bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Providers’ and consumers’ perspective of nurses’ caring behaviours
Authors: Hegedus Kathryn Stewart 
Published: March 2003

Providers’ and consumers’ perspective of nurses’ caring behaviours The primary purpose of this article is to discuss the development and testing of a scale designed to examine nurses’ caring behaviours. A pilot study was conducted with a convenience sample (n = 81) of 42 nurses (providers) and 39 patients (consumers). The setting was two community hospitals in the New England Region. The respondents were able to assign a rank of the items (nurses’ caring behaviours) with a spread of mean values from 3·5 to 16·7. There was agreement on the most caring behaviour, ‘The nurses treat me as an individual’, on the behaviour in the middle range of caring, ‘The nurses comfort me by their silent presence’, and on the least caring behaviour, ‘The nurses did not talk about how my illness might affect my life’. The Wilcoxon two‐sample rank‐sum test was used to test the difference in rank of the 20 items between the providers and the consumers. There was a significant difference between the providers and the consumers in the ranking of nine of the 20 items. The consumers valued behaviours that recognized their individual perspective as well as that of their family and behaviours that helped them anticipate and prepare for change. The providers placed a greater emphasis on the behaviours that were more geared towards the comforting aspects of care by encouraging patients to express and vent their feelings. These findings allow clinicians to be sensitized to their caring behaviours by increasing their realization of how behaviours are perceived by patients. The instrument needs minor revision and then further testing is indicated.
Normal labour: a concept analysis
Authors: Gould Debby 
Published: March 2003

Normal labour: a concept analysis Midwives practice within the normal childbirth paradigm. It is argued that midwives failure to define normality has allowed increasing technicalization and medicalization of the normal physiological process of birth because doctors so closely define abnormality. A concept analysis model is used to clarify what is meant by the term ‘normal labour’; the emphasis being on understanding what normal labour is as it applies to midwifery practice today. This analysis highlights the importance of movement and the sequential nature of normal labour, and reveals how this is implicit within the other uses of both the words normal and labour. The final definition of normal labour offered is intended to be complimentary to existing medical determinants of progress of normal labour, because as the body of the text stresses, medical knowledge is fundamentally enmeshed in midwifery care.
Learning dementia care in three contexts: practical training in day‐care, group dwelling and nursing home
Authors: Skog Margareta , Negussie Birgit , Grafström Margareta 
Published: March 2003

Learning dementia care in three contexts: practical training in day‐care, group dwelling and nursing home During the period 1996–1999, 18 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) received specialized training to become caregivers and mentors in the field of dementia care at the Silvia Home Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The aim of the study was to illuminate how the trainees utilized their practical training to learn about dementia care. The trainees gained practical training within three care models for elderly persons with dementia. The three forms of care and the context for practical training included the school’s integrated day‐care, a group dwelling and a nursing home. The findings show that the trainees made use of each training context in a similar fashion but there were differences between the contexts. A perspective of human dignity characterized the day‐care. This was an opportunity for the nursing philosophy taught by the programme to be put to practical use, and for reflection and experiences pertaining to the individual patient to be developed. In the group dwelling, the trainees encountered patients with different forms of dementia and studied how the care‐giving could be adapted to the individual patient’s symptoms — the disease perspective. In the nursing home, the trainees chose a staff perspective in which they focused on organization, management and working conditions as well as staff attitudes and the effects of these factors on patient care.
Myocardial infarction: survivors’ and spouses’ stress, coping, and support
Authors: Stewart Miriam , Davidson Karina , Meade Darlene , Hirth Alexandra , Makrides Lydia 
Published: March 2003

Myocardial infarction: survivors’ and spouses’ stress, coping, and support Despite evidence that spouses play an important role in the recovery of MI survivors, there have been few studies of pertinent psychosocial factors from the perspectives of both survivors and spouses. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to describe stress, coping strategies and social support experienced by survivors and spouses. This study was limited to first‐time MI to focus on a time of uncertainty and transition. Twenty‐eight persons (14 couples) participated. Both survivors and their spouses reported similar post‐MI stresses: emotional impact, lifestyle changes, encounters with health professionals, and their partners’ reactions. Spouses and survivors used diverse strategies to cope with the stresses of MI. Seeking informational support was prevalent. Both spouses and survivors engaged in ‘protective buffering’ of their partners. Couples described deficient support, conflict and miscarried helping efforts within their relationships. Spouses and survivors referred to inadequate informational support from health professionals.
Midwives’ support needs as childbirth changes
Authors: Kirkham Mavis , Stapleton Helen 
Published: March 2003

