Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Pharmacology (nursing)'

Evaluation of integrated pharmacology in nursing curricula from a student perspective is limited. Existing pharmacology curriculum was verified and student survey were undertaken. Pharmacology was scaffolded throughout curriculum and learning on clinical placement progressed as students advanced in the program. Clinical placement and self-tuition learning opportunities were highly valued. Medication side effects and contraindications remained challenging. A conceptual framework for pharmacology within UG nursing curricula was developed incorporating knowledge acquisition, application and decision making.

Background: According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013) falls and medication errors in hospitals are among the first twenty leading causes of death. Research on the relationship between nurse staffing, patient falls, and medication errors are limited. Even scarcer are studies that examine this relationship on a nursing shift by shift and ward by ward basis, and no research exists on shift overlap periods and adverse patient outcomes. Objective: This study examined whether there was a relationship between hospital inpatient falls and medication errors and nurse staffing on a shift by shift and ward by ward basis, including an analysis of patient characteristics and the severity of incidents. Research Design: Multinomial logistic regression models were used. Data were collected using a secondary analysis of two existing databases: Advanced Incident Management System (AIMS) database and the nursing staff roster database (RoSTAR) over two years (January 2011 to December 2012). The Kane framework of nurse staffing was used to guide the current study. Setting: The study was conducted in three adult tertiary teaching hospitals in Perth, Western Australia. Participants: Reports of 7,558 incidents that occurred during the study period from 76 nursing wards and wards (4,677 medical, 2,209 surgical, and 672 critical care wards incidents), and 320,009 nursing shift records in three hospitals, were examined. Measures: The occurrence and severity of shift-level inpatient falls and medication errors were measured as dependent variables. Independent variables included nursing staff skill-mix, staff experience, and actual nursing hours. Control variables were shift, ward type, and hospital. Results: This study supports the importance of RN staffing levels in improving patient outcomes. However, it also shows that the relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes can be affected by different factors such as patient characteristics, nurse characteristics, and ward type. The number of total clinical incident reports decreased by 7.4% from 2011 to 2012. Falls declined by 4.6% and medication errors declined by 10.8%. The average age of patients who fell or had medication errors was 56.3 years (range of 15 to 100 years) but was more common in patients over 65 years old (57.3%). The number of incidents was highest during the morning shift, less during the evening and lowest during the night shift (28.4%, 27.2%, and 21.8% respectively). Notably, 22.6% of total incidents were reported during the overlap period (13:00 pm to 15:29 pm) which is only two and a half hours. Medical wards had the highest incident records followed by surgical wards; fewer incidents occurred in critical care wards (61.9%, 29.2%, and 8.9% respectively). More registered nurses and more experienced staff on the shift were both associated with fewer falls and medication error incidents, as well as less severe injuries. An increase in the actual nursing hours was associated with fewer medication errors but not fewer fall incidents. However, an increase in in the actual nursing hours was associated with less severe falls but not less severe medication errors. Conclusion: Overall, the fall and medication error incidents in three Perth hospitals decreased over the study period. However, the large variation in the incidents at both the shift and the ward level indicated room for improvement related to fall and medication error prevention. A relationship was identified between both more RNs and more experienced nurses in attendance and fewer incidents and less severe injuries. Further studies are necessary to identify prevention strategies for hospital falls and medication errors in the overlap period. Immediate consideration of the number of incidents that occurred during the overlap period is required. It is necessary to improve communication and teamwork among staff. Actions should be taken to review, implement and evaluate policies and procedures.

This research explores professional identity formation amongst occupational therapy students. Professional identity is examined within an occupational science framework. Much has been written, in recent years, about the professional identity development of occupational therapists during the first stages of their career focusing on preceptorship (Morley, 2006, Tryssenaar, 1999) but the concept of initial professional identity formation remains under examined. This thesis addresses that gap by following one student’s journey of becoming an occupational therapist from enrolment to graduating on an undergraduate occupational therapy course. Five in-depth interviews were carried out over three years. This was situated against a series of focus groups drawn from the same cohort. The Kawa model (Iwama, 2006) was used as a data collection and analytical tool. Three overarching themes which highlight the processes involved in professional identity formation, were identified • Establishing occupational coherence; the participants needed to make sense of their occupational history. It was important for participants to explain and present themselves as having developed occupational coherence over time. • Managing occupational adaptation; the participants dealt with many challenges as they coped with transitions and a changing sense of self. It was important that they developed agency and feelings of competence on their professional journey. •Developing a new identity; the participants explored how they adapted to new possibilities as they experienced the doing of occupational therapy. Their new occupational identity was congruent their own personal values. This interpretative phenomenological analysis makes a significant contribution to the small body of knowledge around professional identity formation in occupational therapy. The longitudinal approach created a nuanced narrative which expounds the complex ongoing process. It highlighted the importance of paying attention to the processes of doing, being, belonging and becoming. The fundamental importance of enabling students to develop an occupational perspective to understand their developing professional identity is identified.

At least one patient will experience a potentially serious intravenous (IV) drug error every day in an ’average’ hospital. IV drug errors have been estimated to be a third of all drug errors. Previous drug error research has focused on observation of nurses and errors they make but has not attempted to understand the decision-making processes used during the preparation and administration of IV drugs. The aim of this study was to explore the decision-making processes that novice and experienced IV nurses use during IV drug administration and how this influences risk taking and errors. A three-phased ethnographic study was carried out in a specialist cancer hospital, using focus groups, observation and interviews. Three focus groups with 14 registered nurses were used to develop culturally relevant definitions related to error and experience. Observation of the two wards took place over a week each. Twenty nurses were observed preparing and administering IV drugs, and then interviewed about their procedure. Data analysis was carried out using a five stage approach. Definitions of drug error, IV drug error, novice and experienced IV givers were developed from the focus groups. Four major themes were identified and represent findings from the direct observation and interview of the nurses: interruptions; lack of identification/knowing the patient; routinised behaviour; prevention of errors. One of the key findings was the lack of checking of patient identity prior to IV drug administration, which appeared to be based on the nurses feeling they knew the patient well enough although this was in contrast to the checking of drugs even if they were familiar with them. Implications for practice included: exploring new and effective methods of education based on behavioural theories; involving staff in updating and writing policies and procedures; and formal assessment of staff during IV preparation and administration.

