The role of A&E physicians in health promotion with regards to Essay

The role of A&E physicians in health promotion with regards to alcohol-related problems - Essay Example Introduction: Alcohol use disorders are common conditions in clinical practice in the Accident and Emergency. It has been said that the average alcohol-dependent person decreases his or her life span by 10 to 15 years, and alcohol contributes to 22,000 deaths and 2 million nonfatal injuries each year. Of them, not infrequently, the initial encounters of many of these patients occur as presentations in the Accident and Emergency. Recent years have witnessed a blossoming of clinically relevant research regarding alcohol abuse and dependence, including information on specific genetic influences, the clinical course of these conditions, and the development of new and helpful treatments. There are many health effects that can occur with both acute and long-term or chronic use of alcohol in both males and females due to pathologic changes it can induce in several organ systems that can be permanent and irreversible. Moreover, long-term, escalating levels of alcohol intake on a habitual bas is can predispose to tolerance as well as an intense adaptation of the body to a conditioned state induced by alcohol that cessation of use can lead to a withdrawal syndrome that is usually marked by insomnia, hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system, and feelings of intense anxiety (Department of Health, 2004, 1-6). Epidemiologic evidence suggests that the problem with alcoholism lack the stereotypical features of other substance abuse disorders mainly due to the fact that alcohol drink is considered a socially acceptable beverage, although society does not accept the excess and abuse. That which starts as a social norm may eventually turn out to be an addictive behaviour. Psychiatric manifestations apart, a history of alcoholism provides the explanation of many other health conditions that a physician may come across, more so in the Accident and Emergency, and from that point of view, awareness that

Dementia and Caretaking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dementia and Caretaking - Essay Example These fears include the repetitive questions of going home; seeking caretakers and this phenomenon is called "Shadowing" (Lindeman, Corby, Downing & Sanborn 1991) Alzheimer disease is one of the disorders known as dementia. Patient develops multiple cognitive deficits including memory loss. The diagnostic criterion along with memory loss must include one of the cognitive disturbances: aphasia, apraxia, anoxia or a disturbance in executive functioning (DSM- IV 1994). Dementia may be progressive, static or remitting (DSM-IV 1994). Keeping in view of this study the AD should not be taken as 'process of inevitable and immutable decline'. (Judkins,Wayne ) Caretaking for the patient of AD is a long process which involves many people. In the early stages the family members are the initial help. But the later stages require persistent care of the patient and he/she is shifted to adult day care centers. In adult day care centers safe and supportive environment is must for the patient of AD. It involves creating new roles to replace the roles lost because of the disease. (e.g. provider for spouse, worker) In this environment patient can interact in the same cognitive state and can form meaningful attachments. (William & Roberts 1995). The group spirits should also be fostered in the day care centers to make the patient feel that he/she is the desired member of the social group. Researchers in their recent studies have examined the role that the attachment style may play in dementia. It is observed that personality characteristics persist in dementia. For example, a person suffering from depression and aggressive behavior before the diagnosis of dementia 'have these tendencies aggregated by the course of disease. (Agbayewa, 1986) Bowlby defined attachment behavior as "any form of behavior that results in a person attaining or retaining proximity to some other differentiated and preferred individuals, who is usually conceived as stronger and /or wiser." (John Bowlby, 1979, pp 129) Misen (1992) was the first researcher to conclude that the patient of dementia could also be classified as having secure or ambivalent style of attachment. The further studies proposed that various component of attachments i.e. trust, comfort with dependency became more important with higher level of dependency caused by dementia. The studies have also found that the effect of dysfunctional behavior as taken by caretakers was correlated with caretakers' psychological distress. (Levesque. Cassette & LaChance, 1998) But it is observed that attachment therapy can also help the caretakers to overcome their psychological stress. The following quoted study is taken from the interview of Ann Hurley (Citation: Trudeau S. Bright Eyes, A Sensory Stimulation Intervention for Patients with Advanced Dementia: An interview with Scott Trudeau, by AL Romer, Innovations in