Prevention of VTE in women with cancer.

The prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women with cancer requires special consideration. The presence of cancer results in both non-surgical and surgical patients having increased risk of VTE. This usually leads to a modification of the recommended preventive therapy, affecting the type, dose and length of therapy.

VTE prophylaxis for the medical patient: where do we stand? - a focus on cancer patients.

Acutely ill medical patients are at moderate to high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE): approximately 10-30% of general medical patients may develop deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and the latter is a leading contributor to deaths in hospital. Medical conditions associated with a high risk of VTE include cardiac disease, cancer, respiratory disease, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatological and infectious diseases. Pre-disposing risk factors in medical patients include a history of VTE, history of malignancy, complicating infections, increasing age, thrombophilia, prolonged immobility and obesity.

Preparing expectant couples for new-parent experiences: a comparison of two models of antenatal education.

This paper describes a pilot antenatal education program intended to better prepare couples for the early weeks of lifestyle changes and parenting. Eight weeks after birth, data were collected by questionnaire from 19 couples who participated in a pilot program and from 14 couples who were enrolled in a routine hospital program. Women in the pilot program were significantly more satisfied with their experience of parenthood.

From student to midwife: the experiences of newly graduated midwives working in an innovative model of midwifery care.

In 2001, a new model of midwifery care was established in the Birth Centre at St George Hospital, a metropolitan hospital in NSW. The new model was designed to encompass the principles and recommendations from numerous government reports and research. The model also build on the previous successful implementation of a team midwifery program (Homer et al 2001b; Homer et al 2001a).