Family Health Education Research Articles

Victorian maternal child health nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards national registration changes

In 2010 National Registration for nurses was established which was likely to impact the role of the maternal and child health nurses (MCH) in Victoria. This study explored the perceived impact of the national changes to the MCH nurse workforce in Victoria following the implementation of national registration and a proposed national service framework. A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed with the purpose of exploring the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Key Stakeholders (KSH) to the recent changes and perceived impact to Victorian MCH nurses. The significance of this study lies with understanding the gaps in current knowledge of KSH to the national changes. Outlined briefly in this paper will be main findings from the KSH. This involved interviewing 12 KSH from management positions, including Local Government Coordinators, Policy Advisors to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Municipal Association of Victoria, along with academics from Universities that provide postgraduate Child and Family Health education programs for the MCH nurse qualification. Date was transcribed verbatim and content analysis used. Categories were developed by identifying recurrent patterns from the data, labels were then chosen which reflected the participant’s words: “common standard”; “losing our identity”; “universal service”; “we do it well” and “imposed from above”. Overall the KSH were concerned how the disparity in education and qualifications would be resolved and the effect this would have on the service. Findings from this study highlight the importance of comprehensively investigating services offered by all jurisdictions and using collaboration, communication and leadership to effectively introduce change.

Development, Implementation, and Testing of a Web Based Decision Aid for Facilitating Shared Decision Making for Disease Modifying Therapies for Sickle Cell Disease

BackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with substantial morbidity, and premature mortality. Hydroxyurea (Hu), chronic blood transfusion and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) can modify the course of this disease, reduce complications, and improve survival. These interventions are diverse in their therapeutic intent, but are all associated with substantial burden of care, signfiicant side effects and the potential for late complications. The complexity inherent in making decisons about these disease modifying therapies is compounded by the socioeconomic disadvantage experienced by this largely minority, underserved population. That despite proven efficacy in clinical trials, uptake and adherence with HU remains poor, and that only a small proportion of eligible patients undergo HCT underscores the difficulty in making these decisions. The objective of this study was to use a theory based systematic approach to develop, implement and test a web based decision aid to support patients and caregivers in shared decision making regarding disease modifying therapies for SCD.The theoretical basis for this project is the Ottawa decision support framework( ODSF), an evidence-based, practical, mid-range theory for guiding patients making health or social decisions which uses a three-step process to assess client and practitioner determinants of decisions to identify decision support needs; provide decision support tailored to client needs and evaluate the decision making process and outcomes.MethodsFollowing the ODSF, we conducted qualitative interviews of patients with SCD, their caregivers, policymakers, community advocates and healthcare providers and other stakeholders. Subjects were recruited at multiple regional and national SCD conferences which draw a mix of patients and professional audience. Interviews lasted 30-40 minutes and were transcribed verbatim, transcripts were coded using QSR NVivo 10 and analyzed using qualitative mixed methods. Themes from qualitative interviews were incorporated into the each of the following phases of the project: Phase 1: Qualitative interviews for needs assessment to facilitate the description of the participants' experiences in seeking information about and making decisions related to SCD and utilizing both open and closed-ended questions. Phase 2: Data synthesis, and construction of a storyboard, draft content, draft design and format for the decision aid. Phase 3: Alpha testing for quality and error correction. Extensive modifications were carried out systematically incorporating the recommendations received. Phase 4: Iterative cylces of Beta testing for feasibility, comprehensibility and usability with qualitative interviews and observations and incorporated recommendations. Phase5: Peer-review of the finalized decision aid by stakeholders who had not participated in the development of the instrument and had not previously examined the website.ResultsNeeds assessment qualitative interviews with 205 individuals yielded information on decisional needs, preferences regarding content, presentation and ease of use as well as a distinct preference to learn from the experience of other patients and guided the devlopemnt of the decision aid. Alpha testing for quality and error correction was conducted with 51 patients / family members, clinicians, health educators and policy makers. Beta testing for feasiblity, comprehensibilty, and usability was completed by a total 111 participants. Peer review by 60 providers, patients and stakeholders of the final decision aid (www.sickleoptions.org) indicated a high level of satisfaction with the content, presentation, ease of use, use of graphics and the use of patient testimonials. We have enrolled and are gathering data on 120 subjects in a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of the decion aid on clinical decision making.ConclusionsThis stiudy provides empirical evidence about the successful process of creating, implementing and testing a web based decision aid for patients to guide shared decision making in disease modifying therapy for SCD. It provides evidence of favorable patient and physician perceptions about the comprehensivility and usability of the decision aid. Results of an ongoing randomized clinical trial will generate additional information about the impact of the decision on clinical decision making. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Integrated Care and Leprosy in India:A Role for Indian Systems of Medicine and Traditional Health Practice in the Eradication of Leprosy

