Child sexual abuse: a review of the recent literature.

Research of child sexual abuse has considerably evolved and continues to evolve exponentially. Professionals in various fields are required to be updated in the latest guidelines in practice, as well as in research. The present paper summarizes the most recent scientific literature on child sexual abuse, mainly systematic reviews and meta-analyses, focusing on central issues, namely, the international prevalence of the phenomenon, its negative consequences, and the offender's characteristics; referring to the potential victim's profile. Finally, the paper summarizes the recent recommendations and implications for practice and research in child sexual abuse.

The attitudes of patients with chronic conditions towards nurse prescribing medications.

AIM: To explore the attitudes of patients with chronic conditions towards the expansion of nurse authority, with an emphasis on nurse prescribing of medications for chronic conditions. BACKGROUND: The rising number of chronically ill patients in Israel, concurrent with a shortage of physicians, has led to the delegation of authority from physicians to nurses, and this is particularly conspicuous in the prescribing of medication for chronic conditions. METHOD: In this correlational study, a questionnaire was distributed to 230 community-based chronically ill men and women aged 18 and older who take at least one regular medication. Data were collected from February to April 2012. Data analysis was performed with the SPSS 19 programme. It includes descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Most respondents are in favour of expanding nurse authority to prescribing medication for chronic conditions but object to expanding nurse authority to prescribing new medication. Respondents also object to expanding nurse authority to prescribing medication for chronic conditions in the field of psychiatry. The older respondents and the higher their image of nursing, as well as their knowledge on expanding nurse authority to prescribing medication for chronic conditions, the more positive their attitudes towards this expansion of authority. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides support for nurse prescribing of medication for chronic conditions in Israel. Policymakers in the field of nursing understand the national significance of increasing public awareness of expanding nurse authority to prescribe medication for chronic conditions.

Nurse assessment of residents' pain in a long-term care facility.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain experienced by residents in long-term care is a common complaint that is often underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. This in part may be due to poor nursing practice in pain assessment. AIM: To identify factors predicting nurses' performance of pain assessment among older long-term care residents. Furthermore, it will examine the relationship between ageist attitudes and practices and attitudes about pain assessment of older adults. METHODS: A descriptive correlation survey was carried out among 104 nurses working in a long-term care facility. The survey measured nurses' pain assessment practices and attitude about pain assessment, and attitudes to older people. Linear regression was used to examine associations between the variables. FINDINGS: Our results show that nurse assessment is directly and positively correlated with their general knowledge about pain obtained in pre-service nursing studies, but not with knowledge obtained during in-service training. Nurses with a positive, non-ageist attitude towards older adults are more likely to have higher levels of awareness of the need to perform pain assessment. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Concerning implementation, we suggest increasing pain assessment training as part of pre-service nursing education. The necessary training should focus on improving attitudes towards older adults, removing negative myths associated with them and increasing appreciation of the importance of pain assessment.

Factors affecting medical and nursing staff reporting of child abuse.

AIM: The purpose of the current research was to examine whether the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) succeeds in predicting nursing and medical staff reporting of suspected child abuse. BACKGROUND: Despite the rising incidence of child abuse in Israel, medical and nursing staff reports of suspected child abuse remain low. METHODS: This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was based on TPB. The Child Abuse Report Intention Scale questionnaire was administered to 143 nurses and 42 doctors who work with children in various departments of a central Israeli hospital and in a large affiliated community-based clinic. Descriptive, correlational and linear regression statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Objection to child abuse, views of professional responsibility on this issue, degree of self-control and subjective beliefs, affect reporting of suspected child abuse. Differences in reporting are evident between doctors and nurses and also between medical and nursing staff from the Arab and Jewish sectors. Doctors report more than nurses and Jewish staff members report more than their Arab colleagues. Medical and nursing staff's number of own children has a direct effect on their inclination to report child abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The TPB model succeeds in partly predicting medical and nursing staff reporting of suspected child abuse. This model can serve as a basis for intervention plans aimed at developing medical and nursing simulations of coping with conflict issues involving child abuse in an attempt to eradicate and treat inadequate reporting.

Nurses' and nursing students' attitudes towards late abortions.

