bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of species traits in the establishment success of exotic birds
Authors: BLACKBURN TIM M. , CASSEY PHILLIP , LOCKWOOD JULIE L. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThere is now abundant evidence that propagule pressure, a composite measure of the number of individuals released into the nonnative location that varies between introduction events, is the most consistent predictor of success in the establishment of exotic species. However, the reasons why we expect propagule pressure to be important – because larger propagules ameliorate the effects of demographic, environmental or genetic stochasticity, or of Allee effects – also predict an influence of species traits on success. Here, we use a quantitative meta‐analytical approach to assess the effect of three categories of species‐level traits in the successful establishment of nonnative bird species: traits relating to population growth rates, traits that predispose species to Allee effects, and traits that enable a species to cope with novel environments. Traits that predispose species to Allee effects tend to decrease introduction success, whereas traits that enable a species to cope with novel environments tend to increase success. The breadth of habitats a species uses has the strongest mean effect of all variables analysed here. Mean effects for traits relating to population growth rates conflict in sign: in general, success is greater for species with large body mass whereas clutch size is not consistently related to establishment success. These results suggest a likely influence of some species‐level traits on exotic bird establishment success, especially traits that enable a species to cope with novel environments. We suggest that considering such traits in terms of the small‐population paradigm from conservation biology may be a productive avenue for future research.
Factors related to incidence of eye disorders in Korean patients at intensive care units
Authors: Oh Eui Geum , Lee Won Hee , Yoo Ji Soo , Kim So Sun , Ko Il Sun , Chu Sang Hui , Song Eun Kyeung , Kang Se Won 
Published: December 2008

Aims.  The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence rate of eye disorders and further to identify factors related to incidence of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients.Background.  Although the incidence of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients is very high, it is difficult to come to an accurate estimate of number of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients because eye disorders are often perceived to be minor problems.Design.  A retrospective, descriptive survey design was used.Method.  The medical records of a total 235 patients with eye disorders were identified through a review of the medical records of 2500 patients hospitalised in the intensive care units of Yonsei University Hospital, Seoul, Korea from January to December, 2004. To examine factors related to eye disorders, 522 patients without eye disorders from the cohort of 2265 patients were randomly selected. Factors related to incidence of eye disorder were included in a multiple logistic regression model, after screening by the chi‐squared test.Results.  The incidence rate for eye disorders in the intensive care unit patients was 8·6%. From the multiple regression model, the following odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of eye disorder were estimated; length of stay in intensive care unit of at least seven days: 2·8 (1·70–4·70); death: 2·5 (1·47–4·29); drowsy mental state: 2·2 (1·10–4·37); stupor mental state: 7·0 (3·20–15·45); coma mental state: 10·8 (3·47–33·74); no self‐respiration: 1·9 (1·00–3·52); positive end expiratory pressure: 2·9 (1·66–4·92); sedatives: 4·2 (2·26–7·74); muscle relaxants: 2·3 (1·11–4·95).Conclusions.  Factors related to incidence of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients identified in this study support the need to pay attention to eye problems and eye care in intensive care unit patients.Relevance to clinical practice.  An evidence‐based eye care protocol should be provided as routine care to prevent eye complication, especially in critically ill patients with mechanical ventilators, positive end expiratory pressure, sedatives or muscle relaxants and for patients whose mental status is decreased.
Predicting pressure ulcer risk: a multifactorial approach to assess risk factors in a large university hospital population
Authors: Nonnemacher Michael , Stausberg Jürgen , Bartoszek Gabriele , Lottko Birgit , Neuhaeuser Markus , Maier Irene 
Published: December 2008

Aims.  The purpose of this study was: (1) to determine the combination of risk factors which best predicts the risk of developing pressure ulcers among inpatients in an acute care university hospital; (2) to determine the appropriate weight for each risk factor; and (3) to derive a concise and easy‐to‐use risk assessment tool for daily use by nursing staff.Background.  Efficient application of preventive measures against pressure ulcers requires the identification of patients at risk. Adequate risk assessment tools are still needed because the predictive value of existing tools is sometimes unsatisfactory.Design.  Survey.Methods.  A sample of 34,238 cases admitted to Essen University Clinics from April 2003 and discharged up to and including March 2004, was enrolled into the study. Nursing staff recorded data on pressure ulcer status and potential risk factors on admission. Predictors were identified and weighted by multivariate logistic regression. We derived a risk assessment scale from the final logistic regression model by assigning point values to each predictor according to its individual weight.Results.  The period prevalence rate of pressure ulcers was 1·8% (625 cases). The analysis identified 12 predictors for developing pressure ulcers. With the optimum cut‐off point sensitivity and specificity were 83·4 and 83·1%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 8·4% and a negative predictive value of 99·6%. The diagnostic probabilities of the derived scale were similar to those of the original regression model.Conclusions.  The predictors mostly correspond to those used in established scales, although the use of weighted factors is a partly novel approach. Both the final regression model and the derived scale show good prognostic validity.Relevance to clinical practice.  The derived risk assessment scale is an easy‐to‐understand, easy‐to‐use tool with good prognostic validity and can assist in effective application of preventive measures against pressure ulcer.
Reflection in night nursing: a phenomenographic study of municipal night duty registered nurses’ conceptions of reflection
Authors: Gustafsson Christine , Asp Margareta , Fagerberg Ingegerd 
Published: December 2008

