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Biomedical subjects

A Smith

Publications and source records attributed to A Smith.

At least 1,513 records · Page 84Linked to original sources
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Reflective practice: a meaningful task for students.

AIMS: To ascertain whether students found reflection to be a meaningful activity, whether there are perceived benefits associated with reflective practice and whether it is a valid process on which to assess the outcomes of a course relating to the competencies of specialist practice. METHOD: The attitudes of students attending a one-year degree course were examined using a focus group interview and a web discussion board. The evaluation of the focus group interviews and web-based discussion postings are discussed. FINDINGS: Reflective writing is considered a key component of portfolio assessment because it provides evidence of skills development and increasing clinical competence. There was no consensus on whether or not reflection is a meaningful activity. The students' learning style is pertinent to their perception of the usefulness of reflection. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated the scepticism with which some students approached the task, but they also identified that reflection had a positive impact on the practice of students more able to embrace the process in a meaningful way. There is scope to extend this work to examine the use of reflection in developing the growing body of practice knowledge that underpins nursing.

Creativity↗
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A latex allergy.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗
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Diabetes education project: community networking in rural Utah.

People in rural areas often lack the financial resources, workforce, and professional network needed to sustain a diabetes education pro gram in their own community. HealthInsight, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of health care in its community, developed a 2-day seminar in an effort to facilitate the networking of rural health professionals who educate patients with diabetes and to help those educators better learn how to use existing resources. Participants included nurses, dietitians, diabetes educators, quality managers, and education directors from hospitals and home health agencies in both rural and metropolitan areas. Speakers presented information on a variety of topics related to program development, and a resource manual containing numerous materials was given to each participant. At the end of the seminar, the group turned in goals for their own programs. Too often, providers of health care compete rather than collaborate with one another. There is a great need for such networking opportunities among health care professionals working on common goals--especially in rural areas.

Community Networks↗
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[Analysis of the genetic factors controlling malarial infection in man].

Genetic factors have clearly been shown to play a role in controlling malarial infection in animal models. There is now also increasing evidence for the genetic control of malaria in man. We carried out a segregation analysis based on blood parasite load phenotype for a population of the town of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina-Faso). This analysis demonstrated a strong genetic effect. Our results were not consistent with the segregation of a major gene and thus suggest that parasite load is under the control of minor genes. The genetic effect was stronger in children than in adults. We carried out a regression analysis in children and found that there was an association between the phenotype for blood parasite load and the q31-33 region of chromosome 5. We identified a gene in this region, Pfil1 (Plasmodium falciparum infection levels 1), which accounted for almost 50% of the variance in blood parasite load and which played a fundamental role in the control of infection. The 5q31-33 region contains several genes encoding cytokines that regulate T lymphocytes. The identification of genes controlling malarial infection opens up new possibilities for preventive and treatment strategies. It should be possible in the near future to identify individuals at risk of malaria, who would derive the greatest benefit from preventive and therapeutic measures. Finally, a deeper understanding of these genes controlling protective immune responses could be of value for the development of vaccines.

Adolescent↗
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An evaluation of international nursing education using interactive desktop video conferencing.

Evolving computer technology has opened the door to unique and previously unavailable educational experiences. The use of one form of distance learning enabled undergraduate nursing students in the United States and England to participate in a short course on women's health issues. The nursing faculty at two universities, one in the United States and the other in England, collaborated on an international nursing education project. The delivery device was interactive desktop video conferencing (DTV). The focus of this article is on the evaluation of the project with recommendations about how best to use DTV in international nursing education.

Education, Distance↗
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Childhood asthma and dental erosion.

The aim of this investigation was first to assess the prevalence of asthma in a random sample of fourteen-year-old children in Birmingham UK. Secondly to assess the levels of dental erosion in these children, and thirdly to see whether there was any correlation between children with asthma and the levels of dental erosion. A random sample of 418 children from twelve secondary schools was examined, 209 were male and 209 female. The level of tooth wear was recorded using a modification of the Tooth Wear Index of Smith and Knight. The prevalence of asthma in this group was 15.8 percent (66 children out of 418); the levels of dental erosion in children with asthma were higher.

