Variations in feminine hygiene practices of military women in deployed and noncombat environments.

There is limited information on how military women manage feminine hygiene practices in combat and noncombat environments. The purpose of this study was to describe feminine hygiene practices of military women in deployed and noncombat (normal) environments. A nonexperimental descriptive research design was used. The study used a survey questionnaire, the Deployed Female Health Practice Questionnaire, which was developed specifically for military women to report their experiences with hygiene issues. Significant differences between deployed and normal environments were found in the areas of types of menses management products used and in douching and handwashing practices. Continuing education about safe feminine hygiene practices will help military women cope better in deployed (field) environments. Recommendations suggest further study on intervention strategies for hygiene management practices.

Biological correlates of Reiki Touch(sm) healing.

BACKGROUND: Despite the popularity of touch therapies, theoretical understanding of the mechanisms of effect is not well developed and there is limited research measuring biological outcomes. AIMS: The aim of this study was to test a framework of relaxation or stress reduction as a mechanism of touch therapy. METHODS: The study was conducted in 1996 and involved the examination of select physiological and biochemical effects and the experience of 30 minutes of Reiki, a form of touch therapy. A single group repeated measure design was used to study Reiki Touch'ssm effects with a convenience sample of 23 essentially healthy subjects. Biological markers related to stress-reduction response included state anxiety, salivary IgA and cortisol, blood pressure, galvanic skin response (GSR), muscle tension and skin temperature. Data were collected before, during and immediately after the session. RESULTS: Comparing before and after measures, anxiety was significantly reduced, t(22)=2.45, P=0.02. Salivary IgA levels rose significantly, t(19)=2.33, P=0.03, however, salivary cortisol was not statistically significant. There was a significant drop in systolic blood pressure (SBP), F(2, 44)=6.60, P < 0.01. Skin temperature increased and electromyograph (EMG) decreased during the treatment, but before and after differences were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest both biochemical and physiological changes in the direction of relaxation. The salivary IgA findings warrant further study to explore the effects of human TT and humeral immune function.

A military challenge to managing feminine and personal hygiene.

PURPOSE: To examine the personal remembrances of a group of military women concerning their experiences with hygiene issues during service in a hostile environment. DATA SOURCES: Verbatim transcripts of focused interviews from 33 women who had been deployed to combat or the field were subjected to content analysis. Questions related to the womens' experiences in cleansing the body, collecting menses waste, and protecting against genitourinary infection in a hostile environment. CONCLUSIONS: Management of personal hygiene needs was often difficult and consumed a great deal of time. Hygiene issues affected women's attitudes, practice, work, morale and coping. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: By understanding the hygiene needs and practices of military woman changes can be made that have the potential to affect health promotion and disease prevention strategies for all women.

Spirituality of healing touch participants.

Nurses and nonnurses involved in Healing Touch training were studied to determine if there was a difference in their perception of spirituality. There was no difference between the nurses and nonnurses on either the Spiritual Perspective Scale (F = .001, p = .970) or the Questionnaire on Spiritual and Religious Attitudes (F = .024, p = .878). There was a significant difference between the six levels of training in Healing Touch classes completed by the participants on the Spiritual Perspective Scale (F = 7.079, p = .000). The upper-level classes had higher scores than the lower levels. There was a difference on the Questionnaire on Spiritual and Religious Attitudes between levels of instruction completed (F = 3.326, p = .003). This suggests that there is a heightened sense of spiritual awareness in those in the higher levels of the program. It may be that involvement in an energy-based therapy is one way to develop spiritual awareness.

Ethical principles applied to complementary healing.

With the public and professional shift to an interest in alternative/complementary therapies and holistic health, existing assumptions about the relationship between providers and clients are being challenged. This study explores the ethical approaches and underlying principles in the expectations of three organizations espousing holistic health and touch therapies. An analytic technique using a qualitative approach was applied to the documents of written ethical codes and standards from these organizations and was augmented by field exposure from previous work with each of the groups of healers. The emphasis on and approach to the principles of paternalism and autonomy from the groups provided contrasts with general biomedical approaches. All groups gave attention to the constructs of nonmaleficence, beneficence, and autonomy, with a strong emphasis on virtue ethics. The shift in the expression of the principles of paternalism and client agency allowed the healers to employ the therapeutic effects of placebo, suggestion, optimism, hope, and surrender with the avoidance of noicebo effects.