Aim.  The aim of the study was to describe nurses’ conception of reflection in their working situation.Background.  To be a municipal night duty registered nurse in Sweden means to shoulder nursing care responsibility for numerous units with older people in need of care. Two night nurses share nursing care responsibility for up to 1300 people. In nursing research, reflection is an often‐mentioned phenomenon discussed with advantages and benefits within the ‘traditional fields’ of nursing (hospital context). A question to ask is, how do night nurses having an untraditional amount of nursing care responsibility conceptualise and experience reflection in their working situation?Design.  A phenomenographic methodology was used.Methods.  Data were collected by interviewing all nurses (n = 7) in a medium‐sized municipality bordering a metropolitan area of Sweden.Results.  The nurses’ conceptions of reflection are categorised as ‘Field of applications’ (an instrument for interpreting, a strategy for handling the working situation and an approach to learning) and ‘Field of prerequisites’ (presence facilitates reflection; flexibility implies reflection; courage in thought and activity increases reflection).Conclusion.  The findings reveal that reflection in the nurses’ working situation is more than an instrument for learning, understanding and encouragement for change and improvement. Reflection is conceptualised as an instrument for interpreting nursing care situations, which requires courage and is facilitated by presence and flexibility. Reflection is also conceptualised as an approach to handling, managing and coping with a sometimes impossible working situation that includes nursing responsibility for hundreds of older people and can sometimes entail difficulties and stress.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings showed that reflection has a broader use than had earlier been described. Deliberate use of reflection could mean improved nursing practice. This guides nursing managers to pay attention to the phenomenon as an instrument for nursing care improvement.
Incidence of ambulatory care visits among female nursing staff in Taiwan: a claim data‐based retrospective cohort analysis
Authors: Huang I‐Chin , Yang Chiang‐Hsing , Sung Fung‐Chang , Chen Hua‐Fen , Li Chung‐Yi 
Published: December 2008

Aims.  To investigate the incidence of ambulatory care visits among female nursing staff in Taiwan.Background.  Literature frequently indicates increased risks of needlestick injury and musculoskeletal disorders among practicing nurses. With increased workload in the healthcare system, nursing staff could also be vulnerable to other diseases.Design.  A retrospective cohort study design including 27,624 female nursing staff with a contract with Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) programme between 2001–2004.Methods.  Information on ambulatory care visits was retrieved from the NHI claim data. Comparison groups included other female medical personnel and active non‐medical working women. Incidence rates of ambulatory care visits were calculated using person‐year approach. Rate ratio adjusted for potential confounders was estimated from the Poisson regression model.Results.  The nurse cohort developed a total of 781,352 ambulatory care visits, representing an incidence rate of 85,285/104 person‐years. Compared with the other female medical personnel, female nurses had significantly elevated incidence of genitourinary [adjusted rate ratio (ARR) = 1·20], circulatory (ARR = 1·14), mental (ARR = 1·12), infectious/parasitic diseases (ARR = 1·11) and pregnancy/birth complications (ARR = 1·07). Significantly increased incidence sustained for both infectious/parasitic diseases and pregnancy/birth complications as the nurse cohort was compared with the active non‐medical working women. The nurses, on the contrary, had significantly lower ARRs than the comparison groups of neoplasm, injury, metabolic, respiratory, digestive and musculoskeletal diseases.Conclusions.  Female nurses had increased incidences of certain types of systemic illness when compared with other medical personnel and with women working outside of the health industry. Whether the findings found in this study were region specific or could be applicable to other nations, requires further investigations.Relevance to clinical practice.  Policy makers and hospital administrators must not overlook nurses’ potentially unseen health problems. A mandatory periodical physical examination for nursing staff must be considered.
Post‐SARS knowledge sharing and professional commitment in the nursing profession
Authors: Chen Shu‐Lan , Chang Shao‐Min , Lin Huey‐Shyan , Chen Chung‐Hey 
Published: December 2008

