Smartphone applications supporting self-management programme for adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Scoping Review.

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) significantly impacts on both the quality and quantity of life for patients due to frequent exacerbations requiring hospital admissions resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. A self-management programme purpose is to increase one's knowledge, confidence, and skills to self-manage their chronic illness such as COPD.

Objective: The objective of this review will therefore answer the following research question: What is the current literature pertaining to the use of a smartphone app in supporting a comprehensive self-management programme among COPD patients? A preliminary search was conducted in, Medline, Embase and CINAHL databases to ascertain index terms and keywords.

Incontinence-associated dermatitis in older adults in residential care settings: a point prevalence study.

Unlabelled: Incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) is a skin inflammation caused by contact with urine or faeces or both. It has a negative effect on the patient's quality of life and is indicative of the care provided. However, globally there is a lack of empirical data on the prevalence of IAD.

Impact of unscheduled nurse-led virtual care for people with diabetes on nursing practices and patient satisfaction.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its social restrictions accelerated the expansion of virtual clinical care, and this has been reported to be safe, low cost and flexible.

Aim: This study aimed to examine nursing practices and patient satisfaction with unscheduled nurse-led virtual care for people with diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey of clinical nurse specialists and patients was carried out, using an activities log for nursing practices and a satisfaction and enablement survey for callers.

Intramedullary melanotic schwannoma: a rare presentation of a rare tumor. Illustrative case.

Background: Intramedullary melanotic schwannomas (IMSs) are rare spinal cord tumors, and a hemorrhagic IMS is an even rarer presentation of this uncommon lesion. The authors describe the second known case of a hemorrhagic IMS and briefly review the characteristics of IMSs.

Observations: The patient's initial presentation and imaging indicated an intramedullary thoracic spinal cord tumor impairing lower extremity function.

Development of the key performance indicators for digital health interventions: A scoping review.

Background: Digital health interventions offer new methods for delivering healthcare, with the potential to innovate healthcare services. Key performance indicators play a role in the evaluation, measurement, and improvement in healthcare quality and service performance. The aim of this scoping review was to identify current knowledge and evidence surrounding the development of key performance indicators for digital health interventions.

Nurses knowledge, attitudes and education needs towards acute pain management in hospital settings: A meta-analysis.

Background: Effective pain assessment and management is widely reported as sub optimal due to inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes among nurses.

Aim: To determine nurses' attitudes, knowledge and education needs towards acute pain management in acute hospital settings METHODS: PRISMA (2021) and guidelines from the University of York, CRD (2009) informed the design and conduct of this review. We included studies with registered nurses involved in direct adult patient care and acute pain management in hospital settings.

Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of healthcare professionals on Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacterales (CPE): A cross sectional study.

A self-administered validated questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, attitude and self-reported practices among 109 healthcare professionals in an acute hospital in Ireland on Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacterales. Respondents mean knowledge and self-reported practices scores of CPE were 11.27 (±2.

An overview of the qualitative descriptive design within nursing research.

Background: Qualitative descriptive designs are common in nursing and healthcare research due to their inherent simplicity, flexibility and utility in diverse healthcare contexts. However, the application of descriptive research is sometimes critiqued in terms of scientific rigor. Inconsistency in decision making within the research process coupled with a lack of transparency has created issues of credibility for this type of approach.

Community nurses' attitudes, knowledge and educational needs in relation to urinary continence, continence assessment and management: A systematic review.

Aims And Objectives: To identify, appraise and summarise the available evidence relating to community nurses' attitudes, knowledge and educational needs in relation to urinary continence.

Background: Community nurses play a pivotal role in identifying and supporting individuals who experience urinary continence issues. Gaps in nurses' continence-related education and knowledge may contribute to sub-optimal assessment and management across the continuum of care.

Impact of Nurse-Led Asthma Intervention on Child Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review.

Given the leading role school nurses occupy within the school setting, they are often the most suited health care professionals to lead asthma programs. However, most school-based asthma programs have been conducted by researchers outside the school setting. Thus, we aim to determine what is currently known about the type of school nurse-led asthma intervention programs and their impact on children's asthma-related outcomes.

School Nurses' Available Education to Manage Children with Asthma at Schools: A Scoping Review.

Problem: Despite reports that asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism and the third leading cause of hospitalization in children under 15 years, little is known about how school nurses are educated and trained to manage asthma in schools. The current scoping review sought to describe the published literature on available asthma education programs for school nurses to manage asthma in schoolchildren.

Eligibility Criteria: This paper used Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) scoping review framework to identify the existing literature on the education and training received by school nurses to provide evidence-based practice care to school students with asthma, aged 5 to 18 years.

Online interprofessional education related to chronic illness for health professionals: a scoping review.

This scoping review focuses on identifying the quantity and quality of research evidence available with regard to online interprofessional education related to chronic disease management. Recent advances have seen the emergence of information communication technology and digital health solutions that may improve monitoring of and self-management of chronic disease. With the growing chronic disease burden globally, and the advancement of information communication technology, digital health solutions may improve chronic disease monitoring and self-management.

A nurse prescriber-led protocol for anaemia management in established haemodialysis patients: A retrospective study.

