Bowel problems, self-care practices, and information needs of colorectal cancer survivors at 6 to 24 months after sphincter-saving surgery.

The aim of this study was to describe bowel problems, self-care practices, and information needs of patients who have recovered from the acute effects of sphincter-saving surgery for colorectal cancer. A retrospective, descriptive survey was conducted using a structured telephone interview and mailed questionnaires. The sample consisted of 101 patients who had undergone sphincter-saving surgery for colorectal cancer in the last 6 to 24 months.

Patients' self-report of procedural pain in the intensive care unit.

Aim: To determine which routine nursing procedures performed on conscious intensive care unit (ICU) patients were painful and which routine procedures were not painful.

Background: Current empirical evidence supports that routine procedures are often not viewed in the context of causing pain to the critically ill patient. Given the complexity of illness and the need to prioritize care in ICU patients, clinicians may not consider routine procedures as causing pain.

Getting on with life: accepting the permanency of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Increasing numbers of people with cardiovascular disease are requiring the insertion of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs). Although these devices are an effective life-saving treatment, psychological distress sometimes accompanies their insertion. A qualitative approach was used to explore the experiences, concerns and needs of recipients of the device in Western Australia.

Use of a Behavioural Pain Scale to assess pain in ventilated, unconscious and/or sedated patients.

Unlabelled: Current empirical evidence supports claims that pain in sedated, unconscious Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients is underrated and under-treated. Given the severity of ICU patients' illness pain management, whilst important, may not be considered a priority and therefore can be easily overlooked. The aim of this study was to validate the Behavioural Pain Scale (BPS) for the assessment of pain in critically ill patients by evaluating facial expressions, upper limb movements and compliance with mechanical ventilation.

Comparison of plain ice and flavoured ice for preventing oral mucositis associated with the use of 5 fluorouracil.

Aims And Objectives: The study aimed to compare the use of plain ice, flavoured ice and standard care, to evaluate the effect on mucositis and to determine patients' perceptions of the two forms of oral cryotherapy.

Background: Despite evidence that oral cryotherapy is useful in preventing mucositis in patients receiving 5-fluorouracil, concerns have been expressed about its clinical utility, due to potential side effects and negative perceptions.

Design: A randomized, controlled, crossover trial was conducted in the outpatient chemotherapy department of an acute care teaching hospital in Perth, Western Australia.

Evaluation of an electronic monitoring device for urinary incontinence in elderly patients in an acute care setting.

Aim: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the use of habit training with an electronic monitoring device is better than standard habit training in the assessment and management of urinary incontinence in elderly patients in acute care hospitals. The second aim was to describe nurses' perceptions of continence management in acute care settings.

Design: A randomized controlled trial was conducted for an 18-month period.

Reasons for attending and not attending a support group for recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their carers.

There is evidence to suggest that people who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and their caregivers experience psychological distress. This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences, concerns and needs of recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their caregivers who attended or did not attend a support group organized by a public hospital located in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Eleven recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and their caregivers participated in this study.

Evaluating the impact of a new high dependency unit.

The impact of a new high dependency unit (HDU) that was developed from an adjoining ward was evaluated from both an organizational and consumer perspective. Satisfaction of patients and relatives with nursing care on the ward of origin was measured before and after the development of the HDU, and nurses were surveyed regarding the impact of the change on nursing practices. Patients' perceptions of pain and pain management was compared between patients admitted to the ward prior to the development of the HDU, and a later group admitted to the HDU.

Fall risk assessment: a prospective investigation of nurses' clinical judgement and risk assessment tools in predicting patient falls.

A prospective cohort study was used to determine the reliability and validity of two fall risk assessment tools and nurses' clinical judgement in predicting patient falls. The study wards comprised two aged care and rehabilitation wards within a 570 bed acute care tertiary teaching hospital in Western Australia. Instrument testing included test-retest reliability and calculations of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy.

Risk factors associated with pressure ulcer development at a major western Australian teaching hospital from 1998 to 2000: secondary data analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the presence of pressure ulcer development in adult patients at an acute care teaching hospital.

Design: The database was established by combining the results from 3 annual cross-sectional pressure ulcer prevalence studies conducted between 1998 and 2000.

Setting And Sample: The sample consisted of all medical and surgical patients who were inpatients on the day of the pressure ulcer surveys.