The benefits of an integrated approach in the future of leprosy control in India are discussed, by involving professionals from different systems of medicine and coordinated by dermatologists working in the field of community dermatology. The low level of education amongst traditional healers has led to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, thus emphasizing the importance of health education for patients, families and local practitioners to enable prompt and appropriate treatment. The Indian systems of medicine though supportive do not have the required rehabilitation services. Traditional health practitioners demonstrated an improved knowledge of leprosy on completion of training, and were able to detect and refer suspect cases with only early signs of disease.

Formation Secouriste Sauveteur au Travail sur le développement interpersonnel : étude exploratoire auprès des salariés de Structures d’Insertion professionnelle

The National Institute of Research and Security and the “CHANTIER Ecole” network have developed first-aid training for employees of integration into the workplace centres. Specifically geared towards workplace safety, but similar in its content to home first-aid and rescue training, this training is also designed to enhance individual and collective responsibility and citizenship. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the personal and interpersonal effects of first-aid training of these employees by considering their social and professional difficulties in terms of psychosocial skills, such as empowerment, stress and emotions management, and decision-making capacity. A descriptive-inductive study was conducted over 18 months based on the grounded theory approach. Five integration into the work-place centres participated in the study and 34 interviews were conducted. These results raise several questions concerning: a) the characteristics of this public targeted by this training and their perception of integration into the workplace; b) the suitability of this training to working conditions and the link with other types of training such as family health education; c) the relationship between citizenship training and first-aid training at work, as it is more applicable to family training than workplace training. A quantitative study is considered to confirm these observations in other integration into the workplace centres.

Uterine prolapse and its impact on quality of life in the Jhaukhel–Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site, Bhaktapur, Nepal

BackgroundUterine prolapse (UP) is a reproductive health problem and public health issue in low-income countries including Nepal.ObjectiveWe aimed to identify the contributing factors and stages of UP and its impact on quality of life in the Jhaukhel–Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site of Bhaktapur, Nepal.DesignOur three-phase study used descriptive cross-sectional analysis to assess quality of life and stages of UP and case–control analysis to identify contributing factors. First, a household survey explored the prevalence of self-reported UP (Phase 1). Second, we used a standardized tool in a 5-day screening camp to determine quality of life among UP-affected women (Phase 2). Finally, a 1-month community survey traced self-reported cases from Phase 1 (Phase 3). To validate UP diagnoses, we reviewed participants’ clinical records, and we used screening camp records to trace women without UP.ResultsAmong 48 affected women in Phase 1, 32 had Stage II UP and 16 had either Stage I or Stage III UP. Compared with Stage I women (4.62%), almost all women with Stage III UP reported reduced quality of life. Decreased quality of life correlated significantly with Stages I–III. Self-reported UP prevalence (8.7%) included all treated and non-treated cases. In Phase 3, 277 of 402 respondents reported being affected by UP and 125 were unaffected. The odds of having UP were threefold higher among illiterate women compared with literate women (OR=3.02, 95% CI 1.76–5.17), 50% lower among women from nuclear families compared with extended families (OR=0.56, 95% CI 0.35–0.90) and lower among women with 1–2 parity compared to >5 parity (OR=0.33, 95% CI 0.14–0.75).ConclusionsThe stages of UP correlated with quality of life resulting from varied perceptions regarding physical health, emotional stress, and social limitation. Parity, education, age, and family type associated with UP. Our results suggest the importance of developing policies and programs that are focused on early health care for UP. Through family planning and health education programs targeting women, as well as women empowerment programs for prevention of UP, it will be possible to restore quality of life related to UP.

Cognitive ability at kindergarten entry and socioeconomic status.

