bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre‐clinical endodontics: a survey amongst German dental schools
Authors: Sonntag D. , Bärwald R. , Hülsmann M. , Stachniss V. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim  To evaluate the state and level of pre‐clinical endodontic education in German dental schools and to evaluate differences with regard to intensity and extent of teaching, time devoted to teaching pre‐clinical endodontics, personnel resources in teaching and technical equipment.Methodology  Twenty‐eight questionnaires were e‐mailed to those in charge of pre‐clinical endodontic education in German dental schools. The extent of education, the student–teacher ratio, the teaching content as well as the application of teaching materials and technologies were asked. If, after 4 weeks, no response had been received, the questionnaire was sent out by e‐mail again. In the absence of a reply, a phone call was made to the corresponding university to conduct the survey by phone.Results  With feedback from 27 of 28 dental schools, the response rate was 96%. Pre‐clinical endodontic education at German universities varied considerably. Theory classes ranged from 5 to 30 h (13.3 h mean), practical classes from 12.5 to 60 h (45.4 h mean). The student to staff ratio varied between 9 : 1 and 30 : 1 (16 : 1 mean). Forty‐eight per cent of the universities had a specialist in endodontics or a teacher with a special interest. A dental microscope was available for pre‐clinical teaching purposes in 38% of the universities. The majority (63%) of universities taught root canal preparation with rotary nickel titanium instruments.Conclusion  Pre‐clinical endodontic education varied considerably between German universities because of differences in programme design, staff and course content.
Glucose reactivity with filling materials as a limitation for using the glucose leakage model
Authors: Shemesh H. , Souza E. M. , Wu M.‐K. , Wesselink P. R. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim  To evaluate the reactivity of different endodontic materials and sealers with glucose and to asses the reliability of the glucose leakage model in measuring penetration of glucose through these materials.Methodology  Ten uniform discs (radius 5 mm, thickness 2 mm) were made of each of the following materials: Portland cement, MTA (grey and white), sealer 26, calcium sulphate, calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2], AH26,Epiphany, Resilon, gutta‐percha and dentine. After storing the discs for 1 week at 37°C and humid conditions, they were immersed in 0.2 mg mL−1 glucose solution in a test tube. The concentration of glucose was evaluated using an enzymatic reaction after 1 week. Statistical analysis was performed with the anova and Dunnett tests at a significant level of P < 0.05.Results  Portland cement, MTA, Ca(OH)2 and sealer 26 reduced the concentration in the test tube of glucose significantly after 1 week (P < 0.05). Calcium sulphate reduced the concentration of glucose, but the difference in concentrations was not significant (P = 0.054).Conclusions  Portland cement, MTA, Ca(OH)2 and sealer 26 react with a 0.2 mg mL−1 glucose solution. Therefore, these materials should not be evaluated for sealing ability with the glucose leakage model.
Effect of root canal irrigants on cervical dentine permeability to hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Surapipongpuntr P. , Duangcharee W. , Kwangsamai S. , Ekka A. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim  To examine the effects of various root canal irrigants on cervical dentine permeability by monitoring the diffusion of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).Methodology  Sixty cervical dentine discs were prepared from human third molar teeth. After removal of enamel and cementum, the outer dentine surface was etched with 17% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) for 1 min. The dentine discs were randomly assigned to five groups according to the irrigant used: A, saline solution; B, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution (NaOCl); C, 5% NaOCl; D, 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl; E, 17% EDTA and 5% NaOCl. After irrigation on the inner dentine surface with the various solutions, the diffusion of 30% H2O2 was evaluated through each disc using a plastic‐split chamber. H2O2 was applied to the inner‐side chamber, while the outer‐side chamber was filled with de‐ionised water. After 30 min of application of H2O2, the solution in the outer‐side chamber was collected to determine the concentration of H2O2 using a spectrophotometer.Results  The penetration of H2O2 through dentine in group E was significantly highest, followed by groups D, C, B and A respectively (one‐way anova, P < 0.05).Conclusions  Among the irrigants used, 17% EDTA and 5% NaOCl had the greatest effect in increasing dentinal permeability to H2O2.
