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Background. Persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the groin, legs, and/or feet are at high risk for chronic venous ulcers (CVUs). The plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) level is a marker of systemic inflammation. Objective. This pilot study examined CRP levels in plasma and CVU exudate of PWID. The aims were to (1) compare levels of CRP in plasma and exudate; (2) examine if the CRP level in exudate changed over 4 weeks with wound treatment; and (3) examine the relationship of the exudate CRP level with CVU area, CVU age, number of CVUs, and number of comorbidities. Materials and Methods. Persons who inject drugs seeking wound care were enrolled in this Institutional Review Board approved prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study. A blood sample was collected on the first visit (week 1); the plasma was then separated. Wound exudate was collected on swabs during the first visit (week 1) and 4 weeks later (week 4). All samples were stored at -80° C. Samples were eluted from swabs using mass spectrometry grade water then aliquoted for CRP analysis. Results. The participants of the study included 14 PWID (mean age, 62.14 ± 4.52 years; mean number of comorbidities, 5.71 ± 1.90; and mean number of ulcers 2.07 ± 1.07 that were present for a mean of 7.96 ± 11.91 years without healing). C-reactive protein level in plasma was a mean of 6.47 ± 8.56 mg/L, with lower levels found in wound exudate but highly correlated (rho = .925). Exudate CRP levels decreased from week 1 to week 4, and the 2 were highly correlated (rho = .895). Exudate CRP level week 1 was not significantly related to wound area, wound age, number of ulcers, or number of comorbidities. Conclusions. Plasma and exudate CRP levels were highly correlated. Exudate CRP levels decreased across time. Future large-scale wound healing studies should examine CRP levels over a longer duration and as they correlate to wound healing.

Antibiotic use and misuse continue to be a worldwide concern with the increasing rate of antimicrobial resistance, lack of new antibiotics in the pipeline, and rising health care costs. Despite studies that attempt to distinguish between factors associated with antibiotic use and misuse (e.g., knowledge and beliefs and provider-patient communication), few studies have tested comparative hypotheses related to antibiotic use behavior. This study 1) compares two theoretical models (health belief and patient-centered communication) to learn which best represents the pathways associated with antibiotic use; and 2) describes urban consumers' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding antibiotic use. Interviewers completed 505 intercept surveys across six clinic- and community-based sites in Southeast Michigan. Structural equation modeling was utilized to compare two competing theoretical models predicting antibiotic behavior. Findings support the assertion that a patient-provider communication model fits the data better than the null model. Descriptive statistical analysis explicated participant knowledge was mixed. While many participants knew correct general facts about antibiotics, 35% of the sample put forth that they believed that antibiotics cure colds and flu and over half (57%) endorsed the belief that antibiotics are good for treating infections caused by viruses. The implications for theory and practice are discussed including the need for clinicians to target communication strategies for the populations that they serve.

Pediatric inpatient clinical sites are challenging to obtain for undergraduate nursing students; thus, educators are considering nontraditional clinical experiences. This article explores equine-assisted therapy as a nontraditional pediatric clinical experience. Four concepts about equine therapy are important for students, faculty, and clinicians: triangular relationship, perception of the horse, facilitator experience, and atmosphere. Students learn that clinical practice can occur in different settings with no clinical site more important than another site.

General purpose To explore skin and soft-tissue infections and vascular damage in persons who inject drugs and relate these changes to wound development and care. Target audience This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. Learning objectives/outcomes After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1. Review the issues surrounding wound infections in persons who inject drugs.2. Describe the risk factors and manifestations of wound infections in persons who inject drugs.3. Summarize the treatment options for wound infections in persons who inject drugs. Abstract The number of persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) is increasing. The literature has placed a substantial focus on the association between injection drug use and the transmission of blood-borne viral infections such as HIV and hepatitis C, but there is less extant research on other injuries such as skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), vascular damage, and associated wounds. Both SSTIs and vascular injury can result in marked morbidity and mortality and wounds that are slow to heal, likely to reoccur, and lifelong. The aims of this article are to (1) explore SSTIs and vascular damage in PWIDs and (2) relate these changes to wound development and care. Providers must address the health and psychosocial problems of PWIDs; take physical, psychosocial, and substance use histories; and develop multifocal plans of care. Finally, care must be provided in a nonjudgmental manner.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) often is treated with hemodialysis, which carries significant psychological impact along with risks for wound development. Depression is a constant concern. Purpose An integrative review was conducted to examine studies regarding depression in adults receiving hemodialysis for ESRD. Methods PubMed and the Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for English-language publications from 2012 to 2017 regarding ESRD using the search terms epidemiology, hemodialysis, and depression and hemodialysis, depression, nocturnal, and wounds, respectively. Results Eight (8) of 152 articles found met the inclusion criteria and were categorized thematically. Depression was noted to affect 9.3% to 83% of persons receiving hemodialysis for ESRD. The occurrence of depression does not change across the course of ESRD. Although no publications on patients that included all search terms were found, ESRD and hemodialysis were noted to be independent risk factors for ulcer development, poor healing, and amputation. Wounds can be another source for risk of depression. Conclusion Although the literature does not include studies that contain all components, ESRD, depression, and wounds are linked. Depression is a common occurrence in patients with ESRD and dialysis. Examining the effect of wounds on depression for these patients is critical. As such, additional research is warranted to explore the interconnections of ESRD, depression, and wounds to improve clinician awareness and patient outcomes.

Persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the groin, legs, and/or feet are at high risk for chronic venous ulcers (CVUs). The plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) level is a marker of systemic inflammation.This pilot study examined CRP levels in plasma and CVU exudate of PWID. The aims were to (1) compare levels of CRP in plasma and exudate; (2) examine if the CRP level in exudate changed over 4 weeks with wound treatment; and (3) examine the relationship of the exudate CRP level with CVU area, CVU age, number of CVUs, and number of comorbidities.Persons who inject drugs seeking wound care were enrolled in this Institutional Review Board approved prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study. A blood sample was collected on the first visit (week 1); the plasma was then separated. Wound exudate was collected on swabs during the first visit (week 1) and 4 weeks later (week 4). All samples were stored at -80° C. Samples were eluted from swabs using mass spectrometry grade water then aliquoted for CRP analysis.The participants of the study included 14 PWID (mean age, 62.14 ± 4.52 years; mean number of comorbidities, 5.71 ± 1.90; and mean number of ulcers 2.07 ± 1.07 that were present for a mean of 7.96 ± 11.91 years without healing). C-reactive protein level in plasma was a mean of 6.47 ± 8.56 mg/L, with lower levels found in wound exudate but highly correlated (rho = .925). Exudate CRP levels decreased from week 1 to week 4, and the 2 were highly correlated (rho = .895). Exudate CRP level week 1 was not significantly related to wound area, wound age, number of ulcers, or number of comorbidities.Plasma and exudate CRP levels were highly correlated. Exudate CRP levels decreased across time. Future large-scale wound healing studies should examine CRP levels over a longer duration and as they correlate to wound healing.

