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Biomedical subjects

O Barr

Publications and source records attributed to O Barr.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Police attitudes toward people with intellectual disability: an evaluation of awareness training.

It is argued that more favourable police attitudes to people with intellectual disability (ID) are essential in meeting the police code of ethics, which stresses impartiality and respect for human dignity. The need to acknowledge and investigate the extent of support for eugenic attitudes in other key professionals who have a significant role in the successful inclusion of people with ID in community settings is discussed. The present paper reports on the evaluation of an awareness training event conducted by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in terms of the impact on attitudes towards people with ID held by police officers. The quasi-experimental design involved the measurement of participants' attitudes prior to and following awareness training, and the comparison of these data with a control group of participants who did not undertake awareness exercises. The Attitudes toward Mental Retardation and Eugenics (AMRE) scale was the instrument used to measure attitudes. Analysis identified the presence of varying degrees of support for the application of eugenic principles to people with ID. Furthermore, the results indicate that participation in the awareness exercise and subsequent discussions is associated with a significant reduction in support for eugenic-based attitudes towards people with ID by the police officers involved. Investment in training events which target attitudes towards people with ID can bring about a shift in reported attitudes. The importance of evaluating such awareness-raising exercises and their impact on police behaviour is highlighted.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Research utilization and attitudes towards research among learning disability nurses in Northern Ireland.

Research utilization and attitudes towards research among learning disability nurses in Northern Ireland The current emphasis on evidence-based practice has focused attention once again on the research activities of health professionals in general and their research utilization in particular. While there has been a limited number of studies on research utilization in the United Kingdom, these have tended to concentrate on general nurses and midwives. Little is known about the research activities, research utilization and the attitudes to research of learning disability nurses. This paper reports on data from a survey of a convenience sample of 87 nurses from three learning disability hospitals in Northern Ireland. The results show that while these nurses generally held positive attitudes to research, a substantial minority (18.3%) believed that 'research is not relevant to the day to day work in nursing'. Only a quarter of the sample reported using research 'frequently/all the time' in their practice. The extent of research utilization among these disability nurses must be considerably improved if evidence-based practice is to become a reality in their field of nursing.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1999

Health screening for people with learning disabilities by a community learning disability nursing service in Northern Ireland.

Over the last 30 years there has been a considerable increase in the life expectancy of people with learning disabilities. This has resulted in changing patterns of morbidity and mortality and an increasing recognition of the health needs of people with learning disabilities. Major strides forward have been made in the reduction of preventable illnesses among the general population. However, among people with learning disabilities such illnesses have received only limited health promotion attention until recently. In the last decade major gaps have been identified in the ability of current primary health services to respond to the needs of people with learning disabilities. The need to respond effectively to this situation has been identified as a priority by the current United Kingdom Government. Following an overview of the literature in relation to the changing health profile of people with learning disabilities and the need for health screening, consideration is given to some of the key difficulties which may be encountered when attempting to utilize current primary health services. The analysis of data derived from the health screening of 373 people with learning disabilities by a community nursing service in Down and Lisburn Health and Social Services Trust reveals the need for further action in relation to cardiovascular status, sensory deficits, mobility and aspects of sexual health.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

The development of the generalist nurse within pre-registration nurse education in the UK: some points for consideration.

A major difference between pre-registration nurse education in the UK as distinct from most other European countries is the existence of discrete branches of nursing. The package of four specialty areas of adult nursing, children's nursing, learning disability, and mental health nursing do not exist at pre-registration level in the majority of other European countries. The Republic of Ireland offers pre-registration education in general, mental health and learning disability nursing, and not children's nursing. Intergovernmental support was given to the idea of a generalist nurse in 1988. Such a change in nurse education in the UK would have major implications for patients, nurses and the nursing profession, and requires careful consideration by all nurses in education and practice. This paper presents some of the key arguments for and against the adoption of a generalist approach to pre-registration nurse education in the UK.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Community mental handicap nursing services in Northern Ireland: a profile of clients and selected working practices.

