant to the subsequent illness in some cases, but greater certainty must await further research. In the meantime, inquiring about such matters would seem to be advisable in the assessment and therapy of eating-disordered patients.
Subject(s)
Anorexia Nervosa/psychology , Bulimia/psychology , Child Abuse, Sexual/psychology , Personality Development , Adaptation, Psychological , Adolescent , Adult , Anorexia Nervosa/diagnosis , Bulimia/diagnosis , Child , Child Abuse, Sexual/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Incest/psychology , Middle Aged , Parent-Child Relations , Personality Inventory/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Seventy-eight eating disordered patients were asked systematically about any history of adverse sexual experience. About two thirds gave such a history. The events reported were often distressing and significant to the subject. It is unclear what role such events play in the causation of later eating disorder.
