bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring community nurses' perceptions of life review in palliative care
Authors: Trueman Ian , Parker Jonathan 
Published: January 2006

Aims and objectives.  This exploratory study aimed to identify community nurses’ understanding of life review as a therapeutic intervention for younger people requiring palliative care. The objectives set out to: (i) Describe the participants’ understanding of reminiscence and life review (ii) Detail their current ideas regarding a structured approach to using life review in the community setting. (iii) Outline their understanding of the possible advantages and limitations of life review in relation to palliative care. (iv) Identify future training requirements.Background.  The literature review illustrated how the eighth developmental stage of Erikson's theory, ego‐integrity vs. despair, is a ‘crisis’ often faced by older people entering the final stage of life. Life review is considered a useful therapeutic intervention in the resolution of this crisis. Younger terminally ill people in the palliative stage of an illness may face the same final crises due to their reduced lifespan. Therefore, this study explored the benefits and limitations of life review as an intervention in palliative care.Method.  The study used a purposive sample of community nurses responsible for delivering generic and specialist palliative care. A qualitative method of data collection in the form of three focus group interviews was used. Subsequent data were manually analysed, categorized and coded with associations between the themes identified.Results.  The findings suggested that community nurses have limited knowledge pertaining to the use of life review and tend to confuse the intervention with reminiscence. Furthermore, they believed that life review could potentially cause harm to practitioners engaged in listening to another person's life story. However, the participants concur that with appropriate training they would find life review a useful intervention to use in palliative care.Conclusions.  The results led to the identification of a number of key recommendations: Community nurses require specific education in the technicalities of life review and additional interpersonal skills training. The need for formalized support through clinical supervision is also recognized and discussed. Finally, suggestions are offered regarding the need to generate wider evidence and how, possibly, to integrate life review into existing palliative care services.Relevance to clinical practice.  This study has demonstrated that community nurses are keen to extend the support offered to younger terminally ill people who are in the palliative stage of their illness. Despite having limited knowledge of life the main components and underpinning theory pertaining to life review participants could appreciate the potential of life review as a therapeutic intervention in palliative care and were keen to learn more about its use and gain the necessary knowledge and skills.
The health promotion model as assessed by ageing workers
Authors: Naumanen Paula 
Published: January 2006

Aims.  This study describes qualitatively ageing workers and their health promotion. It also describes quantitatively the importance of individual, workplace and occupational health promoting factors, the impact of health promotion and the contributions of the other co‐partners promoting the health of ageing workers. These form the foundation for a model of health promotion.Background.  Very little is known about the health promotion factors exclusively focused at ageing workers.Methods.  A pretested questionnaire with structured and some open‐ended questions were devised to form the basis of qualitative data and sent to 150 ageing workers, of whom 93 (62%) returned it. Qualitative data were analysed by content analysis. Statistical analyses were performed using frequencies and means.Results.  Over 90% of respondents stated that health habits, individual arrangements at the workplace, a good workplace spirit, health checks, counselling and access to nursing care were important factors for health promotion. Better health (99%), work satisfaction (95%) and motivation of employees (96%) were the factors impacting on health promotion. Ageing workers stated that health and safety organization (94%) and rehabilitation institutes (93%) were the most important co‐partners.Conclusions.  This study confirms extremely high importance of different health promotion factors, their impact and some co‐partners. Health problems, early retirement and work absenteeism are rather common in ageing workers. If we are to avoid these problems, it is important to support their work ability effectively and systematically to allow these workers to stay employed until the normal retirement age.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is necessary, that management appreciate the benefits of ageing workers; they have to take a positive attitude toward these workers and participate more effectively in their health promotion. Occupational health professionals play a key role in training workers and management to undertake the required measures.
Burn injuries in small children, a population‐based study in Sweden
Authors: Carlsson Anna , Udén Giggi , Håkansson Anders , Karlsson Elisabeth Dejin 
Published: January 2006

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this study was to describe characteristics in burn injuries in children (zero to six years old), consulting primary care and hospital‐based care in Malmö, Sweden. Burn‐injured children consulting the University Hospital or the 21 Health Centres, during year 1998 and year 2002, were included.Background.  Epidemiological studies of burns in children have mostly been hospital‐based and the cases that never reached the hospital have been excluded.Design.  The study had a retroperspective design with data collected from medical records.Methods.  Chi‐squared test was used to analyse differences in nominal data and cross tables were used to analyse the proportions between the characteristics of the injuries and sex, age and nationality.Results.  The burn‐injured children were 148 and 80% of those were scalds, caused by hot liquid (71%) or hot food (29%). The greatest number was boys between one and two years old. Children to foreign born parents were more frequently affected and the extent of the injuries often larger. Almost all the accidents (96%) occurred in home environment, while a family member was next to the child. The Health Centres received more often children affected on hand/arm and by causes like hot food than the University Hospital.Conclusions.  Our data demonstrate the importance of developing a programme for the prevention of paediatric scalds with education of family members to be aware of the danger. With present study the knowledge about the occurrence of injuries in scald accidents in children has become deeper. This knowledge may contribute to more individual adept child accident prevention programme, to use in the child health care.
