In Vivo Colonization with Candidate Oral Probiotics Attenuates Colonization and Virulence of Streptococcus mutans.

A collection of 113 Streptococcus strains from supragingival dental plaque of caries-free individuals were recently tested in vitro for direct antagonism of the dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans, and for their capacity for arginine catabolism via the arginine deiminase system (ADS). To advance their evaluation as potential probiotics, twelve strains of commensal oral streptococci with various antagonistic and ADS potentials were assessed in a mouse model for oral (i.e., oral mucosal pellicles and saliva) and dental colonization under four diets (healthy or high-sucrose, with or without prebiotic arginine). Colonization by autochthonous bacteria was also monitored. One strain failed to colonize, whereas oral colonization by the other eleven strains varied by 3 log units. Dental colonization was high for five strains regardless of diet, six strains increased colonization with at least one high-sucrose diet, and added dietary arginine decreased dental colonization of two strains. Streptococcus sp. A12 (high in vitro ADS activity and antagonism) and two engineered mutants lacking the ADS (ΔarcADS) or pyruvate oxidase-mediated H2O2 production (ΔspxB) were tested for competition against S. mutans UA159. A12 wild type and ΔarcADS colonized only transiently, whereas ΔspxB persisted, but without altering oral or dental colonization by S. mutans In testing four additional candidates, S. sanguinis BCC23 markedly attenuated S. mutans' oral and dental colonization, enhanced colonization of autochthonous bacteria, and decreased severity of smooth surface caries under highly cariogenic conditions. Results demonstrate the utility of the mouse model to evaluate potential probiotics, revealing little correlation between in vitro antagonism and competitiveness against S. mutans in vivo IMPORTANCE Our results demonstrate in vivo testing of potential oral probiotics can be accomplished and can yield information to facilitate the ultimate design and optimization of novel anti-caries probiotics. We show human oral commensals associated with dental health are an important source of potential probiotics that may be used to colonize patients under dietary conditions of highly varying cariogenicity. Assessment of competitiveness against dental caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans and impact on caries identified strains or genetic elements for further study. Results also uncovered strains that enhanced oral and dental colonization by autochthonous bacteria when challenged with S. mutans, suggesting cooperative interactions for future elucidation. Distinguishing a rare strain that effectively compete with S. mutans under conditions that promote caries further validates our systematic approach to more critically evaluate probiotics for use in humans.

Assistive/rehabilitation technology, disability, and service delivery models.

The United Nation's Millennium Development Goals do not explicitly articulate a focus on disability; similar failures in the past resulted in research, policy, and practice that are not generalizable and did not meet the needs of persons with disabilities since they were developed for an "average" population. Academics and professionals in health and other disciplines should have a knowledge base in evidence-based practices that improve well-being and participation of people with disabilities through effective service delivery of assistive technology. Grounded by a theoretical framework that incorporates a multivariate perspective of disability that is acknowledged in the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, we present a review of models of assistive technology service delivery and call for future syntheses of the fragmented evidence base that would permit a comparative effectiveness approach to evaluation.

Collaborative strategies for teaching evidence-based practice in accelerated second-degree programs.

An important challenge for teaching in accelerated second-degree programs is how to manage essential content within a compressed curriculum format. This article describes a project that used a collaborative model for teaching evidence-based practice (EBP) in a redesigned second-degree nursing program. Instructors in two courses shared responsibility for teaching basic concepts and guiding students' implementation of EBP in a clinical setting in partnership with clinical nurses. This approach resulted in a high degree of satisfaction for students, instructors, and nursing staff in clinical agencies. The project demonstrated collaborative teaching strategies can help students achieve basic knowledge in EBP and translate that knowledge into their clinical practice. Collaboration also can achieve more efficient learning experiences, a critical element in accelerated nursing programs.

Imogene M. King's scholars reflect on her wisdom and influence on nursing science.

Reflections on the impact of the work of great leaders are vital for both scientists and practitioners to gain important perspectives on the progress of the evolution of the discipline. Recognizing the influence of a particular theorist's impact is particularly important at the time of death, which is the time where the development of a particular theory moves from the originator to the followers. This column serves as a tribute to Imogene M. King, and is dedicated to her wisdom in promoting the conceptual system she developed.

Viewpoint: use of King's conceptual system, nursing informatics, and nursing classification systems for global communication.

