bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in alcohol consumption and beverage preference among adolescents after the introduction of the alcopops tax in Germany
Authors: Müller Stefanie , Piontek Daniela , Pabst Alexander , Baumeister Sebastian E. , Kraus Ludwig 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTAims The aim of this study is to assess the contribution of the alcopops tax to changes in alcohol consumption and beverage preference among adolescents in Germany. We hypothesize that the decrease of alcohol intake by alcopops is substituted by an increase of alcohol intake by other alcoholic beverages.Design Data came from the German 2003 (n = 10 551) and 2007 (n = 10 598) cross‐sectional study of the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD).Participants A propensity score‐matched subsample of 9thand 10thgraders (n = 4694) was used for the analyses.Measurement Alcohol consumption within the last 7 days was assessed by a beverage‐specific quantity–frequency index. An individual's beverage preference was assigned for the beverage that had the highest share in total alcohol consumption. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess changes in alcohol consumption; changes in beverage preference were tested using multinomial logistic regression.Findings While alcopop consumption declined after the alcopops tax was implemented, consumption of spirits increased. Changes in beverage preference revealed a decrease in alcopop preference and an increase in the preference for beer and spirits.Conclusions Results indicate a partial substitution of alcopops by spirits and a switch in preference to beverages associated with riskier drinking patterns. Effective alcohol policies to prevent alcohol‐related problems should focus upon the reduction of total alcohol consumption instead of regulating singular beverages.
Addiction Research Centres and the Nurturing of Creativity The Chinese National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University: past, present and future
Authors: Wang Xi , Zhao Dong , Shi Jie , Zhao Chengzheng , Liu Zhimin , Lu Lin 
Published: May 2010

ABSTRACTIn the 25 years since drug abuse re‐emerged in China in the 1980s, the National Institute of Drug Dependence (NIDD) has made many contributions to China's antidrug campaign. This present paper offers an account of the history, current status and future of drug dependence research at NIDD. NIDD was originally a research centre at Beijing Medical University, founded by the Chinese Ministry of Health to address the rapid spread of drug abuse in China. Originally, the main task of NIDD was to complete the commissions assigned by the government and university. Further developments transformed NIDD into a national research institute in the field of drug addiction that began to conduct its own research. NIDD has now created a professional team spread across several independent departments involved in neurobiological mechanisms, epidemiological surveys and monitoring, pre‐clinical and clinical evaluation of new drugs (mainly analgesic drugs and detoxification drugs) and informatics and data analysis. As a university‐based research institute, NIDD's funding derives mainly from grants provided by the government and financial support from international organizations. Its past and present research has a gained NIDD a reputation with both practitioners and policy makers in the field of drug addiction. In the future, NIDD will continue to engage in various aspects of drug addiction research and will enter the field of brain function.
Nest architecture and traffic flow: large potential effects from small structural features
Authors: BURD MARTIN , SHIWAKOTI NIRAJAN , SARVI MAJID , ROSE GEOFFREY 
Published: May 2010

1. Research on human pedestrian dynamics predicts that seemingly small architectural features of the surroundings can have large effects on the behaviour of crowds and the flow of pedestrian traffic, particularly when a crowd is panicked. This theoretical framework might usefully be applied to the study of collective movement within subterranean nests of social insects.2. We examined the rate of egress from artificial nests by alarmed Linepithema humile ants. In accord with model predictions, but counter to intuition, we found that a partially obstructed exit enhanced the average rate of escape from the nest.3. The study of traffic flows in subterranean nests is almost non‐existent, but it would be worth studying the effect of nest design elements on collective movements, given the great variety of nest forms among ants and termites.
Asymmetric impacts of two herbivore ecotypes on similar host plants
Authors: TIPPING PHILIP W. , MARTIN MELISSA R. , BAUER LAURIE , POKORNY EILEEN , CENTER TED D. 
Published: May 2010