An evaluation of the role of the clinical education facilitator
Authors: McCormack Brendan , Slater Paul 
Published: January 2006

Aims and objectives.  The objective of the study was to identify whether clinical education facilitators made a difference to the learning experiences of nurses in a large teaching hospital.Background.  Strategies for enabling continuous professional development are well established in healthcare organizations as key components of approaches to lifelong learning. The benefits of continuous professional development include the maintenance of high standards of care, the improvement and development of services, ensuring the competency of all nursing staff and guaranteeing the accountability of nurses for their actions. The role of clinical education facilitator is relatively new and little evaluation of this role has been undertaken.Conclusions.  This study highlights important issues to be considered in developing a ‘learning culture’ in a hospital organization, through the adoption of such roles as clinical education facilitators. Whilst the roles have had an important function in the active coordination of learning activities in the hospital, there is little evidence of the role directly impacting on the learning culture of clinical settings. Learning mechanisms have been identified. The results of this evaluation can be subjected to further testing through ongoing evaluation of the outcomes arising from the learning mechanisms in place. Given the emphasis on work‐based learning and continuing professional development in health care, then this ongoing evaluation can yield important information about future directions for nurse education.Relevance to clinical practice.  The study highlights the importance of supported learning in the workplace. However, more importantly, it identifies the need for a culture of professional practice to be developed in order to sustain learning in practice. Classroom‐based learning alone, cannot create a culture of development in nursing and there is thus a need for models of work‐based learning to be integrated into practice environments.
A 4‐cm thermoactive viscoelastic foam pad on the operating room table to prevent pressure ulcer during cardiac surgery
Authors: Feuchtinger Johanna , de Bie Rob , Dassen Theo , Halfens Ruud 
Published: January 2006

Aims and objectives.  In this experimental study, a 4‐cm thermoactive viscoelastic foam overlay and a heating source on the operating room table was compared with the standard operating room table with a heating source for the effect on the postoperative pressure ulcer incidence in cardiac surgery patients.Background.  Pressure ulcer incidence in the cardiac surgery population is reported to be up to 29·5%. The prolonged compressive forces from lying on the operating room table are one source of pressure ulcer development in this population. Pressure‐reducing devices on the operating room (OR)‐table should reduce the patients’ interface pressure and thus the hazard of skin breakdown.Methods.  A randomized controlled trial was performed to test the effect of a 4‐cm thermoactive viscoelastic foam overlay with a water‐filled warming mattress on the OR‐table (test OR‐table) compared with the standard OR‐table (a water‐filled warming mattress, no pressure‐reducing device) on the postoperative pressure ulcer incidence in cardiac surgery patients.Instruments.  The pressure ulcer classification system of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) was used for pressure ulcer grading.Results.  The results show that patients lying on the 4‐cm thermoactive viscoelastic foam overlay suffer slightly more pressure ulcer (17·6%) than patients on the standard OR‐table without the foam overlay (11·1%). Because of the clinical relevance of the results, the randomized controlled trial was terminated after 175 patients at the interim analysis although the power calculation stated 350 patients.Conclusions.  The combination of a 4‐cm viscoelastic foam overlay and a warming source cannot be recommended for pressure ulcer prevention on the operating room table.Relevance to clinical practice.  Foam overlays are used to prevent pressure ulcers in patients. It is necessary to use such devices according to patient safety and use of resources.
Quality of life in adults with an intellectual disability: the Evaluation of Quality of Life Instrument
Authors: Nota L. , Soresi S. , Perry J. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground  The construct of quality of life (QoL) has been the focus of a great deal of recent research and has been operationalized in the assessment of the effectiveness of biomedical and rehabilitative interventions. Consequently, the effective measurement of QoL has become a relevant issue. QoL assessment should take account of both objective life conditions and reported satisfaction with those conditions, and should recognize that QoL has multiple domains. There is also evidence to suggest that it is useful to supplement such assessments with the evaluations of significant others within a multidimensional assessment perspective.Methods  The current study describes a further stage of testing and refinement of the Evaluation of Quality of Life Instrument (EQLI), which was designed to elicit from staff of health and social care services assessments of the level of satisfaction experienced by adults with an intellectual disability. Specifically, the EQLI's internal consistency, and construct, convergent and discriminant validity were analysed.Results  The EQLI appears to be a psychometrically valid measure for collecting data on the levels of satisfaction which, according to health and social services staff, might be experienced by individuals with an intellectual disability who attend residential institutions and community‐based day centres. The factor analyses supported a three‐factor structure for the EQLI and reliability estimates of scores on the three factors were in the moderate to high range. The data collected supported convergent and discriminant validity.Conclusions  The results indicate that the EQLI is an effective measure for gaining staff perceptions of individuals who may be at risk of dissatisfaction with various QoL domains. The EQLI is as an instrument which, within a multidimensional assessment, could contribute to the identification of areas of user dissatisfaction with services.