Midwives’ support needs as childbirth changes This paper reports on midwives’ support needs as they were described by midwives in a large study of the supervision of midwives in England. The data are derived from six sites: five, very different, National Health Service (NHS) sites, and one composed of midwives outside the NHS. In‐depth, ethnographic interviews were conducted with 168 midwives and a grounded theory approach was used for the analysis. The findings identified midwives’ many and varied support needs. Midwives also clearly described the culture of midwifery in the NHS. This culture inhibited midwives from arranging to have their support needs met and acted as an obstacle to progress in developing midwifery practice. The dilemmas and tensions inherent in this situation are explored and suggestions made as to the way forward.
The nurses’ power to detain informal psychiatric patients: a review of the statutory and common law provisions in England and Wales
Authors: Houlihan Gary D. 
Published: March 2003

The nurses’ power to detain informal psychiatric patients: a review of the statutory and common law provisions in England and Wales This paper explores the extent to which nurses can use statutory and common law provisions as lawful authority to detain informal psychiatric patients. The power of a nurse to detain informal psychiatric patients received statutory recognition for the first time in the Mental Health Act (1983). Section 5(4) of this Act, the ‘Nurses Holding Power’, provides for nurses of the ‘prescribed class’ to detain informal psychiatric patients for up to 6 hours. Further statutory authority that may be invoked with respect to the detention of patients is laid out in the Criminal Law Act (1967) and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984). These statutes set out the circumstances whereby a nurse can use reasonable force to detain a patient. One of the most confusing areas in law is the extent to which common law powers can be used by nurses to detain or restrain informal psychiatric patients, including those who lack mental capacity. The detention of those patients who lack the mental capacity to express an informed desire to leave hospital has caused uncertainty and difficulties for nurses caring for them. These difficulties relate to whether it is lawful to detain and give treatment to informal patients who lack the capacity to express a choice. The principles derived from the case law are discussed in relation to detention, clinical practice and patients rights.
Women’s experience of suffering repeated severe attacks of acute intermittent porphyria
Authors: Wikberg Agneta , Jansson Lilian , Lithner Folke 
Published: March 2003

Women’s experience of suffering repeated severe attacks of acute intermittent porphyria The aim of this study was to elucidate the experiences of the women with severe, recurrent attacks of porphyria and how they coped with them successfully. A total of five women were interviewed and were encouraged to describe their experiences. Thematic content analysis was used to interpret the significance of their narratives. The result demonstrated that the women’s experience was of living in deepest darkness with inexpressible pain, both physical and mental. Coming into contact with health care had its good and bad points. It was often difficult to cope with life during severe periods of the disease. The process of maturation towards a more positive existence seemed to follow a pattern of accepting the disease, continuing the fight until it was finally possible to discover a pattern and meaning in life that suited the individual concerned.
Utility of health belief model as a guide for explaining or predicting breast cancer screening behaviours
Authors: Yarbrough Suzanne S. , Braden Carrie J. 
Published: March 2003

Utility of health belief model as a guide for explaining or predicting breast cancer screening behaviours Aim. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of HBM as a theoretical guide for predicting breast cancer screening and therefore for guiding intervention studies. Background. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for middle age women (35–50) and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in all women in the United States (US). Early detection of breast cancer through screening is the only option available to women. However, less than half of all women in the US participate in screening. The health belief model (HBM), which specifies interactions of values and beliefs about health and their influence on choices, has been widely used to explain screening behaviour. Methods. An integrative research review analysed 16 published descriptive studies employing HBM. Literature was located through a search of research based studies listed in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Medline, and cancer literature databases and studies cited in other references between 1990 and 1999. Findings. Application of HBM was inconsistent. No study tested nonlinear relationships between variables as specified in the model. At best, the model explained 47% of the variance in screening behaviour when socioeconomic status was included. Otherwise predictive power was low, ranging from 15 to 27%. Conclusions. While the model provides some description of the values, beliefs and behaviours of middle‐aged women primarily, HBM does not appear to have the power to consistently predict behaviours. Further research is needed to provide more thorough depiction of the social, nonhealth care meaning of breast cancer.
Menopause‐associated problems: types and magnitude. A study in the Ain Al‐Basha area, Jordan
Authors: Al‐Qutob Raeda 
Published: March 2003