AIM: The aim of the present study is to compare the attitudes of nursing students and nurses working in maternity wards towards late abortions performed after the 16th week of pregnancy and to identify the factors influencing their attitudes. METHODS: A quantitative design was employed in this descriptive study, using two convenience samples: 100 nurses working in the maternity ward of a large hospital and 100 nursing students from a nursing school in Israel. The self-report questionnaire was specially designed for purposes of this study. FINDINGS: Results showed that the nurses had less prejudicial attitudes towards late abortions than the nursing students. Overall, the participants had a more positive attitude towards late abortions in the following cases: (1) risk of malformation or developmental disability, (2) pregnancy as a result of rape, and (3) danger to the life of the mother. There was a weak negative connection between the participants' number of children and their attitudes towards late abortions. In addition, there was a significant relationship found between the level of religious observance and attitudes towards late abortions, as negative attitudes increased with higher religious observance. Indeed, the level of religious observance was found to be the most significant predictor of the participants' attitudes towards late abortions. CONCLUSION: Differences in attitudes were found between nursing students and nurses providing care to patients undergoing late abortions. Their personal religious beliefs, as well as the reason for the abortion, were found to be influential in determining their attitudes.

Smoking during pregnancy: analysis of influencing factors using the Theory of Planned Behaviour.

AIM: To investigate factors affecting women's intention to smoke during pregnancy. DESIGN: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study, employing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). METHODS: A questionnaire that was constructed based on a literature review of research on smoking during pregnancy and on the TPB was administered to 201 Israeli female smokers aged 19-46. Descriptive, correlational and linear regression statistics were calculated. RESULTS: Behavioural attitudes (women's total appraisal of smoking during pregnancy), subjective norms (women's perception of the opinion of significant others regarding the specific behaviour) and perceived behavioural control (women's total appraisal of their control of the behaviour and perceived ease or difficulty of quitting smoking during pregnancy) were found to predict women's intention to smoke during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing interventions guided by the TPB constructs may help Israeli women quit smoking during pregnancy and reduce the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy.

Screening for cervical cancer among Israeli lesbian women.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of lesbian women who contract the human papilloma virus may reach 13% or even 21%; however, lesbian women were found to receive Pap smear tests less often or less regularly. AIM: To explore factors influencing lesbian women to undergo Pap smear tests and to determine whether the Health Belief Model (HBM) is able to predict whether lesbian women would be willing to undergo the test. METHOD: This is a correlational quantitative study guided by the HBM. A convenience sample of 108 Israeli lesbian women was recruited from local events in the lesbian community in the city of Tel Aviv, Israel. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. FINDINGS: Findings indicate that only 22.2% of the women had undergone Pap smear tests in the past, but a slightly higher proportion, 30.8%, intended to be tested during the next year. Older women were found to be more compliant with the test. Model-based factors affecting actual testing were perceived benefits and barriers. Factors affecting women's intention to be tested were perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits and general health motivation. CONCLUSIONS: Effective strategies for nurses promoting cervical cancer screening among lesbians should address ways to improve familiarity with Pap smear tests, raise physicians' awareness of offering the test to lesbians and emphasize the importance of women-based medical teams.

Childhood obesity: current literature, policy and implications for practice.

THE PROBLEM: In most of the industrialized world, a childhood obesity epidemic is evident, with the numbers rising each year. PURPOSE: To discuss the current literature in relation to childhood obesity and to provide health practitioners, especially nurses, with the fundamental knowledge that is imperative in the recognition of children who are at risk and thereby tailor appropriate interventions. METHOD: Databases that were accessed for current literature included CINAHL, Science Direct and ProQuest. Keywords used in the search included obesity, childhood, health, relevant national statistics, policy and health risks. The literature was confined to the past 10 years with emphasis on the past 5 years. The 50 most pertinent papers from a variety of countries were chosen, and 35 papers that represented key areas of relevance were selected as the basis of this article. This selection of papers dictated the key areas of discussion such as the acknowledged factors in childhood obesity. FINDINGS: Although childhood obesity may be related to specific cultural and national circumstances, universal themes emerged from the literature review. These include social factors, exercise, advertising, public policy and the importance of partnerships in policy. CONCLUSION: Any country that has a high rate or increasing rate of childhood obesity must acknowledge core factors that contribute to this serious health problem. Furthermore, public policy and community partnerships that include all health professionals have a responsibility in the prevention of childhood obesity. This can be implemented through education, research and advocacy of all nurses involved with children and families.