Purpose This project examined knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about systemic antibiotic use for persons who reported a wound within the previous year. Design Secondary data analyses of 505 adults from a cross-sectional, prospective, intercept survey where every fifth adult was randomly approached to participate. Subjects and setting Twenty-six participants (5.15% of the parent sample) stated having a wound within the previous year. Methods Participants were "interviewed" using the Facilitators and Barriers to Consumer Use of Antibiotics questionnaire that included demographics, health, information sources, antibiotic knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior questions. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis was used to find clusters of items on the attitude, beliefs, and behavior questions. Results Sample demographics included 15 women and 11 African Americans, and 17 had some college education. Knowledge about antibiotics had a mean correct score of 10 out of 15 (67%) questions. Higher antibiotic knowledge was significantly related to higher education (rs = 0.69, P 85%) recognized the need for medical supervision of antibiotic use (cluster 1), and beliefs about the need for antibiotics to prevent illness or treat wounds varied in 27% to 62% of participants (cluster 2). There were 4 behavior clusters: almost all participants 96% (cluster 1) filled and took the antibiotic if prescribed; greater than 71% (cluster 2) disagreed with unapproved methods of obtaining antibiotics; greater than 87% (cluster 3) used prescribed antibiotics correctly; and 36% of participants heard about antibiotic resistance through television or radio or Internet (40%) (cluster 4). Conclusions Knowledge about antibiotics was low, while attitudes were positive. These findings support the need for research and evidence-based information on the role of antibiotics in wound care.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought uncertainty and opportunity to nurses and healthcare. As part of the nursing profession, enterostomal therapy (ET) / wound, ostomy, cont...

Care of the patient with an ostomy is included in the curriculum of prelicensure nursing programs, but no studies examining student nurses' knowledge about stoma care have been published. The purpose of this project was to examine the ostomy knowledge, experiences, and confidence of nursing students in order to assess and improve the curriculum. At the end of the fall 2016 semester, students enrolled in 3 separate nursing courses in an undergraduate program were asked to participate in a project to examine students' ostomy knowledge, their experiences, and their confidence in providing care. This project was undertaken to explore the college's ostomy curriculum. Participation was voluntary, and no student who was willing to participate was excluded. Students completed a 50-question knowledge test, answered questions about the frequency of performing ostomy-related skills, and rated their confidence in providing ostomy care. Responses were examined with descriptive and inferential statistics. Of 189 possible participants, 138 completed the questionnaires and included mostly women (113, 81.9%); participant mean age was 27.26 ± 6.22 years. The mean number of correct knowledge responses was 35.66 (71.32%); 66 participants (47.8%) reported no experience caring for a patient with an ostomy. The most common skills performed in clinical rotations were emptying (49) and changing (24) the pouch. A scale of 1 to 5 was used to evaluate 6 confidence items, with students having a mean confidence score of 19.54 ± 5.20. They had the most confidence in their ability to empty a pouch and to size and fit the pouching and the least confidence in teaching and community resources. Confidence was related to the number of skills performed in the lab (r = .32; P

Spirituality, spiritual distress, and forgiveness are constructs relevant to nursing diagnoses and care planning. Forgiveness has significant implications, as it contributes to the spirituality of the individual and has been linked to positive and negative health outcomes. In clinical practice, forgiveness facilitation, grief work facilitation, and spiritual growth facilitation are evidence-based nursing interventions to address Spiritual Distress. Need exists to enhance spiritual distress and forgiveness within nursing curricula, patient assessment, and research designs.

Background: In patients with ascending aortic aneurysms (AscAA), biomechanical differences are seen among patients with congenital bicuspid aortic valves (BAV), Marfan syndrome (MFS), and tricuspid aortic valves (TAV). We examined the hemodynamic profiles and ultrastructures of aneurysmal specimens, focusing on vascular remodelling to better understand AscAA pathogenesis. Methods: A total of 795 patients with BAV (43.97 +/- 0.51 years; 93.2% male), 69 with MFS (34.43 +/- 1.44 years; 86.2% male), and 90 with TAV (67.27 +/- 0.58 years; 60% male) were enrolled, primarily upon admission with AscAA. The biomechanical properties of the aortic root were assessed and intraoperative specimens were analyzed by light-microscopy and two-photon autofluorescence microscopy. Results: Patientswith BAV had significantly greater distension of the aortic root, irrespective of age or aneurysmal widening (R-2= 0.543, p < 0.05). This was associated with significantly increase in the size of the tunica media. Patients with MFS displayed significant stiffness in the sinuses that worsened with age (R-2 = 0.752, p < 0.001), similar to patients with TAV (R-2= 0.626, p < 0.05). Patients with MFS showed significant root elasticity with aneurysmal growth (R-2 = 0.596, p < 0.05) and increased medial degeneration. Patients with TAV maintained biomechanical properties, apart from aneurysmal dimensions and high levels of inflammation. Conclusions: Among patientswith AscAA, those with BAVmaintain tissue elasticity in the aortic root, regardless of age. Patients with MFS demonstrate increased sinus stiffness with medial degeneration, both during aging and with aneurysmal growth. Patients with TAV and AscAA present with increased inflammation. (c) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.

PURPOSE The purposes of this study were to (a) compare sleep quality of persons with and without injection-related venous ulcers (VU) and (b) examine associations between global sleep quality with age, sex, comorbidities, pain, nutrition, physical health rating, fatigue, emotional problems, health-related quality of life, attitude toward physical activity, and number of ulcers. DESIGN This study used a cross-sectional design. SUBJECTS AND SETTING The participants included 31 patients with VU and 30 without VU (men [n = 35] and women; mean age = 54 years) who were attending an indigent clinic for wound care or general health. METHODS Participants were recruited from an urban clinic when they came for primary care or wound care. Questionnaires were administered at that time and included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Mini Nutrition Assessment, Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questions about general physical health, fatigue, emotional problems, and quality of life, Brief Pain Inventory worst pain rating, Positive Attitude and Motivation for Physical Activity Scale, wound assessment, and demographic factors. RESULTS The 2 groups did not differ on the PSQI in terms of time going to bed, minutes to fall asleep, time awakening, hours slept, and time in bed. Those with VU compared to without VU took more medications to help sleep (P≤ .03). There were no significant differences in PSQI correlations across groups. All study variables except age, gender, and quality of life were significantly related to Global sleep disturbance score. A higher number of comorbid conditions, worse pain, poorer nutrition, poor physical health rating, greater fatigue, more emotional problems, and poor attitude toward physical activity were related to greater sleep disturbances for all participants. Both groups had mean Global PSQI scores greater than 5 (with VU = 7.83 and without VU = 8.2), indicating sleep problems. CONCLUSIONS Study findings suggest that sleep disturbances may be a concern in persons with VU and are related to many variables. Assessing sleep along with other aspects of wound care may provide a more comprehensive assessment of factors affecting a person with a VU.

