A multi-center study of horizontal violence in United States military nursing.

Horizontal violence refers to repeated behaviors over time that intimidate or demean another. These behaviors may negatively impact the nursing workplace. The purpose of this study was to describe horizontal violence occurrence in the United States military nursing workplace and to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention. Using a one group before-after design, survey data on horizontal violence behaviors, personal effects, perpetrators, job satisfaction and intention to leave were collected before and after a 30-min educational intervention. Reported horizontal violence behaviors and personal effects from horizontal violence averaged once to twice in a three month period. Staff nurses (peers) were the most frequent perpetrators. Job satisfaction and intent to leave significantly correlated with horizontal violence. There were no significant differences in overall horizontal violence before and after the intervention. Within the United States military nursing workplace horizontal violence does occur, although less frequently than in the United States civilian nursing population. Education on horizontal violence may not be sufficient as a sole intervention.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Mirror Therapy for Upper Extremity Phantom Limb Pain in Male Amputees.

OBJECTIVE: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is prevalent in patients post-amputation and is difficult to treat. We assessed the efficacy of mirror therapy in relieving PLP in unilateral, upper extremity male amputees. METHODS: Fifteen participants from Walter Reed and Brooke Army Medical Centers were randomly assigned to one of two groups: mirror therapy (n = 9) or control (n = 6, covered mirror or mental visualization therapy). Participants were asked to perform 15 min of their assigned therapy daily for 5 days/week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was pain as measured using a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale. RESULTS: Subjects in the mirror therapy group had a significant decrease in pain scores, from a mean of 44.1 (SD = 17.0) to 27.5 (SD = 17.2) mm (p = 0.002). In addition, there was a significant decrease in daily time experiencing pain, from a mean of 1,022 (SD = 673) to 448 (SD = 565) minutes (p = 0.003). By contrast, the control group had neither diminished pain (p = 0.65) nor decreased overall time experiencing pain (p = 0.49). A pain decrement response seen by the 10th treatment session was predictive of final efficacy. CONCLUSION: These results confirm that mirror therapy is an effective therapy for PLP in unilateral, upper extremity male amputees, reducing both severity and duration of daily episodes. REGISTRATION: NCT0030144 ClinicalTrials.gov.