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Optimal Quality (optimal + quality)
Selected AbstractsQuality of private personal care for elderly people with a disability living at home: correlates and potential outcomesHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 4 2008Claudio Bilotta MD Abstract To investigate correlates of the quality of private personal care for community-dwelling elderly people, this cross-sectional study enrolled 100 elderly outpatients living at home, along with their private aides and 88 informal caregivers, from May 2005 to January 2007. Cases were stratified according to the quality of private care as was described by both elderly participants and informal caregivers. In cases where the elderly person was suffering from overt cognitive impairment, only the opinions of the informal caregivers were taken into account. A comparison was made between the ,poor or fair care' group (n = 16), the ,intermediate care' group (n = 39) and the ,optimal care' group (n = 45). Considering the characteristics of private aides, there was a significant trend across the three groups in terms of language skills (P = 0.002) and level of distress with life conditions (P = 0.020). A statistical analysis performed on elderly participants without an overt cognitive impairment (n = 59) and informal caregivers showed an increase in the European Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale score in the elderly group [mean ± standard deviation (SD) were, respectively, 45 ± 23.2, 63.7 ± 19.7 and 68.8 ± 21.6; P = 0.007], and a decrease in the Caregiver Burden Inventory score (mean ± SD were, respectively, 34.9 ± 25.3, 26 ± 17.7 and 17.6 ± 14.6; P = 0.020) across the three groups. We found no significant difference between elderly people in the three groups in terms of social variables, functional and cognitive status, prevalence of depressive disorders and morbidity. Therefore, good language skills and non-distressing life conditions of private aides appeared to be correlates of an optimal quality of care for community-dwelling elderly people with a disability, and also a better quality of life for them and less distress for their informal caregivers appeared to be potential outcomes of the quality of personal care. [source] Registered nurses' experiences of caring for the elderly in different health-care areasINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 4 2001Ingegerd Fagerberg RNT, MSocSci Caring for elderly patients is an undertaking for a majority of Swedish nurses in different health-care sectors. The purpose of the study was to understand how nurses experienced the meaning of caring for elderly patients after 2 years as Registered Nurses. Interviews were conducted with 20 nurses 2 years after graduation. Data were analysed with a phenomenological,hermeneutic method and resulted in two themes: (i) providing the elderly with a sense of trust; and (ii) commitment to elderly patients. Each theme was made up of four subthemes, expressing both positive and negative aspects. Caring for the elderly means that the core of caring is in focus. Nurses need a supportive context for their care of the elderly, especially when they experience that they or their staff cannot provide the optimal quality of care for the patients. [source] Improving visualization techniques by narrow band imaging and magnification endoscopyJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Manabu Muto Abstract Endoscopy plays an important role in the early detection of gastrointestinal tract neoplasms. Using conventional white light or dye-based image enhanced endoscopy, it has been difficult to assess pre-malignant and early neoplastic lesions precisely. However, narrow band imaging (NBI) dramatically improves the detection of these lesions, particularly in combination with magnifying endoscopy. This allows the endoscopist to accomplish accurate diagnosis. Such enhanced detection of pre-malignant and early neoplastic lesions in the gastrointestinal tract should allow better targeting of biopsy, improved and more appropriate treatment, and thereby contribute to optimal quality of life and patient survival. [source] The Challenge of asthma in adolescencePEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 8 2007Diletta de Benedictis MD Abstract The adolescents with asthma are a distinct group of patients with different problems and needs compared to children and adults. Specific issues of asthma in adolescence are the variability of the clinical spectrum, the presence of particular risk factors for the persistence of symptoms, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the disease. Refusal of the sick role, denial of symptoms, carelessness about dangerous inhalation exposure, erratic self-medication, overexertion without taking precautions against exercise-induced asthma, and a poor relationship between patients, their families, and often doctors are the main obstacles to successful management of asthma in this critical age. There are also major problems of compliance for these patients. The goal of optimal quality of life will be achieved only if the physician thoroughly understands the adolescent's needs and provides optimal care. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007, 42:683,692. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||