Despite the limited durability of biological aortic valves, increasing numbers of younger patients are choosing to receive them, due mainly to the lack of a need for permanent anticoagulation. Few data exist, however, regarding the outcomes of valve replacement in patients aged55 years, and additional data are required in this patient population.Between 1993 and 2014, at the authors' institution, a total of 448 patients (237 males, 101 females; mean age 45.8 ± 8.0 years) underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with either a mechanical prosthesis (M1 group, n = 318) or a biological prosthesis (B1 group, n = 130). The mean follow up was 8.5 ± 5.8 years (range: 4 days to 20.8 years) in the M1 group, and 4.9 ± 4.6 years (range: 2 days to 21 years) in the B1 group. The entire collective (EC) (n = 448 patients) was compared and analyzed with a selective collective (SC) (n = 109 patients) after exclusion of patients with concomitant procedures or comorbidities (M2 group, n = 74; B2 group, n = 35).Early mortality was greater after biological AVR in the EC (6.1% versus 1.9%), but in the SC no early deaths were observed after both primary and redo procedures. The reoperation rate was greater after biological AVR in both collectives. The late mortality, survival and endocarditis rates were comparable in both collectives. Bleeding occurred more often in the EC after mechanical AVR.Biological AVR in patients aged55 years provides satisfactory outcomes, whereas reoperations were performed less commonly in patients with mechanical valve substitutes. In selective patients, AVR can be performed with zero mortality.

Affecting about 3.2 million people in the United States, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the primary cause of chronic liver disease and a global health challenge. Hepatitis C virus can affect the functioning of the liver, the health of the person, and thus wound healing.This quality project explores risk factors of HCV; self-reported screening, occurrence, and treatment; and knowledge of HCV in patients seeking wound care in an urban clinic.Demographic risk factors, HCV history, and responses to a 22-item true-false-don't know HCV Knowledge Test were obtained from 58 patients. Risk factors included age (mean, 61.07 years), male sex (n = 41), non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity (n = 51), and history of injection drugs (n = 38).Thirty-nine (67.2%) stated they had been screened for HCV; 31 were told they were infected. Only 14 went to a clinic for HCV care and 11 reported they were treated. The mean number of correct answers on the HCV Knowledge Test was 14.4 (standard deviation, 5.7).This urban clinic had patients with multiple HCV risk factors; they often lacked HCV screening and/or referral for treatment. Their HCV knowledge was generally low. As a major public health problem that could impact wound healing, wound care practitioners should ask patients about their HCV status, encourage HCV screening and care, and provide HCV information.

Nursing education research is lacking with regard to nursing care plans for patients who have a wound and use of the nursing diagnosis impaired skin integrity. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to inform teaching about nursing care planning for patients with wounds by examining what rst-year nursing students attending a fundamentals of nursing course in a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program included in a nursing process assignment when caring for an assigned patient who had an acute or chronic wound. Because they were in their clinical rotation, students had access to the patients' medical records to facilitate composing the care plan; they also could ask the patient for information. Assessment data were entered on a predetermined form based on Gordon's Functional Patterns. Using this information, students had to provide 3 possible diagnoses and select 1 upon which they developed the care plan intended to include patient description, wound description, dressing, and nursing diagnoses and impressions. The forms then were ana- lyzed for assessment completeness. Thirty-eighty (38) care plans completed by students were collected on patients that included 23 men and 28 African-Americans; mean age of the patients was 60.11 ± 14.17 (range 20-87) years. Wounds included 25 surgical incisions, 4 pressure ulcers/injuries, 7 "other" wounds, and 2 not identi ed. None of the students' assessments provided a detailed wound description. The most common wound descriptors were location (n =19) and drainage (n = 15). For 8 patients, students stated the wound was covered by a dressing. Thirty (30) nursing diagnoses were listed. The most common nursing diagnoses were impaired physical mobility or activity intolerance, impaired com- fort, impaired skin integrity, imbalanced nutrition, and risk for infection. These nursing students had beginning skills in patient and wound assessment and writing nursing care plans about patients with impaired skin integrity. Students need to increase their depth of wound assessment and need more experience planning care for patients with wounds.

Limitation of ankle movement may contribute to calf muscle pump failure, which is thought to contribute to venous leg ulcer formation, which affects nearly 1 million Americans. We therefore wished to study ankle movement in patients with venous leg ulcers and its effect on healing. Using goniometry, we measured baseline ankle range of motion in venous leg ulcer patients from a Phase 2 dose-finding study of an allogeneic living cell bioformulation. Two hundred twenty-seven patients were enrolled in four active treatment groups and one standard-care control group, all receiving compression therapy. Goniometry data from a control group of 49 patients without venous disease, from a previous study, was used for comparison. We found patients with active venous leg ulcers had significantly reduced ankle range of motion compared with the control group (p = 0.001). After 12 weeks of therapy, baseline ankle range of motion was not associated with healing, as there was no significant difference between healed and nonhealed groups, suggesting that ankle range of motion is not important in venous leg ulcer healing or, more likely, is overcome by compression. However, patients with venous ulcers located on the leg (as opposed to the ankle) had significantly higher ankle range of motion for plantar flexion and inversion (p = 0.021 and p = 0.034, respectively) and improved healing with both cell bioformulation and standard care (p = 0.011), suggesting that wound location is an important variable for ankle range of motion as well as for healing outcomes.

PURPOSE: To provide information on the Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand (FTSTS) and Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) tests in persons with injection-related venous ulcers (VU+) and persons without venous ulcers (VU-). TARGET AUDIENCE: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. OBJECTIVES: After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to: Identify the methods used in a comparative study of the FTSTS and TUG tests in persons with and without injection-related venous ulcers. Evaluate results from this and other studies evaluating the use of the FTSTS and TUG tests for use in clinical practice. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To examine functional mobility using Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand (FTSTS) and Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) tests in persons with injection-related venous ulcers (VU+) and compare these findings to persons without venous ulcers (VU-). DESIGN: Cross-sectional, comparative design. SETTING: Outpatient clinic. PARTICPANTS: Participants (n = 61) were 31 persons VU+ and 30 persons VU-; 57.4% men; mean age, 54 years; 93% African American. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand, TUG, physical activity, quality of life, comorbidities, falls, and body mass index. RESULTS: Participants VU+ were 36.8% slower on completion of the TUG test (P = .012) and 26.5% slower on completion of the FTSTS test (P = .081). Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand and TUG were strongly correlated with each other, r = 0.93, 0.87, P < .001 for VU- and VU+, respectively. Test-retest reliabilities for the FTSTS and TUG tests were high (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.89-0.94) for the VU+ and VU-. Within each group, correlations of FTSTS and TUG were similar for each of the variables examined. Across groups, correlations showed that the time to complete FTSTS and TUG increased as a function of comorbidities in the VU+ group; the correlations in the VU- group were not significantly different from zero. CONCLUSIONS: The VU+ group exhibited poorer physical performance than the VU- group. The high correlation between FTSTS and TUG and the similarity of correlations with other variables suggest that these physical performance measures may be interchangeable in their ability to predict physical functioning in these clinical groups despite differences in test demands. Clinicians need easy-to-perform reliable clinical tests such as FTSTS and TUG to assess mobility of aging injection users with venous ulcers.

