Sharon Ogden Burke

Association of intrauterine fetal growth retardation and learning deficits at age 9 to 11 years

OBJECTIVE We examined the association of fetal and newborn complications, socioeconomic status, and home environment with learning deficits as assessed between 9 and 11 years of age. STUDY DESIGN A total of 218 high-risk newborns have been assessed at 1, 4, and 9 to 11 years of age. Fetal and newborn complications included 77 newborns with growth retardation. Socioeconomic variables included parental occupation and education. Outcome measures at 9 to 11 years included the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test and the Wide Range Achievement Test. Motor and cognitive development was assessed by a neurologic examination, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Behavior was assessed with the Achenbach Child Behavior Check List and Connors Teacher Rating Scale. RESULTS Learning deficits were identified in 77 of the 218 children (35%). Children with learning deficits had lower full-scale IQ scores and behavioral problems of inattention and anxiety. Both fetal growth retardation and the fathers occupation score were independently associated with these learning deficits. CONCLUSION Fetal growth retardation, socioeconomic status, and behavioral characteristics of inattention and anxiety are associated with less favourable academic achievement at 9 to 11 years of age.

Parent-Child Interactions and Development of Toddlers Born Preterm:

Fathers and mothers of 49 healthy preterm and 54 full-term infants were observed interacting with their child at 3 and 12 months using the Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale. Each parent completed the Parenting Stress Index at both times. At 18 months adjusted age, the children were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development-Revised, and MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory. Preterm children scored significantly lower on the Bayley Mental scale and on the number of words produced. Early parent-child interactions contributed to the child’s development. Mother’s interactions with the child, child gender, and family socioeconomic status predicted 17% of the variance in the Bayley Mental score. Mother’s and father’s interactions with the child, child gender, and the child’s behavior with his or her mother predicted 22% of the variance in receptive communication skills.

The impacts of distance to hospital on families with a child with a chronic condition.

Children with chronic conditions and their families face many similar challenges that can be stressful for the family including, daily caregiving activities, financial difficulties caused by unexpected expenses, and increased use of health services to treat and help manage the condition. Many of these families, in addition to facing daily caregiving responsibilities, must travel substantial distances to access some of the necessary aspects of their childs health care. In this study, the Burke et al. (1994-1996) data of repeatedly hospitalized children and their families are used to explore a geographical dimension of family impact, distance. Outcome measures from the Feetham Family Functioning Survey and the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress are analyzed using exploratory and multivariate analysis. Results show that distance to hospital plays a role in the two areas of family life regarding relationships within the immediate family, and issues surrounding the ability to maintain the child in the family home. The implications of the results for family, health care intervention, and government policies and guidelines are discussed.

Assessment of stressors in families with a child who has a chronic condition.

Nurses working with families who have children with a chronic condition are aware of the complexity of the tasks and stresses they deal with daily. The challenge is to uncover the issues that require the most immediate intervention while noting others for the future. This article describes the development of a comprehensive guide for experienced nurses to identify a familys stressors and tasks. It can be used with a broad range of chronic diagnoses. Nurses who have used the guide report that it helped them to focus and plan timely, appropriate nursing interventions with these families. It also serves as a record and planning tool for documenting issues that may become priorities for future interventions.

Effects of Stress-Point Intervention With Families of Repeatedly Hospitalized Children

Parents of repeatedly hospitalized children with chronic conditions are considered veterans of the health care system. Yet each hospitalization presents unique problems, can be more stressful, and has potential for lasting problems. A family-focused, supportive intervention, Stress-Point Intervention by Nurses (SPIN), was designed to reduce family problems. It was hypothesized that parents who participated in SPIN compared with those with usual care would have more satisfaction with family functioning and better parent coping after their children’s hospitalizations. A three-site clinical trial with random assignment of 23 ambulatory clinic nurses and their respective child-patients and families to experimental SPIN or usual care control groups was employed with 115 children aged 1 through 15. The Feetham Family Functioning Survey and Coping Health Inventory for Parents were completed before hospitalization and 3 months after discharge. SPIN parents were more satisfied with family functioning and had better parental coping after hospitalization than parents who received usual care.

Podcasting in Undergraduate Nursing Programs

Little information is available regarding the value of podcasting in nursing education. This mixed-methods study described nursing students’ (n = 101) perceptions of podcasted materials, the benefits of podcasting, and when and where students used podcasted materials. Students (86%) believed podcasts enriched their learning, and 95% reported podcasts as valuable tools in the learning environment. Most students (94%) would recommend podcasting in other courses and accessed podcast materials 3 times per week. More than half of the students (55%) accessed podcast materials in multiple places (ie, in the car, in the home, and at school).

Infant and child weights: reliability and validity of scales.

The purpose of this study was to test the accuracy of scales used for weighing infants and young children and to identify sources of error. The sample consisted of 30 metric scales from three hospitals. The scales were of different types, mechanisms, makes, and age. The data was collected using a set protocol and a total of 430 weight readings were recorded. Criterion validity was determined by comparing readings from the sample scales with readings obtained on the Federal Government Standard scales in Ottawa, Ontario. Descriptive data were collected from the weighers. Criterion validity was analyzed using t tests. Results showed that accuracy decreased at the heavier weight levels. Interrater reliability was examined by the percentage of agreement between weighers: Agreement was found to be weaker at the heavier levels. Manufacturer or type of mechanism was not a significant factor in error. However, infant scales were more accurate than adult scales and newer scales more accurate at heavier levels. Cont...