Subject(s)
Evidence-Based Medicine , Internet , Diabetes Mellitus , Humans , MEDLARS , National Institutes of Health (U.S.) , United StatesSubject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/prevention & control , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/organization & administration , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Quality Indicators, Health Care/organization & administration , Total Quality Management/organization & administration , Humans , Societies, Scientific , United StatesSubject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/rehabilitation , Evidence-Based Medicine , Patient Education as Topic/standards , Professional Practice/standards , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Humans , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Patient Education as Topic/economics , Professional Practice/economics , Quality Assurance, Health Care , Self-AssessmentABSTRACT
The process of converting clinical information into a research database is complex. Following assemblage of a team including clinicians and researchers (supplemented by statisticians and informatics personnel as needed) a three-phase, eight-step process may be followed for clinical information conversion and database generation. The amount, type, and variety of data stored will greatly increase in the future. This increased availability of databases is useful in research and can expand the opportunities to conduct clinical nursing research. The case study presentation illustrates how individuals from various organizations collaborate to develop accountability systems that best serve the public interest. The purpose of this joint venture was the development and conversion of measures into a database to determine the quality of care for people with diabetes. In addition, opportunities exist for extracting data to examine outcome criteria for patient care.
Subject(s)
Databases, Factual , Nursing Research/organization & administration , Diabetes Mellitus/nursing , Humans , Nursing Research/methods , Nursing Research/statistics & numerical data , Quality of Life , Software , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale (MSHS) was revised to assess sense of humor in school-aged children. One hundred sixteen children completed the modified MSHS. Chronbach alpha coefficients were .88 for the total scale and ranged from .78 to .85 for the subscales. Item to total MSHS score correlations ranged from .35 to .71. Concurrent validity was supported with a positive correlation between total MSHS score and children's rating of their degree of sense of humor (r = .42, P < .001). Although further testing is suggested, the modified MSHS can be used in clinical and research settings to assess a child's sense of humor and determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of using humor with children as they cope with childhood stressors.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Personality Inventory/standards , Wit and Humor as Topic/psychology , Child , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Male , Pediatric Nursing , Pilot Projects , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to summarize the accumulated state of knowledge in the area of diabetes patient education research and highlight important issues that research has left unanswered. METHODS: An integrative literature review was conducted on the topic of diabetes patient education between the years 1985 and 1998. Keywords used in the computerized search were diabetes mellitus, patient education, health education, research, and behavior change. The databases searched were MEDLINE, CINAHL, HealthSTAR, EMBASE, and CHID-HE. A total of 78 papers were reviewed. RESULTS: Most studies lacked a theoretical framework and the majority of studies were conducted in an outpatient setting. HbA1c was the most frequently employed outcome measure, with little, if any, description of the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Much has been learned in terms of the effectiveness of diabetes education on improving knowledge. However, other topic areas and outcomes need further exploration.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Patient Education as Topic , Research/organization & administration , Diabetes Mellitus/metabolism , Evidence-Based Medicine , Humans , Knowledge , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Patient Education as Topic/trends , Research DesignABSTRACT
An abstract presents a brief summary of the content of a paper within the length allowed by a given journal. The problem under investigation is stated in one sentence (usually in the form of a purpose statement); pertinent sample characteristics are described (e.g., number of subjects, age, gender); the methodology is specified, including data collection procedures and instruments; important findings of the study are stated; and conclusions are discussed. The abstract must be an accurate, succinct, comprehensible, and informative representation of what is in an article so as to promote reading of the entire article, increase readership, and facilitate retrieval in the future.
Subject(s)
Abstracting and Indexing , Periodicals as Topic , Writing , Guidelines as Topic , HumansABSTRACT
Cross-training is a cost-effective means of maximizing the potential of staff members and available resources. The responsibility to provide quality patient care should not be compromised by cross-training efforts. Surgical services department staff members at Deaconess-Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass, developed a competency validation project for nurses involved in the cross-training program. They accomplished this by implementing current nursing standards and practices and promoting continuity of patient care through the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases. Perioperative nurses and health care facilities have the responsibility to provide safe, effective, and efficient care to all patients. By assessing competencies for perioperative nurses, staff members can enhance their commitment to caring for their profession and their communities.