Community and cluster centre residential services for adults with intellectual disability: long‐term results from an Australian‐matched sample
Authors: Young L. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground  Changes in residential accommodation models for adults with intellectual disability (ID) over the last 20 years in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States have involved relocation from institutions primarily into dispersed homes in the community. But an evolving alternative service style is the cluster centre.Methods  This paper reports on the relocation of a matched group of 30 pairs of adults with moderate and severe IDs and challenging behaviour who were relocated from an institution into either dispersed housing in the community or cluster centres but under the same residential service philosophy. Adaptive and maladaptive behaviour, choice‐making and objective life quality were assessed prior to leaving the institution and then after 12 and 24 months of living in the new residential model.Results  Adaptive behaviour, choice‐making and life quality increased for both groups and there was no change in level of maladaptive behaviour compared with levels exhibited in the institution. However, there were some significant differences between the community and cluster centre group as the community group increased some adaptive skills, choice‐making and objective life quality to a greater extent than the cluster centre group.Conclusions  Both cluster centre and dispersed community living offer lifestyle and skill development advantages compared with opportunities available in large residential institutions. Dispersed community houses, however, offer increased opportunities for choice‐making, acquisition of adaptive behaviours and improved life quality for long‐term institutionalized adults with IDs.
A multiple case study of verbal short‐term memory in velo‐cardio‐facial syndrome
Authors: Majerus S. , Glaser B. , Van der Linden M. , Eliez S. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractBackground  Velo‐cardio‐facial syndrome (VCFS, 22q11.2 deletion) is characterized by severely delayed language development. The current study explored the integrity of verbal short‐term memory (STM), a cognitive function critically involved in language development, in eight children with VCFS.Methods  Using a multiple case study design, we presented a series of STM tasks exploring immediate serial recall for word and non‐word lists to eight children with VCFS (aged 8–12 years) and to chronological‐age‐matched control groups. A first task assessed the integrity of phonological coding in verbal STM by comparing recall for phonologically similar and dissimilar words. Subsequently, the interaction between verbal knowledge and STM capacity was investigated by comparing recall for high‐ and low‐imageability words, for high‐ and low‐frequency words, and for words and non‐words. A final task assessed short‐term serial order recognition for digit sequences.Results  When computing the number of items recalled in the word recall tasks, independently of their serial position, only one child presented consistent difficulties. Short‐term recall of non‐words was normal in each child. Phonological similarity and verbal knowledge influenced STM performance to a similar extent in children with VCFS and controls. On the other hand, when applying a strict serial recall criterion, difficulties with the word and non‐word recall tasks were observed in most children. Half of the patients were also impaired in the serial order recognition task.Conclusions  Despite mild intellectual disability, it is possible for short‐term retention capacities for verbal item information to be at an age‐appropriate level in VCFS. However, STM for serial order information could be impaired more specifically.
Assessing reliability of microsatellite genotypes from kit fox faecal samples using genetic and GIS analyses
Authors: SMITH D. A. , RALLS K. , HURT A. , ADAMS B. , PARKER M. , MALDONADO J. E. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractNoninvasive faecal DNA sampling has the potential to provide a wealth of information necessary for monitoring and managing endangered species while eliminating the need to capture, handle or observe rare individuals. However, scoring problems, and subsequent genotyping errors, associated with this monitoring method remain a great concern as they can lead to misidentification of individuals and biased estimates. We examined a kit fox scat data set (353 scats; 80 genotypes) for genotyping errors using both genetic and GIS analyses, and evaluated the feasibility of combining both approaches to assess reliability of the faecal DNA results. We further checked the appropriateness of using faecal genotypes to study kit fox populations by describing information about foxes that we could deduce from the ‘acceptable’ scat genotypes, and comparing it to information gathered with traditional field techniques. Overall, genetic tests indicated that our data set had a low rate of genotyping error. Furthermore, examination of distributions of scat locations confirmed our data set was relatively error free. We found that analysing information on sex primer consistency and scat locations provided a useful assessment of scat genotype error, and greatly limited the amount of additional laboratory work that was needed to identify potentially ‘false’ scores. ‘Acceptable’ scat genotypes revealed information on sex ratio, relatedness, fox movement patterns, latrine use, and size of home range. Results from genetic and field data were consistent, supporting the conclusion that our data set had a very low rate of genotyping error and that this noninvasive method is a reliable approach for monitoring kit foxes.