To examine how gradients in socioeconomic status (SES) impact US children's reading and math ability at kindergarten entry and determine the contributions of family background, health, home learning, parenting, and early education factors to those gradients. Analysis of 6600 children with cognitive assessments at kindergarten entry from the US Early Childhood Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study. A composite SES measure based on parent's occupation, education, and income was divided into quintiles. Wald F tests assessed bivariate associations between SES and child's cognitive ability and candidate explanatory variables. A decomposition methodology examined mediators of early cognitive gradients. Average reading percentile rankings increased from 34 to 67 across SES quintiles and math from 33 to 70. Children in lower SES quintiles had younger mothers, less frequent parent reading, less home computer use (27%-84%), and fewer books at home (26-114). Parent's supportive interactions, expectations for their child to earn a college degree (57%-96%), and child's preschool attendance (64%-89%) increased across quintiles. Candidate explanatory factors explained just over half the gradients, with family background factors explaining 8% to 13%, health factors 4% to 6%, home learning environment 18%, parenting style/beliefs 14% to 15%, and early education 6% to 7% of the gaps between the lowest versus highest quintiles in reading and math. Steep social gradients in cognitive outcomes at kindergarten are due to many factors. Findings suggest policies targeting levels of socioeconomic inequality and a range of early childhood interventions are needed to address these disparities.

Brote de enfermedad boca-mano-pie y onicomadesis causado por el virus Coxsackie A16, Granada

IntroductionDue to the significant increase in the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among pre-school children population during late 2011 and early 2012. A study has been proposed with the aim of describing the HFMD outbreak and analyzing the risk factors associated with suffering onychomadesis. Patients and methodsA descriptive and analytical case-control study was designed. The study population was 376 children between 6 and 36 months old, living in the Basic Health Catchment area of Peligros (Granada). The study inclued an epidemiological survey of 28 cases and paired controls in order to collect data on the time, person and place, and implementing preventive actions and family health education. Finally a microbiological viral study of stool samples was made. ResultsThere were 64% of girls with average age 20.8 months. The clinical signs fornd were, fever (75%), vesicular palmar eruption (71%), plantar eruption (68%), erosive stomatitis (64%), and nail loss (46%). The risk of getting sick was 14 times greater for those children attending a childcare centre and had contact with sick cases (OR 13.8; 95% CI; 3.79-50.18). The average time since onset of symptoms and onychomadesis was 52 days, and its appearance was linked to the presence of ulcers in mouth (P=.006). Five samples were positive to enteroviruses Coxsackie A16. ConclusionThere was an outbreak of HFMD detected by pediatricians and families. The cases presented with marked clinical symptoms, and the nail loss (onychomadesis) generated a social alarm. The cause of the outbreak was an enterovirus Coxsackie A16 transmitted among sick cases and through childcare centres.

The effect of patients and family health education simultaneously on the patients with femoral head replacement

Objective To explore the effect of family health education on the rehabilitation of patients with femoral head replace -ment.Methods A total of 96 patients in our hospital from June 2009 to June 2013 were divided into the study group （ n=48） and the con-trol （ n=48 ） .The two groups were received the health education at the same time , and the family education in addition for the study group, the postoperative recovery was observed.Results The master degree of healing knowledge and training skill and Harris Hip Score in the study group were obviously higher than those of the control group （ P〈0.05 ）; the hospitalization time in the study group was shorter than that of the control group （ P〈0.05 ）; the anxiety and depression scores in the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group （ P〈0.05 ）; the incidence of postoperative complications in the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group （ P〈0.05 ） .Conclusions The health education to the patient family can improve the cooperation to patient ’s healing training , re-duce the incidence of postoperative complications and enhance the life quality for the rehabilitation of patients with femoral head replacement . Key words: Femoral head replacement; Health education; Family; Postoperative recovery

Content Analysis of Technology Teacher Training Programmes of Some European Countries

The article deals with the problems of designing and updating study programmes during the integration process of the Lithuanian education system into the European education space. After the substantial change of general programmes of Basic education(2008) and Secondary education (2011) and seeking to fully involve self-development of general cultural, subject specific, generic and specific competencies which are necessary for teachers, it is important to update the study programmes.The problem of the research: what content of technology teacher training programme should be from the innovations point of view in order to meet the expectations of the changing society.The object of the research: the innovative content of the technology teacher training programme.The aim of the research: to highlight the innovative aspects of the content of technology teacher training programmes, having performed content analysis of technology teacher training programmes of the universities of Lithuania and some European countries.Research methods:analysis of scientific literature, analysis of the programmes of universities of some European countries which provide training for technology teachers as well as the analysis of the legal acts and strategic education policy documents of the European Union and the Republic of Lithuania.Updating of the study programme of technological education is a permanent process, which is conditioned by the following factors: market economy and the needs of information society, the fact that higher education is becoming mass, penetration of humanistic ideas into the content of education as well as the valid unified study quality assessment policy in the European Union.Taking into account the recommendations of the international experts’ group and considering international changes of analogous study programmes, the Committee of Technology Pedagogics Study Programmes of Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences in cooperation with the social partners carried out a research of opinions of students, graduates, university lecturers and employers on the study quality.They also performed a comprehensive analysis of the Bachelor’s degree study programmes of some Western European universities. The analysis revealed that theoretical models of study programmes design of different European universities have similarities and differences, which are determined by the philosophical aspect, humanistic ideas and the context of the national education policy. In the research the experience of five universities from the innovations point of view was used: the University of Helsinki (Finland), Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (Great Britain), the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar (Portugal), and the University of Iceland.The following elective subjects have been included in the study programme of technology pedagogics: pedagogical ethics, sustainable development and social welfare, educational creative projects, family health education, health promoting nutrition education, visualization of technology education, eco creations, national and global food culture, interior design, technology education for special needs students, art therapy, development of leadership competencies, formation of study archives. The hidden curriculum of the study programme of technology pedagogics is ethnic culture, ecology, project activities.

