ORL-head and neck nursing : official journal of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses最新文献

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore issues reported by caregivers of Head and Neck cancer (HNC) patients newly admitted to hospice homecare.

Methods: 26 caregivers providing hospice homecare to patients with HNC were induded. Caregiver depressive symptoms, social support and perceived health data were analyzed.

Results: The caregivers reported few depressive symptoms, good perceived social support, and good perceived health; however, there was large variation in the group with some individuals having significant problems.

Discussion: Caregivers appeared to be doing well physically, emotionally and socially, but baseline data were used, so follow-up data are needed. Further research is warranted.

Conclusions: Family caregivers also are affected by the experience of cancer and may have depressive symptoms needing assessment and management. Hospice patients with HNC have a variety of symptoms specific to their disease and treatment that need assessment and management by their family caregivers. Caregivers of HNC patients in hospice and palliative care need and deserve attention from hospice providers as they care for patients.

Objective: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is identified at a rate of 1-3 per 1,000 newborns in the United States. Timely referral to Early Intervention (EI) services is critical, as early EI referral has been shown to improve outcomes, including speech and language development, social and emotional development, and academic performance. The objective of this study was to determine the rate at which children diagnosed with SNHL at a large tertiary referral center were referred to EI, and, if so, by whom. In addition, we sought to determine the time from the diagnosis of SNHL to the completion of the referral, and what services were received.

Design: Prospective observational study

Methods: Data were collected by telephone survey and review of the electronic medical record

Results: Children with SNHL were referred to and participated in EI at a high rate. All children in this study (100%) were referred to EI. Most (92%) of the children were referred by 6 months of age, and almost all (98%) participated in EI.

Conclusion: At our institution, children with SNHL are being consistently referred to EI, meeting the goals of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program. Future outcomes research can now be designed to determine whether achieving these benchmark goals improves children's academic performance, expressive and receptive language skills, and development as compared to age-matched, normal hearing peers.

Purpose: The specific aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to gain an understanding of the challenges occurring during transitions of care between two institutions for children with critical airway conditions.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive methodology was utilized to analyze data from two focus groups conducted with nurses from two adjacent institutions.

Results: The focus groups were composed of 19 staff nurses, three case managers, one clinical nurse specialist and two nurse directors. Three themes emerged from the nurses' focus groups: Uncertainty with Diagnosis, Communication Between Healthcare Facilities and Family Members, and Parental Acceptance/Readiness to Learn.

Conclusion: Nurses are in a unique position to improve both the quality and coordination of care to these children and their family members. An effort to improve transfer of care between institutions and nurses could reduce the combined length of stay for patients and reduce avoidable readmissions. Nurses are in a key position to enhance the competence, confidence, and comfort for family members and caretakers to exercise their post-discharge responsibilities.

Implications for practice: Consistent, clear communication among health care providers and family members can improve care in this vulnerable population. These data identified need for further education of nurses.