From PubMed database. Full text available through that site.
O'Horo JC, Silva GLM, Silvia Munoz-Price L, Safdar N. The efficacy of daily bathing with chlorhexidine for reducing healthcare-associated bloodstream infections: a meta-analysis. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2012; 33(3): 257-267.

Abstract
DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies to assess the efficacy of daily bathing with chlorhexidine (CHG) for prevention of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs).

SETTING: Medical, surgical, trauma, and combined medical-surgical intensive care units (ICUs) and long-term acute care hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS: Inpatients.

METHODS: Data on patient population, diagnostic criteria for BSIs, form and concentration of topical CHG, incidence of BSIs, and study design were extracted.

RESULTS: One randomized controlled trial and 11 nonrandomized controlled trials reporting a total of 137,392 patient-days met the inclusion criteria; 291 patients in the CHG arm developed a BSI over 67,775 patient-days, compared with 557 patients in the control arm over 69,617 catheter-days. CHG bathing resulted in a reduced incidence of BSIs: the pooled odds ratio using a random-effects model was 0.44 (95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.59; [Formula: see text]). Statistical heterogeneity was moderate, with an I(2) of 58%. For the subgroup of studies that examined central line-associated BSIs, the odds ratio was 0.40 (95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.59).

CONCLUSIONS: Daily bathing with CHG reduced the incidence of BSIs, including central line-associated BSIs, among patients in the medical ICU. Further studies are recommended to determine the optimal frequency, method of application, and concentration of CHG as well as the comparative effectiveness of this strategy relative to other preventive measures available for reducing BSIs. Future studies should also examine the efficacy of daily CHG bathing in non-ICU populations at risk for BSI.

Dignity Health Northridge Hospital Staff & Cal State Univ Northridge BSN students create a history of sharing their evidence-based practice projects in an Annual Collaborative EBP Day.

“Hospitals’ relative standing [in HCAHPS scores] with respect to doctor communication, nurse communication, and pain control outcomes vary the most across patient subgroups (e.g.,1.8-2.8 hospital-level standard deviations for excellent vs. poor health; 1.5-2.2 for American Indians/Alaska Natives vs. non-Hispanic White; 0.7-0.9 for third language vs. English, and for Asian vs. non-Hispanic White).”

 

Do Hospitals Rank Differently on HCAHPS for Different Patient  Subgroups?
Med Care Res Rev 2010 67: 56 originally published online 15 July 2009
Marc N. Elliott, William G. Lehrman, Elizabeth Goldstein, Katrin Hambarsoomian,
Megan K. Beckett and Laura A. Giordano

Keep up the good work, Californians!   Keep that body weight in control.  Eat those veggies & fruits.

Mississippians Most Obese, Montanans Least Obese

Chronic diseases are more prevalent in the most obese states.   

http://www.gallup.com/poll/167642/mississippians-obese-montanans-least-obese.aspx

What is evidence-based practice?

It is not merely finding the research.  It is combining the research with your clinical expertise in light of patient & family preferences & values.

Check out this quick overview:
http://guides.mclibrary.duke.edu/content.php?pid=431451&sid=3529499

Want empowerment? Decreased LOS & Falls?

Want to ….
1.Empower yourself?
2.Shorten LOS?
3.Reduce falls?

Various research studies show that RN CERTIFICATION is related to
1.Nurse empowerment (p<.05)
2.Shorter LOS (p<.001)
3.Fewer falls (p<.04)


Source: Krapohl, G. Manojlovich, M. ,Redman, R., & Zhang, L. (2010). Nursing specialty certification & nurse sensitive patient outcomes in the intensive care unit. American Journal of Critical Care, 19(6), 490-499.
http://www.aacn.org/WD/CETests/Media/A1019063.pdf

Facial features to be used to diagnose pain in dementia sufferers

Facial features to be used to diagnose pain in dementia sufferers

Undiagnosed pain of dementia sufferers could soon be measured by facial recognition technology, as part of an Electronic Pain Assessment Tool (ePAT) being developed at Curtin University.  The ePAT, which is linked to the camera on a smart phone or tablet, is designed to quickly and accurately detect, evaluate and document the severity of pain in non-communicative patients with dementia.
http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/news_facial-features-used-to-diagnose-pain-in-dementia-sufferers.cfm