Patient satisfaction is an important quality outcome indicator of health care in the hospital setting. The measurement of patients' satisfaction with nursing is particularly important since nursing service is often a primary determinant of overall satisfaction during a hospital stay. This article reports on a study designed to update and revise the definition of patient satisfaction for application with ambulatory surgical patients and to develop a questionnaire that captures this definition. The Patient Satisfaction Scale, which specifically focuses on patient satisfaction with nursing care and is used extensively by nursing researchers, was selected for factor analytical examination. Psychometric testing resulted in a 15-item scale with three underlying dimensions.

Expressive writing, focusing the instructions on writing about one's living and dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer, is recommended for early breast cancer survivors as a feasible and easily implemented treatment approach to improve quality-of-life.

Findings provide direction for enhancing independent older people's ability to manage chronic pain. The nine categories of barriers show direction for education of both clients and health care providers, as well as for planning other types of needed support. The theoretical model shows the complexity of barriers experienced by older adults with arthritis.

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The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the use of a self-report exercise log and a heart-rate monitor in the measurement of adherence to the dimensions of an exercise prescription and to propose an alternative way to define adherence to a 24-week home-based women's walking program, which reflects the dynamic process of behavior change. Adherence was measured with exercise logs, Polar Vantage XL Heart-Rate Monitors, and pre- to postintervention change in VO2 max. Of the dimensions of the exercise prescription, frequency of walks documented by both the heart-rate monitor and the exercise log had a higher correlation than duration and intensity of walking, with change in VO2 max suggesting that frequency was potentially the most predictive adherence measure. Examination of the total number of walks and the number and sequence of weeks without walks over the 24-week intervention revealed dynamic patterns of adherence suggesting variation in the degree of behavioral change.

Results suggest that achieving a functional level that will support independence is possible for older women who were residing independently prior to a hip fracture.

The initial development of the Pain Management Inventory (PMI), a precise clinical index of pain management methods intended for use with patients with arthritis, is reported The PMI differs from available instruments in its intent to assess specific methods that the individual is currently using for arthritis pain management and the perceived helpfulness of these methods, thus providing information to be used in combination with other clinical indicators for planning and evaluating ongoing pain self‐management Sixteen of 17 items, or methods, initially demonstrated content validity Using methods appropriate for an index of independent items, psychometric testing with a sample of 82 persons having a primary diagnosis of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis then focused on estimating the construct validity and test‐retest reliability of each item Findings assist in better understanding how various methods relate to overall pain management when it is defined as successfully taking care of or handling the pain as viewed within a cognitive‐behavioural framework Findings suggest that there are eight items that represent valid and reliable pain management methods These items should be used and evaluated with additional arthritis samples to determine whether the findings replicate

Outcomes suggest that the combined intervention (ABCs to recovery) can improve recovery following mastectomy. Relevance to clinical practice. The results will be used to further modify the intervention and to increase awareness of nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals of the specific needs of postmastectomy patients.