Knowledge and practices regarding menstruation among school going adolescents of rural Nepal

Background: Adolescence is a transition period from childhood to adult life during which pubertal development and sexual maturation take place, thus making physiological development a challenge adolescents have to face. There is a substantial lacuna in the knowledge towards menstruation among adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene and management is an issue that is insufficiently acknowledged and has not received adequate attention. Objective: This study was done to assess the knowledge and practices regarding menstruation among school going adolescents. Methods: A descriptive study was done among sixty-one female adolescents of Shree Himali Secondary School, Panchkanya, Sunsari, where data were collected from the adolescents meeting the inclusion criteria. Results: It was found that 36.1% correctly reported about menstruation where most common informant was mother (39.3%). Dysmenorrhoea was the commonest problem faced during menstruation (78.7%) followed by back pain and excessive blood loss. More than half of respondents (54.1%) used sanitary pads and frequency of changing pads twice a day was highest (50.8%). Initial reaction was of fear/apprehension at menarche by 36.1% of girls whereas 44.3% perceived it as an expectant process. Girls still faced different types of restrictions like not being allowed to visit holy places, not being allowed to cook and touch male family member etc. Conclusion: Traditional beliefs regarding menstruation still persist and menstrual hygiene among the adolescents was found to be unsatisfactory. It highlights the need of targeted interventions to raise awareness and provision of family health education package to all girls. Menstrual hygiene is an issue that needs to be addressed at all levels.Journal of Kathmandu Medical College Vol. 2, No. 3, Issue 5, Jul.-Sep., 2013 Page: 117-121DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i3.9962Uploaded date : 3/4/2014

Improving Diversity in Cancer Research Trials: The Story of the Cancer Disparities Research Network

The participation of racial and ethnic minorities and underserved populations in clinical trials is a critical link between scientific innovation and improvements in health care delivery and health outcomes. However, these population groups continue to be underrepresented in research. We describe the development of the Cancer Disparities Research Network (CDRN) to improve minority and underserved populations' participation in biobanking research. Between February and October 2011, we conducted a regional assessment to identify challenges and opportunities for cancer trials and biobanking research across the CDRN. Representatives from ten CDRN biorepository facilities completed an online survey assessing their facilities' minority biospecimen collection, biobanking practices, and education/outreach initiatives. Representatives of eight facilities also participated in stakeholder interviews. The majority (70%) of facilities reported that specimens were available for research, although only one tenth of these specimens were from non-White patients. Most facilities collected a patient's age, gender, race, medical history, and ethnicity with samples; however, less than half also collected family health history, education level, household income, or primary language spoken. In addition, few institutions collected Asian or Hispanic subgroup information. Only a few reported biospecimen collection outreach programs specifically targeting minority and underserved populations. Biospecimen directors and administrators indicated that funding, biospecimen sharing procedures, and standardization barriers limited their facilities from collaborating in biospecimen collection programs, despite their great interest. These findings suggest that the CDRN can provide opportunities for collaboration, resource sharing, and fostering of research ideas to address cancer disparities in biospecimen research.

