Within the ambulance care in Uppsala County a vacuum splint is used to immobilize fractures on extremities. The research available on which method of immobilizing to prefer during pre-hospital treatment is limited.   The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the perceptions of the ambulance personal in Uppsala County on the issue of usability of SAM-splint and vacuum splint when immobilizing extremities. The project was also aimed at researching if SAM-splint could be seen as an alternative or a complement to vacuum splint, and to get an apprehension on any evident differences in patients’ perceived pain when treated with the two different approaches.   A descriptive comparative study was carried out. All patients, regardless of age and sex, with the need of immobilizing supposed fractures, were included.  Patients with suspected femur fracture, collum fracture, or where pre-hospital care was not possible or in question, was excluded. The collection of data was done using a questionnaire designed by the students responsible for the project. The ambulance personal completed the questionnaire after having concluded the treatment.   The result showed that all patients with fractures to their extremities were immobilized. There were no evident differences in how the personal experienced the application of the two methods of immobilizing, but rather they were generally both perceived as easy to use. In Uppsala, where the paramedics had access to both SAM-splint and vacuum splint, the SAM-splint was the predominant choice.   Based on this pilot study it can be established that the ambulance personal experienced the methods for immobilizing as easy in the event of fractures to the extremities. The SAM-splint is to be seen as a complement to the vacuum splint. Any difference in perceived patient rated pain connected to the different methods of immobilizing was not to deduce. / Inom ambulanssjukvården i Uppsala län används vakuumsplint för immobilisering av extremitetsfrakturer. Forskning och kunskap om vilken immobiliseringsmetod som är att föredra vid prehospital handläggning av extremitetsfrakturer är begränsad.   Syftet med detta pilotprojekt var att i Uppsala län undersöka ambulanspersonalens uppfattning om användarvänligheten av vakuumsplint och SAM-splint vid immobilisering. Målet med projektet var även att ta reda på om SAM-splint kunde ses som alternativ eller komplement till vakuumsplintar samt om det fanns några uppenbara skillnader i patientskattad smärta mellan de olika immobiliseringsmetoderna.   En deskriptiv komparativ studie genomfördes där alla patienter oavsett ålder och kön i behov av immobilisering av misstänkta extremitetsfrakturer inkluderas. Patienter med misstänkt femurfraktur, collumfraktur eller där prehospital immobilisering ej varit möjlig eller aktuell exkluderades. Insamling av data har skett med hjälp av ett frågeformulär utformat av projektansvariga studenter. Frågeformuläret besvarades av vårdansvarig ambulanspersonal efter avslutat vårdtillfälle.   Resultatet visade att samtliga patienter med extremitetsfrakturer immobiliserades. Det fanns ingen uppenbar skillnad gällande personalupplevd applicering mellan de olika immobiliseringsmetoderna utan generellt uppfattades de enkla att använda. I Uppsala där ambulanspersonalen hade tillgång till både SAM-splint och vakuumsplint valdes övervägande SAM-splint.   Med detta pilotprojekt som grund kan sägas att ambulanspersonalen ansåg att immobiliseringsmetoderna var enkla att använda vid extremitetsfrakturer. SAM-splint kan ses som komplement till vakuumsplinten. Någon skillnad i patientskattad smärta mellan de båda immobiliseringsmetoderna framkom ej.