1. Ecotypes may arise following allopatric separation from source populations. The simultaneous transfer of an exotic plant to a novel environment, along with its stenophagous herbivore, may complicate more traditional patterns of divergence from the plant and insect source populations.2. The present study evaluated herbivory effects by twoCyrtobagous salviniaeecotypes on two species ofSalvinia: the largerS. molestaand the smallerS. minima. Evaluations were based on relative growth rates, biomass production, coverage, and nutrient cycling in a series of complementary and comparative laboratory and outdoor tank experiments.3. In general, the experiment results indicated that the smaller Florida ecotype ofC. salviniaeimpacted bothSalviniaspecies more than the larger Brazil ecotype. Herbivory, especially by the Florida ecotype, also improved water quality and accelerated nutrient cycling by increasing the rates of litterfall from the standing crops of salvinia.4. The smaller size of the Florida ecotype may be adaptive by allowing maximal exploitation of host plants via internal larval feeding, which presumably reduces predation risk while increasing damage to the plant. These findings provide support for relying on the suppressive effects of the Florida ecotype in Florida, rather than introducing the Brazil ecotype to counter new infestations ofS. molesta.
Diagnostic accuracy of two pressure ulcer risk scales and a generic nursing assessment tool. A psychometric comparison
Authors: Tannen Antje , Balzer Katrin , Kottner Jan , Dassen Theo , Halfens Ruud , Mertens Elke 
Published: May 2010

Aim.  Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of two pressure ulcer risk assessment scales and one generic nursing assessment tool.Background.  Guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention recommend an initial risk screening of all patients, followed by appropriate nursing interventions. Additionally, personal and financial resources have to be allocated carefully to avoid excessive or too little treatment. Risk assessments should be accurate and applicable, and some studies showed that generic nursing tools also provide specific information for nursing diagnoses, like risk for pressure ulcer.Design.  Cross sectional observational study.Methods.  A total of 1053 adult patients of a university hospital in Germany were investigated. For each patient, the Braden Scale, the Waterlow Scale and the Care Dependency Scale were completed. A skin inspection was conducted by trained nurses. Correlations between the three scales and the mean values of each pressure ulcer risk assessment scales for each Care Dependency Scale value were calculated. To determine the association between susceptibility to pressure ulcer and observed pressure ulcer, the area under the curve was calculated.Results.  There was a higher correlation between the Braden Scale and the Care Dependency Scale (r = 0·82) than between the two pressure ulcer risk assessment scales (−0·65). The highest area under the curve was reached by the Braden Scale (0·86), followed by the Care Dependency Scale (0·83) and the Waterlow Scale (0·81). Only the Braden Scale (cut‐off 18) and the Care Dependency Scale (cut‐off 65) reached the psychometric requirements of at least 70% sensitivity and 70% specificity.Conclusions.  The Care Dependency Scale could be used for both a general nursing assessment and as a screening tool for risk for pressure ulcers. The Braden Scale showed the highest association with the occurrence of pressure ulcer.Relevance to clinical practice.  The Care Dependency Scale is a useful screening tool to identify patients at risk for pressure ulcers. Nursing assessment activities might be reduced by using a generic nursing assessment tool also for specific risk screening.
Breastfeeding and obesity at 21 years: a cohort study
Authors: Shields Linda , Mamun Abdulla A , O’Callaghan Michael , Williams Gail M , Najman Jake M 
Published: May 2010