Aim.  The aim of the present study was to examine the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis in relation to the degree of knowledge sharing and professional commitment, as perceived by the current nursing staff in Taiwan.Background.  The mortality rate for medical personnel during the SARS outbreak in Taiwan, which began in April 2003, was the highest among Asian countries. The SARS crisis severely challenged not only the medical skills of nurses, but also their professional commitment.Design.  Survey.Methods.  This study was conducted between August–December 2005, in Taiwan. Data were collected by structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed by post to 8056 nurses nationwide; 2833 nurses completed and returned the questionnaire for a valid response rate of 39%.Results.  The results showed that knowledge sharing correlated positively with professional commitment but negatively with the impact of SARS. Professional commitment negatively correlated with SARS impact (r = −0·074, p < 0·001); however, as knowledge sharing was a controlled variable, the partial correlation between SARS impact and professional commitment was −0·039 with a p‐value of 0·045, indicating virtual insignificance. That is, knowledge sharing was an antecedent variable for both SARS impact and professional commitment.Conclusion.  This cross‐sectional study provides preliminary evidence that knowledge sharing is significantly correlated with impact of SARS and professional commitment of nursing personnel.Relevance to clinical practice.  Hospitals and healthcare services can enhance retention of medical personnel by encouraging knowledge sharing, which enhances professional commitment and alleviates the impact of newly introduced contagious diseases.
A critical review of daily sedation interruption in the intensive care unit
Authors: O’Connor Mark , Bucknall Tracey , Manias Elizabeth 
Published: December 2008

Background. Daily sedation interruption (DSI) has been proposed as a method of improving sedation management of critically ill patients by reducing the adverse effects of continuous sedation infusions.Aim. To critique the research regarding daily sedation interruption, to inform education, research and practice in this area of intensive care practice.Design. Literature review.Method. Medline, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched for relevant key terms. Eight research‐based studies, published in the English language between 1995–December 2006 and three conference abstracts were retrieved.Results. Of the eight articles and three conference abstracts reviewed, five originated from one intensive care unit (ICU) in the USA. The research indicates that DSI reduces ventilation time, length of stay in ICU, complications of critical illness, incidence of post‐traumatic stress disorder and is reportedly used by 15–62% of ICU clinicians in Australia, Europe, USA and Canada.Conclusions. DSI improves patients’ physiological and psychological outcomes when compared with routine sedation management. However, research relating to these findings has methodological limitations, such as the use of homogenous samples, single‐centre trials and retrospective design, thus limiting their generalisability.Relevance to clinical practice. DSI may provide clinicians with a simple, cost‐effective method of reducing some adverse effects of sedation on ICU patients. However, the evidence supporting DSI is limited and cannot be generalised to heterogeneous ICU populations internationally. More robust research is required to assess the potential impact of DSI on the physical and mental health of ICU survivors.
Lecturers’ and students’ perceptions of portfolios in an English School of Nursing
Authors: Williams Glenn A , Park Jennifer R , Traynor Victoria , Nairn Stuart , O’Brien Elisabeth , Chapple Mary , Johnson Stacy 
Published: December 2008

Aims.  This study was aimed at comparing perceptions of portfolios between student nurses at the early and latter stages of their training and how they compare with their lecturers’ perceptions.Background.  Portfolios are used widely in nurse education. There has been research into how portfolios are perceived and understood, but there is little evidence into how student nurses and lecturers compare quantitatively in perceptions of portfolio use.Design.  Survey.Method.  Forty‐eight nursing lecturers and 413 nursing students, from a multi‐centred School of Nursing in the UK, completed a questionnaire. Data were analysed with exploratory factor analysis, varimax rotation of the factor solution, internal consistency analysis, and analysis of variance.Results.  Five factors were extracted, which were labelled: (1) portfolios as a means of skills acquisition, (2) other means of teaching and learning beyond using portfolios, (3) processes of showing the portfolio to others, (4) having favourable attitudes towards portfolios and (5) lecturers’ ability to share knowledge about portfolios. Scales developed from these five factors had high levels of internal consistency. Lecturers were the most positive of the three respondent groups in their views of portfolios, whereas third‐ and fourth‐year students were the least positive. There were significant differences between student nurses and their lecturers, concerning how information on portfolios is communicated by the lecturer.Conclusion.  There were significant discrepancies between lecturers and student nurses in their views on how portfolios are used. The value of portfolios becomes less salient to student nurses towards the end of their training.Relevance to clinical practice.  Lecturers and clinical mentors need to look at students’ perceptions and why some nursing students’ views on portfolios deteriorate. There could be regular discussions with students to see how and why the students begin to see portfolios as less useful for their education and continual professional development.
Incidence and risk factors for pressure ulcers in the intensive care unit
Authors: Nijs Nele , Toppets Adinda , Defloor Tom , Bernaerts Kris , Milisen Koen , Van Den Berghe Greet 
Published: December 2008

