Is technology the best medicine? Three practice theoretical perspectives on medication administration technologies in nursing

Even though it is often presumed that the use of technology like medication administration technology is both safer and more effective, the importance of nurses' know‐how is not to be underestimated. In this article, we accordingly try to argue that nurses' labor, including their different forms of knowledge, must play a crucial role in the development, implementation and use of medication administration technology. Using three different theoretical perspectives (‘heuristic lenses') and integrating this with our own ethnographic research, we will explore how nursing practices change through the use of medication technology. Ultimately, we will argue that ignoring (institutional) complexity and the various types of important knowledge that nurses have, will seriously complicate the implementation of medication administration technology.     

Open-access transvaginal sonography in women of reproductive age with abnormal vaginal bleeding: a descriptive study in general practice

Background

Diagnostic ultrasonography is used by GPs in approximately 10% of patients of reproductive age with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal sonography is recommended as a first-line diagnostic instrument for assessing uterine pathology.

Aim

To assess if findings resulting from openaccess sonography were in agreement with the GPs’ working hypotheses and if these findings contributed to GPs’ management.

Design and setting

Prospective observational cohort study of GPs working in the health district of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam and their patients consulting with abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Method

Data on patients’ history, GPs’ primary working hypotheses, and intended management were recorded. After sonography, GPs recorded their actual management.

Results

A total of 122 patients were included by 18 GPs from June 2003 to December 2004. Data from 89 patients were available for analysis. The GPs’ working hypotheses implied ‘no structural pathology’ in 65/89 patients, and ‘fibroids’ in 24/89 patients. Sonographic findings were confirmed in 50/65 patients where ‘no structural pathology’, and in 14/24 of those where ‘fibroids’ were expected. Initially, GPs had intended to refer nine patients to a gynaecologist. Actual management after sonographic assessment was watchful waiting or drug therapy in 57/89 patients. Eighty-nine per cent of these patients had normal sonographic findings. The actual referral rate rose to 27/89 patients. In 17 referred patients, sonographic findings were suggestive of intracavitary abnormalities.

Conclusion

Open-access sonography contributed to more accurate diagnoses and improved GPs’ management of women with abnormal vaginal bleeding.     

Lipid Levels: A Link Between Cardiovascular Disease and Osteoporosis?

Epidemiological observations support a positive relationship between cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and osteoporosis, where cholesterol has been indicated to be a possible link. Only a few studies have investigated the relation between lipids and BMD, but the association remains unclear. We studied the relationship between serum lipids and BMD of the calcaneus. A cross‐sectional population‐based study was performed, based on data from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, including 620 men and 635 women, 65–88 yr of age. BMD was measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS), velocity of sound (VOS; m/s), and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA; dB/MHz). Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, testosterone, and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D. No association was found between total cholesterol (TC) and QUS. Men and women in the highest quartile of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐c) had a significantly lower QUS (men—VOS: β = ?20.8, p = 0.00; BUA: β = ?5.2, p = 0.02; women—VOS: β = ?18.6, p = 0.00) compared with men and women in the lowest quartile. An even stronger positive association was seen between TC/HDL‐c ratio and QUS (men—VOS: β = 21.8, p = 0.00; BUA: β = 5.5, p = 0.01; women—VOS: β = 19.2, p = 0.00; BUA: β = 3.6, p = 0.05). Our analysis shows that the lipid profile that is favorable in the prevention of CVD (i.e., high levels of HDL‐c and low TC/HDL‐c ratio) is unfavorable for QUS. These results indicate that HDL‐c levels do not explain the association between osteoporosis and CVD.     

Family influences on children's physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption

Background  

There is evidence of a clustering of healthy dietary patterns and physical activity among young people and also of unhealthy behaviours. The identification of influences on children's health behaviors, particularly clustered health behaviors, at the time at which they develop is imperative for the design of interventions. This study examines associations between parental modelling and support and children's physical activity (PA) and consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV), and combinations of these behaviours.     

Interviews for the assessment of long-term incapacity for work: a study on adherence to protocols and principles

Background  

Assessments for long-term incapacity for work are performed by Social Insurance Physicians (SIPs) who rely on interviews with claimants as an important part of the process. These interviews are susceptible to bias. In the Netherlands three protocols have been developed to conduct these interviews. These protocols are expert- and practice-based. We studied to what extent these protocols are adhered to by practitioners.     

The AGH score is a predictor of disease-free survival and targeted therapy efficacy after liver transplantation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Liver transplantation(LT) is the “cure” therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). However, some patients encounter HCC recurrence after LT. Unfortunately, there is no effective methods to identify the LT patients who have high risk of HCC recurrence and would benefit from adjuvant targeted therapy. The present study aimed to establish a scoring system to predict HCC recurrence of HCC patients after LT among the Chinese population, and to evaluate whether these patients...