Communicating

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences

Terms modified by Communicating

  • communicating artery aneurysm
  • communicating branch

  • Selected Abstracts


    Pathways for Communicating about Objects on Guided Tours

    CURATOR THE MUSEUM JOURNAL, Issue 3 2008
    Jeff Camhi
    Most tour guides rely on rather limited, unidirectional (guide-to-visitor) communication. Instead, this paper outlines six different pathways of communication that are possible among guide, visitors, and object. Each pathway offers several specific types of communicative acts. In addition, 35 guided tours in several different kinds of venue were examined to identify the pathways and types of acts that were used. The professional literature describes other types of acts, and more have been developed at the writer's home museum. All in all, the 58 different types of communicative acts described here present a wide range of opportunities for guides to communicate with visitors. [source]


    Communicating with Subjects: Special Challenges for Resuscitation Research

    ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2005
    Ilene Wilets PhD
    Abstract In May 2005, Academic Emergency Medicine sponsored a one-day consensus conference held in association with the 2005 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine meeting in New York City. The conference, entitled "Ethical Conduct of Resuscitation Research," addressed a variety of issues regarding the successful conduct of research in acute care settings. A number of important breakout sessions were convened based on challenges specific to resuscitation research. "Communicating with Subjects" was one such session, dedicated toward perfecting the conduct of informed consent for research. The breakout session was attended by 15 insightful emergency medicine investigators, administrators, and ethicists. Issues of research information disclosure, subject comprehension, and the voluntariness of research participation were addressed. Consensus statements were developed and are discussed within this report. [source]


    Ground Water Recharge and Chemical Contaminants: Challenges in Communicating the Connections and Collisions of Two Disparate Worlds

    GROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 2 2004
    Christian G. Daughton
    Our knowledge base regarding the presence and significance of chemicals foreign to the subsurface environment is large and growing , the papers in this volume serving as testament. However, complex questions with few answers surround the unknowns regarding the potential for environmental or human health effects from trace levels of xenobiotics in ground water, especially ground water augmented with treated waste water. Public acceptance for direct or indirect ground water recharge using treated municipal waste water (especially sewage) spans the spectrum from unquestioned embrace to outright rejection. In this paper, I detour around the issues most commonly discussed regarding ground water recharge and instead focus on some of the less-recognized issues,those that emanate from the mysteries created at the many literal and virtual interfaces involved with the subsurface world. My major objective is to catalyze discussion that advances our understanding of the barriers to public acceptance of waste water reuse with its ultimate culmination in direct reuse for drinking. I pose what could be a key question as to whether much of the public's frustration or ambivalence in its decision-making process for accepting, or rejecting, water reuse (for various purposes including personal use) emanates from fundamental inaccuracies, misrepresentation, or oversimplification of what water is and how it functions in the environment,just exactly what the water cycle is. These questions suggest it might behoove us to revisit some very elementary aspects of our science and how we are conveying them to the public. [source]


    Skills for Communicating with Patients (2e)

    HEALTH EXPECTATIONS, Issue 3 2005
    Margaret Holmes-Rovner
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Caring for patients of Islamic denomination: critical care nurses' experiences in Saudi Arabia

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 12 2006
    ITU cert., Phil Halligan MSc
    Aim., To describe the critical care nurses' experiences in caring for patients of Muslim denomination in Saudi Arabia. Background., Caring is known to be the essence of nursing but many health-care settings have become more culturally diverse. Caring has been examined mainly in the context of Western cultures. Muslims form one of the largest ethnic minority communities in Britain but to date, empirical studies relating to caring from an Islamic perspective is not well documented. Research conducted within the home of Islam would provide essential truths about the reality of caring for Muslim patients. Design., Phenomenological descriptive. Methods., Six critical care nurses were interviewed from a hospital in Saudi Arabia. The narratives were analysed using Colaizzi's framework. Results., The meaning of the nurses' experiences emerged as three themes: family and kinship ties, cultural and religious influences and nurse,patient relationship. The results indicated the importance of the role of the family and religion in providing care. In the process of caring, the participants felt stressed and frustrated and they all experienced emotional labour. Communicating with the patients and the families was a constant battle and this acted as a further stressor in meeting the needs of their patients. Conclusions., The concept of the family and the importance and meaning of religion and culture were central in the provision of caring. The beliefs and practices of patients who follow Islam, as perceived by expatriate nurses, may have an effect on the patient's health care in ways that are not apparent to many health-care professionals and policy makers internationally. Relevance to clinical practice., Readers should be prompted to reflect on their clinical practice and to understand the impact of religious and cultural differences in their encounters with patients of Islam denomination. Policy and all actions, decisions and judgments should be culturally derived. [source]


