Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Shuldham

Publications and source records attributed to C Shuldham.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Anxiety, depression and functional capacity in older women with mitral valve stenosis.

Mitral valve stenosis can lead to a range of symptoms that affect daily life. As many of the people with this problem are elderly, the difficulties resulting from age can be exacerbated by illness. A pilot descriptive study was designed to examine the differences in anxiety, depression and functional capacity in women with mitral valve stenosis who were aged over 60 years when compared to a similar group of volunteers who did not have any cardiac disease. Measurement was undertaken using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, the SF-36 Health Status questionnaire and the Functional Limitations Profile. Forty women were recruited to the study: 20 women with mitral valve stenosis and 20 volunteers. Each person was asked to complete the three questionnaires on one occasion only. Non-parametric statistics were used for analysis. Patients fared worse than volunteers with significant differences between groups in respect of anxiety (P = 0.03), depression (P = 0.02) and overall function (P < 0.001), but not in physical (P = 0.52) or mental health (P = 0.32). Future research could focus on strategies that would help alleviate anxiety and depression and improve functional capacity in older women with mitral valve stenosis.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

A review of the impact of pre-operative education on recovery from surgery.

Seminal research by Boore (Boore, J., 1978. Prescription for Recovery. RCN, London) and Hayward (Hayward, J., 1975. Information--a Prescription against Pain, RCN, London) demonstrated that pre-operative information reduces post-operative stress, pain and anxiety in general surgical patients. Both studies used experimental designs and the results are frequently cited in the UK nursing literature. However, they are now more than twenty years old and surgical practices, patterns of hospitalisation and nursing as well as patients' knowledge and expectations have changed enormously. Other more recent studies have sought to evaluate the impact of pre-operative education on post-operative recovery. This paper reviews the research published in this field since 1985. It focuses on studies in which an experimental design was used and considers the types of educational intervention employed and the impact on patient outcomes. A sequel paper will evaluate the research methods used in the light of current practice in the design and reporting of randomised controlled clinical trials.

Humans↗
PubMed1999

Pre-operative education--a review of the research design.

Trials on the effectiveness of providing people with education before surgery have suggested a beneficial effect. Although this has been demonstrated through meta-analyses, the results from individual studies have not always shown significant differences between control and experimental groups. This could be a product of the design of the studies. Hence this paper examines the research literature on pre-operative education in the light of modern standards in design and reporting of randomised controlled trials. Patient assignment, blinding of participants and researchers, follow-up procedures and statistical analyses are considered. The theoretical framework underpinning this body of research and ethical issues are discussed. Although there are a relatively large number of studies on pre-operative education the conclusion is that there is considerable room for improvement in trial design as a basis for promoting evidence based nursing.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMed1997

Case mix type as a predictor of nursing workload.

In the current health care service, the need to measure nursing workload has become the subject of major debate. Attempts have been made to relate workload and nurse staffing, however, despite there being systems for this there appears to be no single recognized formula. Case mix groups have been advocated as a useful tool for measuring nursing workload, particularly in Canada where work continues. Case mix groups work on the basis that patients who are clinically similar and use equivalent resources are grouped using procedure and diagnostic codes. The retrospective study examines the relationship between case mix, resource utilization and nursing effort to determine whether future workload could be predicted using these parameters. The sample included 798 patients and 30 nurses over the period 1993-1994 with analysis of data from the Patient Administration System (PAS) and TEAMWORK, which purports to measure nurse workload. Results showed that there was little relationship between nursing workload and case mix grouping and recommendations are made for future research.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗
PubMed1996

Introducing an integrated nursing research programme.

The move towards evidence-based medicine, the standards being set by purchasers and the greater involvement of nurses in higher education have all led to an increasing interest in research among nurses. This paper describes how one NHS trust sought to develop a clinical nursing research programme and integrate this within its overall research strategy.

Clinical Nursing Research↗
PubMed1994

An exploratory study of students' perceptions of the benefits of regular small group tutorials in a 2-year day release course.

This study was undertaken with the intention of improving the effectiveness of small group tutorials in a diploma in nursing course. There was concern to avoid some of the less valuable aspects of tutorials highlighted in the literature. An investigation was conducted to elicit students' perceptions of the benefits of group tutorials at a comparatively early stage in their 2-year course, at the end of the second term. A qualitative approach was taken to explore the views of four students through individual semi-structured interviews. Additional data were gathered through personal field notes to add the tutor's perspective of the group process. Data were analysed inductively using a phenomenological approach in an attempt to elucidate the essence of each participant's experience of the tutorials. While the findings suggested that students valued their involvement in small group tutorials, some questions were raised which point to the need for further investigation. Themes were revealed which drew attention to the value students place on the experience of small group tutorials, thus endorsing the strategies employed. Benefits to students include the opportunity to get to know a small group of people when part of a larger learning group, support when coping with the pressures of course work and being able to share ideas about issues relevant to nursing. The report concludes that there is scope for further investigation and reflection in order to develop educational practice.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

Nurse education in a specialist environment.

The curricula discussed here have been designed to promote and support the practice of registered nurses in cardiorespiratory nursing. Drawing on Benner's (1984) work, levels of practice from novice to expert have been identified and descriptors for each determined. These reflect Benner's (1984) ideas combined with Bloom's (1956) taxonomy as well as our own work in current nursing issues such as accountability and research in practice. Practice is underpinned by an academically validated theoretical programme ensuring that theory and practice are intrinsic to each course. There is a reciprocal relationship between progression in practice from novice through advanced beginner to expert and increasing intellectual enquiry and the evaluation of research. In this way a continuum of theory and practice has been recognised and an education programme from Certificate to Masters Degree level developed to promote this.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1985

Resuscitation.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Heart Arrest↗