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Biomedical subjects

Maggi Banning

Publications and source records attributed to Maggi Banning.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The use of topical diclofenac for pain in osteoarthritis of the knee: a review.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common complaint that affects millions of people worldwide. As there is no cure for OA, drug treatment is the main form of management. This can be achieved through the use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs such as the NSAID diclofenac sodium. The chronic use of diclofenac sodium can lead to adverse gastrointestinal problems. The use of a topical formulation of diclofenac sodium aims to reduce this problem. Evidence from four randomized controlled trails of the efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac sodium as a method of pain relief for the treatment of OA of the knee is presented and discussed. Findings imply that topical diclofenac sodium is an efficacious and safe method of pain control in patients with OA of the knee.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2006

Student learning in care homes.

This article explores the use of nursing homes as practice placements for pre-registration nursing students. Although initially disappointed that they had not been allocated to acute hospital settings, students changed their views as they became more familiar with the learning environment

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Medication errors: professional issues and concerns.

In the UK, medication errors are a growing problem. Dobrzanski et al (2002) estimated that in one trust the incidence of medication error ranged between 35 to 70 per cent. Such high estimations are a cause for concern, particularly when the administration and supply of medicines, which directly involves nurses, can contribute to the cause of medication error. Part of the National Patient Safety Agency's (NPSA) role is monitoring medication errors in hospitals. Although the NPSA can provide information on drug alerts that target primary care organisations, obtaining accurate figures for medication errors is more difficult. Medication errors can be extremely harmful for older people, therefore nurses who prescribe or administer medicines should be assessed for mathematical competence, but also be aware of the potential problems that can arise from medication errors (Banning 2005).

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗
PubMed2005

Approaches to teaching: current opinions and related research.

Three approaches to teaching and learning are introduced. Each approach has its relative merits and disadvantages. Ideally, each approach should not be used in isolation. The use of facilitatory approaches to teaching and learning should be encouraged to assist the development of problem solving, decision making skills and creative and critical thinking in nurses, particularly those studying on competency-based education and training courses and programmes.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2005

Conceptions of evidence, evidence-based medicine, evidence-based practice and their use in nursing: independent nurse prescribers' views.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' conceptions of evidence and evidence-based practice, whether there are differences between evidence-based practice and evidence-based medicine and to identify the uptake of research evidence in the workplace. BACKGROUND: The use and comprehension of the term 'evidence-based practice' in relation to nursing shows remarkable variation. Numerous definitions are provided, some tend to be closely related to the concept 'evidence-based medicine'. Independent nurse prescribers need to be able to understand the concept of evidence-based practice to utilize and apply this concept in order to provide adequate medication management of their patients. METHOD: Data were generated by focus group interview and open question questionnaire and analysed by analytical abstraction. RESULTS: Nurses offered a variety of views on the use and uptake of evidence in the workplace. Some nurses acknowledged that they did not read research papers but were aware that they used a lot of evidence in their practice. Nurses had difficulty differentiating evidence-based practice from evidence-based medicine. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses were familiar with the research process but not the canons of evidenced-based practice. The data generated indicate different levels of evidence are used by nurses. This may be a reflection of the level of intrigue of the nurses involved. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The education and training of independent nurse prescribers should include the exploration of evidence from randomized controlled trials and from naturalistic studies and their contribution to evidenced-based practice and evidence-based medicine. Both concepts need to be explored in relation to the medication management of patients.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2005

Obesity: pathophysiology and treatment.

Obesity appears to be a growing trend which is independent of age. Several associations have been made with respect to its onset, but as yet these associations remain subjective. This article reviews obesity, its pathophysiology and treatment. Dietary and behavioural modification and physical exercise are the main forms of treatment for many obese individuals. Pharmacological therapy is a second option.

Appetite Depressants↗
PubMed2005

Infections and their treatment in older people.

Bacteria are robust micro-organisms that can survive even in the presence of antibiotics. This has led to problems treating bacterial infections. Bacteria are the most common cause of infection and Streptococcus pneumoniae is one such infection. This bacterium causes community-acquired pneumonia in older people and, though immunisation is available, older people continue to die from pneumococcal pneumonia. Penicillin continues to be used as the main method of treatment against Streptococcus pneumoniae but antibiotic resistance is increasing

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Enhancing older people's concordance with taking their medication.

It has been shown that older people are more likely than younger people to be prescribed a variety and number of medications (Lindley and Tulley, 1992). Older people are especially vulnerable to the effects of medication, particularly because of the possibility of medication mismanagement and non-concordance with prescribed medication regiment. People become increasingly sensitive to the actions of drugs with increasing age and, added to the problems of memory deterioration and physiological changes, medication-taking behaviour can alter quite dramatically (National Prescribing Centre, 2000). Reductions in the quantity of prescribed medication and the use of prescribing indicators aim to improve concordance with medication in older people. Patient education should be an inclusive component of patient care, not a concern before patient discharge. Education can take numerous forms, both written and verbal, and it needs to be patient-centred and specific to the medication being discussed. As healthcare professionals, nurses, pharmacists and medical colleagues should work collaboratively to reduce the frequency of medication mismanagement in older people.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Nurse prescribing, nurse education and related research in the United Kingdom: a review of the literature.

This literature review aims to explore nurse education and the impact this has had on preparing nurses to become nurse prescribers and nurse prescribing research. Research about the initial nurse prescribing education and training programme indicated that although patients were content with nurses prescribing medication, nurses lacked confidence in applied pharmacology and therapeutics and hence, required additional scientific education. With the implementation of extended nurse prescribing, it is conjectural to assume that nurses have been prepared more effectively until results from the national evaluation are available. One can suggest that pre-registration nurses should receive a comprehensive scientific foundation in applied pharmacology and therapeutics and professional knowledge in order to prepare them for post graduate education and training in medication management.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2003

Pharmacology education: a theoretical framework of applied pharmacology and therapeutics.

