No abstract

Nurses are in an excellent position to teach the public about skin cancer prevention and perform cancer screenings. This study was designed to test an educational intervention intended to teach nursing students about skin cancer so they can reach competence and be certified by faculty to educate their patients. Similarly, students are educated and certified in other areas, namely, asthma and naloxone administration. By conducting this quasi-experimental study, the researchers sought to evaluate the effectiveness of adding online skin cancer education to traditional educational methods. Using a quasi-experimental design, we assigned nursing students (n = 146) to either an intervention group, which received an online educational treatment, or a control group, which did not receive any such treatment. Both groups then completed a posttest measure assessing their knowledge about skin cancer (“knowledge”), sun protective behaviors (“behavior”), and perceptions about the role of the nurse in skin cancer prevention (“role”). Participants in the intervention group had significantly higher scores on the “behavior” and “role” measures, suggesting that the intervention had successfully impacted these dimensions.

Chronic heart failure (HF) is a growing public health concern in Western nations. Incidence of HF increases with age, and demographics in the United States support a growing HF population. Annually, more than 100,000 people are admitted to hospitals because of HF. Patients with chronic HF experience a highly morbid and life-limiting illness while suffering from substantial physical and psychosocial burdens. What is the state of the science regarding the use of palliative care for community-dwelling adult patients with HF? A review of the scientific literature was conducted using the key words "palliative care" and "heart failure" in several electronic databases (CINAHL, Medline, Proquest) from October 15 to November 15, 2011. Eleven of the 16 articles found indicated that palliative care is underused by HF patients. There is a large unmet care need for adults with chronic HF and their family caregivers. Home healthcare professionals develop and maintain relationships with community-dwelling patients with chronic HF over the course of their HF illness trajectory. Home healthcare professionals are in a unique position to identify HF patients who may benefit from palliative care programs delivered across care settings in the community. By developing ongoing relationships with patients and their family caregivers, we are able to focus on the complete care needs of this patient population and assist them with advanced care planning, psychological and social issues, and symptom management. We can also improve communication among care providers and patients/families to identify goals of care along the trajectory of HF illness.

ED ^_ ^,. ,iALa Appreciation and acknowledgement of the manuscript reviewers Each December we publish a list of colleagues who have been involved Susan Baptiste in the reviewing process during the last year. This includes the names Daniel Bourbonnais of members of CJOT's Review Board, as well as others who have Elizabeth Boyd completed specialist reviews of a submission on an ad hoc basis. Both Margaret Brockett the authors and myself are greatly assisted in the task of preparing the Anne Carswell submission for publication by the hard and diligent work of these Heather Chilton manuscript reviewers. These colleagues have provided the critical Joanne Cook reviews and feedback which are such an integral pa rt of our professional Juliette Cooper development. Their contribution to the Canadian Journal of Occupa-Manon Deguire tional Therapy is most gratefully acknowledged.