Psychological Disturbance and its Associations in the Children of the Gujarati Community

The infrequent referral of Asian children to child psychiatry clinics was noted. By administering Rutter's scale A2 to samples of Gujarati and English parents with children between the ages of 4 and 7 years a lower rate of disturbance was demonstrated among the Asian sample providing an explanation for the original observation. Family and child-rearing factors associated with disturbance were identified.     

Abnormal behavior of elderly people residing in institutions of medical and social welfare systems

Abstract We investigated factors correlated with abnormal behavior in the elderly residing in a special nursing home (group A) and a psychiatric hospital (group B) using the dementia behavior disturbance scale, the mini mental state examination, the Japanese version of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center morale scale, and the ADL assessment scale. The cognitive function of group B was decreased compared with that of group A, but most activities of daily living (ADL) in the latter group were disrupted compared with those in the former. Only a few categories of ADL correlated with abnormal behavior in group A, whereas cognitive function, quality of life, and most categories of ADL correlated with abnormal behavior in group B. These results suggest that factors correlated with abnormal behavior in the elderly differ within institutions of medical and social welfare systems.     

An adjusted version of Kohlberg's moral theory: discussion of its validity for research in nursing ethics

Critics of Kohlberg's moral theory today focus on the content of his theory and more specifically on its justice-orientated moral concept. This has led to the well-known 'justice-care debate'. The purpose of this article is to critically examine the validity of Kohlberg's moral theory for research in nursing ethics from a caring perspective (referring to the content) as well as from a cognitive-structural perspective (referring to the basic assumptions of the model). The analysis points to the usefulness and value of the cognitive-structural model to empirically study nurses' ethical behaviour; the content of Kohlberg's model, however, needs to be adapted by adding a caring perspective as well as some personal and situational variables. An adjusted version of Kohlberg's model is proposed and discussed.     

Met and unmet nursing care needs in men with prostate cancer. An explorative study. Part II

Men with prostate cancer ( n = 11) were interviewed during an in-patient period at a urological clinic, about their experiences of met and unmet needs from health professionals. Their perception of quality of life and sense of coherence were also assessed. The findings were analysed from a phenemenological-hermeneutic perspective and interpreted within the concept of transition. It was interpreted that objective functional health needs were mostly met by health professionals and subjective existential needs were mostly not met. The analysis revealed patients as passive or active receivers of care. Passive receivers were explicitly and implicitly stating unmet needs, or explicitly stating satisfaction with nursing care at the same time as implicitly contradicting, referring to their needs as bagatelles, unimportant, whereas active receivers talked about their needs explicitly with the staff and did not state implicit unmet needs. This suggests that nurses need to be aware of and have sensitive ears to undertones in statements and actively seek for patients' needs. The most important nursing care areas seemed to be to provide solutions to physical problems together with staff support including information, and acting to increase confidence in staff and staff availability. This encourages patients, wives and families, in co-operation, towards a healthy exit of transition.     

Caring and cancer nursing: framing the reality using selected social science theory

Caring and cancer nursing: framing the reality using selected social science theory Despite the recent interest in caring for both academic and clinical nursing, the theoretical basis of this concept may appear somewhat elusive as the research and debate vary widely in their focus. As a result, the available literature may fail to consider the specific contextual issues which characterize caring as it is understood across different health care settings. Consideration of theory from disciplines close to nursing, it is suggested, may be useful in understanding the nature of such 'real world' caring. In this discussion the concept of caring within cancer nursing is explored by drawing on a number of social science and nursing sources. It is known that cancer provokes unique caring demands for nurses practising in this area. By examining the context of cancer, it is argued that effective caring deserves to be recognized as an important clinical variable which can influence a diverse range of issues such as patient satisfaction or therapeutic outcome. It is suggested that other nursing specialisms should also explore the psychosocial dimensions of caring in relation to their own role.     

The effectiveness of 'nursing beds': a review of the literature

A literature search was conducted to identify 'nursing led in-patient units' where the nurse is the designated leader of the clinical team. The review concentrates on studies which have attempted to measure the impact of nursing-led in-patient units and reviews both the methodology and outcomes. Three major bodies of work were identified. Lydia Hall's evaluation of the Loeb Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (USA) is reviewed in some detail. This work was the model for 'nursing beds' at the two Oxfordshire Nursing Development Units (UK) in the 1980s. Studies evaluating these centres are reviewed and reports of similar UK units discussed. A third body of work evaluates a nurse-managed critical care environment. Common features include a case mix based on nursing need with nurses having authority to admit and discharge patients. While results are generally favourable, with improved patient independence, fewer readmissions, lower mortality and cost savings reported in some or all of the studies, all studies reviewed demonstrate the difficulties of applying an experimental model to real life clinical services. Methodological limitations render firm conclusions difficult. Techniques adopted from studies in field settings, the so-called 'quasi-experiment', are advocated as a remedy, as is further study of the process of care in investigating this model of care delivery.     

Midnight reckonings: on a question of knowledge and nursing

Abstract The paper contrasts understandings of knowledge grounded in Enlightenment norms with the departures from those norms taken by some strands of feminism and hermeneutics, as well as the contributions made by the writing of Michel Foucault. A reading of Foucault's writings on knowledge, power and the discursive constitution of self and world is offered as a potentially useful frame within which to raise questions about nursing, nurses and knowledge.     

老年病人睡眠状况及护理干预研究进展

综述了老年人睡眠质量及其影响因素、睡眠障碍的危害、老年病人睡眠的护理干预。建议进行前瞻性干预试验,为改善老年人的睡眠质量提供依据。     

The effects of an HIV/AIDS educational programme on the anxiety level of nursing students

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious disease that has special concern for the health care provider. AIDS has continued to grow despite control efforts. As the disease infectivity period remains lengthy, and the heterosexual population is affected to a greater degree, the level of anxiety has also risen despite educational endeavours. Many fears and anxieties have been associated with AIDS patients by health care workers. The reduction of stress, perceived risk and discomfort following educational efforts have been supported in past research. Educational programmes will need to be given for current health care workers at all levels as well as nursing students. Future nurses must be prepared to meet this challenge. This study was conducted using a convenience sample of nursing students at a university in western United States. Its purpose was to assess any changes that occurred in state anxiety following an educational presentation. Spielberge's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as the measurement instrument. Some anxiety levels were significantly reduced.