Cancer Nursing Research Output in Africa 2005 to 2014: An Integrative Review.

BACKGROUND: This study is the first review of African cancer nursing research as only 1 review focusing on South Africa was conducted in the past decade. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify, summarize, and synthesize the findings from previous independent studies conducted by nurses in Africa. METHODS: The terms cancer nursing and oncology nursing and Africa were used to search PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, SA e-publications, and Scopus. Studies reporting research conducted in an African setting, coauthored by a nurse affiliated with an African institution and published between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014, in English were included. A data extraction sheet captured the data. RESULTS: A potential 536 articles for possible inclusion were identified. Fifty met the inclusion requirements. Cancer in women (78%; n = 39) and prevention and early detection (62%; n = 31) were most commonly investigated. The work was primarily quantitative and collected data on some knowledge aspect from women in the community. Most of the studies (96%; n = 48) did not meet the criteria of high-quality work. CONCLUSIONS: Africa's nurses have improved their research output in the field of cancer nursing considerably. Research focusing on the most prevalent cancers, the treatment, the patient living with cancer, the family, extended family, and community is lacking, as is work focusing on pain and other symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses in practice should assist nurse researchers to address the identified knowledge gaps to develop cancer nursing science and practice tailored to meet the unique needs of Africa.

Outcome of Patients with Severe Abdominal Sepsis in the Intensive Care - Experience at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital

Despite advances in diagnosis; surgery; antimicrobial therapy and intensive care support; the mortality rate associated with intra-abdominal sepsis remains unacceptably high. The aim of the present study was to identify prognostic factors in 54 consecutive cases with abdominal sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) over a two-year period; from January 2001 to December 2002. This was a retrospective record review of cases with abdominal sepsis admitted to the ICU. Of 54 patients that were studied; only 14 survived. The mortality rate was 74.1. Non-survivors had significantly longer ICU stay; had more relook laparotomies; more blood transfusions and a significantly higher APACHE II score on admission to the ICU. Other results revealed that non-survivors required significantly more inotropic support and corticosteroids; had a lower paO2/FiO2 ratio and had more total arenteral nutrition days. None of the patients who urvived required dialysis. The number of relook laparotomies were higher in the non-survivors and the maximum number of relook laparotomies were four in the survivors and 13 in the non-survivors. The non-survivors were also more likely to have an open abdomen. We conclude that patients with abdominal sepsis have an extremely high mortality and utilise an enormous amount of limited intensive care resources. The length of ICU stay; APACHE II score on admission; number of relook laparotomies; whether the abdomen was left open or not; and requirement for inotropic support; dialysis; total parenteral nutrition and blood transfusions were predictive of adverse outcomes in these patients