British journal of community nursing
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Br J Community Nurs · Aug 2005
ReviewThe domino effect: obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Rising levels of obesity in the UK are leading to corresponding increases in type 2 diabetes and threaten to jeopardize recent successes in combating cardiovascular disease. This article will discuss the key role district nurses have to play in breaking this continuum. ⋯ An overview of current regimens is provided. Effective monitoring of patients response to treatment will help diabetes specialists set and prioritize appropriate treatment goals.
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Br J Community Nurs · Jun 2005
Review Case ReportsTreatment of a venous leg ulcer with a honey alginate dressing.
The management of chronic wounds such as venous ulcers is a common and long-term issue with the aging population. Non-standard treatment that is both medically and financially effective needs to be identified. Honey has been used for its healing properties for centuries and has been used to successfully heal wounds including pressure-ulcers in our care facility. ⋯ To this end, I trialed the use of a honey-impregnated alginate dressing on a man who had a long-standing history of venous ulcers on his leg with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of honey as an alternative treatment to the current wound management therapies. The honey seemed to act as an effective antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and deodorizing dressing, with total healing of the ulcer achieved. This result, together with past successes with the use of honey alginate on ulcerated wounds, has led to this product becoming mainstream in the treatment of chronic wounds within our care facility.
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The media perpetuates the stereotype of the whistleblower forced to go outside his or her organization and risk his or her career to bring wrongdoing to public awareness. In fact, NHS trusts should all have a whistleblowing policy in place which encourages people to raise genuine concerns about wrongdoing, and offer protection to those who do this. This article aims to help health workers understand the whistleblowing process and so assist them in raising concerns within their organization.
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Dementia is a growing challenge for health and social care services. Over 750,000 people are currently living with dementia, a figure predicted to rise to approximately 840,000 by 2026. Of these, over 150,000 live alone in the community. ⋯ This article discusses the clinical signs of dementia, and the screening tests that can be used to diagnose it. It also considers depression, which is often mistaken for dementia, and often occurs alongside it. Community nurses are ideally placed to identify the early signs and symptoms of dementia, and need to make the most of their position to improve support of patients and carers.