Isolation by distance within a river system: genetic population structuring of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in tributaries of the Varzuga River in northwest Russia
Authors: PRIMMER C. R. , VESELOV A. J. , ZUBCHENKO A. , POUTUTKIN A. , BAKHMET I. , KOSKINEN M. T. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAn important issue for designing any conservation programme aimed at preserving genetic diversity is estimation of the scale at which genetic structuring occurs. Additional relevant factors include distinguishing whether or not population structuring is expected to be stable as predicted by the member‐vagrant hypothesis, or alternatively, whether populations are more prone to local extinction–recolonization processes, as predicted by the metapopulation evolutionary model. In this study, the population genetic structure of Atlantic salmon from 11 locations within or nearby the Varzuga River tributary system was assessed using 17 microsatellites. Mantel tests and spatial autocorrelation analyses revealed a significant isolation‐by‐distance signal within the tributary system as well as a negative association between the level of genetic diversity and waterway distance from the river mouth, indicating that dispersal is less likely to occur to populations deep in the tributary system. Individual‐level spatial autocorrelation analyses indicated that the majority of migration occurred between populations situated within 20 km of each other. The relatively high level of genetic structuring and significant isolation‐by‐distance signal observed in the Varzuga tributaries are concordant with the predictions of the member‐vagrant evolutionary model. However, one subpopulation in particular revealed signs of instability which may be due to its location in the tidal zone, or due to the fact that it is more affected by human impacts. The results suggest that preservation of a number of spawning sites spaced throughout the tributary system is recommendable for ensuring sustainable fishing tourism in the river.
Defects in N‐glycosylation induce apoptosis in yeast
Authors: Hauptmann Peter , Riel Constanze , Kunz‐Schughart Leoni A. , Fröhlich Kai‐Uwe , Madeo Frank , Lehle Ludwig 
Published: January 2006

SummaryN‐glycosylation in the endoplasmic reticulum is an essential protein modification and highly conserved in evolution from yeast to man. Defects of N‐glycosylation in humans lead to congenital disorders. The pivotal step of this pathway is the transfer of the evolutionarily conserved lipid‐linked core‐oligosaccharide to the nascent polypeptide chain, catalysed by the oligosaccharyltransferase. One of its nine subunits, Ost2, has homology to DAD1, originally characterized in hamster cells as a defender against apoptotic death. Here we show that ost mutants, such as ost2 and wbp1‐1, display morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis upon induction of the glycosylation defect. We observe nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation as well as externalization of phosphatidylserine. We also demonstrate induction of caspase‐like activity, both determined by flow cytometric analysis and in cell‐free extracts. Similarly, the N‐glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin in combination with elevated temperature is able to challenge the apoptotic cascade. Heterologous expression of anti‐apoptotic human Bcl‐2 diminishes caspase activation, improves survival of cells and suppresses the temperature‐sensitive growth defect of wbp1‐1. Furthermore, accumulation of reactive oxygen species occurs in response to defective glycosylation. As deletion of the metacaspase YCA1 does not seem to abrogate glycosylation‐induced apoptosis, we postulate a different proteolytic process to be involved in this death pathway.
Anaphylactic reaction to patent blue V after sentinel lymph node biopsy
Authors: Dewachter P. , Mouton‐Faivre C. , Benhaijoub A. , Abel‐Decollogne F. , Mertes P. M. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  We report a documented grade III IgE‐mediated hypersensitivity reaction associated with the use of 2.5% patent blue V dye for sentinel lymph node biopsy during breast cancer surgery.Methods:  Immediately after the reaction, when hemodynamic stability was obtained, plasma histamine was measured whereas serum tryptase was not. Six weeks later, with the patient's consent, cutaneous tests to patent blue V dye, methylene blue dye, latex and all drugs used during surgery were performed according to standardized procedures.Results and conclusion:  Clinical symptoms, biological assessment results and cutaneous tests positivity confirmed the onset of an anaphylactic reaction due to patent blue V. Of interest, the positivity of the cutaneous tests observed with patent blue V was not found with methylene blue which might be proposed for further investigations in our patient. This case report confirms the need for systematic allergological investigation of all drugs and substances administered during the peri‐operative period in case of an immediate hypersensitivity reaction occurring during anesthesia.