Biomedical subjects

M F Tracy

Publications and source records attributed to M F Tracy.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Music therapy in critical care: indications and guidelines for intervention.

Music therapy is an effective intervention for critically ill patients for such purposes as anxiety reduction and stress management. The therapy is readily accepted by patients and is an intervention patients thoroughly enjoy. The MAIT is one resource that nurses caring for critically ill patients can use to implement music therapy in clinical practice. Patients can be given the opportunity to select a musical tape they prefer and to negotiate with the nurse for uninterrupted music-listening periods. Allowing patients control over music selection and providing uninterrupted time for music listening gives the patients an enhanced sense of control in an environment that often controls them.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Force exertion in awkward working postures--strength capability while twisting or working overhead.

Isometric strength data have been collected for three of the awkward work situations often imposed by workplace constraints in industry, as found in jobs such as maintenance and repair. The effects of the task layout factors (location of the workpiece, reach distance and direction of force exertion) were investigated and the data has been tabulated to show the degree to which strength may be reduced in different situations. Strength measurements in the present study were found to be considerably higher than previous measurements, apparently due to differences in instructions on foot placement that were given to subjects, which indicates that even small constraints on posture within the workplace may have large effects on the ability to exert force.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Strength capability while kneeling.

Work sometimes has to be carried out kneeling, particularly where jobs are performed in confined spaces as is common for miners, aircraft baggage handlers and maintenance workers. In order to assess the risks in performing forceful tasks under such conditions, data is needed on strength capabilities of kneeling subjects. A study was undertaken to measure isometric strength in single-handed exertions for male subjects and to investigate the effects on this of task layout factors (direction of force exertion, reach distance, height of the workpiece and orientation relative to the subject's sagittal plane). The data has been tabulated to show the degree to which strength may be reduced in different situations and analysis of the task factors showed their influence to be complex with direction of exertion and reach distance having the greatest effect. The results also suggest that exertions are weaker when subjects are kneeling on two knees than when kneeling on one knee, although this needs to be confirmed by direct experimental comparison.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Peer review of nursing research proposals.

The grant review process that operationalizes peer review for the critique, scoring, approval, and selection of research grants for funding may intimidate a novice reviewer. This article describes the peer review panel and process of grant review, specifies the role and responsibilities of the reviewer in the review session, and presents considerations for the evaluation of proposals and the preparation of a written critique. A sample critique is provided.

Nursing Research↗

PubMed1994

Overcoming the obstacles to research-based clinical practice.

The utilization of research findings in the practice of critical care nursing is essential to obtain optimal patient outcomes. However, the speed and extent to which new research-based findings are applied to clinical practice falls short of expectations. The authors identify obstacles to the timely utilization of research. Strategies to overcome the obstacles to research-based clinical practice are presented.

Clinical Nursing Research↗

PubMed1989

The geometry of the muscles of the lumbar spine determined by magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a new multiplanar imaging technique that clearly demonstrates soft tissue anatomy. The lumbar spines of 26 males have been scanned. From the transverse scans, the position and cross-sectional areas of the muscles of the lumbar region were recorded. Regression analysis was performed to relate these values to trunk measurements and body weight. Sagittal scans were used to measure the angles to the vertical of the lumbar discs and of the skin overlying the spinous processes. The position of each lumbar disc relative to two skin points was measured. These parameters can then be used in biochemical calculations of low-back forces.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Developing nursing guidelines for the PTCA patient.

Developing guidelines for the care of complicated patients is not an easy task. This article describes how a group of critical care nurses produced guidelines for the nursing care of patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Guidelines are important in guiding nursing actions without the legal restrictions implicit in using standards.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