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Domestic violence (DV) against women during pregnancy affects many women and unborn infants worldwide. Pregnancy presents a window of opportunity for health care providers to identify DV and provide appropriate intervention. The aim of this systematic review was to appraise the effectiveness of DV screening and interventions for women identified for DV through screening in pregnancy. The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO were searched from January 1995 to November 2009 to identify potentially relevant studies. Studies using any comparative methodology from both national and international arenas were included but had to be in the English language. Nine studies (13 references) met the inclusion criteria, five for screening and four for interventions. Of the five screening studies, the identification of DV was significantly higher compared to studies that used a nonstandardized screen or no screen at all. There was also evidence that recurrent screening throughout the pregnancy further increased identification rates. There was some evidence that interventions for pregnant women who had experienced DV reduced the amount of violence experienced by these women, but the evidence is very limited by the small number of randomized studies with small participant numbers. Further research is required to establish the most effective interventions for women who are identified at risk of DV during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this study was to generate insight into younger women’s experiences of recovery from breast cancer-related breast surgery and to contribute to the knowledge base for clinicians practising in this field. Background. Despite the abundance of literature concerning the impact of breast cancer and breast loss on older women over 50 years of age, fewer studies have been conducted specifically with women younger than 50 years focusing on the recovery from breast cancer and related breast surgery. The effects of breast cancer on younger women differ to those of older women; younger women may have difficulty coming to terms with loss of fertility, perceived loss of femininity, sexuality and may experience body image disfigurement. Younger women may face these issues as a result of the treatment and surgery they have received to confine the breast cancer and attempt to improve their chances of survival. Design. A phenomenological qualitative methodology was used to capture the true essence and lived experience of four Australian women under the age of 50, who had undergone surgery as a result of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods. Tape-recorded semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Results. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes. These were ‘It absolutely encompassed me,’‘Being overwhelmed,’‘Living with fear and uncertainty’ and ‘Finding strength within.’ Conclusions. Findings of this study shed light on the experiences of recovery from breast cancer-related surgery in women under 50. Relevance to clinical practice. This research study will assist clinicians in understanding the needs of younger women undergoing breast cancer-related breast surgery, who may require counselling in relation to fertility and relationship issues and assistance in coping with the demands of work and home life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. This study aimed to build understandings of women’s recovery experiences in the presence of continued pelvic problems extending beyond the puerperium to provide nurses and other health care professionals with information to enhance current practice. Background. Trauma to the pelvic floor during childbirth is a relatively common occurrence and can include damage to structures and nerves. A significant number of women will experience ongoing physical pelvic problems resulting from childbirth that extend past the puerperium; however, little is known about the experiential aspects of recovery for these women. Design. A qualitative, phenomenological study. Method. Narrative data were collected during conversational interviews with 10 mothers who had sustained pelvic injury during the birth process that persisted past the puerperium. Recruitment was via media releases and brochures distributed through childcare facilities. The data was analysed using Van Manen’s thematic analysis. Results. The themes that arose from the analysis were: ‘fearing intimacy’, ‘managing an unpredictable body’, ‘being resigned’ and ‘feeling devalued and dismissed’. Conclusions. Pelvic injuries that extend beyond the postpartum period are distressing for women. They negatively affect women’s views of themselves and have an impact on various aspects of life including intimate relationships and social activities. Relevance to clinical practice. Currently, postpartum care may have a focus on baby rather than mother and this focus may impede women making full disclosures of ongoing health needs arising from their delivery. Findings of this study suggest that women may have specific needs that extend beyond the puerperium, indicating a need for continued holistic assessments and extending practice to identify and support women experiencing persistent pelvic postpartum complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To describe the perspective of individuals living with the chronic conditions of both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and eating disorders. Background. The TID and eating disorders are major concerns in Western society with the consequence of more prevalent and severe health complications. This paper arose from research on the impact of T1D on the self of adolescents and young adults. Design. In a larger longitudinal study (doctoral) of 27 participants (both male and females), data were collected from 1994 from 2001 using in-depth semi-structured interviews and a grounded theory approach; four female participants reported that they were experiencing T1D and an eating disorder. This subset of four participants from the original study was case analysed and the issues that arose for the participants are described using secondary analysis. Conclusions. Issues uncovered included the complexity of managing the interactions of the physical, emotional and social dimensions as well as personal relationships for the participants. These interrelated issues interfere with all-round management of T1D and eating disorders. Recognition and management of the comorbidity that exits in substantial numbers are of paramount importance in clinical practice. It is also necessary to incorporate the support of significant others in the health care partnership. Relevance to clinical practice. Health professionals who treat individuals with T1D need to be aware of the incidence of eating disorders among people with TID. Unhealthy weight control practices are of particular concern because they lead to poorer metabolic control which has a flow on effect causing micro vascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an evaluation of the Aunties and Uncles Co-operative Family Project Ltd, founded 30 years ago, that connects community volunteers (aunts and uncles) with disadvantaged children in the Sydney area, New South Wales, Australia. A postal survey was used which included both open and closed questions regarding the volunteer aunts, uncles, parents, coordinators, nieces and nephews' satisfaction with the project. Demographic data was also collected. Responses from the survey were statistically analysed using SPSS software. Responses to the open ended questions were transcribed and coded. The findings from the study indicated that the experiences were positive for all stakeholders with volunteers and co-ordinators finding the project personally rewarding and parents receiving respite and support. The children enjoyed new experiences by going to different places and undertaking activities. Recommendations include increased volunteer training and guidelines for difficult situations, increased support for coordinators and more structured activities for all participants. The findings indicate the reciprocal benefits to all