PURPOSE: To propose a common nursing language for communication among members of the nursing community worldwide. DATA SOURCES: The Taxonomy of Nursing Practice, nursing informatics literature, King's Theory of Goal Attainment applied to the nursing process. DATA SYNTHESIS: Several milestones in nursing in the 20th century indicated the need for a universal language for nursing. The nursing process provides a method for synthesis of nursing data, information, and knowledge and is congruent with Imogene King's Theory of Goal Attainment. CONCLUSIONS: The authors advocate for a common nursing language (nursing classification and terminology systems) that would unify nurses worldwide. Supported by nursing theory and technology, global communication would be enhanced for nurses and the interdisciplinary teams of which they are a part. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Use of Imogene King's Conceptual System and Theory of Goal Attainment and the nursing specialty of Nursing Informatics are examples of nursing theory and technology to frame global communication.

Implementation of an Educational Intervention to Reduce Inappropriate Antibiotic Use in Upper Respiratory Infections.

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections (URI) directly contributes to antibiotic resistance. Educational interventions reduce antibiotic prescriptions written for viral (URI) symptoms and antibiotic resistance. Objective: This study aims to ascertain whether provider education will reduce antibiotic prescriptions. The study also aims to change provider prescribing practices through education on antibiotic resistance. Methods: Simple random sampling was used to review charts of patients pre- and postintervention in a single provider primary care practice for patients aged 18-64 years with URI diagnosis and/or symptoms. Results: Preintervention, 85% received an antibiotic for URI symptoms compared to 79% in the postintervention group (p = .514). Chi-square analysis comparing the 2 groups indicated there was no statistical significance between the proportion of antibiotics prescribed within these timeframes (p = .58). Conclusion: Morbidity and mortality will continue to increase without aggressive antibiotic stewardship. Although the results did not reach statistical significance, there was still a 6% reduction in the amount of antibiotics prescribed by the single provider. The decrease, albeit small, has the potential for clinical significance, and further studies should be pursued.

Rural residents with disabilities confront substantial barriers to obtaining primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To learn about the health care experiences of rural residents with disabilities. STUDY SETTING: Rural areas in Massachusetts and Virginia. STUDY DESIGN: Local centers for independent living recruited 35 adults with sensory, physical, or psychiatric disabilities to participate in four focus group interviews. DATA COLLECTION METHODS: Verbatim transcripts of interviews were reviewed to identify major themes. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Interviewees described the many well-recognized impediments to health care in rural America; disability appears to exacerbate these barriers. Interviewees reported substantial difficulties finding physicians who understand their disabilities and sometimes feel that they must teach their local doctors about their underlying conditions. Interviewees described needing to travel periodically to large medical centers to get necessary specialty care. Many are poor and are either uninsured or have Medicaid coverage, complicating their searches for willing primary care physicians. Because many cannot drive, they face great difficulties getting to their local doctor and especially making long trips to urban centers. Available public transportation often is inaccessible and unreliable. Physicians' offices are sometimes located in old buildings that do not have accessible entrances or equipment. Based on their personal experiences, interviewees perceive that rural areas are generally less sensitive to disability access issues than urban areas. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting the health care needs of rural residents with disabilities will require interventions beyond health care, involving transportation and access issues more broadly.

Communicating about health care: observations from persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

BACKGROUND: Achieving patient-centered care requires effective communication between physicians and patients. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing face considerable barriers to communicating with physicians. OBJECTIVE: To understand perceptions of health care experiences and suggestions for improving care among deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. DESIGN: 4 semistructured group interviews, 2 conducted in American Sign Language (for deaf individuals) and 2 using Communication Access Realtime Translation (for hard-of-hearing individuals). Men and women were interviewed separately. Tapes of interviews were transcribed verbatim for analysis. SETTING: Greater Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC, in 2001. PARTICIPANTS: 14 deaf adults (23 to 51 years of age) and 12 hard-of-hearing adults (30 to 74 years of age). MEASUREMENTS: Commonly expressed themes or views organized around dimensions of communication. RESULTS: Concerns coalesced around 6 broad themes: conflicting views between physicians and patients about being deaf or hard of hearing; different perceptions about what constitutes effective communication (such as lip reading, writing notes, and sign language interpreter); medication safety and other risks posed by inadequate communication; communication problems during physical examinations and procedures; difficulties interacting with office staff, including in waiting rooms; and problems with telephone communication, such as lengthy message menus. Participants offered extensive suggestions for improvements, starting with clinicians' asking patients about their preferred communication approach. Having patients repeat critical health information (such as medication instructions) can identify potentially dangerous miscommunication. CONCLUSIONS: As the population ages, physicians will encounter many more persons with hearing limitations. Physicians are not reimbursed for making some accommodations, such as hiring sign language interpreters. However, ensuring effective communication is essential to safe, timely, efficient, and patient-centered care.

Primary care experiences of people with psychiatric disabilities: barriers to care and potential solutions.

