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Biomedical subjects

E Larson

Publications and source records attributed to E Larson.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Storage of human breast milk.

The bacteriologic content of expressed breast milk was studied in 30 mothers at the time of expression and after 24 and 48 hours of refrigeration. There were no significant differences in colony counts between the three time intervals. All samples contained Staphylococcus epidermidis. In addition, eight other species were found, including four which were gram-negative. All samples contained less than 10(6) colonies/ml, and there were no significant differences in mean colony counts between samples expressed at home and at the hospital. We conclude that it is bacteriologically safe to refrigerate expressed breast milk for up to 48 hours.

Adult

Kawasaki disease.

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Blood Platelet Disorders

Job satisfaction. Assumptions and complexities.

It has long been assumed that job satisfaction relates to employee turnover and quality of care. In this article the difficulties of measuring job satisfaction are discussed in light of results from a 6-month assessment by nurse employees in a university-affiliated acute care hospital. The authors found that job satisfaction scores were significantly predicted by respondents' job expectations and the importance they placed on various components of the work situation. The authors conclude that job satisfaction measurement is most valid and reliable when these two predictors are taken into account.

Attitude

Compliance with isolation technique.

We found that compliance with isolation precautions was less than optimal. It appeared that personnel were unaware of instances in which they had become contaminated. Increasing such awareness is indicated as an incentive to improve compliance. In addition, there were two areas in which education seemed to be indicated: for housekeeping staff to assure that they understood the need to contain infectious organisms within the isolation room as well as protecting themselves and for all personnel to identify the need for handwashing after removing gloves. Others have found that a careful monitoring program by an ICP can significantly reduce the overuse, but not underuse, of isolation. Such monitoring leads to considerable cost savings. We recommend that compliance with isolation technique be monitored on a periodic basis in other acute care institutions.

Cooperative Behavior

Combining nursing quality assurance and research programs.

This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of combining nursing quality assurance and research programs in clinical settings. The intended audiences and scopes of quality assurance and research differ, causing potential conflicts in combined programs. Such conflicts include the methods of disseminating findings, action taken on data obtained, analytic methods used, and issues of territoriality. However, advantages of combining these programs are great. Nursing research can be introduced into the clinical setting via quality assurance; resultant studies are more likely to be of direct clinical relevance; and results are more likely to be integrated into practice when programs are combined rather than separate. Combined programs are also cost efficient.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Or

FUO revisited.

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Collagen Diseases

Factors influencing handwashing behavior of patient care personnel.

Factors that are important in influencing individuals to wash or not wash their hands were studied in 193 health care personnel. The most important factor favoring handwashing (HW) was the prevention of spread of infection among patients; the most important factor against HW was busy-ness. Physicians reported HW significantly less frequently than did nurses (p = 0.04). Individuals who washed infrequently, less than eight times per day, placed significantly more value on detrimental effects of frequent HW on their own skin and on the HW practices of their work colleagues than did individuals who washed frequently, more than 16 times per day (p less than 0.005). Frequent and infrequent washers did not differ significantly in their values regarding the factors favoring HW. Identifying factors that are determinants of whether one decides to wash one's hands or not are important in planning intervention strategies to improve practice. It appears that more emphasis should be placed on minimizing deterrents (especially detrimental effects on skin and peer pressure) rather than on emphasizing the importance of HW.

Attitude of Health Personnel

Coexistence of cognitive impairment and depression in geriatric outpatients.

The authors diagnosed depression in 20 (23%) of 88 cognitively impaired geriatric outpatients. Three (20%) of these patients had depression only, and 17 (85%) had depression superimposed on an underlying dementia. The rate of coexisting depression decreased significantly with greater severity of the cognitive impairment: 9 (33%) of 27 mildly impaired patients were depressed, compared with 8 (23%) of 35 moderately impaired and 3 (12%) of 26 severely impaired patients. There was a nonsignificant trend for cognitively impaired women to be more likely to be depressed than for similarly impaired men. The authors conclude that although depression must be differentiated from dementia, it is equally important to consider the possibility that the diagnoses coexist.

Aged

Treatment results at a multi-specialty clinic for the impaired elderly and their families.

Geriatric and Family Services at the University of Washington provides a comprehensive evaluation and treatment program for the impaired elderly, and also offers support, counseling and practical advice for their families. Although most of the 76 patients in this first-year study had cognitive impairment, about one-fourth of them showed unequivocal motor, cognitive and/or affective improvement with treatment for previously undetected illnesses. The rating of "unequivocal improvement" required objective data, as well as corroboration by the patient and family. These therapeutic gains and the increased public interest led to expansion of the program.

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