Bakgrund: Personer över 80 år har ökat med nästan 22 % under åren 1992 – 2005. Under samma tid har vårdplatserna inom hela akutsjukvården nästan halverats. Detta har lett till ökat vårdbehov och större belastning på framför allt akutmottagningar, medicinkliniker, primärvården och kommunen. Tidigare studier har visat att inadekvata akutmedicinska inläggningar sker ofta runtom i Europa. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att studera inskrivning och utskrivning av patienter vid akutmedicinska avdelningar på ett sjukhus i Sverige. Metod: Studien genomfördes under 2007 på en akutmedicinsk klinik i Sydöstra Sverige. 411 akutmedicinska patientinläggningar bedömdes med Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP). Lika många hade möjlighet att besvara en enkätfråga, riktad till patienter, sjuksköterskor och läkare, om bedömning av utskrivningen. Resultat: Studien visar att 28,7% av patientinläggningarna inte uppfyllde AEP’s kriterier. De flesta patienter hade bröstsmärta som inskrivningsorsak oavsett adekvat eller inadekvat inläggning. Nära 30 % av patienterna, sjuksköterskorna och läkarna bedömde möjlig utskrivning ett dygn tidigare. Slutsats: Studien visar att inadekvata akutmedicinska inläggningar, enligt instrumentet AEP utgör en betydande del av beläggningen på en medicinklinik som är potentiellt påverkbar. Studien visar också att beläggningen kan påverkas genom tidigarelagd utskrivning enligt bedömningar av såväl patienter som sjuksköterskor och läkare. Resultatet talar för att en bättre kommunikation mellan patienter, sjuksköterskor och läkare skulle kunna optimera längden för akuta medicinska vårdtillfällen. / Background: Persons aged over 80 has increased by almost 22% during 1992-2005. In that time, bed occupancy throughout the emergency medical services has almost decreased to the half. This has led to increased care needs and greater burden, especially on emergency wards, medical clinics, primary care and community. Previous studies have shown that inadequate emergency medical admissions are frequently around Europe. Aim: The aim was to study admission and discharge of patients in acute medical wards at a hospital in Sweden. Method: The study was conducted in 2007 at an acute medical clinic in Southeast Sweden. 411 acute medical patient admissions were assessed with the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP). Just as many were able to answer a survey question, directed to patients, nurses and doctors, on the assessment of discharge. Results: The study shows that 28.7% of patients' admissions did not meet AEP's criteria. Most patients had chest pain that enrollment cause any adequate or inadequate curing. Almost 30% of patients, nurses and doctors thought that discharge of the patient was possible one day earlier. Conclusion: The study shows that inadequate emergency medical admissions, with the instrument AEP, are an important part of the hospital bed occupancy of a medical clinic that is potentially impressionable. The study also shows that the hospital bed occupancy can be influenced by earlier discharge according to assessments by both patients, nurses and doctors.

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

No description available.

Psychiatric morbidity in the postpartum period has been a subject of research for years that has been plagued by much controversy. Most of the studies have come from Western countries. Studies that were done in Africa have concentrated on psychotic disorders in in-patients. A pilot study done by Cheetham et al (1981) at King Edward VIII Hospital found a high incidence of 'transient situational disturbances', which required further investigation. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To document the spectrum of psychiatric morbidity in an out-patient population of postpartum Zulu women; 2. To define predictive factors which would identify women 'at risk'; 3. To assess the feasibility of 'Western' screening instruments; 4. To investigate whether 'postpartum blues' occurs in Zulu women. RESEARCH DESIGN A prospective, descriptive study was undertaken. Sample Selection: 177 postpartum Zulu women attending the ' Well-Baby' Clinic at King Edward VIII Hospital were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. Methodology: Three questionnaires: The General Health Questionnaire- 30, Pitt's Questionnaire of Anxiety and Depression and The Kennerley Blues Questionnaire were administered to the subjects. A Structured Clinical Interview DSM-III (SCID) was conducted in those women with symptoms. FINDINGS: 1. The majority of the sample were between the ages of 20 and 30 years, unmarried, with a Senior Primary education and a baby of 20 weeks. 2. 45.76% of the sample had a psychiatric diagnosis, with 18.07% having major depression. Other disorders included: adjustment disorders, schizophrenia and dysthymia. 3. Significant variables using Chi-square analysis were: inadequate antenatal care, a negative response from the partner and the absence of cultural rituals. No association was found with demographic and obstetric variables. 4. T-test analysis showed a correlation between the questionnaires and the SCID. 5. 37.3% had experienced 'postpartum blues'. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The spectrum of psychiatric morbidity is affective in nature and similar to other studies. 2. 'Postpartum blues' does occur in Zulu women. 3. Antenatal screening with 'Western' instruments could reduce psychiatric morbidity. 4. The nomenclature of puerperal disorders is inadequate and needs review. 5. More prospective, community-based research is needed, especially in rural Zulu women. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.

This study examined the effect of interdisciplinary discharge planning rounds on timing of social work intervention, length of stay (LOS), and readmission for patients aged 65 and over. Data sources were the medical charts of 449 patients discharged during two corresponding 28 day periods (one before end one after the implementation of rounds) supplemented by Discharge Planning Committee minutes (DPCM) and interviews with four key informants. No significant differences in the timing of social work intervention, LOS, or readmissions were found between the two samples. Qualitative research revealed that essential components were either missing (physician participation), or not uniformly included (family participation) in rounds, and that staff felt that rounds improved communication among the disciplines and contributed to improved efficiency in planning hospital and posthospital services. These findings highlight the need to further study all aspects of the complex discharge planning process to identify factors that would reduce LOS and readmissions.

