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Necessary Knowledge (necessary + knowledge)
Selected AbstractsParents' experiences of a Family Support Program when a parent has incurable cancerJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 24 2009Kari E Bugge Aims and objectives., The Family Support Program was created to support children and parenting when one of the parents has incurable cancer. We chose a family-based approach to support parent's coping and to help families pull together, identify strengths in the family and learn how to seek help. Background., Cancer is usually a new experience for young families. In most cases, parents do not have the necessary knowledge about their children's need for information and support about their parent's serious illness and impending death. Design., A qualitative evaluation study based on data collected through in-depth interviews focusing on parent's experiences with the Family Support Program. Methods., Participants were patients with incurable cancer and their partners and ex-partners with children aged between 5,18 years. Thirteen parents were in-depth interviewed. Results., Parents described how the Family Support Program helped them gain greater insight into their children's thoughts and reactions and into how the situation affected their daily living. Parents reported that conflicts were reduced, they could talk more openly about the situation in the family and that they were shown how to support their children's coping. Conclusion., The Family Support Program met the parents in the study's needs for more information and support about how to cope with their children during the patient's terminal illness. Relevance to clinical practice., The Family Support Program is described in detail in a manual that makes it easy for other health workers to use the same programme. The Family Support program was in use in outpatient clinics, oncology wards and palliative care units and was provided both from nurses and social workers trained in cancer care. Parent's in the study would like the Family Support Program to be available to all patients who receive the poor prognosis that their cancer cannot be cured. [source] Nutritional status and patient characteristics for hospitalised older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 13 2008Sigrid Odencrants MSc Aim. The aim of the study was to describe and compare nutritional status and social and medical characteristics among older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to an acute care hospital ward for respiratory medicine. Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a condition associated with risk of developing malnutrition. A body mass index <20 is predictive of hospitalisation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Knowledge about patient characteristics is crucial for the identification of malnourished patients and the development of nursing care for these patients. Design. Quantitative descriptive study. Methods. Thirty-three hospitalised women and 17 men with a mean age of 75·7 years (SD 6·9) were consecutively included. A very severe case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was indicated in 28 out of 39 patients who underwent a lung function test. Data were collected with measurement of nutritional status using Mini Nutritional Assessment, anthropometry and lung function. Results. Nearly half of the patients (48%) were identified as malnourished, an equal part as at risk for malnutrition and two patients as well nourished. The mean Mini Nutritional Assessment score of 17·2 (SD 3·99) for all patients was near the Mini Nutritional Assessment cut-off score (i.e. 17) for malnutrition. Patients identified as malnourished had a mean body mass index of 18·9 and those at risk for malnutrition had a mean of 23·4. It was more common for those identified as malnourished to live singly, to not live in own property and to be dependent on daily community service. Seven patients identified as malnourished died during the data collection period. Conclusions. This study provides important knowledge about further risks of impaired nutritional status among older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Relevance to clinical practice. This knowledge can provide registered nurses with the necessary knowledge to make them aware of certain patients needing particular kinds of attention. [source] An exploratory study of web-enhanced learning in undergraduate nurse educationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 12 2007BSc (Hons), Elizabeth A Mitchell MSc, PG Dip Ed Aim.,The aim of the study was to explore undergraduate nursing students' views of web-enhanced learning and to examine issues relating to their pattern of access to a rehabilitation nursing module website. Background.,As information technology is an integral component of western health care, all nurses are expected to have the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes to be competent in its use. Methods.,In phase 1, a focus group interview was conducted with students (n = 6) who had not logged onto a similar module website. In phase 2, a questionnaire was administered to students undertaking the web-enhanced module. In phase 3, each student's (n = 231) pattern of access to the module was identified and compared with the student's performance as evidenced by their module assignment mark. Results.,Students held favourable attitudes towards web-enhanced learning but some students experienced difficulties. There was a significant positive association between the students' assignment mark and the number of times logged onto the module website. Significant