Nursing and Parkinson's Disease: A Scoping Review of Worldwide Studies.

This scoping review aims to evaluate the characteristics of worldwide studies evolving the scope of nursing practice in Parkinson's disease (PD). We conducted a three-step search strategy using 11 databases and reference lists. Of the 4,174 screened studies we included 324 (8%).

Quality improvement study on early recognition and intervention of caregiver burden in a tertiary hospital.

Background: Caregivers play a crucial role in taking over the important task of looking after patients post-hospitalisation. Caregivers who are unfamiliar with patients' post-discharge care often experience caregiver stress, while patients may see deterioration in their condition. As caregivers are our core partners in healthcare, it is therefore necessary for patient navigators to recognise, assess and address caregivers' needs or burden as early as on admission to hospital.

Parkinson's Disease Caregiver Strain in Singapore.

Caregiver strain is recognized globally with Parkinson's disease (PD). Comparatively little is understood about caregiver burden and strain in Asia. To investigate caregiver strain for families living with PD in Singapore, in light of international data.

Adequacy of different measurement methods in determining nasogastric tube insertion lengths: An observational study.

Background: Distance from the tip of the nose to earlobe to xiphisternum is commonly used to determine the length of nasogastric tube to be inserted. However, it is not evidence-based and frequently leads to improper positioning.

Objectives: This study evaluated four formulae and the distance from the tip of the nose to earlobe to xiphisternum in estimating the internal length of nasogastric tube required for optimal positioning.

Automated analysis of gait and modified timed up and go using the Microsoft Kinect in people with Parkinson's disease: associations with physical outcome measures.

Instrumenting physical assessments in people with Parkinson's disease can provide valuable and sensitive information. This study aimed to investigate whether variables derived from a Kinect-based system can provide incremental value over standard habitual gait speed (HGS) and timed up and go (TUG) variables by evaluating associations with (1) motor and (2) postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) subscales of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Sixty-two individuals with Parkinson's disease (age 66 ± 7 years; 74% male) undertook an instrumented HGS and modified TUG tests, in addition to the UPDRS.

Effectiveness of an Advanced Practice Nurse-Led Preoperative Telephone Assessment.

The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of an advanced practice nurse-led preoperative telephone assessment in reducing day-of-surgery cancellations of patients at an ambulatory surgery center. We concluded that a good history obtained by a trained and experienced advanced practice nurse or registered nurse can reduce day-of-surgery cancellations. Patients who were identified at high risk for preoperative complications during the telephone assessment were referred to the preoperative evaluation clinic for further evaluation.

Effectiveness of multidisciplinary interventions to improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

Aims: To conduct a systematic review and critically evaluate the literature on the effectiveness of multidisciplinary interventions to improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease.

Methods: An electronic search of the following publication databases was performed for records from 1995 to 2011: CINAHL PLUS (EBSCO), Joanna Briggs Institute, Pubmed, Web of Science (ISI), psycINFO, Scopus and Cochrane library. The keywords used were Parkinson's disease, nursing, allied health, doctor, intervention, quality of life, rehabilitation, multidisciplinary team and their various combinations.

A questionnaire survey of patient experience with the Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic in Singapore.

Aim: The concept of a pharmacist/advanced practice nurse (APN)-led Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic (RMC) is a novel service in Singapore; we therefore conducted a questionnaire survey of patient experience.

Methods: Patients attending the RMC were provided with a set of questionnaires. As a substudy, a separate questionnaire was given to the rheumatologists and therapists conducting the RMC.

Experiences of caregivers of people with Parkinson's disease in Singapore: a qualitative analysis.

Aims And Objectives: To conduct an in-depth qualitative examination of the experiences of Singaporean people caring for those with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Background: The need to provide care for people with PD will increase with the extended life expectancy of Singaporeans. Caring for people with PD in their own homes for as long as possible is argued to provide psychosocial benefits as well as benefiting the community by delayed institutionalisation and reduced healthcare costs.