Adolescent↗
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Legionnaires' disease in Ireland--a cause for concern?

Legionnaires' disease is a multi-system illness that can have widespread clinical symptoms, though the principle manifestation is pneumonia. A review of all legionnaires' disease case notifications in Ireland in the 4 year period 1998-2001 was undertaken to assess the degree of concern health authorities here should have in relation to this disease. There were 17 cases of legionnaires' disease (all were legionella pneumophila serogroup 1) notified to the National Disease Surveillance Centre in the period 1998-2001. Nine cases were travel-associated cases with the majority of cases occurring during the summer months. There were 2 deaths. It would appear that legionnaires' disease is rare in Ireland but when compared with other European countries Ireland is conspicuous by its low rate. This would suggest that a major degree of under diagnosis and under reporting of legionnaires' disease currently exists in Ireland.

Adult↗
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The concept of noise sensitivity: implications for noise control.

The term "noise sensitivity" is frequently used in many areas of noise research. However, it can be used to describe several different effects and it can be measured in different ways. In noise surveys, noise sensitivity refers to the fact that individuals differ in the annoyance produced by different sources of noise. Noise sensitivity can be viewed as an independent variable, which may be directly related to outcomes such as health status, or it can be conceptualized as a factor that modifies or mediates the effects of noise exposure on the outcome measure. Noise sensitivity is highly correlated with the general trait negative affectivity, a measure of the extent to which individuals perceive or report negative features of their environment or self. Indeed, few studies have demonstrated effects of noise sensitivity that are independent of negative affectivity. This implies that it is most appropriate to examine general indicators of reported sensitivity rather than a noise-specific measure. Noise sensitivity can also be considered in terms of physiological reactivity to noise sources. Such effects are often only weakly associated with self-reports of noise sensitivity. Habituation to noise is also an important topic to consider and again this appears to be largely independent of self-reported noise sensitivity. Overall, it would appear that it is important to distinguish between subjective reports of noise sensitivity and objective indicators. Different factors will modify these two aspects of noise sensitivity and this implies that different strategies are needed to influence them. Such effects must be taken into consideration when one considers whether control should be targeted at the community in general, or whether it should also cover the most sensitive individuals.

Auditory Threshold↗
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[Histological structure of the testes in andropause].

A structure of the convoluted tubuli, spermatogenesis and number of Leydig's cells in the andropause have been analysed in dependence on the degree of symptoms intensity. A control group included otherwise healthy men with ++post-inflammatory azoospermia. A percentage of the convoluted tubuli with normal tissue (p < .002) and spermatogenesis (p < .001) has been significantly decreased in andropause. The number of Leydig's cells has not differed in andropause and in a control group (p < .05). No difference of significance have been noted in the structure of convoluted tubuli, spermatogenesis, and Leydig's cells number depending on the intensity of symptoms. FSH and LH levels have been significantly increased in andropause (p < .001). No relationship between FSH and LH levels and percentage of the abnormal convoluted tubuli has been observed. However there have been a relationship between FSH and LH levels and the number of abnormal convoluted tubuli with spermatogenesis inhibition and intensified clinical symptoms. There has also been a relationship between FSH and LH levels and Leydig's cells number in patients with marked symptoms of andropause.

Aged↗
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Acute sternal opening after cardiac surgery in children: effect on plasma atrial natriuretic peptide.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) was measured immediately before and 15 minutes after re-opening of the sternotomy and delayed sternal closure were performed to alleviate possible myocardial compression in 3 children. As acute re-opening of the sternotomy is a rare occurrence our sample size was necessarily small. ANP increased following the procedure in all 3 patients, and this was significant (p less than 0.02) when compared to plasma levels obtained from 9 children who underwent sternotomy prior to elective cardiac surgery. Following acute re-opening of the sternotomy there was an increase in median urine output and a decrease in median central venous pressure. Our results illustrate that it is atrial wall stress rather than intra-atrial pressure that determines release of ANP, and in addition suggest ANP may be a factor in the rapid clinical improvement following delayed sternal closure for atypical tamponade in children.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗
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In search of destiny.

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Depressive Disorder↗