United Kingdom Government initiatives such as The NHS Plan (DoH 2000) identified the need for nurses to undertake multi-skilled professional roles. In the United Kingdom, the transition to a larger graduate nurse workforce continues, as Universities offer nurse pre-registration courses at diploma and degree levels. Concomitant with the change in educational standard is the need to teach student nurses the theoretical principles of medication management and to develop skills in clinical reasoning skills. Both elements are limited in current educational pre-registration nurse programmes, in order to develop the future, multi-skilled workforce such courses should incorporate the theory and skills of health assessment, physical examination, applied pharmacology and clinical reasoning. This paper aims to examine how knowledge of applied pharmacology and therapeutics can be integrated into an undergraduate pre-registration nursing programme. Discussion focuses on how this generic framework can provide educators with an outline of the theoretical constructs, their application, the teaching strategies involved and instruction on how to prepare nurses to clinically reason with regard to medication management issues. This framework can be adapted to accommodate nurses studying for all parts of the register.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Transmission and epidemiology of MRSA: current perspectives.

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that developed resistance to the penicillin derivative methicillin. Subsequently, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) emerged as a bacterium that became less susceptible to the actions of methicillin and thus developed the ability to colonize and cause life-threatening infections. Globally, MRSA continues to cause hospital-acquired infections which are becoming difficult to treat owing to increasing glycopeptide resistance and the increasing development of community-associated MRSA. Nurses caring for patients in both hospital and community settings should be able to acknowledge the importance of MRSA, the difficulties of treating the bacterium and the need to comprehend and adhere to universal precautions that are important in the prevention of transmission of MRSA.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influenza: incidence, symptoms and treatment.

Influenza is a common respiratory condition that has a history of developing into epidemics and pandemics. Individuals at risk of influenza and related complications include older people, young children and individuals with chronic renal, cardiac and respiratory diseases. Influenza can begin suddenly and is accompanied by fever, chills, aches, pains, headaches, fatigue, cough and generalized weakness that can last up to 14 days. Complications of influenza include secondary bacterial pneumonia, post-influenza encephalitis, changes in cardiac electrocardiogram and secondary bacterial infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus-induced myositis. The influenza vaccine is the main form of treatment. Suitably qualified nurse prescribers and nurses who supply and administer the vaccine under patient group directions should be sufficiently knowledgeable about the virus and how its transmission can be prevented in order to educate patients at risk of developing influenza about the role of the vaccine in the prevention of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The management of obesity: the role of the specialist nurse.

Obesity is a global problem, independent of age. The numbers of obese individuals are now reaching epidemic proportions around the world. This is contributing to the risk of inherent comorbidity. The pathophysiology of obesity, although widely debated, is still unclear with suggestions that multiple genetic mutations may have a key role in the development, but as yet no one genetic mutation is felt to be entirely responsible. Biochemical manifestations such as diabetes may play a role. The first goal of management of the obese patient will involve dietary and behavioural modification and a programme of physical exercise. In primary care settings, nurses are suitably placed to assess and manage obese patients (National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2001a). The nursing profession needs to rise to the challenge and prepare nurses for a specialist role in obesity management.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The principles of inflammation in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that involves all elements of the immune response. The aetiology of RA is complex and centres on the development of autoantibodies and immune complexes. The pathogenesis is multistage and involves cytokines, angiogenesis and rheumatoid factor. Nurses managing patients who suffer with RA need to be aware of the pathological changes involved in the disease and its contribution to the progression of the condition. The diagnosis of RA involves blood screening for rheumatoid factor, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), use of arthroscopy to provide evidence of histological changes in the synovium, presenting symptoms, and changes on X-ray. Patient assessment will consider both patient-specific and disease-specific variables, including evidence of non-articular manifestations of RA. Long-term care revolves around trying to maintain patient mobility and the protection of unaffected joints, monitoring for the side-effects from medication and progression of the disease or development of non-articular manifestations.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of omega-3-fatty acids in the prevention of cardiac events.

Cardiac disease continues to be a major cause of death in the Western world. Several preventive measures can be implemented to reduce the risk of a cardiac event. One of these measures is diet. A diet that is rich in fatty fish provides a considerable quantity of omega-3-fatty acids. These fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiac events such as arrhythmias, stroke and thrombosis. The nurse has a key health education role to play in the promotion of healthy eating in order to reduce the incidence of cardiac events in patients with existing cardiac disease.

Arachidonic Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Symptoms and treatments of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Up to 10% of women may suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The clinical symptoms may vary, so the biochemical profile and ultrasonography are used to predict an accurate diagnosis. Many studies have indicated that a relationship may exist between hyperinsulineamia and hyperandrogenism but the exact pathogenesis remains obscure. PCOS is treated by a combination of surgery or pharmacological management. Treatment is not always successful therefore women in these cases require support and care from nursing staff to help overcome the disappointment of treatment failure. To support women with PCOS, nurses need to be knowledgeable about the condition and its clinical manifestations and available treatment options. This article aims to examine the current aetiology, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment options available to women with a diagnosis of PCOS.

Clomiphene↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Respiratory syncytial virus: disease, development and treatment.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is spread by droplets and causes infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract. It is most common in infants, children under the age of five years and the elderly. Due to the nature of the transmission, infections with RSV are contagious but usually short lived. Pharmacological treatment involves the use of antiviral medication. Nurses caring for older people, infants or young children should be aware of the risk of transmission of RSV, pathogenesis and treatment options available to effectively manage the care of patients.

Aged↗