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Biomedical subjects

M McSweeney

Publications and source records attributed to M McSweeney.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1980

Characteristics of death education curricula in American medical schools.

To determine the content, structure, objectives, and organization of death education curricula in American medical schools, a cross-sectional survey was developed. The data, representing 100% of the population, demonstrated that such curricula expanded markedly during the past decade. The developmental stimuli for death education, sources of funding, and objectives of death education curricula were relatively consistent across respondents. Conversely, course content, faculty and patient roles, learning resources, and involvement in curriculum research did not evidence a systematic development. The results of the study suggest the need for a further investigation of the clinical implications of death education.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of patient visits to nurse practitioners and physician assistants in hospital outpatient departments.

Many authors have described differences between nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Most studies have compared physician with nonphysician providers' practice. Few studies have compared nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and none has used a national data base. This exploratory, atheoretical research examined which of the following characteristics predicted patients being seen by nurse practitioners and physician assistants: patient and hospital demographics, diagnosis, diagnostic/screening services, therapeutic services, and disposition of the visit. The data set used for analysis was the 1992 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Based on a multistage probability design yielding national estimates for patient visits in hospital outpatient settings, the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that there were 2,847 weighted patient visits to either nurse practitioners or physician assistants (4.6 million patient visits using national estimates). Results of multivariate logistic regression suggest that nurse practitioners were the most likely nonphysician provider for outpatients receiving more health promotion and counseling (therapeutic) services and for those needing women's and children's services. Outpatients in rural areas predicted visits to physician assistants. As more nonphysician providers enter the work force, the results of this research may assist with understanding the utilization of nurse practitioners and physician assistants in primary care.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effective conflict management begins with knowing your style.

The well being of patients depends on the ability of nurses to manage conflict creatively. The Bartol/McSweeney Conflict Management Scale, an assessment tool that helps nurses identify their predisposition toward conflict, is described. The tool is simple to use and suitable for nurses working in different settings.

Aggression↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health needs of school-age children in two midwestern counties.

Administrators, school nurses, and informed parents (N = 113) were queried by means of the Delphi Technique to determine priority health needs and barriers in two midwestern counties. Needs of health education and school nurses and barriers of restricted resources received top ranking by all participant groups. Descriptive measures were computed by using Kendall's tau.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preschool children of battered women identified in a community setting.

This study describes and compares health, developmental, and behavioral manifestations of witnessing domestic violence in a health department population of preschool children (n = 15) of women detected to be battered (Conflict Tactics Scale [CTS], Straus, 1979). Comparisons included a community sample of the preschool children of nonbattered women (n = 62) to study the effect of mothers being battered, and a shelter sample of the preschool children of battered women (n = 53) to study the effect of "sheltering" on children's characteristics. Instrumentation included behavioral subscales, physical assessment, Denver II Developmental Screening, hemoglobin and lead levels, immunization, and nonmotor vehicle accident histories. Results showed more similarities between children of community (nonsheltered), battered and nonbattered women, but showed more differences between the children of community (nonsheltered) battered women and the children of sheltered, battered women. Battering intensity of the women was more severe in the shelter sample according to the CTS (p < .001), and more abnormal findings in their children were detected than in the community sample. When children of community (nonsheltered), battered women (n = 15) and children of sheltered, battered women (n = 53) were included in discriminant analysis of demographic characteristics, health status, and psychosocial variables, 87% of each group was classified correctly.

Battered Women↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health-seeking behavior as an outcome of a homeless population.

Health care is an ever-present concern for homeless individuals. Health-Seeking Behaviors within this population are examined from a nursing perspective. Complex Relationship Building, considered essential in addressing Health-seeking Behaviors for the homeless, is examined in regard to access, trust, and follow-up. It is believed that access and follow-up are related to convenience of site and the matter of trust. A pilot study of how to measure the concept of trust was conducted. Factor analysis for the Gibson Trust Instrument shows two factors: (1) interpersonal attributes and (2) behavior attributes. The Gibson Trust Instrument can be used to measure trust, which is crucial for Complex Relationship Building.

Factor Analysis, Statistical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of the auscultatory method in predicting feeding tube location.

A clinical study was conducted to determine the extent to which sounds generated by air insufflations through feeding tubes could be used to predict where the tubes' ports ended in the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach or proximal small intestine), and to differentiate between gastric and respiratory placement. Sounds generated by a series of air insufflations through the tubes of 85 acutely-ill adult subjects were recorded. One hundred fifteen usable tape-recordings of sound sequences were obtained. The principal investigator later played the tapes for the research team members (who were also skilled clinicians) so that they could independently record their impressions of the sounds. (No identification of subjects or tube positions were given on the tapes; however, each site of auscultation was announced.) The results were collated and compared against the hypotheses and actual tube location (as determined by X-ray). Overall, the average percentage of correct classifications of each tape was 34.4%. Descriptive data were reported for three subjects with feeding tubes inadvertently positioned in the respiratory tract; air insufflations were clearly audible in 2 of the 3 cases. Clinicians should not rely on the auscultatory method to differentiate gastric from intestinal placement, nor gastric from respiratory placement of feeding tubes.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effectiveness of pH measurements in predicting feeding tube placement.

The extent to which pH values of aspirates from feeding tubes could be used to differentiate between (a) gastric and intestinal placement, and (b) gastric and respiratory placement were determined in a clinical study. The sample consisted of 181 adult subjects, 94 with small-bore nasogastric tubes and 87 with nasointestinal tubes. Data were collected at the time of initial tube placement and again, when possible, after one or two days of tube feedings. Using color coded pH-paper, a total of 247 readings were made concurrently with x-rays to determine feeding tube position. Findings indicated that pH readings were often effective in differentiating between gastric and intestinal placement (p less than .0001). For example, approximately 81% of the aspirates from nasogastric tubes had pH values ranging from 1 through 4, while almost 88% of the aspirates from nasointestinal tubes had pH values of 6 or greater. Only one aspirate from a tube inadvertently placed in the lung was tested; as expected it had an alkaline pH.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of feeding tube properties and three irrigants on clogging rates.

An experimental study was conducted on 3 consecutive 12-hour days to determine if selected physical properties of feeding tubes (material and diameter) affect tube clogging. Effectiveness of three irrigant fluids (cranberry juice, Coca-Cola, and water) in preventing tube clogging was studied. One hundred eight tubes were connected to gravity flow feeding bags containing isotonic enteral formula; 54 polyurethane and 54 silicone tubes were equally divided as to external diameters of 8 French (Fr), 10 Fr, and 12 Fr. At 4-hour intervals, flow regulators on the feeding bags were adjusted to a rate of 50 ml/hour. Fluid volumes delivered per minute were measured for each tube at 2-hour intervals. One set of tubes at each station was irrigated periodically with cranberry juice, Coca-Cola, or water. On each of the 3 days, analyses revealed significant, p less than .05, effects for tube material, cranberry juice contrasted with Coca-Cola and water as irrigants, and time. Polyurethane was consistently superior to silicone as a tube material, and cranberry juice was consistently inferior to both Coca-Cola and water as an irrigant. Tube diameter had no significant effect on the incidence of tube clogging.

Beverages↗