Menopause‐associated problems: types and magnitude. A study in the Ain Al‐Basha area, Jordan Rationale. To begin to fill the information gap on the health of menopausal women in developing countries. Objectives. Objectives were three fold: to establish an approximate age of onset of menopause for women in the study area; to report on the physical presence of certain physical conditions; and, to record the self‐reported frequency of signs/symptoms of menopause in the 6 months prior to the study. Methodological design. A descriptive study of women randomly sampled from the study community. Research methods. Women’s homes were randomly sampled from the residential blocks surrounding the local community health centre. Women agreeing to the first phase of the study were also asked to consent to the second phase, then revisited to complete this second phase. Instruments. The first phase of the study involved an in‐depth semistructured questionnaire and the second phase, a general and pelvic examination with laboratory tests. Outcome measures. To gather the information as set out under Objectives. Results. One hundred and thirty seven women were included in the study. The median age of menopause was 49 years. Women either reported or were found to be suffering from a variety of health problems including: urinary incontinence (37%), urinary tract infections (UTI) (11%), reproductive tract infections (RTI) (39%), and genital prolapse (41%). Conclusions. Menopausal women suffer from an appreciable level of morbidity as they approach menopause. Also, the level of health awareness of these women lags behind the identified prevalence of the studied conditions.
What role do nurses play in Type 2 diabetes care in the community: a Delphi study
Authors: Peters Jean , Hutchinson Allen , MacKinnon Mary , McIntosh Aileen , Cooke Jo , Jones Roy 
Published: March 2003

What role do nurses play in Type 2 diabetes care in the community: a Delphi study Objectives. To identify the views of nurses on their current and future roles in care in the community for people with Type 2 diabetes. Method. A two‐round Delphi study was used to elicit, and assess consensus on opinions from random samples of practice nurses, with a substantial role in the management of diabetes patients and diabetes specialist nurses. Both groups had defined levels of expertise in diabetes care and worked in Great Britain. The study instrument in round one comprised a questionnaire with 10 statement headings inviting opinions on the nursing role in the management and care of people with Type 2 diabetes. In the second round levels of agreement were elicited from responders on collated opinions from round one. The initial questionnaire also included closed questions to obtain a profile of current care delivered. Results. Responders were 97 practice nurses and 69 diabetes specialist nurses with second round response rates of 93% and 86%, respectively. The 47 themes raised could be grouped under headings of clinical practice, responsibility, communication, knowledge, education/experience, rewards, and patients' roles. Many were common to several statements and both nurse groups. The level of agreement on the themes fed back was high, 85% of the 165 items achieved greater than 80% agreement. Agreement occurred for factors relating to clinical effectiveness, audit, knowledge, education and experience. Dissent occurred both within and between individual nurse groups on issues of responsibility, prescribing, service delivery, resources, and patient factors. Conclusions. This Delphi study has identified key areas of consensus on the management of care for people with Type 2 diabetes in the community but also areas in which further work needs to be carried out to understand the differences found. Many of the discordant items relate to the separate roles and associated issues of the two nurse groups.
Refinement of the concept of uncertainty
Authors: Penrod Janice 
Published: March 2003

Refinement of the concept of uncertaintyAims. To analyse the conceptual maturity of uncertainty; to develop an expanded theoretical definition of uncertainty; to advance the concept using methods of concept refinement; and to analyse congruency with the conceptualization of uncertainty presented in the theory of hope, enduring, and suffering.Background. Uncertainty is of concern in nursing as people experience complex life events surrounding health. In an earlier nursing study that linked the concepts of hope, enduring, and suffering into a single theoretical scheme, a state best described as `uncertainty' arose. This study was undertaken to explore how this conceptualization fit with the scientific literature on uncertainty and to refine the concept.Design/Methods. Initially, a concept analysis using advanced methods described by Morse, Hupcey, Mitcham and colleagues was completed. The concept was determined to be partially mature. A theoretical definition was derived and techniques of concept refinement using the literature as data were applied.Findings. The refined concept was found to be congruent with the concept of uncertainty that had emerged in the model of hope, enduring and suffering.Conclusions. Further investigation is needed to explore the extent of probabilistic reasoning and the effects of confidence and control on feelings of uncertainty and certainty.
The implications of contact with the mentor for preregistration nursing and midwifery students
Authors: Lloyd Jones Myfanwy , Walters Stephen , Akehurst Ron 
Published: March 2003

