RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Though education about secondary complications following spinal cord injury (SCI) is a component of many rehabilitation programs, there is little research on their success in promoting healthier outcomes. This study examined 1) whether greater education course attendance was associated with improved health outcomes and quality of life and 2) whether completion of bladder management and skin care courses was associated with decreased incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and pressure ulcers (PUs). DESIGN: Retrospective medical record review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N = 106) in a Veterans Administration (VA) SCI rehabilitation program who completed at least one education class from August 2008 to September 2012. METHODS AND OUTCOME MEASURES: Records were reviewed to determine the number of education courses completed and patients' responses to the Satisfaction with Life Survey (SWLS), the short form of the Craig Handicap and Assessment Reporting Technique (CHART-SF), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-8) at admission, discharge, and 90 days post-discharge. Records were reviewed to determine frequency of UTIs and PUs from admission to discharge and from discharge to 90-day follow-up. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed no association between number of classes and self-reported health and quality of life. Skin care class attendance was associated with a decreased number of PUs. Greater overall attendance at education courses was unexpectedly associated with a higher number of UTIs from admission to discharge. CONCLUSION: Results of the study are mixed. Multiple factors appear to impact the success of education interventions. Future research is needed to clarify the best approach.
Assuntos
Reabilitação Neurológica/métodos , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/reabilitação , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Úlcera por Pressão/epidemiologia , Úlcera por Pressão/prevenção & controle , Qualidade de Vida , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/complicações , Resultado do Tratamento , Infecções Urinárias/epidemiologia , Infecções Urinárias/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Rehabilitation nurses are well aware of the risks for musculoskeletal injuries related to patient handling tasks. Repetitive lifting, turning, and repositioning of patients with mobility limitations can take a toll on the nurse. This article chronicles integration of ceiling lift technology for patient-handling tasks into nursing practice on a spinal cord injury inpatient unit.