    The Science of Communicating the Art of Esthetic Dentistry.

    JOURNAL OF ESTHETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2001
    Part III: Precise Shade Communication
    ABSTRACT Shade matching is inherently complex and involves understanding the science of color, determining the shade and surface characteristics of teeth, and communicating this information to the laboratory technician. The laboratory technician then has the difficult task of mimicking the selected shade and ultimately reproducing it in the final restoration. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This article describes several methods of communicating and several tools that are available to the restorative dentist to achieve the esthetic results desired. By using these simple techniques, the dentist and laboratory technician are better able to communicate the shade and surface characteristics of teeth. [source]


    The Science of Communicating the Art of Esthetic Dentistry.

    JOURNAL OF ESTHETIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2000
    Part I: Patient-Dentist-Patient Communication
    ABSTRACT Many contemporary restorative procedures are primarily esthetically driven, and patients have high expectations. It is imperative for the restorative dentist to understand patients' desires and expectations prior to initiating irreversible therapy. It is equally important for patients to understand the anatomic and technical limitations inherent with restorative therapy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This article describes several relatively straightforward techniques that can assist in dentist-patient-dentist communication and allow the patient to visualize a reasonable facsimile of the definitive result prior to initiation of irreversible therapy. By using these techniques where indicated, the frustrating cycle of rejection and failure may be avoided. [source]


    Communicating and judging the quality of qualitative research: the need for a new language

    JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 3 2003
    S. A. Fade
    Abstract Background Traditionally UK dietitians have tended to take a more quantitative approach to research. Qualitative research which gives an in-depth view of people's experiences and beliefs is also now being used to help answer some important dietetic research questions. Review A review of the limited number of qualitative research papers in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 1990,2002 (nine papers in all), revealed a lack of specific discussion of the quality strategies commonly used in qualitative research. This could indicate a less than robust approach, but might also reflect a different perspective on quality, or simply the difficulties associated with disseminating qualitative research to a profession whose members lack familiarity with the language. The fact that qualitative research seems to be used rarely may also indicate a poor understanding of its role. Purpose of this paper This paper seeks to clarify the potential role of qualitative research and draws on previously published guidelines for demonstrating quality. It is hoped that this will offer dietitians a framework for carrying out qualitative research and a language for reporting it, as well acting as a stimulus for discussion. [source]


    Communicating throughout Katrina: Competing and Complementary Conceptual Lenses on Crisis Communication

    PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REVIEW, Issue 2007
    James L. Garnett
    Hurricane Katrina was as much a communication disaster as it was a natural and bureaucratic disaster. Communication gaps, missed signals, information technology failures, administrative buffering, turf battles, and deliberate and unintentional misinterpretations delayed and handicapped both the recognition of the crisis that Katrina posed and the response to its devastation. This essay views crisis communication through four conceptual lenses: (1) crisis communication as interpersonal influence, (2) crisis communication as media relations, (3) crisis communication as technology showcase, and (4) crisis communication as interorganizational networking. A conceptual framework is presented that compares these lenses with regard to agency, transparency, technology, and chronology. The planning, response, and recovery stages of the Hurricane Katrina disaster are viewed through these communication conceptual lenses, illustrating key facets of each perspective and adding to our deepening understanding of the events. Many of the problems we have identified can be categorized as "information gaps",or at least problems with information-related implications, or failures to act decisively because information was sketchy at best. Better information would have been an optimal weapon against Katrina. Information sent to the right people at the right place at the right time. Information moved within agencies, across departments, and between jurisdictions of government as well. Seamlessly. Securely. Efficiently , One would think we could share information by now. But Katrina again proved we cannot. ,U.S. House Select Bipartisan Committee With the floodwalls gashed and hemorrhaging billions of gallons of water into the city, it was only a matter of a few hours on Monday before the communications citywide began to fail , Communication was about to become the biggest problem of the catastrophe. ,Christopher Cooper and Robert Block, Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security Truth became a casualty, news organizations that were patting their own backs in early September were publishing protracted mea culpas by the end of the month. ,Matt Welch, "They Shoot Helicopters, Don't They?" [source]


    Communicating about potential drug harms: safety implications for patients

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
    JM Ritter Editor-in-Chief British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Creative Conversations: Communicating with people with profound learning disabilities

    BRITISH JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, Issue 4 2005
    Melanie Nind
    No abstract is available for this article. [source]


    Communicating with children's social services and reporting systems

    CHILD ABUSE REVIEW, Issue 3 2010
    Jane V. Appleton
    First page of article [source]


    ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The relationship between patients' perception of the effects of neurofibromatosis type 2 and the domains of the Short Form-36

    CLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
    W.J. Neary
    Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 291,299 Objectives:, To investigate the relationship between those issues concerning quality of life in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) as identified by the closed set NF2 questionnaire and the eight norm-based measures and the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire. Design:, Postal questionnaire study. Setting:, Questionnaires sent to subjects' home addresses. Participants:, Eighty-seven adult subjects under the care of the Manchester Multidisciplinary NF2 Clinic were invited to participate. Main outcome measures:, Sixty-two (71%) completed sets of closed set NF2 questionnaires and SF-36 questionnaires were returned. Results:, Subjects with NF2 scored less than the norm of 50 on both the physical component summary and mental component summary scores and the eight individual norm-based measures of the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Correlations (using Kendall's tau) were examined between patients' perceptions of their severity of difficulty with the following activities and the eight norm-based measures and the physical component summary and mental component summary scores of the Short Form-36 questionnaire: Communicating with spouse/significant other (N = 61). The correlation coefficients were significant at the 0.01 level for the mental component summary score, together with three of the norm-based scores [vitality (VT), social functioning and role emotional]. Social communication (N = 62). All 10 correlations were significant at the 0.01 or 0.001 level. Balance (N = 59). All 10 correlations were highly significant at the P < 0.001 level. Hearing difficulties (N = 61). All correlations were significant at either the 0.01 level or less apart from the mental component summary score and three of the norm-based scores (role physical, VT and mental health). Mood change (N = 61). All correlations were significant at the 0.01 level or less, apart from one norm-based score (role physical). Conclusions:, The Short Form-36 questionnaire has allowed us to relate patients' perceptions of their difficulties, as identified by the closed set NF2 questionnaire, to the physical and mental domains measured by this validated and widely used scale, and has provided further insight into areas of functioning affected by NF2. [source]


    The Unheard Voices of Santalis: Communicating About Health From the Margins of India

    COMMUNICATION THEORY, Issue 3 2004
    Mohan J. Dutta-Bergman
    This article takes a culture-centered approach to exploring Santali meanings of health in rural Bengal. My conversations with Santalis and field journal accounts of interactions with Santali men and women bring to the surface critical issues and meaningful theories of health. The discursive constructions demonstrate that Santali health beliefs are polymorphic, accommodating multiple treatment approaches to disease and illness. Critical to Santali discourse is the acknowledgment of barriers created by the socio-politico-cultural structure encompassing Santalis. On one hand, Santalis talk about education as a salvation; on the other hand, they believe that the structure fundamentally needs to be challenged and transformed. Discourses of resistance and revolution emerge in the interviews, suggesting the necessity of locating agency in Santalis and their communities. [source]