Health promotion for children, mothers and families: here’s why we should “think about it before conception”

About 90,000 preterm infants or babies with birth defects are born in Italy every year, nearly 250 per day. These congenital conditions and their outcomes represent the most important burden of disease affecting the health status and the quality of life during infancy, childhood and beyond. In many cases they are fostered by the presence of maternal and/or paternal preconception risk factors whose effects can be modified by primary prevention.In the contemporary vision of maternal and child health, the traditional gap between preconception period and pregnancy is overcome through promotion of reproductive health and wellness in women, men and couples, regardless of their reproductive plans and possible future pregnancies. This paradigm should become the basic foundation to improve and protect infants’, children’s and adolescents’ health. Useful interventions belong to four broad areas: a) promotion of women’s and couples’ health in general, and protection from risk of adverse events in future pregnancies (if any); b) identification and treatment of conditions that increase the risk of adverse reproductive outcomes; c) help for women (couples) planning for pregnancy; d) identification of genetic risks, and help for independent and responsible decision making.Pediatricians and neonatologists can effectively promote primary prevention in the interconception period, when parents seek consultation for their previous child, in adolescent medicine, in family health education, in socio-sanitary network, and in advocacy activities in favor of infants and children. These actions should be part of an operational framework including perinatal outreach programs, information campaigns, and focus on problems of high-risk women, children and families.

부모의 고위험 음주 행동이 자녀의 건강행동에 미치는 영향

이 연구는 2009년 지역사회 건강조사 자료를 활용하여 부모의 고위험 음주행동이 자녀의 건강행동에 미치는 영향을 조사하여 가족의 건강문제의 예방 및 관리를 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 하는 목적에서 이루어 졌다. 대상은 19세 이상의 자녀를 둔 세대 중 고위험 음주에 노출된 16,383명을 선택하여 각 ID별로 부모가 고위험 음주자인 916명을 분류하여 빈도분석, 카이제곱 검정과 로지스틱 회귀분석을 실시하였다. 고위험 음주 부모의 자녀가 정상인 음주부모의 자녀에 비해 고위험 음주행동이(p<0.01)이 높았으며 부정적 건강행태에 영향을 미쳤다. 그러므로 고위험음주들에 대한 가족형 보건교육이 제도적으로 필요함을 고려하여 음주로 인한 문제의 해결이 가정에서부터 이루어져야 함을 제안한다. This study was performed to examine the impact on the health behaviors of the children by their parents' drinking behaviors. We used the data from a community health survey in 2009. The subjects were selected the household that had a child older than 19, and then among them, chose those 916 parents of highly risky drinking exposition among 16,383 control parents. The collected data was analyzed by frequency, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis, using SPSS 18.0k program. Parent's high risk drinking behavior was independently associated with children's high risk drinking behavior after adjusting covariates(p<0.01). According to the result of the study, high risk drinking behavior of parents impact highly on the children's high risk alcohol drinking, nutritional behaviors, influenza vaccination, and tooth brushing, so it's necessary to consider a systematic family health education to the high risk drinkers.

Effect of family participation and health education mode on rehabilitation of depressive patients

Objective To discuss the effect of family participation and health education mode on rehabilitation of depressive patients.Methods One-hundred patients with depression were randomly divided into the experimental and the control group.Both groups received the same health education contents,and the experimental group received family participation and extended health education to six months after discharge in addition.Medication compliance,disease recurrence and changes in quality of life were observed and compared between two groups.Results On the 26th week after discharge,the number of patients taking medicine actively and correctly,taking medicine irregularly,taking medicine passively and taking no medicine was respectively 42,1,6 and 1 in the experimental group,and 12,15,17 and 6 in the control group.There was one patient in the experimental group and 9 in the control group who had recurrence of depression and been hospitalized.The differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The total score of QOL-P was (59.12 ± 6.54) in the experimental group and (82.04 ± 18.76) in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (t =8.159,P ＜0.01).Conclusions Family participation and health education can significantly increase the medication compliance of depressive patients,reduce their relapse rate and improve their quality of life. Key words: Depression ; Rehabilitation ; Health education; Family member

Unfavorable factors of digital replantation in children and the relevant nursing strategies

Objective To investigate the characteristics,methods,and clinical effects of nursing for children undergoing digital replantation.Methods The data on nursing for 37 pediatric patients who had undergone digital replantation during the period of July July 2010 to July 2012 were analyzed.Of the 37 patients,35 had poor compliance,32 had emotional instability,31 had unstable body temperature,and 11 had vascular crisis.The parents of 35 children lacked of a knowledge about daily care.The nursing measures including sedation,immobilization,keeping warm,non-smoking,and early family health education were taken.Results Arterial embolization and necrosis in the replanted finger developed in one child and venous thrombosis and necrosis occurred in one patient.The inplanted fingers survived in 35 children,with an overall survival rate of 95.2％.Conclusions It is difficult for pediatric patients undergoing digital replantation to cooperate with treatment and nursing care.The factors affecting the healing and functional recovery are various and complicated and thus nursing is difficult.Application of sedation,immobilization,keeping warm,non-smoking,family health education can obtain a satisfactory efficacy. Key words: Severed finger; Replantation; Nursing

