Journal of advanced nursing
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The role of the nurse in health promotion: an evaluation of a smoking cessation programme in surgical pre-admission clinics.
This paper presents a pilot study evaluating a smoking cessation programme, implemented by a nurse, in surgical pre-admission clinics at The Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital NHS Trust, Chesterfield, England. Using a quasi-experimental design, a convenience sample of 60 subjects who smoked were randomized, 30 to a control and 30 to a treatment group. Those in the treatment group received a variety of educational interventions and self-assessment questionnaires relating to smoking cessation, when attending the clinic. ⋯ The level of satisfaction with the service and information relating to smoking cessation was also significantly higher in the treatment group. Subjects described the approach of the nurse and a leaflet devised for the study, as the most helpful aspects of the programme. The study highlights how the nurse, using appropriate theory to underpin such a programme, can facilitate smokers' intention to stop or reduce tobacco consumption prior to hospital admission, and help them to prepare for their surgery, anaesthesia, and the hospital's no smoking policy.
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This descriptive correlation study evaluated the pain intensity, pain distress and morphine consumption in patients recovering from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery in an Australian intensive care unit (ICU) and compared patients' pain intensity ratings with ratings of the nursing staff. Forty-three patients and their attending nurses rated patients' pain intensity and pain distress levels at 8-hourly intervals throughout their stay in ICU. A maximum of five assessments was obtained in the first 48 post-operative hours from patients and their nurses. ⋯ Significant differences occurred between patients' and nurses' average pain intensity scores at each time point and, except for worst pain intensity measures at the first assessment, nurses consistently underestimated patients' pain. These results indicate that patients in ICU following CABG can experience considerable pain, which is not always relieved. The application of regular systematic pain assessment and improved communication, together with the administration of adequate pain relief are necessary if nurses are to manage patients' pain effectively.