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Depression is a common occurrence in late life, but it often goes unrecognized and therefore under-treated in many primary care settings. This pilot study explored the effect of a group exercise p rogram for communitydwelling elder Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of physical restraints continues to create a dilemma for nurses who attempt to balance the risks and benefits of their use. A convenience sample of 216 RNs from two hospitals was asked to complete a 70-item questionnaire regarding their knowledge, practice, and attitudes toward restraint usage. Although the staff's knowledge level can be considered good, findings suggest that future re-education efforts should be undertaken to correct misperceptions, review legal and ethical implications, and explore alternatives to restraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the results of a descriptive study that identified the roles and depictions of grandparents in juvenile picture or easy reader books directed to children between the ages of three and nine. The research question addressed whether or not children's storybooks encourage stereotypical thinking among children, even though society reflects great diversity in the interaction patterns between grandparents and grandchildren. The review of 61 grandparent storybooks demonstrates that there is some congruency as well as incongruency between the depictions of grandparents in contemporary children's books, and the relationships that exist in society between grandparents and grandchildren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phenomenological approach was used to examine nursing staff's experiences using physical restraints. A total of 12 nurses from a tertiary hospital participated in one of three focus groups. Exploring the attitudes of nurses can contribute to a better understanding of how decisions are made concerning restraints. An analysis of the focus group data resulted in a description of the lived experiences of nurses using restraints. Seven themes emerged from the data, one of which reflected that the nurses felt ambiguous about restraints, yet they made judgments and justified their decisions, after assessing patient characteristics, environmental safety, and unit traditions. Nurse clinicians could use the focus group method to sensitize themselves to the staff's needs and to allow staff the opportunity to share ideas and to dispel misconceptions about restraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rehabilitation nurses who work with geriatric patients are concerned about reliance on physical restraints, as are all nurses. Controversy exists as to the benefits and risks, as well as the ethical and legal consequences, of their use. Nurses are ambivalent about using restraints, believing that they affect patients' freedom, self-respect, and self-reliance; they also often believe that there are no appropriate alternatives. This pilot study explored the use of music as a potential alternative to using physical restraints with hospitalized patients. The research question was: Will patients have more positive behaviors, as measured by the Restraint Music Response Instrument (RMRI), while out of restraints and listening to preferred music compared with the patients not listening to music who are out of restraints while being observed? Forty medical-surgical patients participated in the study and were randomized into either the experimental group (music) or the control group (no music). The mean age of the 21 males and 19 females was 76.6 years (range 56-94). A t test for equality of means was used to determine if there were differences in the number of positive and negative behaviors in the preintervention, intervention, and postintervention phases between the two groups. There was a significant difference (p < .01) in behaviors during the intervention phase. Patients who listened to preferred music had more positive behaviors while out of restraints than patients who were out of restraints but not exposed to music.

Lack of appropriate alternatives to the use of restraints in hospitals and rehabilitation settings is a major concern of nurses. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the behavioral effects of music intervention with physically restrained patients. The results demonstrated that the number of positive behaviors increased significantly during the music-listening period, during which patients were not restrained, as compared to their typical restrained status. No differences were found that related to the number of negative behaviors displayed before, during, or after the music intervention. Listening to music of their own choosing may help produce positive behaviors in previously restrained patients; however, further studies are needed to confirm this.

1. Families do not realize that a patient has a right to refuse restraints and that the family members have a voice in the decision-making process. 2. Families in general are interested in restraint issues but do not have information at their disposal. 3. Nursing staff should be encouraged to educate family members regarding restraints through open communication and printed material.

A phenomenological approach was used to examine nursing staff's experiences using physical restraints. A total of 12 nurses from a tertiary hospital participated in one of three focus groups. Exploring the attitudes of nurses can contribute to a better understanding of how decisions are made concerning restraints. An analysis of the focus group data resulted in a description of the lived experiences of nurses using restraints. Seven themes emerged from the data, one of which reflected that the nurses felt ambiguous about restraints, yet they made judgments and justified their decisions after assessing patient characteristics, environmental safety, and unit traditions. Nurse clinicians could use the focus group method to sensitize themselves to the staff's needs and to allow staff the opportunity to share ideas and to dispel misconceptions about restraints.

Roy's Adaptation Model is used in a case study approach to begin examining the potential of music intervention in hospitalized, restrained patients. Restraints were removed during the time in which the patient listened to a musical tape through a headset. Mr. D, presented in this case study, was one of the 30 medical-surgical patients who participated. His observable positive behaviors increased from 10 during the preintervention period to 12 during the musical intervention. Mr. D displayed no negative behaviors during the entire study period.

1. A component of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 declared that nursing home residents have the right to be free from physical or chemical restraints that are not required to treat specific "medical symptoms." 2. The literature suggests that the use of restraints has a negative influence on the caregiving process by restricting creativity and individual treatment. 3. Decreased reliance on restraints can be accomplished in nursing homes without an increase in staffing. 4. Transition to limited restraint use requires an organized, planned effort to change attitudes, beliefs, practices, and policies of a facility.