Influence of cyclic torsional loading on the fatigue resistance of K3 instruments
Authors: Bahia M. G. A. , Melo M. C. C. , Buono V. T. L. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim  To evaluate the influence of cyclic torsional loading on the flexural fatigue resistance and torsional properties of rotary NiTi instruments.Methodology  Twelve sets of new K3 instruments, sizes 20, 25 and 30 with an 0.04 taper, and sizes 20 and 25 with an 0.06 taper, were torsion tested until rupture, to establish their mean values of maximum torque and angular deflection. Twelve new K3 instruments of each of the following dimensions, size 30, 0.04 taper and sizes 20 and 25 with 0.06 taper, were tested to failure by rotation bending in a fatigue test device. Cyclic torsional loading was performed in 20 cycles from zero angular deflection to 180° and then return to zero applied torque. After cyclic loading, the same number of instruments were tested until rupture in torsion and flexural fatigue. Data obtained were subjected to a one way analysis of variance (anova) at 95% confidence level.Results  Cyclic torsional loading caused no significant differences in maximum torque or in maximum angular deflection of the instruments analysed, but comparative statistical analysis between measured NCF values of new and previously cycled K3 instruments showed significant differences for all tested instrument. Longitudinal cracks, that is, cracks apparently parallel to the long axis of the instruments cycled in torsion was observed.Conclusions  Cyclic torsional loading experiments in new K3 rotary endodontic instruments showed that torsional fatigue decreased the resistance of these instruments to flexural fatigue, although it did not affect their torsional resistance.
The importance of transformational leadership style for the well‐being of employees working with older people
Authors: Nielsen Karina , Yarker Joanna , Brenner Sten‐Olof , Randall Raymond , Borg Vilhelm 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  The importance of transformational leadership style for the well‐being of employees working with older people. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore the relationships between transformational leadership, followers’ perceived working conditions and employee well‐being and job satisfaction.Background.  There is some evidence that transformational leadership style is linked to employee job satisfaction and well‐being. However, it is not clear whether this is due to (i) a direct relationship between leadership and job satisfaction and well‐being outcomes or (ii) whether followers’ perceived working conditions mediate this relationship.Methods.  A cross‐sectional design was applied to data from a questionnaire study of 447 staff caring for older people in Denmark. Data were collected in 2005. A theory‐driven model of the relationships between leadership, working conditions, job satisfaction and well‐being was tested using structural equation modelling.Results.  The transformational leadership style was closely associated with followers’ working conditions, namely involvement, influence and meaningfulness. Involvement was associated with job satisfaction and meaningfulness was associated with well‐being. However, working conditions were closely correlated with each other, and thus the mediating mechanisms may operate through several different working conditions. A direct path between leadership behaviour and employee well‐being was also found.Conclusion.  Considering working conditions in the absence of studying leadership behaviour (or vice versa) may reveal an incomplete picture of the impact of work and work relationships on well‐being. Work re‐design interventions focused on influence may benefit from the consideration of training managers to exert transformational leadership behaviours.
Massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer: systematic review
Authors: Wilkinson Susie , Barnes Kelly , Storey Lesley 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  Massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer: systematic review. Aim.  This paper is a report of a review to assess evidence of the effectiveness of massage for patients with cancer, in terms of reducing physical or psychological symptoms, improving quality of life, or producing unwanted side effects.Background.  Patients with cancer may use complementary therapies, including massage and aromatherapy massage. However, their use and provision by state‐financed healthcare services is controversial.Data sources.  A systematic review was carried out, using the Cochrane principles. No meta‐analysis was appropriate. An initial comprehensive search of electronic databases search was carried out in 2003 and updated in 2006. Eligible trials were randomized controlled trials, controlled before‐and‐after (pre–post) studies and interrupted time‐series studies. Participants were adults with a diagnosis of cancer and receiving care in any healthcare setting. Interventions were limited to massage and/or aromatherapy massage carried out by a qualified therapist. Outcome measures to be included were patient‐reported levels of physical and psychological indices of symptom distress and quality of life (measured using validated assessment tools).Findings.  In the review, 1325 papers were considered. Ten trials met the inclusion criteria and their results suggest that massage might reduce anxiety in patients with cancer in the short term and may have a beneficial effect on physical symptoms of cancer, such as pain and nausea. However, the lack of rigorous research evidence precludes drawing definitive conclusions.Conclusion.  Further well‐designed large trials with longer follow‐up periods are needed to be able to draw firm conclusions about the efficacy and effectiveness of massage for cancer patients.
