Patients' and Nurses' Perceptions of Diabetes Self-Management in Oman: A Qualitative Study.

Patient-centered care enhances diabetes self-management; however, the primary care nurse's role in promoting diabetes self-management within a patient-centered care model is unexplored. This study investigated the perceptions of Omani patients with type-2 diabetes and their clinic nurses on the nurses' role in promoting diabetes self-management within a patient-centered care approach. The thematic analysis of the data from individual interviews with patients (n = 24) revealed two themes: patients experienced "missteps on an unclear path" and "nurses doing their best.

Characteristics and determinants of survival in oldest old nursing home residents admitted to hospital with an acute illness compared to their younger counterparts.

Background And Objectives: The clinical problems and needs of our oldest old (≥85 years) are often substantially different from those of younger patients, and are arguably different from younger elderly patients (age 65-84). With the increasing number of frail oldest olds residing in Nursing Homes (NH), we aim to identify differences in prognostic indicators and outcomes in this age group compared to younger NH residents.

Methods: We retrospectively identified all consecutive admissions from NHs to an Acute Medical Assessment Unit between January 2005 and December 2007.

Vital signs as determinants of immediate and longer term mortality outcome of patients admitted from nursing homes.

Background And Aims: Hospital admissions from Nursing Homes (NHs) are associated with high mortality. Identifying people with a poor prognosis admitted from NHs is essential to inform appropriate clinical decision making.

Methods: We identified all consecutive admissions from NHs (all ages) to an Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMU) of a large District General Hospital in UK with a catchment population of ~360,000 between January 2005-December 2007 and reviewed their outcome to end of March 2009 (median follow-up=133 days).

Poisoning and toxicological emergencies - current trends and practice.

Poisoning is a common presentation to hospital acute medical units, and can produce a variety of clinical scenarios. This review discusses the epidemiology of poisoning, a framework for managing patients with drug toxicity and considerations in the diagnosis of toxicity with unknown substances. The commonest substances seen in toxicity in the UK - paracetamol, antidepressants, sedatives and opioids are discussed in more detail.

Advances in deep vein thrombosis management with thrombolysis.

Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common disease associated with serious short term and long term complications. Its conventional treatment has been anticoagulation. Thrombolytic treatment has been used for DVT for over 40 years.