Tobacco control curricula content in baccalaureate nursing programs in four Asian nations

In Asia there is widespread smoking among men; smoking among women and youth is increasing, and quitting tobacco use is rare. The involvement of nurses, as the largest group of healthcare professionals, in tobacco control efforts is essential. The findings of this survey of 282 (69% response rate) baccalaureate nursing programs in 4 countries in Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines) revealed that the majority included content on health risks of smoking (92%), but almost half (49%) did not provide smoking cessation content, and 94% did not cover it in-depth. Only 11% of programs included supervised cessation practice with patients. Fewer than 10% reported in-depth coverage of cessation interventions and few reported opportunities for clinical practice of cessation skills. Most schools surveyed delivered < 1 hour of instruction each year on tobacco control. Further educational efforts are needed to prepare future nurses to assist smokers with smoking cessation. Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, 1 and tobacco-induced deaths in Asia continue to rise. The Western Pacific accounts for one-third of the cigarettes smoked in the world (25% in China alone) and 20% of the 5 million annual deaths from tobacco. 2 China is expected to lead the world in tobacco-related deaths by 2025. 3 Countries in Asia have widespread smoking, especially among men. There is a disturbing increase in smoking among women and youth, quitting tobacco use is rare, and exposure to second-hand smoke is common. 2. Considering the immensity of the problem, all health care professionals throughout the world need to be actively engaged in tobacco control measures, including prevention, cessation, and reduction of exposure to second-hand smoke. 4 Training health care professional students about these issues can have a profound impact on public health. 5,6 In recognition of the importance of involvement of health care professionals, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted their role in tobacco control during "World No Tobacco Day" on May 31, 2005. 7 The involvement of nurses, as the largest group of health care professionals, could boost these efforts. Thus, education of nurses regarding the multiple aspects of tobacco control has strategic implications in controlling global tobacco use and promoting health. © 2006 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Nutritional management of rheumatoid arthritis: a review of the evidence

‘The definitive version is available at: www3.interscience.wiley.com '. Copyright Blackwell Publishing / British Dietetic Association. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-277X.2003.00423.x [Full text of this article is not available in the UHRA]Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Poor nutrient status in RA patients has been reported and some drug therapies, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), prescribed to alleviate RA symptoms, may increase the requirement for some nutrients and reduce their absorption. This paper reviews the scientific evidence for the role of diet and nutrient supplementation in the management of RA, by alleviating symptoms, decreasing progression of the disease or by reducing the reliance on, or combating the side-effects of, NSAIDs. Supplementation with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) consistently demonstrates an improvement in symptoms and a reduction in NSAID usage. Evidence relating to other fatty acids, antioxidants, zinc, iron, folate, other B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D and fluoride are also considered. The present evidence suggests that RA patients should consume a balanced diet rich in long-chain n-3 PUFA and antioxidants. More randomized long-term studies are needed to provide evidence for the benefits of specific nutritional supplementation and to determine optimum intake, particularly for n-3 PUFA and antioxidants.Peer reviewe