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Life Situation (life + situation)
Selected AbstractsFragrance contact allergic patients: strategies for use of cosmetic products and perceived impact on life situationCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 6 2009Susan Hovmand Lysdal Background: Fragrance ingredients are a common cause of contact allergy. Very little is known about these patients' strategies to manage their disease and the effect on their daily lives. Objectives: To investigate if patients with diagnosed fragrance contact allergy used scented products, how they identified tolerated products, and if fragrance allergy affected their daily living. Method: One hundred and forty-seven patients diagnosed with fragrance contact allergy in a 20-month period were included and received a postal questionnaire concerning the subjects of the study. One hundred and seventeen (79.6%) replied. Results: In total, 53/117 (45.3%) responded that they had found some scented products that they could tolerate. Thirty-seven (31.6%) had not tried to find any scented products and 26 (22%) had tried but could not find any. The methods most often used were trying different products and reading the ingredient label. Of the total respondents, 17.1% reported sick-leave due to fragrance allergy and 45.3% found that fragrance allergy significantly affected their daily living. Conclusion: Many patients with fragrance contact allergy succeeded in finding some scented products, which they could tolerate, e.g. by use of ingredient labelling, but a significant proportion had continued skin problems. Almost half of the patients perceived that fragrance allergy significantly affected their daily lives. [source] Prostate cancer: friend or enemy.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGICAL NURSING, Issue 2 2010Part one, the son The aim of the study was to investigate the daily life experiences of sons and daughters following the father's prostate cancer diagnosis. This paper is part one describing the sons experience of life. Research in this field to date has predominantly focused on the father's experiences in coping with the disease, and there is a lack of research on the adult children's experiences following the father's cancer diagnosis. The study assumes a phenomenological,hermeneutic approach, using Ricoeur's theories of narratives and text interpretation. The informants were six sons of men diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer. All participants were interviewed 3 and 10 months after the father was informed of the cancer diagnosis. Data analysis was done in three stages according to Ricoeur: naïve reading, followed by a structured analysis, and concluded with critical interpretation and discussion. Results showed in the experience of worry and dilemma after the father's diagnosis, the son gradually adapted to the new life situation. The adaptation was conscious/unconscious and could be characterized as a personal transition. It is concluded that nurses need to include the son more in the care for the parents. [source] Relatives' information needs and the characteristics of their search for information , in the words of relatives of stroke survivorsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 19-20 2010Catarina Wallengren Aim and objectives., To explore relatives' information needs and the characteristics of their information-seeking process shortly after the stroke event and six months later. Background., Providing relatives of stroke survivors with information is important, as lack of information increases their uncertainty and risk becoming the ,second patient in the family' and early death. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of relatives' information needs and information-seeking process the first six months after stroke. Design., This qualitative study has a descriptive design. Method., Open-ended interviews were conducted with sixteen relatives after stroke survivor's admission to stroke unit and six months later with nine of these relatives. Data were analysed by means of content analysis. Results., The identified information needs covered the spectrum from stroke survivor's medical condition because nurses' actions to relatives' changed health and life situation. Furthermore, relatives' information-seeking process was found to be related to their level of personal involvement, situational circumstances, different forms of knowledge and sources of information. Conclusions., Relatives' search for information emerges when health and lifestyle changes occur in survivors or themselves. It is important that this information affect them personally. Also, they need to develop different forms of knowledge when they cannot trust their own competences. As a result, instead of following established curricula based on their beliefs of relatives' information needs, nurses need to practice on identifying relatives' information needs. Relevance to practice., Different information needs and characteristics described in the study can serve as guidance in the development and implementation of pedagogical interventions to support relatives of stroke survivors. One pedagogical implication is to explore what a specific relative wants to know by how he/she talks or thinks about it. Thus, it must be taken into consideration that level of personal involvement, situational circumstances, sources of information and factual knowledge, understanding and skills are intertwined. [source] The