participants. These significant benefits reflect the philosophy of the Aunties & Uncles Co-operative Family Project Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. The aim of this study was to consider the impact that an eating disorder had on the family, particularly the parents. The objective was to give a voice to parents in order to develop new understandings of their experience leading to more appropriate clinical decision-making. Background. The impact of an eating disorder on family life has not been well-documented in the published literature. There are numerous articles from the sufferer's perspective and treatment modalities. The following paper describes a component of a larger study that explored the parent's perspective of having a child with an eating disorder. Design. Nineteen mothers and three fathers from Sydney, Australia, volunteered to be interviewed as the result of advertizements placed in parent support organization newsletters and by using the snowballing technique. Methods. A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was used to explore parents’ experiences of having a child/adult child with an eating disorder. Themes were identified through in depth analysis. Results. Themes that were extrapolated from this research included, family unification or disintegration, parent's inability to cope, inconsiderate comments from significant others, social isolation and financial impacts. Conclusions. This study reports five overarching effects on family life. The authors conclude that one way in which the life of parents and families could be improved would be increased involvement and integration into the treatment process. For this to happen, health professionals would need to acknowledge the family as a resource. Relevance to clinical practice. This research documents the family struggle and highlights the current omissions concerning the family's role. The need for changes to clinical practice is substantiated. It requires health professionals to scrutinize their own clinical practice and consider modification of the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the practical needs of patients and their families travelling from rural areas in New South Wales, Australia to cities for cancer treatment. Practical needs were information, accommodation, transport, and economic impact. A cross-sectional design was employed; data were collected by questionnaire and focus group interviews. Findings showed that practical needs impacted on the ability of the patients and families to cope with diagnosis and treatment for cancer. The greatest unmet practical need of the patients and their families was for comprehensive information that is provided before travelling and by someone, for example, nurse or social worker who can help them decipher it if required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigated the experiences of parents with children/adult children in metropolitan Sydney, Australia who were living with, or had recovered from, an eating disorder. During regular team meetings, the research assistant who conducted the interviews had described her reactions which led the research team to investigate her experience in more depth. The aim of the present paper was to explore the impact on the research assistant who conducted 22 in-depth interviews with the parents. One of the members of the research team interviewed the research assistant to elicit her reactions. The interview was content analyzed and the following themes were identified: (i) appreciation of an egalitarian model of research; (ii) the emotions expressed by the research assistant; (iii) making sense of the inexplicable and (iv) reflections and comparison to her own life role. The research team would like to advance the theory that the adoption of a formal debriefing mechanism be integrated into the qualitative research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiences of parents with a child with anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia nervosa were explored and this article aims to present one component of that study: parents’ interactions with health professionals. The research was initiated after anecdotal stories from parents led the authors to undertake a literature review, which revealed a paucity of published research on this topic. Twenty-two interviews were conducted with volunteer parents from New South Wales, Australia. A descriptive qualitative design was used and themes were identified through in-depth analysis. Six themes were identified: finding help, feeling shut out, engagement, images portrayed, being resourceful and parents not prepared to give up. The implications for health professionals include that they acknowledge parental involvement in recovery. We urge the nursing profession, particularly mental health nurses, to work towards establishing collaborative partnerships between families & health professionals in order to achieve a better health outcome for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses often experience positive and negative dimensions of caring for dying clients and their families. This project aimed to compare stress experienced by urban and rural community nurses working with palliative-care clients in the home. Participants included five nurses working in rural Australia and seven nurses working in an urban area. Transcribed data from unstructured audio-taped interviews were coded for common and contrasting themes, and a comparison was made of the stress experienced by the two groups of nurses. The major themes were role conflict and definition, family dynamics, time and workload. For both groups of nurses, the impact of family relationships and role conflict within the community impacted significantly to the stress they experienced. Debriefing opportunities for nurses to discuss stress, including educational and support sessions, is an essential component of best practice. Rural nurses had the additional stress of trying to provide a 24 h service over vast distances with a lack of financial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A research project was undertaken to describe how the support needs of women who have had treatment for breast cancer were being met in New South Wales, Australia. Data were collected from both the women and the nurses who cared for them. The findings from the first part of the study examined the nurses’ perceptions of the women’s needs and how they as health professionals, fulfilled these needs. Analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. Seventy-eight nurses responded to a questionnaire and 15 were interviewed. The findings indicated that the nurses perceived information on disease process and physical aspects of the disease as essential to supporting the women with breast cancer. While they saw providing emotional support to the women as important the nurses themselves often lacked the time and skills to provide it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the personal experiences of three nurse researchers who entered a new field, one they would not normally encounter. The experiences occurred during a research project involving detainees in Juvenile Justice Centres in New South Wales, Australia. The Healthy Lifestyle Check computerized health screening program was used to seek responses regarding the detainees’ health behaviours, knowledge of health services and health education needs. Physical assessment was conducted and counselling and referral was provided. The researchers’ best endeavours to prepare for the field were not enough for the reality of the controlled environment, fears for personal safety and the stamina required to complete the project. The researchers’ completion of the project enriched their professional lives with a sense of achievement and a new confidence in their ability to work in uncharted fields. Implications for future nursing research that incorporates fieldwork in this environment include: (i) ensuring adequate knowledge of security protocols; (ii) securing access to participants; and (iii) ensuring adequate physical assistance for fieldworkers to enter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]