Aim And Objective: To evaluate the impact of a nurse prescriber-led protocol compared to a traditional physician-led nonprotocol-based approach had on maintaining targeted haemoglobin levels in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

Background: Anaemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease and has a profound impact on the patients' well-being. Current practices place a greater emphasis on the decision-making role of nurses in renal anaemia management.

Somatosensory corticospinal tract axons sprout within the cervical cord following a dorsal root/dorsal column spinal injury in the rat.

The corticospinal tract (CST) is the major descending pathway controlling voluntary hand function in primates, and though less dominant, it mediates voluntary paw movements in rats. As with primates, the CST in rats originates from multiple (albeit fewer) cortical sites, and functionally different motor and somatosensory subcomponents terminate in different regions of the spinal gray matter. We recently reported in monkeys that following a combined cervical dorsal root/dorsal column lesion (DRL/DCL), both motor and S1 CSTs sprout well beyond their normal terminal range.

The "Mikidney" smartphone app pilot study: Empowering patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Successful management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) depends on patients' self-management efforts. Mobile health applications can empower patients with CKD to manage their own condition. We developed, with patient involvement, the MiKidney smartphone application.

Computer and mobile technology interventions for self-management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by airflow obstruction due to an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, for example, cigarette smoke. The pattern of care for people with moderate to very severe COPD often involves regular lengthy hospital admissions, which result in high healthcare costs and an undesirable effect on quality of life. Research over the past decade has focused on innovative methods for developing enabling and assistive technologies that facilitate patient self-management.

Is 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol more effective at preventing central venous catheter-related infections than routinely used chlorhexidine gluconate solutions: A pilot multicenter randomized trial (ISRCTN2657745)?

A pilot randomized trial in 3 Irish outpatient hemodialysis units compared 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) in 70% isopropyl alcohol with routinely used CHG solutions for central venous catheter exit site antisepsis. We found no significant difference between the groups for the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infections (1/53 vs 2/52; relative risk [RR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.

Utility of a Single 3-Vessel View in the Evaluation of the Ventricular Outflow Tracts.

Objectives: Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease can improve neonatal outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of an isolated 3-vessel view image in evaluating the ventricular outflow tracts.

Methods: Three-vessel view images were prospectively collected from consecutive patients referred to a regional fetal heart center for fetal echocardiography between gestational ages of 18 weeks and 23 weeks 6 days.

Anatomic variability and outcome in prenatally diagnosed absent pulmonary valve syndrome.

Background: We sought to describe current outcomes and risk factors for mortality for fetuses diagnosed with absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APV). Fetuses with APV were divided into two cohorts, those with underlying tetralogy of Fallot (TOF/APV) and those without underlying TOF and either an intact ventricular septum or small ventricular septal defect (APV/IVS).

Methods: The fetal echocardiographic database was reviewed from January 1, 2001, until June 1, 2010, and all subjects with a diagnosis of APV were included.

Vascular access and infection prevention and control: a national survey of routine practices in Irish haemodialysis units.

Background: National and international guidelines recommend the use of effective vascular access (VA) and infection prevention and control practices within the haemodialysis environment. Establishing an arterio-venous fistula (AVF) and preventing central venous catheter (CVC)-related infections are ongoing challenges for all dialysis settings. We surveyed VA and routine infection prevention and control practices in dialysis units, to provide national data on these practices in Ireland.

Right ventricular mechanics in the fetus with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background: Right ventricular mechanics influence outcomes in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The aim of this study was to determine whether differences in right ventricular performance have their origins in fetal life and if the architectural character of the hypoplastic left ventricle affects right ventricular mechanics.

Methods: The first complete fetal echocardiograms after 17 weeks' gestation were reviewed in 84 fetuses with HLHS and in 115 gestational age-matched normal controls.

Healthcare providers attitudes and perceptions of 'inappropriate attendance' in the Emergency Department.

Unlabelled: Emergency Departments (EDs) worldwide are facing a crisis from overcrowding and a common perception exists that inappropriate use of the ED is a major contributing factor. Patients, who attend the ED with non-urgent problems, could be dealt with by a General Practitioner; such patients use time and resources that would otherwise be used for patients with more appropriate needs.

Study Aim: To explore attitudes and perceptions of healthcare providers regarding 'inappropriate attendance' in the ED.

Nutritional management of stage 5 chronic kidney disease.

Nutrition is a critical issue in the management of patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Malnutrition is common among these patients and affects their survival and quality of life. A basic knowledge of the nutritional management of stage 5 CKD is essential for all members of the nephrology team to improve patient care.

Benzimidazolones: a new class of selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) modulators.

A series of benzimidazolone carboxylic acids and oxazolidinediones were designed and synthesized in search of selective PPARγ modulators (SPPARγMs) as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with improved safety profiles relative to rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, the currently marketed PPARγ full agonist drugs. Structure-activity relationships of these potent and highly selective SPPARγMs were studied with a focus on their unique profiles as partial agonists or modulators. A variety of methods, such as X-ray crystallographic analysis, PPARγ transactivation coactivator profiling, gene expression profiling, and mutagenesis studies, were employed to reveal the differential interactions of these new analogues with PPARγ receptor in comparison to full agonists.