Nursing research
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Cooling effects and comfort of four cooling blanket temperatures in humans with fever.
Adult patients with fever (N = 89) were randomized into four blanket temperature groups: 7.2, 12.8, 18.3, and 23.9 degrees C. With their extremities protected, subjects were given acetaminophen and placed between two cooling blankets. There were no differences in the mean time (in minutes) to cool to a body temperature of 38.9 degrees C among groups. ⋯ The mean amount of afterfall for the 7.2 degrees C group (1.04 degrees C, SD = 0.50) was significantly greater than the 23.9 degrees C group (0.68 degrees C, SD = 0.47). Comfort scores significantly improved with warmer blanket temperatures. Thus, warmer blanket temperatures provided similar rates of cooling as the colder temperatures, yet were perceived to be more comfortable by the patient.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The effect of lung hyperinflation and endotracheal suctioning on cardiopulmonary hemodynamics.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sequential lung hyperinflation breaths followed by suction on mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and pulmonary airway pressure (Paw) to elucidate the mechanism for the increase in MAP seen with lung hyperinflation and suction. Thirty-four postoperative coronary artery bypass graft patients were randomly exposed to three lung hyperinflation breaths at one of five volumes (tidal volume, 12cc/kg, 14cc/kg, 16cc/kg, and 18cc/kg of lean body weight) using a ventilator followed by 10 s of suctioning repeated for a total of three times. There was a mean increase in MAP (13.71 torr), CO (12.2%), PAP (4 torr), and Paw (23.5 torr) above baseline over the three sequences. The mechanism for the increase in MAP with lung hyperinflation may be attributed to transient increases in intrathoracic pressure, resulting in increased left ventricular preload and CO.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postoperative pain.
This study examined the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on incisional pain caused by the procedure of cleaning and packing an abdominal surgical wound. Seventy-five subjects (mean age 56.9 years) were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: TENS, placebo-TENS, or no-treatment control. ⋯ Subjects who received TENS reported a significantly lower level of pain after dressing change than did those subjects who received either placebo-TENS or no-treatment. Drug administration variables did not contribute significantly to level of reported pain.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Pediatric surgical patients' and parents' stress responses and adjustment as a function of psychologic preparation and stress-point nursing care.
The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that children who receive systematic psychologic preparation and continued supportive care, in contrast to those who do not, would show less upset behavior and more cooperation in the hospital and fewer post-hospital adjustment problems and that their parents would be less anxious and more satisfied with information and care received. Eighty children scheduled for minor surgery and their parents were randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. ⋯ Significant differences between experimental and control children and parents on ratings of upset behavior, cooperation with procedures, pulse before and after painful procedures, resistance to induction, time to first voiding, posthospital adjustment, and parental anxiety and satisfaction with information and care consistently supported the hypotheses. Results were also analyzed in relation to the age and sex of the children and whether parents roomed with the children.