The Use of Bi-Nasal Prongs for Delivery of Non-Invasive Ventilation to Foals.

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a method of providing respiratory support without the need for airway intubation. The current study was undertaken to assess tolerance to bi-nasal prongs and NIV in healthy, standing, lightly sedated foals. Bi-nasal prongs were well tolerated by foals, remaining in place for the allocated five minutes in four of six unsedated foals and, subsequently, in five of six lightly sedated foals. All foals tolerated NIV through bi-nasal prongs, although increasing airway pressures were associated with increases in inspiratory volume, duration of inspiration and air leakage in most foals. These changes preceded discontinuation/intolerance of NIV on the basis of behaviour changes consistent with discomfort. Increased circuit leakage was associated with reduced return of expired air to the ventilator and increasing disparity between inspiratory and expiratory times and tidal volumes. The study results suggest that bi-nasal prongs might be suitable for NIV but that design or fitting requires further optimization and that behaviour and ventilator variables should be monitored to assess patient tolerance of the procedure.

Effects of 2 modes of positive pressure ventilation on respiratory mechanics and gas exchange in foals.

BACKGROUND: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and pressure support ventilation (PSV) can improve respiratory mechanics and gas exchange, but different airway pressures have not been compared in foals. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Assess the effect of different airway pressures during CPAP and PSV have on respiratory function in healthy foals with pharmacologically induced respiratory insufficiency. We hypothesized that increased airway pressures would improve respiratory mechanics and increased positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) would be associated with hypercapnia. ANIMALS: Six healthy foals from a university teaching herd. METHODS: A prospective, 2-phase, 2-treatment, randomized cross-over study design was used to evaluate sequential interventions in sedated foals using 2 protocols (CPAP and PSV). Outcome measures included arterial blood gases, spirometry, volumetric capnography, lung volume and aeration assessed using computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: Sedation and dorsal recumbency were associated with significant reductions in arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2 ), respiratory rate, and tidal volume. Continuous positive airway pressure was associated with improved PaO2 , without concurrent hypercapnia. Volumetric capnography identified improved ventilation:perfusion (V/Q) matching and increased carbon dioxide elimination during ventilation, and spirometry identified decreased respiratory rate and increased tidal volume. Peak inspiratory pressure was moderately associated with PaO2 and lung volume. Improved pulmonary aeration was evident in CT images, and lung volume was increased, particularly during CPAP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Both CPAP and PSV improved lung mechanics and gas exchange in healthy foals with induced respiratory insufficiency.

Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure for Non-invasive Respiratory Support of Foals.

Respiratory insufficiency and pulmonary health are important considerations in equine neonatal care. As the majority of foals are bred for athletic pursuits, strategies for respiratory support of compromised foals are of particular importance. The administration of supplementary oxygen is readily implemented in equine practice settings, but does not address respiratory insufficiency due to inadequate ventilation and is no longer considered optimal care for hypoxia in critical care settings. Non-invasive ventilatory strategies including continuous or bi-level positive airway pressure are effective in human and veterinary studies, and may offer improved respiratory support in equine clinical practice. The current study was conducted to investigate the use of a commercial bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilator, designed for home care of people with obstructive respiratory conditions, for respiratory support of healthy foals with pharmacologically induced respiratory insufficiency. A two sequence (administration of supplementary oxygen with, or without, BiPAP), two phase, cross-over experimental design was used in a prospective study with six foals. Gas exchange and mechanics of breathing (increased tidal volume, decreased respiratory rate and increased peak inspiratory flow) were improved during BiPAP relative to administration of supplementary oxygen alone or prior studies using continuous positive airway pressure, but modest hypercapnia was observed. Clinical observations, pulse oximetry and monitoring of expired carbon dioxide was of limited benefit in identification of foals responding inappropriately to BiPAP, and improved methods to assess and monitor respiratory function are required in foals.

Consumers living with psychosis: Perspectives on sexuality.

