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Approaches to managing older people using opiates and their risk of dependence
There is little doubt that opiates have transformed healthcare, particularly in relation to pain management. However, many patients prescribed this type of drug develop problems such as dependency. Although we do not know how many older people have developed such problems due to opiate use we know t...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Sexuality and sexual intimacy in later life
Sexuality is as important in older age as it is throughout life, and its expression can be positive, empowering, joyful and life-affirming. The concept of sexuality has many dimensions including identity, need and desire, relationships and behaviour, all of which develop through ageing and life expe...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Recognising and managing non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are organisms that live in water systems, soil and vegetation. Humans come into contact with NTM every day, but relatively few people become unwell as a result. In those that do, pulmonary symptoms are the most common effects. The incidence of NTM pulmonary disease...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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How to discuss the human papillomavirus infection with patients in primary care
Human papillomavirus infection is extremely common and is often eliminated by the immune system without being detected or causing harm. However, in some cases, it becomes persistent, and can induce cell changes that may potentially lead to cancer. Despite HPV infection being common, there is a lack ...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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How to make clear and compelling written arguments: advice for nurses
Nurses are regularly required to make clear and coherent written arguments. Formulating arguments is an important element of academic coursework for nursing students, while nurses are required to demonstrate evidence of their learning, reflection and continuing professional development as part of th...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Tracheostomy care in community settings
A tracheostomy can be a life-saving and life-giving procedure, but it can lead to complications that have serious consequences. In the lead author’s (CR) experience, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of patients leaving hospital with tracheostomies over the past two decades.This art...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Understanding the health risks of varicella zoster virus in pregnancy
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a common illness that causes varicella (chickenpox) and shingles. It is prevalent mostly during childhood but there are additional co-morbidities from this disease for a woman and her fetus, if she contracts it during pregnancy. Many developed countries vaccinate chil...
Updated: 19 January 2023 -
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Health promotion in emergency care: rationale, strategies and activities
The concept of health promotion emerged in the 1970s, prompting global health leaders to adopt a perspective on maintaining and improving the population’s health that accounts for the underlying causes of ill-health and mortality. Health is affected by social, economic and environmental factors, whi...
Updated: 18 January 2023 -
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Ethical practice in dementia care
This article draws on a range of case study examples from dementia care and explains how ethical theory can be applied to enhance professional practice. Ethical concepts are critically examined in this context and tensions between them are explored. The article demonstrates how an established ethica...
Updated: 1 November 2023 -
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Promoting healthy eating in nurses
Across the world obesity rates in the general population have been increasing in recent years, a trend that has also been seen among nurses. Alongside the negative health effects of obesity such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, the condition affects an individual’s ability to ...
Updated: 22 November 2023