This study investigated the relationship between cognitive development and children’s understanding of the hospital nurse’s role. A group of 35 hospitalized children with chronic conditions and without neurological deficits, aged 4 to 10 years, were given three tasks (i.e., the Nurse’s Role Task, the Balance Beam Task, and the Task of Intrapersonal Understanding), scored for developmental level using Case’s (1992) neo-Piagetian theory of cognitive development as a framework. A full sample of 4—year—olds was not pursued due to the distracting hospital environment which, in combination with the shorter attention span of the 4-year-olds, rendered the interviews extremely difficult to complete. Descriptive results indicated a moderately advanced understanding of the hospital nurse’s role by 8— and lO—year—olds, being on the order of one—third of a substage (i.e., approximately 8 months ahead in development), whereas 4— and 6—year—olds showed an age— appropriate level of understanding of the hospital nurse’s role. Analysis of Variance indicated a statistically significant effect for age on all three tasks (p < .01). Six levels of social—cognitive development in understanding the hospital nurse’s role were found, which were, in successive order: (1) Roles of the nurse as scripted actions (i.e., 4-year-old level), (2) Roles of the nurse as motivated action sequences (i.e., 6—year—old level), (3) Roles of the nurse as planned action sequences (i.e., 8— year—old level), (4) Roles of the nurse as generalized dispositions toward action (i.e., 10—year-old level), (5) Roles of the nurse as demonstrating logically planned decisions towards action (i.e., 12-year—old level), and (6) Roles of the nurse as demonstrating logically planned action sequences (i.e., 14—year—old level). Furthermore, results indicate that a few 6- and 8-year-olds and the majority of l0—year—olds could give an accurate description of the duties of the hospital nurse, that is, 1) nurses are there to help children, 2) nurses have a responsibility for the well-being of their patients, 3) nurses want to improve the physical and emotional health of their patients, 4) nurses also see their own shortcomings in their care for children and have good intentions, and 5) nurses are human and have their own feelings, thoughts, doubts, and ideas. Suggestions for future research have been provided in order to further improve communication between health care professionals and hospitalized children with chronic conditions.

This research examines the treatment of Tuberculosis in South Africa, focussing particularly on the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi Council Area in the Natal province. Two alternative measures of TB control are examined, the clinical curative regime and inpatient treatment, that is, the hospitalisation of patients. The samples used are a random selection of patients treated through the Pietermaritzburg Clinic and SANTA Hospital. As this research entails a cost-effectiveness analysis determining the most cost-effective way of treating TB, much of the analysis and conclusions are derived from the costs entailed in the two aforementioned control measures. Cost analysis of the alternative measures of treatment reflects that the clinical outpatient alternative to TB treatment is more cost-effective than the hospitalisation option. A closer examination of the costs reveals the cost savings that can occur if an efficient use of resources is established. Furthermore the results reflect a cost effective drug use by the hospital at R173.65 per patient cured compared to R403.51 per patient cured through the clinic. Analysis of results showed institutional costs as the reason for the cost-ineffectiveness of hospital care. Overall, the clinical measure to the treatment of TB was more cost-effective at R490.34 per patient cured compared to the R7502.66 per person cured through hospitalisation. The sample sizes yielded cure rates of fifty-eight for the clinic and eighty-five percent for the hospital. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is a fairly new concept to the patients and personnel at the R. K. Khan Hospital. Arising from one of the Governmental initiatives, KMC was introduced to KwaZulu Natal in 2001. The personnel at this hospital were briefly introduced to this alternate method of care for a low birth weight baby, by means of symposia and in-service. Soon after this in-service education, the personnel were requested to implement KMC. This study was undertaken to explore the perceptions of carers for the preparation and experience of KMC and to describe the experiences of the carers who have implemented KMC. Furthermore, this study determined whether carers received support during the implementation of KMC and in so doing to identify the sources of this support. The selection of this particular field of study arose out of the researcher's professional role in educating personnel in the theory and practice of midwifery. The lack of documented evidence to problems that they may have been encountered and management strategies to deal with these prompted this study. The intention was to obtain empirical findings so that personnel would be provided with appropriate and precise information on the subject. A phenomenological approach was used. The sample was obtained from the R. K. Khan Hospital neonatal unit. This is a regional hospital that is located in Chatsworth, Durban. The sample comprised often mothers who were practicing KMC in the post-natal ward, or mothers who were discharged and were still practicing KMC for the past two to four weeks. Data were collected by means of face-to-face interviews. Interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. These interviews provided the researcher with rich, personal and narrative experiences of the carers before and during KMC. The results of this study indicated that KMC was indeed new to most of the mothers and this evoked apprehension, doubt and fear, but once the mothers had tried it and were successful, they felt a sense ofjoy. Nursing personnel formed part of the supportive environment for the mothers practicing KMC. The latter is a prerequisite for the success of KMC. Since KMC is associated with many benefits to the mother, the baby and the institution, for the future it could be incorporated into the midwifery curriculum for student midwives. Recommendations concerning nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research were made at the end of the study including the limitations affecting the study. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.