International journal of nursing practice
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
A novel approach to fit testing the N95 respirator in real time in a clinical setting.
The instant measurements provided by the Portacount fit-test instrument have been used as the gold standard in predicting the protection of an N95 respirator in a laboratory environment. The conventional Portacount fit-test method, however, cannot deliver real-time measurements of face-seal leakage when the N95 respirator is in use in clinical settings. This research was divided into two stages. ⋯ Results of Stage 2 showed that the new PRST method could detect different concentrations and different particle sizes inside the respirator while the wearer performed different nursing activities. This new fit-test method, PRST, can detect face seal leakage of an N95 respirator being worn while the wearer performs clinical activities. Thus, PRST can help ensure that the N95 respirator actually fulfils its function of protecting health-care workers from airborne pathogens.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of systematic relaxation techniques on anxiety and pain in older patients undergoing abdominal surgery.
Inadequate pain control in older patients who have undergone abdominal surgery can lead to many complications. This study investigates the effect of systematic relaxation techniques on pain and anxiety in older patients undergoing abdominal surgery. One hundred twenty-four patients were randomly assigned into the experimental and control groups. ⋯ Patients' satisfaction with pain and anxiety relief was recorded, as was their use of opioid analgesia. Statistically significant differences in pain and anxiety, and in analgesic use, were reported between the patients in experimental and control groups after the intervention. These relaxation techniques can be incorporated into the care plan to reduce pain and anxiety after surgery as well as offering a measure for increasing the patients' independence in pain management control.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of reflexology applied on haemodialysis patients with fatigue, pain and cramps.
The research was conducted to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology on fatigue, pain and cramps in haemodialysis patients. The sample consisted of 80 patients in total, 40 intervention and 40 control patients, receiving treatment in the haemodialysis units of two institutions. Data were collected by using a questionnaire, Piper Fatigue Scale and visual analogue scale for measuring the severity of cramp and pain. ⋯ Parametric and non-parametric tests were used in data analysis. It was determined that reflexology reduced the fatigue subscale scores and total scale scores as well as pain and cramp mean scores in the intervention group. The research results revealed that the severity of fatigue, pain and cramp decreased in patients receiving reflexology.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Distracting children during blood draw: looking through distraction cards is effective in pain relief of children during blood draw.
This study aims to investigate the effects of distraction method by way of looking through distraction cards/Flippits® to reduce procedural pain and anxiety during blood draw. In this method we distract attention of the children with distraction cards/Flippits®. Flippits® consist of various eye-catching pictures and shapes. ⋯ Results show that pre-procedural anxiety did not differ significantly. However, the experimental group had significantly lower pain levels than the control group during the blood draw procedure. Also experimental group had significantly lower anxiety levels than the control group.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Comparison of the FemoStop device and manual pressure in reducing groin puncture site complications following coronary angioplasty and coronary stent placement.
This study compared two techniques, the FemoStop device (RADI Medical Systems, Uppsala, Sweden) and manual pressure, currently used by nurses to achieve haemostasis at the groin puncture site following removal of femoral arterial sheaths in patients following coronary angioplasty and coronary stent placement. Participants were randomly allocated the FemoStop device or manual pressure. Participants' groins were observed for evidence of complications including haemorrhage, haematoma formation and pseudoaneurysm following removal of the femoral arterial sheath and the following day. ⋯ There was not any significant difference between the two groups in reported pain during removal of the femoral arterial sheath; however, there was a significant distinction in the amount of time taken to achieve haemostasis. The results showed that haemostasis was achieved more quickly in those participants in the manual pressure group than those in the FemoStop group. The results of this research study indicate that although manual pressure achieved haemostasis more quickly than the FemoStop device, both methods are as effective in reducing groin complications in patients following removal of the femoral arterial sheath following coronary angioplasty and stent placement.