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JANUARY – JUNE 2008 VOL-9, NO.1 NURSING INFORMATICS * Premila Lee, M.Sc (N)., Ph.D ABSTRACT In the present world like any knowledge intensive field, nursing is greatly influenced by the explosive growth of knowledge, information and computers. Nursing informatics is a broad field that combines nursing skills with computer expertise. The technological development has brought in structural forces of change in order to deliver quality patient care through integration of informatics in nursing education, practice, management, and research. In this article, the application of nursing informatics in all the components of nursing practice is discussed. PROFESSIONAL POWER IN NURSING * Karuppaiah A, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D ABSTRACT Power is viewed as a positive as well as a negative experience. It has a great potential to influence others. Nurses, significantly a larger professional group among health care professionals, have potential to positively influence the health care system. However there is limited professional power exercised or inherent in nursing profession. This article highlights the need for such power and describes different types of power. The factors which contribute to powerlessness and the forces which can enhance nursing power base are also presented. An action plan or strategies to achieve this professional power are outlined. Empowerment within the profession is a pre-requisite and the profession alone can be held accountable for creating such a scenario in today's health care system. ROLE OF NURSES IN ASSESSMENT AND PREVENTION OF OBESITY * Sukhpal Kaur, Ph.D ABSTRACT Obesity is an escalating menace all over the world. It is associated with many metabolic disorders and therefore it is important to identify its causes. The common methods employed in assessment of obesity are body weight, body mass index, skin fold thickness, waist circumference, and waist hip ratio. This article is meant to re-orient the nurses regarding the advantages and disadvantages of these methods in order to help the individuals to maintain the various body parameters in a healthy range. It also discusses the role of nurses in prevention of obesity. PREVALENCE OF HELMINTHIC INFESTATION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OF CHILDREN * Padmaja A, M.Sc (N)., M.A., Ph.D ABSTRACT Intestinal parasites are the most common infections of school age children. A study was done to determine the prevalence of helminthic infestation and its association with selected demographic variables. The purpose of this study was descriptive as well as exploratory, and the design was non- experimental. Four hundred Telugu medium, 4th standard, 9 to 10 years aged children from Municipal Elementary Schools were selected by convenience sampling and the study was conducted in the respective elementary schools of Tirupati. The prevalence of helminthic infestation in this area was determined to be 51%. Multiple helminthic infestations were also reported. The three most common types of helminthic infestations reported were round worm, pin worm and hook worm. The prevalence was found to be 28%, 5% and 18% respectively. A significant association was found between the presence of helminthic infestation and the demographic variables such as mother's education (P<0.001) and occupation (P<0.001), father's education (P<0.01), father's occupation (P<0.001) and the method of disposal of excreta (P<0.001). Knowledge of these factors on helminth transmission may facilitate implementation of public health interventions to reduce the incidence of helminthic infestation in developing countries with similar environmental conditions and sanitary practices. MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME AND MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY : SYNDROMES IN NEED OF RECOGNITION AND LEARNING DIFFICULTIES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS * Sheeba S Chandy, M.Sc (N) ABSTRACT There are a vast number of psychiatric conditions which often go unrecognized in daily life. Among these, factitious diseases/ artificial or self-induced disorders are one such group comprising of two prominent disorders known as Munchausen Syndrome (MS) and Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy (MSBP). MS is a disorder that occurs in the adult where he or she will feign an illness. In MSBP, the feigning of illness occurs in children and is induced by the adult. This article describes both the disorders with a view to improve its recognition among nurses and impart basic knowledge about the syndromes and their treatment. KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF RURAL MOTHERS ABOUT WEANING * Kavitha V.R.S, M.A., M.Phil ABSTRACT The physical growth and development of an infant is vital, which relies on the nutritional status. As the infant grows, the nutritional requirements increase and exclusive breast feed is not sufficient. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce nutritional supplements to the infants. The knowledge about nutritional requirements is necessary as it influences the attitude and practices of weaning. A descriptive study was conducted in a rural community of Coimbatore District, Tamilnadu. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data among rural mothers with infants of 0 to 1 year. The study results revealed that majority of the subjects had adequate knowledge (98.11%), favourable attitude (99.05%) and adequate weaning practices (81.14%). The results also revealed an association between the mother’s knowledge and their educational status and family income. The study suggested that the nurses can play a vital role in educating the mothers in relation to weaning and its related practices. |