impact of a nurse-led support and education programme for spouses of stroke patients: a randomized controlled trialJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 8 2005Jenny Larson RN, PhD student Aims and objectives., The aim of the present study was to determine the impact of a nurse-led support and education programme for improving the spouses' perceived general quality of life, life situation, general well-being and health state. Background., Stroke is a disease with great consequences for the patients and their families. The spouses often feel obligated to care for the patient, providing psychological and physical support and having to cope with the patient's physical and cognitive impairments. This might lead to increased problems, as family members struggle to adapt to their new roles and responsibilities. Design and methods., Longitudinal, randomized controlled trial. One hundred spouses were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups, 50 in each group. The intervention group participated in a support and education programme, six times during six months, led by stroke specialist nurses. Both groups were followed for 12 months. Results., No significant differences were found, between intervention and control groups, over time. In the sub analyses, we found that the group attending 5,6 times had a significant decrease in negative well-being and increased quality of life over time, while the group attending fewer times had a significant decrease in positive well-being and health state, similar to the control group, which also had a significant decrease in negative and general well-being. Conclusions., A support and education programme might have a positive effect on spouses' well-being, on condition that they attend at least five times. Relevance to clinical practice., To facilitate the spouses' role as informal caregivers to the stroke patients, further development of the support and education programme used in the present study is needed, including empowerment approach and implementation of coping strategies. [source] Health-related quality of life in persons with long-term pain after a strokeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2004Marita Widar MSc Background., No study has, to our knowledge, previously been published on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a group suffering from long-term pain after a stroke. Aim., The aim of the present study was to describe HRQoL in persons with long-term pain after a stroke, and to compare this with different types of pain conditions, age, gender and household status. Design., This study has a design combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Methods., Forty three participants suffering from long-term pain after a stroke were included. A qualitative interview was performed and then analysed by means of latent content analysis. In addition, two self-report questionnaires, SF-36 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD Scale), were used. Results., The qualitative data revealed that physical and cognitive functioning, economic security and good relationships, support and having the ability to be together with family and friends were important factors with regard to experienced HRQoL. No significant differences were found in SF-36 and the HAD Scale with regard to the different types of pain. The older age group had decreased physical functioning in SF-36. The men had more decreased vitality than the women. Conclusion., The results show, that the participants in this study have a lower HRQoL due to their long-term pain than those in previous studies on stroke survivors. It is evident that further research is needed with longitudinal studies and larger populations to gain more knowledge and thereby provide better supportive care. Relevance to clinical practice., Awareness and understanding of the patients' perceptions and transitions with regard to their life situation and suffering from long-term pain after a stroke is important in order to support a maintained or increased HRQoL. This is also important after the acute stage and rehabilitation, including quality of life of the relatives, especially to older and dependent persons. [source] Caregivers' experiences of interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired childJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2004Hanna Maijala MNSc Background., On the basis of earlier research, caregivers' actions when interacting with clients should be developed. However, nursing research has focused little attention on the interaction between caregivers and families expecting a fetally impaired child. Aim., The study aimed at generating a practical family nursing theory of caregivers' interaction with families expecting a malformed child. Methods., A grounded theory study was undertaken at Tampere University Hospital in Finland in 1999,2000. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with 22 (n = 22) nurses and doctors. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Results., The interaction process starts when a caregiver informs the parents of the fetal impairment. The process is influenced by caregivers' attitude towards issues related to the family's life situation. Caregivers' views of their job, and of human coping and cultural attitudes towards these issues are also of importance. These factors account for their goals in the interaction, which, in turn, underlie their actions. When the caregiver's interpretation is that the family accepted the help provided, the outcome of the interaction is satisfaction with having been able to help. Correspondingly, in the case of an opposite interpretation, the caregiver experiences strain caused by inadequacy of the help he/she is providing. The core of interaction consists of two dimensions: gaining strength and losing strength in relation to impairment issues. Conclusions., Caregivers' views of helpful interaction were consistent with earlier research on the subject, but the findings of this study showed that more attention should be focused on the family as a whole. Furthermore, caregivers rarely criticized their own actions, thus their interaction skills should be upgraded by focusing on systematic self-assessment through training. Nursing research deepening our understanding of why interaction fails is warranted. Relevance to clinical practice., The study results can be used in the family nursing practice as tools in reinforcing the caregivers' ability to helpful interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child. The results may enhance caregivers' systematic self-evaluation and conscious use of the self. [source] Lived experiences of eating problems for patients with head and neck cancer during radiotherapyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 4 2003Maria Larsson MNSc Summary ,,Only a small proportion of cancer patients undergo radical radiotherapy to the head and neck, but their needs are particularly complex. Although extensive research describes the side-effects of radiotherapy to the head and neck, few studies focus on patients' subjective experiences of eating problems and the impact these have on the patients' daily life. ,,In this study a phenomenological approach was used, as the purpose was to acquire deeper understanding of head and neck cancer patients' lived experiences of eating problems, their consequences in daily life and patients' strategies of coping with these problems. ,,Eight patients from two radiation therapy departments in mid-Sweden were interviewed in an open dialogue. Data analysis was based on Colaizzi's method. ,,Eating problems experienced were captured in two interrelated main themes: ,Ability to chew and swallow' and ,Will and desire to eat'. The eating problems were found to cause a number of severe consequences in daily life. These are incorporated into one main theme: ,The way of life is disturbed'. Ways to cope with this disturbance were captured in one main theme: ,Trying to see the end , To survive'. ,,This study identifies the need to view eating problems as a complex phenomenon in a specific context including the individual patient's life situation. The findings create the opportunity to develop nursing interventions based on patients' own needs. To facilitate this, a specialist nurse should be responsible for reviewing patients regularly throughout radiation therapy. Intervention studies are needed to provide optimal clinical guidelines. [source] Influence of macrostructure of society on the life situation of families with a child with intellectual disability: Sweden as an exampleJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 4-5 2003M. B. Olsson Abstract Background Most studies on families with children with intellectual disability (ID) have been carried out in the UK or the USA, and are influenced by the societal organization, and political and economic climate of those countries. In the USA and the UK, the care and well-being of children, with or without ID, are seen almost exclusively as the individual family's responsibility. In Sweden, the care and well-being of children are seen more as a joint responsibility. Swedish society has developed many privileges for all parents in order to help them care for their children, and the support for parents of children with disabilities is provided exclusively by the Government and the community. The overall question explored in this descriptive, quantitative and qualitative study was: Are families in Sweden experiencing the stressors and life situations described in the studies of parents in more individualistic societies? Methods Two hundred and twenty-six families with children with ID and 234 control families with children ranging from 0 to 16 years of age answered mail surveys. Results Taken together, parents in Sweden describe most of the stressors proposed in the international literature with the exception of financial strain. Restricted social life and time restrictions seem to be the two most evident and bothersome stressors for Swedish families with children who have ID. Conclusions As in previous research, the parents of children with ID and autism experienced more stressors and restrictions in their lives than the parents of children with DS and control families. [source] Sense of coherence in parents of children with different developmental disabilitiesJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 7 2002M. B. Olsson Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to test if Antonovsky's theory of sense of coherence can facilitate understanding: (1) individual differences in psychological adaptation in parents of children with intellectual disability (ID); and (2) why parents of children with ID generally experience higher levels of stress and depression than parents of children who develop normally. Methods Sense of coherence (SoC) and depression were assessed using the short SoC scale (13 items) and the Beck Depression