The aim of this survey of community mental handicap nursing in Northern Ireland (NI) was, among other things, to construct a profile of clients of the service as well as to describe selected working practices. A 25-item questionnaire was developed and administered to all 50 community nurses working with people with learning disabilities in NI. The number of responses was 36, giving a rate of 72%. Fifty-six percent of the clients were female. Young to middle-aged adults made up the largest portion of the caseload. Over 80% of the clients had no history of hospital admission. Caseload size also differed according to the years of service, gender and grade of the nurses. The main reason for visiting clients as reported by respondents was to give physical care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

The challenge for learning disability nurses.

The need for nurses specifically educated to work with people with learning disabilities has been questioned. RNMH skills allow qualified nurses to give holistic care to their clients. To gain recognition as providing a necessary service, RNMHs must become more active in promoting their work and its outcomes.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1994

Job satisfaction of community nurses working with people with a mental handicap.

There is a dearth of studies on the job satisfaction of community nurses, especially those working with people with a mental handicap, in the United Kingdom. This paper reports on some of the data gathered as part of a survey of community nurses (mental handicap) (CNMH) in Northern Ireland in 1992. A 25-item questionnaire was sent to all 50 CNMH. The response rate was 72%. The results showed that most of these CNMH rated their level of satisfaction as high or very high. Additionally, they identified a number of factors which contributed to their job satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction. These findings have implications for theory building, methodology and nursing practice.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Reap the benefits of a cooperative approach. Understanding interdisciplinary teamwork.

1. For a variety of people, teamwork is effective for nursing interaction. 2. Teamwork can benefit patients and staff if careful planning of team policies is undertaken. 3. Teamwork requires agreed values, aims and objectives together with commitment of members. 4. Lack of commitment to teamwork reduces quality care, is wasteful of resources and contradicts the UKCC Code of Professional Conduct.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Normalisation: what it means in practice.

Much of the development in the area of learning disabilities has been the result of normalisation. However, the term lacks definition. This article will explore the available definitions and outline some key components to be considered when incorporating normalisation into service provision.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Preventing complications in people who wear contact lenses.

The number of contact lens wearers has steadily increased over the past 10 years. Convenience, efficiency and availability of different types of lenses have made them popular. The rise in the use of contact lenses has increased the number of people at risk of contact lens-related complications. Studies have highlighted the consequences of poor contact lens care. Acanthamoeba keratitis is one of the most devastating complications of contact lens wear and can be avoided by adhering to the recommended contact lens regimen. This article reviews the literature on the complications of contact lens wear and stresses the need to educate the wearer. It examines the nurse's role in relation to health promotion and the basic principles for successful long-term contact lens wear. This information is relevant to all nurses caring for people with contact lenses and will be of particular interest to the nurse who wears contact lenses.

Contact Lenses↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interdisciplinary teamwork: consideration of the challenges.

Most services currently provided by the NHS involve a considerable amount of interdisciplinary team working. The effectiveness of team structures and team functioning is variable, ranging from effective to fragmented service coordination. Despite major developments in establishing productive multidisciplinary team working over the past decade, several key challenges still need to be overcome. This article outlines a definition of and the rationale for successful interdisciplinary teamwork. It considers key organizational, professional and interpersonal challenges that need to be addressed if the present level of teamwork is to be enhanced.

Communication↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Learning disabilities. Community homes: institutions in waiting?

This article explores the assumption that community care is better than care in an institution for people with learning disabilities. Parallels are also drawn with community provision of residential and nursing home accommodation for people who are elderly, those who have a physical handicap, and people with a mental illness. While community care is recognised as a valuable option, the authors argue that it must be correctly implemented, and identify the need to move further forward.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A profile of learning disability nurses.

Profiling exercises provide vital data for effective and efficient deployment of resources and for monitoring the development of services. A survey, focusing solely on community nurses for people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland, was carried out in 1992. The findings showed, among other things, a higher caseload per nurse than the UK average. While more than half the workforce had multiple qualifications there was a lack of clinical specialist training.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Continence promotion in adults with learning disabilities.

Helping to reduce rates of incontinence among people with severe learning disabilities can have profound effects on their self-esteem and on unit running costs. This paper describes a hospital-based continence promotion programme for people with severe learning disabilities using a behavioural approach.

Fecal Incontinence↗