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.     

Social class and obesity in 12-year-old children in Brussels: Influence of gender and ethnic origin

From their school health files, the body mass index of 2607 children, 1268 boys and 1339 girls, from the Brussels region of Belgium was analysed. The aim was to study the relationship between obesity and social class, gender and nationality. In Belgian girls, the lower their social class, the higher was the prevalence and severity of obesity. There was no such significant relationship in Belgian boys, nor in immigrant children of either sex, although the overall prevalence of obesity was similar in all groups. These results question certain hypotheses proposed to explain the relationship between social class and obesity. Conclusion From early adolescence on, social inequality influences the prevalence of obesity in Belgian girls, but not in Belgian boys nor in immigrant children. Prevention of obesity should take into account the influence of gender, social class and ethnic origin. Received: 21 January 1997 and in revised form: 30 September 1997 / Accepted: 21 October 1997     

Psychological factors influencing the surgical patients' consent to regional anaesthesia

To investigate the preoperative attitude of surgical patients to regional anaesthesia, 162 subjects scheduled for elective surgery were studied. On the day before operation, patients were interviewed by an anaesthesio–logist, using a semi–structured schedule. Topics investigated were sociodemographic variables and clinical correlates, such as past anaesthetic experience, information about anaesthesia and surgery, as well as questions and fears related to anaesthesia. Subjects were assessed for personality characteristics and emotional symptoms by Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Zung's Self–rating Anxiety and Depression Rating Scales, Schalling–Sifneos' Personality Scale and the 43–item Life Events Inventory of Holmes and Rahe. Seventy–one patients (44%) consented to regional anaesthesia. Consent to regional anaesthesia was associated with advanced age, low neuroticism and high extroversion score in the EPQ, as well as longer duration of illness. The deniers of consent asked more questions and expressed more fears about anaesthesia. It is suggested that the patients' characteristics influence their preference, acceptance or refusal of regional anaesthesia.     

大学生心理障碍干预实验研究

目的　探索有效的心理障碍治疗方法 ,降低大学生心理障碍发病率。方法　以经SCL - 90测试分析筛检出≥ 2项因子分在 2 3以上的心理障碍者 2 0 5人为研究对象 ,采取心理治疗、中药治疗、中药与心理疗法结合治疗 3种干预模式对实验组心理障碍者进行为期半年治疗 ,对实验组与空白对照组测试情况比较、各实验组组间比较 ,干预前、后测试结果比较 ,对干预效果进行评价。结果　 3个干预实验组与对照组相比 ,SCL - 90测试结果均低于对照组 ;干预前后SCL - 90测试总分、总均分、各因子分差异有显著性意义 (P <0 0 0 1)。结论　 3种干预方式对心理障碍均有不同程度的疗效 ,以中药与心理疗法结合治疗效果最佳。     

Methods of Measuring Community Characteristics

There is increasing interest in the influence of community characteristics on child development and family functioning. In order to address questions on community influence, it is important to be aware of the measures available and their strengths and limitations. Useful strategies have been developed within a number of disciplines, including sociology, social and community psychology, and criminology. Methods include summarising information from existing administrative databases and census data, conducting observations, and using survey instruments with residents. The most commonly used methods are reviewed and their psychometric properties described .     

噪声作业人员职业体验研究

采用华西医科大学劳动卫生教研室研制的系统化职业心理测验（ＯＰＴ）软件，对四川第一棉纺织厂织布车间噪声（１０１．２ｄＢ（Ａ））作业女工９８人职业体验进行考察。以ＯＰＴ常模女性工人组为对照（年龄、工龄、文化程度等与观察组同），按标准化ＯＰＴ方法实施测验和统计分析。结果提示噪声作业女工职业体验欠佳，职业满意度、工作生活质量均低于常模。     

Brain dysfunction in social drinkers

Thirty-four social drinkers who had referred themselves to the Regional Brain Damage Unit for assessment of the effects of drinking alcohol were compared with 42 volunteer control subjects of equivalent age but with low alcohol intake, using two 'learning' tests — the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and the Austin Button Maze. The Maze Test gave no evidence of disorder, but the two groups were significantly different on the RAVLT. No abnormalities in standard cognitive tests were apparent. These results suggest that a deficit in learning ability may be an early feature of the brain dysfunction associated with excessive alcohol consumption.     

Differential effects of IL-1ra on sickness behavior and weight loss induced by IL-1 in rats

Peripheral and central injections of recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) have been shown to decrease social exploration and to induce body weight loss in rats. To characterize the receptor mechanisms of these effects, we used as a tool a specific antagonist of the receptors of IL-1, IL-1ra. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of IL-1ra (8 mg/kg) blocked the effect of i.p. injection of IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. Central administration of IL-1ra (60 μg/rat, i.c.v.) abrogated the effects of centrally administered IL-1β (30 ngn/rat, i.c.v.) on both social behaviour and body weight. Central injection of IL-1ra (4 μg/rat, i.c.v.) also attenuated the effects of i.p. administered IL-1β (4 μg/rat) on social behaviour but not on body weight. These results suggest that the effects of IL-1β on social behavior are mediated centrally and that its effect on the loss of body weight involves different receptor mechanisms.     

企业职工社会心理调查的方法学研究

作者自行设计一种问卷对某企业职工进行社会心理调查。问卷由 A、B两表构成。A 表列出42个问题,包含可能影响该企业职工社会心理的三大类11项因素,要求从该企业中随机抽取的被调查者针对问题回答“是”或“否”。其后附开放式问题一个,被调查者可自由作答,以补封闭式提问的不足。B 表按心理投射机制设计,以解除被调查者的疑虑。测试结果表明,此问卷的信度和效度令人满意。