CPRural.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of our study was to determine if regular cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) practise improved the quality of nurses' chest compressions in a rural hospital. METHODS: The study was a prospective interventional trial measuring the effectiveness of brief, monthly CPR practice for rural nurses. The quality of nurses' chest compressions was measured before and after monthly practise with an interactive feedback device at the Golden and District Hospital, a rural facility in BC. RESULTS: All three components of high-quality CPR (depth, recoil and rate) improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Monthly practise of chest compressions with an interactive feedback device improved the quality and confidence of nurses' CPR skills. These results suggest that a higher frequency of CPR practice (than the minimum annual recertification) would improve both the quality and retention of CPR skills, specifically for low-volume rural hospitals.

Résumé Introduction: Notre étude visait à déterminer si la pratique régulière de la réanimation cardio-respiratoire (RCR) améliore la qualité des compressions thoraciques réalisées par le personnel infirmier dans un hôpital en région rurale. Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude interventionnelle prospective ayant mesuré l'efficacité de la brève pratique mensuelle de la RCR par le personnel infirmier des régions rurales. La qualité des compressions thoraciques effectuées par le personnel infirmier a été mesurée avant et après la pratique mensuelle avec un dispositif interactif de rétroaction à l'hôpital Golden and District; un établissement situé en région rurale de la Colombie-Britannique. Résultats: Les trois éléments de la RCR de grande qualité (profondeur, relaxation et rythme) se sont considérablement améliorés. Conclusion: La pratique mensuelle des compressions thoraciques avec un dis- positif interactif de rétroaction a permis d'améliorer la qualité des compétences en RCR du personnel infirmier et la confiance en ces compétences. Ces résultats laissent croire que la plus grande fréquence de la pratique de la RCR (plutôt que le renouvellement annuel minimal de la certification) améliorerait la qualité et la rétention des compétences en RCR, en particulier dans les hôpitaux des régions rurales à faible volume. Keywords: Réanimation cardio-respiratoire, réanimation cardio-pulmonaire, compressions thoraciques.

Prevalence and correlates of cervical cancer screening among injection drug users.

OBJECTIVE: Access to cervical cancer screening may be lower among lower income and socially disadvantaged populations. However, few studies have specifically examined factors associated with cervical cancer screening among socially marginalized populations, especially in settings with free health care systems. METHODS: The present study was conducted to examine the prevalence and correlates of cervical cancer screening among injection drug users. We examined rates of Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing among female participants in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS). Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate factors associated with cervical cancer screening. RESULTS: During the period from December 2004 to May 2005, 297 female injection drug users were seen. In logistic regression analyses, age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.70; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.53, 0.92, P=0.010), HIV infection (AOR=2.46; 95% CI 1.41,4.26, P=0.001), hepatitis C infection (AOR=0.25; 95% CI 0.09,0.71, P=0.010), and having visited a family physician in the prior six months (OR=3.10; 95% CI 1.58, 6.07, P=0.001) were independently associated with recent cervical cancer screening. CONCLUSIONS: After adjustment for regular physician visits, HIV infection was associated with elevated rates of cervical screening. This is reassuring, given the elevated risk of cervical cancer among this population. Interventions may be required to improve uptake of screening among older injection drug users and drug users infected with hepatitis C.