This study examined the barriers that 16 focus group participants with psychiatric disabilities confront in obtaining primary care services and their recommendations on improving quality of care. They cited a) difficulty identifying a primary care physician with good empathic and communication skills, b) physicians' misunderstanding of the nature of psychiatric disability, c) inadequate information about the side effects of psychotropic medications, and d) costs due to inadequate insurance coverage. In addition to suggestions for improving patient-physician communication and expanding physician knowledge, participants emphasized strategies to become empowered in their relationships with physicians and to obtain personal support.

A successful teaching strategy for applying evidence-based practice.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the conscientious use of the best evidence contained in the literature to guide healthcare decisions. The authors describe how their baccalaureate program prepares its graduates to be successful in implementing EBP in their nursing practice. Outcomes of sustained student projects in agency settings are presented. They posit that bachelor of science in nursing students, agency personnel, and faculty can lead practice innovations supported by EBP.

Improving health care experiences of persons who are blind or have low vision: suggestions from focus groups.

Persons who are blind or have low vision face special challenges in obtaining care that is safe, effective, timely, and patient centered. To explore perceptions of care and recommendations for improvements, we conducted 8 interviews with experts and 2 focus groups with 19 persons, all of whom are blind or have low vision. Interviewees perceived that they confront special barriers to care because of being blind or having low vision. Barriers fell into 4 broad categories: basic respect, including concerns about physicians thinking they cannot participate fully in their own care; communication barriers, including difficulties interacting with physicians and office staff; physical access barriers, including difficulties getting to and around physicians' offices; and information barriers, including receiving written materials in inaccessible formats (eg, not in Braille, large print, or audiotape). Using common courtesy and individualized communication techniques, physicians and office staff could improve health care experiences of blind and low-vision patients.

Cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: the scientific basis for practice.

OBJECTIVE: To review and organize the science related to cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort for the fifth research-based practice project of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. DATA SOURCES: Computerized searches in CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library, as well as hand searches of cited references. Keywords included cyclic pelvic pain, comfort, pain guidelines, and dysmenorrhea. DATA EXTRACTION: All relevant articles prior to 1999 were considered. Thirty-three research-based articles (1992-1999) were reviewed for relevance by the science team as part of the fifth research-based practice project of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. DATA SYNTHESIS: The literature review and synthesis resulted in a cogent description of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort and the development of three nursing diagnoses: perimenstrual cyclic pelvic pain, perimenstrual discomfort, and perimenstrual negative affect. Cyclic pelvic pain is a new concept, developed by the science team during the project. Perimenstrual cyclic pelvic pain is an acute, subjective experience defined by pelvic pain that presents in a repeating time frame associated with the menstrual cycle. It is usually clustered with other discomforts and appreciably affects a woman's quality of life. Because the science about interventions is complex and extensive, data synthesis led to organization of the interventions within seven categories. CONCLUSIONS: Translation of research into practice is essential. Cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort is an important clinical issue, yet the science had not previously been comprehensively reviewed with the mission to translate it for nursing practice. Translation of this complex literature was accomplished though an innovative clinical practice guideline and subsequently evaluated in nursing practice through the research-based practice project.

Challenging expectations: how individuals with psychiatric disabilities find and keep work.

The results of this qualitative study involving in-depth interviews of 32 individuals with psychiatric disabilities document the importance of beliefs and expectations with regard to employment. Each of the participants were either currently receiving Social Security benefits or had received them in the past due to his or her psychiatric disability. The authors briefly describe the systemic and programmatic barriers to employment that study participants encountered. They discuss how negative beliefs and expectations concerning employment are imbedded within the policies and programs that impacted these participants. They also describe the representative experiences of three study participants who were successful at overcoming these barriers and maintaining employment. Finally, they identify and discuss some of the common factors that may have contributed to successful employment.

Does U.S. federal policy support employment and recovery for people with psychiatric disabilities?

Evidence suggests that a high percentage of people with a psychiatric disability can recover--find meaningful work, develop positive relationships, and participate fully in their communities. Evidence also suggests that work is an essential component of recovery. However, few people with a serious psychiatric disability are actually employed and most of those who are employed work only part-time at barely minimum wages. To assess the impact of federal programs such as Social Security Disability Insurance, vocational rehabilitation, medical insurance, and psychiatric services upon employment, we conducted a qualitative study of 16 employed and 16 unemployed individuals with psychiatric disabilities. All of our participants had disabilities severe enough to qualify them for Social Security Disability benefits. They told us that current federal policies and practices encouraged employment and integration of only a few participants, in a particular stage of their recovery, and placed significant barriers in the employment path of others.