Objectives: Pain is a symptom reported in 50% to 70% of primary care visits and negatively impacts both physical and psychological functioning. People at risk of receiving inadequate management of pain include the indigent and people of color. The purpose of this exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional study was to describe the prevalence of pain and its relation to functional status, depressive symptoms, perception of control over pain and coping in an urban, primary care clinic for indigent adults. Methods: Individuals (N=301) attending a primary care clinic for indigent adults were surveyed. Patients were 22 to 64 years of age, experienced pain during the past 2 weeks, and were able to understand and respond in English. Results: Ninety-two percent of the sample was African American and the average worst pain score was 8.4/10. The majority of patients had depression symptoms (77%), with pain most affecting patients' function with sleep, ability to work, and walking. Patients reporting higher pain scores had significantly lower perception of control over pain and reduced control over life in general. Higher reported pain levels were also significantly correlated with higher catastrophizing, depressive symptoms, and interference with function scores. Discussion: Pain levels were reported as high and affected psychological and physical functioning. This study was unique in the high percentage of African American participants and being conducted in a primary care clinic for indigent adults. Greater understanding of this population's pain will assist clinicians to assess pain comprehensively, provide education, and make treatment decisions for these patients. Copyright © 2013 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Because nurses frequently participate in decisions related to wound care, learning about wounds and their care during undergraduate education is critical. A cross-sectional, descriptive, quality improvement project was conducted in an introductory baccalaureate nursing course to identify: 1) the types of patients with wounds assigned to beginning students, 2) patient wound care procedures and dressings, and 3) student level of participation in wound care. Data were collected from the weekly notes recorded about students' (N = 49) patient care experiences in 3 acute care hospitals for 9 clinical days during 1 semester. Data were recorded on a paper-and-pencil form by instructors at the end of the clinical day and included type of wound, wound irrigation, dressing, technique of care, and student's participation. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the frequency and distribution of the wound characteristics and care assessed. Of the 284 patients assigned to students, 75 (26.4%) had a wound. The most common wound was a surgical incision (49, 65%) and was closed (36, 73.5%). Twenty-six (26) patients had a pressure ulcer, most commonly Stage II. The most common dressing was dry gauze (29). Damp gauze was used on 18 wounds. Wound irrigation was recorded for 24 wound protocols and performed with a bulb syringe or by pouring the solution from a container. Generally, nonsterile wound care was performed. Twenty-five (25) students performed wound care with the instructor, 16 watched the care performed by another clinician, and 10 participated with another nurse in the wound care. For 22 patients, the wound care was neither observed nor performed because either it was not time for the dressing to be changed or it was only to be changed by a medical team. From these data, it was concluded beginning nursing students had some, but limited, clinical experience with patients with wounds. Students' wound care experiences need further examination, especially across multiple educational courses.

To provide information about a quality improvement project examining falls in persons seeking outpatient wound care.This continuing education activity is intended for physicians and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1. Describe the scope of the problem and the related quality improvement project. 2. Delineate the results of the project and their implications for treatment of patients with venous ulcers.The authors aim to examine fall occurrence and fall injuries in persons seeking outpatient wound care and to compare falls, balance confidence, and lower-body strength in persons with injection-related venous ulcers (IRVUs) versus persons with venous ulcers (VUs) related to other risk factors besides injection drugs (VUs-other).This quality improvement project used a cross-sectional, comparative design. Participants responded to demographic questions, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, fear of falling, fall numbers, and injuries and performed the 30-second chair-rise test.Outpatient wound service.Patients (N = 106; mean age, 59.94 years) included men (66%) and women.Sixty patients reported falling; 47 were recurrent fallers. Twenty patients stated they were injured, but did not go to an emergency department. A higher number of total falls was significantly related to more comorbidities. Total falls were significantly related to fear of falling and ABC Scale scores. Those with VUs-other had significantly more comorbidities and higher body mass index values than those with IRVUs. Those with IRVUs were comparable to those VUs-other on number of falls and fear of falling, respectively. Those with IRVUs (7.30) performed significantly more chair rises than those with VUs-other (4.72). Persons with IRVUs had significantly higher ABC Scale scores (63.24%) than those with VUs-other (49.38%).Falls are a common occurrence in persons seeking outpatient wound care. Despite greater strength sufficient to perform more chair rises among those with IRVUs, fall rates were comparable to those of weaker individuals with other types of VUs. With the high occurrence of falls during the project, long-term risk for fall injury would be high. Further research is needed to clarify interactions between VU risk and patient factors such as strength, age, agility, and impaired cognition.

Chronic venous disorders (CVD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may affect diverse physical activity domains. How CVD and PAD and other relevant variables affect physical activity was examined in 569 opioid-addicted adults. Both CVD and PAD were significantly inversely related to daily walking, sports, and active living. Effects remained significant in the latent variable regression after controlling covariates. Overall activity was very low; most participants walked less than a half mile daily and rarely engaged in sports. Motivation for physical activity was the strongest predictor (β = .55) of daily physical activity. Health-care professionals promoting physical activity for injection users should consider the vascular health of their legs and motivational variables in addition to general health. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 33:426–440, 2010

Objective Examine the occurrence of and risk factors for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in a sample in drug treatment. Design Cross-sectional/stratified design. Setting Ten methadone treatment centers in a large Midwestern metropolitan area in the United States. Participants Six hundred forty participants (290 men [45.3%]; mean [SD] age, 46.54 years [8.85 years]) were included in the study. Sixty-one percent were African American, and 93.5% had a history of smoking cigarettes. Main outcome measures PAD was defined as an ankle brachial index of less than 0.90 in at least 1 leg. Measures included demographic, health, and illicit drug use history questionnaires; the Walking Impairment Questionnaire; and body mass index. The Positive Attitude Toward Physical Activities/Exertion Questionnaire was added 9 months into the study; this decreased the sample size of the logistic regression for the predictors of PAD to 498. Main results PAD was identified in 16.7% of the sample; the mean ankle brachial index value for persons with PAD was 0.84 (SD, 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis found that sex (women) (odds ratio [OR], 2.10), history of ever smoking cigarettes (OR, 5.16), years of smoking cigarettes (OR, 1.60 per 10 years' smoking), and having a positive attitude toward physical activities/exertion (OR, 0.63) made significant contributions to the predictors for PAD after controlling other background and risk variables. Conclusion PAD is prevalent in persons undergoing drug treatment and is best accounted for by cigarette smoking, sex differences, and physical inactivity. PAD in drug abusers should be evaluated, and the current findings merit further investigation.

PURPOSE Injection drug users are at high risk for chronic venous disorders (CVD), a condition resulting in a progressive deterioration of venous function of the legs. However, the effects of CVD on walking mobility in this population have not been studied. We examined a causal model of the relationship between injection drug use, CVD, and Walking Mobility. The validity of the Tinetti Balance and Gait scales and walk speed as a composite measure of Walking Mobility was also explored. SETTING AND SUBJECTS The participants were 104 men and women from a methadone maintenance treatment center. Drug use included 18 persons who injected drugs only in the hands, arms, and above the waist; 70 who injected all over the body including the lower extremities; and 16 who never injected drugs but used illegal substances by other routes. Forty-nine percent of participants had moderate to severe CVD. DESIGN Participants were classified into 2 groups according to their history of injection drug use: (a) those who injected in the lower extremities (n = 70) and (b) those who injected in the arms plus those who did not inject (n = 34). All measurements were obtained at baseline and again approximately 6.5 weeks later. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the causal effect of CVD on Walking Mobility. The validity of the Balance and Gait scales and the walk time variable as measures of a Walking Mobility factor was examined using a second-order confirmatory factor analysis. INSTRUMENTS Questionnaires included the Demographic and Health History and Drug History. The lower extremities were evaluated with the clinical portion of the Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology classification. Participants completed the Tinetti Balance and Gait test. A timed 6-m walk at the person's normal pace was used to calculate walk speed. RESULTS Test-retest reliability of the Tinetti Balance and Gait test and walk speed ranged from 0.79 to 0.86. Balance and gait scores were skewed toward the high end of the scale. Walking speed was slow. The leg-injecting group had lower Balance (P < .05) and Gait (P < .01) scores. A structural equation modeling showed that CVD was related to Walking Mobility after controlling for age, gender, body mass index, and comorbidities. Injection drug use and age were linked to Walking Mobility through CVD severity. Although fall information was not collected as part of our study, 15% of participants had a Tinetti score of less than 19, indicating a high risk for falls. CONCLUSIONS Tinetti Balance and Gait scales and walking speed are reliable and valid measures for the evaluation of walking mobility among persons with a history of drug use. Further research is needed to alleviate the impact of venous disease on walking mobility.