Experiencing cancer treatment decision‐making in managed care
Authors: Wenzel Jennifer , Shaha Maya 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  Experiencing cancer treatment decision‐making in managed care. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to explore women’s perceptions of and experiences with breast cancer treatment decision‐making in managed care organizations (MCOs).Background.  Managed care organizations are the predominant form of employer‐sponsored healthcare insurance in the United States of America. These healthcare financing entities minimize cost by streamlining healthcare delivery and may impose choice restrictions. The extent of these restrictions has not previously been studied from an in‐depth patient perspective.Method.  A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted using interviews with a purposive sample of 14 managed care enrollees diagnosed with breast cancer at all stages. The data were collected between 2003 and 2005. Data analysis involved a reflexive process of transcript reading, categorization, data reduction and interpretation.Findings.  The findings are presented as a single theme: ‘decisional conflict in managed care’, with two distinct categories: decisions regarding (1) the MCOs and (2) treatment. MCO selection was perceived to be limited by employer constraints, cost issues or healthcare plan providers. For study participants, selecting a MCO was less difficult than issues surrounding treatment decision‐making. Women reported that their most important treatment‐related decisions surrounded diagnosis and involved selecting a treatment facility and provider. Once a satisfactory facility and provider were selected, these women preferred to defer treatment decisions to their healthcare providers.Conclusion.  Decision interventions should be focused on assisting women with provider and treatment facility selection early in diagnosis. Our findings might also serve as a basis for policy/practice changes to address healthcare financing limitations and to expand cancer treatment‐related choices while providing desired treatment decision‐making support.
Hygiene interventions for prevention of cytomegalovirus infection among childbearing women: systematic review
Authors: Harvey Jessica , Dennis Cindy‐Lee 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  Hygiene interventions for prevention of cytomegalovirus infection among childbearing women: systematic review. Aim.  This paper is a report of a systematic review to examine the effectiveness of preventive interventions to reduce congenital cytomegalovirus transmission and infection among women of childbearing age.Background.  Congenital cytomegalovirus has been identified as the leading infectious cause of damage to the growing fetus in developed countries, including Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome and spina bifida. Despite the prevalence and consequences of this infection, it has a low profile and pregnant mothers are often unaware of the risks and protective behaviours related to its transmission. Women with children in daycare and nurses working with children are particularly at risk of acquiring the virus.Data sources.  A computerized literature search for articles up to 1 December 2007 was performed using MEDLINE (from 1950); EMBASE (from 1980) and CINAHL (from 1982).Review methods.  Both authors independently reviewed studies that met inclusion criteria and assigned a quality rating determined by the number of validity criteria met. Differences were discussed until consensus was reached.Findings.  Differences in hygiene behaviour changes were most statistically significant for pregnant, seronegative women. Although the methodological quality of the three included studies was not strong, seroconversion rates consistently decreased as cytomegalovirus education and support increased.Conclusion.  Nurses can act as preventive agents for cytomegalovirus infection through education about hygiene precautions during antenatal care and through preventive measures in the workplace. The review findings suggest educational interventions in hygiene practices have the potential to be a feasible, large‐scale, primary prevention strategy.
Postoperative pain and self‐management: women’s experiences after cardiac surgery
Authors: Leegaard Marit , Nåden Dagfinn , Fagermoen May Solveig 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  Postoperative pain and self‐management: women’s experiences after cardiac surgery. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to describe women’s experiences and their self‐management of postoperative pain after elective cardiac surgery.Background.  Cardiac surgery involves several pain‐sensitive areas, and untreated postoperative pain may lead to chronic pain. Early discharge requires increased patient participation in pain management. Women report more postoperative pain than men after cardiac surgery.Methods.  Semi‐structured interviews were conducted in 2004–2005 with 10 women 1–2 weeks after discharge from their first elective cardiac surgery. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify recurring themes. Pain diaries were used to record postoperative pain experiences 1–2 weeks before the interviews, providing more nuances to the experiences of pain and pain management.Findings.  Postoperative pain experiences varied from no pain to pain all the time. Worst pain intensity was recorded as moderate or more. Pain experiences depended on what women’s expectations of pain after cardiac surgery. None wanted to complain about their painful experiences. The women had needed for more individualized information about self‐management of pain, and had difficulties remembering the information they had received. Most did not want to use pain medication, or waited to do so until pain was unbearable.Conclusion.  Patients need more individualized and gender‐specific information before early discharge from cardiac surgery to improve self‐management. More specific predischarge education on self‐management using analgesics regularly might prevent pain ratings rising to a severe level after discharge home.
