Archive for November, 2007
Technology into practice: young people’s, parents’ and nurses’ perceptions of wisecare+.
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Technology into practice: young people’s, parents’ and nurses’ perceptions of WISECARE+.
Paediatr Nurs. 2007 Dec;19(10):31-4
Authors: Gibson F, Miller M, Kearney N
Technology is a central aspect of young people’s lives, with the internet and mobile phone technology providing the preferred means of communication. This pilot explored perceptions and experiences of young people, parents and healthcare professionals on the role of technology in monitoring and managing chemotherapy-related toxicity. AIM: To introduce the WISECARE+ process for recording and communicating symptoms following chemotherapy to a teenage patient population and evaluate its usefulness with patients, parents and nursing staff. METHOD: A convenience sample of 11 young people (aged 13 to 20 years) with a haematological or solid tumour undergoing primary treatment, were recruited from two UK regional paediatric oncology centres. The young people completed a daily symptom questionnaire for 14 consecutive days following a course of chemotherapy. They evaluated the presence or absence of symptoms of nausea, vomiting, fatigue and oral problems, their severity and how much the symptom bothered them. Perception questionnaires were completed by the 11 young people, four parents and eight nurses at the end of the 14 days. RESULTS: Young people and parents found the symptom questionnaire simple to understand, easy to complete and they liked the paper format. The nurses’ confidence with IT varied but all felt that it could be useful in their clinical practice. CONCLUSION: These young people appeared to gain from their participation in the project, especially in relation to completing the questionnaire as they were able to see a change in symptoms over time that was encouraging, particularly in situations where the young person had been quite ill. This work is continuing with formats such as a handheld computer or mobile phone being considered to collect symptom information. Additional factors such as reading levels and dyslexia are also being considered.
PMID: 18196857 [PubMed - in process]
(Source: Paediatric Nursing)
Original post by Paediatric Nursing
No commentsA New CDC Study Finds No Real Increase In Obesity Among Adults; But Levels Still High
After a quarter century of increases, obesity prevalence has not measurably increased in the past few years but levels are still high – at 34 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 and over, according to a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report, “Obesity Among Adults in the U.S. [click link for full article]
Original post by Diabetes Notes
No commentsAMA Urges Immediate FDA Action To Reduce Excess Salt In Food
In an effort to reduce the burden of heart disease and stroke, the American Medical Association (AMA) today testified to the Food and Drug Administration urging immediate action to reduce excess salt in food. The AMA asked the FDA to set strict limits on salt in processed foods and work to better educate the public on the benefits of a low-sodium diet. [click link for full article]
Original post by Diabetes Notes
No commentsInsured U.S. Residents Face Medical Debt As Insurance Plan Caps Are Slow To Rise, Hospitals Pad Bills With Inflated Charges
The Wall Street Journal on Thursday examined how the “number of Americans burdened with massive medical bills has soared” and how hospital bills that exceed $1 million, “while still unusual, are becoming more common as insurance policies once thought to provide catastrophic coverage prove inadequate when it comes to high-cost illnesses.” According to a recent survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, 34% of U.S. [click link for full article]
Original post by Diabetes Notes
No commentsSenator Criticizes Limits On Sales Of Genentech’s Avastin
Genentech’s plan to limit the availability of cancer drug Avastin, which would require physicians to use a more expensive version of the drug called Lucentis to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, will cost taxpayers $1 billion to $3 billion annually, according to Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), [click link for full article]
Original post by Diabetes Notes
No commentsDemocratic Presidential Candidates Respond To Questions About Needle-Exchange Programs, Sex Education
Most Democratic presidential candidates would support lifting a ban on federal funding for needle-exchange programs and replacing abstinence-only sex education with comprehensive HIV prevention programs if elected, according to a survey released Wednesday ahead of World AIDS Day, the [click link for full article]
Original post by Diabetes Notes
No commentsCMS Lists Poorest-Quality Nursing Homes On Web Site In Effort To Encourage Improvements
CMS on Thursday released a list naming 54 nursing homes in the U.S. that continually fail to meet safety and quality-of-care standards in their states, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The facilities are located in 33 states and the District of Columbia. [click link for full article]
Original post by orsa aetas
No commentsFDA To Consider Salt Regulation In Food
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held its first public hearing on limiting the amount of salt in processed food, yesterday, 29th November, at agency premises in College Park, Maryland. [click link for full article]
Original post by orsa aetas
No commentsWhile darkness fell
Ran at the park after work yesterday. The days are squeezing down to nothing. 6.6 miles later, it was dark and I got in my car, started the engine to get the heater going, tested my blood sugar, injected, and ate a yogurt. 21 more days and the daylight will begin expanding again. We’ll get [...] (Source: The Completely Inconsequential Flux Capacitor)
Original post by The Completely Inconsequential Flux Capacitor
No commentsOlder People Up To £50,000 Out Of Pocket, UK
New research from the London School of Economics, for the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership’s winter deaths campaign, reveals individual pensioners could be losing up to £50,000 in benefits over a lifetime by not claiming their entitlements (1). These benefits currently sit in the Government’s pot of £4. [click link for full article]
Original post by orsa aetas
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