Analgesic treatment and predictors of satisfaction with analgesia in patients with acute undifferentiated abdominal pain.

The objectives of this prospective, observational cohort study were to examine current practice of analgesia in adults with acute abdominal pain presenting to emergency department (ED), to assess patient-physician agreement on pain severity, and to measure patients' satisfaction with pain management. METHODS: Emergency room nurse assessed initial patient's and physician's ranking on a 0-100mm visual analogue scale (VAS) as well as patient's VAS rankings 5min, 15min, and 60min after starting treatment for pain, and on discharge. In patients who received no therapy VAS scores were assessed 5min, 15min, and 60min after initial examination, and on discharge. Patient's satisfaction with pain management on discharge from ED was assessed using a four-point categorical scale in which 1=completely unsatisfied, 2=mostly unsatisfied, 3=mostly satisfied, and 4=completely satisfied. RESULTS: A total of 185 patients were enrolled. Patients' mean initial VAS was higher than physicians' (76+/-20mm, vs. 59+/-20mm, p<0.001). Physician's VAS > or = 60mm was the sole independent predictor of receiving analgesic therapy (p<0.001). On discharge from ED, 111 patients (60%) were predominantly satisfied with analgesia (satisfaction score > or = 3). Drug titration (p=0.026) and decrease in VAS score > or = 20mm between initial and discharge score (p<0.001) independently predicted patients' satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute abdominal pain rated pain significantly higher than physicians who's pain estimation in turn tailored analgesia. Only 60% of patients were satisfied with analgesia. Analgesic drug titration and a decrease of > or = 20mm on VAS predicted patients' satisfaction.     

Quality of life in schizophrenia: a review of the literature from 1995 to 2000

The measurement of the quality of life of patients diagnosed with psychiatric disorders has become central to evaluating the effectiveness of treatments offered by Australian mental health services. The importance of quality of life as an indicator of the outcomes of interventions has been reflected by a large body of research seeking to measure the impact of variables such as gender, ethnicity and duration of illness on the measurable quality of life of an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia. This study aims to review and synthesize the recent literature in which quality of life has been measured by the use of at least one quality of life instrument. It is concludes that while the measurement of quality of life is valuable as a measure of outcomes, it should be treated as only one means of doing so .     

A comparison of differential oscillometric device with invasive mean arterial blood pressure monitoring in intensive care patients

Non‐invasive beat‐to‐beat mean arterial pressure (MAP) in finger arteries recorded by the differential oscillometric device was compared with MAP recorded invasively from A. radialis in 22 patients after cardiac surgery. Based on all 132 paired measurements, the MAP values measured at the radial artery were 2.7 ± 4.9 mmHg higher than those measured on fingers. Among 22 patients there were 8 patients receiving inotropic support, their difference being 2.1 ± 5.6 mmHg. The present study revealed that the mean discrepancy between the invasive radial pressure and finger pressure was small; however, patient data sets showed marked variability in average pressure differences when examined individually.     

中国汉族成人内囊体积与年龄相关性研究

目的探讨中国汉族正常成人内囊体积与年龄的相关性,为内囊病变的临床诊断提供直接依据。资料与方法选择汉族健康成人1000名,按年龄分为A(18～30岁)、B(31～40岁)、C(41～50岁)、D(51～60岁)、E(61～80岁)5组,每组200名,男、女各100名。对每名志愿者用1.5 T MR扫描仪进行研究,应用3D体积分析软件手动逐层勾画出内囊边界,软件自动测算出体积。结果测量得A、B、C、D、E 5组左、右侧内囊(总的、前肢、膝部、后肢)体积,将A、B、C、D、E 5组左侧内囊(总的、前肢、膝部、后肢)体积分别与右侧内囊比较,经统计学检验左右侧间均有显著性差异(P<0.05)。将左、右侧内囊的体积进行标准化处理后,左、右侧内囊体积与年龄之间均呈负相关(r值分别为-0.718、-0.637,P值均<0.05)。结论内囊体积与年龄呈负相关,即随着年龄的增大内囊体积逐渐缩小。     

The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales: a valid measure of maternal satisfaction with inpatient postpartum nursing care