O enfermeiro tem papel fundamental no processo da administração de medicamentos, pois a ele cabe promover segurança e manter a qualidade da assistência Para tanto é indispensável o domínio do conhecimento da farmacologia e de conteúdos relacionados aos métodos de administração, ação dos medicamentos, vias de administração, doses, efeitos tóxicos e colaterais. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o conhecimento de enfermeiros da Clínica Médica e Unidade de Terapia Intensiva de Hospitais Escola do Centro-Oeste sobre medicamentos específicos e relacionar os níveis de conhecimento entre os enfermeiros quanto ao tempo de atuação na enfermagem, capacitação profissional, formação obtida na graduação e conhecimento sobre medicamentos específicos. Realizou-se um estudo do tipo “survey” em quatro hospitais escola da região Centrooeste denominados de hospitais A, B, C e D. A amostra constituiu-se de 53 enfermeiros, sendo 12(22,6%) do hospital A, 17 (32,1%) do hospital B, 15 (28,3%) do hospital C e 9 (17,0%) do hospital D. Obtiveram-se os seguintes resultados. Dos 53 enfermeiros, 21 (39,6%) são graduados e 32 (60,3%) são especialistas; 33 (62,2%) foram formados depois de 2000, 32 (60,3%) atuam na área desde 2000 11 (20,7%) fizeram curso de atualização em farmacologia 37 (69,8%) cursaram ou estão cursando pós-graduação (nível especialização). Com relação à formação em farmacologia, 42 (79,2%) dos enfermeiros informaram que a disciplina de farmacologia cursada não foi suficiente para a prática profissional, 43 (81,1%) informaram que o conteúdo e a carga horária desta não foram suficientes e 51 (96,2) informaram que relação da teoria com prática, foi insatisfatória. Quanto ao conhecimento específico sobre medicamentos, 31 (58,5%) enfermeiros acertaram mais que 50% das questões e 22 (41,5%) acertaram 50% ou menos. Não foram encontradas diferenças, no nível de acerto dessas variáveis, entre os enfermeiros dos hospitais pesquisados, entre os que trabalham nas unidades de UTI e Clínica Médica e quanto ao tempo de atuação na enfermagem. Os enfermeiros com especialização e que fizeram curso de atualização em farmacologia possuíam um índice de acertos maior.Concluiu-se nesse estudo a necessidade dos profissionais de enfermagem buscarem conhecimentos após concluírem o curso de graduação.É importante que o profissional esteja constantemente se atualizando, ou seja, buscando novos conhecimentos que sustentem a qualidade da sua prática e a segurança dos pacientes na utilização de medicamentos.
The nurse has a fundamental role in the medication administration process, since it is up to him/her to promote safety and maintain the quality of assistance. For such, it is indispensable to have knowledge in pharmacology with contents related to administration methods, medication actions, administration approaches, doses, and toxic and collateral effects. This study aimed at analyzing the knowledge of nurses from medical clinics and intensive care units from School Hospitals in the Mid-West region as to specific medications and relate the knowledge levels among the nurses to the time working in nursing, professional training, background obtained in graduation and knowledge about specific medications. A survey-type study was carried out in school hospitals from the mid-west region, hereinafter referred to as hospitals A, B, C and D. The sample is composed of 53 nurses, being 12 (22.6%) from hospital A, 17 (32.1%) from hospital B, 15 (28.3%) from hospital C and 9 (17,0%) from hospital D. The following results were obtained: from the 53 nurses, 21 (39.6%) are graduates and 32 (60.3%) are specialists; 33 (62.2%) graduated after 2000, 32 (60.3%) have worked in the field since 2000, 11 (20.7%) took an updating course in pharmacology and 37 (69.8%) took or are taking post-graduation courses (specialization level). Regarding the background in pharmacology, 42 (79.2%) nurses informed that the pharmacology discipline studied as undergraduates was insufficient for professional practice, 43 (81,1%) informed that the content and hour load of this discipline were not sufficient either for quality work in the professional practice, and 51 (96,2%) informed that the relation between the theory and the practice, specifically in this discipline, was unsatisfactory. As to the specific knowledge of determined medicationsit was detected that 31 (58.5%) nurses got more than 50% of the questions right and 22 (41.5%) got 50% or less right. No differences were found in the number of correct answers of these items, among the nurses from the researched hospitals, between those that work in the ICU units, Medical Clinics, and the time working in nursing. The nurses with specialization and that took updating courses in pharmacology had a greater number of correct answers. This study pointed out the importance and necessity of the nursing professionals seeking knowledge after the conclusion of the graduation course and that teaching pharmacology in nursing courses offers the basis for professional performance. Nevertheless, it is important for the professional to update him/herself constantly, in other words, seek new knowledge that supports the quality of his/her practice and the safety of the patients in the use of medications.