negative correlations were found between mark and week of first log on, and week of first log on and number of hits onto the module site. This suggests that students who logged onto the module in the first few weeks were more likely to achieve higher marks. Conclusions.,This study's findings suggest that students who accessed the module website early and often were more likely to produce more comprehensive nursing assessments and consequently achieve higher assignment marks than their colleagues. Relevance to clinical practice.,The findings have relevance to all nurses as lifelong learning is a mandatory requirement for maintaining clinical competence and electronic learning can provide students (regardless of registration status) with the flexibility to gain access to course content at a time and place convenient to them. The role of electronic learning in promoting a more holistic nursing assessment is also discussed. [source] Basic knowledge in psychodermatologyJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 2 2007F Poot Abstract Background, The authors try to define the framework of this approach, what should be acquired by "well-informed" dermatologists and what is required to be a pyschodermatologist. Objective, To better define the necessary knowledge to practice psychodermatology. Results, 1) The first level is dermatology psychology: there is a psychotherapeutical implicit effect of the dermatological consultation with a goal that is not psychological change. This effect can be improved by acquiring better communication skills and information. The second level needs a possibility to change the emotional individual process and the relational context in a continuum between counselling and psychotherapy. To practice this level a complete psychotherapeutic education with some specificity is needed. This can be reached by a dermatologist also being a psychotherapist or by a team consisting of both dermatologist-psychotherapist. 2) The psychodermatological patient is characterized by alexithymia. He/she needs to be understood through the body language he/she presents. This kind of patient is coming from families where the theme of loss seems to dominate the histories and be associated with deep emotional experiences of separation anxiety. These characteristics must be known together with the different psychodermatological disorders and the mind-body interaction to handle these patients. 3) Taking all of this complexity into account, the psychodermatologist or the psychodermatological team should be able to integrate the different points and adapt attitudes to the patient's difficulty during the whole therapeutic process. 4) The evaluation of the problem should be done using psychological tools here described. Conclusion, The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) together with the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry (ESDaP) are able to provide the specific education for dermatologist and psychotherapist. In the future, they could be responsible for the recognition of these special abilities and treatments on a governmental and European political level. [source] Practice Guidelines for Evaluation of Fever in Returning Travelers and MigrantsJOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE, Issue 2003Valérie D'Acremont Background Fever upon return from tropical or subtropical regions can be caused by diseases that are rapidly fatal if left untreated. The differential diagnosis is wide. Physicians often lack the necessary knowledge to appropriately take care of such patients. Objective To develop practice guidelines for the initial evaluation of patients presenting with fever upon return from a tropical or subtropical country in order to reduce delays and potential fatal outcomes and to improve knowledge of physicians. Target audience Medical personnel, usually physicians, who see the returning patients, primarily in an ambulatory setting or in an emergency department of a hospital and specialists in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and travel medicine. Method A systematic review of the literature,mainly extracted from the National Library of Medicine database,was performed between May 2000 and April 2001, using the keywords fever and/or travel and/or migrant and/or guidelines. Eventually, 250 articles were reviewed. The relevant elements of evidence were used in combination with expert knowledge to construct an algorithm with arborescence flagging the level of specialization required to deal with each situation. The proposed diagnoses and treatment plans are restricted to tropical or subtropical diseases (nonautochthonous diseases). The decision chart is accompanied with a detailed document that provides for each level of the tree the degree of evidence and the grade of recommendation as well as the key points of debate. Participants and consensus process Besides the 4 authors (2 specialists in travel/tropical medicine, 1 clinical epidemiologist, and 1 resident physician), a panel of 11 European physicians with different levels of expertise on travel medicine reviewed the guidelines. Thereafter, each point of the proposed recommendations was discussed with 15 experts in travel/tropical medicine from various continents. A final version was produced and submitted for evaluation to all participants. Conclusion Although the quality of evidence was limited by the paucity of clinical studies, these guidelines established with the support of a large and highly experienced panel should help physicians to deal with patients coming back from the Tropics with fever. [source] The impact of medical technology on office