Biomedical subjects

Leanne Monterosso

Publications and source records attributed to Leanne Monterosso.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Priorities for midwifery research in Perth, Western Australia: a Delphi study.

This paper reports a two-round Delphi study undertaken to identify the research priorities of midwives at five public maternity hospitals in Western Australia's metropolitan area of Perth. In round one, 117 midwives identified 64 different problems or issues for research. Using thematic content analysis, these problems were grouped together and then collapsed to develop 17 specific research topics within four major categories. In round two, 152 midwives were asked to rank how important each of the topic statements were to women, their families and midwives. Research focusing on 'the postnatal experience' was ranked by midwives as the most important to the care of women and their families. From a midwife's perspective, the highest ranked topic was 'examining the professional issues that impact on midwives' clinical practice' (e.g. midwifery and medical collaboration, potential litigation and horizontal violence in the workplace). The results of the study show that Western Australian midwives, like their national and international colleagues, are concerned about the delivery and organization of maternity services, the invisibility of the postnatal experience and how to operationalize evidence-based care in the clinical area.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Bereavement support for families following the death of a child from cancer: experience of bereaved parents.

This study explored the experiences and needs of nine parents who had received hospital-based bereavement support following the death of their child from cancer, in Western Australia. Six prominent themes emerged from thematic data analysis: personal grief, personal coping, concern for siblings of the deceased child, hospital bereavement support, community supports and unmet needs. Parents identified the need for more supportive contact from hospital staff during the palliative phase and following the child's death, early provision of information on how to practically and emotionally prepare for the death of their child, contact with other bereaved parents, and formal grief support for siblings. Areas for future research include exploration of parents' wish to become involved in activities to help others, bereavement support for siblings, the level of contact with the hospital unit that may be therapeutically beneficial, and parental behaviors associated with accessing both hospital and community-based bereavement supports.

Bereavement↗

PubMed2005

Speculum 'self-insertion': a pilot study.

AIM: This paper reports phase II of a pilot study that aimed to determine whether self-insertion of a speculum by women undergoing a pap smear would be more comfortable and lead to an improvement in satisfaction and a decrease in anxiety associated with this procedure. BACKGROUND: Research demonstrates that pelvic examinations are considered by most women to be unpleasant and are routinely associated with embarrassment, apprehension, fear and often some level of discomfort and/or pain. DESIGN: The study used quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Phase I (described elsewhere) tested the newly developed Speculum Self-Insertion Satisfaction Questionnaire for content validity, internal consistency and clarity. Phase II pilot study tested the technique of speculum self-insertion. Women's general level of anxiety was measured using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, both before and after they performed the self-insertion procedure. Women's satisfaction and acceptance of the procedure was measured using the Speculum Self-Insertion Satisfaction Questionnaire and explored through the use of qualitative research techniques. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 198 women attending family planning clinics in Perth, Western Australia, between September and December 2003 were invited to participate in the study. One hundred and thirty-three women agreed to self-insert their own speculum. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that speculum self-insertion was acceptable to most women, especially younger women. Nearly 91% of women either agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the experience of self-insertion and would choose to self-insert the speculum again. This included the women who had not previously had a speculum examination. The quality of specimen collected was not detrimentally affected by speculum self-insertion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot research, while needing to be replicated in a larger study, demonstrate that offering women the opportunity to self-insert a speculum during a routine pelvic examination is an acceptable, innovative, simple and cost-neutral change in clinical practice that increases women's comfort and satisfaction and potentially makes sexual health screening less threatening to women of all ages. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Speculum self-insertion may encourage women's attendance at clinics for regular screening. Early diagnosis and treatment will result in better health outcomes for women, families and the community at large.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

The role of the neonatal intensive care nurse in decision-making: advocacy, involvement in ethical decisions and communication.