Mental health clinicians work within a recovery framework that is rights based and emphasizes positive and respectful approaches to working with mental health consumers. Mental health nurses' practice is also predicated on holism and inclusiveness, yet consumers' sexuality is sometimes neglected and rights in this area overlooked. Also overlooked is sexuality as an area for investigation, particularly from a consumer perspective, even though it constitutes part of consumers' broader remit of sexual health. This paper reports findings from a case study where consumers were asked about their ability to negotiate and sustain sexual expression while residing in a long-stay mental health rehabilitation facility. There were three main findings. First, the physical space of the facility, inclusive of consumers' bedrooms, was policed by mental health clinicians with ongoing intrusions into consumers' privacy, which inhibited their sexual expression. The creation of barriers to sexual expression is counter to polices that promote recovery. Second, consumers reported significant medication-related weight gain which negatively affected their self-image and sexual sense of self. Third, the consumers spoke about their sexuality in ordinary, everyday language devoid of any hallmark of psychosis. This highlights the importance of relating to consumers about their sexuality and sexual needs from a humane rather than technical framework. Further, it foregrounds the relational aspect of the mental health nurses' role rather than the technical aspect. Yet sexuality is a topic that is often neglected, indicating that an upskilling of the mental health nursing workforce is required, to strengthen communication and relationship skills.

Madness, sex, and risk: A poststructural analysis.

The body of the one deemed mad often remains a sexual body with sexual needs. Mental health services respond to these demands of the body in various ways, including constructing rules around physical movement. In this context, we were interested in how mental health clinicians problematized the sexual needs and practices of residents of a long-stay mental health rehabilitation facility and how solutions were constructed in relation to the residents' sexual desires. This paper reports findings from mental health clinicians, as part of a case study where we addressed this question. Mental health clinicians responded to residents' sexuality from a discourse of risk. The notion of the engagement with each resident as a sexual subject was subordinated to the paternalistic notion of protecting the patient from risk. The resident became an object to be monitored and protected rather than a subject with sexual desire and agency. This paternalism also showed itself in relation to a 'no-sex on-site' rule that allowed for a shift of risk from the organization to the resident. Residents, rather than having a relatively safe place to have sexual relations, were required to find a place elsewhere, potentially unsafe, outside the facility.

The governance of sexuality in a Recovery-oriented mental health service: Psychosis, consumers and clinical approaches.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT: The intersection of sexuality and psychosis has a long history, yet research in this area has been minimal over the past few decades. Mental health clinicians practice from within the confines of a mental health system that is founded on a conflict between containment and care and that positions the consumer as an object of care. At the same time, mental health services often have a Recovery approach to care. This presents a difficulty and tension in mental health clinical work because the Recovery approach is opposed to positioning the consumer as an object. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE: The findings suggest that sexuality and sexual needs are common to both clinicians and consumers, and via identification, make the two groups more similar than different. Sexuality can problematize and so open up questions about the objectification of consumers. Consideration of consumers' sexuality and sexual needs can therefore work as a resistance to the dominant mental health approach and, in doing so, produce a more Recovery-oriented approach to treatment in terms of how the consumer is positioned. Other aspects of living that escape capture by the diagnostic system may also operate as organizing factors for a more subject-to-subject approach to treatment. THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Focusing on sexuality and other aspects of living that escape capture by the diagnostic system can bring into question the way consumers are objectified by the psychiatric model of care. Abstract Introduction The Recovery approach introduced a radical shift in the positioning of consumers as subjects rather than objects of mental health treatment. While this approach has been internationally adopted, the practice of Recovery has been under-researched and a knowledge gap exists regarding the intersection of sexuality and psychosis. Aim The study aim was to investigate how sexuality was governed in a long-stay mental health rehabilitation facility that was Recovery-oriented. Method A case study methodology with a conceptual framework using Foucault's work on disciplinary power was used. Results The findings illustrated how mental health clinicians were caught between two main and incompatible models of care: a psychiatric one and a Recovery one. Discussion While the policy framework authorized a Recovery approach, clinicians practised surveillance, hierarchical observation and normalization, which are tenants of a psychiatric model of care. However, the study found that sexuality was an area that opened questions about the psychiatric model for clinicians. Consideration of consumers' sexual needs allowed the clinicians to think of consumers more as subjects like themselves than as objects to be treated. Implications for practice Consideration of consumers' sexuality opens up possibilities for questioning the objectification of the consumer via the psychiatric model.

The Use of Restrictive Practices on Males Released from Prison and Entering Acute Mental Health Services: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Comparative Study.

