Briefs

Connecticut Nursing News, Mar-May 2005

VHA research measures frequency, impact of disruptive behavior between physicians and nurses

Research conducted by VHA Inc., which was a follow-up to a 2002 study, "Nurse-Physician Relationships: Impact on Nurse Satisfaction and Retention," found that disruptive behavior between physicians and nurses occurs frequently and affects patient outcomes.

Some stats:

* 86% of nurses who participated in the survey and 49% of physicians said they have witnessed disruptive behavior.

* 68% of nurses and 47% of physicians said they have witnessed disruptive behavior between nurses and from nurses aimed at other hospital staff.

* Most respondents (94%) believe disruptive behavior impacts adverse events, medical errors, patient safety, patient mortality, quality of care and patient satisfaction.

* 60% of the respondents were aware of potential adverse events that may have occurred from disruptive behavior.

The research also reported that 17% knew of a specific adverse event that occurred as a result of disruptive behavior and 78% felt the adverse event could have been prevented.

The survey was distributed to 50 VHA member hospitals in more than 12 states and results from more than 1,500 participants were evaluated. Surveys results are published in the January 2005 issues of the American Journal of Nursing and Nursing Management.

Knowledge of pain medication and its management could be improved among nursing home staff.

An AHRQ-funded study shows that nursing home staff, particularly unlicensed staff, know little about pain medication and management. Many staff members involved in the study were reluctant to use aggressive pain management strategies, even in the face of reported severe pain and observed pain behaviors. They also underestimated the effectiveness of nonmedication strategies such as massage, positioning, and distraction. To sign up for the AHRQ Electronic Newsletter:

1. Send an E-mail message to: listserv@list.ahrq.gov.

2. In the subject line type: Subscribe.

3. In the body of the message type: sub public_list-L and your full name.

4. You will receive an E-mail confirmation.

Complimentary and alternative treatments and conventional therapies should be held to the same standards -

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies calls for conventional medical treatments and complementary and alternative treatments should be held to the same standards for demonstrating clinical effectiveness in a recently published report. The same general research principles should be followed in evaluating both types of treatments, although innovative methods to test some therapies may have to be devised, said the committee that wrote the report. It also calls on Congress to work with stakeholders to amend the regulation of dietary supplements to improve quality control and consumer protections and to create incentives for research on the efficacy of these products.

ANA, PhRMA Report on New Medicines in Development for Mental Illness

The American Nurses Association has joined the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in releasing the report on New Medicines in Development for Mental Illness. The report lists medicines for psychiatric disorders that are in human clinical trials in the United States, or at the Food and Drug Administration awaiting approval. For more information go to: www. nursingworld.org/news/ananews.htm#mental

Medicare to Cover Smoking Cessation Counseling

1/07/05

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced plans to pay for certain Medicare beneficiaries to receive counseling to quit smoking, www.nursingworld.org/news/ananews. htm#cms

List of Priority Conditions for Research under Medicare Modernization Act Released

AHRQ announced a $15 million initiative that will develop state-of-the-art information about the effectiveness of interventions, including prescription drugs, for 10 top conditions affecting Medicare beneficiaries. Funding for the initiative, authorized by section 1013 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, was included in the Fiscal Year 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act that recently was passed by Congress. The list of 10 priority conditions was developed with input from the public and stakeholders through testimony at a May 21 listening session and written comments submitted to the HHS. The priority conditions identified for study are: ischemic heart disease; cancer; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma; stroke, including control of hypertension; arthritis and non-traumatic joint disorders; diabetes mellitus; dementia, including Alzheimer's disease; pneumonia; peptic ulcer/dyspepsia; and depression and other mood disorders. Select to read our press release.

Standardized information exchange could yield $77.8 billion in healthcare savings annually. Reported in a recent Health Affairs

-standardized electronic information exchange and interoperable information technology systems could yield a net value of $77.8 billion a year to the healthcare system, according to a new article published recently on the Health Affairs Web site. Savings were attributed to improved productivity and to costs that were averted-such as a reduction in the number of medication-related phone calls between clinicians and pharmacists and in delays and costs associated with paper-based ordering and reporting of lab results.