Slowing progression of early stages of AD with alternative therapies: a feasibility study.

This pilot study identified the feasibility and efficacy of the effect of combining healing touch (HT) and body talk cortices (BTC) on the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both HT and BTC elicit the relaxation response and support cognitive function from two different perspectives. A two-group, repeated measures design was used.

Hypervitaminosis D associated with a vitamin D dispensing error.

Objective: To report a case of hypervitaminosis D resulting in hypercalcemia and acute kidney injury in a 70-year-old female who was prescribed a standard dose of vitamin D but given a toxic dose of vitamin D 50,000 IU (1.25 mg) daily resulting from a dispensing error.

Case Summary: A 70-year-old female in her usual state of health was instructed to begin supplementation with vitamin D 1000 IU daily.

Summative index: Acute pain management in older adults.

One of the challenges in measuring adoption of complex evidence-based practices (EBPs) such as acute pain management is determining what constitutes adherence to an EBP guideline. Traditionally, individual process indicators extrapolated from an EBP guideline are selected as dependent measures of guideline adoption. When using multiple indicators, the challenge is determining the number of indicators that must be met to define adherence to the EBP guideline.

Translating research into practice intervention improves management of acute pain in older hip fracture patients.

Objective: To test an interdisciplinary, multifaceted, translating research into practice (TRIP) intervention to (a) promote adoption, by physicians and nurses, of evidence-based (EB) acute pain management practices in hospitalized older adults, (b) decrease barriers to use of EB acute pain management practices, and (c) decrease pain intensity of older hospitalized adults.

Study Design: Experimental design with the hospital as the unit of randomization.

Study Setting: Twelve acute care hospitals in the Midwest.

Inhaled zanamivir versus rimantadine for the control of influenza in a highly vaccinated long-term care population.

Background: Despite vaccination, influenza commonly causes morbidity and mortality in institutional settings. Influenza control with rimantadine and amantadine is limited by emergence and transmission of drug-resistant influenza A variants, ineffectiveness against influenza B, and toxicity. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of zanamivir versus rimantadine for influenza outbreak control in long-term care facilities.

Emergence and transmission of amantadine-resistant influenza A in a nursing home.

Objectives: To prospectively detect amantadine-resistant influenza when amantadine was used for influenza A outbreak control.

Design: Prospective clinical surveillance and viral culture of all new respiratory illnesses during the course of amantadine prophylaxis.

Setting: A 721-bed, 14-ward nursing home for veterans and spouses during an influenza A outbreak (1993-94).

Evidence-based assessment of acute pain in older adults: current nursing practices and perceived barriers.

Objectives: To report data on current nurse practice behaviors related to evidence-based assessment of acute pain in older adults, perceived stage of adoption of pain assessment practices, and perceptions of barriers to optimal assessment in this population.

Methods: Medical records from 709 older adult patients hospitalized with hip fractures from 12 acute care settings were abstracted for nurse assessment practices during the first 72 hours after admission. Questionnaires sent to nurses on study units regarding perceived stage of adoption and barriers to assessment in older adults.

Acute pain treatment for older adults hospitalized with hip fracture: current nursing practices and perceived barriers.

This article examines acute pain management practices for patients 65 years of age and older who were hospitalized during 1999 for hip fracture. Data were collected from the medical records of patients (N = 709) admitted to 12 hospitals in the Midwest and from questionnaires on pain practices completed by nurses (N = 172) caring for these patients. The major variables examined were (1).

Pain management in older adults.

Pain is a common complaint of older adults. Persistent pain has a significant negative impact on elderly individuals' sense of well being, physical function, and quality of life. Increasing age and cognitive impairment are risk factors for undertreatment of persistent pain.