Objective: To determine practice and attitudes of acute-critical care nurses toward the use of physical restraints., Design: Survey with a self-administered anonymous questionnaire., Subjects: A self-selected sample of 235 acute-critical care nurses from 17 states who were enrolled in critical care review classes., Measurements: Data were gathered by use of a questionnaire developed by the researchers. The questionnaire was designed to elicit information regarding demographic and professional characteristics, nursing practice, and attitudes toward the use of restraints. Nurses responded to the practice items on a three-point Likert Scale as to whether they "always," "sometimes," or "never" carried out the procedure. To obtain information on attitudes, nurses were asked to respond on a three-point Likert Scale as to whether they "agreed," were "undecided," or "disagreed" with the statement., Results: Responses indicated 78% of the sample "always" try alternative nursing measures before restraining the patient. However, when units were believed to be understaffed there was more reliance on restraints. Thirty-eight percent of the sample would "always" rather sedate patients than physically restrain them. The overall score on the attitude component of the questionnaire reflected positive or acceptable attitudes toward the use of restraints. Most (62%) "agreed" that a patient suffers a loss of dignity when placed in restraints. Significant relationships did exist between select demographic and professional characteristics and practice and attitudes regarding the use of restraints. The longer the respondents had worked in critical care the more appropriate (positive) their attitudes toward the use of restraints (r = -.211, p < .01)., Conclusions: In general, nursing practice and attitudes regarding the use of physical restraints indicated that respondents were using restraints in accordance with accepted practice. There is a need for additional research in this area, especially regarding the use of alternative measures to physical restraints.

The purpose of this research was to study the long-term effects of attendance at "Help Yourself to Better Breathing" classes on knowledge attainment, coping strategies, and anxiety, depression, and hostility in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Data were gathered immediately and six months following completion of the program. The results were then compared to those obtained before program attendance. The data showed a significant difference between the pretest, immediate post-test, and the six-month knowledge scores. Coping scores remained the same, which may indicate that not enough emphasis is placed on the development of these skills. There was a significant lowering of the depression scores at the six-month post-testing, and anxiety and hostility scores were lower, but not significantly so. In addition, some participants after the classes were completed chose to enroll in the Better Breathers Program support group and in a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Overall, this study indicates that beneficial effects are evidenced six months following attendance at "Help Yourself to Better Breathing" classes.

Although the use of physical or mechanical restraints is decreasing in long-term care facilities, there always will be some patients who require them. If a restraint is to be employed at all, it needs to be used correctly. A convenience sample of 118 nursing staff members who work in a county nursing home was asked to complete an 18-item knowledge questionnaire regarding restraint usage. Scores ranged from 6 to 17 (potential range 0-18), with a mean score of 13.2 (SD = 2.1). Overall, the staff's knowledge level can be considered good; however, there were some areas of concern. For example, a majority of the respondents (82.2%) believed that it was appropriate to keep a patient restrained lying flat in bed. Implications for administrators and rehabilitation nurse clinicians are identified.

Many clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are involved in providing group teaching programs for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although knowledge levels often are enhanced by these programs, what is less well known is whether such programs also can affect the coping methods used by those with this disease. The exploratory study described here was part of a larger research project aimed at determining patients' knowledge, specific psychological parameters (anxiety, hostility, depression), and coping strategies. Thirty people agreed to participate in the study. The Jalowiec Coping Scale (JCS) (Jalowiec & Powers, 1981) was used so that participants could rate each coping method according to the degree of use and to determine whether the methods employed were affective or problem-solving approaches. There was very little change in the pre- and posttest scores on the JCS, indicating that there was little change in coping strategies used. There also were no significant correlations between the JCS scores and the demographic characteristics of age, educational level, and the length of time since diagnosis of COPD. The results of this study seem to indicate that pulmonary rehabilitation programs should place more emphasis on appropriate coping strategies that the COPD patient can incorporate into his or her lifestyle.

This study provides a data base for developing intervention strategies aimed at helping staff cope with concerns regarding restraints. Most respondents believe patients should be restrained for safety even if it means loss of dignity, and that a caring manner should be conveyed to restrained patients. A large percentage felt that family members did not have the right to refuse the use of restraints, but that they should have that right if they were patients, suggesting negative attitudes toward restraints, of which they are unaware. Personal and professional characteristics, such as knowledge about restraints, years in geriatrics, and experience with elderly family members, showed no significant relationship to attitudes.

The purpose of the study was to identify the motivational factors which contribute to the retention of reserve flight nurses in aeromedical evacuation flights. Almost all units experience some difficulty in retaining nurses, and with the reserve program becoming increasingly complex, this problem is likely to become more severe. The motivation maintenance theory developed by Frederich Herzberg contends that two sets of factors can impinge on job satisfaction. Hygiene factors such as salary and working conditions can lead to job dissatisfaction. Motivators, such as job content and professional achievement are job satisfaction factors. A convenience sample of 69 reserve flight nurses from 8 flights was utilized in the survey approach. Participants filled out a Demographic Questionnaire, and a Reserve Flight Nurse Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results confirmed the proposed hypotheses in that not only were the nurses able to identify motivational factors, but that these factors had more impact on job satisfaction than did the hygiene factors.