AIM: To test the validity of The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales as measures of patient satisfaction with nursing care in an inpatient postpartum unit. BACKGROUND: The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales (Experience of Nursing Care Scale and Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale) were developed to measure the satisfaction of medical-surgical inpatients with nursing care. METHODS: The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales were administered by interviewers to 189 postpartum women prior to hospital discharge. We tested the construct validity of the scales by making five a priori predictions: mothers who were more satisfied would be more likely to have one nurse caring for them and to recommend the postpartum unit to a friend. We also predicted that the Experience of Nursing Care and Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scales would be positively correlated with each other, with a global question about satisfaction with nursing care, and with a global question about satisfaction with overall postpartum stay. RESULTS: Four of the five a priori predictions were supported by the data. The mean Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scale scores of mothers who would recommend the unit to a friend were higher (more satisfied) than those who would not (P < 0.001). The Experience of Nursing Care Scale and Satisfaction with Nursing Care Scale were positively and significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.9, P < 0.001). There was a positive and significant correlation between the scales and global ratings of nursing care (Experience Scale r = 0.79, P < 0.001; Satisfaction Scale r = 0.82, P < 0.001) and overall postpartum stay (Experience Scale r = 0.64, P < 0.001; Satisfaction Scale r = 0.68, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Newcastle Satisfaction with Nursing Scales are valid measures of maternal satisfaction with inpatient postpartum nursing care.     

颞下颌关节内窥镜手术的配合

笔者报道了68例颞下颌关节内窥镜手术的配合体会，强调术前充分的物品准备，术中洗手护士熟悉手术步骤及颞下颌关节内压力测量仪和颞下颌关节内窥镜的使用时机和方法，巡回护士注重患者的心理护理和注意观察仪器的使用状况．术后对仪器的正确消毒和保养，是手术顺利开展的重要保证。     

Defining and measuring nursing productivity: a concept analysis and pilot study

AIMS: The purpose of this article is fourfold. First we report a concept analysis of nursing productivity to show the complexity of the concept and its measurement. We then show how the concept analysis was used to design a method for measuring nursing productivity. Third, we describe how we used this measure in a pilot study of the impact of a differentiated Registered Nurse (RN) practice model on productivity. Finally, we identify the challenges encountered and present recommendations for nurse executives and researchers based on our findings. RATIONALE: We believe our experience can be useful to nurse executives and researchers who are interested in studying the impact of care delivery models on nursing productivity. DESIGN: We defined productivity as the ratio of output (patient care hours per patient day) to input (paid salary and benefit dollars). We conducted a pilot test using the productivity measure developed from the concept analysis to determine the effects of a differentiated RN practice model on patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. The purpose of the pilot study was to determine whether the data needed to measure productivity could be obtained from administrative databases and to develop the steps and process for the analysis. We analysed data by 2-week pay periods for two quarters prior to implementation of the differentiated nursing practice model and for two quarters after implementation to assess for changes in nursing productivity. RESULTS: Pilot testing showed that we could detect changes in productivity using this measurement approach. It also revealed several challenges in using administrative databases to measure productivity. CONCLUSIONS: We discuss these challenges with recommendations for both nurse executives and researchers. The most reasonable approach for operational decision-making is longitudinal monitoring of productivity by organizational units combined with indicators of quality of patient care.     

正畸联合正颌对于偏突颌畸形患者头影与侧貌的影响分析

目的:探讨正畸联合正颌对于偏突颌畸形患者头影与侧貌的影响。方法:收集2008年2月～2011年10月在本院病房接受手术的偏突颌畸形患者50例,都采用了正颌联合治疗。结果:本组患者经过治疗后,头影测量值逐渐升高,各个时间段对比有明显差异(P<0.05)。同时治疗3月后的复发量为(1.75±0.65)mm。所有患者术后伤口均愈合,唇部畸形得到明显改善,外形满意对称,形态自然,在治疗后都无明显并发症情况发生。结论:偏突颌畸形患者正颌联合治疗能有效提高头影测量值,减少复发量与并发症发生情况,同时有利于侧貌评价,值得推广应用。