Purpose To examine patients' wound care knowledge and concerns prior to discharge from an acute care hospital. Design Comparative descriptive study of patients with wounds. Setting and subjects Participants (N = 76) included 17 men and 59 women who were African American (n = 33, 43.4%) or Caucasian (n = 43, 56.6%) and ranged in age from 20 to 83 years (M = 48, SD = 13). There were 67 persons with acute wounds and 9 with chronic wounds. All were scheduled to be discharged home from a large urban acute care hospital. Instruments The questionnaire for this study included the following sections: Demographic, Admission and Discharge, Health, Wound Care, Beliefs about Wounds and their Care, Pain and Wounds, Literacy and Learning, and Discharge Concerns. Results Participants' greatest concerns about going home were: (1) how active to be at home, (2) wound pain, (3) looking for wound complications, and (4) watching for wound infection. Many participants did not know the dressing (38.2%) or solution to cleanse the wound (58.7%) at home. Most had taken care of a wound before (67.1%), could see (68.4%) and reach (69.7%) the wound, and had looked at it (64.5%) during the hospitalization. Patients with acute and chronic wounds did not differ significantly in their concerns about their wound or their fear of taking care of their wound. Participants generally had appropriate knowledge about wounds and hand washing, nutrition, going out of the home, and cigarette smoking. They had incorrect information about drying out wounds and leaving them open to breathe the air. The majority of patients with chronic wounds preferred getting answers to questions about their wound and its care from their physician followed by their clinic and family/friends. Patients with acute wounds overwhelmingly chose their physician as a source of information about their wound and its care, followed by calling a nurse at the hospital and using the Internet. Conclusions Patients were able to verbalize their concerns about going home with a wound. Concerns about discharge may help to direct patient teaching in preparation for discharge. Teaching literature could include the most common concerns, as well as ways to avoid misinformation about wound care. Discharge teaching needs to begin early so that patients feel they have adequate time to learn and ask questions. Further research is needed about patients' wound care knowledge and discharge concerns.

Belief in one's ability to control pain is a significant predictor of health outcomes and is related to improved functional status. The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel formulation of the construct, Perceived Control Over Pain and to test its effects on functional status.Participants (N = 301) were primarily African American (92%); and were adults with low income attending a primary care clinic and reporting pain within the past 2 weeks. A cross-sectional design was used with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The Perceived Control Over Pain construct consisted of four measures-two specific measures of control over pain and two general measures of control over life events. Perceived Control Over Pain has not been defined in this way previously.Mean worst pain scores for the past week were 8.4, where "0" (no pain) to "10" (pain as bad as you can imagine). The model demonstrated good construct validity for the components of pain, Perceived Control Over Pain and functional status. Mediation by Perceived Control Over Pain was partial but strong, accounting for a reduction of 29% in the effect of pain on functional status.In minority populations with low income, factors such as perceived control over pain and its effect on the outcome of patient function need to be considered. Improving Perceived Control Over Pain has the potential for improving patients' feelings of life control and purpose or meaning in life, and psychological and physical functioning for adults living with pain.

Introduction. Belief in one's ability to control pain is a significant predictor of health outcomes and is related to improved functional status. The purpose of this study was to introduce a novel formulation of the construct, Perceived Control Over Pain and to test its effects on functional status. Methods. Participants (N = 301) were primarily African American (92%); and were adults with low income attending a primary care clinic and reporting pain within the past 2 weeks. A cross-sectional design was used with confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The Perceived Control Over Pain construct consisted of four measures—two specific measures of control over pain and two general measures of control over life events . Perceived Control Over Pain has not been defined in this way previously. Results. Mean worst pain scores for the past week were 8.4, where “0” ( no pain ) to “10” ( pain as bad as you can imagine ). The model demonstrated good construct validity for the components of pain, Perceived Control Over Pain and functional status. Mediation by Perceived Control Over Pain was partial but strong, accounting for a reduction of 29% in the effect of pain on functional status. Discussion. In minority populations with low income, factors such as perceived control over pain and its effect on the outcome of patient function need to be considered. Improving Perceived Control Over Pain has the potential for improving patients’ feelings of life control and purpose or meaning in life, and psychological and physical functioning for adults living with pain.

Adequate nutrition has long been considered a critical component for wound healing, but literature regarding the relationship between nutrition and venous ulcer (VU) healing is limited. A person's nutrition is affected by the availability of food as well as his/her overall health. Food sufficiency and nutrition are important concerns in the care of persons of low income with injection-related VUs, which tend to be large and slow to heal. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted to explore the relationship between food sufficiency/security and nutrition with regard to demographic, wound, quality-of-life, physical activity, falls, and fall risk variables. Nutrition was examined using 2 well-developed instruments that measure food sufficiency/security and assess nutrition--the United States Department of Agriculture's Adult Food Sufficiency Questionnaire (FSQ) and the Nestle Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). All participants (N = 31, 54% men, mean age 56.1 ± 3.6 years, all African American) were recruited from an outpatient clinic. All had injection-related VUs from a history of injecting illicit substances. In terms of food sufficiency/security, most participants (26, 84%) reported having enough food in the house, but 10 (32%) worried about running out of food. From 16% to 22.6% of participants expressed concern with food sufficiency/security in terms of cutting meal size, eating less, hunger, and weight loss. Food sufficiency/security was high for 19 (61.3%), but 12 (39%) had marginal or lower food sufficiency/security. MNA scores showed 16 participants (52%) were at risk of malnutrition or malnourished. Low food sufficiency/security was significantly (P0.05) associated with less motivation for activity (r = -0.40) and less walking (r = -0.36). Better nutrition assessment scores were significantly associated (P0.01) with fewer comorbidities (r = -0.57) and falls (r = -0.46) and with higher quality of life (r = 0.50), motivation for physical activity (r = 0.59), and balance confidence (r = 0.60). Both food security and nutrition assessment are important to assess in low-income persons with injection-related VUs. A number of significant relationships of the FSQ and MNA to other variables was found but needs further investigation with a larger sample.