Improving district nurses’ confidence and knowledge in the principles and practice of palliative care
Authors: Shipman Cathy , Burt Jenni , Ream Emma , Beynon Teresa , Richardson Alison , Addington‐Hall Julia 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  Improving district nurses’ confidence and knowledge in the principles and practice of palliative care. Aim.  This paper is a report of part of an evaluation of the impact of a national palliative care education and support programme on the knowledge and confidence of members of district nursing teams.Background.  District nursing teams are the mainstay of ‘hands on’ provision of care at home. In recognition of their central role, the English Department of Health commissioned a national palliative care education programme as postregistration education had been limited.Methods.  The evaluation, conducted between 2002 and 2004, had a mixed methods design. In the summative component, 1280 nurses were randomly selected from eight cancer networks to receive postal questionnaires 1 year apart, before and after the educational intervention. Changes in scores were calculated and a multiple regression analysis undertaken to identify predictors of improvement in confidence in competence and knowledge. The formative component involved qualitative interviews with a sub‐sample of 39 district nurses participating in the programme.Findings.  Nurses who responded in both years (374/32%) were included in the analysis. There was a small statistically significant increase in confidence in palliative care competency and knowledge after participation in the educational programmes. Nurses without district nursing qualifications and who had never worked in specialist palliative care had the largest improvements in scores. Qualitative data supported these findings.Conclusion.  The findings suggest that the education programme led to improvements in self‐reported district nursing confidence in palliative care competencies and knowledge; it is likely that the baseline level of palliative care confidence in competency and knowledge has as a result been raised nationally.
Social selection and professional regulation for Master’s degrees for nurses
Authors: Drennan Jonathan , Hyde Abbey 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle.  Social selection and professional regulation for Master’s degrees for nurses. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to understand the perspectives of two sets of stakeholders, namely clinical nursing providers and nursing academics, on how registered nurses should be selected for Master’s degree programmes.Background.  The proliferation of taught Master’s programmes has led to concerns about a lowering of standards. Even with the expansion of professional Master’s programmes, they remain one of the least researched areas of higher education.Method.  The sampling strategy was a combination of convenience and snowball sampling. In‐depth interviews were conducted in 2006–07 with 15 stakeholders and data were subjected to thematic content analysis.Findings.  There were differences in service providers’ and academics’ perceptions of access to Master’s level education for nurses. Service providers engaged in regulatory practices, as evidenced in the way in which potential candidates were judged to be suitable or not to undertake a Master’s‐level education. Academic participants, in contrast, tended to have far fewer concerns about the career plans of applicants and were more likely to invoke discourses of academic educational admission practices.Conclusion.  The health services need highly skilled, educated workers whose abilities and knowledge make an impact on the provision of effective patient and client care. This level of education can be achieved through continuing education of the professions by taught Master’s degrees. It is imperative that an effective partnerships between clinical service providers and academics are developed to promote understanding of their respective perceptions of admission to the degree.
Reflecting peer‐support groups in the prevention of stress and burnout: randomized controlled trial
Authors: Peterson Ulla , Bergström Gunnar , Samuelsson Mats , Åsberg Marie , Nygren Åke 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTitle. Reflecting peer‐support groups in the prevention of stress and burnout: randomized controlled trial.Aim. This paper is a report of a study to test the effect of participating in a reflecting peer‐support group on self‐reported health, burnout and on perceived changes in work conditions.Background. Stress‐related conditions are one of the most common causes for long‐term sick‐leave. There is limited evidence for the effectiveness of person‐directed interventions aimed at reducing stress levels in healthcare workers. Prior research in the relationship between support and burnout show somewhat inconsistent results.Method. A randomized controlled trial with peer‐support groups as the intervention was conducted with 660 healthcare workers scoring above the 75th percentile on the exhaustion dimension of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. One hundred and fifty‐one (22·9%) agreed to participate. The intervention started in 2002 with 51 participants (96·1% were women), 80 of whom constituted the control group. Potential differences in outcome measures 12 months after the intervention were compared usingancova, and data collected was completed in 2004. Qualitative content analyses were used to analyse reported experiences from group participation.Results. Statistically significant intervention effects were found for general health, perceived quantitative demands at work, participation and development opportunities at work and in support at work. Seven categories of experiences from participating were identified: talking to others in a similar situation, knowledge, sense of belonging, self‐confidence, structure, relief of symptoms and behavioural change.Conclusion. Peer‐support groups using a problem‐based method could be a useful and comparatively inexpensive tool in alleviating work‐related stress and burnout.