Research in nursing & health
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The knowledge of, attitudes toward, and perceived barriers to pharmacologic management of cancer pain were examined in a random statewide sample of nurses (N = 790), using an 82-item questionnaire. Although only 7% of the nurses reported working in oncology settings, 59% of the nurses reported having worked with patients with cancer in the last 6 months. ⋯ Nurses reported relatively liberal attitudes toward pain management, yet also reported believing that 22% of patients over report pain. Results are discussed with respect to implications for practice and education.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effects of personal control over hospital noise on sleep.
Critical Care Unit (CCU) sound levels, subjective stress due to noise, and sleep were studied in 105 female volunteers in a simulated hospital environment. Subjects were randomly assigned to instruction in personal control over noise via the availability of a sound conditioner, no instruction in personal control over noise, or quiet conditions. Subjects in the two noise conditions heard audiotape-recorded CCU nighttime sounds while attempting to sleep overnight in the laboratory. ⋯ As predicted, scores for subjective stress due to CCU sounds yielded significant relationships with 9 of 16 measures of sleep (all ps less than .01). Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that 13% (p less than .001) and close to 6% (p less than .05) of the variance in sleep efficiency was accounted for by CCU sound levels and noise-induced subjective stress, respectively. Thirty-eight percent (p less than .001) of the variance in Rapid Eye Movement sleep was accounted for by CCU sound levels.
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Comparative Study
The word-graphic rating scale as a measure of children's and adolescents' pain intensity.
A program of studies was designed to select and test a pain intensity scale for inclusion in a multidimensional pain assessment tool for children and adolescents. The focus was on determining each scale's validity, reliability, ease of use, preference, and the lack of age, gender, and ethnic biases. Five pain scales were evaluated in four separate studies: a word-graphic rating scale, a visual analogue scale, a graded-graphic rating scale, a magnitude estimation scale (0 to 10), and a color scale. ⋯ The scale demonstrated sensitivity to changes in postoperative pain intensity over time. In Study 4, convergent validity of the five scales and test-retest reliability of the word-graphic rating scale were supported. The series of four studies provides strong evidence to support use of the word-graphic rating scale to measure pain intensity in pediatric populations.
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Comparative Study
Gender differences in variables associated with psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether variables associated with psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury vary by gender. Male and female burned subjects (N = 260) were compared on their functional disability, disfigurement, coping responses, social resources, and psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury. ⋯ Less functional disability (r = .57, p less than .001) for men and greater problem-solving (r = .57, p less than .001) for women were the most important variables in explaining psychosocial adjustment to a burn injury. In the future, researchers need to be cognizant of gender differences and consider men and women as separate populations.
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Comparative Study
The derivation and validation of six Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale clusters.
The purpose of this research was twofold. First, to determine if eight Multidimensional Health Locus of Control types hypothesized by Wallston and Wallston (1982) existed. Second, to assess the reliability, validity, and clinical utility of the control types. ⋯ Furthermore, construct validity of the clusters was established through computer simulation. Finally, relationships between clusters and the Krantz Health Opinion Survey suggested the clusters have a theoretical as well as a empirical foundation. The implications of these findings for clinical practice, for the development of the health locus of control construct, and for future research on the MHLC Scale are discussed.