PURPOSE To identify variables associated with extravasation and resulting tissue damage in neonates with peripheral intravascular therapy. DESIGN A retrospective chart review was completed. SETTING AND SUBJECTS Randomly selected medical records of 25 neonates admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit from January 2003 through April 2004 and who experienced peripheral intravascular infiltration were examined. INSTRUMENTS The Neonatal Tissue Extravasation Tool was created to reflect common descriptive variables of the neonatal population and infused solutions used in their care. Tissue damage was classified with the scale from the Task Force of Pediatric Nursing Research Committee, 1994. RESULTS Charts of 15 female and 10 male infants 24 to 39.6 weeks old were reviewed. Extravasation was not significantly related to age, weight, or sex. The most common intravenous medications were total parenteral nutrition (n = 19) and calcium (n = 18). Peripheral intravenous sites were secured with tape. The sites of the infiltrate were the arm (n = 16), foot/leg (n = 5), and scalp (n = 3) (one not recorded). Stages 0 (absence of redness, pain, swelling; flushes with ease) (n = 11) and 4 (severe swelling; blanching, pain, skin breakdown, etc.) (n = 6) were the most common stages. The site of the infiltrate was measured and care described in only 9 neonates. CONCLUSIONS The intravascular solutions causing the most extensive damage from extravasation were similar to those reported in other studies. No other potential risk factors were identified, but poor documentation about the extravasation site and management of skin damage hampered data collection via retrospective chart review.

While wound management is a significant challenge for many rehabilitation patients, vulnerable populations are at particular risk. In addition, considerable focus is being placed on vulnerable populations within health care. Rehabilitation nurses should understand issues related to working with vulnerable patients with wounds, including poverty and payment for care, culture, and literacy. Nursing research to advance the care of individuals from vulnerable populations requires a special approach designed to establish the integrity of the research and gain the trust of potential participants.

With global travel and immigration, WOC nurses may see or be asked questions about wound care practices that are different from those traditionally taught in their educational programs. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence about 3 commonly used wound products, namely, sugar, papaya/papain, and essential fatty acids. Although these products are used in numerous countries, their application in Brazil will provide the examples of use in this article. Nontraditional wound care is still frequently practiced even in countries where access to evidence-based products is fairly good. Research studies about sugar, papain/papaya, and essential fatty acids generally are case reports/studies and descriptive. Protocols in the use of the products varied. Use of these products is often based on tradition and economics. WOC nurses need to be knowledgeable regarding nonstandard wound care products and procedures so they can respond appropriately in situations where these products are used.

The purpose of this article is to review nursing literature about international partnerships, describe nursing and nursing education in Brazil, and describe an international partnership about chronic wound prevention and treatment in Brazil. Because countries often share health care concerns, nursing knowledge is greater than any one country's health care trends or clinical issues. Although the literature has numerous articles about pressure ulcers and other chronic wounds, much of this information is lacking for nurses in Brazil because it is primarily written in English. This project provided educational programs in Portuguese to nurses and nursing students in Brazil, involved them in the development of wound care protocols, allowed practice with dressings, and stimulated discussions on improvement of home care to patients and families. WOC nurses have a critical global role in sharing wound care knowledge. (J WOCN 2002;29:287-94.)

To describe the development and initial testing of the Pieper-Zulkowski Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test (PZ-PUKT).Cross-sectional, instrument testing.Hospital association pressure ulcer educational program conference.Pressure ulcer research and guidelines from the last 5 years were examined for test item content. The initial PZ-PUKT had 115 items; response options were "true," "false," and "don't know." Registered nurses (N = 108) were randomly divided into 2 groups to take either the 60 prevention/risk and staging items or the 55 wound description items. Analyses of these responses resulted in 72 items, which were administered in total to a second cohort of 98 nurses for reliability.Cronbach's α was .80 for the 72-item PZ-PUKT. Cronbach's α values for the subscales were as follows: staging, .67; wound description, .64; and prevention/risk, .56. The mean correct scores were as follows: total, 80%; prevention, 77%; staging, 86%; and wound description, 77%. Nurses with wound care certification scored significantly higher on the PZ-PUKT than did nurses with other clinical certifications or with nurses who lacked certification.The PZ-PUKT has updated content about pressure ulcer prevention/risk, staging, and wound description. Reliability values are highest for the total test. Further use of the instrument in diverse settings will add to reliability testing and may provide direction for determination of a passing cutoff score.

The paper gives an overview of ecological theories and hypotheses that have been raised in order to predict diversity-function relationships. In particular, those reasons are discussed that may explain the discrepancy between the theoretical expectation for widespread effects of diversity on functioning and the ambiguous empirical evidence for such effects. Structural differences in the ecology of plants, invertebrates, and micro-organisms are considered which lead to differences in diversity-function relationships among these groups of organisms. Four criteria are derived that determine diversity-function relationships: (1) motility of the organisms under consideration, (2) decoupling of population persistence and functional activity in these organisms, (3) species richness of the organisms' community, and (4) equilibrium stability of the considered ecological process. From these criteria the authors predict that measurable effects of diversity on functioning are (a) likely to be found in plants and in micro-organisms while they are (b) unlikely to be found in the soil fauna. They predict that diversity is (c) likely to affect primary production, soil energy turnover, and nutrient losses from the system, while it is (d) unlikely to durably influence litter decomposition rate. It is shown that these predictions are largely corroborated by empirical evidence compiled from the literature. The issue of spatial and temporal scale is briefly discussed. Artenvielfalt und okologische Funktion — warum ist Diversitat in einigen Fallen wichtig, in anderen nicht? Der Artikel gibt eine Ubersicht uber okologische Theorien und Hypothesen, die einen Zusammenhang zwischen Artenvielfalt und okologischer Funktion begrunden. Es werden insbesondere die Ursachen dafur diskutiert, dass empirische Befunde zur Wirkung der Artenvielfalt auf okologische Funktionen, trotz der starken theoretischen Erwartung weitverbreiteter Diversitatseffekte, sehr widerspruchlich ausfallen. Es werden grundsatzliche Unterschiede in der Okologie von Pflanzen, Wirbellosen und Mikroorganismen dargestellt, die unterschiedliche Beziehungen zwischen Diversitat und Funktion in diesen Organismengruppen nach sich ziehen. Die Autoren leiten vier Kriterien ab, die die Diversitats-Funktions-Relation bestimmen: (1) Motilitat der betrachteten Organismen, (2) Entkopplung von Persistenz und Aktivitat dieser Organismen, (3) Artenreichtum der Organismengemeinschaft und (4) Gleichgewichtsregelung des betrachteten okologischen Prozesses. Aufgrund dieser Kriterien schliesen die Autoren, dass messbare Auswirkungen der Artenvielfalt auf die Funktion (a) bei Pflanzen und Mikroorganismen eher, (b) bei Bodentieren jedoch seltener auftreten, und dass der Artenreichtum einer Gemeinschaft (c) Primarproduktion, Energieumsatz im Boden, sowie Nahrstoffverluste aus dem System eher beeinflusst, wahrend (d) die Abbaurate der organischen Substanz nicht dauerhaft verandert wird. Die Autoren zeigen, dass diese Schlussfolgerungen durch empirische Befunde aus der Literatur weitgehend bestatigt werden. Der Einfluss raumlicher und zeitlicher Skalen wird kurz diskutiert.