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses are often faced with complex clinical and ethical problems. Little is known about the role of the NICU nurse in ethical decision-making, or processes that inform decision-making in this setting. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe nurses' perceptions of their role as patient advocate, clinical situations that cause them concern and the extent of their involvement in ethical decision-making. A combined quantitative and qualitative research design was used. A questionnaire was administered to nurses working in the NICU of the sole perinatal tertiary referral centre of Western Australia, Australia. Findings showed that NICU nurses saw their role in ethical decision-making primarily as advocating for the best interests of the infant and family, that they used clinical knowledge and experience to guide ethical decision-making, they were able to clearly articulate ethical problems and respond to them according to the clinical scenario and, while being primarily assertive in presenting their views, some nurses took a more passive approach. These findings support the need for development of a multidisciplinary model for ethical decision-making, where the view of all team members are considered.

Australia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neuromotor development and the physiologic effects of positioning in very low birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive literature review of neuromotor development and related physiologic effects of positioning in very low birth weight infants. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, CINHAL, Health Star, Current Contents, and the Australian Medical Index (1966-2000) databases were searched. Unpublished studies (e.g., dissertations, conference proceedings) and all relevant references listed in articles also were examined. STUDY SELECTION: One hundred and eighty theoretical writings, research studies, and clinical papers related to neuromotor development, the physiologic effects of positioning, and interventions to minimize or prevent short- and long-term effects of positioning in very low birth weight infants were reviewed. DATA EXTRACTION: Studies were assessed for scientific rigor, evidence of theoretical foundation, and clinical relevance. Comparisons were made across data sources to determine the most reliable, valid, and consistent findings. DATA SYNTHESIS: Three compelling results emerged: (a) The development of posture and mobility in newborn infants requires an optimal balance between active and passive muscle tone, (b) the prone position is physiologically more beneficial for the preterm infant than supine and lateral positions, and (c) the prone position can lead to short- and long-term postural and associated developmental problems. CONCLUSION: Use of empirically tested postural interventions appropriate for an infant's gestational age, health status, and overall organizational capacity is recommended.

Child Development↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Protective isolation in hemopoietic stem cell transplants: a review of the literature and single institution experience.

Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Western Australia, is a pediatric bone marrow transplant center. This center has both laminar flow and HEPA- (high-efficiency particulate air-)filtered rooms for children undergoing allogeneic and autologous transplantation. HEPA-filtered rooms on negative pressure are used to nurse oncology children with infectious diseases. Over the winter months of 2001, there was an increased demand for single rooms for children with infectious diseases. Over the same period, a number of transplants were planned. Consequently, to guide practice decisions, a review of the literature and a survey of nursing practice in Australian and North American pediatric oncology units were undertaken. Findings showed that protective isolation measures such as positive-pressure single rooms, low microbial diets, and strict hand washing should be used only for children requiring allogeneic transplants. Use of other isolation measures were found to be of no added value for transplantation. As autologous transplants are increasingly performed in outpatient clinics, these children should not require the same level of protective isolation.

Child↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Content validity and reliability testing of the FIN-PED II: A tool to measure care needs of parents of children with cancer.

This study tested the reliability and validity of the refined Family Inventory of Needs-Pediatrics (FIN-PED), the FIN-PED II, a 17-item instrument structured to measure care needs of parents of children with cancer. The instrument comprises three rating scales. The first rating scale measures the importance-of-care needs, the second measures the extent to which needs are met, and the third measures the need for further information. The revised instrument was first pilot tested with an expert panel of three mothers and three fathers of children with cancer who rated the tool for clarity, apparent internal consistency, and content validity. All items met preset criteria for these assessments. The instrument was then mailed to 85 parents of Australian children with cancer and tested for internal consistency reliability and test-retest reliability. Thirty-four parents returned the instrument. All three rating scales achieved high estimates of internal consistency. Evidence of the instrument's stability over time was also achieved. This study provided support for the reliability and content validity of the FIN-PED II.

Adolescent↗