Biomedical subjects

Johann Michael Hackl

Publications and source records attributed to Johann Michael Hackl.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

[Routine nursing measures for thrombosis prevention in a university hospital].

A literature search on the subject of thrombosis prevention showed that there have been changes in preventive nursing measures in the last three decades. Data on preventive measures as actually employed at the different Clinics of the Innsbruck Medical University were gathered with the help of written questionnaires (completed by 192 staff nurses and 111 nursing students) with the aim of instituting improvements in such measures in actual practice. Our investigation showed that 56.9% of the participants did not know what the appropriate time was for discarding graduated elastic compression stockings for antithrombotic prophylaxis; 72.7% reported that they measured patients' legs for proper fit only seldom or not at all. 77.5% said that patients refused to wear the elastic stockings during the night. Only 22.3% reported that the compression device was worn by patients 24 hours a day. 82.5% had not participated in any continuing education programmes on thrombosis prophylaxis in the past five years. According to 42.3% of study participants, nursing measures for thrombosis prevention must be carried out jointly by physician and nurse. Based on this investigation, we have compiled a booklet of guidelines to be used for teaching nursing students and for continuing education of staff nurses, and have raised our internal standards to comply with the state of the art in thrombosis prevention. We plan to investigate antithrombotic measures currently in place in the area of intensive care. It is also planned to invite the opinion of patients on the matter of wearing compression stockings for thrombosis prophylaxis in order to gain some understanding of the reasons why patients refuse to wear them at night.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Bowel habits: non-congruent views of patients and nursing staff].

UNLABELLED: The bowel movement pattern in hospitalised patients is an important aspect of nursing and therapeutic considerations. The aim of the study was to gather and compare the views patients and nursing personnel on the subject of bowel movement habits. METHODS: The investigation was carried out by means of a questionnaire that should enable gathering data on demographic factors and bowel movement patterns (regularity, frequency, colour, form, problems, influence of external factors). Data obtained from the questionnaires completed by 122 nursing personnel and 168 patients were subject to statistical analysis. Data were analysed with the help of SPSS, and individually according to sample groups, using the Chi square test. RESULTS: Comparison (nursing personnel and patients) of the results showed significant differences between the two groups in their assessment of what was "normal" and what was "pathological" in bowel movement patterns. The two groups differed significantly in what they considered as normal bowel movement frequency namely, "several times daily", "every second day" and "twice a week". It is interesting to note that the nursing staff more often considered "irregular" bowel movements as "normal" in comparison to patients. Significant differences between the two groups were also observed in their assessment off "watery stools" and "formed stools". As far as the question of stool colour is concerned, patients more frequently than the nursing staff, looked upon "pathological" colour changes (yellow and reddish-brown to black) as being normal.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Comparison of different scoring methods for assessing the nutritional status of hospitalised patients.

OBJECTIVE: Despite intense clinical research, no commonly accepted diagnostic tool for assessment of nutritional status is yet available. In this study a comparison of four different methods for diagnosis of the nutritional status of patients admitted to a university hospital in Austria is presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data of 640 hospitalised patients were analysed in a prospective-descriptive study design. Four recommended methods, the Innsbruck nutrition score (INS), the Prideaux nutritional risk assessment (PNRA), the well established nutrition risk index (NRI), and the body mass index (BMI) were used to analyse nutritional status. RESULTS: The BMI showed 90.2% of the patients evaluated to have normal nutritional status, whereas the PNRA identified 48.9%, the NRI 40% and the INS 58.6% as well nourished. Patients were variously diagnosed with moderate malnutrition: 9% (BMI), 42% (PNRA), 54.8% (NRI) and 30% (INS). Severe malnutrition was detected in 0.5% (BMI), 9.1% (PNRA), 5.2% (NRI) and 11.4% (INS) of the patients evaluated. Cancer patients had the worst nutritional status. CONCLUSION: Malnutrition seems to be a common diagnosis among hospitalised patients in Austria. Screening and assessment of nutritional status should be integrated into clinical routine. The methods tested scored malnutrition at different frequencies. BMI seemed to underestimate the prevalence of malnutrition. The PNRA provided some information on clinical outcome, whereas the NRI had the best relationship between the degree of malnutrition and length of stay. Calculation of the INS may give correct diagnosis of severe malnutrition. Further prospective clinical studies are needed to validate the scoring systems used in this study and to provide accurate clinical diagnosis of malnutrition.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

[Physicians working part-time].

In order to ensure the best possible medical care and high-quality research, hospital medical staff must be well educated and highly motivated. Part-time work can help to provide good human resources. Moreover, part-time jobs are often necessary as a means of juggling work and family responsibilities. The aim of this study was to illustrate the legal and educational groundwork for part-time work for physicians in Austria and to outline the advantages and drawbacks of part-time work. In March 2003, all medical doctors working part-time at hospitals in the Austrian state of the Tyrol (n = 60) were surveyed by means of a written questionnaire with the aim of finding out their motives for taking a part-time job as well as the positive and negative aspects involved. The response rate was nearly 70% (n = 40). Most of the part-time hospital physicians were female. The vast majority chose part-time employment in order to better balance family and job. Problems involved in part-time work are legal issues (part-time employment does not always qualify for medical training), the comparatively low salary and the fewer career opportunities. All respondents agreed that patient care, teaching and research are not compatible on a part-time basis. Another negative aspect is the generally strong time pressure experienced in part-time jobs. Despite these negative aspects of working part-time, advantages are considered more important, especially the better balancing of job and family and the possibility of an important early professional reintegration. Better acceptance of part-time jobs would help to make part-time work more attractive. An important improvement is associated with the forthcoming changes in the laws governing part-time work and medical training.

Adult↗