Screening and Interventions in Elderly Abuse

Abuse in the elderly is a more recent phenomenon than other types of abuse, as directed against women or children, both documented for a long time, even if they are not recognized as social or health problem until a few decadesago.

Elderly Abuse

This has to do, no doubt, with social changes and particularly with the change of status of the elderly. Elderly enjoyed social recognition, respect and power, and was the guarantee of transmission of knowledge and traditions in a society where age-related experience was considered a value. Changes in the social structure, in the family context, attitudes and values in our society, are probably in the background of the problem. Youth, productivity, health, individual achievement and power are raising stars; the old, unproductive and often dependent, it is undervalued and is sometimes a burden, a nuisance to nuclear families struggling to care for the elderly. Demographic and social changes have not been accompanied by the necessary adaptation resources to respond to new needs that have been created without longing for the past, but looking to the future. At the origin of abuse we can find many causes, because not only social factors are involved, but also cultural, individual and family factors too. Read more>>>>>>>>>>

Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on Pain among Patients with Cancer

Pain is one of the main symptoms reported in cancer patients which is directly associated with the disease itself or while undergoing treatment. Non-pharmacological interventionsare necessary to be included in treatment modalities for pain related to cancer.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Wherein a variety of options can be used to reduce pain and improve the quality of life Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is widely used, despite lacking evidence to confirm effectiveness in any type of chronic pain, including cancer-related pain Purpose: There are limited studies that discussed the uses of TENS. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to explore the effectiveness of TENS on cancer-related pain. Methodology: Literature review was conducted by searching in PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, CINAHL, and google science. 36 articles were found; the review utilized 9 articles despite extensive research which met the selection criteria. The articles regarding TENS is limited, thus the author extends the search for more than five years published articles, which extend between 1997-2013. Read more>>>>>>>>>>> 

The Paradox of Obesity in Graduate level Advance Practice Nurses and Nurse Educators

Obesity has become a national epidemic, which currently consumes a large segment of the United States' population; according to the CDC more than 72 million adults are obese. “In 2009, about, 4 million more adults were obese than in 2007.

Obesity Paradox

In every state, more than 15% of adults are obese and in nine states, over 30% of adults are obese”. Obesity is defined as having excess of adipose tissue (Body fat). Body fat can be calculated by using a height to weight ratio a value known as Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity can lead to numerous co-morbid conditions. Obesity reduction is a health initiative that should be a priority to health care providers and society. Obesity is now categorized as a disease. Though this classification has been delineated by the CDC many providers do not manage Obesity as a disease. Obesity and cardiovascular conditions significantly impact the quality of life of society. In Healthy People 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS] lists both cardiovascular disease and obesity as health initiatives in the population (DHHS). Read more>>>>>>>

Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries among Nurses

A needle-stick injury (NSI) is defined as “a penetrating wound with an instrument that is potentially contaminated with the body fluid of another person”. NSIsrepresent a major occupational hazard in the health care industry, with professional nurses incurring a large proportion of the total burden particularly with items that have been previously used on patients.Needle-stick and other percutaneous injuries pose the greatest risk of occupational transmission of serious blood borne infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to health care workers (HCW) and patients.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 16000 HCV, 66000 HBV and 1000 cases of HIV may have occurred worldwide in the year 2000 among health care workers through their exposure, to NSIs. In Turkey, about four million people are estimated to be carriers of chronic HBV between 0% and 2% of the blood donor population were found to be HCV antibody positive. The numbers of patients with HIV reported is relatively low, rates have been increasing steadily in recent years, whereas this number reached a total of 1325 in 2001. WHO reports that the number of sharp and needle stick injuries per person among health care staff are 4 per year in Africa, Western Mediterranean and Asia.(Read more)

The Person Centered Care in Dementia.

The model of person-centred dementia care (PCDC) offers a new paradigm of care for older people with dementia in order to increase their quality of life by customizing, respect for their autonomy and participation of the person in decisions that affect their lives. This model is consistent with the AdvancedPractices in Nursing in geriatrics. Although the biomedical model has been predominant in the care of elderly people with neurodegenerative diseases, many authors have advocated in recent years to supplement it with other perspectives that take into account the point of view of the person with dementia, what it is known as models of care focused on the person (PCC). Since the models of PCC, participation and respect for the autonomy of the person with dementia as central elements of care in order to generate well-being and satisfaction in the patient and increase the quality of care.

The PCC models involve the implementation of care practices based on those principles, which can be tricky in residential environments where elements such as standardization, organizing schedules or cost reduction limit their possibilities. Nevertheless, they have been tested numerous intervention strategies based on the principles of the PCC, among which are the use of biographical information, sessions of reminiscence and the approach of meaningful activities from the perspective of resident, customizing environments or the resident inclusion in the decision on its activities. In residents with advanced dementia, the implementation of PCC interventions able to reduce some behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as agitation or aggression, and reduces the use of neuroleptics.(Read more)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children of Kashmir and Role of Nurse.

Kashmir the paradise on earth has become a scapegoat due to sociopolitical unrest from last 2½ decades. This altercation has outrageously affected different aspects of Kashmir’s society. Undoubtedly there has been an immense damage to infrastructure; however its wallop can be felt and seen nowhere more than on the mental health of people of Kashmir. In other words, in Kashmir, mentalhealth has emerged as one of the most distressing public health concerns. The long standing controversy has caused Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among up to 90% people of the valley. And the worst part of this conflict is that it equally affected the psyche of children which are considered to be the future of every society. A Study conducted by Firdous found, that the most common horrifying events experienced by children are witnessing the killing of a close relative (49%), followed by witnessing the arrest and torture of a close relative (15%). Loss of parents, frequent dislocation and exposure to violence has led to an increase in pediatric psychopathology. 

As the children lack the cognitive capacities than that of adults and find it difficult to talk upon their traumatic experiences. They are unable to transform their internal conflicts and feelings into words, and are expressed in repetitive reduplications, interfering visual images, trauma specific fears, aggressive and regressive activities and other behavioral states. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), also called as a railway spine, nightmare, stress syndrome, shell shock, and the battle of fatigue and traumatic war that can develop after a person has sustained a traumatic event or has been subjected to or threatened with some serious physical harm. Children could be a victim of PTSD if they have lived through an event that could have caused them or someone else to be killed or badly hurt. Such events include assault, physical abuse, disasters such as floods, school shootings, car crashes, fires, a friend's suicide, violence or crimes in the area they live.(Read more)

Hierarchical Logic Models as a Tool to Evaluate Programmatic Initiatives: Practical Solutions to Identified Problems.

Program planners, evaluators and other stakeholders use logic models to clearly articulate the links between proposed program goals, resources, activities, outcomes, and impacts of their initiatives. This systemic approach to programplanning and evaluation provides a road map for the program and assistsprograms to define strategies that will lead to success. In building logic models, stakeholders must define a program theory to provide a rationale for how the activities will lead to outcomes. Involving stakeholders in the development of program logic models instills a shared understanding of the program theory. When working with a large, multi-component program, the integration of logic models can provide further clarification about the program, as a whole, as well as individual program components.

Logic models can provide a productive framework for effective planning and a depiction of the process of change of an intervention. Most often presented as sequenced diagrams or flow charts, logic models demonstrate relationships among the following components: Statement of a problem, various causal and mitigating factors related to that problem, available resources to address the problem, intervention goals and planned activities, and anticipated short and long-term outcomes. This traditional logic model framework may be augmented to include consideration of key factors that may hinder and/or enhance the well-being of the target population, or attainment of the goal set, and may affect the program at the individual, family, programmatic/ organizational or policy level.(Read more)