Occupational therapy (OT) pre-registration education in the United Kingdom (UK) stands at the intersection of the fields of higher education (HE) and professional practice. It is subject to various government agendas including an ongoing commitment to widening participation in HE and to diversifying the health and social care workforce to reflect modern cultural diversity. Both have contributed to a changing profile in the OT student population and in 2005, 67 percent of the intake was mature (College of Occupational Therapists, 2007b), and increasing numbers are entering with ‘non-traditional’ academic backgrounds, an umbrella term which subsumes a variety of entry qualifications. The early weeks of study in HE can prove challenging to students as they settle into the new learning environment and begin to comprehend the expectations held of them (Yorke, 2005). It has been suggested that those from non-traditional academic backgrounds may find this transition, particularly the need to take a high level of responsibility for their own learning, difficult as a result of the skills, experiences and expectations accumulated throughout their pre-entry education (Sambell and Hubbard, 2004). While small-scale studies suggest that OT students from such backgrounds are as academically successful as traditional school-leavers at graduation (Howard and Jerosch-Herold, 2000), there is little evidence offering insight into how they actually experience and negotiate the demands of their programme. Recognising that learning and teaching are embedded within the milieu in which they occur, this longitudinal research adopted a case study methodology to capture complexity and understand the issue within its natural context (Yin, 2003). In an instrumental single-case design (Stake, 1995), a neither unique nor extreme undergraduate OT programme became a vehicle for exploring the educational experiences of students with non-traditional academic backgrounds. Thirteen volunteer participants were drawn from a single cohort in one of the UK’s research intensive universities. Data were collected via initial focus groups exploring pre-entry educational experiences and expectations of studying in HE, reflective diaries recording educational experiences that participants considered significant or meaningful, and one-to-one semi-structured interviews conducted towards the end of participants’ first and third years of study which focused on exploring their learning experiences. Supplementary and contextual data were provided by analysis of institutional, school and departmental documents to provide insight into the culture and practices of the learning context and a progression routes study which considered the entry qualifications, progression and exit awards of four cohorts of OT students from a range of educational backgrounds. The nature of students’ entry qualifications or academic background were found to have no statistically significant impact on whether they passed at Level 4, 5 or 6, or achieved a ‘good’ (upper second or first class) honours degree, although male students and those from amongst the lower socio-economic groups had significantly poorer academic outcomes at all levels of analysis. Theoretical thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) of qualitative data underpinned by Bourdieu’s (1990b) theory of practice highlighted that students’ educational experiences were much less influenced by the nature of their academic backgrounds than by the congruence of individual dispositions or habitus, born out of social provenance, with the dominant culture of the particular field of HE they had entered. Emerging codes converged to represent themes suggesting clusters of shared experience amongst some participants, while examination of each individual dataset revealed varying positional tendencies and trajectories within the field. This research highlights the important roles played by academic, linguistic, social and practice-oriented capital in the way that students developed a feel for and learned to play ‘the game’ and present knowledge and understanding in the form ‘legitimated’ by the field. Juxtaposing the nature and expectations of the new field in relation to those previously occupied by individual participants and the established habitus each brought with them helped to illuminate the situation and adds a new dimension to understanding individual experiences of learning in HE.

Antalet äldre har ökat i hela världen och fortsätter att öka. I takt med stigande ålder ökar risken för sjukdomar och därmed även läkemedelsanvändningen. Personer över 80 år konsumerar i genomsnitt 5,8 läkemedel per person och äldre på sjukhem tio läkemedel per person vilket är en ökning med 60 % sedan slutet av 1980-talet. Anledningen till denna ökning är att det idag finns stora möjligheter att förebygga och behandla många sjukdomar eftersom det hela tiden utvecklas nya läkemedel och behandlingsmetoder. Polyfarmaci och olämplig förskrivning av läkemedel till äldre över 65 år enligt Beers kriterier (se bilaga I) är ett växande och världsomspännande hälsoproblem. Vid polyfarmaci används i genomsnitt fem eller flera olika läkemedel. Polyfarmaci ökar i takt med stigande ålder och är vanligast hos kvinnor samt hos lågutbildade individer. Med ökat antal läkemedel ökar också risken för biverkningar samt interaktioner eftersom äldre är känsligare på grund av åldersförändringar och sjukdom. Syftet med studien var att belysa förekomsten av polyfarmaci och olämplig förskrivning av läkemedel till äldre samt dess konsekvenser. Studien utfördes som en litteraturstudie där 17 vetenskapliga artiklar analyserades. Resultatet visar att en tredjedel av de äldre patienterna konsumerar olämpliga läkemedel, enligt Beers kriterier, vilket leder till onödigt lidande och ökad sjukhusvistelse. Det är därför viktigt att all vårdpersonal är väl insatta i de åldersförändringarna som sker hos den äldre individen samt har god kunskap inom farmakologi. Sjuksköterskor och läkare bör även förbättra samarbetet med farmaceuterna för att öka patientsäkerheten.

 

 

The elderly population is increasing all over the world. Aging is associated with diseases resulting in increased medical consumption. Elderly over 80 years consume in average 5,8 different drugs. Nursing home residents consume ten drugs which represents an increase of 60 % within the last two decades. This development is based on the increasing progress within the field medical treatment. Polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing in elderly over 65 years, according to Beer´s criteria (annex I), results in a growing and worldwide health problem. Polypharmacy comprises use of multiple drugs (mostly five or more per day). Polypharmacy is associated with increased age and is most common in women and low educated individuals. Multiple medications increase the risk of adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions especially in old and frail persons with comorbidity. The aim of the study was to elucidate the prevalence and the consequences of polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing in elderly. The study was based on a literature study in which 17 articles were analyzed. The result shows that one third of the elderly patients consume inappropriate medications, according to Beer´s criteria, which are associated with unnecessary suffering and increased hospital admission. It´s important that health care personnel gains understanding about the pharmacological consequences of body composition changes in older adults. Nurses and physicians should also improve their cooperation with pharmacists to increase knowledge leading to better patient safety.

Pulmonary damage resulting from aspiration of gastric contents has been reported to be related to the acidity of the aspirate. The purpose of this research was to evaluate if Alka-Seltzer Effervescent and/or Bicitra, ingested preoperatively, increased gastric pH >2.5 and if so, which of the two products sustained the increase for the greatest length of time. Twenty-nine subjects ingested either Alka-Seltzer Effervescent (n = 15) or Bicitra (n = 14) during the immediate preoperative period. Gastric pH was analyzed at 30 and 60 minutes post-ingestion via oro- or naso-gastric tube. Repeated measures Analysis of Variance demonstrated that both antacids elevated gastric pH >2.5 at 30 and 60 minutes post-ingestion. However, Alka-Seltzer Effervescent produced a statistically significant greater (p =.032) increase in gastric pH than Bicitra at both 30 and 60 minutes post-ingestion.

