Effect of voice support level and spectrum on conversational speech.

One's own voice (autophony) is transmitted to the ears as direct airborne sound, bone conduction, and indirect airborne sound from reflections characterized by overall gain and spectro-temporal features. This study investigates how the spectral profile and gain of simulated indirect airborne sound, quantified as voice support (ST), affect the speaking voice of talkers. Pairs of participants performed a conversation elicitation task in anechoic conditions.

Pressure ulcer risk detection from complexity of activity.

Activity levels in nursing home residents were measured with accelerometers over one week as part of a multicenter randomized controlled trial, and complexity of the resulting activity patterns were characterized. Among 813 study participants on whom activity data had been collected, 16 participants developed pressure ulcers by the end of the study. The fractal dimension D of the activity series was lower (p=0.

Comparison Study of Braden Scale and Time-to-Erythema Measures in Long-term Care.

Purpose: The Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk is used to assess risk, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid guidelines suggest the use of a tissue tolerance procedure that detects time-to-erythema (TTE) to further refine tissue tolerance, a component of the Braden Scale. The aim of this study was to compare the Braden Scale and TTE as risk classification methods and their utility in identifying care planning interventions.

Design: Descriptive study using retrospective chart review.

Turning for Ulcer Reduction (TURN) Study: An Economic Analysis.

Background: The Turning for Ulcer Reduction (TURN) study was a multisite, randomized controlled trial that aimed to determine the optimal frequency of turning nursing facility residents with mobility limitations who are at moderate and high risk for pressure ulcer (PrU) development. Here we present data from the economic analysis.

Objectives: This economic analysis aims to estimate the economic consequences for Ontario of switching from a repositioning schedule of 2-hour intervals to a schedule of 3-hour or 4-hour intervals.

Preventing Pressure Ulcers: A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial in Nursing Homes.

Background: Pressure at the interface between bony prominences and support surfaces, sufficient to occlude or reduce blood flow, is thought to cause pressure ulcers (PrUs). Pressure ulcers are prevented by providing support surfaces that redistribute pressure and by turning residents to reduce length of exposure.

Objective: We aim to determine optimal frequency of repositioning in long-term care (LTC) facilities of residents at risk for PrUs who are cared for on high-density foam mattresses.

Turning for Ulcer ReductioN: a multisite randomized clinical trial in nursing homes.

Objectives: To determine optimal repositioning frequency of nursing home (NH) residents at risk for pressure ulcers (PrUs) when cared for on high-density foam mattresses.

Design: Multisite, randomized, clinical trial, known as Turning for Ulcer ReductioN (TURN Study).

Settings: NHs in the United States (n = 20) and Canada (n = 7) using high-density foam mattresses.

Construct validity of the moisture subscale of the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk.

In this study, the construct validity of the moisture subscale of the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk is partially supported by the significant inverse relationships between moisture subscale scores, the number of wet observations and soiled observations, brief changes, and differences among the moisture subscale score groups.

Gabor filter for enhanced recognition of assisted turning events.

Nursing facility residents at high risk for pressure ulcers are turned in bed by staff at regular intervals. In an ongoing large, multi-site randomized clinical trial (RCT) the impacts of 2, 3, and 4 hour turning intervals are being studied on pressure ulcer outcomes. In the RCT, it is necessary to objectively confirm the reported times of assisted turning by certified nurse assistants using activity data.

Nursing delegation and medication administration in assisted living.

Assisted living (AL) residences are residential long-term care settings that provide housing, 24-hour oversight, personal care services, health-related services, or a combination of these on an as-needed basis. Most residents require some assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, such as medication management. A resident plan of care (ie, service agreement) is developed to address the health and psychosocial needs of the resident.

Practices and outcomes: pressure ulcer management in nursing facilities.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare reported pressure ulcer prevention and treatment practices in nursing facilities with high prevalence of pressure ulcers versus nursing facilities with low prevalence of pressure ulcers.

Methods: A 26-item survey on implementation of nationally accepted standards for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment was mailed to directors of nursing in all 68 nursing facilities in an urban county.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences on reported pressure ulcer prevention interventions based on pressure ulcer prevalence.

Contribution of skin temperature regularity to the risk of developing pressure ulcers in nursing facility residents.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to determine whether characterizing skin temperature regulation as a functional property of the skin as it relates to tissue tolerance improves the clinician's understanding of pressure ulcer risk prediction.

Design: A 2-group time-series design was used to observe skin temperature regularity (entropy) and self-similarity (spectral exponent).

Methods: Twenty nursing facility residents wore skin temperature monitors continuously for 5 days.

Opportunities for advance practice nurses in the nursing facility.

Advance practice nurses (APNs) have emerged as valuable members of the nursing facility interdisciplinary team. They function in a variety of roles, including clinical care, administration, nursing consultation, and education. Positive outcomes in key indicators of care and reduction in costs to the healthcare systems have been attributed to their practice.