Nursing Ethics Education in Finland from the Perspective of Codes of Ethics

The purpose of this study was to analyze nursing ethics education from the perspective of nurses’ codes of ethics in the basic nursing education programmes in polytechnics in Finland with the following research questions: What is known about nurses’ codes in practice and education, what contents of the codes are taught, what teaching and evaluation methods are used, which demographic variables are associated with the teaching, what is nurse educators’ adequacy of knowledge to teach the codes and nursing students’ knowledge of and ability to apply the codes, and what are participants’ opinions of the need and applicability of the codes, and their importance in nursing ethics education. The aim of the study was to identify strengths and possible problem areas in teaching of the codes and nursing ethics in general. The knowledge gained from this study can be used for developing nursing ethics curricula and teaching of ethics in theory and practice. The data collection was targeted to all polytechnics in Finland providing basic nursing education (i.e. Bachelor of Health Care). The target groups were all nurse educators teaching ethics and all graduating nursing students in the academic year of 2006. A total of 183 educators and 214 students from 24 polytechnics participated. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire with four open-ended questions, designed for this study. The data was analysed by SPSS (14.0) and the open-ended questions by inductive content analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Inferential statistics were used to estimate the differences between the participant groups. The reliability of the questionnaire was estimated with Cronbach’s coefficient alpha. The literature review revealed that empirical research on the codes was scarce, and minimal in the area of education. Teaching of nurses’ codes themselves and the embedded ethical concepts was extensive, teaching of the functions of the codes and related laws and agreements was moderate, but teaching of the codes of other health care professions was modest. Issues related to the nurse-patient relationship were emphasised. Wider social dimensions of the codes were less emphasized. Educators’ and students’ descriptions of teaching emphasized mainly the same teaching contents, but there were statistically significant differences between the groups in that educators assessed their teaching to be more extensive than what students had perceived it had been. T he use of teaching and evaluation methods was rather narrow and conventional. However, educators’ and students’ descriptions of the used methods differed statistically significantly. Students’ knowledge of the codes and their ability to apply them in practice was assessed as mediocre by educators and by students themselves. Most educators assessed their own knowledge of the codes as adequate to teach the codes, as did most of the students. Educators who regarded their knowledge as adequate taught the codes more extensively than those who assessed their knowledge as less adequate. Also students who assessed their educators’ knowledge as adequate perceived the teaching of the codes to be more extensive. Otherwise educators’ and students’ demographic variables had little association with their descriptions of the teaching. According to the participants, nurses need their own codes, and they are also regarded as applicable in practice. The codes are an important element in nursing ethics education, but their teaching needs development. Further research should focus on the organization of ethics teaching in the curricula, the teaching process, and on the evaluation of the effectiveness of ethics education and on educators’ competence. Also the meaning and functions of the codes at all levels of nursing deserve attention. More versatile use of research methods would be beneficial in gaining new knowledge.

Prolegomenon for an ethics of visibility in Hannah Arendt

This paper aims to discuss the Arendtian notions of appearance and perception in order to promote a displacement of those conceptions from the generally associated domain of passive apprehension of the faculty of knowledge towards the domain of a praxiology of action and language, based on an active perception. Arendt's appropriations on the Heideggerian "to take one's place" (sich hin-stellen) will be discussed, as well as the Augustinian "finding oneself in the world" (diligere). A twofold disposition of appearance will be distinguished: producing and position, whose transposed to the Arendtian notion of world correspond, respectively, to fabrication (poiesis) of the world, man's objective in-between space, and to action (praxis) in the world, man's subjective in-between space. Those conceptual replacements, in a broad sense, uphold a closer imbrication between the activities of the mind and acting, stricto sensu, and consequently, foment not only the valorization of the public space, but the visibility of our acts and deeds as well, calling out the dignity of appearance in ethics.

Caracterização, compatibilidade e ocorrência de reprodução sexual entre isolados de Pyricularia grisea de diferentes hospedeiros

A brusone, causada por Pyricularia grisea (teleomorfa Magnaphorthe grisea), possui uma ampla gama de hospedeiros. No Brasil, arroz, trigo, triticale e cevada são as culturas que sofrem quedas significativas de produtividade devido ao ataque desse patógeno. Além desses cereais, outras gramíneas também têm apresentado sintomas dessa doença. Os objetivos dessa pesquisa foram: a) caracterizar sexualmente isolados de P. grisea desses hospedeiros baseado na determinação do "mating type", fertilidade, sexualidade, compatibilidade sexual, b) analisar o grau de compatibilidade sexual entre isolados de brusone de trigo e de outras gramíneas, c) estudar a ocorrência da reprodução sexual em isolados de trigo. Os resultados obtidos através de ensaios "in vitro" constataram: 1) compatibilidade sexual de P. grisea do trigo com Bromus catharticus, Phalaris canariensis e X. triticosecal; 2) desbalanço entre porcentagem de MAT1-1 e MAT1-2, com predominância de MAT1-1 na população de P. grisea do trigo; 3) existência de um campo de isolados de trigo com baixa habilidade de cruzamento; 4) baixa possibilidade de ocorrência de reprodução sexual de P. grisea em campos de trigo, mesmo com existência de ambos "mating type" num mesmo campo.