Little is understood about restrictive practices (seclusion, physical restraint, mechanical restraint) for those admitted to mental health services from prison. This study aimed to determine restrictive practices use on males admitted involuntarily from prison compared to those admitted from the community. A retrospective cross-sectional, comparative research design was used. Those admitted from prison were no more likely to experience restrictive practices; but were more likely to have a co-existing diagnosis of alcohol/substance use or personality disorder, in addition to a primary diagnosis of psychotic illness. The proportionate use of restrictive practices despite such complex presentations is potentially indicative of the clinical use of effective alternative management strategies.

Understanding the current sexual health service provision for mental health consumers by nurses in mental health settings: Findings from a Survey in Australia and England.

Nurses in mental health settings avoid talking to consumers about sexual health concerns. It is unclear whether this avoidance prevents the provision of sexual healthcare. The present study gathered information about how mental health nurses respond to sexual health issues within their routine practice, what issues they address, and their view on their role in promoting sexual health for consumers. A cross-sectional study using an electronic survey questionnaire, originally generated from a previous study in the united kingdom, was employed. The study occurred in four National Health Service Trusts in England and a national call for participants in Australia. Participants were nurse clinicians (n = 303) who self-selected by completing surveys available via email and newsletters containing links to the survey. The results demonstrated that mental health nurses do not routinely include sexual health in their practice and are poorly prepared in knowing what to do with a sexual health issue, and what services to assist consumers to use. In conclusion, it has been well established in the literature that mental health consumers experience high sexual health needs that potentially impact on health and recovery. Mental health nurses are ideally placed to promote sexual health and refer consumers to sexual health and family planning services. Training to improve the confidence and responsiveness of mental health nurses to sexual health is an urgent need.

Qigong: An Effective Intervention on Positive Affect Traits for Forensic Mental Health Consumers.

BACKGROUND: People experiencing mental illness require services that provide them with a sense of personal safety, a place where they can experience a reduction to their distress and assistance in managing their feelings. Interventions need to explore therapies that enhance feelings of personal safety and comfort for consumers and within a forensic mental health service, therapies and support that can assist in combating the antecedents to violent offending. The practice of Qigong is reported to have numerous health benefits; however, little has been reported regarding the possible benefits of Qigong for people experiencing severe mental illness and, more specifically, for people experiencing severe mental illness who have serious offending histories such as forensic consumers. This study explores the possibility of using Qigong to reduce personal frustrations that can lead to violence. OBJECTIVES: The object of this study was to explore whether Qigong is an effective intervention on positive affect traits for forensic mental health consumers, and whether other benefits are experienced. METHODS: An exploratory design using quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Consumers participated in weekly Qigong groups delivered for a 10-wk period. Data were collected using an adapted version of the positive affect rating scale measuring the degree to which people experience different positive emotions. Qualitative measures were added to the scale to obtain a deeper understanding of the consumer experience, with 67 scales completed. CONCLUSIONS: Consumers in a forensic hospital responded positively to participating in Qigong groups. Strategies such as Qigong are interventions that mental health clinicians can use to promote positive feelings of personal relaxation, peacefulness, and safety. Qigong can promote positive affective traits for consumers in forensic hospitals. These positive affective traits can act as protective factors to inpatient aggression and violence. Forensic consumers report that Qigong is easy to learn and helpful for them in managing their frustrations. The findings from this study may add to the paucity of data discussing the use of Qigong with consumers as an effective relaxation intervention and possibly as an intervention in reducing negative affective states by promoting positive affective states, thereby reducing aggression and possible violence occurring within the forensic inpatient environment.

Identifying and addressing sexual health in serious mental illness: Views of mental health staff working in two National Health Service organizations in England.

People with serious mental illness (service users) have needs related to sexual health and sexuality, yet these have been poorly addressed in mental health services. In the present study, we report the current practice of mental health professionals in relation to sexual health. Focus groups conducted in two mental health trusts explored routine practice in relation to discussing, assessing, and planning care in relation to sexual health. A thematic analysis identified seven themes: (i) sexual health provision is a complex issue; (ii) mental health staff are aware of sexual health needs; (iii) current provision regarding sexual health is 'neglected'; (iv) barriers to sexual health provision; (v) enabling a discussion around sexual health; (vi) sexual health provision is a role for mental health professionals; and (vii) training needs. Mental health staff are aware of complex issues related to sexual health for service users, but this is mainly seen through the lens of risk management and safeguarding. We need to develop the mental health workforce to be able to incorporate sexual health into routine health care.

