Cholesterol 87--status of knowledge of the Vienna public

A representative survey on cholesterol was carried out in June 1987 in Vienna on the basis of a personal interview. 93% of 1471 interviewees knew the term cholesterol, but only 65% knew its meaning. 46% associated it with myocardial infarction, 11% with cardiovascular disease. The cholesterol level had already been measured in 61% of the interviewees; out of these 16% had an elevated value, 68% a normal one; 16% did not know their own cholesterol. 70% were prepared to submit to an annual check up on their cholesterol or at even more frequent intervals. 94% would be willing to undertake counteractive measures in case of elevated cholesterol, 71% to stick to a diet, 56% to alter their lifestyle and 35% even to take medication.     

Women's knowledge about the menopause

This study sought to determine women's knowledge concerning the menopause and to investigate the relationship between a woman's level of knowledge and her background characteristics. Data were collected from 167 forty- to 60-year-old women from a general urban population by means of a mailed questionnaire. On the average, the women responded correctly to 59 percent of the questions. Younger women, those who were employed, and women with higher levels of education performed better than older, unemployed, and less well-educated women. Questions on which the women showed the weakest knowledge suggest that old wives' tales concerning the menopause have not totally disappeared.     

Foundations of knowledge about neonatal pain

This review appraises trends in the neonatal pain research literature. We searched the literature produced from 1941 to 2001. Information about the model of pain, measures of pain, design, and sample characteristics is included for each citation. Gaps in knowledge are attributed to specific conceptual and methodological problems, including the lack of basic knowledge about pain behavior, over-reliance on an invasive short-term pain model, pain measurement issues, and lack of knowledge about confounders. Ethological research methods could be used to expand basic knowledge about newborn pain.     

Level of cancer pain knowledge among baccalaureate student nurses

Inadequate nursing education is a major impediment to effective pain relief for cancer patients throughout the world. This study was conducted to identify the level of cancer pain knowledge among baccalaureate student nurses and to determine whether specific activities affect this level of knowledge. Two questionnaires were administered to 82 baccalaureate student nurses in the final course of their program. Although the students displayed a realistic perspective about the severity and prevalence of cancer pain and psychological dependence, specific knowledge deficits and negative attitudes suggest the possibility of inadequate pain management. Specifically, the students believed that (a) maximal analgesic therapy should be delayed until the patient's prognosis was less than 12 months; (b) the proportion of patients whose pain can be controlled by appropriate therapy is less than is possible; (c) increasing pain is related to tolerance rather than to progression of the disease; (d) the preferred route of administration is intravenous rather than oral; and (e) the degree of respiratory depression, rather than constipation, does not decrease with repeated administration. Significant positive correlations (P ≤ 0.05) were found between age and cancer pain knowledge and between attendance at seminars/ workshops and time spent reading professional journal articles. Of the 30% of the participants who perceived a particular person to be a source for obtaining information about cancer pain management, 52% specified a practicing registered nurse. Seminars and workshops were chosen by 59% of the students as the most effective way for nurses to increase their knowledge. This study suggests a need for basic cancer pain management education at the undergraduate level as well as continuing education through seminars and workshops.     

Registered nurses' knowledge about diabetes mellitus

Level of knowledge was tested in 137 volunteer registered nurses in three hospitals in the Midwest. A 34-item multiple choice Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) was developed by the first author (S.D.S.) working with a panel of expert nurse diabetes educators. Reliability using coefficient alpha was 0.61. Staff nurses obtained a mean score of 25.3, or 74% correct. Thirty-four nurses (25%) scored above 80% correct; 62 (45%) scored between 70% and 79% correct; and 41 (30%) scored below 70% correct. Higher-scoring nurses did well on items requiring use of exchange lists, but they missed items on physiologic actions of insulin, side effects of sulfonylureas, where insulin should be stored, and areas of the body suitable for injections of insulin. Nurses who scored below 60% on the test consistently missed items requiring use of exchange lists, effects of regular exercise and illness on blood glucose, and symptoms and causes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. A strong trend (P = 0.055) was found for surgical nurses to score lower than medical unit nurses, and significant differences (P less than 0.05) were found among scores between hospitals. Staff nurses employed in a hospital where clinical specialists also were employed to teach diabetic patients had the lowest scores of the three hospitals. Test content subareas should be developed in the future to test knowledge reliably about urine testing, use of oral medications, home blood glucose monitoring, effects of exercise, and Somogyi phenomenon. A curriculum for regular inservice should be developed for nurses to assure a high level of knowledge for patient teaching with diabetes patients.     