    Talk About Terrorism and the Media: Communicating With the Conduit Metaphor

    COMMUNICATION, CULTURE & CRITIQUE, Issue 4 2008
    Simon J. Harrison
    The conduit metaphor is the primary expression of linguistic communication in our culture (M. J. Reddy, 1979). It structures theories and frameworks based on the "Code Model" (from C. E. Shannon & W. Weaver, 1949) such as the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (R. E. Kasperson et al., 1988; N. Pidgeon, R. E. Kasperson, & P. Slovic, [Eds] 2003). The conduit metaphor structure objectifies source, receiver, and messages, which are talked of as "objects" or "substances" passed along a conduit to a receiver to be recovered. Metaphor analysis of 6 semistructured interviews with laypersons about terrorism and the media showed how the conduit metaphor structures a subjective process of reification, quantification, comparison, and judgment. This interpretation suggests that the demands of the conduit metaphor structure for the transferred message to be "invariant" and "pure" can influence relationships of trust and blame between media and public. The authors suggest that a notion of interactive communication between the media and the public should take into consideration the power of the conduit metaphor structure to shape understandings. [source]


    Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium: Report of Two Cases With Bicuspid Aortic Valve Demonstrating Poor Prognosis and With Prominent Right Ventricular Involvement

    ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2003
    Yuksel Cavusoglu
    Noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium is a rare, unclassified cardiomyopathy due to an arrest of myocardial morphogenesis. The characteristic echocardiographic findings consist of multiple, prominent myocardial trabeculations and deep intertrabecular spaces communicating with the left ventricular (LV) cavity. The disease typically involves the LV myocardium, but right ventricular (RV) involvement is not uncommon. The clinical manifestations include heart failure (HF) signs, ventricular arrhythmias and cardioembolic events. Noncompacted myocardium may occur as an isolated cardiac lesion, as well as it can be in association with congenital anomalies. We describe two illustrative cases of noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium, a 19-year-old male with bicuspid aortic valve and progressive worsening of HF, and a 61-year-old male with marked RV involvement in addition to LV apical involvement, both with the typical clinical and echocardiographic features of the disease. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, May 2003) [source]


    Development and evaluation of a cd-rom to support student learning in dentist,patient communication

    EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION, Issue 2 2003
    J. T. Newton
    The interaction between dentist and patient is central to the provision of effective healthcare. A multidisciplinary team containing expertise in the social and behavioural sciences, medicine, dentistry, education and information technology was formed to design a CD-ROM to support more traditional teaching and learning in this area. The final version of the program consists of a ,virtual' patient from whom students are asked to take a medical history. The ,patient' interacts with the student and responds to the style of their questioning by changes in anxiety, or degree of annoyance. To date, the CD-ROM has been evaluated in two stages. The first stage was a predictive formative evaluation by the research/development team, and the second stage was a formative evaluation by 144 dental students of the first full prototype. A third stage, to be conducted next year, will involve measuring the longer term impact of the CD-ROM through the assessment of students' abilities to communicate with patients. The evaluation had two components: students made rates of how useful and easy to use they found the program, and students' attitudes towards interacting with patients were evaluated adopting constructs from the theory of Planned Behaviour. Students were positive about the use of the CD-ROM, though they requested some changes in the functionality of the program. Compared to a sample of students who had not used the CD-ROM, the students who used the CD-ROM felt more positive about communicating with their patients, at the end of the course, and expressed stronger intentions to communicate well with patients. We conclude that the CD-ROM we have developed in a useful adjunct to learning in dentist,patient communication. [source]


    Safer sex decision-making among men with haemophilia and HIV and their female partners