Supporting the Sexual Intimacy Needs of Patients in a Longer Stay Inpatient Forensic Setting.

PURPOSE: To explore perceptions of nurses and patients regarding sexual intimacy in a long-term mental health unit. DESIGN AND METHODS: Qualitative exploratory design including in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with 12 registered nurses and 10 long-term patients of a forensic mental health hospital. FINDINGS: The theme of supporting sexual intimacy was identified and described in this paper and included the following subthemes for nurses: It depends on the setting, need for guidelines and consent, and for patients-it depends on the setting; and need for support. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest that current guidelines regarding sexual intimacy in acute inpatient settings may not be appropriate in long-term facilities, with a need for guidelines to specifically address this setting. Furthermore, support for sexual intimacy needs of patients was identified as a strong need for patients and they believed not currently met. Nurses have an important role to play as part of their holistic approach to care and barriers to providing this aspect of care must be overcome to ensure patients' rights are respected.

Exploring sexual risks in a forensic mental health hospital: perspectives from patients and nurses.

Patients utilising forensic mental health inpatient services experience a range of sexual risks, including vulnerability to sexual exploitation and exposure to sexually transmissible infections. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the issue of sexual risks from the standpoint of patients and the nurses who work closely with them in inpatient secure settings. This article presents findings from a qualitative exploratory study, which investigated the views of patients and nurses about sexual relationships in forensic mental health settings. Risk was a major theme arising from the data and is the focus of this article. Subthemes from nurse participants included sexual safety, sexual vulnerability, unplanned pregnancies, and male sexuality issues. Subthemes from patients included risks associated with sexual activity, access to information and sexual health care, unplanned pregnancies, vulnerability, and male sexuality issues. Knowledge about these sexual risks by patients and nurses were well articulated, however information and assistance were considered by patients to be less than satisfactory in improving their knowledge or in providing the support they considered important to reduce sexual risks. The issue of risk needs to be addressed, and nurses would be well placed to contribute; however they require education to improve their ability to provide sexual health education to patients along with strategies to ensure patients receive the support and services they require to reduce their exposure to sexual risks.

Safer IV therapy: A case study on booklet design.

This case presentation introduces the work of a team of designers and how they collaborate to produce visually interesting teaching aids for healthcare professionals.

Sex on show. Issues of privacy and dignity in a Forensic mental health hospital: Nurse and patient views.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore perceptions of privacy and dignity for sexual relationships in a Forensic mental health hospital. BACKGROUND: The role of nurses in forensic mental health hospitals is frequently complicated by opposing expectations of therapeutic relationships and maintaining security. What can result is an over-emphasis on risk reduction by controlling patient behaviour, which can extend to patient intimacy and sexual relationships. DESIGN: An exploratory, qualitative approach. METHODS: Individual interviews were conducted with 12 nurses and 10 patients in a forensic mental health hospital. Thematic data analysis was undertaken to identify the main themes. RESULTS: The need for a private and dignified place for patient intimacy was one major theme to emerge from this research from both nurse and patient participants and is the focus of this article. A disparity is reported between the level of support reported by nurse participants with the experience of the patient participants. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual intimacy and sexual relationships are important components of normal human behaviour. Institutional rules and rule adherence create barriers for patients, forcing their intimacy and sexual relationships into secrecy. There is a need for further research to consider the benefits and risks of patient intimacy and sexual relationships for long-term patients in forensic mental health settings. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Patients in forensic hospitals are sexually active and seek support from nurses. Nurses are in an ideal role to recognise the important part they can play in supporting the intimacy and sexual relationship needs of patients. Strategies to assist in developing confidence in responding to normal human behaviour is a matter of priority.

Consumer sexual relationships in a forensic mental health hospital: perceptions of nurses and consumers.