Objective: The objective was to examine the delivery of preventive health care services in an urban clinic for indigent adults and the impact of advanced practice nursing on these practices. Design: The study design was a descriptive chart review. Setting and Subjects: Data were collected in an urban outpatient clinic. Seven hundred sixty-five records were examined prospectively for health maintenance. Of these records, 523 were randomly selected and reviewed retrospectively for completion of health maintenance. The mean age of participants was 45.15 years (SD = 9.87); 92% were African American, and 48.9% were male. Instruments: The Health Maintenance Form was used to record data about demographics, health history, care provider, and completion of 10 health maintenance items. Methods: Records were reviewed prospectively prior to the patient's clinic visit. A form summarizing the patient's health maintenance status was placed at the front of the record. At least 4 weeks later, the record was reviewed a second time for completion of health maintenance items. This second review was the data collection phase. Results: Completion of health maintenance items was found to be low. The most up-to-date areas were serum cholesterol (83.9%) and mammography (70.1%). The lowest levels were rectal examination (34.5%), pneumococcal vaccination (35%), and fecal occult blood test (37.1%). Patients followed up by a nurse practitioner had significantly more health maintenance areas up-to-date than did patients followed-up by the nurse practitioner-physician team, which in turn had significantly more areas up-to-date than did patients followed up by a physician alone. Conclusions: Health maintenance was accomplished at a low level, indicating that preventive health practices need to be re-evaluated. The nurse practitioner had the greatest impact on a patient's health maintenance being up-to-date. (J WOCN 2001;28:129-40.)

BACKGROUND Dietary antioxidants, such as provitamin A carotenoid, have a protective effect against breast cancer. The transport of carotenoid from the blood into the breast microenvironment may be enhanced by lactation. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid levels by lactation and post-wean status. METHODS The sample consisted of 43 women, ages 18-45, who were at least 12 months postpartum. Women who had breastfed their last infant were at least 3 months post-wean. Women collected breast fluid every other day for 17 days and had a venipuncture for total nipple aspirate and plasma carotenoid, and completed a written health assessment. RESULTS The association between plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid levels was significant for breastfeeding women (r =.39, p=.03), but not for non-breastfeeding women (r =.31, p =.27). However, while the association between plasma and nipple aspirate carotenoid levels was significant for women at or less than 9 months post-wean (r =.65, p = .01), the effect for women after 9 months post-wean (r = .21, p =.45) was not significant. CONCLUSION Lactation may be protective by enhancing the delivery of chemopreventive substances available in the blood to the cell level of the breast, even after breast involution has occurred post lactation.

Persons with a history of injection drug use have many risk factors for the development of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), yet this phenomenon has not been studied systematically in this population. Persons (N = 204) with a history of injection drug use who were in enrolled in a treatment center were examined for clinical manifestations of CVI. The CVI clinical classification was graded on a 7-point scale for each leg. Most participants (n = 179, 87.7%) exhibited clinical evidence of CVI. Significant predictors of CVI clinical manifestations were leg infections/cellulitis (rho =.53); years injection in the veins of the groin, legs, and feet (rho =.47); deep vein thrombosis (rho =.37); and total years injection heroin (rho =.27). There was a linear functional relationship between years of injection drug use and the CVI clinical classification, but only when the injections were in the veins of the groin, legs, or feet; otherwise, the specific mechanisms of this relationship were not evident. The findings indicate that CVI is a common occurrence in persons who have injected drugs.

Limitation of ankle movement may contribute to calf muscle pump failure, which is thought to contribute to venous leg ulcer formation, which affects nearly 1 million Americans. We therefore wished to study ankle movement in patients with venous leg ulcers and its effect on healing. Using goniometry, we measured baseline ankle range of motion in venous leg ulcer patients from a Phase 2 dose-finding study of an allogeneic living cell bioformulation. Two hundred twenty-seven patients were enrolled in four active treatment groups and one standard-care control group, all receiving compression therapy. Goniometry data from a control group of 49 patients without venous disease, from a previous study, was used for comparison. We found patients with active venous leg ulcers had significantly reduced ankle range of motion compared with the control group (p = 0.001). After 12 weeks of therapy, baseline ankle range of motion was not associated with healing, as there was no significant difference between healed and nonhealed groups, suggesting that ankle range of motion is not important in venous leg ulcer healing or, more likely, is overcome by compression. However, patients with venous ulcers located on the leg (as opposed to the ankle) had significantly higher ankle range of motion for plantar flexion and inversion (p = 0.021 and p = 0.034, respectively) and improved healing with both cell bioformulation and standard care (p = 0.011), suggesting that wound location is an important variable for ankle range of motion as well as for healing outcomes.

Objective/purpose: Psychosocial adjustment, coping, and quality of life for persons with a venous ulcer and a history of intravenous drug use were examined. Design: A cross-sectional design was used. Setting and subjects: Data were collected in an urban outpatient clinic. All eligible persons were asked to participate. Thirty-two patients agreed to participate, providing an 89% response rate. The mean age of participants was 44.6 years (SD = 4.3); 91% were African American, and 72% were male. Instruments: Subjects responded to questions about their health and substance abuse history and completed the Quality of Life With a Leg Ulcer Questionnaire, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS), Ways of Coping Instrument, and Pain Questionnaire. Leg ulcer tracings were measured with the SigmaScan computer program. Methods: Questionnaires were read to participants. Leg ulcers were traced at their borders onto plastic. Results: Wound area correlated significantly with the domestic environment ( r = .43) and the psychosocial distress ( r = .38) scores of the PAIS. Wound area was negatively correlated to Quality of Life With a Leg Ulcer Questionnaire score ( r = -.52). Pain interference was significantly related to the self-controlling coping score ( r = .40), domestic environment score of the PAIS ( r = .51), and Quality of Life With a Leg Ulcer Questionnaire score ( r = -.65). Cox and Wermuth's multiple regression modeling approach was used to summarize the study's variables. Conclusions: A larger wound area was associated with greater illness-induced difficulties in the home environment, greater psychological distress, and poor quality of life. Pain interference was associated with a greater effort to regulate one's feelings and actions, difficulties in the home, and poor quality of life. (J WOCN 2000;27:227–39)

The effect of increasing nematode abundance on microbial biomass and activity in a temperate grassland soil was investigated in a microcosm experiment. The experiment lasted for 33 days. The natural nematode diversity, as well as relevant aspects of the spatial heterogeneity of the soil microhabitat in a 80 m2 sampling area were maintained in the microcosms. No correlation was found between nematode abundance and microbial biomass (CFE) or ergosterol content (as a measure of active fungal biomass). However, a doubling of nematode abundance reduced CO2 production by 11 % and increased bacterial substrate utilization (BIOLOG) by 18 %. A possible explanation is that fungal activity was strongly reduced at higher nematode density, overcompensating the simultaneous increase in bacterial activity. The results show that the nematode community in a grassland soil is capable of causing a considerable shift in soil microbial activities towards an increased bacterial metabolism, overriding the spatial heterogeneity of the soil habitat and the taxonomic diversity of the community itself, and thereby producing functional effects relevant at spatial scales that far exceed the activity domains of the organisms involved. Beeinflussung der Bodenmikroflora durch unterschiedliche Nematodenabundanzen — Beurteilung grosraumiger Effekte in Grunlandboden In einem Mikrokosmos-Experiment wurde der Einflus steigender Nematodenabundanz auf die Mikroflora und ihre Abbauleistungen in einem Grunlandboden untersucht. Das Experiment dauerte 33 Tage. Die naturliche Diversitat der Nematoden, sowie wesentliche Parameter der naturlichen raumlichen Heterogenitat des Bodenmikrohabitats einer Flache von 80 m2 wurden in den Mikrokosmen beibehalten. Es lies sich kein Einflus der Nematoden-Abundanz auf die mikrobielle Biomasse (CFE) oder den Ergosterolgehalt (als Mas fur die aktive Pilzbiomasse) nachweisen. Bei einer Verdopplung der Nematodenabundanz wurde die CO2-Produktion um 11 % gesenkt, der bakterielle Substrat-Abbau (BIOLOG) dagegen um 18 % gesteigert. Eine mogliche Erklarung hierfur ist eine starke Reduktion der Pilzaktivitat durch hohere Nematodendichten, die die gleichzeitige Forderung der bakteriellen Aktivitat uberwiegt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, das die Nematodengemeinschaft von Grunlandboden in der Lage ist, uber die raumliche Heterogenitat des Bodenhabitats und uber die eigene taxonomische Diversitat hinweg eine erhebliche Verschiebung der mikrobiellen Aktivitat zugunsten der Bakterienflora aufzubauen, und auf einer raumlichen Skala wirksam zu werden, die den Aktivitatsbereich der einzelnen Organismen um viele Grosenordnungen uberschreitet.