The recent introduction of open formulary non-medical prescribing has created opportunities to radically change health care delivery. This thesis is the first of its kind to document the process of undertaking an examination of NMP in a chemotherapy setting. A purposeful sample of 23 stakeholders connected with the chemotherapy service in a local cancer setting was used including 12 doctors, 5 nurses, 4 pharmacists and 4 managers. A serial data collection technique with individual interviews followed by uni professional focus groups was adopted. Finally a multi professional focus group was held to determine the strategic way forward. A systematic qualitative data management package -NUDIST was used to code and theme data and this data was used as the basis for discussion. This thesis offers an insight into the working of the multidisciplinary team in relation to NMP. It establishes the concerns and issues of the professional stakeholders as well as areas of concurrence. It charts the complexities and difficulties faced when shifting responsibilities of professionals. It has used a novel approach to engage with stakeholders from within the day to day practices of the clinic and developed a framework for monitoring agreed progress. An action oriented approach was inherent to the study and dovetailed to understand the service and concurrently create an opportunity for development. Through its insider perspective it has highlighted the complexes of changing practice and attempted to move forward using a negotiation process. The study illuminated the key features necessary to maximise success of NMP in chemotherapy clinics and captures the importance of good working relationships. Whilst different models of nurse-led practice will emerge, fundamental and core to services is the need for good team working, established and effective communication strategies and perhaps most importantly avoiding isolation in practice. This study additionally reinforced that any evaluation takes place within pre- existing political contexts and in particular medical dominance. Not all medical colleagues agreed with or wanted NMP for their patients highlighting difficulties of developing new models of working within a resisting culture. Medical dominance should be acknowledged and strategies developed to work within this dominance to ensure the unique contribution of nursing is valued and seen. Insights from this study raise the need for further research and exploration of the usefulness and acceptability of NMP in chemotherapy.

Background: Up to 55% of patients administered ketamine, experience an emergence phenomena (EP) that closely mimics schizophrenia and increases their risk of injury. While genetics accounts for about 50% of severe adverse drug reactions, no studies have investigated genetic association of ketamine-induced EP in healthy patients. Ketamine is metabolized by CYP 2B6 enzymes and CYP 2B^8^ allele significantly alter ketamine metabolism. In addition, ketamine exerts most of its effects by inhibiting the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMADR), and NMDAR genes (GRIN2B) are associated with learning and memory impairment and schizophrenia. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between CYP2B6*6 and GRIN2B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and ketamine-induced emergence phenomena (EP). Methods: This cross-sectional pharmacogenetic study recruited 75 patients having minor orthopedic, hand, foot, anorectal surgeries from two outpatient surgical centers. EP was measured with the Clinician Administered Dissociative State Scale (CADSS). DNA was genotyped using standard Taqman assays and protocols. Genetic association of CYP2B6*6 and GRIN2B (rs1019385 & rs1806191) SNPs and ketamine induced EP occurrence and severity were tested using multivariate logistic and linear regression, adjusting for age, ketamine dose, duration of anesthesia, and time since ketamine administration. Results: Forty-seven patients (63%) received ketamine and were genotyped. Nineteen EP cases were identified (CADSS > 4), leaving 28 non-EP controls. For our population, CADSS has an internal consistency reliability Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82, and could reliably distinguish ketamine from non-ketamine cases. Occurrence and severity of EP were not associated with CYP2B6*6 or GRIN2B (p > 0.1). Models removing genotype and containing age, ketamine dose, duration of v anesthesia, and time since ketamine administration significantly predicted EP occurrence (p = 0.001) and severity (p = 0.007). Presence and severity of EP did not affect patient satisfaction with care. Discussion: Younger age, higher dose and longer duration of anesthesia significantly predicted EP occurrence and severity among our sample. This study provides effect size estimates useful for the design of adequately powered future genetic association studies. The feasibility of recruitment from patients undergoing elective, outpatient surgeries and ease of post-operative EP assessment with CADSS supports our approach. However, the small sample size may have limited about ability to determine significant differences. Conclusion: Fully powered studies are needed to investigate this important phenomena. Determining factors for anesthesia-related EP symptoms may reduce risks and costs associated with this adverse medication effect.

Hypoactive sexual desire or low libido in women are collectively referred to as hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). HSDD is estimated to occur in 10% to 15% of adult women. HSDD is likely the most common female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in menopausal women. The hallmark of the diagnosis is personal distress and interpersonal difficulties resulting from low sex drive. Most women will not seek help for this problem. Studies have suggested that primary care providers and gynecologic healthcare providers report not feeling qualified to treat patients with sexual dysfunction, especially HSDD. Testosterone, specifically transdermal testosterone, has been suggested to play an integral part in the treatment of HSDD in menopause. It is proven to increase the frequency of satisfying sexual activity, sexual desire, and orgasmic response, and to decrease personal distress. Testosterone has a demonstrated a safety history and medication tolerance when prescribed for this purpose. In spite of its proven efficacy in relation to HSDD, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved testosterone for this purpose, though its use for HSDD is currently suggested by the Endocrine Society in their Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The primary purpose of this study was to assess Vermont primary care providers' and gynecologic healthcare providers' perceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding treatment of HSDD in naturally induced menopause with a focus on transdermal testosterone. After respondent inclusion criteria and demographic information about the respondents was collected, the study asked questions and tested knowledge about topics regarding menopause and sexuality, evaluation of FSD, and treatment of low libido and diminished sexual desire with a focus on testosterone. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional online survey that was completed electronically on a secure server through the University of Vermont. The conclusions were that providers believe sexuality and sexual satisfaction are quality of life indicators and perceived that maintaining sexual function is important to naturally occurring menopausal women. The majority of providers would prescribe a pharmaceutical treatment for menopausal women seeking to maintain their sexual function, enhance sexual satisfaction, and/or treat symptoms of HSDD as long as there were no contraindications. However, testosterone, a proven treatment for women with complaints of low libido and/or diminished sexual desire, was reportedly underutilized. This may be related to inconsistent screening for FSD in menopause at each comprehensive visit and lack of provider knowledge about testosterone (including safety and efficacy) impacting confidence to prescribe testosterone for this purpose. Further, providers were divided on whether low libido and/or diminished sexual desire in naturally occurring menopause is a medical condition or disorder or a natural part of aging. It is unclear how the aforementioned divisions impact evaluation and treatment.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
A taxa de partos cesáreos no Brasil é muito alta, consequentemente ocorrendo uma maior incidência de infecção puerperal. A infecção puerperal é a principal complicação clínica que acomete muitas gestantes submetidas a uma cesariana, ocasionando maior morbimortalidade materna e ocupando um dos primeiros lugares dentre as doenças próprias do ciclo gravídico puerperal. Em função da importância dessa complicação e do risco obstétrico e neonatal que a mesma determina, fundamenta-se a importância da realização do presente estudo, cujo principal objetivo foi caracterizar o perfil epidemiológico das gestantes submetidas a cesariana com o uso da antibioticoprofilaxia como prevenção para infecção puerperal, afim de possibilitar a melhoria da assistência, no contexto da Saúde da Mulher. Tratou-se de um estudo transversal, observacional e prospectivo, realizado no período de agosto de 2009 a junho de 2010. Os dados foram obtidos através de formulário específico contendo 35 perguntas, as quais abordaram a situação socioeconômica, questões reprodutivas e questões ligadas à gestação atual. Os dados foram processados no programa Epi Info, versão 3.2.2. Foram entrevistadas 855 puérperas, cuja média de idade foi de 24,8 ± 6,4 anos. Observou-se no presente estudo que, no contexto socioeconômico, as únicas variáveis que apresentaram significância estatística para o desenvolvimento de infecção puerperal foram possuir a cor branca (efeito protetor) (OR=0,378; p=0,0227) e a cor negra (efeito promotor) (OR=2,487; p=0,0028) e a utilização do antibiótico profilático que confere proteção à puérpera (OR=0,403; p=0,0070). O estudo evidencia ainda que a realização de parto cesáreos, em maternidade pública, oferece maiores chances de infecção puerperal (OR=2,111; p=0,0086). Atualmente ainda não existe um procotolo para o uso da antibioticoprofilaxia. Cada unidade hospitalar respeita a conduta proposta pelo médico que presta assistência a gestante nesse procedimento. Considerando que o uso da antibioticoprofilaxia tem ajudado a diminuir os índices de infecção puerperal é preciso que sejam implantados protocolos, por meio de método prospectivo de vigilância com relação à infecção puerperal, ainda na admissão, de forma que possibilite a implementação de ações sistematizadas e direcionadas à população parturiente, bem como para estabelecer medidas de prevenção e controle das infecções, além de possibilitar o conhecimento do perfil microbiológico das infecções ora detectadas.

