Interpretation of artificial and in vivo periapical bone lesions comparing conventional viewing versus a video conferencing system.

The purpose of this study was to compare the interpretation of conventional radiographs transmitted by a video teleconferencing system to conventional viewbox interpretation for both artificial and in vivo periapical bone lesions. A total of 30 radiographic images were used in this study: 20 radiographic images of artificial lesions and 10 radiographs from actual patients. Two endodontists evaluated the 30 images by giving a "yes" or "no" response when determining whether a periapical lesion was present on the radiograph. The study was conducted in two sessions, separated by a 6-wk interval to minimize evaluator recall. Results of the study revealed no statistical difference between the ability of the evaluator to identify periapical bone lesions using conventional radiographs on a viewbox and his ability to interpret the same images transmitted on a monitor screen.

Use of the microscope in endodontics: a report based on a questionnaire.

A survey regarding operating microscope (OM) usage and training was mailed to 3356 active members of the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) in the United States. Data from 2061 questionnaires indicate that 52% of the endodontists surveyed have access to and use the OM in their practice. The frequency of use as a function of years since completing endodontic training was as follows: < 5 yr, 71%; 6 to 10 yr, 51%; and > 10 yr, 44%. The OM was used most often for retrieval of separated instruments, root-end preparations, and root-end fillings. Of the respondents who use the OM, 36% report they do not use it as often as anticipated. The most common reasons reported were positional difficulties, inconvenience, and increased treatment time. The information collected from the survey reveals that the more training the operator has on the microscope, the more likely he or she is to use it for all procedures.

Experiences of women with chronic pelvic pain.

This ethnographic study describes how a group of women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) learned to develop self-care strategies that allowed them to function in their culturally prescribed roles throughout their illnesses. The sample consisted of 12 European American and 2 African American women from 19 to 52 years of age who had experienced CPP for the previous 6 months to 12 years. Data were collected by means of interviews and participant observations in a CPP clinic. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim onto the Ethnograph and analyzed by the constant comparative method. Women's experiences with CPP were described as a process of self-care consisting of three strategies: assessing the need for self-care, developing self-care practices, and sustaining self-care practices.

Preventability of infant mortality in a rural community.

Preventability of infant mortality in a rural southern county was examined with a Delphi technique using case summaries of infant deaths during a selected four-year period. The first two rounds were aimed at developing a consensus of panelists' opinions about problems leading to the high infant mortality rate in the study area. From these opinions, an Infant Mortality Preventability Decision Tree and a Problem List was developed. Panelists used these in Rounds III and IV to evaluate the case summaries. There were significant differences in the preventability ratings between physicians and nurses, indicating the importance of assessing individuals' philosophies of preventability when working with an interdisciplinary team of health care providers.

A relationship between neonatal breast size and cord blood testosterone level.

The present study was performed to determine if any hormone measured in cord blood correlates with the size of the neonatal breast or the presence of galactorrhea. A total of 144 term newborn infants were examined. Estradiol (E2), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), and thyrotropin (TSH) were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and prolactin (PRL) was determined by both RIA and biological activity (BA). The female breast (8.5 +/- 2.0 mm) was found to be larger than that of the male (7.8 +/- 2.1 mm, p less than 0.05). The only hormonal difference between sexes was a higher T level in the male infants (8.0 +/- 3.0 nmol per L vs. 5.5 +/- 1.9 nmol per L, p = 0.002). None of the other hormones measured by RIA correlated with the size of the neonatal breast or the presence of galactorrhea. The BA of PRL was widely variable compared to the PRL RIA but also failed to correlate with neonatal breast size or galactorrhea. This study suggests that T might be one factor in determining the size of the neonatal breast.

Clinical nursing research: you can do it!

Nurses can use clinical nursing research to strengthen the knowledge base of their practice and to develop effective nursing interventions. When planning and implementing their studies, nurses must anticipate and deal with important issues concerning the realities of clinical nursing research. These issues include developing the research question, planning for an optimal sample size, passing the Institutional Review Committee, managing conflicts between clinical and research roles, selecting instruments to measure the variables, collecting data in a clinical setting, analyzing and interpreting the data, funding the proposed study, and ensuring administrative support.