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Biomedical subjects

K Kolcaba

Publications and source records attributed to K Kolcaba.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Geropharmacology treatment: behavioral problems extend nursing responsibility.

1. Assessment of older adults with behavior problems considers factors contributing to the behavior; potential psychosocial interventions; patient characteristics influencing medication action; and medication characteristics influencing therapeutic and adverse effects. 2. Anxiety, agitation, and other behavioral problems in demented patients might arise from their inability to verbally express complaints such as pain and discomfort. 3. Although constant blood levels of medication are most effective for ongoing management of behavior problems, as needed doses can be used to establish the optimal dosing schedule. 4. Medications in low doses can be used to improve the patient's response to psychosocial interventions for behaviors such as anxiety, agitation, depression, and sleep disorders; but they should not be used as the only intervention.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measuring comfort in caregivers and patients during late end-of-life care.

The purpose of this study was to test several formats of end-of-life comfort instruments for patients and closely involved caregivers. Kolcaba's Comfort Theory was the theoretical framework utilized. Different response formats for two end-of-life (EOL) comfort questionnaires (for patients and caregivers, respectively), and horizontal and vertical visual analog scales for total comfort (TC) lines were compared in two phases. Evaluable data were collected from both members of 38 patient-caregiver dyads in each phase. Suitable dyads were recruited from two hospice agencies in northeastern Ohio. Cronbach's alpha for the EOL comfort questionnaire (six response Likert-type format) tested during phase I for patients was .98 and for caregivers was .97. Test-retest reliability for the vertical TC line tested during phase I for patients was .64 and for caregivers was .79. The implications of this study for nursing practice and research are derived from the American Nursing Association (ANA) position statement about EOL care, which states that comfort is the goal of nursing for this population. These instruments will be useful for assessing comfort in actively dying patients and comfort of their caregivers as well as for developing evidence-based practice for this population.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects of guided imagery on comfort of women with early stage breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To measure the effectiveness of customized guided imagery for increasing comfort in women with early stage breast cancer. DESIGN: Experimental longitudinal, random assignment to groups. SETTING: Two urban radiation oncology departments. SAMPLE: 53 women (26 in the experimental group, 27 in the control group) aged 37-81; 80% European and 10% African American with stage I or II breast cancer about to begin radiation therapy. METHODS: The experimental group was to listen to a guided imagery audiotape once a day for the duration of the study. The Radiation Therapy Comfort Questionnaire was self-administered at three time points: prior to the introduction of intervention and the beginning of radiation therapy (Time 1), three weeks later (Time 2), and three weeks after completing radiation therapy (Time 3). The State Anxiety Inventory was administered at Time 1 only. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: The effect of use of guided imagery on comfort with anxiety as a control variable. FINDINGS: Pooled data indicated a significant overall increase in differences in comfort between the treatment and control group, with the treatment group having higher comfort over time. The data also revealed a significant linear trend in differences between groups. No significant interaction of group and time existed. CONCLUSIONS: Guided imagery is an effective intervention for enhancing comfort of women undergoing radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer. The intervention was especially salient in the first three weeks of therapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Guided imagery audiotapes specifically designed for this population were resource effective in terms of cost, personnel, and time.

Adult↗