Gait problems in Parkinson's disease (PD) are complex and not adequately addressed by current medical and surgical options. The focus of this thesis was a desire to optimise the effectiveness of cues after experience of delivering cueing therapy in the context of a multi-centre RCT. Cues provide information on how to adapt the stepping pattern either through external prompts or internally through focussing attention. Cues are known to improve gait in PD but there is a compromise between strategies which have large effects but limited practical application and those which are easily applied in complex situations but have more modest effects. A laboratory study explored the feasibility of a cueing strategy combining an external rhythmical cue with a focussed instruction to increase step size, targeting both temporal and spatial parameters. A group of 15 PD and 12 age and sex matched controls were tested and gait was measured with an instrumented walkway which uses pressure activated sensors. The combination cue was compared with two single parameter cueing strategies, a rhythmical auditory cue and an attentional strategy asking subjects to walk with large steps. Gait was assessed under single and dual tasks to establish the attentional demands of the different cues. Walking speed and step amplitude significantly increased with the attentional strategy and combination cue in single and dual tasks in PD and controls (see chapter 3). The combination cue had an additional benefit in significantly reducing stride time and double limb support time variability in PD subjects, whilst variability increased in controls (see chapter 4). The effects of cues on and off medication was tested in the home in a group of 50 PD subjects using the same dual task paradigm to explore the mechanisms underlying cueing compared to dopamine on gait control. Gait was measured using an in-shoe footswitch system allowing reliable gait data to be collected in the home. Walking speed and stride amplitude significantly improved with all cues in the single and dual tasks on medication and with the attentional strategy and combination cue off medication suggesting that cues have a different mechanism to dopamine. The greatest improvements were seen with the combination of cues and medication. Gait variability responded differently to cues on and off medication. The combination cue reduced variability on and off medication for single and dual tasks, the auditory cue reduced variability in all conditions except for single task on mediation and the attentional strategy increased variability in the single task on mediation and had no effect in other conditions (see chapter 5). Cues which are delivered externally result in different mechanisms of gait control than those generated internally. Measures of gait variability reflect the attentional cost of movement and underlying neural control but there is limited knowledge on their validity. The final stage of the research examined the clinical characteristics associated with increased gait variability to increase understanding of these variables. Non-cued gait variability was strongly associated with disease severity, but cued gait variability was not adequately explained suggesting involvement of more diverse parameters (see chapter 6). These findings provide new knowledge on the mechanism underlying cued gait, the involvement of dopaminergic pathways and the attentional cost of different cues. Focussed instruction can alter the response to an external cue in the form of a rhythmical auditory tone, targeting both temporal and spatial gait parameters and reducing the attentional cost of walking.

Since the first so-called “medical marijuana” legislation was passed in California in 1996, a total of twenty states and the District of Columbia have passed laws permitting limited use of cannabis. Despite the changes in state laws, cannabis remains illegal for any purpose under federal law. Changes in state laws have coincided with a renewed interest in the substance for the treatment of a variety of conditions. There has been a significant increase in published data over the past twenty years examining the efficacy of cannabis as an appetite stimulant, antiemetic agent, and analgesic adjuvant. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to synthesize published data on cannabis use as an analgesic agent. Five studies meeting inclusion criteria were located through searches of online databases, review of reference lists, author correspondence, and review of clinical trials databases. Meta-analysis was conducted using fixed-effects modeling. The overall effect of mean reduction of pain intensity was -4.895 (Z-score) with an associated p value of 0.003. The combined standardized mean difference (SMD) was -0.362 (CI -0.507 to -0.217), indicating on average a moderate significant reduction in pain intensity for patients with chronic pain. As the legal status of the substance evolves, additional research is needed to establish evidence-based clinical recommendations regarding the use of medicinal cannabis in pain management.

The purpose of this current study is to examine the impact of non-pharmacologic pain interventions administered by trained Child Life professionals in an emergency department on pain perception in children. Results showed no significant decrease in children's pain report during the medical procedure compared to before the medical procedure. However, pain after the medical procedure is significantly less than pain during the medical procedure.