    HAEMOPHILIA, Issue 1 2001
    K. L. Parish
    An exploratory qualitative study of adult heterosexual men with haemophilia and HIV and women who were their sexual partners was conducted as formative research to better understand cognitive factors involved in behavioural intentions and practices which comprise HIV risk-reduction for sexual transmission. The study sought to generate hypotheses, uncover themes, and develop a broad perspective on possible determinants of behaviours related to HIV transmission risk reduction. Qualitative analysis of these data served as a basis for developing a subsequent quantitative, hypothesis-testing survey and an intervention. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 23 single men and 28 married men with haemophilia and HIV infection, and 28 married women partners selected through stratified, purposeful sampling. The interviews identified beliefs, attitudes, and values underlying decisions regarding target behaviours related to preventing sexual transmission of HIV, including (1) using condoms consistently during vaginal intercourse and (2) talking to partners about risk reduction. The interviews elicited information about perceived advantages and disadvantages of performing each of the targeted behaviours, and factors that facilitate or prevent performing them. Qualitative analysis of coded responses yielded important themes regarding how choices are made about sexual activity and safer sex. Most notably, communication between partners (1) plays a direct, key role in facilitating condom use and (2) forms the basis for maintaining emotional intimacy in these relationships. The link between condom use and communicating about safer sex was viewed as pivotal in achieving HIV prevention for individuals in serodiscordant couples. Recommendations for risk reduction intervention development are discussed. [source]


    Concerns of speech-impaired people and those communicating with them

    HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 3 2000
    FRCSLT MSc Joyce Emerson
    Abstract This study investigated the perception and experiences of people with speech impairments and of the general public when communicating with speech impaired people. The aim was to identify the actual concerns of people and factors that make communication easier or more difficult, to inform treatment programmes and information. A triangulated approach was used. Discussion groups were held with members of the public, in-depth interviews were conducted with speech-impaired people and an experimental study examined encounters between speech-impaired people and shop workers. In a partial replication of the work of Crow (1988) the views of speech-impaired people were elicited by a questionnaire. Concerns identified in group discussions related to the importance of time and the need for information. The experiment suggested that the type of speech impairment might influence attitudes. Findings from the questionnaire and the interviews emphasized the importance of taking time and being assertive. The limitations of the findings and the possible service implications are discussed. [source]


    Balancing Acts: Dynamics of a Union Coalition in a Labor Management Partnership

    INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, Issue 1 2008
    ADRIENNE E. EATON
    This paper analyzes the experience of a set of unions that formed a coalition to engage in coordinated bargaining and to build and sustain a labor management partnership with Kaiser Permanente, a large healthcare provider and insurer. We use qualitative and quantitative data, including member and leader surveys, to explore the experience of the coalition in confronting five key challenges identified through theory and prior research on such partnerships. We find that the coalition has been remarkably successful, under difficult circumstances, in achieving institutional growth for its member unions and in balancing traditional and new union roles and communicating with members. The unions have been less successful in increasing member involvement. [source]


    Differences between students and non-students' willingness to donate to a charitable organisation

    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NONPROFIT & VOLUNTARY SECTOR MARKETING, Issue 2 2010
    Robin Pentecost
    This paper reports on a comparative study of students and non-students that investigates which psycho-social factors influence intended donation behaviour within a single organisation that offers multiple forms of donation activity. Additionally, the study examines which media channels are more important to encourage donation. A self-administered survey instrument was used and a sample of 776 respondents recruited. Logistic regressions and a Chow test were used to determine statistically significant differences between the groups. For donating money, importance of charity and attitude towards charity influence students, whereas only importance of need significantly influences non-students. For donating time, no significant influences were found for non-students, however, importance of charity and attitude towards charity were significant for students. Importance of need was significant for both students and non-students for donating goods, with importance of charity also significant for students. Telephone and television channels were important for both groups. However, Internet, email and short messaging services were more important for students, providing opportunities to enhance this group's perceptions of the importance of the charity, and the importance of the need, which ultimately impacts on their attitudes towards the charity. These differences highlight the importance of charities focussing on those motivations and attitudes that are important to a particular target segment and communicating through appropriate media channels for these segments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


    Rethinking the interface between ecology and society.

    JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2008
    The case of the cockle controversy in the Dutch Wadden Sea
    Summary 1Applied ecology, like conservation research, may deal with societal issues if its scientifically based interventions have societal consequences. Human utilization plays a significant role in many ecosystems, so conservation ecologists often have to act on the interface between science and society, where controversies may arise. 2Using insights from science and technology studies, we have analysed the 15-year controversy on the ecological effects of cockle fishing in the Dutch Wadden Sea, which began around 1990 and involved nature protection and shellfish organizations, as well as several leading Dutch ecologists, in a heated debate. 3During this controversy, evaluative research on the ecological effects of cockle fishing was undertaken by a consortium of institutes in order to contribute to the process of political decision-making by the Dutch government on cockle fishery in this area. In addition to conservational and commercial interests, ecological research itself became part of the controversy. 4The research projects on the effects of cockle fishing during this controversy are examples of societally contextualized science, implying that interests and societal disputes are intertwined with scientific arguments. We have applied a dynamic model of contextualization in which societal stakes and scientific uncertainty are considered as the main factors determining the different contexts in which conservation research functions. 5Synthesis and applications. Conservation research, whether it is fundamental or managerially orientated, is related to greater societal aims and interests and might easily face more or less complex societally contextualized situations. Such situations imply extended responsibilities for scientists. Not only is there a need for sound science, but also for a sound way of interacting and communicating with the societal environment. Some elements of such a notion of extended accountability are presented. [source]


    Browsing, Bouncing, Murdering, and Mooring

    JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2005
    Negotiating the Relationship Between Inhabitation, Representation
    This paper presents the theoretical context and results of an advanced research seminar, Visualizing Information in Space, Time, and Motion, that explores the production of space with respect to the spatial inhabitation of our built environment, strategies of representation, and the research, analysis, synthesis, and construction of notation communicating perceived aspects of space, time, and motion. [source]


    Radiation-induced bystander effects in malignant trophoblast cells are independent from gap junctional communication

    JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008
    Ferya Banaz-Ya
    Abstract It is controversially discussed that irradiation induces bystander effects via gap junction channels and/or diffusible cellular factors such as nitric oxide or cytokines excreted from the cells into the environment. But up to now the molecular mechanism leading to a bystander response is not well understood. To discriminate between both mechanisms of bystander response, (i) mediated by gap junctional communication and/or (ii) mediated by diffusible molecules, we used non-communicating Jeg3 malignant trophoblast cells transfected with inducible gap junction proteins, connexin43 and connexin26, respectively, based on the Tet-On system. We co-cultivated X-ray irradiated and non-irradiated bystander Jeg3 cells for 4 h, separated both cell populations by flow cytometry and evaluated the expression of activated p53 by Western blot analysis. The experimental design was proven with communicating versus non-communicating Jeg3 cells. Interestingly, our results revealed a bystander effect which was independent from gap junctional communication properties and the connexin isoform expressed. Therefore, it seems more likely that the bystander effect is not mediated via gap junction channels but rather by paracrine mechanisms via excreted molecules in Jeg3 cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 149,161, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


    Opioid-taking tasks and behaviours in Taiwanese outpatients with cancer

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 15 2008
    Shu-Yuan Liang PhD Candidate
    Aim., The aim of this study was to describe those tasks and behaviours that contribute to self-efficacy in the context of opioid-taking in Taiwanese outpatients with cancer and to explore those factors that influence a patient's self-efficacy with engaging in these behaviours. Background., Self-management with prescribed opioid regimen has become a necessary component of the cancer pain experience at home. Tailoring prescribed regimens is a complex and continuing effort for cancer pain control. Few studies, however, have explored the specific skills and behaviours required by patients to manage their opioid analgesics effectively. Design., A qualitative approach was used to explore those behaviours that contribute to patients' ability to self-manage medication for their cancer pain. Method., Ten Taiwanese cancer patients aged between 41,75 years attending two oncology outpatient departments, who were prescribed opioid analgesics, were interviewed. All interviews were tape-recorded and were transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was undertaken to identify categories. Results., Five main categories of behaviours were identified, which reflected patient's perceptions of the actions required for effective opioid-taking. These behavioural domains included communicating about pain and analgesic-taking, taking analgesics according to schedule, obtaining help, tailoring medication regimens and managing treatment-related concerns. In addition, patients described various situations in which performance of these behaviours was more or less difficult. Conclusions., Our results suggest that self-efficacy with opioid-taking includes not only beliefs about the ability to communicate, but also the ability to fulfil more complex tailoring of medication regimens and management of treatment-related concerns. Relevance to clinical practice., Health professionals need to incorporate strategies to assist cancer patients' ability to engage in these behaviours and to manage situational impediments that may influence this ability. More importantly, clinicians need to assist patients to enhance their beliefs in their ability in overcoming various situation impediments for opioid-taking. [source]