Aims.  To determine the incidence of pressure ulcers occurring at least 48 hours after admission and risk factors for pressure ulcers grade 2–4 in a long‐stay surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) population.Background.  The incidence of pressure ulcers in intensive care units is larger than in non‐intensive environments.Design.  Prospective descriptive research design.Methods.  Using pressure ulcers grade 2–4 as an outcome measure, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors. Data were obtained on a daily basis in a surgical intensive care unit of the University Hospital Leuven between November 2003–March 2004. A total of 520 long‐stay (≥ 24 hours) intensive care patients were included.Results.  Cumulative incidence of pressure ulcers grade 2–4 was 20·1%. The following variables were positively associated with pressure ulcers grade 2–4: history of vascular disease, treatment with Dopamine® or Dobutamine®, intermittent haemodialysis (IHD) or continuous veno‐venous haemofiltration (CVVH), mechanical ventilation. Also preventive measures were statistically positively associated with pressure ulcers grade 2–4: turning, floating heels, alternating mattresses, adequate prevention. The use of sedatives, body temperature above 38·5 °C and sitting in chair where negatively associated with pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers are statistically associated with different risk factors and preventive measures.Conclusion.  The identified risk factors are eligible to be included in a new risk assessment scale for patients admitted to intensive care units.Relevance to clinical practice.  The novel insights have implications for risk assessment for patients in intensive care units. Patients admitted to intensive care units have other risk factors for pressure ulcers which are eligible to be included in a new risk assessment scale.
A developmental approach to the treatment of bipolar disorder: IPSRT with an adolescent
Authors: Crowe Marie , Inder Maree , Joyce Peter , Moor Stephanie , Carter Janet , Luty Sue 
Published: December 2008

Aim.  This case study explains how a psychotherapy previously used with adults can be used with adolescents by focusing on the specific developmental issues associated with adolescence.Background.  Bipolar disorder is a damaging disorder to experience during the developmental phase of adolescence. Interpersonal social rhythm psychotherapy has been developed as an adjunct to medication for managing bipolar disorder and shows some promising outcomes in adults.Design.  This is a single case study design drawn from a larger randomised control trial of two psychotherapies for bipolar disorder. The case study addressed the question: How can Interpersonal social rhythm therapy be applied with adolescents who have bipolar disorder?Method.  This study used a purposeful sampling process by selecting the youngest adolescent participating in the randomised control trial. All the subject’s sessions of Interpersonal social rhythm therapy were taped, transcribed and analysed. The analysis involved describing the process of psychotherapy as it occurred over time, mapping the process as a trajectory across the three phases of psychotherapy experience and focusing the analysis around the impact of bipolar disorder and IPSRT on adolescent developmental issues, specifically the issue of identity development.Results.  Interpersonal social rhythm therapy allowed the therapist to address developmental issues within its framework. As a result of participation in the psychotherapy the adolescent was able to manage her mood symptoms and develop a sense of identity that was age‐appropriate.Conclusion.  Interpersonal social rhythm therapy provided the adolescent in the case study the opportunity to consider what it meant to have bipolar disorder and to integrate this meaning into her sense of self.Relevance to clinical practice.  Bipolar disorder is a chronic and recurring disorder that can have a serious impact on development and functioning. Interpersonal social rhythm therapy provides an approach to nursing care that enables adolescents to improve social functioning.
Evidence‐based nursing: clarifying the concepts for nurses in practice
Authors: Scott Kay , McSherry Rob 
Published: December 2008

Aim.  To provide a critical analysis of key concepts associated with evidence‐based nursing (EBN) to substantiate an operational definition for nurses to use in practice.Background.  Despite the plethora of literature surrounding what evidence‐based nursing is and is not and how it differs from its cousins, evidence‐based medicine and evidence‐based practice, nurses still struggle to get evidence into practice. Several reasons for this have been reported, for example, a lack of understanding about what evidence‐based nursing means or time to engage with and apply the evidence into practice.Design.  An in‐depth critical review and synthesis of literature was undertaken.Method.  Using the key words; evidence‐based nursing, evidence‐based medicine and evidence‐based practice 496 articles were yielded. These articles were limited to 83. Using Burns and Grove’s (2001) phased approach to reviewing the literature the articles were critically reviewed and categorised into key concepts and themes.Results.  The in‐depth critical review and synthesis of the literature demonstrated that evidence‐based nursing could be defined as a distinct concept. The review clearly shows that for evidence‐based nursing to occur, nurses need to be aware of what evidence‐based nursing means, what constitutes evidence, how evidence‐based nursing differs from evidence‐based medicine and evidence‐based practice and what the process is to engage with and apply the evidence.Conclusion.  The in‐depth critical review and synthesis of the evidence‐based nursing literature reinforces the need to consolidate a position for nursing in the evidence‐based field. The review confirms that evidence‐based nursing can be defined and conceptualised; however, for nurses to engage and apply with the evidence‐based processes they need to be informed of what these are and how to engage with them in practice.Relevance to clinical practice.  This paper examines the concept of evidence‐based nursing and its application to clinical practice.