Managing catheter dysfunction for better patient outcomes: a team approach.

Vascular access is the leading cause of morbidity in the hemodialysis patient population. Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) have the lowest complication rate while catheters have the highest. Though significant effort is being made to increase the number of AVFs and lower the number of catheters, annual data show that the number of catheters is increasing. To improve vascular access-related patient outcomes, catheter dysfunction needs to be managed by a vascular access team using the CQI process that begins with a comprehensive algorithm for treatment.     

Comparison and item analysis of the MESSY for autistic and normal children

Seventeen autistic children were matched for age, race, and sex with 17 nonautistic children, and group differences in social skills were assessed. Appropriate social skills and levels of inappropriate assertiveness/impulsiveness were assessed and evaluated using the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY). Significant differences in both the appropriate and inappropriate social behaviors displayed by the two groups were found. The implications of these results are discussed.     

Report of the british psychosocial oncology group annual conference 1991

The 8th Conference of the British Psychosocial Oncology Group was held in London on 9–10 December 1991 and attracted over 120 participants. The conference was extended from its usual one day format to one and a half days, to allow more time for both a formal and informal exchange of ideas. Eight invited speakers participated, but proferred papers and posters remained an important focus of the meeting. This is the largest annual conference in Britain for professionals working in psychosocial oncology and an important forum for the presentation of research. As in previous years, the conference attracted a number of newcomers, indicating the continued expansion of this field of research. A number of topical issues were presented in keynote papers by invited speakers. New work in cancer prevention and the associated areas of counselling families at risk and ethical issues, formed one symposium. Communication skills and relevant training needs in paediatric and adult oncology were an important theme of the conference and intervention studies formed the third main topic.     

Cardiac rehabilitation for women: one size does not fit all.

AIM: To investigate women's perceptions of the contribution of cardiac rehabilitation to their recovery from a myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cardiac rehabilitation programs have been based on research with almost exclusively male participants. It was unclear if cardiac rehabilitation programs meet the needs of women. METHOD: Ten women who had experienced one or more myocardial infarctions were interviewed. Data from these interviews were analysed using Glaserian grounded theory. FINDINGS: The core category that emerged from the data was 'regaining everydayness'. Participants worked to regain their 'everydayness' through a basic social process of 'reframing'. Reframing involved coming to terms with what they had experienced and fitting it into their lives. Other categories related to symptom recognition and recovery. CONCLUSION: Cardiac rehabilitation programs contributed to overall recovery from a myocardial infarction in different ways for each participant. Although programs provided information for participants, they failed to provide the type of support needed to effectively aid reframing and recovery. Programs did not meet the needs of all participants and it was apparent that one size does not fit all.