Admission Day (admission + day)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Nursing Diagnoses in Psychiatric Acute Wards in Switzerland and Austria

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 2003
Harald Stefan
PURPOSE To examine the frequency and quality of documented nursing diagnoses and to compare the diagnoses regarding ward and patient characteristics. METHODS The following data were collected from 11 acute care wards in five psychiatric hospitals in Switzerland and Austria: documented nursing diagnoses, demographic characteristics of an unselected sample of 30 consecutively discharged patients in each ward, ward data, and data from three randomly selected complete charts from each ward. Free-text diagnoses were recoded into NANDA terminology. Frequencies were calculated and compared across settings and regarding patient and ward characteristics. Diagnoses were examined for quality and structure of the diagnostic statements. FINDINGS Mean age of patients was 40 ± 13 years, and the main psychiatric diagnoses were schizophrenia, mood disorders, substance abuse, and neurotic and personality disorders. Of the 664 nursing diagnoses located in 330 nursing records, 635 were proper nursing diagnoses; 83% of patients had at least 1 nursing diagnosis (X,= 2). The number of diagnoses correlated weakly with patient length of stay. Of the nursing diagnoses, 20% were made on admission day, and the majority of nursing diagnoses was active at discharge. Ninety percent of the diagnoses were formulated using NANDA terminology. The most frequently used categories were coping-related diagnoses,disturbed thought processes and self-care deficits. Numerous problem,etiology,symptom (PES)formatted diagnoses had diagnostic labels nested within the etiology. Countryand setting-specific similarities and differences were found with a significantly higher number of nursing diagnoses in Austria where use is mandated. In Austria, more somatic nursing diagnoses were found. The most frequent nursing diagnoses were similar in both countries. DISCUSSION The number of diagnoses corresponds to results reported in the international literature suggesting the justification for international comparison. Ten categories represent 60% of nursing diagnoses. Approximately 50% of nursing diagnoses were made in the first days after hospitalization, rendering their use practicable. A minority of nursing diagnoses were discontinued, possibly suggesting that some problems are difficult to solve or evaluate. The PES format and the NANDA terminology are used quite extensively even when not mandatory. NANDA terminology is deemed useful and practical, but problems occur when nursing diagnoses CONCLUSIONS Nursing diagnoses represent the main areas of nursing, but cultural differences exist regarding the diagnostic process. Thus, research is needed to test the appropriateness of nursing diagnoses to characterize nursing populations. [source]


Management of bronchiolitis without antibiotics: a multicentre randomized control trial in Bangladesh

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 10 2009
ARML Kabir
Abstract Objective:, To ascertain that antibiotics have no role in the management of bronchiolitis. Design:, Multicentre randomized control trial (RCT). Setting:, Five purposively selected teaching hospitals in Bangladesh. Patient:, Children under 24 months old with bronchiolitis. Interventions:, Children were randomized into three groups of therapeutic interventions: parenteral ampicillin (P-Ab), oral erythromycin (O-Ab) and no antibiotic (N-Ab) in adjunct to supportive measures. Main outcome measures:, Clinical improvement was assessed using 18 symptoms/signs which were graded on a two-point recovery scale of ,rapid' and ,gradual', indicating improvement within ,four days' and ,beyond four days', respectively. Results:, Each intervention group consisted of 98 ± 1 children having comparable clinico-epidemiological characteristics at the baseline. The trial revealed that most chesty features (features appearing to arise from chest, i.e. cough, breathing difficulty, wheeze, chest indrawing, tachypnoea, tachycardia, rhonchi and crepitation) demonstrated a gradual recovery, beyond 4th admission day and, not differing among the three intervention groups (p > 0.23, p < 0.62, p = 0.54, p < 0.27, p = 0.75, p = 0.76, p = 0.81, p > 0.98, respectively). Most non-chesty features (features appearing to arise away from chest, i.e. feeding/sleeping difficulties, social smile, restlessness, inconsolable crying, nasal flaring, fever and hypoxaemia) demonstrated a rapid recovery, within 4 days, remaining comparable among the three intervention groups (p < 0.07, p = 0.65, p = 0.24, p < 0.61, p = 0.22, p = 0.84, p = 0.29 and p = 0.96, respectively). However, nasal symptoms (runny nose and nasal blockage) also showed no difference among groups (p = 0.36 and p = 0.66, respectively). Thus, the dynamics of clinical outcome obviates that children not receiving antibiotics had similar clinical outcome than those who did. Conclusion:, In hospital settings, managing bronchiolitis with only supportive measures but without antibiotics remains preferable. [source]


Diagnosis of blunt traumatic ruptured diaphragm: is it still a difficult problem?

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 3 2010
Li Hsee
Abstract Background:, Blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm (BTRD) is uncommon. The diagnosis can be easily overlooked, and radiological findings misinterpreted. In a 15-year experience at the two major trauma hospitals in Brisbane reported in 1991, 85 patients with BTRD were treated, and the diagnosis not always made expeditiously. With the introduction of mandatory Early Management of Severe Trauma course training in the 90s and newer diagnostic tools, it might be expected that BTRD would be a less problematic diagnosis. The aim of this study was to review the incidence, diagnosis and outcome of BTRD at Auckland City Hospital over the last 10 years. Methods:, Retrospective review of Auckland City hospital trauma registry between 1996 and 2005. Demographics include age, gender, injury severity score (ISS), length of stay, ICU admission days, methods of diagnosis and patient outcomes were reviewed Results:, Twenty-eight patients had TRD as result of blunt injury. Median ISS was 28.5. Most of the patients were diagnosed at the time of laparotomy for other associated injuries. Road traffic crash was the most common cause. Twenty-one out of 28 patients were discharged alive. Conclusion:, Diagnosis of BTRD remains difficult. It is rarely isolated. It requires a high index of suspicion. If suspected, chest X-ray (CXR) and other more advanced imaging modalities can be used as confirmatory tools. [source]


Prescribing antipsychotic drugs for inpatients with schizophrenia in Asia: Comparison of REAP-2001 and REAP-2004 studies

ASIA-PACIFIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2010
Mian-Yoon Chong MD PhD FRCPsych
Abstract Introduction: This international collaborative study aimed to investigate the trend and change in prescription patterns of antipsychotic drugs for inpatient schizophrenia in Asia by comparing two surveys in 2001 and 2004. Methods: Prescription patterns of inpatient schizophrenia in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan were surveyed in July of 2001 and 2004 using a standardized protocol. Patients' social and clinical characteristics, psychiatric symptoms, course of illness and adverse effects of medications were systematically assessed and recorded. Prescription patterns of antipsychotic drugs were compared and analyzed. Results: Altogether, 4535 patients were surveyed. There were no significant differences in their demographic characteristics between 2001 and 2004. Compared with 2001, a significant increase in the use of second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) (from 45.5% to 64.7%) with reciprocal decreasing use of first-generation antipsychotics was found in 2004. The trend was unanimously seen across these Asian countries and among those prescribed with monotherapy or polypharmacy. The proportion using monotherapy significantly increased, from 52.7% in 2001 to 61.1% in 2004. There was a tendency of using a lower dosage of antipsychotic medications and a less concomitant use of anti-Parkinson drugs. Discussion: The present study showed a trend of increasing use of SGA among Asian countries. Except for Japan and Singapore, a relatively low use of antipsychotic polypharmacy was generally found. The increasing use of SGA and policy changes reduced the mean duration of admission days. With increasing awareness of consumers and continuing education for psychiatrists, the trend is expected to continue. [source]