Aims.  To determine the influence of breastfeeding on overweight and obesity, as determined by body mass index in early adulthood.Background.  Obesity is a contemporary epidemic and linked to increased risk of later cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The success of long‐term treatment is modest. Protective factors, such as potentially, and breastfeeding, are few and very important. There are uncertainties as to whether breastfeeding has a protective effect, especially in adults, or whether it is a reflection of other markers of obesity that are more linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk. Some studies suggest that breastfeeding is protective in later life for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis.Design.  Epidemiological analysis of longitudinal data set.Methods.  We collected data about breastfeeding duration, body mass index of children at 21 years and confounding variables from an ongoing longitudinal study of a singleton birth cohort of 7223 children in Brisbane. We assessed the duration of breastfeeding at six months and prevalence of overweight and obesity at 21 years by body mass index. Adjustment for potential confounders was by multivariable multinomial logistic regression.Results.  Data were available for 2553 young adults. In neither the unadjusted or adjusted analysis was longer duration of breastfeeding associated with reduction in obesity at 21 years.Conclusions.  Findings of this investigation are consistent with breastfeeding not independently affecting body mass index in young adults.Relevance to clinical practice.  Breastfeeding has a range of important benefits for infants, mothers and families, although duration of breastfeeding may not play a substantial role in preventing adult onset obesity.
Organisational climate, organisational commitment and intention to leave amongst hospital nurses in Taiwan
Authors: Liou Shwu‐Ru , Cheng Ching‐Yu 
Published: May 2010

Aims and objectives.  To examine: (1) Taiwanese nurses’ perceptions of organisational climate, levels of organisational commitment and intention to leave, as well as relationships between these three variables; (2) demographic differences in the levels of these variables; and (3) mediating effects of organisational commitment on the relationship between organisational climate and intention to leave.Background.  Organisational climate is related to organisational commitment and affects nurses’ performances and attitudes towards an organisation.Design.  A cross‐sectional, descriptive design.Method.  Registered nurses working in eight hospitals in southern Taiwan for more than six months were recruited. Data were collected using the Litwin and Stringer’s Organisational Climate Questionnaire, Organizational Commitment Questionnaire and a five‐item scale measuring intention to leave. Questionnaires were distributed to 612 potential participants; 486 valid returned questionnaires were analysed.Results.  The study’s participants were generally satisfied with their hospital’s climate and yet claimed low commitment to their organisation and, nevertheless, reported low intention to leave their job. Single nurses were more satisfied with their hospital’s climate and were more committed to their hospital and had a lower intention to leave their job compared to married nurses. Nurses working in district hospitals perceived a better hospital climate and had a lower intention to leave than nurses working in teaching or regional hospitals. Staff nurses perceived a better organisational climate than did nurse managers. Organisational climate, organisational commitment and intention to leave were intercorrelated. Organisational climate had almost 60% indirect effect on organisational commitment related to intention to leave.Conclusions.  Creating a good organisational climate may increase nurses’ organisational commitment and, in turn, decrease their intention to leave.Relevance to clinical practice.  To motivate nurses’ positive organisational behaviours and to address their diverse needs, hospital administrators are encouraged to understand nurses’ work‐climate perceptions and to address nurses’ varied demographic factors.
Effectiveness of applying empowerment strategies when establishing a support group for parents of preterm infants
Authors: Liu Chung‐Hua , Chao Yi‐Hung , Huang Chiu‐Mieh , Wei Fang‐Chun , Chien Li‐Yin 
Published: May 2010

Aims.  The objectives of this study were to apply empowerment strategies to the establishing of a support group for parents of preterm infants who were recently discharged home and to examine its effectiveness in terms of self‐efficacy, perceived stress and depression among the parents.Background.  While the concept of empowerment has been applied when establishing various patient support groups, it has not been explicitly used for parents of preterm infants.Design.  This study applied a quasi‐experimental design.Method.  The inclusion criteria were parents of infants with a birth gestational age of <37 weeks who were expected to be discharged home within one week. A total of 70 parents of preterm infants participated in this study, made up of 35 participants each in the intervention and in the control groups. The intervention group received three months of support applying empowerment strategies, while the control group received usual care only.Results.  The results, relative to the control group at post‐test, demonstrated that the intervention group showed significantly higher scores for self‐efficacy when using resources as well as significantly decreased scores for depression. For parents of preterm infants with a very low birth weight, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in perceived stress relative to controls, but this was not seen in parents of preterm infants without very low birth weight. There was no significant difference in the scores for self‐efficacy when performing parental roles.Conclusions.  This study demonstrated the effectiveness of support groups for parents of preterm infants that apply empowerment strategies, which decreased parental depressive symptomatology and increased parental self‐efficacy when utilising resources. The intervention also effectively decreased the perceived stress level in parents of infants with very low birth weight.Relevance to clinical practice.  Health professionals should apply empowerment strategies when establishing parental support groups for preterm infants.
Anxiety levels of mothers whose infants have been cared for in unit level‐I of a neonatal intensive care unit in Turkey
Authors: Erdem Yurdagül 
Published: May 2010

