Current Health Status (current + health_status)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Relationships of Sexual Abuse, Connectedness, and Loneliness to Perceived Well-Being in Homeless Youth

JOURNAL FOR SPECIALISTS IN PEDIATRIC NURSING, Issue 2 2002
Lynn RewArticle first published online: 23 FEB 200
ISSUES AND PURPOSE. To describe respondents' perceptions of connectedness, loneliness, and well-being; and to explore relationships among these variables. DESIGN AND METHOD. Survey data from 96 participants, focus group interviews with 32 participants, and 10 individual interviews were analyzed. RESULTS. Sixty percent of the sample reported sexual abuse, which was significantly related to loneliness and inversely related to connectedness and perceived well-being. Subjects felt lonely and disconnected. They perceived their well-being in terms of current health status. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. High rates of sexual abuse, lack of connectedness, and loneliness may help to explain poor perceived well-being in homeless youth. [source]


Obesity and Physical Activity in College Women: Implications for Clinical Practice

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 7 2004
APRN-BC, Jacquelyn M. Clement PhD
Purpose To investigate the relationships between levels of physical activity, health attitudes and behaviors, and specific health indicators in women attending college. Data Sources A convenience sample of 116 college women, ages 18 to 24 years, participated in this research study at a moderate-sized midwestern university. The data were obtained through self-administered questionnaire; trained technicians collected physiological measurements. Conclusions The young women in this study had, on average, normal body mass indexes (BMIs) and reported activity levels consistent with or greater than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. Items used to assign participants into the appropriate stage of the transtheoretical model of change were correlated with participants' perceived personal physical activity levels. Similarly, the participants, whose scores fell in the higher stages of the transtheoretical model, reported greater levels of physical activity; consumption of more fruits, vegetables, and water; and less consumption of high-fat/high-calorie foods. Implications for Practice The years between ages 18 and 24 are a critical time in the lives of young women. During this period, they develop physical activity and nutrition habits that will affect their health across the life span. Because of the sometimes insidious development of major health problems, young women's current health status may not accurately reflect the possible longterm results of negative health habits. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have many opportunities to identify and address major factors that, if unattended, may threaten the life-long health status of women. Health teaching in the areas of physical activity and dietary habits may be useful even in young women who appear to be healthy, are of normal weight, and are physically active.Poor dietary habits, if unattended, may eventually contribute to the development of obesity and related illnesses. [source]


Symptoms after mould exposure including Stachybotrys chartarum, and comparison with darkroom disease

ALLERGY, Issue 2 2010
M. Al-Ahmad
To cite this article: Al-Ahmad M, Manno M, Ng V, Ribeiro M, Liss GM, Tarlo SM. Symptoms after mould exposure including Stachybotrys chartarum, and comparison with darkroom disease. Allergy 2010; 65: 245,255. Abstract Background:, Mould-attributed symptoms have included features which overlap with unexplained syndromes such as sick building syndrome. Objectives:, We describe questionnaire and chart review findings in patients following exposure to moulds which include Stachybotrys and compare responses with two control groups. Methods:, Thirty-two patients presented with symptoms attributed to mould exposures. Exposure identification for 25 patients had reported S tachybotrys chartarum as well as other mould (Aspergillus, Penicillium), 88% at work. The remaining seven had professionally visualized or self-reported/photographic exposure evidence only. A chart review was performed and a follow-up with a questionnaire, including questions on current health status, and nonspecific symptoms. Results:, Cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness (at presentation) were reported in 79%, 70% and 64%, respectively, and persisted >6 weeks in 91%. Skin test(s) were positive to fungal extract(s) in 30%. Seventeen returned questionnaires were obtained 3.1 (SD 0.5) years after the initial clinic assessment. Among this subgroup, persisting asthma-like symptoms and symptoms suggestive of sick building syndrome were frequent, and similar to a group previously assessed for darkroom disease among medical radiation technologists. The mould-exposed group more commonly reported they were bothered when walking in a room with carpets, complained of a chemical or metallic taste in their mouth, and had problems in concentration when compared with a control physiotherapist group (P < 0.005). Conclusions:, Although only a minority with health concerns from indoor mould exposure had demonstrable mould-allergy, a significant proportion had asthma-like symptoms. Other symptoms were also common and persistent after the initial implicated exposure. [source]


Parents' views of their child's health and family function in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2010
H Lindfred
Abstract Aim:, The aim of this study was to explore parents' views and agreement of their child's current and future health, as well as the family's functioning in daily life with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods:, In this study, 119 parents (65 mothers and 54 fathers) of 66 adolescents (11,16 years) with IBD completed a questionnaire regarding their views of their child's IBD and health-related behaviour. Results:, The majority of the parents held a positive view of their child's current health status. However, the parents voiced a range of worries about their children's future health and life situation such as fear about the side effects of medication, concerns for future schooling, social life and employment options. Within the families, the parental pairs had more similar views about their child's current health status than about their future health. Factors that affected the parents' views consisted of cohabitation status, i.e. parents not living together, and severe disease course, both correlated with a more negative view of the child's current health and family functioning. Conclusion:, The majority of the parents in this study had a largely positive view of their child's current health status, but they expressed concerns about their child's future health. Knowledge about parents' thoughts may be of importance for healthcare teams supporting families with IBD. [source]


