[Adolescents at suicide risk: nursing care they consider helpful]. / Les interventions infirmières estimées bénéfiques par les adolescents à risque de suicide.

This qualitative study explores "helpful" nursing care from the perspective of adolescents at risk for suicide. While hospital-based nurses have a high level of direct and continuous contact with suicidal teens, little is known about the nursing care offered to this population. The purpose of this research is to explore the perceptions of suicidal adolescents regarding helpful nursing care during hospital treatment on a mental health unit. Nine patients, aged 15-18 years, participated in individualized, semi-structured interviews. Results affirm the importance of personalized, human caring interactions combined with nurse accompaniment across situations of daily living as well as during acute crisis, illness and suffering. The nurse's role and contribution in creating a therapeutic milieu is described, and the impact of a health-promoting hospital environment on patient care and recovery is highlighted.

Relief-oriented use of marijuana by teens.

BACKGROUND: There are indications that marijuana is increasingly used to alleviate symptoms and for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions both physical and psychological. The purpose of this study was to describe the health concerns and problems that prompt some adolescents to use marijuana for therapeutic reasons, and their beliefs about the risks and benefits of the therapeutic use of marijuana. METHODS: As part of a larger ethnographic study of 63 adolescents who were regular marijuana users, we analyzed interviews conducted with 20 youth who self-identified as using marijuana to relieve or manage health problems. RESULTS: Thematic analysis revealed that these teens differentiated themselves from recreational users and positioned their use of marijuana for relief by emphasizing their inability to find other ways to deal with their health problems, the sophisticated ways in which they titrated their intake, and the benefits that they experienced. These teens used marijuana to gain relief from difficult feelings (including depression, anxiety and stress), sleep difficulties, problems with concentration and physical pain. Most were not overly concerned about the risks associated with using marijuana, maintaining that their use of marijuana was not 'in excess' and that their use fit into the realm of 'normal.' CONCLUSION: Marijuana is perceived by some teens to be the only available alternative for teens experiencing difficult health problems when medical treatments have failed or when they lack access to appropriate health care.