The management of consumer-related risk is paramount in a secure forensic mental health facility. However, the consequent risk aversion presents a major barrier to consumers forming sexual relationships in a manner that is open and accepted. Investigation of the views of nurses working in forensic mental health settings on this topic is limited, and even more so for consumers of services. This qualitative exploratory study was undertaken to elicit the views of consumers and nurses about forming sexual relationships within this long-term and secure setting. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 nurses and 10 consumers. The benefits of, and barriers to, sexual relationships was identified as a major theme, and these findings are the focus of this paper. Nurse responses included the subthemes 'supportive factors' and 'potential dangers', reflecting their qualified support. Consumer responses included the subthemes 'therapeutic', 'feeling normal', 'restrictions and barriers', and 'lack of support and secrecy'. The importance of sexual relationships was clearly articulated, as was the difficulties in forming and maintaining them within the forensic setting. More open discussion about this commonly-avoided issue and the education of nurses and other health professionals is required.

Standards of practice for forensic mental health nurses--identifying contemporary practice.

Forensic mental health nursing is a recognized field of nursing in most countries. Despite a growing body of literature describing aspects of practice, no publication has been found that captures the core knowledge, skills, and attitudes of forensic mental health nurses. One group of nurses in Australia have pooled their knowledge of relevant literature and their own clinical experience and have written standards of practice for forensic mental health nursing. This paper identifies the need for standards, provides a summary of the standards of practice for forensic mental health nurses, and concludes with how these standards can be used and can articulate to others the desired and achievable level of performance in the specialty area.

The 5-As framework for including sexual concerns in mental health nursing practice.

Available evidence informs us that sexual health concerns of consumers are commonly avoided within mental health services. This paper describes the findings of a qualitative exploratory research project. This research was conducted in three stages, all involving in-depth interviews with 14 nurses working in a mental health setting. Stage 1 involved an exploration of participants' views about including sexual concerns in their practice and included an educational intervention designed to encourage sexual inclusivity in practice. Stage 2 involved follow up interviews 4-6 weeks later to discuss the effectiveness of the intervention and whether practice change had resulted. Stage 3 was conducted two years later with the aim of determining the extent to which practice changes had been sustained. The themes emerging throughout the research emphasised five main stages in the nurses' experience: avoidance; awareness; applying; approval; and acknowledgement. Avoidance of the topic was commonly noted in the early stages of the research. The education program led to awareness raising of sexual concerns and approval towards the importance of this area to which lead to applying it to practice. This ultimately resulted in acknowledgement of the need for sexual concerns to become part of mental health nursing practice. These five stages are represented in the Five A's for including sexual concerns in mental health nursing practice, the framework developed by the first author.

Talking about sexuality with consumers of mental health services.

PURPOSE: To explore nurses' perceptions of how consumers of mental health services have responded to mental health nurses discussing sexuality with them. DESIGN AND METHODS: Qualitative exploratory design including in-depth individual interviews with 14 mental health nurses in Australia on two occasions. Nurse participants were taught the BETTER model in the first interview and were asked to use this in their practice. FINDINGS: In the second interview nurse participants described the model as useful and consumer responses as very positive. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest the BETTER model is a simple and effective intervention that can assist mental health nurses to include sexuality as part of nursing care.

Talking about sex as part of our role: making and sustaining practice change.

Sexual issues are common for consumers of mental health services and have many adverse consequences for quality of life as well as impacting negatively on the mental illness itself. Nurses in mental health settings are well placed to assess for the presence of and provide interventions for sexual concerns. To date, little research has been undertaken to explore nurses' attitudes and whether sexual issues would be accepted as part of their care. This paper presents findings from the third stage of a qualitative, exploratory research study with mental health nurses working in an Australian mental health service. The findings from the first two stages suggested that the participants had tended to avoid discussion of sexual issues, but a brief education intervention had produced a greater willingness to address sexual issues as part of care. The aim of the third stage was to determine the degree to which changes in practice had continued over time. Two main themes that emerged from this data were: (i) holism, from rhetoric to reality; and (ii) part of what I do. Addressing sexual issues became part of practice, a change sustained 2 years following the intervention, because participants recognized its importance for holistic nursing care.

Awareness building of sexual health concerns.

It is commonly reported across a variety of clinical fields that nurses avoid the inclusion of sexual health in the care they provide with similar reasons for this avoidance being reported.