Postoperativt illamående och kräkning (Postoperative nausea and vomiting, PONV) är en vanligt förekommande komplikation som drabbar 20 -30 % av patienterna, vilket kan leda till starkt obehag, aspirationspneumoni, sårruptur och förlängd vårdtid. Risken att drabbas av PONV orsakas av flertal faktorer såsom bl.a. kön, ålder, fetma, preoperativ oro, långvarig fasta, användning av opioider och operationsställe. Anestesisjuksköterskans icke-farmakologiska åtgärder i samband med detta tillstånd är av stor betydelse för att kunna tillgodose patientens fysiska och psykiska behov, men är inte evidensbaserade i samma utsträckning som vid farmakologisk behandling. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie, med analys av kvalitativ och kvantitativ forskning, är att studera vilka omvårdnadsåtgärder som kan förebygga/ lindra PONV, och vilka omvårdnadsåtgärder som sjuksköterskan utför, samt belysa patienters upplevelser och möjligheter till egenvård vid detta tillstånd. Analysen av artiklarna baseras på Evans (2002) innehållsanalysmodell där resultatet presenteras i kategorier – subkategorier. De mest frekventa omvårdnadsåtgärder som sjuksköterskan utförde var att uppmana patienten till djupandning, placera en sval tvättlapp på pannan samt utföra munvård. Dokumentationen av dessa omvårdnadshandlingar utfördes inte rutinmässigt och ansågs som ”naturliga”. God information har stor betydelse för att minska oro och därmed risken för PONV. Några av de egenvårdhandlingar som patienterna utförde var att avskärma sig från starka ljud, ljus och lukter. Akupressur har även visat god effekt vid förebyggande och lindring av PONV, vilket både sjuksköterskan och patienten själv kan utföra. Denna litteraturstudie ger oss uppfattningen att icke-farmakologiska metoder är effektiva för att öka patientens välbefinnande och bör därmed användas i allt större utsträckning. Vi anser även, att det är av stor betydelse att komplettera de redan använda omvårdnadsåtgärderna med patienternas egenvårdsaktiviteter.

Program: Specialistsjuksköterskeutbildning med inriktning mot anestesisjukvård

Uppsatsnivå: D

The prescription rate of antipsychotics in patients with dementia varies between 20% and 50% for the common and troubling neuropsychiatric symptoms experienced by patients with dementia. The use of these antipsychotic medications has been linked with increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to associated Parkinsonism, over sedation, gait disturbances, cognitive decline, and cardiovascular adverse events. The purpose of this project was to assess whether development of an evidence-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) for a long-term care facility would increase awareness about issues that govern the safe use of antipsychotic medications. The conceptual framework for the project was Watson's model of caring. The Fineout-Overholt tool was used to rank and score information retrieved following an extensive literature review. An expert panel made up of 2 medical doctors and 4 nurse practitioners had 100% agreement that objectives were clear; content was relevant and easy to understand; the CPG was well-organized and easy to follow; and knowledge learned would be used in practice. From 66.6% to 83.3% agreed that the CGP led to an improved understanding of dementia, neuropsychiatric symptoms, medication adverse events, and nonpharmacologic interventions. The expert panel agreed to launch the CPG upon implementation of an educational program for frontline nursing staff and a behavioral log to track occurrence and frequency of behaviors and the use of nonpharmacologic interventions and their effectiveness in managing behaviors. Safe implementation of this CPG might be adapted to other long-term facilities to optimize dementia care, which would bring about a positive social change.

Pre-diabetes is a serious health problem in the United States. Distinguished by plasma glucose levels that are above the normal threshold, patients with pre-diabetes are 10 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Patients with pre-diabetes suffer the same complications as patients with diabetes including diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and microalbuminuria. There is considerable evidence to support the idea that early identification and aggressive treatment of pre-diabetes has the potential to delay disease progression. The American Diabetes Association’s clinical practice guideline recommends management of with lifestyle modification and metformin for patients who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the implementation of the 2012 ADA clinical practice guidelines regarding the management of patients with pre-diabetes by the health care providers at a volunteer-run clinic located in a large metropolitan area in the southeastern United States. This study, even with a small sample size (n=26) revealed that the providers at the clinic had not implemented the 2012 ADA clinical practice guidelines. Clinical practice guidelines promote health care interventions that have proven benefits and improve the consistency of care provided to patients. The greatest benefits of implementing clinical practice guidelines for patients with pre-diabetes are early diagnosis and aggressive disease management. This would improve patient outcomes and in the long run, decrease the cost of medical care.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is defined by simultaneously non-functioning genes on the paternal chromosome in the critical region 15q11.2–q13, which includes five small nucleolar RNA (SnoRNA), one of which is of interest to this thesis: SnoRNA116/HBII-85. The syndrome has a prevalence of 1:15,000 – 1: 30,000 and the complex physical, behavioural and intellectual difficulties are characterized through four phenotypic phases that correlate with age. Though these phases are individualized in timing and severity, all with PWS will experience phase three: hyperphagia (mean: - 8 years of age) and will need multiple, life-long intervention programs against the prediction of obesity.

A significant number of people in the UK experience chronic pain, resulting in high levels of suffering and reduced quality of life. Management of chronic pain is complex, time consuming and not always successful. Good communication between patients and healthcare professionals is essential to ensure realistic treatment plans and outcomes can be negotiated. Accurate assessment is also key, and nurses play a fundamental role in ensuring patients with chronic pain receive the most appropriate care.

