Use of Head and Neck Magnetic Resonance Angiography to Explore Neurological Function Recovery and Impact of Rehabilitation Nursing on Patients with Acute Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze neurological function recovery and the impact of rehabilitation nursing in patients with cerebral stroke after treatment to aid clinical diagnosis and treatment of cerebral stroke. METHODS: The study comprised 140 patients who were hospitalized in the neurology department for magnetic resonance angiography examination. Patients were divided into a treatment group (70 patients) and a control group (70 patients) based on treatment plan. Digital subtraction angiography was regarded as the gold standard diagnostic examination. In patients in both groups, magnetic resonance angiography features of the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery and diagnostic specificity and sensitivity were recorded. An activities of daily living score was used to assess neurological function of patients before and after rehabilitation. RESULTS: The activities of daily living scores of patients in both groups increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.05); the scores of patients in the treatment group increased more significantly (P < 0.05). The total effective rate was 89% in the treatment group and 60% in the control group. The difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After treatment, the degree of M1 segment stenosis in both groups was better than before treatment, and the number of collateral circulation branches was increased; the improvements in the treatment group were more significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation nursing could greatly improve the stenosis of blood vessels in patients with acute cerebral stroke and promote the establishment of collateral circulation, thereby effectively enhancing the recovery of neurological function and strengthening the ability of patients to perform activities of daily living.

Examining Fall Risk Assessment in Geriatric Rehabilitation Settings Using Translational Research.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to identify gaps in and to improve the falls prevention strategy (FPS) of an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) in Toronto, Canada. DESIGN: A modified version of the Stanford Biodesign Methodology was used. METHODS: Chart reviews, a focus group (n = 8), and semistructured interviews (n = 8) were conducted to evaluate the FPS. FINDINGS: Admission Functional Independence Measure score, age, and gender significantly correlated with risk for a fall. The tool used at this IRF was not effectively capturing patients who were at high risk for falls. All healthcare providers interviewed were knowledgeable of fall risks; however, a patient's fall risk status was rarely discussed as a team. CONCLUSIONS: The findings informed recommendations to improve the overall FPS at this IRF. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Staff may require more coaching for implementing preventative measures/ensuring accountability and evaluating whether current strategies work. These insights can guide improvement initiatives at similar facilities elsewhere.

Understanding Symptoms of Muscle Tightness, Weakness, and Rigidity From a Nursing Perspective.

PURPOSE: This study examined the nature of muscle tightness from nurses' perspectives and explored how the symptoms of muscle tightness are communicated, managed, and differentiated from other conditions, such as muscle rigidity and muscle weakness. DESIGN: An exploratory, descriptive qualitative design was used. METHODS: Eight rehabilitation nurses described lexicons, care strategies, and communication for muscle tightness, weakness, and rigidity. FINDINGS: Nurses used conflicting terms to describe muscle tightness, weakness, and rigidity. They identified medications and range of motion as the best strategies to manage muscle conditions. Nurses approach care holistically and do not differentiate care strategies that are based only on a symptoms lens. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses were unable to clearly differentiate between muscle tightness and rigidity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses influence patients' choice of vocabulary; therefore, they must use simple but precise terminologies to educate their patients. Miscommunication between nurses and patients can lead to errors, which can have negative consequences.

Consenting on Principles of Rehabilitation Nursing Care: A Delphi Study.

PURPOSE: Patient-centeredness, evidence-based interventions, and interdisciplinary teamwork have been described as key in neurological rehabilitation nursing. In order to develop future action plans, a group of Swiss rehabilitation nurses sought agreement on concrete principles that led the efforts to develop a common understanding of rehabilitation nursing care in Switzerland. DESIGN: A three-round Delphi study was conducted. METHODS: Literature-based statements were formulated and sent out twice to 54 rehabilitation nursing stakeholders. In the third round, the participants ranked the three most important statements out of 13. FINDINGS: Highest priority reached the statements: Rehabilitation nursing care (1) considers the uniqueness of the patients and their family, (2) offers support that promises the greatest potential for patients and their family, and (3) uses evidence-based knowledge. CONCLUSION: Statements on patient- and family-centeredness were ranked highest. Patients and families' preferences have to be considered as much as evidence-based knowledge and interventions to support patients and family. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study supported the discussion on action plans and enlivened new services and nursing interventions in a Swiss nursing community.

An Interactive System for Fine Motor Rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: One of the most important aspects in neuromotor rehabilitation is the need of feedback for patients. The rehabilitation system's efficiency relies on the therapist's judgment; the therapist tells the patient whether he/she is performing the exercises correctly. This process may be quite subjective, because it depends on the therapist's personal opinion. On the other hand, recent studies have shown that vibrotactile biofeedback can improve the effectiveness of interaction as it is a very helpful tool in the physiological process of neuromotor rehabilitation. DESIGN: We designed an interactive system focused on rehabilitation of the upper limbs using active markers and image processing, which consists of drawing activities in both augment and virtual reality. METHODS: The system gives the user a correction through multimodal stimuli feedback (vibrotactile, visual, and sound stimulus) and force measurement to let the patients know if they are not achieving the tasks' goals. FINDINGS: The developed system could be used by nursing assistants to better help patients. The purpose of this system was assisting patients with injuries in shoulders, elbows, or wrists, providing an audio-vibrotactile feedback as a factor of correction in the movements of the patient. To examine our system, 11 participants were asked to participate in an experiment where they performed activities focused to strengthen their fine motor movements. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results showed show that patients' fine motor skills improved 10% on average by comparing their error rates throughout the sessions.