Aim.  In most cases, admission of an infant to the intensive care unit is unexpected and is stressful for their mothers. The aim of this study is to examine factors affecting anxiety level of mothers whose infant is admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.Background.  Anxiety disorders figure among the most frequent psychiatric disorders in the population, and anxiety symptoms are among the most common.Design.  A descriptive correlational design.Setting.  Neonatal intensive care unit of Women’s Health and Diseases, Education and Research Hospital in Turkey.Participants.  A total of 151 women who had an infant in NICU.Methods.  A questionnaire form was used and included two instruments. The first measured characteristics of mothers and infants, and the second was the ‘State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory’.Results.  Of the mothers, 33·8% were between the ages 25–29, 41·7% of the subjects had a primary education, 89·4% were housewives, 64·9% had social security and 58·9% of subjects had low family incomes. Of the 151 subjects, 75·5% had planned their pregnancy, and 41·7% were primiparas. It was determined that maternal age, education, income; planned pregnancy, having complications of pregnancy, receiving antenatal care, type of labour, gestational age of the infant at birth, reasons for hospitalisation of the infant and birth weight did not affect maternal anxiety levels. Maternal anxiety was significantly (p < 0·05) related to the infants’ gender and duration of hospitalisation, with statistically significant differences.Relevance to clinical practice.  Anxiety in mothers was significantly higher if their infant was a boy. This finding can be a result of mother’s cultural and religious values. A better understanding of the psychosocial aspects such as cultural values and norms affecting maternal and child health of the perinatal period will contribute to improved health care and better outcomes. Nurses will be better prepared to assist mothers of babies in the NICU to cope with the experience through exploration of these aspects of the mother, infant and experience.
A clinical trial of an individualised intervention programme for family caregivers of older stroke victims in Taiwan
Authors: Shyu Yea‐Ing L , Kuo Li‐Min , Chen Min‐Chi , Chen Sien‐Tsong 
Published: May 2010

Aim and objective.  To explore the long‐term effects of a discharge‐preparation programme targeting Taiwanese family caregivers of older patients with stroke.Background.  Little is known about the effects of interventions for caregivers of patients with stroke in Asian and Chinese families.Design.  A randomised experimental design was used.Method.  Participants included 158 older patients with stroke (72 in the experimental group and 86 in the control group) and their family caregivers. A caregiver‐oriented intervention programme was designed to increase caregiver preparedness, to enhance caregiver perception of balance between competing needs and to satisfy specific needs during the transition between hospitalisation and discharge. Long‐term outcomes were measured by caregiver’s health‐related quality of life, quality of care, stroke patient’s self‐care ability, patient’s health‐related quality of life and service utilisation. Longitudinal data were analysed by the generalised estimating equation approach.Results.  During the 12 months following discharge of older patients with stroke, caregivers in the experimental group provided significantly better quality of care (β = 0·45; p = 0·03) than the control group. Between the sixth–twelfth months following discharge, patients in the control group were more likely to be institutionalised than those in the experimental group (χ2 = 5·11; p = 0·03).Conclusion.  Using a sample from Taiwan, this intervention programme succeeded in improving quality of care provided by family caregivers to older patients with stroke and in decreasing the likelihood of their institutionalisation.Relevance to clinical practice.  Older Chinese patients with stroke and their family caregivers can benefit from an individualised programme that prepares caregivers for patient discharge. Similar programmes may be applicable to other countries with Chinese populations.
Impacts of unit‐level nurse practice environment and burnout on nurse‐reported outcomes: a multilevel modelling approach
Authors: Van Bogaert Peter , Clarke Sean , Roelant Ella , Meulemans Herman , Van de Heyning Paul 
Published: May 2010

