A case control design was used to examine quality of life and self-care management strategies in persons living with AIDS (PLWAs) with chronic diarrhea. PLWAs without chronic diarrhea (n = 20) as compared to those with chronic diarrhea (n = 20) reported significantly higher general health perceptions (p = .028). In contrast, comparisons on symptom status scores revealed that PLWAs without chronic diarrhea reported greater fatigue (p = .05), greater psychological distress (p = .005), and greater gastrointestinal discomfort (p = .01). Although the intensity of chronic diarrhea was reported as moderate to severe by 85% of the sample, no single category of self-care management strategies was used by more than 65% of respondents. The number of categories of self-care management activities was significantly correlated with general health perceptions. The study findings support the need to test nursing interventions aimed at improving symptom management in chronic diarrhea and facilitating self-care behaviors including those focused on increasing adherence to prescribed therapeutic regimens.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of alterations in prosthetic shank mass on the metabolic costs of ambulation in above-knee amputees.

The metabolic costs of above-knee amputee ambulation are significantly greater than normal. The role of prosthetic mass and mass distribution on the metabolic costs of walking has received limited study. The metabolic costs of eight unilateral traumatic above-knee amputees were therefore studied under varying mass conditions. All of the subjects were active young amputees with a common prosthetic prescription, which included a total contact ischial containment, suction suspension socket with a graphlite knee assembly and a hydraulic unit, with a Seattle Light Foot (Model and Instrument Development, Seattle, WA). Expired gases were collected during over-ground ambulation at their self-selected walking speed and at three control speeds (.6, 1.0 and 1.5 m/s). The expired volumes and gas concentrations were measured, and the metabolic cost (ml/kg/m) at each ambulation speed was calculated. Data were collected on two further sessions with the addition of 0.68 and 1.34 kg to the center of mass of the shank, after a 1 wk acclimatization period. Results show that in the unweighted condition, the self-selected walking speed had the lowest metabolic energy expenditure and that the addition of weight to the shank did not significantly alter the metabolic costs of ambulation at any of the speeds studied. The common request for lighter weight prostheses does not appear to be based on the metabolic costs of ambulation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Nutritional concerns of the home care patient.

With practice and application, the home care nurse will be able to understand the causes and effects of nutritional compromise, recognize nutritional deficiencies, and help the patient reverse nutrition-related problems that may be impacting on his/her life.

Community Health Nursing↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of photon dose fraction in a neutron radiotherapy beam.

Photon dose fractions (PDFs) have been measured in and around a neutron radiotherapy beam with a tissue-equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) and with paired ion chambers. The PDFs were found to increase linearly with increasing field size and width depth in phantom. PDFs were shown to decrease with decreasing phantom size and to be larger in the shielded region of the phantom than in the direct beam. Uncertainties in the PDF values were estimated to be 10%-15% for the TEPC measurements but about 50% for the measurement made with ion chambers.

Elementary Particles↗

PubMedDate not supplied