This article present the collaborative process for conducting research among a state home care foundation, its associated membership, and a university. Research collaboration allowed the merging of talents and resources from persons, home care agencies, and a university. The history and development of the project, sampling procedure, and data collection and analysis are discussed. The project increased the appreciation for research, allowed an opportunity for scholarly exchange, and accented the positive use of resources in all settings.

The purposes of this study about patients with pressure ulcers were to: (a) examine demographic characteristics, laboratory values, Braden Scale scores, and presence of pressure ulcer prevention methods and (b) examine pressure ulcers in terms of classification, stage, wound care, and documentation. The investigation was a prospective, descriptive study; the methods used were patient observations and data recordings from the medical record. Of the patients followed (n = 694), 71 had pressure ulcers. Patients with pressure ulcers were significantly older, with longer lengths of stay, more comorbid conditions, lower blood hemoglobin, lower serum albumin, higher white blood cell counts, and lower Braden Scale scores than patients without pressure ulcers. The presence of pressure ulcer prevention methods was greatly lacking. Nosocomial pressure ulcers tended to be a lower stage compared with pressure ulcers present on admission. Dressings used for wound care were generally gauze or a hydrocolloid. Nurses' charting about pressure ulcers was complete for only 35% of notations. The results of this study indicate that advanced practice nurses have a critical role in caring for patients with pressure ulcers and educating care providers.

Persons with leg ulcers, including venous ulcers, often report pain. A cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted among 61 patients receiving care in an urban clinic (31 with and 30 without a venous ulcer, mean age 54 years [range 40 to 65 years], 93% African American) to examine pain and its relation to activity and walking in persons with injectionrelated venous ulcers. The questionnaire included items about pain and its treatment, as well as activity and walking (ie, Brief Pain Inventory [BPI] Short Form, Self-Treatment of Pain, Pain and Narcotic Use, Difficulty with Activities, and Walking Scale questionnaires). Among those with a venous ulcer (VU+), worst pain significantly related to total interference (r = 0.65, P0.0001) and total difficulty (r = 0.42, P = 0.02) BPI scores. The common pain sites for those VU+ involved the legs (24, 36.4%), wound sites (13, 19.7%), back (eight, 12.1%), general body (five, 7.6%), shoulder and knee (four, 6.1% each), and other (eight, 12.1%). Persons VU+ were more likely than those without a venous ulcer (VU-) to have received a prescription for narcotics in the past year (96% versus 41%, X(2) = 21.3, P0.0001). Persons VU+ versus VU- were significantly (X(2) = 8.89, P = 0.003) more likely to resort to street drug use and relapse to addiction if pain was not adequately treated. They were also twice as likely to have decreased walking over the past 5 years (67% versus 33%, X(2) = 5.93, P0.02). Among those VU+, venous ulcers added to chronic pain and decreased walking. These findings highlight the negative effects of injection-related venous ulcers on pain, activity, and walking, as well as the propensity of this groupto resort to illicit drug use for pain control. Persons VU+ should have pain assessed and treated.

OBJECTIVES:: With aging of injection users and the high occurrence of venous disease in their legs, falls are a potential health problem. We examined falls and balance confidence in persons with (VU+) and without (VU-) injection-related venous ulcers (VUs). METHODS:: This study used a cross-sectional, retrospective, comparative design with 31 participants VU+ and 30 VU- recruited in a medical clinic. Participants' legs were assessed for clinical manifestations of venous disease. Participants completed background and fall questionnaires and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. RESULTS:: Participants included 35 men and 26 women (mean age = 54 years); 93% were African American. Falling in the past year was reported by 65% of patients VU+ and 40% VU- (P = 0.048); 29 of these patients fell 2 or more times in the past year. Higher scores on the ABC Scale (N = 61) were significantly related to fewer falls (r = -0.68). Activities-specific Balance Confidence scores were lower/worse for the patients VU+ (P = 0.039). Area under the receiver operating curve for patients VU+ was significant; we found area under the curve of 0.84 and a cutoff score of 80.3% for ABC predictive of recurrent fallers with sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 83%. The ABC test had an internal consistency reliability of 0.97. CONCLUSIONS:: Persons VU+ reported worse balance confidence and more falls than those without these ulcers. The ABC test was related to falls. With aging of injection users and increased occurrence of VUs, examining balance confidence and falls is crucial in long-term patient safety. Language: en

Purpose: This study examined persons with a history of heroin injection who sought wound care for lower extremity venous ulcers and explored factors that affected their wound healing. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective data were obtained by review of the medical records of an outpatient, urban clinic. An instrument was developed to record demographic, health, and illicit substance use information from the record. Subjects: One hundred forty men and 32 women, 160 of whom were black, 12 of whom were white, seen in a wound care clinic in an urban medical center were included in the study. Primary outcome variables: Healing of venous ulcers present at the time care was sought, coexisting alcohol and tobacco use, and coexisting medical and mental health diagnoses. Results: Persons who sought care tended to be middle-aged men with multiple health problems and a long history of illicit drug use. Persons whose leg ulcers healed had significantly smaller leg ulcers than did persons currently in treatment or not available for follow-up. Conclusions: Health care providers must be aware of the risk of venous insufficiency in current and former users of injected drugs and assess for venous insufficiency and venous ulcers. Users of injected drugs should be encouraged to seek professional wound care when ulcers are small, rather than attempting self-treatment.

Three groups of persons with fecal ostomies (those with permanent ostomies as a result of disease [ n = 13], those with temporary ostomies as a result of disease [ n = 16], and those with temporary ostomies as a result of trauma [ n = 18]) were interviewed with various instruments to explore the psychosocial impact of an ostomy. The three groups did not differ significantly with respect to their scores on the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale, the Reintegration to Normal Living Index, or the Meaning in Life Scale. Those with a temporary ostomy as result of trauma had significantly higher Escape-Avoidance, Positive Reappraisal, Accepting Responsibility, and Planful Problem Solving subscores on the Ways of Coping instrument. The differences in coping scores may relate to adjustment to the violent act at the same time as the ostomy. These observations add to ostomy research because research about persons with temporary ostomies, especially those caused by a gunshot injury, is scarce.