Nursing research
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The most vulnerable older adults are often referred to as the frail elderly. There is a high prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in this population, yet there is little research to guide nurses in providing effective continence care to this vulnerable group of elders. ⋯ Despite the challenges inherent in doing research with incontinent frail elders, there is an urgent need for research to guide the nursing care of this population in all healthcare settings.
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Research utilization is the use of research to guide clinical practice. However, little is known about the characteristics of the research utilization literature in nursing, including the development and organization of this field of study. This article addresses the knowledge gap in this field of study by bibliometrically analyzing the research utilization literature in nursing. ⋯ According to the analysis, tremendous growth has occurred in the field of research utilization. However, the limited amount of collaborative research and the repeated citation of a few references indicate that the field is under-developed. The research utilization field would benefit from more substantive conceptual and empirical work, and more collaboration among emerging scholars.
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Stroke patients experience functional changes resulting from muscle atrophy related to disuse, lack or limited neuronal stimulation, and undernutrition. Acute ischemic stroke is assumed to induce muscle atrophy. However, there is little information regarding muscle changes after acute stroke. ⋯ Hindlimb muscle atrophy occurs in both affected and unaffected sides after acute stroke, with Type I muscle changes more apparent than Type II changes.
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Evidence of psychometric support is needed for use of the Differentiation of Self Inventory with adolescents as a clinical assessment instrument to evaluate psychotherapeutic progress and outcomes, and for its use as a research instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions on the basis of Bowen family systems theory. ⋯ The results of this study support the use of the DSI with adolescents. Future longitudinal studies are needed for definitive causal conclusions regarding the role that differentiation of self plays as a mediator between the relation of chronic anxiety and symptom development.
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Review
Outcomes of family involvement in care intervention for caregivers of individuals with dementia.
Despite the increasing number of individuals with dementia relocated from caregiving at home to a nursing home, there is only a small body of literature examining the influence of institutional family-oriented practices on family member perceptions of care and family-staff relationships. ⋯ The results of the study indicate that the Family Involvement in Care intervention improves the caregiving experience of family members in nursing homes as well as nursing home staff attitudes toward family members. The intervention did not influence the perceived conflict with staff on the part of family caregivers or the perception of a partnership with family caregivers on the part of staff.