Aim.  To investigate impacts of practice environment factors and burnout at the nursing unit level on job outcomes and nurse‐assessed quality of care in acute hospital nurses.Background.  Prior research has consistently demonstrated correlations between nurse practice environments and nurses’ job satisfaction and health at work, but somewhat less evidence connects practice environments with patient outcomes. The relationship has also been more extensively documented using hospital‐wide measures of environments as opposed to measures at the nursing unit level.Design.  Survey.Method.  Data from a sample of 546 staff nurses from 42 units in four Belgian hospitals were analysed using a two‐level (nursing unit and nurse) random intercept model. Linear and generalised linear mixed effects models were fitted including nurse practice environment dimensions measured with the Revised Nursing Work Index and burnout dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory as independent variables and job outcome and nurse‐assessed quality of care variables as dependent variables.Results.  Significant unit‐level associations were found between nurse practice environment and burnout dimensions and job satisfaction, turnover intentions and nurse‐reported quality of care. Emotional exhaustion is a predictor of job satisfaction, nurse turnover intentions and assessed quality of care as well besides various nurse work practice environment dimensions. Nurses ‘ratings of unit‐level management and hospital‐level management and organisational support had effects in opposite directions on assessments of quality of care at the unit; this suggests that nurses’ perceptions of conditions on their nursing units relative to their perceptions of their institutions at large are potentially influential in their overall job experience.Conclusion.  Nursing unit variation of the nurse practice environment and feelings of burnout predicts job outcome and nurse‐reported quality of care variables.Relevance to clinical practice.  The team and environmental contexts of nursing practice play critical roles in the recruitment and retention of nurses, and as well as in the quality of care delivered. Widespread burnout as a nursing unit characteristic, reflecting a response to chronic organisational stressors, merits special attention from staff nurses, physicians, managers and leaders.
Hand dermatitis among paediatric nurses
Authors: Özyazıcıoğlu Nurcan , Sürenler Semra , Tanrıverdi Gülbu 
Published: May 2010

Aims and objectives. Hand dermatitis is regarded as one of the most often observed dermatological disorders among nurses. This study was carried out to investigate the incidence of self‐reported hand dermatitis and related factors among paediatric nurses.Background. The most common occupational skin disease in the nursing profession is hand dermatitis. Various risk factors are known to exist including the type of soap used at work, the number of hand washes per shift and the nursing job category, among others.Design. This study was conducted among a group of 158 nurses based in three paediatric hospital departments in Bursa.Methods. Data were collected using a questionnaire prepared by the investigators. Each nursing unit was visited twice by a single investigator. All nurses working at the time of each visit were questioned and examined.Results. Of the nurses, 47·5% had hand dermatitis. The damage was not correlated with age or the type of soap used at work, but was significantly correlated with the hospital, unit, number of hand washes (p < 0·05), history of allergy (p < 0·01) and type of hand protection (p < 0·001). Hand dermatitis was more common in the ICU and infectious disease units. Most of the nurses did not apply hand cream at the hospital.Conclusions. Damage to hands is a common and potentially serious problem among nurses and is associated with unit, glove usage and hand‐washing practices instead of with demographic factors. A high frequency of hand dermatitis was observed among paediatric nurses.Relevance to clinical practice. The proper preventive programmes should be implemented for those nursing staff working in high‐risk units.