    Relatives in end-of-life care , part 1: a systematic review of the literature the five last years, January 1999,February 2004

    JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 9 2006
    Birgitta Andershed PhD
    Aim., To review systematically research conducted during the past five years focusing on the relatives' situation and needs in end-of-life care. Background and aim., That relatives make a large contribution in the care of the dying is well-known. In this situation, relatives often have to solve many new practical problems in the care as well as dealing with the sorrow of both themselves and the dying person. In recent years, palliative care has been developed in many countries and many new studies have been carried out. Methods., A systematic search of the literature was performed in the CINAHL and Medline databases. Of the 94 papers analysed, there were 59 qualitative and 35 quantitative studies with differing designs. The studies were carried out in 11 countries and were published in 34 different journals. Results., The results were categorized in two main themes with several subthemes: (1) being a close relative , the situation: (i) exposed position , new responsibility, (ii) balance between burden and capacity and (iii) positive values; (2) being a close relative , needs: (i) good patient care, (ii) being present, (iii) knowing and communicating and (iv) support from and trusting relationship with the professional. The relative's feelings of security and trust in the professional were found to be of great importance. Conclusion., More than twice as many studies had a descriptive/explorative design, which is of importance in the assessment of evidence. However, different studies complement one another and in summary, it can be said that analytic evidence is unequivocal: good patient care, communication, information and the attitude of the professional are of decisive importance regarding relatives' situation. These results are also in accord with earlier review studies. Relevance to clinical practice., Staff members have a great deal of responsibility for assuring that the patient feels as good as possible, facilitating relatives' involvement based on the family's wishes and limiting the stress and difficulties experienced by the family. The results showed that the relative's satisfaction could depend on the attitude of the professional as well as on good communication, good listening and good information. This can also be viewed as a prerequisite for the professional to get to know the family and to provide ,care in the light'. [source]


    Investigating the relationship between past contraceptive behaviour, self-efficacy, and anticipated shame and guilt in sexual contexts among Norwegian adolescents

    JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY & APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
    Bente Træen
    Abstract What are the relationships between self-efficacy when communicating to the partner about use of contraception, stopping undesired intercourse, and perceived self-conscious emotions in sexual contexts? How does past contraceptive behaviour influence perceived self-efficacy? These research questions were studied among 399 10th grade students with coital experience in the county Nordland in Norway. Two dimensions of perceived emotional responses were identified in a hypothetical situation related to communicating to the partner about use of contraception, namely Shame and Emotional intimacy. Two dimensions were also identified with regard to anticipated emotional responses in a hypothetical situation related to stopping undesired intercourse: Guilt and responsibility and Emotional intimacy. Most of the boys and girls reported that they would react with positive emotions in both hypothetical situations. Path models were constructed with the affective dimensions and self-esteem as mediating variables between past contraceptive behaviour and contextual self-efficacy. Past behaviour influenced communication self-efficacy indirectly via Shame, and Shame had a direct effect upon self-efficacy. Guilt and responsibility had a direct effect upon stop-self-efficacy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [source]