Differentiating holistic practice and speculations for future directions.

Technological advances and economic, social, and cultural conditions have created a climate of change in health care. New roles and approaches are developing in relation to the holistic health movement. Within the holistic nursing community, three concepts of holistic practice have emerged. Differentiations among (a) certified holistic nurses, (b) practitioners of a healing modality, and (c) healers are presented to promote future discussion. As new roles must match a social need and become institutionalized to secure a professional role, speculations on possible directions for the certification in holistic nursing are presented.

Development of a pacifier for low-birth-weight infants' nonnutritive sucking.

Nonnutritive sucking can provide low-birth-weight infants with an opportunity to organize their behavior, an important component of developmental care. A pacifier specifically designed for low-birth-weight infants facilitates their nonnutritive sucking to more fully meet their needs. The research and development of a pacifier for low-birth-weight infants incorporated a naturalistic approach and used the best model, the infant thumb, in the design. Clinical trials with infants randomized to control and experimental groups were conducted to compare the prototype pacifier to a commercially available pacifier. Observations using the Anderson Behavioral State Scale demonstrated that infants using the prototype pacifier more often were found to be in an alert state. This pacifier may contribute to infants' state organization for optimum feeding and could be a component in developmental care planning.

Perimenopausal women's alienation.

A feminist perspective was used to interpret data gathered from perimenopausal women using hormonal replacement therapy. Silence was the most pervasive and disquieting theme. These women parroted biomedical cognizance and iterated little authentic expression of experience. This silence reflected the women's existential position of the double other, marginalized first by being a woman and second by reason of medical norms for women being based on reproductive function. This position of alienation is explored within the context of Western culture and the patriarchal values of rationality and science. Implications are drawn for holistic nurses to facilitate women's physical awareness and articulation of their personal experiences.

The essence of partnership in research.

The essence of working together in research was explored using a two-step ethnomethodological approach. First, the authors reflectively analyzed their own 7-year partnership. This was followed by a collective interpretive process of interviewing other doctorally prepared health care researchers who were working in partnerships. Core constructs were identified in the reflective process and validated and expanded in the collective analysis, and variations were identified. Dialogue was the basis for maintaining the relationship, and all agreed that trustworthiness, competence, and flexibility were necessary requisites for individuals in a partnership. Successful relationships were characterized by acceptance, validation, commitment, synergy, and fun. Benefits of working together include increased productivity, quality, and personal growth. Hindrances to successfully working together were identified as problems centered around maturity, ownership, and control issues.

Women's anticipations of hormonal replacement therapy.

Middle class Caucasian women's anticipations about hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for perimenopausal symptoms were investigated to expand an understanding of elective use of HRT. This focused ethnography used both interviews and participation in discussion groups established for perimenopausal women as sources of data. Two investigators augmented validity. Inductive and deductive analysis yielded six typologies of anticipations: trusting in nature, fixing, skeptical experimenting, restabilizing, life enhancing, and trusting in science. These findings have clinical and theoretical implications related to issues of non-compliance, health seeking behaviour, provider-recipient interaction, and the focus of scientific investigation.

Ectopic pregnancy: a growing concern.

Ectopic pregnancy rates have increased threefold since 1970. Ectopic pregnancy continues to be the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of pregnancy. The identification of clients with ectopic pregnancies may be difficult. In this article, risk factors, assessment techniques, and treatment strategies are reviewed. A questionnaire is included for use during pregnancy verification to identify those clients who may be at risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. The role of the nurse practitioner in providing comprehensive care is also addressed.

Chronic exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.

The presence of chronic STD is due to various factors such as lifestyle behaviors, psychological factors, stress, reinfection, deviations of the urogenital tract, failure of treatment, resistant strains, allergic response, alternate sites, no known treatment, and errors in diagnosis. The presence of a chronic STD may have varying effects on the individual. It is important to consider the factors that cause chronic infections. The most common cause of chronic infections is reinfection. The assessment of the client should include both a nursing history and through physical examination. The nursing history should include a sexual history to identify health risks for the development of STD. Sensitivity and caring are needed in approaching the client with chronic STD exposure.