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JANUARY – JUNE 2003 VOL-4, NO.1 PAIN RELIEF DURING LABOR IN FINLAND * Hanna-Leena Liukkonen, R.N., R.M. ABSTRACT Most pregnant women have concerns about their ability to handle painful contractions during labor. Nearly every woman in labor experiences some degree of discomfort. Perception of pain is highly individual, even when two people experience the same stimuli. An appreciation of each woman’s unique experience of pain is possible when perinatal nurses understand the physiologic basis of pain, physiologic responses to pain, and psychosocial factors influencing pain perception. This article describes the principle of pain relief during labor in the West-UusimaaRegionHospital, Finland. Nonpharmacologic and Pharmacologic pain-management strategies used by this hospital are also discussed. INJECTION OF THE VENOM * Rogina J.S. Savarimuthu, R.N., R.M., B.Sc (N) ABSTRACT Snakebite is one of the most common emergencies seen in rural India. First aid measures and appropriate treatment can prevent deaths and major complications of snakebite. Effects of snakebite, first aid and specific treatment are highlighted in this article. COUNSELLING AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV INFECTION: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS * Prathap Tharyan, M.D., M.R.C.Psych ABSTRACT Infection with HIV is a major public health problem in India. Apart from the devastating psychological and social impact that a diagnosis of HIV infection entails it is associated with the psychological reactions of a life threatening infection on vulnerable individuals, and to the reactions of others, which are the psychiatric syndromes associated with HIV/AIDS and relate to the propensity for the virus to directly invade neural tissue, as well as lead to the immuno-compromised state. Counselling plays an important role in preparing people to deal with the issues surrounding HIV testing, preventing HIV transmission, coping with a positive result, improving treatment adherence, and helping the infected individuals and their families to lead productive life in-spite of HIV. This article examines the dilemmas relating to pre-test counselling relevant to the prevailing practices in India, the barriers for providing care and support to HIV affected people, and suggests possible solutions. It explores the concept of ‘nurse-counsellors’ and their role in the prevention and management of HIV infection. BURDEN ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF HIV/AIDS PATIENTS * Rosamma Abraham, B.Sc (N)., R.N., R.M. ABSTRACT A descriptive correlational study was carried out in the Medical wards and Medicine outpatient department of ChristianMedicalCollege, Vellore to determine the burden on family caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients. A sample of 80 family caregivers was chosen. The instrument used to collect the data was the Perceived Family Burden Scale (Pai & Kapur, 1981, modified), which has nine scales with 40 items. The family caregivers experienced severe burden in the aspects like social stigma, effect on mental health of others, financial burden, spiritual distress and disruption of family routine activities. There was significant relationship between the level of burden and some of the selective socio-demographic variables of the family caregiver such as sex, education, monthly income, social support, post diagnostic counseling and burden. TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT * Jonathan David, R.N., B.Sc (N) ABSTRACT The hips are among the hardest-working joints in our body, which are used to bear weight, walk, climb, bend and twist. While these joints can take a tremendous pounding, eventually they may be damaged by disease, injury or aging. Most of them suffer from osteoarthritis of the hip joint and this limits their ability in their activities of daily living. “Total Hip Replacement” is an option for nearly all patients with diseases of the hip that cause chronic discomfort and significant functional impairment. At this time, a prosthetic femoral component using modern techniques combined with good nursing care can give the patient excellent long-term results. This article consists of a care study about a nursing process approach in caring for the client with osteoarthritis of the hip and about the pre and postoperative care for the client with “Total Hip Replacement”. Perioperative nurses play a significant role in the care of patients with the osteoarthritis of the hip joint and effectively contribute to the positive outcome for the recipients of total hip replacement. CONTINUING EDUCATION SERIES – NO.4 SERIES NO:1 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND ASSESSMENT * Bala Seetharaman, R.N., R.M., M.Sc (N) In this series, the pathophysiology of myocardial infarction and assessment of patients with myocardial infarction are discussed through various approaches of identifying the total needs and problems of patient with MI ABSTRACT Coronary heart disease accounts for 25-30% of deaths in most industrialized countries. The young and the old are affected by Myocardial infarction. Coronary artery syndromes are caused by various predisposing factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lack of exercise, high levels of serum cholesterol and lipids, obesity, smoking etc. In India, diabetes and hypertension account for about 40% of all cases (Park, 1997). |