International Journal of Practical Nursing

Asthma causes significant changes in patients life as well as their significant others. Many studies have conducted on inhalation technique and it is seen that not only patient but health care provider has lack of knowledge on different asthma devices and their proper use. Use of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids through inhaler device can prevent episodes of asthma exacerbations. Many guidelines published for asthma control suggested importance of inhalation technique training and asthma action plan. Over 15 million Indians are suffering from bronchial asthma and this burden is constantly increasing. Indian hospitals are usually overcrowded and due to lack of time and manpower, any asthma education is usually neglected aspect. This article will provide information regarding asthma, inhaler devices and correct technique of inhaler use.

Keywords: Inhalation technique; Asthma; COPD.

Cancer is a group of diseases that occurs when an abnormal cell is formed by the genetic mutation of the cellular DNA. These abnormal cells have capability to proliferate abnormally and rapidly and can leads to changes in surrounding tissue. According to World Health Organization there would be estimated that 27 million cases of cancer can be expected for 2030, 17 million deaths from cancer, and 75 million individuals living with cancer each year. There is a successful history of Drugs in treating illnesses, and they are responsible for many of our medical advances. However, virtually all drugs have side effects associated with their use by patients, and nurses also have risk of side effects who handle them. Nurses are at risk of suffering side effects that might result from exposure to even very small concentrations of certain chemotherapeutic drugs. Related studies found the relationship between exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs and acute adverse reactions: urine mutagenicity; skin disorders; fetal loss during the first trimester of pregnancy; spontaneous abortion; malformations and genotoxicity. Organizations such as National Institute for Occupational safety and Health administration (NIOSH), American Society of Hospital Pharmacist (ASHP), the Oncology Nursing Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have recommended safe handling guidelines for chemotherapeutic drugs. All healthcare workers who work with chemotherapeutic drugs have been advised to adhere to these safety guidelines. These guidelines includes proper use of personal protective equipment during reconstitution of chemotherapeutic drugs, administration, spill management, disposal of chemotherapeutic waste and management of accidental exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Keywords: Chemotherapeutic drugs; Oncology; Safe handling; Cancer; Nursing.

Cancer is a distressing disease all over the world and is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells inside the body that have no useful purpose for human beings. Cancer affect the patients both physically and psychologically, Most of caner therapists focus on the physical symptoms of the cancer patients but does not pay attention to the psychology of the cancer patient results in more psychological distress or problems among cancer patients. Psychological problems and distress among cancer patients includes depression (most common), fatigue, stress, anxiety low self-esteem. Humour is considered as an alternative medical treatment along with other cancer treatment modalities for the cancer related psychological problems. Studies showed that humour therapy improves the immune system, reduces pain threshold, reduces stress producing hormones inside the body, improves the functioning of natural killer cells, relaxes the muscles, improves quality of life and also leads to psychological well-being among cancer patients. Humour therapy also increases the level of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M inside the body resulting in beneficial health outcomes. Humour therapy act as channel for cancer patients to express their inner perceptions, feelings about the disease condition in front of health professionals. Several studies conducted on the humour therapy the results of studies showed that humour therapy had a positive effect on the psychology of the cancer patients. Humour therapy act as a channel for communication between nurse and patient.

Keywords: Humour therapy; Cancer patients; Depression; Stress; Anxiety; Psychological health.

In the present times, all are engaged in their tight schedules and devote least of it to one’s health and recreation. Thus the outcomes are unpleasant and unacceptable for us. Due to heavy work stress, need for jobs, study burden and many other reasons exaggerates body’s response by exhibiting signs of anxiety. Overwhelming anxiety in daily life routine is not normal. It may result in other associated features with negative behavioural and cognitive changes among human beings. In order torelieve the symptoms of anxiety in their day to day activities, numerous alternative measures such as relaxation therapy, yoga, meditation, sleep therapy and many more are available which have favourable results for living beings. One of them is the music therapy which not only delights our mind but also delivers immense relief to the body. It is safe for administration not has limited adverse effects. It provide relaxation to mind, relieves unwanted stress among the receivers. Swiftly, the therapy has attained a special position in managing the anxiety and similar other sign/symptoms because it is not only an attractive therapy but also easy to administer as it require minimal experience or training and also less equipments. It has been scientifically proved that application of music as a medicine has the potential to relieve critical disease conditions. Some of them are discussed in the article too. Therefore, the article highlights the beneficial modes of using music therapy over anxiety and other related symptoms.

Keywords: Anxiety; Music and Music Therapy.

An exploratory study has been conducted to assess the causes and risk factors of cerebrovascular accidents. The study conducted at Erode Trust hospital, Erode. Totally we selected 60 patients by non probability purposive sampling technique and data has collected through the check list on causes and risk factors of cerebrovascular accidents. As per the study findings, the positive causes and risk factors of cerebrovascular accident are, aged above 55 years (78.3%), hypertension patients (65%), stress about (58.3%), menopause attained about (100%) found to be significant association between causes and risk factors and selected demographic variables such as religion, marital status and socio economic status.

Keywords: Causes; Risk Factors; Cerebrovascular Accident; Hypertension; Stress; and Menopause.

Background of the study: A mental disorder, also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode. Many disorders have been described, with signs and symptoms that vary widely between specific disorders. Such disorders may be diagnosed by a mental health professional. Mental and behavioral disorders are present at any point in time in about 10% of the adult population worldwide. The burden of mental disorders is maximal in young adults, the most productive section of the population. Neuropsychiatry conditions together account for 10.96% of the global burden of disease as measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Projections estimate that by the year 2020, neuropsychiatric conditions will account for 15% of disabilities worldwide, with unipolar depression alone accounting for 5.7% of DALYs and will stand second in top 10 leading causes of disability. Families also incur social costs, such as the emotional burden of looking after disabled family members, diminished quality of life for careers, social exclusion, stigmatization, and loss of future opportunities for self-improvement. This burden emphasizes the need of scientific studies in various aspects of mental disorders. Objective of the study: To assess the myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders among paramedical students. To develop an information booklet on mental disorder. To associate the values of myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorder with the paramedical students’ demographic variables. Methods: The study involved quantitative approach and non-experimental descriptive design with non-probability convenient sampling technique. To collect the data from respondents, questionnaire on myths, beliefs and perception was administered to 50 paramedical students following inclusion and exclusion criteria. The tool consisted 30 items. The results were described by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: Maximum 44% of the paramedical students had moderate satisfaction level of myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders, 38% were having unsatisfactory level and 18% were satisfactory level on myths, beliefs and perceptions about mental disorders. There is a significant association between myths, beliefs and perceptions scores and age, religion and family members mental disorder, as the chi-square value are higher than the tabulated value. Therefore, the H1 is accepted and the null hypothesis is rejected.

Keywords: Myths; Believes; Perceptions; Mental disorder and paramedical students.

The present descriptive comparative study aims to compare the attitude towards organ donation among nursing and engineering students. Likert scale was prepared as tool for the study. The researcher met the students in two colleges and samples were selected by using convenience sampling method. Totally one hundred (100) students including 50 nursing and 50 engineering students were selected. On the day of data collection, each student was asked to respond to attitude scale. The statistical Student’s unpaired t test implied that the difference in attitude score of nursing and engineering students was found to be 5.62 which is statistically significant at 0.05% level. It was inferred that there was significant difference in the attitude towards organ donation among the nursing students and engineering students. It was also found that there was significant association between attitude towards organ donation of nursing students and their gender (“t” value =2.48, p<0.05).

Keywords: Nursing; Engineering; Attitude; Students; Organ donation.