Successful Reach and Adoption of a workplace health promotion RCT targeting a group of high-risk workers

Background  

Cleaners are rarely introduced to workplace health promotion programs. The study's objective was to evaluate the reach and adoption of a workplace randomized controlled trial (RCT) among cleaners in Denmark.     

Multiple aortocoronary bypass without artificial circulation

Results of 145 surgeries for direct myocardial revascularization without artificial circulation are presented. FC III and IV angina of effort was diagnosed in 80.6% and 13.5% of the patients respectively, acute coronary syndrome in 6.5%, past myocardial infarction in 63.8%. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) prior to surgery was 48.7 +/- 5.1%; it was below 40% in 28.8% of the patients. Three- and two-vessel coronary disease was documented in 54.7% and 35.3% of the patients respectively; 10% of them presented with the affected anterior interventricular branch, 14% with the stenotic trunk of the left coronary artery. Mean revascularization index increased from 22 to 76. The frequency of complete autoarterial revascularization amounted to 42.7%. Sequential and composite grafts were used in 93 and 257 cases respectively. No patient experienced perioperative myocardial infarction, acute disturbance of cerebral circulation, acute renal or cardiac insufficiency. Immediate postoperative hemorrhage requiring resternotomy developed in 0.9% of the patients, 1.2% with suppurative complications needed additional surgical treatment. It is concluded that myocardial revascularization on a beating heart is an efficacious and reliable method ensuring good results in the immediate and late postoperative period. Its success first and foremost depends on the previously gained experience that permits to operate patients with severe multi-vessel coronary artery disease and various concomitant disorders and thereby correct combined pathological conditions. The available data give reason to consider each patients in need of aortocoronary bypass as a candidate for myocardial revascularization on a beating heart regardless of the character and extent of coronary lesions and anatomical feature of the coronary bed.     

Analysis of results of surgical treatment of posttraumatic stiff elbow

Background:

Surgical management of posttraumatic elbow stiffness has been reported with poor outcome following treatment. Sequential release in earlier stages of stiffness yielded much better results. The goal of our study was to assess the outcome in improvement of the range of motion of the elbow after surgical release and to analyze a tailor-made approach according to individual needs to yield good result.

Materials and Methods:

A prospective study was conducted in 47 cases of elbow stiffness due to various types of injuries. All the cases were treated with sequential release if there was no progress after adequate supervised conservative management except in unreduced dislocations. All the cases were followed up for a minimum period of 24 months. Overall outcome was rated with the functional scoring system by Mayo Clinic Performance Index.

Results:

Twenty-five (44.68%) out of 47 patients had excellent results with a mean preoperative range of motion of 33.9° and postoperative range of motion of 105° with net gain in range of motion of 71.1° (‘t’ test value is 19.27, P < 0.01). None of the patients had elbow instability. Patients not having heterotopic ossification, who underwent surgery from three to six months post injury had a mean gain of 73.5°. In patients who waited for more than six months had mean gain of 66.8°. However, the results in cases having heterotopic ossification followed a slightly different pattern. In cases where release was performed from three months to six months had mean gain of 77.5°. Cases in which release was performed after six months had gain of 57.1°.

Conclusions:

In cases of posttraumatic elbow stiffness after a failed initial conservative treatment, early arthrolysis with sequential surgical soft tissue release yields good result than delayed surgery.     

'Coming out' as a life transition: homosexual identity formation and its implications for health care practice

This paper explores the formation of homosexual identity through the complex transitional process of 'coming out'. Linear developmental models are discussed as is the influence of societal norms on identity formation. In considering the implications for professional practice the author challenges the heterosexism in health care and suggests ways in which health care professionals can provide a supportive environment for gay men and lesbians.     

Investigating and implementing change within the primary health care nursing team

Primary care is developing rapidly with significant impacts on the nursing team. Such changes have brought inter-professional team-working into sharper focus, particularly community care and collaborative working. This paper: examines the nursing roles within a general practice; describes the perspectives of service users; identifies areas of change; clarifies core and specialist skills; defines new roles among the primary health care nursing team; proposes a new model of working; and identifies appropriate education. The project was set in a general practice in south-west England and used an action research methodology. The objectives were to create a change in practice and to develop and refine existing theory to underpin nursing roles. Throughout the research regular team meetings allowed reflection and discussion about research findings and progress. Data were collected from multiple sources, including team workshops, patient focus group interviews, and individual interviews with GPs, practice managers and area managers. Reflective diaries and a patient survey were also used. The analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data collected from patients formed a basis for practice development and facilitated the team's reflection on the areas of change. Overall high satisfaction with services and care was expressed in the patient interviews and the questionnaire. The themes from the data highlighted areas important for patients and helped in shaping the new roles and responsibilities for team members. Regarding the team perspective, the data indicated many areas that could be considered for development. The community nursing team decided to concentrate on three key areas: child health, leg ulcer management, and cardiovascular health. The research concludes that action research presents some problems and challenges but is a useful approach to developing team-working in primary health care.     

Practice nurses and the care of patients receiving depot neuroleptic treatment: views on training, confidence and use of structured assessment

The movement of care into the community for the mentally ill with severe and enduring problems has important implications for primary care services. This paper reports the findings from an interview with practice nurses working in south-west London, United Kingdom, who had participated in a randomised control trial to investigate the effectiveness of training and structured assessment on clinical and social outcomes of patients receiving maintenance medication of depot antipsychotics. The aim of the interview was to explore current practice, attitudes, confidence and priorities for training in relation to these patients. Thirty-nine nurses were interviewed. The majority of practice nurses received scant referral information and worked without protocols. Even though these nurses had received the training, and as a result of the study had increased awareness of the problems of the severely mentally ill, there was a significant relationship between inadequate knowledge of schizophrenia to carry out the task of medication management and lack of confidence. Although the small size of the sample does not permit generalization, important questions are raised for further practice development and research, including the future training needs of practice nurses and partnership relationships with mental health professionals for supervision and support.     

‘Caring? It's the little things we are not supposed to do anymore’

Pearcey P. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16 : 51–56
‘Caring? It's the little things we are not supposed to do anymore’ This study explored the views of twenty‐five qualified nurses in five hospitals to determine what they perceived as dominant values in clinical nursing work. Aspects of a grounded theory approach were used and this study formed the final one of three. The first two studies had student nurse samples and this study aimed to confirm and validate the data from the students' perceptions. The student nurses had implied that nurses communicated and ‘cared’ for patient's much less than they expected. Findings from this study reaffirm the students' perceptions and suggest that nurses may not be as caring as they would like to be. One significant issue to emerge, in conjunction with the realization that nurses were not being as caring as they would have liked, was that it mattered to them that caring was the ‘little things’ not ‘supposed to be done anymore’.