Serum concentrations of 17,-E2 and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD) in relation to all-cause mortality in older men , the MINOS study

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Pawel Szulc
Summary Objective, To examine the association of serum hormone levels with all-cause mortality in older community-dwelling men. Design, Single centre cohort study. Subjects, Men aged 50 and older, insured by Société de Secours Minière de Bourgogne (Montceau les Mines, France). Among 3400 men invited to participate, 782 volunteers had serum hormone measurements and were followed up for 10 years. No exclusion criteria were used. Results, Nonsurvivors (n = 182) were older, had more comorbidities and lower physical performance. The lowest quartile of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD) level predicted mortality [HR = 1·44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·03,2·03, P < 0·05] regardless of age, BMI, smoking, physical activity, vitamin D supplementation, and health status; mainly for the first 3 years. The 17,-E2 level predicted mortality independent of confounders after the third year (HR = 1·21 per 1 SD increase, 95% CI: 1·09,1·35, P < 0·001). In the fully adjusted models, risk of death increased per quartiles of 17,-E2 (trend ,P < 0·001) and was higher in the third and the fourth quartiles compared with the lowest quartile (HR = 1·80, 95% CI: 1·09,2·98, P < 0·05 and HR = 2·83, 95% CI: 1·71,4·67, P < 0·001). Concentrations of testosterone and PTH did not predict mortality independent of the model. Conclusions, In older men, increased 17,-E2 level predicted mortality after 3 years of follow-up. Thus, high 17,-E2 level may reflect presence of risk factors precipitating development of diseases. Low 25OHD level predicted mortality more weakly, mainly for the first 3 years of the follow-up, and was strongly influenced by the confounding variables. Thus, low 25OHD level may reflect poor current health status and unhealthy lifestyle. [source]


Optimizing open live-donor nephrectomy , long-term donor outcome

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2004
M Schostak
Abstract:, Introduction:, The technique of laparoscopic or retroperitoneoscopic donor nephrectomy has been increasingly propagated in recent years. The central advantage is supposed to be a reduction of perioperative discomfort. However, there have not been many reports describing the subjective feeling associated with an open donor nephrectomy, particularly with respect to the pain level in the perioperative and long-term course. This retrospective study examines the perioperative pain and morbidity and long-term outcome of living kidney donors from 35 yr of experience at the University Hospital Benjamin Franklin of the Free University of Berlin. Methods:, A total of 102 living kidney donors were asked to fill out a questionnaire. Five epidemiological questions were posed and the rest dealt mainly with lasting subjective and objective surgical impairments. There were also questions relating to the perioperative pain level (VAS/NAS-Score). In addition, basic information was obtained regarding the donor's current health status (physical examination, serum creatinine; sometimes also ultrasound, protein IU, blood pressure), and/or examinations were performed. Results:, The mean age at the time of donation was 45.5 and 55% were women. Donor nephrectomies were left-sided in 78 cases and right-sided in 24. There was a total complication rate of 53%, but serious complications only occurred in two cases (1.9%). A total of 53 donors could be reached. Although 41.5% felt they had a lasting impairment, somatic sequelae like respiratory, abdominal or scar problems were rare, affecting a maximum of only four patients in each case. Fifteen patients reported neurological problems such as sensory disturbances. The mean serum creatinine was 89.9 ,mol/L in female and 114.2 ,mol/L in male donors. Microalbuminuria was found in 22.6% of the donors, hypertension in 35.8%. Persistent pain was reported by 20.7%, its occurrence being permanent in two of the donors and very frequent in one. All the others rarely have pain. The median perioperative VAS/NAS score was 8 on the first day after surgery, 5 after 1 wk and 1 after 1 month. The analgesia was rated as good or very good by 71%. Everyday life was managed as well as before surgery after 2,4 wk by the highest percentage (42%) of patients, but working capacity was only regained after 1,3 months by a comparable percentage (44%). Forty-six percent had a very good and 33% a good feeling after the kidney donation. The relationship to the recipient had intensified in most cases. Ninety-one percent would again decide in favor of a donation. Conclusion:, Donor nephrectomy in an open technique is a safe and reliable procedure with low morbidity. After a median post-operative period of 7 yr, however, 42% of the donors still report general impairment due to the intervention, although concrete somatic problems were only detected in a few cases. Nearly all these patients underwent surgery in a full flank position. Wound-healing impairments were also significantly more frequent with this surgical technique. This positioning should thus be avoided. The post-operative pain level was relatively high, but a marked improvement was achieved in the course of the observation period by optimizing analgesic management. [source]