Impact on blood pressure control of a six month intervention project

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of a six-month structured education programme on blood pressure (BP) control in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. All patients attending the Specialist Hypertension Clinic, University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), between January 4 and March 29, 1999, with blood pressure >140/90 mmHg (n=80), were randomly divided into Group 1, cases (n=42) and Group 2, controls (n=38). A 40-item pretested questionnaire, administered at the baseline and final visits of both groups, elicited demographic, lifestyles and knowledge data. Group 1 attending monthly structured interventions for six months. Except for diastolic blood pressure among male controls, disatolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention period (p < 0.01). Knowledge improved among the male patients (p < 0.01). Among the female patients, acitivity scores were significantly increased (p < 0.01), weight ( p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.05) were significantly reduced. There were no differences in these variables among the controls. This intervention had a benefit in blood pressure control.(Au)

Impact on blood pressure control of a six-month intervention project

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the impact of a structured education programme on blood pressure (BP) control in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. METHODS: All patients attending the Specialist Hypertension Clinic, University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, between January 4 and March 29,1999, with blood pressure > 140/90 mmHg (n = 80), were randomly divided into Group 1, cases (n = 42) and Group 2, controls (n =38). Group 1 attended monthly structured intervention programmes for six months: blood pressure and weight monitoring, video presentations, group and individual counselling. A 40-item pre-tested questionnaire, administered at the baseline and final visits of both groups, elicited demographic, lifestyle and knowledge data. Both groups kept their usual clinic appointments. RESULTS: Except for diastolic blood pressure among male controls, diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure were significantly reduced at the end of the intervention period (p < 0.01). Knowledge improved significantly among the male patients (P<0.01). Among the female cases, activity scores were significantly increased (p<0.01), weight (p<0.05) and body mass index (p<0.05) were significantly reduced. There were no differences in these variables among the controls. CONCLUSION: This intervention may have a benefit in blood pressure control.(Au)

Topical use of Papaya in chronic skin ulcer therapy in Jamaica

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of the use of the fruit (papaya) or Carica papaya as topical ulcer dressings by registered nurses in the Spanish Town Hospital (STH), Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), Jamaica. A ten-item pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 285 randomly selected registered nurses at the UHWI, KPH and STH. There was a 72 percent response rate. The prevalence of topical papaya use among the respondents was 75 percent. Comments from the users of papaya suggested that topical application of the unripe fruit promoted desloughing, granulation and healing and reduced odour in chronic skin ulcers. It was cost effective. Papaya was considered to be more effective than other topical applications in the treatment of chronic ulcers. There was some difficulty in preparation of the fruit and occasionally a standardised procedure but there were no reports of wound infection from its use. Papaya is widely used by nurses as a form of dressing for chronic ulcers and there is need for standardisation of its preparation and application.(Au)

Perioperative nursing - the Jamaican perspective

Under constraints of a restricted economy Jamaica strives to deliver health care at the standard of developed countries. Nurses in Jamaica assume various roles as they provide perioperative nursing care;they work as a team and act as patient advocates. Bonds of caring and love are often established between patients, families, and the nursing staff. The quality of nursing care often determines the client's perioperative outcome, and Jamaican nurses strive to meet the challenges inherent in achieving positive outcomes.(AU)

A preliminary examination of indicators of fear of success (ios) of a selected sample of registered nurses at the University Hospital of West Indies - abstract

METHODOLOGY: The research instrument was a questionnaire comprising of eighteen questions which focused on questions prompted by the literature which may be considered to indicate a fear of success. Fear of success (positive indicators) was considered to be present if answers to those questions indicated a tendancy for the "feelings' exerienced regardingconsequences of the success to be negative or there was no evidence of non-acceptance of professional mobility and success. A coded questionnaire comprising eighteen questions was administered to a sample of seventy nurses who had specialized or held managerial/teaching positions within the hospital. MAJOR FINDINGS: Major findings revealed that there were minimal indicators of fear of success. Where there were expresions of negativism, it focused on issues of socioeconomic, job satisfaction and interpersonal problems. DISCUSSION: The results revealed by this preliminary study indicated that in a particular sample of registered nurses at the UHWI there was minimal evidence of fear of success. Caution must be exercised however in any attempt to generalize from such a limited sample. (au)

The burn patient inhalation injury

Discusses some of the ways in which the respiratory is affected by burns

Creative staffing

Describes the use of innovative techniques and scheduling to deploy staff members so as to solve the problems of carrying out specific tasks when and where necessary

The peri-operative management of the patient scheduled for open heart surgery

The perioperative management of 286 patients scheduled for open heart surgery has been described. Mortality associated with anaesthesia (0.4 percent), patient monitoring and measurement (0.4 percent) and cardio-pulmonary bypass (1.4 percent) has been low. Morbidity produced by these techniques has been reversed with supportive therapy. It is concluded that the techniques of anaesthesia, patient monitoring and measurement, and cardiopulmonary by-pass as reported herein are acceptable and safe for the patient undergoing open heart surgery. Operative mortality in the majority (114 patients) age group of 10-20 years has been relatively low (18 percent). However, cardiac failure is dominant as a major cause of early (operative) and late mortality. It is the authors' opinion that technical problems of intracardiac repair and cardio-pulmonary bypass in patients below 5 years, and errors in deciding operability have largely contributed to refractory cardiac failure. It is hoped that more critical selection of patients for operation and greater experience in operative techniques, would result in a decrease in operative deaths (AU)

The burn patient inhalation injury

Discusses some of the ways in which the respiratory is affected by burns

Creative staffing

Describes the use of innovative techniques and scheduling to deploy staff members so as to solve the problems of carrying out specific tasks when and where necessary