Digital libraries in a clinical setting: Friend or foe?

Clinical requirements for quick accessibility to reputable, up-to-date information have increased the importance of web accessible digital libraries for this user community. To understand the social and organisational impacts of ward-accessible digital libraries (DLs) for clinicians, we conducted a study of clinicians. perceptions of electronic information resources within a large London based hospital. The results highlight that although these resources appear to be a relatively innocuous means of information provision (i.e. no sensitive data) social and organisational issues can impede effective technology deployment. Clinical social structures, which produce information. and technology. hoarding behaviours can result from poor training, support and DL usability

Theological education in a clinical setting

The principal objective of this thesis is to study the effect upon participating students of hospital-based courses taught within the Department of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at Edinburgh University. A historical introduction traces the development of the teaching of practical theology in Edinburgh from 1846 until 1971, by which time three full-time hospital chaplains were associated with the department with responsibilities for developing the above courses. After a 'Theological Note' which examines the theological issues important in the historical development, other factors are suggested which created an environment favourable to this new approach to pastoral education. Empirical data is provided relating to the week-long Easter Vacation hospitals conference for the Practical Theology I class in two separate years and for extended fieldwork placements which form part of Practical Theology III and the Diploma and Certificate in Pastoral Studies. Using the Theological School Inventory it was possible to identify theologically conservative and liberal groups within the Practical Theology I class. A 40-item Attitude Inventory enabled attitude change as a result of participation in the conference to be measured on four dimensions, viz. hospitals, ministry, psychiatry and ethical issues. Data is provided both for the whole group and the theologically differing sub-groups. Content Analysis of Students' essays provides further information regarding reaction to the conference. Research into the extended fieldwork placements focuses upon change in styles of pastoral counselling resulting from participation in the relevant courses. The method used is to identify and classify the counselling responses of students to tape-recordings of simulated pastoral counselling interviews, a method devised by Strupp and modified by Campbell. Change in counsellor response is related to personality and other biographical factors. The thesis is followed by a Postscript which discusses two issues of a more theoretical nature, "The Hospital as an Arena of Theological Education" and "The Theological Integrity of Pastoral Counselling"

VCU Health Nursing Inquiry Process Diagram (version 2)

This diagram outlines the nursing inquiry process to help answer questions that arise in the clinical setting. The diagram further helps a nurse understand how to distinguish whether a situation calls for evidence-based practice, performance improvement or research. It also guides a nurse through clarifying the initial question, gathering the evidence, and through each step in the subsequent process

Survival Analysis in A Clinical Setting

With the fast paced advancement of modern medicine, cancer treatments have improved greatly over the past few decades; however, the overall survival rate has not improved for head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Traditionally, the general affected population of HNSCC was male over 50-60 years of age, whom have had history of alcohol and tobacco use. Conversely, in the recent decades, HNSCC has exhibited significant rise in younger patients, largely due to the increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among young adults. Generally, HPV as the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease, consisted of strains that do not cause harm to humans. Only handful of strains were found to be carcinogenic, potentially. Furthermore, the carcinogenic property of HPV has been increasing tremendously, and becoming a greater threat to human. For instance, HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer currently. Recently, HPV related HNSCC has showed significant increase in the last 30 years as well, with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) as the most prevalent type, and the most increased kind in the HPV related HNSCC groups. In this study, three methods of survival analysis were used which included non-parametric Kaplan-Meier method, parametric accelerated failure model and Cox proportional hazard method to achieve this data analysis. First, two best fitted predictive survival models were developed for HNSCC (OPSCC) patients whom have been diagnosed and treated at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The models were initially determined by forward and backward selection of Cox proportional hazard method. The best predictive variables were further identified via forward selection in Kaplan Meier method. As a result, the final model estimates were obtained through accelerated failure time model. Additionally, using Kaplan Meier method, HPV and HNSCC (OPSCC) relationships were investigated via P16 protein presence, which is an indicator of HPV related OPSCC. Survival rate of P16+ and P16- status were compared and contrasted. Interaction between the presence of P16 protein and other factors such as age groups, tobacco use, loco-regional fail, various stages of cancer defined by tumor differentiation, cancer recurrence, and lymph node found positive for cancer were explored. Lastly, other factors of interest such as types of treatment, types of chemotherapy, race and anemia were investigated for overall survival rate as well as interactions with presence or absence of P16, also using Kaplan Meier method. Survival graphs were generated for the whole model as well as for the group comparisons

EDUCATION ROLES OF NURSES IN CLINICAL SETTING

Nurses have crucial roles in clinical settings since they are the first line in treating patients and they are also forming the last line in contact with patients. Furthermore, clinical settings include a variety of clinical staff including physicians, residents, nurses, and students. Nurses have also significant teaching roles for students and new involved nurses in career. In this study, we put emphasis in living experience of nurses as educators. The literature was reviewed to retrieve proper material in this issue

Addressing Food Insecurity in the Clinical Setting

Food insecurity is defined as having inadequate resources to ensure that everyone in a household has enough food to be properly nourished, without disruptions. 12% of the population in Clinton County, NY is food insecure. The aim of this project was to identify barriers to clinicians addressing food insecurity, and to provide information for both patients and providers to improve utilization of food assistance resources among food-insecure patients.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1561/thumbnail.jp

The Relationship Between Cognitive Flexibility, Coping, and Symptomatology in Psychotherapy

Cognitive flexibility is broadly defined as the ability to shift perspective or approach in order to adapt to changes in the environment. This implies the abilities to generate alternatives and then to implement effective approaches. High cognitive flexibility has been associated with psychological well-being and effective coping, whereas low flexibility, or rigidity, has been linked to several types of psychopathology. The goal of the current study was to provide exploratory evidence of the utility of a brief, self-report measure of cognitive flexibility in identifying relationships to coping strategies, symptomatology, and treatment duration in a clinical setting. A total of 18 individuals seeking treatment at a university-affiliated mental health clinic participated in the study. Participants completed measures of cognitive flexibility and coping styles. Demographic information and data regarding symptomatology and treatment were gathered from client files. Correlational analyses indicated strong positive relationships between aspects of cognitive flexibility and use of problem-focused coping, suggesting that greater ability to generate and implement effective approaches is linked to greater use of pragmatic strategies to improve a situation. Results also indicated a strong positive correlation between the perceived control over challenging situations and duration of previous therapy. However, no relationship was found between flexibility and symptomatology. These exploratory results provide preliminary evidence for the relationship between cognitive flexibility and aspects of mental health in a clinical setting

EDUCATION ROLES OF NURSES IN CLINICAL SETTING

Nurses have crucial roles in clinical settings since they are the first line in treating patients and they are also forming the last line in contact with patients. Furthermore, clinical settings include a variety of clinical staff including physicians, residents, nurses, and students. Nurses have also significant teaching roles for students and new involved nurses in career. In this study, we put emphasis in living experience of nurses as educators. The literature was reviewed to retrieve proper material in this issue