The Perception of Art among Patients and Staff on a Renal Dialysis Unit

This study investigated the purpose and effectiveness of giving outpatients an opportunity to engage in art activities while receiving dialysis treatment. A mixed method study was conducted. 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with outpatients attending the dialysis unit and 13 surveys of clinicians were completed. The principle reasons to partake in the art activity programme included: to pass time, to relieve boredom, to be creative, to try something new, distraction from concerns, to stay positive and to achieve something new. Patients who did not participate in the programme pass their time primarily by watching TV or sleeping. All staff who partook in the survey were satisfied with the programme and wanted it to continue. Our findings indicate that the creative arts programme is viewed positively by staff and patients alike, and might be useful in other hospital departments. Further in depth qualitative research would be useful to interrogate the potential effect of engagement in art on positive mental health and quality of life for patients with chronic conditions.

Barriers and gateways: a study of nursing students' utilisation of learning support resources

Many first year nursing students require additional academic support from both their lecturers and learning resources. Anecdotal evidence at an Australian university suggested that 'at risk' students did not follow up lecturer referral. This study identified what learning resources were accessed and what factors influenced students' decisions to follow up or not to follow up lecturer referral. First-year nursing students (n =150) were surveyed towards the end of their second semester regarding their use of learning support services. Twelve students were randomly selected and interviewed regarding their use of learning support and their first year learning experience. Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Results revealed learning support utilisation was related to age and publicity but unrelated to gender or culture. Older students entering through non-traditional entry modes displayed a tendency to self refer to learning support. Younger students (<25 years) often lacked effective learning strategies and were reluctant to access on-campus learning support. For all students positive on and off campus support led to positive outcomes. Faculty and learning support lecturers need to foster integration of learning support for all students and encourage peer-learning partnerships within the foundation subjects.

A comparison of adult and teenage mother's self-esteem and satisfaction with social support

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the similarities and differences between teenage and adult mothers and their level of self-esteem and satisfaction with social support at six weeks and six months postpartum.

DESIGN

A two group comparative study.

SETTING

Maternal child health, immunisation and midwives' clinics in New South Wales, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

173 adult mothers and 72 adolescent mothers who had experienced a normal pregnancy, labour and delivery and delivered a healthy baby near term.

MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS

Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, Brown's Support Behavior Inventory and a personal information form were used. Irrespective of age, breast-feeding rates and satisfaction with social support decreased significantly during the early months postpartum. Furthermore, a significant inverse relationship was noted between maternal age and satisfaction with support and a positive relationship was identified between maternal age and self-esteem.

KEY CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Maternal self-esteem may be challenged by the demands of motherhood and dissatisfaction with social support could contribute to the decline in breast-feeding practices. Developing a postnatal support plan, including fathers in education programmes and offering courses and workshops designed to enhance self-esteem and parentcraft may assist mothers to assume baby care responsibilities and increase their satisfaction with support.

Withdrawal of synthetic hormones during the perimenopause: a case study

A single case study was used to explore the experiences of a perimenopausal woman following withdrawal of synthetic hormones. The respondent, aged 51 years, had experienced severe physiologic, affective and cognitive dysfunction following withdrawal of synthetic hormones. She was approached while attending a family planning clinic in regional New South Wales, Australia. Information was obtained through a retrospective chart review and in-depth interview. The findings suggest that affective and cognitive dysfunction may be triggered by the sudden withdrawal of artificial hormones in perimenopausal women. Practitioners should be aware that some women, especially those unable to produce sufficient natural hormones, might experience severe physiologic, affective and cognitive dysfunction when hormone supplements are withdrawn. Detailed history-taking and close monitoring following the withdrawal or introduction of hormones may alert practitioners to the incidence of withdrawal symptoms or side-effects. Moving beyond the scientific interpretations, future research should address these concerns and investigate the potential for addiction when hormones are prescribed.

Functional status after childbirth in an Australian sample

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in functional status after childbirth from 6 weeks to 6 months post-delivery.

DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal survey.

SETTING

Maternal-child health centers and immunization clinics in regional New South Wales, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred Australian mothers from culturally diverse backgrounds, ages 20-35 years, who had experienced normal pregnancies, labors, and deliveries and delivered healthy singleton infants between 37 and 42 weeks gestation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The Inventory of Functional Status After Childbirth.

RESULTS

Significant increases in functional status were noted in household (t = -6.871, df = 311, p = .0001), social (t = -5.856, df = 311, p = .0001), and self-care activities (t = -3.469, df = 313, p = .0006). However, none of the mothers had achieved full functional status by 6 months postdelivery.

CONCLUSIONS

A gradual resumption of past role-related activities may reflect the normal adjustments required when a woman becomes a mother. Mothers not only resume most aspects of previous roles, but also add to their multiple role demands by assuming primary responsibility for infant care. Further investigations are required to identify why aspects of certain roles are resumed and others are discarded either temporarily or permanently.

Motherhood experiences from the perspective of first-time mothers

This study explored the early motherhood experiences of 79 first-time mothers. All women reported normal pregnancies and deliveries, delivered healthy infants at term, and were surveyed at 6 weeks postpartum using the Inventory of Functional Status After Childbirth. Mothers' written comments were subjected to a content analysis, and much of their commentary revolved around the "conspiracy of silence" that appeared to exist about the realities of motherhood. Most commented that no one had prepared them for the unrelenting demands of infant care, the level of fatigue they would experience, the loss of personal time and space, and the realities of 24-hour-a-day infant care. The women also cited their partners as their main support person during the early weeks of motherhood. Although maternal child health nurses and midwives are well placed to offer prenatal education and long-term professional support postpartum, perhaps what is needed is active, anticipatory preparation for motherhood that begins long before the first pregnancy becomes a reality.

Functional status after childbirth: a comparison of Australian women from English and non-English speaking backgrounds

A survey was used to explore the relationship between English speaking versus non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) and functional status after childbirth. Women were recruited (n = 132) from a culturally diverse population and allocated to sub-groups based on their dominant language background. All had experienced an uncomplicated pregnancy, delivery and delivered a healthy infant between 37 and 42 weeks gestation. Mothers were contacted while attending maternal child health centres and surveyed at 6 weeks post delivery using the Inventory Of Functional Status After Childbirth (Fawcett, Tulman, & Myers, 1988). Functional status scores were not significantly different based on dominant language background, however significantly fewer women of NESB (Mean 2 = 7.03, df 1, p = 0.02) breast fed their infant.

Menopause and healthy aging: a pilot project

Twenty-three women drawn from a culturally diverse community participated in a pilot health promotion project on menopause and healthy aging. The participants offered information about their usual information sources, menopausal experiences and health promotional practices. Their comments suggest that mid-aged women are frustrated by the lack of accurate and up-to-date information available to them, many found that their concerns about menopause were trivialised by their medical practitioners, most did not practice breast self-examination or have regular Pap smears, and some voiced concerns about the accessibility and affordability of appropriate health care. For some women, common medical therapies did not appear to control the symptoms they attributed to menopause. They expressed a desire to be active in health promotion and wanted to be more involved in the decision making process when consulting health care professionals. Suggestions for improving the quality of health promotion programs include the development of peer support groups and professional partnerships aimed at meeting the education, information and support needs of aging women.