Addressing the psychosocial needs of young people with thalassaemia undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Beta thalassaemia major is an inherited condition that causes severe anaemia. Patients with the condition require regular blood transfusions. One curative treatment option available is bone marrow transplantation, but a bone marrow transplant is a high-risk, painful procedure requiring prolonged hospitalisation.

Meeting the psychosocial needs of adolescents and their families during a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), an oncological condition affecting blood-producing cells, is the most common type of childhood cancer. It is more common in younger children but the number of young people diagnosed is significant, with about 125 new cases diagnosed each year. While survival rates are high, diagnostic tests, symptoms and treatment regimens can have negative psychological and sociological implications for patients and their families.

The use of assessment rubrics to enhance feedback in higher education: An integrative literature review.

Objective: To explore the literature relating to the use of rubrics in Higher Education.

Design: A systematic search using three databases was undertaken, the question used to guide the search strategy was: What are the benefits and challenges of using rubrics as part of the assessment process in Higher Education?

Data Sources: Three electronic databases were searched: British Education Index, Education Resources Information Centre and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature.

Review Methods: The review utilised an integrative approach to the retrieval and appraisal of the research.

Developing a long-term ventilation service in a children's hospice: an illustrative case study.

Children who use long-term ventilation at home and their parents find it difficult to access suitable respite services for short breaks. This article describes, through the use of a case study, a project to develop a respite service for such children at a children's hospice in England. The service development was a response to local need, which included a requirement to develop bespoke assessment documentation and processes as well as a comprehensive staff development package.

Technology dependence and children: a review of the evidence.

Much has been written about the needs of children who are technology dependent and their care. This literature review aims to highlight some of this work--with a particular focus on children who are ventilator dependent--a group that has been extensively researched in the UK. The views of children and their parents were also sought to identify the emotional, financial and practical burdens of living with technology dependence.

A research review to identify the factors contributing to the development of pressure ulcers in paediatric patients.

The aim of this research review was to answer the clinical question 'what factors contribute to the development of pressure ulcers in the paediatric population?' A sensitive, systematic search was undertaken to identify all empirical studies that could answer this question. The question was broken down using facet analysis to identify the key terms that were used in the search strategy. All relevant databases were searched and a hand search of key journals was also undertaken.