The implications of contact with the mentor for preregistration nursing and midwifery students Aim of the paper. To examine the extent to which preregistration nursing and midwifery students have contact with their named mentor, and the implications of this. Background/rationale. Mentorship has an important part to play in enabling preregistration nursing and midwifery students to gain the maximum benefit from clinical placements. Previous research has indicated that the benefits of mentorship to learners are related to the number of occasions on which the student and mentor work together. Design/methods. A research project commissioned by the Sheffield and North Trent College of Nursing and Midwifery (now the University of Sheffield School of Nursing and Midwifery) provided an opportunity to examine the extent to which their named mentors were available to Project 2000 students, and the implications of this. Students and their named mentors were asked to keep an activity diary for 1 week. The main objective was to collect activity data to inform an analysis of the costs and benefits of clinical placements to service providers. This cost‐benefit study has been published elsewhere. However, the data also cast light on the extent to which mentors were available to students, and the implications of this, and it is these findings which are presented here. Results/findings. Students frequently worked shifts without their named mentors even though unrostered students often worked weekends, evening and night shifts in order to maximize time spent with their mentors. In the mentor’s absence, other members of staff covered for some of their activities (in particular, direct and indirect supervision of students). However, students whose named mentors were absent spent significantly less time than other students working with a qualified member of staff as a partner in giving care. Conclusions. It is suggested that the extent to which named mentors are unavailable to Project 2000 students may be detrimental to the education and professional development of those students.
The effects of handholding on anxiety in cataract surgery patients under local anaesthesia
Authors: Moon Jung‐Soon , Cho Kyung‐Sook 
Published: March 2003

The effects of handholding on anxiety in cataract surgery patients under local anaesthesia Aim of the study. To assess the effectiveness of handholding on the anxiety of patients undergoing planned cataract surgery under local anaesthesia. Background. Anxiety concerning anaesthesia, pain, physical injuries, isolation, prognosis, possibilities of deformity, or loss of self‐control may be stressful to patients undergoing surgery. Anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system, characterized by an increase in catecholamine concentration, heart rate and blood pressure and increased glucocorticoid levels; it also affects immune responses. Therefore, there is a need for nursing interventions to reduce the anxiety of patients under local anaesthesia who are conscious. Methods. An untreated control group design with pre and post‐test was used. Among 62 patients, 30 were randomly assigned to the handholding group and 32 to the control group. Handholding was provided to subjects of the handholding group during surgery. Visual analogue scales and interviews were used to measure anxiety, and pulse rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were used as physiological measures of stress. Blood was taken for analysis of levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, neutrophils, lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Results. The number of subjects who reported decreased anxiety during operation was significantly higher in the handholding group compared with the control group and most of the subjects reported that handholding during operation was very helpful in reducing anxiety. Epinephrine levels in the handholding group were significantly lower than in the control group. Conclusions. Results suggest that this noninvasive intervention has potential for reducing anxiety in patients having cataract surgery under local anaesthesia.
The wartime experience of Australian Army nurses in Vietnam, 1967–1971
Authors: Biedermann Narelle , Usher Kim , Williams Ann , Hayes Barbara 
Published: March 2003

The wartime experience of Australian Army nurses in Vietnam, 1967–1971 Aims. To provide a synthesis of the experience of nursing in the Vietnam War. Rationale. War and nursing are linked unequivocally. As battles have raged over the centuries, nurses have attended the ill and wounded soldiers, nursing them back to health or into death and the study of this phenomenon forms a significant part of Australia’s nursing history. However, a review of the Australian scholarly nursing and military history literature revealed that the experiences of Australian nurses in the Vietnam War has not been widely published. In an attempt to redress this gap in Australian nursing and military history, the aim of this study was to analyse the nature of the nursing work in the Vietnam War, and to increase awareness and understanding of the experience of nurses in the war within the nursing profession. Methods. Using oral history interviews, this study investigated the nature of nursing work as experienced by 17 Australian Army nurses who served in the Australian Military Hospital in Vung Tau between 1967 and 1971. Findings. The vast majority of the nursing sisters sent to Vietnam knew little about the type of work or the environment into which they were entering and were, therefore, clinically unprepared. It appeared that, by virtue of their being a nurse, it was an expectation that the nurses would adapt to the nature of their work in the war zone. However, this study also revealed that, although the nurses adapted professionally, their memories of their experiences have affected many personally. Conclusions. This paper will increase current knowledge significantly regarding the phenomenon of nursing in the Vietnam War, enabling a greater understanding of the experience.