workflowORTHODONTICS & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH, Issue 2003SP McEvoy Abstract Author, McEvoy SP Digital technologies are gaining wider acceptance within the medical and dental professions. The lure of increased productivity and improved quality entice practices to adapt. These systems are beginning to have a profound impact on the workflows within the practice, as well as putting new demands on existing resources. To successfully implement a new technology within your practice, you must look beyond advertising and discover the real requirements of the system. Vendors rarely try to help beyond the sale and installation of their equipment, nor do they consider how their product might require you to modify the way you and your staff work. Acquiring the necessary knowledge through self-education, a consultant, or (preferably) a combination of the two is the best way to integrate a new technology with your practice. [source] Physiotherapists' perceptions and use of medical imaging information in practicePHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006Tamara Little Abstract Background and Purpose. Physiotherapists must take responsibility for all aspects of patient care. Information from medical imaging studies can influence clinical decisions. The purpose of the present study was to gather information about physiotherapists' perceptions and use of medical imaging information in clinical practice. Method. A survey questionnaire was developed, validated and pilot tested. Subjects were randomly selected from a pool of licensed physiotherapists practising in four California Physical Therapy Association Districts. The survey was sent to 500 physiotherapists. Data gathered from the survey were transcribed to spreadsheets for analysis. Results. One hundred and twenty participants completed and returned the survey. Information from radiographs was most frequently available, followed by MRI and CT scan information, respectively. Respondents reported more use of information from reports than from images. Respondents also indicated that it was important to be able to review medical imaging information (70%), that they use medical imaging information in their practice when it is available (83.4%), that physiotherapists have the necessary knowledge and skills to use this type of information (77.3%), and that medical imaging should be covered in entry-level educational programmes (84.2%). Respondents additionally indicated that medical imaging information could be used to understand a patient's disease process (85%), improve communication about patient care (90%), improve diagnosis, prognosis and interventions for patients (81.6%), and identify contraindications to examination and interventions (87.5%). Conclusions. Physiotherapists have access to some medical imaging information and perceive that this information could be valuable in patient care; however, not all therapists are confident in their ability to interpret this information. Curricula in entry-level physiotherapist educational programmes should include information about medical imaging. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Unmet Need for Family Planning in Developing Countries and Implications for Population PolicyPOPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 4 2000John B. Casterline Unmet need for family planning has been a core concept in international population discourse for several decades. This article reviews the history of unmet need and the development of increasingly refined methods of its empirical measurement and delineates the main questions that have been raised about unmet need during the past decade, some of which concern the validity of the concept and others its role in policy debates. The discussion draws heavily on empirical research conducted during the 1990s, much of it localized, in-depth studies combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Of the causes of unmet need other than those related to access to services, three emerge as especially salient: lack of necessary knowledge about contraceptive methods, social opposition to their use, and health concerns about possible side effects. The article argues that the concept of unmet need for family planning, by joining together contraceptive behavior and fertility preferences, encourages an integration of family planning programs and broader development approaches to population policy. By focusing on the fulfillment of individual aspirations, unmet need remains a defensible rationale for the formulation of population policy and a sensible guide to the design of family planning programs. [source] Cover Picture: Targeting RNA with Small Molecules (ChemBioChem 10/2003)CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 10 2003Yitzhak Tor Prof. Dr. Abstract The cover picture shows the processes involved in the search for small molecules as potent and selective RNA binders. Motivation comes from the desire to control cell function at the RNA level and to identify novel approaches to specifically combat pathogens by targeting their unique RNA sequences or RNA,protein complexes. Inspiration comes from nature; in particular, from aminoglycosides, a family of naturally occurring antibiotics that has been shown to target the bacterial ribosome. The discovery process involves identifying RNA targets (schematically shown as a ribosome or a virus), devising unique assays (e.g. a solid-phase assay), and generating the necessary knowledge and lead structures through design, synthesis, and systematic evaluation of biological activity. Further details can be found in the article by Y. Tor on p. 998 ff. [source] | ||||||||||