A study of nursing care for AIDS patients with Cryptococcal Mengtitis in BI.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. B10372)
Inthong Y Bamrasnaradura, Nonthaburi, Thailand
This is a descriptive study to explore nursing care provied to AIDS patients with Cryptococcal menigitis based on their health problems and needs and to examine the correlation between patients taught by nurses and the three factors,patients'recovery,re-admission and follow-up rate. The sample consisted of 462 AIDS patients with Cryptococcal menigitis who were admitted to Bamrasnaradura Institute between 1st October 1998 and 30 th September 2001. Data collection was conducted through chart reviews. It was found that these patients needed nursing care with regard to 7 conditions: headache(100%),fever(46.1%),nauseaandvomiting(97.6%),convulsion/unconscious(5.6%),receiving lumbar puncture(97.6%),receiving continuous epidural drainage(12.2%)andreceiving Amphotericin-B(84.8%). Most frequently-documented nursing activities provities to them were dependent nursing activities ordered by physicians such as giving medication and intravenous fluid,while independent nursing activities were less frequently documented in patients'chart than the dependent ones. Most frequently-documented nursing activities were recording vitalsigns,symptom monitoring and notifying physicians unless the patients got better. Less frequenly-documented independent activities were providing patients with psychological support,and sponging to reduce fever. While assessind and managing pain,giving cold pack to reduce fever and providing comfort and safe environment could not be found during chart review. Besides,the patients taught by nurses related to patients'recovery at the approached significant level. It was also significantly related to re-admission and follow-up rate. However,using stratified analysis by living areas,patients taught by nurse was not significantly related to the follow-up rate among those living in Bangkok including peripheral provunces,and those living in other provinces. This study suggested that independent nursing care should be encouraged.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Nurses, Activities of Daily Living, Fever, Nursing Homes, Nursing Audit, Models, Nursing, Nursing Assessment, Humans, nursing, rehabilitation