Classification, comorbidity, heredity, and risk factors of female sexual dysfunctions

Female sexual dysfunctions, including desire, arousal, orgasm and pain problems, have been shown to be highly prevalent among women around the world. The etiology of these dysfunctions is unclear but associations with health, age, psychological problems, and relationship factors have been identified. Genetic effects explain individual variation in orgasm function to some extent but until now quantitative behavior genetic analyses have not been applied to other sexual functions. In addition, behavior genetics can be applied to exploring the cause of any observed comorbidity between the dysfunctions. Discovering more about the etiology of the dysfunctions may further improve the classification systems which are currently under intense debate. The aims of the present thesis were to evaluate the psychometric properties of a Finnish-language version of a commonly used questionnaire for measuring female sexual function, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), in order to investigate prevalence, comorbidity, and classification, and to explore the balance of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology as well as the associations of a number of biopsychosocial factors with female sexual functions. Female sexual functions were studied through survey methods in a population based sample of Finnish twins and their female siblings. There were two waves of data collection. The first data collection targeted 5,000 female twins aged 33–43 years and the second 7,680 female twins aged 18–33 and their over 18–year-old female siblings (n = 3,983). There was no overlap between the data collections. The combined overall response rate for both data collections was 53% (n = 8,868), with a better response rate in the second (57%) compared to the first (45%). In order to measure female sexual function, the FSFI was used. It includes 19 items which measure female sexual function during the previous four weeks in six subdomains; desire, subjective arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain. In line with earlier research in clinical populations, a six factor solution of the Finnish-language version of the FSFI received supported. The internal consistencies of the scales were good to excellent. Some questions about how to avoid overestimating the prevalence of extreme dysfunctions due to women being allocated the score of zero if they had had no sexual activity during the preceding four weeks were raised. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunctions per se ranged from 11% for lubrication dysfunction to 55% for desire dysfunction. The prevalence rates for sexual dysfunction with concomitant sexual distress, in other words, sexual disorders were notably lower ranging from 7% for lubrication disorder to 23% for desire disorder. The comorbidity between the dysfunctions was substantial most notably between arousal and lubrication dysfunction even if these two dysfunctions showed distinct patterns of associations with the other dysfunctions. Genetic influences on individual variation in the six subdomains of FSFI were modest but significant ranging from 3–11% for additive genetic effects and 5–18% for nonadditive genetic effects. The rest of the variation in sexual functions was explained by nonshared environmental influences. A correlated factor model, including additive and nonadditive genetic effects and nonshared environmental effects had the best fit. All in all, every correlation between the genetic factors was significant except between lubrication and pain. All correlations between the nonshared environment factors were significant showing that there is a substantial overlap in genetic and nonshared environmental influences between the dysfunctions. In general, psychological problems, poor satisfaction with the relationship, sexual distress, and poor partner compatibility were associated with more sexual dysfunctions. Age was confounded with relationship length but had over and above relationship length a negative effect on desire and sexual satisfaction and a positive effect on orgasm and pain functions. Alcohol consumption in general was associated with better desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm function. Women pregnant with their first child had fewer pain problems than nulliparous nonpregnant women. Multiparous pregnant women had more orgasm problems compared to multiparous nonpregnant women. Having children was associated with less orgasm and pain problems. The conclusions were that desire, subjective arousal, lubrication, orgasm, sexual satisfaction, and pain are separate entities that have distinct associations with a number of different biopsychosocial factors. However, there is also considerable comorbidity between the dysfunctions which are explained by overlap in additive genetic, nonadditive genetic and nonshared environmental influences. Sexual dysfunctions are highly prevalent and are not always associated with sexual distress and this relationship might be moderated by a good relationship and compatibility with partner. Regarding classification, the results supports separate diagnoses for subjective arousal and genital arousal as well as the inclusion of pain under sexual dysfunctions.