abstract: Greater than half of older adults who are admitted to an acute care setting experience delirium with an estimated cost between four to twenty billion dollars annually in the United States. As a strategy to address the gap between research and practice, this feasibility study used the Roy Adaptation Model to provide a theoretical perspective for intervention design and evaluation, with a focus on modifying contextual stimuli in a Trauma Intensive Care and a Trauma Orthopedic Unit setting. The study sample included older hospitalized patients in a Trauma Intensive Care and a Trauma Orthopedic setting where there is a greater incidence for delirium. Study participants included two groups, with one group assigned to receive either a music intervention or usual care. The music intervention included pre-recorded music, delivered using an iPod player with soft headsets, with music self-selected from a collection of music compositions with musical elements of slow tempo and simple repetitive rhythm that influence delirium prevention. For the proposed study a music intervention dose included intervention delivery for 60 minutes, twice a day, over a three day period following admission. Physiologic variables measured included systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate, which were electronically monitored every four hours for the study. The Confusion Assessment Method was used as a screening tool to identify delirium in the admitted patients. Specific aims of this feasibility study were to (a) examine the feasibility of a music intervention designed to prevent delirium among older adults, and (b) evaluate the effects of a music intervention designed to prevent delirium among older adults. Findings indicate there was a significant music group by time interaction effect which suggests that change over time was different for the music and usual care group.
Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation Nursing and Healthcare Innovation 2015

Les procédures impliquant des aiguilles sont la plus importante source de douleur chez les enfants. Considérant qu’il est impossible d’éliminer complètement la douleur ressentie lors de procédures douloureuses, il est de la responsabilité professionnelle de l’infirmière d’assurer sa gestion à l’aide d’interventions non-pharmacologiques et/ou pharmacologiques. Les interventions actuellement disponibles pour le soulagement de la douleur procédurale des enfants nécessitent beaucoup de temps ou de personnel, ce qui représente des barrières à leur implantation dans les services d’urgence. Par conséquent, l’utilisation d’une intervention non-pharmacologique rapide et facile d’utilisation pourrait permettre de pallier ces contraintes. À cet effet, un dispositif combinant le froid et la vibration (Buzzy) a été développé dans l’objectif d’optimiser le soulagement de la douleur procédurale pédiatrique. Ce dernier repose sur deux mécanismes permettant la modulation du message douloureux, soit la théorie du portillon et les contrôles inhibiteurs nociceptif diffus. Le dispositif Buzzy semble donc être une avenue prometteuse pour surmonter les obstacles reliés à la gestion de la douleur lors de procédures impliquant des aiguilles dans les services d’urgence. Le but principal de cette étude était de déterminer si un dispositif combinant le froid et la vibration (dispositif Buzzy) était considéré comme étant non-inférieur à un anesthésique topique (lidocaïne liposomale 4%) pour la gestion de la douleur d’enfants lors de procédures impliquant des aiguilles dans les services d’urgence. Cet essai clinique randomisé de non-infériorité parallèle à deux groupes a été mené dans le service d’urgence d’un centre hospitalier universitaire pédiatrique (CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada). Un total de 352 enfants âgés entre 4 et 17 ans a été recruté et 346 ont été randomisés, soit au groupe expérimental (dispositif Buzzy=172) ou au groupe contrôle (anesthésique topique=174). Pour les participants ayant été assignés au groupe expérimental, le dispositif Buzzy a été appliqué à environ 5 cm au-dessus du site d’insertion et a été maintenu en place tout au long de la procédure. Pour les participants ayant été assignés au groupe contrôle, un anesthésique topique (lidocaïne liposomale 4%) a été appliqué au niveau du site d’insertion 30 minutes avant la procédure. Selon l’analyse en intention de traiter, la différence moyenne de douleur procédurale entre les deux groupes à l’étude (dispositif Buzzy : 3,92  3,13; anesthésique topique : 3,27  3,02) était de 0,64 (95%IC -0,10 à 1,26) sur l’échelle de mesure Color Analogue Scale (0-10). Ceci démontre donc que le dispositif Buzzy n’est pas considéré comme étant non-inférieur à l’anesthésique topique. En ce qui concerne la détresse procédurale, aucune différence statistiquement significative n’a été décelée avec les deux échelles de mesures utilisées (Procedure Behavior Check List : p=0,104 ; Children’s Fear Scale : p=0,421). Il n’y avait également aucune différence statistiquement significative en ce qui concerne le succès de la procédure au premier essai (p=0,489) ainsi que la mémoire de la douleur 24 heures après la procédure (p=0,346). De plus, aucun effet secondaire n’a été enregistré pour les participants ayant utilisé le dispositif Buzzy et seulement un évènement est survenu chez un participant ayant reçu l’anesthésique topique. Enfin, les parents des deux groupes ont rapporté être satisfaits avec l’intervention reçu par leur enfant (p=0,257) et la majorité des infirmières (65,0%) ont manifesté une préférence pour le dispositif Buzzy. Le dispositif Buzzy n’est pas considéré comme étant non-inférieur à un anesthésique topique pour la gestion de la douleur d’enfants lors de procédures impliquant des aiguilles. Toutefois, considérant que les anesthésiques topiques sont sous-utilisés dans les services d’urgence, le dispositif Buzzy représente une alternative intéressante à cette méthode pharmacologique nécessitant un temps d’application. Par conséquent, le dispositif Buzzy pourrait être davantage transférable à la pratique et les cliniciens pourraient possiblement l’intégrer plus facilement dans leur routine quotidienne.
Needle-related procedures are considered as the most important source of pain in children in hospital settings. It is now recognized that even minor procedures can result in physiological, psychological and emotional consequences. For these reasons, management of children’s pain and distress through pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological intervention is essential. Healthcare professionals working in the Emergency Department (ED) setting face particular challenges regarding procedural pain management related to their work environment. Time constraints, heavy workload, and busy environment represent barriers to the use of available interventions for pain management during needle-related procedures. Therefore, the use of a rapid, easy-to-use intervention could improve procedural pain management practices in the context of the ED. As such, the Buzzy device, which is a bee-shaped device combining vibration and cold, seems to be a promising alternative. The theoretical bases of this device are the Gate Control Theory and the diffuse noxious inhibitory controls, both generating the modulation of pain. The primary objective of this study was to determine if a device combining cold and vibration (Buzzy device) was considered as non-inferior (no worse) to a topical anesthetic (liposomal lidocaine 4% cream) for pain management in children undergoing needle-related procedures in the ED. This randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial with two parallel groups was conducted in the ED of a university pediatric tertiary hospital center (CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada). A total of 352 participants were enrolled and 346 were randomized to either experimental (Buzzy device=172) or control (topical anesthetic=174) groups. For the participants allocated to the experimental, the Buzzy device was applied 5 cm above the insertion site group just before the needle-related procedure and was maintained in place throughout the procedure. For the participants allocated to the control group, a topical anesthetic cream (liposomal lidocaine 4%) was applied at the insertion site 30 minute before the needle-related procedure. Using an intention-to-treat analysis, the mean difference in procedural pain scores between the experimental group (3,92  3,13) and the control group (3,27  3,02) was 0.64 (95%CI -0,10 to 1,26) using the Color Analogue Scale, showing that the Buzzy device was not non-inferior to the topical anesthetic. Regarding the procedural distress, no significant difference was found between groups using the both measuring scales (Procedure Behavior Check List: p=0,104; Children’s Fear Scale: p=0,421). In addition, no significant difference was also found between groups regarding the success of the procedure at first attempt (p=0,489) and the memory for pain 24 hours after the procedure (p=0,346). Parents of both groups were satisfied with the received interventions (p=0,257) and the majority of nurses (65,0%) preferred the Buzzy device over the topical anesthetic. No adverse events occurred in the cold and vibrating group and one adverse event was reported in the topical anesthetic cream group. The non-inferiority of the cold and vibrating device over a topical anesthetic was not demonstrated for pain management of children during needle-related procedure in the ED. However, considering that topical anesthetics are underused in the ED setting, the Buzzy device seems to be a promising alternative as it is a rapid, low-cost, easy-to-use and reusable intervention. Consequently, it could be more likely to be translated into clinical practice and adopted by clinicians for routine use.

