Metabolic Syndrome in Dutch Patients With Bipolar Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Dutch patients with bipolar disorder (BD), identify factors associated with MetS, and estimate the rate of pharmacologic treatment of MetS in this population.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of medical records of adult patients (≥ 18 years) with BD receiving psychotropic drug treatment was performed in a Dutch psychiatric outpatient setting. MetS was determined according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III-Adapted (NCEP ATP III-A) criteria.

Development and testing of an analytic rubric for a master's course systematic review of the literature: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Conducting grading of systematic reviews in master's level programs of health sciences education is a complex process. Students conduct systematic reviews under the supervision of course faculty in seminar groups where both draft version and definite version of the literature review are graded/assessed. The aim of this study was to develop a systematic review of the literature rubric (SRL-rubric) for the evaluation of systematic reviews in the course of SRL in a master's Program of Health Care Sciences and to investigate students and faculty experiences with and the usability of the SRL-rubric.

From judgment to understanding: mental health nurses' perceptions of changed professional behaviors following positively changed attitudes toward self-harm.

Nurses experience feelings of frustration, anger and fear when caring for patients who self-harm. Training programmes were developed that aimed to positively influence nurses' knowledge, attitudes and skills. The aim of this study was to investigate professional behavior of mental health nurses with positively changed attitudes after following a training program.

Regained control: a phenomenological study of the use of a relapse prevention plan by patients with a bipolar disorder.

Purpose: To explore the lived experiences with the development and use of a relapse prevention plan by patients with a bipolar disorder.

Design And Methods: In this phenomenological study, we conducted unstructured interviews. Colaizzi's data analysis method was used.

Patients with anorexia nervosa who self-injure: a phenomenological study.

Purpose: This study investigates self-injury from the perspective of patients with anorexia nervosa.

Design And Methods: A phenomenological design was used. Twelve patients participated.

Sexuality of patients with chronic heart failure and their spouses and the need for information regarding sexuality.

Background: Psychological and physiological effects of chronic heart failure (CHF) can influence sexuality. Both CHF patients and their partners may experience changes and have questions about sexuality. Despite this, healthcare professionals give little information regarding sexuality.

Educational intervention for patients with head and neck cancer in the discharge phase.

Purpose: The consequences of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment have great impact on patients' lives. Despite the importance of preparing patients for the period after discharge, patients frequently experience a lack of information. Aims of the study were to develop a nurse-led educational intervention to provide information during a discharge interview and to investigate the effects of the intervention on informational needs and satisfaction with information in HNC patients.

The treatment of 'difficult' patients in a secure unit of a specialized psychiatric hospital: the patient's perspective.

The aim of this study is to obtain insight, from a patient's perspective, into the results and essential components of treatment in specialist settings for so-called 'difficult' patients in mental health care. In cases where usual hospital treatment is not successful, a temporary transfer to another, specialist hospital may provide a solution. We investigated which aspects of specialist treatment available to 'difficult' patients are perceived as essential by the patients and what are the results of this treatment in their perception.

Integrating preconceptional care into an IVF programme.

Aim:   This paper is a report of a mixed method study of the outcomes of integrating preconceptional care into an in-vitro fertilization programme on nurses' and patients' attitudes and patients' weight and smoking behaviour.

Background:   Increasing evidence points to the significant effect of lifestyle factors on in-vitro fertilization outcomes. Optimizing the health of couples before they commence in-vitro fertilization may improve the chance of achieving success.

Health and social needs of traumatized refugees and asylum seekers: an exploratory study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the care needs of adult traumatized refugees and asylum seekers.

Design And Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. A survey was conducted using the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) among 30 patients.

Quality of life and fear of cancer recurrence after endoscopic and surgical treatment for early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus.

Background And Study Aims: Endoscopic treatment of early neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus preserves the esophagus and is minimally invasive compared with surgical treatment. However, the influence of endoscopic therapy on quality of life (QOL) and fear of cancer recurrence is unknown. We explored QOL and fear of cancer recurrence 12 - 60 months after endoscopic and surgical treatment for early Barrett's neoplasia, using a cross-sectional design.

The effects of music on physiological responses and sedation scores in sedated, mechanically ventilated patients.

Aims And Objectives: A pilot study designed as future randomised controlled trial was carried out to determine the effects of music on physiological responses and sedation scores in sedated, mechanically ventilated patients.

Background: Mechanically ventilated ICU patients, even when receiving intravenous sedatives, may experience stress and anxiety. One possible intervention to reduce stress and anxiety is listening to music.

Filling up the hours: how do stroke patients on a rehabilitation nursing home spend the day?

Objective: To describe the time use of stroke patients on rehabilitation units of a nursing home focusing on the time spent on therapeutic activities, non-therapeutic activities, interactions and the location wherein these took place.

Design: A descriptive study.

Setting: Rehabilitation units of a nursing home.

Withdrawal symptoms in critically ill children after long-term administration of sedatives and/or analgesics: a first evaluation.

Objective: To establish frequencies of benzodiazepine and opioid withdrawal symptoms, and correlations with total doses and duration of administration.

Design: A prospective, repeated-measures design.

Setting: Two pediatric intensive care units in a university children's hospital.

Withdrawal symptoms in children after long-term administration of sedatives and/or analgesics: a literature review. "Assessment remains troublesome".

Background: Prolonged administration of benzodiazepines and/or opioids to children in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) may induce physiological dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Objective: We reviewed the literature for relevant contributions on the nature of these withdrawal symptoms and on availability of valid scoring systems to assess the extent of symptoms.

Methods: The databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Psychinfo (1980-June 2006) were searched using relevant key terms.

Use of a simple relaxation technique in burn care: literature review.

Aim: This paper presents a literature review examining the implications of previous research in order to make evidence-based decisions about the possible use of breathing exercises with adult patients with burns for pain management during wound care.

Background: Adult patients with burns experience pain during wound care despite pharmacological interventions. Additional interventions are needed to improve the effectiveness of pain management.

The development of evidence-based nursing interventions: methodological considerations.

Background: The call for evidence-based practice presents numerous challenges to nurses who are responsible for developing interventions and expanding the associated knowledge base. The challenge is compounded because there is limited literature concerning development of interventions and their evidence base.

Aim: The purpose of this article is to present a model that has been successfully used to guide the process of developing and testing complex nursing interventions, especially those in which the experience of the client plays an important role.

Anxiety and well-being in first-time coronary angioplasty patients and repeaters.

Introduction: Preparatory information before an invasive procedure has positive effects (e.g. on recovery, well-being and anxiety).

A method to develop a nursing intervention: the contribution of qualitative studies to the process.

Aim Of The Paper: To describe how to develop a patient-centred nursing intervention (NI).

Background: The stimulus for scrutinizing methods and techniques to develop a NI was a research project concerning the contribution of information and support to the sexual adaptation of women with gynaecological cancer. Within this project, a NI for sexual teaching (ST) was developed because the literature review revealed no tested NI for this purpose.

Factors that influence the provision of sexual health care by Dutch cancer nurses.

A descriptive-correlational design was used with a sample of Dutch cancer nurses (n = 104) to describe provision of sexual health care (SHC) and to explore influential factors. This report is limited to the second goal. The Theory of Reasoned Action provided the conceptual framework for investigation of five previously identified factors and one unexplored factor.

Nurses' provision of teaching and counselling on sexuality: a review of the literature.

Patients' sexual concerns and problems are a focus for nursing care. Research studies with nurses, patients and healthy adults support this assertion. However, investigations also identify that specific teaching, supporting and/or counselling interventions aimed at managing the effects of illness and treatment on sexual function are not provided most of the time.