The internal consistency and intra-rater reliability of an assessment practice grid for community nurses

The development of instruments to measure clinical competence in nursing shows little evidence of a systematic approach and studies of reliability and validity are absent. The present study was carried out using data on practice assessment collected in the course of a post-registration nursing programme. The data were analysed for internal consistency and intra-rater reliability. The instrument used to assess practice in the present study is highly internally consistent and there is evidence to support intra-rater reliability. However, further development and testing of the instrument is required.     

The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale #2 (EdFED #2): inter- and intra-rater reliability

Difficulty with feeding increases in older people as the condition of dementia progresses (Watson 1997a). The Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia Scale #2 (EdFED #2) has been designed to measure the level of feeding difficulty associated with dementia, and its scale properties, internal consistency (Watson 1996) and some aspects of the validity have previously been reported (Watson 1997b; Watson et al. 2001). The present report describes the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the EdFED #2.     

The Effects of Abutment Wall Height, Platform Size, and Screw Access Channel Filling Method on Resistance to Dislodgement of Cement-Retained, Implant-Supported Restorations

PURPOSE: Factors affecting the retention of fixed prostheses to natural abutments are well understood. In contrast, little is known concerning factors influencing the retention of fixed prostheses cemented to implant abutments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that varying implant abutment wall height, platform size, and screw access channel filling method has on the retention of castings cemented to implant abutments using TempBond. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four 15 degrees preangled abutments (Nobel Biocare Replace Select Esthetic) of each platform size--narrow (NP), regular (RP), and wide (WP)--were used. In each group of abutments the screw access axial wall was either unadjusted, one-third removed, two-thirds removed, or completely removed. The screw access channels were either fully or partially filled with Memosil, a vinyl polysiloxane impression material. For each abutment a casting was constructed that incorporated an attachment to allow removal. Castings were cemented to abutments with TempBond. The tensile force required to separate the cemented castings from the abutments was measured using an Instron Universal load-testing machine. RESULTS: The mean peak removal force for comparable abutments was significantly different ( p < 0.05): (1) where the screw access channel was completely filled with Memosil compared with those partially filled with Memosil; (2) with platform sizes--WP > RP > NP; (3) with alteration of axial wall height--1/3 removed > unadjusted = 2/3 removed > total wall removal. CONCLUSIONS: The retention of castings cemented to implant abutments with TempBond is influenced by the wall height, platform size, and the filling modality of the screw access channel.     

Effectiveness of palliative care interventions offering social support to people with life‐limiting illness—A systematic review

Individuals managing the challenges of life‐limiting illness require adequate social support to maintain quality of life. Qualitative research reports that patients value highly the social support obtained in palliative care interventions such as day care and group therapies. This systematic review aims to summarise existing quantitative evidence on palliative care interventions that facilitate social support. Research literature was systematically searched using electronic databases and key journals. Searches returned a total of 6,247 unique titles of which sixteen were eligible for inclusion. Interventions include group therapies, group practical interventions and palliative day care. Outcome measures and study designs were heterogeneous. Only one study used a validated outcome measure of social support. Benefits were influenced by participant characteristics such as baseline distress. Partial economic evaluation was attempted by two studies. Methodological challenges include attrition and use of outcome measures that were insensitive to change. Statistically significant results were reported in psychological and physical domains. Evidence is limited due to methodological issues and a scarcity of quantitative research, particularly regarding long‐term benefits and cost‐effectiveness. Interventions may be more beneficial to some groups than others.