Implementation of the Agitated Behavior Scale in the Electronic Health Record.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to implement an Agitated Behavior Scale through an electronic health record and to evaluate the usability of the scale in a brain injury unit at a rehabilitation hospital. DESIGN: A quality improvement project was conducted in the brain injury unit at a large rehabilitation hospital with registered nurses as participants using convenience sampling. METHODS: The project consisted of three phases and included education, implementation of the scale in the electronic health record, and administration of the survey questionnaire, which utilized the system usability scale. FINDINGS: The Agitated Behavior Scale was found to be usable, and there was 92.2% compliance with the use of the electronic Electronic Agitated Behavior Scale. CONCLUSION: The Agitated Behavior Scale was effectively implemented in the electronic health record and was found to be usable in the assessment of agitation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Utilization of the scale through the electronic health record on a daily basis will allow for an early identification of agitation in patients with traumatic brain injury and enable prompt interventions to manage agitation.

Quality of Life Among Primary Family Caregivers of Patients with Heart Failure in Southwest China.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life (QOL) and to identify the factors (characteristics of patients and caregivers, caregiver burden, self-efficacy, and social support) related to QOL among family caregivers of patients with heart failure (HF) in Southwest China. DESIGN: The study had a cross-sectional descriptive design. METHODS: Patients and their family caregiver dyads (N = 251) in three hospitals in Chengdu were recruited from April 2013 to September 2014. Data were collected by in-person interviews. Multivariate analyses were used to identify the factors associated with physical and mental QOL of caregivers. FINDINGS: The median scores of physical and mental QOL were 70 and 60, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that higher New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, more caregiving hours per day, more readmissions in the last 6 months, higher caregiver burden, and lower social support were associated with poorer physical and mental QOL. Lower self-efficacy was also associated with poorer physical QOL. The variances of physical (73%) and mental (70%) QOL of caregivers were explained by these identified significant factors. CONCLUSIONS: The caregivers of patients with HF in Southwest China had perceived reduced QOL and experienced more seriously impaired mental health than physical health. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early assessments, strategies, and policy supports developed particularly for caregivers in undeveloped areas are necessary to identify caregivers who are at a high risk of reduced QOL and to improve their well-being.

Community Physician-Guided Long-Term Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Combined With Conventional Therapy in Stage IV COPD Patients.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to explore clinical effect of community physician-guided long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LTDOT) on patients with Stage IV chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: A retrospective study. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with Stage IV COPD were recruited and randomly divided into two groups (the LTDOT group and the control group). Patients in LTDOT group accepted additional oxygen therapy for more than 15 hours every day with continuous low flow (1-2 L/min) for 3 years. FINDINGS: PaO2 (O2 pressure), FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity), and FEV1% (percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second) in the LTDOT group increased significantly after treatment. A significant decrease was observed on the BODE index in the LTDOT group (p < .05) but not in control group (p > .05). Frequencies and costs of hospitalization therapy and emergency medical services were markedly decreased after 3 years of LTDOT. CONCLUSION: Community physician-guided LTDOT can improve prognosis and reduce the costs for stage IV COPD patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rehabilitation nurses can be instrumental in helping patients with stage IV COPD learn principles of LTDOT.

Research in the Rehabilitation Unit Presents Challenges to Nurse Researchers.

PURPOSE: Gathering data from patients on a rehabilitation unit poses challenges for nurse researchers. DESIGN: A case study is presented that describes ways the researchers attempted to meet these challenges while conducting their study. METHODS: The case study presents the approaches that the investigators took to undertake the study and then described the ways in which these approaches could have been improved. FINDINGS: Their successes and failures are described. CONCLUSIONS: Suggestions are made for future investigators. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical nursing research is required to develop an evidence base for practice in the rehabilitation unit. An analysis of the challenges and possible methods of overcoming these challenges is useful to both future investigators and nurses in practice to insure that studies can be carried out effectively.

Changes in Payment Regulation and Acute Care Use for Total Hip Replacement: Trends in Length of Stay, Costs, and Discharge, 1997-2012.

PURPOSE: To describe trends in the length of stay (LOS), costs, mortality, and discharge destination among a national sample of total hip replacement (THR) patients between 1997 and 2012. DESIGN: Longitudinal retrospective design METHODS: Descriptive analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) National Inpatient Sample data. FINDINGS: A total of 3,516,636 procedures were performed over the study period. Most THR patients were women, and the proportion aged 44-65 years increased. LOS decreased from 5 to 3 days. Charges more than doubled, from $22,184 to $53,901. Deaths decreased from 43 to 12 deaths per 10,000 patients. THR patients discharged to an institutional setting declined, while those discharged to the community increased. CONCLUSION: We found an increase in THR patients, who were younger, women, had private insurance, and among those discharged to community-based settings. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings have implications for patient profiles, workplace environments, quality improvement, and educational preparation of nurses in acute and postacute settings.

Standardising fast-track surgical nursing care in Denmark.

Considerable variations in procedures, hospital stay and rates of recovery have been recorded within specific surgical procedures at Danish hospitals. The aim of this paper is to report on a national initiative in Denmark to improve the quality of surgical care by implementation of clinical guidelines based on the principles of fast-track surgery-i.e. patient information, surgical stress reduction, effective analgesia, early mobilisation and rapid return to normal eating. Fast-track surgery was introduced systematically in Denmark by the establishment of the Unit of Perioperative Nursing (UPN) in 2004. The unit was responsible for guideline construction and implementation using the 'workshop practice method': establishing a website, creating a knowledge centre, coordinating implementation agents, and arranging national workshops and conferences. The UPN has promoted implementation of fast-track regimes in all surgical departments in Denmark. We recommend the workshop-practice method for implementation of new procedures in other areas of patient care.