No abstract

The paper concludes with the increasing importance attached to intimacy in nursing and its complex, ill-defined nature. This serves to highlight the importance of research aimed at exploring and clarifying intimacy and further illustrating the therapeutic potential of nursing.

Silver dressings (Acticoat-7, Actisorb Silver, Contreet Foam, Aquacel Ag and Flamazine) were found to be safe for use in chronic wound therapy. Excess silver ion is bound by wound exudate and wound scale as a protective mechanism. Silver-release dressings are not likely to result in germ-free wounds. Further studies are needed to examine potential silver resistance.

A weekly, supervised exercise and motivation class for a 6-month period provides a significant improvement in patients' symptoms, quality of life, and distance walked compared with advice alone and this improvement continues after attendance at class has ceased.