Promoción de la participación ciudadana en cuidados de salud a través de PyDEsalud.com

This project supports the initiative promoted by the Spanish National Health System to provide informational materials, in printed or interactive format, to encourage public participation in decision making and healthcare. We present the newly created PyDEsalud.com, a web platform aimed at people with chronic diseases with a high socioeconomic impact, such as breast cancer, depression, and diabetes. This platform uses scientific methodology and contains three information service modules (Patients’ experiences, Shared decision making, and Research needs), aimed at promoting health education for patients and families.

Parent satisfaction with early parenting residential services: A telephone interview study

Early parenting residential units provide a child and family health support and education service for parents experiencing parenting difficulties. An ongoing concern of nursing staff and management is whether the parenting knowledge and skills gained are translated into sustainable parenting practices after discharge. This paper explores the response to a post discharge telephone interview about parents’ experience of nursing care during their residential stay and their parenting experience since discharge. A descriptive qualitative approach identified four themes in the parents’ responses: greater confidence, greater knowledge about their babies, changing expectations of parenting and their infants, and sustainability of parenting skills.

Percepción de las enfermedades raras por el médico de atención primaria

ObjectivesIdentify the elements that lead to the perception that primary health care physicians (PHCP) have as regards rare diseases (RD) as a whole, and to analyse the characteristics of these patients with rare diseases. MethodsDescriptive cross-sectional study. Surveys completed by PHCP during the years 2008-2010 were used to explore socio-demographic data, health care facilities, manpower, and services, knowledge level, expectations, means of obtaining available information, and training-support preferences of RD. ResultsA total of 260 questionnaires were analysed. The average level of knowledge was 3.68 (SD 1.93), of interest 7.34 (SD 2.02), and of importance 7.51 (SD 1.69). Less than one quarter (20.4%) of responders had done some training activity. Care at home (6.38, SD 2.07) is the most valued long term care option, emphasising the need of primary prevention (7.63 SD 1.5). Over one-third (35%) applied for some aid, mainly economic (37.4%). Internet is their main source of information (71.2%), and an average of 7.85 (SD 2.38) perceived the need for specific continuing training. By registered lists, each professional attends a mean of 2.45 (SD 3.69) patients with RD, 1.604% having temporary work disability, 1.479% having some disability and 1.62% with a dependence situation. The follow up of RD patients was: at Hospital level 55.72%, by special reference units 44.34%, by specialists 39.75%, and exclusively at PHCP level 14.46%. ConclusionsPHCP have a low level of knowledge of RD, although a high interest, with emphasis on primary prevention, the importance of the family environment, genetic counselling and health education. They rarely request medical resources for RD. Internet is their main source of information, and prefer specific continuing education courses.

Educational preparation for maternal, child and family health nurses in Australia

The study aims to map and critique the current postgraduate educational nursing programmes offered to nurses and midwives in maternal, child and family health in Australia. Nursing specialties that focus on the early years of child health and development are based on international recognition of the developmental needs of the growing infant and of the social, health and economic consequences of failing to support families to raise their children in optimal environments. Little is known whether the educational programmes that prepare maternal, child and family health nurses (MCFHNs) for practice in Australia have kept up with new knowledge and understanding of the early years of life. A survey of all maternal, child and family health education programmes offered in Australia was undertaken. Marked variations in course titles, length, content, clinical exposure and award exist across the 12 institutions offering such programmes in Australia. Many institutions provide inadequate preparation in some of the core skills required of the workforce. The establishment of minimum standards for the education of MCFHNs across Australia is required. This study also highlights the need for further research around the scope of practice of MCFHNs, and the role of midwives who are not nurses, in this specialty area.

Effect of asthma family health education and family nursing intervention on the life quality of patients with asthma

Objective To investigate how the family health education and nursing intervention reduce asthma attack and improve the life quality of asthma patients.Methods Health education was implemented among50 cases of asthma pstients and their family.The adult asthma quality of life score shect and St o George respiratoty questionnaire(SGRQ)scale were adopted for patients.The life quality of sustained intervention was compared with that of we-intervention after 6 months. Results After 6 months interveatien,the score of life quality and the score of SGRQ were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Cenclusions The family health education and nursing intervention can improve medication compliance,reduce acute attack,cut their charges and improve their life quality. Key words: Asthma; Health education; Family nursing intervention; Life quality