Les nouveau-nés prématurés sont soumis à de nombreuses procédures douloureuses lors de leur hospitalisation à l’unité néonatale, où la plus fréquente est le prélèvement sanguin au talon. La douleur répétée et non traitée entraîne des conséquences à long terme pour les nouveau-nés prématurés. L’utilisation des interventions de soulagement de la douleur, tant pharmacologiques que non pharmacologiques, est limitée chez cette population. Nous avons donc vérifié la faisabilité et l’effet d’une nouvelle intervention pour le soulagement de la douleur, soit l’odeur du lait maternel. Cette étude pilote visait à évaluer la faisabilité et l’acceptabilité d’une intervention de stimulation olfactive avec du lait maternel pour diminuer la réponse à la douleur des nouveau-nés prématurés, nés entre 28 et 34 semaines de gestation, lors d’un prélèvement sanguin au talon. L’étude pilote a été menée auprès d’un groupe de 12 nouveau-nés prématurés (présence de jumeaux), 11 mères et 20 infirmières dans une unité néonatale de niveau III, soit de soins intensifs. L’odeur du lait maternel a été combinée aux soins standards au moment du prélèvement sanguin au talon et la douleur a été mesurée à l’aide du Premature Infant Pain Profile Revised. Ensuite, les mères et les infirmières ont complété des questionnaires concernant la faisabilité et l’acceptabilité de l’intervention de stimulation olfactive. Des questionnaires auto-administrés remis aux mères (n=11) et aux infirmières (n=20) après l’intervention ont permis de confirmer la faisabilité et l’acceptabilité de l’intervention qui étaient de plus de 80% pour les mères et les infirmières. Les effets observés ont indiqué que plus la compresse imbibée de lait maternel était proche du nez du nouveau-né prématuré plus il semblait y avoir un effet sur la diminution de la réponse à la douleur lors d’un prélèvement sanguin au talon ainsi qu’un retour au calme après le prélèvement plus rapide. L’odeur du lait maternel est une intervention non pharmacologique de soulagement de la douleur qui est peu coûteuse et facilement réalisable par les mères et les infirmières. Les résultats de l’étude pilote confirment la faisabilité et l’acceptabilité de l’intervention et soutiennent la méthodologie d’un essai clinique randomisé à plus large échelle.
Preterm neonates experience many painful procedures during their hospitalisation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where heel prick is the most frequent painful intervention. Repeated and untreated pain has long term consequences for preterm neonates. The use of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management interventions is limited for preterm neonates. Therefore, it is essential to investigate new pain management interventions such as breast milk odor. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an olfactive stimulation intervention to manage procedural pain of preterm neonates, born between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation, during heel prick. A pilot study was conducted with 12 preterm neonates, 11 mothers and 20 nurses in a level III NICU. The study group was familiarised with breast milk odor for nine hours preceding blood sampling. Breast milk odor was combined with standard care during heel prick and pain was measured by the Premature Infant Pain Profile-Revised. Self-reported questionnaires administered to mothers (n = 11) and nurses (n = 20) confirmed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, with a proportion of over 80% for both of these items. Observed effect indicated that the closer the compress with the breast milk odor was to the preterm neonates’ nose (n=12), the shorter time to return to baseline after the painful procedure was and the lower the pain score was on the PIPP-R. Breast milk odor is a non-pharmacological pain management intervention which is non-expensive and feasible for mothers and nurses. Findings of this pilot study guide the methodology of a randomized controlled trial.

Author's name: Bc. Irena Malá School: Charles university, Prague 1st Faculty of Medicine Institut of Theory and Practice of Nursing Vídeňská 800, 140 59 Prague 4 - Krč Program: Health Care Administration Title: Early postoperative care of the patient with the left ventricular assist device HeartMate II Diploma thesis supervisor: PhDr. Hocková Jana, PhD. Number of pages: 170 Number of attachments: 41 Year: 2013 Key words: early postoperative care, hypotermia, blood transfusion, fluid resuscitation, perioperative cardiovascular dysfunction, pharmacologic support, ventricular assist device HeartMateII, monitoration, device, cardiac arrhythmias, ventilation management, postoperative anticoagulation, glycemic kontrol, renal insufficiency, nutrition, nursing, complications, physiotherapy, psychological aspects The occurrence of the heart failure is similar to an epidemic with high mortality. This fact, together with stagnate or even decreasing number of suitable donors, led to a need of replacing the heart pump activity with an artificial one. Mechanical cardiac support systems are sophisticated devices that are able to support a certain period of time or completely replace the function of the heart as a pump. The indications implantation of mechanical cardiac support is significant symptomatic heart...