    EBM: evidence to practice and practice to evidence

    JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 5 2008
    Carol A. Isaac PhD PT
    Abstract Rationale, The purpose of this paper is to explore new perspectives about difficulties academicians may have communicating with clinicians, obtaining subjects, and gaining compliance for their research. Aims and Objectives, Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has been defined as an integration of best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values; however, clinical observation and experience are placed last in the evidence hierarchy with the randomized controlled trial held as the standard for clinical intervention. This paper describes how the hierarchical model of power in the research community obstructs new areas of knowledge, and how clinicians create resistance. Methods, Foucault gave new perspectives describing how power circulates through individuals within organizational discourse. Drawing on literature and experience, and using a framework based on postmodern theoretical concepts, this paper examines patterns of discourse, subjectivity, resistance, and power/knowledge within the physical therapy profession. Results, The hierarchical discourse of medical knowledge produces opposition rather than collaboration between researcher, clinician, and patient. Alleviating perceptions of dominance and creating connections produces cohesion within medical communities. Conclusions, Evidence to practice and practice to evidence redefines EBM as a circular integration of best research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values. [source]


    A systematic review on communicating with patients about evidence

    JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2006
    Lyndal J Trevena MBBS (Hons) MPhilPH
    Abstract Objective, To conduct a systematic search for (1) the effectiveness of evidence-based communication tools to increase patient understanding of evidence, (2) effective formats for representing probabilistic information and (3) effective strategies for eliciting patient preferences about evidence. A case scenario is used to illustrate some of the difficulties of putting these results into practice., ,Data sources, Systematic search of The Cochrane Library, Medline, Psychinfo, Embase and Cancerlit. Review methods, Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and high quality RCTs were included. Studies were excluded if they did not address the question, were focused on behavioural outcomes without attempting to increase understanding, were concerned with counselling as a therapeutic intervention, or were specific to communication regarding clinical trial participation., ,Results, We found 10 systematic reviews of RCTs and 30 additional RCTs addressing our questions. Communication tools in most formats (verbal, written, video, provider-delivered, computer-based) will increase patients' understanding but are more likely to do so if structured, tailored and/or interactive. Probabilistic information is best represented as event rates (natural frequencies) in relevant groups of people, rather than words, probabilities or summarized as effect measures such as relative risk reduction. Illustrations such as cartoons, or graphs (vertical bar charts) appear to aid understanding. Values clarification exercises may be better than standard utility techniques for eliciting preferences in individual decision making. Looking for effective evidence-based communication tools for prostatic specific antigen testing highlighted the challenges for clinicians and consumers in accessing tools that are evidence-based in design as well as content. Conclusion, There is an increasing body of evidence supporting the design of effective evidence-based communication tools but variable access to such tools in practice. [source]


    Afraid in the hospital: Parental concern for errors during a child's hospitalization,,§

    JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE, Issue 9 2009
    Beth A. Tarini MD
    Abstract OBJECTIVE: (1) To determine the proportion of parents concerned about medical errors during a child's hospitalization; and (2) the association between this concern and parental self-efficacy with physician interactions. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children admitted to the general medical service. OUTCOME MEASURE: Parental concern about medical errors. METHODS: Parents were asked their agreement with the statement "When my child is in the hospital I feel that I have to watch over the care that he/she is receiving to make sure that mistakes aren't made." We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the association between parents' self-efficacy with physician interactions and the need "to watch over a child's care," adjusting for parent and child demographics, English proficiency, past hospitalization, and social desirability bias. RESULTS: Of 278 eligible parents, 130 completed surveys and 63% reported the need to watch over their child's care to ensure that mistakes were not made. Parents with greater self-efficacy with physician interactions were less likely to report this need (odds ratio [OR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.92). All parents who were "very uncomfortable" communicating with doctors in English reported the need to watch over their child's care to prevent mistakes. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two-thirds of surveyed parents felt the need to watch over their child's hospital care to prevent mistakes. Parents with greater self-efficacy with physician interactions were less likely to report the need to watch over their child's care while parents with lower English proficiency were more likely to report this need. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:521,527. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine. [source]