透析患者无力性骨病的新认识

慢性肾脏病（CKD）,特别是终末期肾衰（ESRF）患者均不同程度合并骨代谢异常,即肾性骨病。肾性骨营养不良主要包括高转运型肾性骨病、低转运型肾性骨病（骨软化、无力性骨病）和混合性骨病三种不同类型。其中,无力性骨病以成骨细胞和破骨细胞活性降低,骨形成率低下和类骨质积聚减少为特征。目前尚无研究提示骨活检证实的无力性骨病是骨折发生的危险因素,     

A survey of adolescents' knowledge about depression

Adolescent depression and suicide are major public health concerns. Best practices for suicide prevention and education in high schools are not well understood. The Adolescent Depression Awareness Program (ADAP) was developed to address depression education as an effective means towards decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with adolescent depression. Adolescents' baseline knowledge about depression was assessed to enhance curriculum development. The survey was administered to 5,645 high school students between 1999 and 2003. Results indicated that students had a cursory knowledge of depression facts but had gaps in knowledge about treatment and symptom identification.     

关于循证护理学知识的调查

目的了解本院护理人员掌握循证护理学知识的状况.方法用自编调查问卷对99位护理人员进行调查.结果 35人听说过循证医学,60人认为医疗和护理的目的是为了改善人的生理指标,81人在临床工作中习惯于把上级意见放在第一位,41位认为所有随机对照研究的系统综述所得出的结论最可靠,95人希望得到循证医学知识辅导.结论本院护理人员对循证医学及护理学知识所知甚少,但很愿意学习.     

Nursing students' knowledge about psychotropic drugs

The objective of this study is to characterize the learning situation of nursing students with regard to psychotropic drugs. Students from a public and a private school were interviewed. Data analysis was thematic. The results do not suggest substantial differences between the schools regarding: learning centered on psychopharmacology; influence of media and use of common sense in the epidemiology; motivations and problems related to drug use; myth repetition and prejudice of users; disrespect of the social conflicts that involve drug problems. It is necessary to improve education on this topic so that students will have adequate knowledge to act as professionals.     

内科护士对COPD患者气雾剂使用方法及知识知晓情况的调查

目的：调查内科护士对COPD患者气雾剂使用方法及相关知识的知晓情况。方法：采用便利取样对90例内科护士在气雾剂使用方法及药物知识知晓情况、培训与否等方面进行了问卷调查。结果：内科护士对气雾剂相关知识及操作方法知晓率低;多元逐步回归分析显示,气雾剂相关知识及操作得分与其所在科室、是否接受过培训以及年龄有关,而与其学历、职称及护龄等无关。结论：科室应以多种形式有针对性地对内科护士,尤其是非呼吸科护士进行有关气雾剂相关理论知识及正确操作方法的培训,以提高内科护士的气雾剂使用理论水平及技术水平。     

Filling the waiting time in the clinic with education about glaucoma

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an educational intervention, designed to occupy the waiting time in an eye clinic, on learning about glaucoma and patient satisfaction. Subjects (N = 100) waiting in the eye clinic were randomly assigned to 2 groups: (1) educational intervention and (2) usual clinic care (no structured education during the waiting time in the clinic). Patients who were taught in the clinic had significant gains in knowledge about glaucoma from pretest to posttest and were more satisfied with the education received during the visit. (Insight 2001;26:77-80.)     

Nursing students' knowledge of and views about children in pain

It is important to evaluate the outcomes of the given education to gain knowledge about the abilities of our students to meet the needs of nursing practice. Pain associated with different illnesses and procedures is one of the most common symptoms that children experience in the hospital. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the views and knowledge base of graduating nursing students in the area of taking care of children in pain. The data were collected with a purpose-designed Likert-type instrument from all nursing students that graduated during one year from the child nurse specializing program in Finland (n = 85), with a response rate of 86%. Results indicate that students have mainly positive views and attitudes towards taking care of children in pain. The views and attitudes differ when older and younger students and students from different schools are compared. Students lack knowledge especially in the area of pain medications as well as in the assessment of pain. In the knowledge section, the results did not differ greatly when different schools, younger and older students or previous working experience and no working experience were compared. In some of the researched schools, many of the students felt a lack of confidence about their knowledge. There is a need for more detailed education in the area of taking care of children with pain.