Knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management among nurses in Hong Kong medical units

Aims. To investigate knowledge levels and attitudes regarding pain management among nurses working in medical units in Hong Kong and factors that might influence their knowledge and attitudes. Background. Pain, a common symptom for patients in medical units, can be relieved by effective pain management. Nurses have a vital role in implementing pain management effectively and must, therefore, have a solid foundation of knowledge and a positive attitude towards pain management. Design. Cross-sectional study. Methods. A self-administered survey including demographics and the nurses' knowledge and attitudes survey regarding pain-Chinese version (NKASRP-C) was completed by 143 nurses working at medical units in a public hospital. Descriptive statistics and stepwise regression were used in the data analysis. Results. A deficit in knowledge and attitudes related to pain management was prominent (percentage of total score = 47.72, range = 20-76%). Although nurses had developed appropriate attitudes towards pain management, discrepancies between practice and attitudes existed. Those with a higher percentage of correct scores in NKASRP-C had longer clinical working experience and applied knowledge of pain to their daily work. Conclusions. The findings of this study, identifying problems of inadequate knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding pain management, are of concern. A better understanding of the factors that affect such knowledge and attitudes and of the discrepancy between attitudes and practice, can provide useful information to be included in education programmes for nurses and to inform policy on the provision of pain management. Relevance to clinical practice. To improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management, the educational curriculum may include the pharmacological area, patient assessment and the integration of knowledge about pain into daily practice. It is hoped that the results of this study may increase an awareness of knowledge deficit among nurses and help them to find ways of making changes to their practice. © 2008 The Authors.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Microsomal lipid peroxidation and oxidative metabolism in rat liver: Influence of vitamin A intake

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The information needs of breast cancer patients in hong kong and their levels of satisfaction with the provision of information

Background: Information is vital for patients in overcoming cancer and making decisions about their treatment plans, but little is known about the information needs of Chinese breast cancer patients and their satisfaction with the information provided. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the priority of information needs perceived by participants and the demographic and clinical factors that affect the priority of information needs such as prioritization, the utilization of and satisfaction with different sources of information, and satisfaction with the information provided by health care professionals. Methods: A self-administered survey was used, including sources of information, an Information Needs Questionnaire-Chinese version, and patients' satisfaction with the information provided by health care professionals. Results: Participants (n = 374) ranked the likelihood of cure, spread of the disease, and treatment options as the 3 most important information needs. They had mostly been using the information sources available in the hospital. Despite health care professionals being ranked as a highly satisfying source of information, participants perceived different levels of satisfaction with the various types of information provided. Conclusion: Participants perceived information about the illness itself and about treatment as most important. They preferred to use sources available in the hospital, but the satisfaction rates associated with information provided by health care professionals were relatively low. Implications for Practice: This study provides useful information about what patients really want to know and a potential basis for developing more effective models to deliver information and support to breast cancer patients. Identification of the actual needs of these patients can produce better resource allocation and provide health services more efficiently to meet those needs. Copyright © 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Cpg Methylation In The Fhit Regulatory Region: Relation To Fhit Expression In Murine Tumors

To determine if: (1) 5' CpG island methylation is related to Fhit inactivation; (2) there are tumor or carcinogen-specific methylation patterns, we examined 35 CpG sites in the promoter, exon and intron 1 of the mouse Fhit gene. In primary tumors of lung, urinary bladder and tongue, induced by different carcinogens, 15-35% of sites were methylated, with specific methylation patterns associated with each cancer type, suggesting cancer- or tissue-specific methylation patterns. The methylation patterns were associated with reduced Fhit expression, as determined by immunohistochemical analyses. Methylation of rat Fhit 5' CpGs in mammary adenocarcinomas, detected by methylation specific PCR amplification, also correlated with reduced gene expression. Thus, there was an overall association between promoter/exon 1 methylation and decreased Fhit expression. In contrast, in cancer- derived cell lines 70-95% of the CpG sites were methylated. This is the first detailed study of the relationship between Fhit 5' CpG island methylation and Fhit expression in murine tumors, our main models for preclinical cancer studies, and provides evidence that loss of Fhit expression and methylation are correlated in these mouse models and these models will be useful to examine the complex relationships among gene expression, methylation patterns and organ specific city.WoSScopu

Fez1/Lzts1 absence impairs Cdk1/Cdc25C interaction during mitosis and predisposes mice to cancer development

The FEZ1/LZTS1 (LZTS1) protein is frequently downregulated in human cancers of different histo-types. LZTS1 is expressed in normal tissues, and its introduction in cancer cells inhibits cell growth and suppresses tumorigenicity, owing to an accumulation of cells in G2/M. Here, we define its role in cell cycle regulation and tumor progression by generating Lzts1 knockout mice. In Lzts1(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), Cdc25C degradation was increased during M phase, resulting in decreased Cdk1 activity. As a consequence, Lzts1(-/-) MEFs showed accelerated mitotic progression, resistance to taxol- and nocodazole-induced M phase arrest, and improper chromosome segregation. Accordingly, Lzts1 deficiency was associated with an increased incidence of both spontaneous and carcinogen-induced cancers in mice