Radical responsibility beyond empathy: Interreligious resources against liberal distortions of nursing care

In this paper, I bring together Jewish and Buddhist philosophical resources to develop a notion of radical responsibility that can confront a complicity within nursing and health care between empathy and (neo)liberal white supremacist hegemony. My inspiration comes from Angela Davis's call for building coalitions to advance struggles for peace and justice. I proceed as follows. First, I note ways phenomenology clarifies empathy's seeming foundational role in nursing care, and how such a formulation can be complicit with assumptions about private individualism. Second, I turn to the Jewish philosophies of Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas, and their advocacy for a kind of responsibility that precedes the constitution of individuality as this can provide a resource for action and practice circumventing liberal influenced empathy. I note critical reservations about direct and practical application of Levinasian ethics in nursing care, and turn to engaged Buddhist philosophies of interdependence—such as in Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama—as a corrective. Third, I conclude by indicating ways interreligious radical responsibility can reorient us toward housekeeping habits of character and away from exceptional crisis management, noting specific examples and actions in health care, nursing education and nursing scholarship.     

石家庄市居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病检出情况及影响因素研究

目的探讨石家庄市居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病检出情况及影响因素。方法2021年9—12月采用整群随机抽样方法抽取石家庄市3个社区,对抽中社区的所有居民进行问卷调查和肺功能检查。利用描述流行病学方法分析社区人群慢性阻塞性肺疾病患病现状。应用单、多因素方法分析影响慢性阻塞性肺疾病发生的危险因素。结果共2348名居民完成问卷调查和肺功能检查,其中男1205人,占51.32%,女1143人,占48.68%,年龄31~76岁。共有146例检出慢性阻塞性肺疾病,检出率为6.22%,其中轻度69例,占47.26%,中度54例,占36.99%,重度23例,占15.75%,未检出极重度者。检出来的症状分布中,以咳嗽及咳痰的比例较高,分别为52.05%(76例)和49.32%(72例)。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示年龄≥40岁(OR=1.705、1.936)、男性(OR=3.404)、居住在农村(OR=2.469)、偶尔或经常吸烟(OR=1.592、1.800)、有职业粉尘接触史(OR=2.179)、有哮喘家族史(OR=3.164)、有慢性阻塞性肺疾病家族史(OR=5.170)、有呼吸道反复感染史(OR=3.414)是石家庄市居民慢性阻塞性肺病患病的影响因素。结论石家庄市居民的慢性阻塞性肺疾病患病情况不容乐观,且危险因素众多。重点针对中老年、吸烟、农村、有各种相关家族史的男性高危人群开展早期筛查和采取针对性干预措施,有助于对居民慢性阻塞性肺疾病进行防控。     

“Together in a pressure cooker”: Parenting children with disabilities during the COVID-19 lockdown

BackgroundCOVID-19 has had a disproportionate and unprecedented impact on children with disabilities, their parents and families. This impact has been particularly evident during periods of lockdowns and severe restrictions.ObjectiveThis study employed the social model of disability to illuminate negative and positive experiences of Israeli parents of children with disabilities during the first COVID-19 lockdown, as well as the way social environments, particularly educational and welfare services, shape that experience.MethodsThe study draws upon thematic analysis of written responses of 80 Israeli parents to open-ended questions.ResultsThree main themes were found: (1) lack of responsiveness of both informal and formal supports to family needs, mainly in the educational and welfare systems; (2) juggling multiple roles and tasks along with the parents' routinely intensive caregiving role; and (3) the impact on the family's wellbeing and relationships.ConclusionThese results are discussed in light of the social model of disability, showing how social restrictions and barriers affect both negative and positive experiences of these families. Also discussed are practical implications for future crises.     

200例更年期综合征妇女精神心理及社会因素现况调查

目的：了解更年期综合征患者精神和心理障碍,探讨社会因素对其的影响,方法：通过问卷式表格填写的方法,对200例更年期综合征妇女进行进行躯体表现、精神和心理障碍,应激反应、性生活、应激事件等现况调查,结果：更年期货征妇女普遍存在精神心理障碍,65％应激反应下降,50％性功能下降,生活中应激事件与更年期的综合征互为影响,结论：提高这一人群的生命质量,激素替代治疗须配合心理支持治疗。     

Non-Hispanic Blacks undergoing distal pancreatectomy have higher risk-adjusted rates of morbidity and are more likely to be high-cost outliers

BackgroundFew studies evaluate racial disparities in costs and clinical outcomes for patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy (DP).MethodsWe queried the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases to identify patients undergoing DP. Multivariable regression (MVR) was used to evaluate the association between race and postoperative outcomes.Results2,493 patients underwent DP; 265 (10%) were black, and 221 (8%) were of Hispanic ethnicity. On MVR, black and Hispanic patients were less likely than whites to undergo surgery in high volume centers (OR 0.53, 95% CI [0.40, 0.71]; OR 0.45, 95% CI [0.32, 0.62]). Black patients had a greater risk of postoperative complication (OR 1.40, 95% CI [1.07, 1.83]), 90-day readmission (OR 1.53, 95% CI [1.15, 2.02]), prolonged length of stay (OR 1.74, 95% CI [1.25–2.44]), and of being a high cost outliers (OR 1.40, 95% CI [1.02, 1.91]) compared to white patients.ConclusionBlack patients have increased risk of having a postoperative complication, prolonged hospitalization, and of being a high-cost outlier than non-Hispanic whites.     

How are bariatric patients coping during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic? Analysis of factors known to cause weight regain among postoperative bariatric patients

BackgroundThe global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is wreaking havoc on society. Bariatric patients are more prone to severe infection due to their high body mass index (BMI) and are more vulnerable to the effects of isolation, such as depression or disruption of their health habits.ObjectivesTo quantify the impact of self-quarantine on bariatric patients and self-quarantine’s relationship with weight gain.SettingAcademic hospital, United States.MethodsA 30-item survey examining several known contributors to weight regain was distributed among the postoperative bariatric patients of our clinic. Changes in eating habits, exercise, depression, social support, loneliness, and anxiety were studied, among others.ResultsA total of 208 patients completed the survey (29.3% response rate). A large percentage of patients reported increases in their depression (44.2%), loneliness (36.2%), nervousness (54.7%), snacking (62.6%), loss of control when eating (48.2%), and binge eating (19.5%) and decreases in their social support (23.2%), healthy food eating (45.5%), and activity (55.2%). Difficulty in accessing vitamins was reported by 13%. Patients more than 18 months out of surgery regained more than 2 kg during an average of 47 days. Risk factors for weight regain were found to be loss of control when eating, increases in snacking and binge eating, reduced consumption of healthy food, and reduced physical activity.ConclusionBariatric patients are negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social isolation on many levels. This patient population is vulnerable to crisis situations; thus, additional intervention is needed to address behaviors that lead to weight regain.