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Biomedical subjects

C A Armstrong-Esther

Publications and source records attributed to C A Armstrong-Esther.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Investigation into nursing staff knowledge and attitude to dementia.

The knowledge and attitudes to the concept of dementia of nurses working within the general (N = 70) and psychiatric (N = 236) hospital settings were investigated by questionnaire. The study shows that knowledge was good regardless of type of level of training for basic facts. Nurses also report positive attitudes towards the elderly but there were significant differences when the questions became more controversial. A significant number of nursing in psychiatric units (x2 p < 0.01) favoured euthanasia for demented patients compared with their colleagues in acute general units.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The institutionalized elderly: dry to the bone!

The fluid intake of 57 elderly male and female patients, drawn from psychogeriatric, long-term care and geriatric admission units, was monitored. The fluid intake was determined by direct observation and recording of fluids consumed by each subject over three 24-hour periods. In all cases, regardless of the unit, level of dependency, cognitive or continence status, elderly patients received considerably less fluid than the recommended daily intake of 2000-2500 ml. In the case of patients who were cognitively impaired, dependent and incontinent, fluid intake was less than patients who did not have these impediments. Forty-seven nurses, working on the three units, completed a self-administered questionnaire on the fluid needs of elderly patients. Generally, nurses' knowledge was inadequate in a number of areas such as the signs and complications of dehydration and the fluid requirements of the elderly. A study of this size does not permit general conclusions to be drawn. Nonetheless, if the results are indicative of current practice, nurses do not have a good knowledge of the fluid needs of the elderly, and the low level of fluid intake constitutes a form of neglect.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

An apology.

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Alberta↗
PubMed1994

Long-term care reform in Alberta, Canada: the role of the resident classification system.

In 1988 the Alberta government, Canada, introduced a patient (now called resident) classification system (RCS) to measure the care requirements of residents in long-term care facilities and provide case-mix information so that funding could be based on resident need rather than a system of global funding. The RCS is described and issues relating to the measurement of patient/resident need are discussed, together with some suggestions as to how the tool might be used in quality assurance and outcome measurement.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1989

Attitudes and behaviours of nurses towards the elderly in an acute care setting.

The study was designed to determine the attitudes of health care workers towards the elderly in acute care settings and to investigate variations in types of interaction between staff and elderly patients. A questionnaire and Kogan's Old People Scale were used together with direct non-participant observation of nurse-patient interaction. The questionnaire was completed by 50 registered nurses, 20 nursing aides, four degree nurses and eight volunteers. Of the four groups, the volunteers showed the most favourable attitudes, the registered nurses and degree nurses were virtually tied and the nursing aides were lower in the rating. Staff who expressed a preference for working in geriatrics and rehabilitation had a high correlation on the Kogan's Old People Scale: (r(77) = 0.38, P less than 0.01) and (r(77) = 0.32, P less than 0.01) respectively. It was also found that those who rated basic care as lower in importance to patient well-being than, for example, talking to patients, were more positive than were those who rated basic care higher in importance. In the second data collection, 47 female patients (mean age = 67.4 years) and 43 male patients (mean age = 71.5 years) were observed. It was found that 74% of patients spent almost 95% of their time inactively, either in bed or sitting in a chair. Neither age nor mental alertness relates to activity level, but mental alertness was found to be related to engaging in constructive activities. During the observation periods 41% of the patients did not interact with staff.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Partnership in care.

The Alberta Child Health Passport was developed to provide parents and health professionals with a shared record of the child's health, growth, development, immunization and contacts with health services. A structured evaluation of the passport, and survey of the views of mothers and community nurses using it was carried out. The need for such a record was confirmed by those questioned. Responses also helped to identify sections of the booklet that are particularly useful and those which might be modified or removed. The passport is seen as having considerable advantages in improving the relationship between health professionals and clients.

Alberta↗
PubMed1986

The influence of elderly patients' mental impairment on nurse-patient interaction.

The study investigates nurse-patient interaction on a geriatric ward. The Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly was used to measure cognitive and behavioural functioning and the 23 subjects studied were divided into three groups: lucid; slightly confused; and confused or demented. Information relating to the subjects' activities and interactions with nursing staff was gained from time sampling by direct observation. One hundred and eighteen nurses also completed a questionnaire to elicit their priorities in care. The results reveal very low levels of staff-patient communication. Nurses interact significantly less with confused than lucid patients. Patients spent only 9.7% of observed time in self-care activities, and 5.9% eating and drinking; the remaining time they were inactive. Nursing staff, however, regarded their care priority as physical care rather than psychosocial interaction or restorative activities.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1982

Immunization.

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Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

An investigation of the immune response of patients suffering from anorexia nervosa.

Patients suffering from anorexia nervosa rarely appear to develop the common cold or influenza. This study examines the immunological response of fifteen female anorexia nervosa patients of both the vomiting and carbohydrate-abstaining type and compares them with a control population matched for age and occupation. Both anorectics and control populations received the admune influenza vaccine. Initially both groups had similar haemagglutination inhibition titres against the three different viral antigens: A/HK; A/PC; A/Eng. However, the anorectics showed over a 2-month period a higher titre of antibody especially to the Hong Kong virus: this was sigignificant. Cellular immune responses were measured using a tuberculin and a macrophage inhibition test, no significant difference between the two groups was obderved. These results which support the clinical findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