Nurses' compliance with American Cancer Society guidelines for cancer prevention and detection

This study aimed to ascertain the extent to which female nurses comply with American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines and whether their rate of compliance is related to either age or education. A sample of 3,226 Florida nurses received the Health Habits Assessment Survey (HHAS), a nine-item questionnaire that assesses compliance with selected ACS guidelines. A total of 559 usable forms were received from female nurses. Results indicated that only 28% of RNs practice breast self-examination (BSE) monthly. Of nurses 40-49 years old, 64% reported having a mammogram in the past two years. In the over-50 group, 57% reported having a mammogram in the past year. Only 21% reported no Pap smear in the past year (and no hysterectomy). Only 47% of RNs over 40 reported a digital rectal exam in the past year. Of RNs over 50, only 47% reported having their stools examined for blood during the previous year, and only 19% had a proctosigmoidoscopic exam in the past five years. Thirty-five percent reported using sunscreen all or most of the time, while another 27% reported using sunscreen 50%-90% of the time. No significant relationships were found between cancer prevention and detection practices and either age or educational level. Results suggest that RNs are not doing all they could to protect themselves against cancer.     

Appropriate responses by elders to oral symptoms: dentists' recommendations

This paper reports the results of a study of dentists' recommendations regarding the appropriate health action of elders in response to certain oral common symp toms and problems. Previous studies have found that elders most commonly respond to oral symptoms by using nonprofessional means. This study found that, without exception, the recommendation to consult a dentist was the primary mode of response favored by dentists, even in response to symptoms and problems that are most often trivial and rarely indicative of serious health problems. The results of this pilot study suggest that the need exists for dentists to reach a more realistic consensus regarding alternatives to professional consultation in response to some symptoms and problems.     

Maternal-Infant Attachment: a Developmental Perspective

The formation of a close and satisfying maternal-infant bond is recognized as being an important contribution to the optimal psychosocial development of the child. However the relationship that develops between mother and infant is increasingly seen as an ongoing developmental process rather than a postpartum event, occurring in the first few days after birth. It is also being increasingly recognized that there are a multitude of factors during this period which affect the development of this relationship (14, 15, 16, 17). The father too plays an important role at this time, and his reactions to the birth as well as the support he is able to offer his wife are determinants in the evolving maternal-infant relationship. The view of bonding as an ongoing developmental process influenced by both ante- and postnatal factors, indicates some flexibility of response on the part of the mother when things do not go according to plan. For example, separation of mother and infant in the case of a premature delivery need not have an adverse effect on the development of the maternal-infant relationship provided that there is adequate support for the parents. Well trained I.C.U. staff and hospital practices that are sensitive to the needs of the parents at this time are important determinants here. It is felt that the success of the video programme, and the results of the long-term follow-up programme conducted at the Queen Victoria Hospital support this developmental view.     

Harnessing expertise: involving peer interviewers in qualitative research with hard-to-reach populations

The use of peer interviewers with privileged access to a particular population group, which is difficult to reach via more conventional methods, has been acknowledged in recent research. This paper explores a number of key issues relating to the employment of peer interviewers by reflecting on a project designed to explore the views and experiences of parents who use illegal drugs. The project presented the research team with a number of challenges. These included the need to provide on-going support for the interviewers, a sense of distance felt by the researchers from the raw data they collected, and the difficulties of gaining from the skills and experiences of peer interviewers without exploiting their labour. The paper also explores the advantages of involving peer interviewers closely in research work and reflects on the nature and boundaries of expert knowledge that can become evident in such collaborations. The need for a certain amount of flexibility over the roles and domains of control that lay experts and researchers traditionally inhabit is suggested. In conclusion, it is argued that the involvement of peer interviewers in research can be a valuable means of enhancing our knowledge and understanding of a variety of population groups who tend to live beyond the gaze of more orthodox researchers.