Inventory in 216 families of children with ID and/or autism, and in 213 control families. Results It is argued that: (1) parents of children with ID with low SoC are at increased risk for developing depression compared to control parents with low SoC not experiencing this stressor; and (2) the life situation of parenting a child with ID may have a negative impact on parents' SoC levels that, in turn, will make them more vulnerable to experiencing stress and depression. Conclusion The SoC theory is valuable in understanding individual differences in psychological adaptation in parents of children with ID. [source] Women's narratives on experiences of work ability and functioning in fibromyalgiaMUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 1 2010Merja Sallinen MSc Abstract Background:,Fibromyalgia is a significant health problem for women of working age. However, little is known about the long-term effects of fibromyalgia in everyday life or on work ability. Methods:,A narrative interview study was conducted to explore the experiences of work ability and functioning of patients with a long history of fibromyalgia. Twenty women, aged 34,65 years, were purposively chosen for the interviews, to reach a wide range of patients with different social and professional backgrounds. Results:,Four types of experience concerning work ability were identified in the narratives: confusion, coping with fluctuating symptoms, being ,in between' and being over the edge of exhaustion. Severe pain and fatigue symptoms, combined with a demanding life situation and ageing, seemed to lead to substantial decrease in work ability and functioning over the long term. In the narratives, vocational rehabilitation or adjustments to work tasks were rarely seen or were started too late to be effective. Conclusions:,Exploring the life stories of women with fibromyalgia can reveal the perceived causes and consequences of fibromyalgia related to work ability or disability, which can be utilized in developing client-centred rehabilitation approaches and effective interventions to support work ability and avoid premature retirement in fibromyalgia patients. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Having knowledge of metabolic syndrome: Does the meaning and consequences of the risk factors influence the life situation of Swedish adults?NURSING & HEALTH SCIENCES, Issue 4 2008Gunilla Hollman Frisman phd Abstract The underlying causes of metabolic syndrome (MS) are uncertain. Knowledge from those who have experience of this syndrome should provide new insight. The aim was to explore the meaning and consequences of MS. Thirteen Swedish adults with MS, aged between 33 and 82 years, were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using constant comparative analysis, which is the basis of grounded theory. The core category for the meaning and consequences of having the risk factors of MS consisted of the recurrence of behavior. The participants attempted to balance their insight into the causes and consequences by referring to their normal life, lifestyle, and fatalistic approach to life. Attention needs to be paid to the attitudes of the individuals with MS, as well as the known risk factors and their consequences, in order to facilitate a long-term lifestyle change in these individuals. [source] Finding the Best Fit: A Grounded Theory of Contraceptive Decision Making in WomenNURSING FORUM, Issue 4 2004APRN-BC, Joanne Noone PhD PROBLEM. Half of the pregnancies in the United States that occur annually are unintended, and of these, half occur among women using contraceptives. METHODS. Interviews with 16 women, field notes, and memos were analyzed using constant comparative analysis and the methods of open, axial, and selective coding were used until saturation occurred. FINDINGS. The core category that describes the process of contraceptive decision making in women is "finding the best fit." Women choose a method or methods to prevent pregnancy based on their knowledge, experience, and evaluation of what would be the best fit within the context of their current life situation. CONCLUSIONS. It is important that nurses obtain a thorough contraceptive history, and realize that women may have different perceptions and knowledge level of methods. [source] Parents' views of their child's health and family function in paediatric inflammatory bowel diseaseACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 4 2010H 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] Living with a child with a severe orofacial handicap: experiences from the perspectives of parentsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2003Ulrika Trulsson Orofacial functions include competences/abilities such as eating, breathing, speech/language, mimicry, as well as oral health, and disturbances are common in children with rare disorders. To describe parental experiences of orofacial function and needs in children with rare disorders, in-depth interviews focusing on orofacial function were carried out with 14 parents. