scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF FOOT AND NAIL CONDITION ON FALLING, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE ELDERLY IN ACUTE HOSPITAL SETTINGS

Author(s):  
R. Rokkaku ◽  
S. Kaneko

Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between in-patient foot and nail condition and their falling. The purpose is to determine if a nursing intervention can reduce the risk of falling in the acute hospital setting. We found that the group of those had fallen significantly suffered from abnormalities of their feet and/or nail. It became especially clear that falling was related to tinea, excessive keratin, and excessively long nails. Also, there were few nurses who were aware that foot and nail condition are a risk factor of falling. Relatedly, their concern for the condition of patients’ feet and nails was low. We recommend that nurses and patients improve the condition of feet and nails to reduce falling by the elderly in an acute hospital setting. In addition, we conclude that foot care enhances the lower extremities’ physiological functions.

2022 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-31
Author(s):  
Alison Blackburn

Long-term opioid use can begin with the treatment of acute pain. However, there is little evidence concerning the impact that better opioid awareness in the acute phase may have on reducing the use of opioids in the long term. This project explored which opioids are routinely prescribed within an acute hospital setting and how these opioids were used over the course of the hospital stay. Codeine and morphine remain the most commonly prescribed opioids. Opioids were prescribed and given to people across the age range, from 16 to 98 years. The project found that 19% of patients were admitted with a pre-existing opioid. Up to 66% of patients were discharged with opioid medication, with almost 20% leaving with more than one opioid. Regular opioid use routinely exposes patients to long-term opioid use and those patients initiated onto opioid medication during admission should have the benefit of planned de-escalation before discharge.


Author(s):  
Joanne Nolan ◽  
Lucinda Remilton ◽  
Margaret Green

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) in an acute hospital setting. Intra-rater (n=15) and inter-rater (n=18) reliability were investigated using physiotherapists who viewed and scored video-recorded mobility assessments using the EMS on two occasions, one week apart. Latent class analysis of EMS scores showed that neither the occasion of testing (intra-rater reliability) (R2=0.0035, p=0.72), therapist (inter-rater reliability (R2=0.0051, p=1.00), years of experience (R2=0.0058, p=1.00) nor number of EMS assessments previously completed (R2=0.0048, p=1.00) had any impact on the EMS scores. The only factor which impacted on clustering was the EMS score (R2=0.8263, p=0.000). Concurrent validity was assessed by comparison with the Modified Rivermead Mobility Index (MRMI) in patients aged ≥ 55 years (n = 32) and demonstrated that EMS scores were highly correlated with the MRMI (Spearman’s ρ=0.887). Therefore intra-rater reliability of the EMS has been reported for the first time, and inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity of the EMS have been further supported and extended into a younger patient group for mobility assessment in acute hospital patients.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e044027
Author(s):  
Hilary Bungay ◽  
Suzanne Hughes

ObjectivesTo explore the perceptions of hospitalised older people and their relatives of the impact of taking part in group dance sessions in an acute hospital setting.DesignA qualitative descriptive approach was used.SettingAn acute hospital trust in the East of England.ParticipantsPurposive sample of dance group participants.InterventionWeekly music and movement sessions for frail older people on Department of Elderly Medicine Wards and the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit. Sessions take place in the ward and are facilitated by a dance artist supported by ward staff.ResultsTwenty-one semistructured interviews were conducted with older people and/or their relatives. Thematic analysis of the data identified three overarching themes: (1) dance as a physical activity, (2) dance as an opportunity for social interaction and (3) the dance group as a source of emotional support. Sessions were valued as an enjoyable way to undertake physical activity and provided an opportunity for social interaction between patients. This is important as loneliness and boredom are a common occurrence during hospitalisation and are detrimental to overall health and well-being. Patients reported an emotional impact though taking part; happiness from engaging with the group and the release of pent up emotions through the triggering of memories by the music and conversations within the group.ConclusionDance for Health provides a range of physical, social and emotional benefits for hospitalised older people. Further research is required to investigate the effectiveness of group dance sessions in increasing physical activity on an acute ward and the potential psychological benefits for hospitalised older people.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin R Davey ◽  
Samuel J Byrne ◽  
Prudence M Millear ◽  
Chris Dawber ◽  
Luigi Medoro

Author(s):  
Jim Swift ◽  
Zoe Harris ◽  
Alex Woodward ◽  
Noel O'Kelly ◽  
Chris Barker ◽  
...  

Background/Aims In response to high numbers of hospital admissions as a result of COVID-19, a virtual ward was implemented to achieve accelerated discharge from hospital without compromising patient safety. This study assessed the impact of this virtual ward for patients admitted to the acute hospital setting with COVID-19. Methods A community-based intervention using digital technology and a multi-disciplinary team of specialist clinicians to monitor patients at home was established. An analysis was carried out within the service investigating the safety, health outcomes and resource use of the first 65 patients discharged from hospital into the virtual respiratory ward. Results Red days, where an urgent response was required, decreased from 33.8% of patients in their first 3 days at the virtual ward to 10.8% in their final 3 days (P=0.002). Four patients were readmitted to hospital, all for clotting disorders. There was one death, which was deemed unrelated to COVID-19. Length of stay was also reduced by 40.3% (P<0.001) and estimated overall savings were £68 052 (£1047 per patient). Conclusions The virtual ward appeared to assist with earlier discharges, had a low rate of clinically necessary re-admissions, and seemed to reduce costs without compromising patient safety. The authors believe that this intervention could be applied across other NHS trusts facing similar capacity issues as a result of COVID-19.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Lake ◽  
Trudy Rudge ◽  
Sandra West

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider how meaning may be made of nursing practices by contrasting the rationalistic approach commonly used in the nursing literature with Bourdieu’s theory of practice. Design/methodology/approach – The data under consideration is an account of ten to 15 minutes of a larger ethnographic study of nursing practices which asks the question: how do nurses accomplish nursing within and between patients’ needs for care in the acute hospital setting? The five main sources of data were: observations of and conversations with nurse participants, as well as hospital documentation (including facility protocols and patients’ notes) and the observer’s field diary. These were woven together to provide an account of one nurse with one patient for a few moments of her day. Findings – Although this paper makes no attempt to speak to the rest of her workload, in these few minutes the nurse accomplishes multiple moments of nursing practice. Further, while the rationalistic approach presents the nurse as a highly skilled practitioner, Bourdieu’s theory of practice not only illuminates the nurse’s role as pivotal in the acute hospital setting but is also able to address the dialectical nature of the relationship between nurses’ practices and the dynamics of the context. Originality/value – The use of Bourdieu’s theory of practice makes possible the study of how nurses nurse “within and between” to illuminate the everyday practices of nurses.


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