Urinary incontinence in Muslim women.

This article describes the results of a qualitative study that explores how religion and culture influence Muslim women's decisions to seek healthcare for urinary incontinence.

The impact of HETF for adults with neurological conditions.

The number of patients receiving home enteral tube feeding (HETF) in the UK is growing, despite little evidence that it improves survival or quality of life in many cases. There is also little work that has been done to explore the emotional impact of this invasive procedure on patients or carers. This article draws on a literature review to highlight some of the issues that may arise with patients receiving HETF, focusing particularly on the largest group of these patients: those with neurological conditions.

Parent concerns and professional responses: the case of specific language impairment.

Background: GPs and health visitors are usually the first to be approached by parents concerned about their child's speech and language development in the early years. The role health professionals play in early detection of speech and language difficulties is therefore crucial to ensure timely referral for speech and language therapy.

Aim: To examine parental accounts of health visitor and GP involvement in the assessment and diagnosis of their children's speech and language impairment.

Children with specific language impairment: parental accounts of the early years.

Parent views of specific language impairment have received little attention in the literature, even though speech and language development is the single greatest area of concern for parents. This article examines parental views of events up to, and including, language unit admission for their children. A series of qualitative interviews was conducted with parents.

Case study: design? Method? Or comprehensive strategy?

As the case study approach gains popularity in nursing research, questions arise with regard to what it exactly is, and where it appears to fit paradigmatically. Is it a method, a design, are such distinctions important? Colin Jones and Christina Lyons review some of the key issues, with specific emphasis on the use of case study within an interpretevist philosophy.

Life review following critical illness in young men.

Surviving events that have posed a serious threat to life can result in major psychological problems during the recovery period. Younger patients, with years of life ahead of them, are at risk of depression and loss of self-esteem following their ordeal, despite their physical recovery. Traditional forms of counselling and psychotherapy following traumatic events can sometimes carry a stigma and be viewed as 'disease centred'.

Researching the experience of being critically ill: some methodological difficulties.

The experience of being critically ill and being a patient in a critical care unit has attracted considerable research interest in recent years. Evidence of this is apparent in the increasing development of critical care follow-up services in many of our hospitals in the United Kingdom. However, actually conducting research this area can be fraught with difficulties and problems.