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed in open, axial (theoretical) and selective coding processes according to Grounded Theory. Two core categories emerged from data in the analysis: ,the vulnerable family' and ,support perceived from others'. The data indicated the importance of a balance between these two core categories: the strain caused by living in a family with a child with a severe disability/handicap, and the availability of perceived support from caregivers and significant others. This balance was necessary for the parents in developing self-reliance and in reconciling themselves to their life situations. Parents described orofacial dysfunction in terms of feeding and communication problems, needs for orthodontic treatment to reduce risk of trauma or improve chewing, and drooling. Oral health issues such as dental caries and gingivitis were not mentioned. Five aspects of good professional attitude were recognized: respect, involvement, continuity, knowledge, and availability. [source] The necessity of observing real life situations: Palestinian-Israeli violence as a laboratory for learning about social behaviourEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2004Dr Daniel Bar-Tal Social psychology emerged in the early part of the last century as a distinct discipline that focused on the study of social behaviour of individuals and collectives. Over time, however, social psychology has relatively ignored the ,social' part of the equation and has become mainly concerned with individual behaviour. The major part of social psychological research was carried out in the artificial context of the experimental laboratory. Studying social behaviour in real life contexts is essential, not only to return social psychology to its roots, but also to ensure that our contributions are both theoretically rich and socially valuable. Observation of real life situations is essential if we want to advance our understanding of how individuals and collectives behave. To illustrate the importance of a contextually rich social psychology and the usefulness of natural observations, the recent violent confrontation between the Israelis and the Palestinians is described and analysed, focusing on social behaviours of Israeli Jews. In conclusion, it is argued that social psychology should strive towards equilibrium between natural and experimental approaches, between personal and contextual emphases and between micro and macro perspectives. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX) in Alzheimer's disease: validation of a behavioral rating scale to assess dysexecutive symptoms in Japanese patients with Alzheimer's diseaseINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 10 2007Yoshihiro Shinagawa Abstract Background Both executive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral problems contribute to dysexecutive symptoms in daily life. The aim of the present study was to develop a behavior rating scale for assessing dysexecutive symptoms in Japanese patients with AD. Method The Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX), devised by Burgess et al. (1998), was used to evaluate 122 Japanese patients with AD. The factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity of the Japanese version of the DEX were then examined. Results The Japanese version of the DEX demonstrated a good internal reliability and a good test,retest reliability. Factor analysis revealed three factors that were named ,apathy', ,hyperactivity' and ,planning and monitoring process of the purposive action'. The ,apathy' factor of the DEX was significantly correlated with the ,apathy' score of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), while ,planning and monitoring process' factor of the DEX was significantly correlated with the total score of the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and the ,hyperactivity' factor of the DEX was significantly correlated with the ,aggression', ,euphoria' and ,disinhibition' scores of the NPI. Conclusions The Japanese DEX is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing executive dysfunction conveniently in real life situations of AD patients. While two factors, ,apathy' and ,hyperactivity', were associated with emotional and behavioral changes, the ,planning and monitoring process' was associated with the cognitive executive function in the patients with AD. These findings suggest that both a neuropsychiatric syndrome and cognitive function contribute to the dysexecutive symptoms experienced by AD patients in daily life. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The trajectory of minor stroke recovery for men and their female spousal caregivers: literature reviewJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2007Theresa L. Green Abstract Title.,The trajectory of minor stroke recovery for men and their female spousal caregivers: literature review Aim., This paper is a report of a narrative review to examine the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of minor stroke on male patients and their female spousal caregivers' recovery trajectory and quality of life. Background., Minor stroke survivors are often discharged early in the recovery process. The perception of the healthcare community that these patients and their female spousal caregivers will experience an uneventful recovery may lead to inadequate preparation for the postdischarge period. Methods., A range of databases was searched to identify papers addressing ,minor stroke', ,transitions', ,quality of life', ,chronic disease', ,caregivers' and ,spouse caregivers', including AARP Ageline, AMED, CINAHL, Evidence Based Medicine Reviews, MEDLINE and PsychInfo. Papers published in English from 1990 to December 2006 were included. Thirty-four papers were in the final data set. Results., Minor stroke survivors and their female spousal caregivers may experience major challenges in adaptations postdischarge. The trajectory of minor stroke recovery may necessitate a re-evaluation of life plans, rethinking of priorities and integration of resulting disabilities into current and emerging life situations for both stroke survivors and their female spousal caregivers. In many cases these adaptations are compounded by transitions associated with the normal ageing process. Conclusion., While there is extensive literature on stroke recovery and the role of caregivers in general, there is little available describing the recovery of minor stroke survivors in relation to the normal ageing process. Further research is needed examining recovery from a transitional perspective, to support nurses and other health professionals discharge planning. [source] ,The everlasting trial of strength and patience': transitions in home care nursing as narrated by patients and family membersJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 6 2001Dip NEd, Eva Efraimsson MSc ,,The aim of this study was to describe and interpret patients' and their family members' lived experiences of caring at home. Twelve tape-recorded narratives, with seven patients and five family members, were interpreted in accordance with a phenomenological,hermeneutic method inspired by Ricoeur. ,,The findings revealed life situations where natural caring was changed into patient,care-giver relations and the home became a public room. The patients had to deal with decreased abilities and the family members with adjusting to caring needs. ,,The changes in the life situations were interpreted as long lasting and trying transitions. ,,Implications for nursing and further research are proposed. [source] Influence of macrostructure of society on the life situation of families with a child with intellectual disability: Sweden as an exampleJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 4-5 2003M. B. Olsson Abstract Background Most studies on families with children with intellectual disability (ID) have been carried out in the UK or the USA, and are influenced by the societal organization, and political and economic climate of those countries. In the USA and the UK, the care and well-being of children, with or without ID, are seen almost exclusively as the individual family's responsibility. In Sweden, the care and well-being of children are seen more as a joint responsibility. Swedish society has developed many privileges for all parents in order to help them care for their children, and the support for parents of children with disabilities is provided exclusively by the Government and the community. The overall question explored in this descriptive, quantitative and qualitative study was: Are families in Sweden experiencing the stressors and life situations described in the studies of parents in more individualistic societies? Methods Two hundred and twenty-six families with children with ID and 234 control families with children ranging from 0 to 16 years of age answered mail surveys. Results Taken together, parents in Sweden describe most of the stressors proposed in the international literature with the exception of financial strain. Restricted social life and time restrictions seem to be the two most evident and bothersome stressors for Swedish families with children who have ID. Conclusions As in previous research, the parents of children with ID and autism experienced more stressors and restrictions in their lives than the parents of children with DS and control families. [source] Towards statistical multicriteria decision modelling: a first approachJOURNAL OF MULTI CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS, Issue 6 2002Yves De Smet Abstract Many real life situations result from decisions taken by a very large number of decision makers. Among them, we may cite road traffic congestion, crowding during shopping, equity market behaviour, distribution of holiday destinations, etc. Furthermore, these decisions often depend on the optimisation of several conflicting criteria. In this paper, we introduce a new multicriteria tool based on Markov chains to model and manage these macroscopic phenomena. Finally, the road traffic congestion problem will be considered to illustrate the applicability of our approach. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Acute changes in carbon dioxide levels alter the electroencephalogram without affecting cognitive functionPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Elisabeth Bloch-Salisbury The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood (PaCO2) is usually tightly regulated, yet it varies among healthy people at rest (range ,32,44 mmHg) as well as within an individual during many natural life situations. The present study examined whether modest changes in end-tidal PCO2 (PetCO2; a noninvasive measure of PaCO2) affect electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, cognitive function, and vigilance. Nine adults were ventilated mechanically using a mouthpiece; respiratory rate and breath size were held constant while PetCO2 was set to levels that produced minimal discomfort. Despite discrete changes in EEG, neither acute PetCO2 increases (mean = 47 mmHg) nor decreases (mean = 30 mmHg) from resting levels (mean = 38 mmHg) affected performance on cognitive tasks, latency or amplitude of the N1, P2, or P3 event-related potential, or alertness. Modest changes in PetCO2 may cause significant alterations in the EEG without disturbing cognitive function. [source] | |||||||||||||