Comportamento sexual de estudantes de um curso de medicina do Rio de Janeiro

O uso consistente de preservativos constitui a principal estratégia de prevenção do HIV/aids, bem como de outras infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (ISTs). Neste contexto, o perfil de uso de preservativos em estudantes de Medicina é de especial interesse, principalmente quando consideramos o papel de formadores de opinião desempenhado pelos profissionais médicos. Este estudo investiga o padrão de comportamento sexual e sua associação com o uso de preservativos entre estudantes do curso de Medicina de uma universidade privada de um município do interior do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Dados relativos a 643 estudantes de Medicina foram colhidos por meio de um questionário anônimo e autopreenchível. As análises foram conduzidas utilizando-se a regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para o cálculo das razões de prevalência brutas e ajustadas. A maioria dos alunos respondeu já ter iniciado vida sexual (85,3%). O parceiro da primeira relação sexual foi, em sua maioria, o(a) namorado(a) (55,1%), e o local da coitarca mais frequentemente relatado foi a própria casa (27,1%). O método anticoncepcional mais frequentemente utilizado na coitarca foi o preservativo (90,1%). Na análise bivariada, o fator que se mostrou mais estreitamente associado ao uso inconsistente do preservativo foi a presença de parceria estável, achado corroborado pela análise multivariada, após ajuste por sexo, idade e renda (RP = 1,95 IC 95% 1,47 − 2,57). Estes achados são compatíveis com a hipótese de que indivíduos inseridos em parcerias estáveis têm menor percepção de risco por suporem que a estabilidade de seus relacionamentos lhes conferiria proteção relativa contra as ISTs e HIV/aids.

Autonomia do cuidado: interlocução afetivo-sexual com adolescentes no PET-Saúde

Realizou-se, dentro do Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para a Saúde (PET-Saúde), uma pesquisa-ação em conjunto com o Centro de Saúde e a Escola Municipal de Glaura, um dos distritos de Ouro Preto/MG, reunindo 123 alunos, entre 11 e 19 anos de idade, que participaram de encontros semanais de abril de 2009 a março de 2010. O projeto visava à integração entre ensino e serviço de saúde, ao desenvolvimento da autonomia do cuidado, à construção de vínculos e ao intercâmbio de conhecimento com os adolescentes. Pautou-se na horizontalidade das relações entre os monitores, o preceptor, a tutora e os adolescentes, sob a óptica da visão freiriana de educação popular. Foram realizadas dinâmicas, encenações cômicas e quizzes, tendo a sexualidade como tema principal. Posteriormente, estimulou-se a confecção de ferramentas multiplicadoras pelos adolescentes, como vídeos e peças de teatro, tornando-os protagonistas do processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Este artigo serve como parâmetro para avaliação qualitativa da eficácia do PET-Saúde, além de discutir a relevância do programa para a formação médica, especialmente no que tange as habilidades dos profissionais de saúde para fornecer orientação afetivo-sexual aos adolescentes.

Essays on Business and Leadership Ethics

As this is a dissertation, an academic thesis, it is important to define the objectives of my research, even if ex post facto, explicitly: - To define, develop and study the concept of business and leadership ethics. - To empirically study the phenomena associated with business and leadership from an ethical perspective. - To create a new framework for the development of responsible business. - To create an “acid test” for my body of works, i.e. a test and an evaluation on how well my research and ideas hold up under academic philosophical reflection. The utilitarian reasoning had the most support when the actors justified their actions regarding economic benefit. (=instrumental good). Duty and benefit were often mixed up in people’s speech. Their meaning contents were blurred and the argumentation lines created by the actors were broken. This can be interpreted in a way that supports Frankena’s mixed deontological philosophy as a frame of reference. Deontologica reasoning was used e.g. in describing the personnel management processes of a company. Virtue ethics is a favourable starting point for studying management and leadership ethics. All the actors studied could name virtues for their operations, towards which to aspire to. They also named professional practices already in use that they considered to be virtuous. Finally, I wish to state that normative ethics is an important branch of philosophical ethics, if also very important in applied ethics especially. From the normative standpoint, the results of this dissertation want to lead nations, communities and individuals towards the virtues of democratic leadership and sustainable economic development.

Esplenectomia subtotal para tratamento do hipodesenvolvimento somático e sexual secundário a esplenomegalia

OBJETIVO: "Nanismo esplênico" é condição clínica decorrente de processo imunitário relacionado ao baço e tem como tratamento preconizado a esplenectomia total. Seguindo uma linha de pesquisa voltada ao estudo da esplenectomia subtotal em diferentes afecções, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento somático de pacientes portadores deste hipodesenvolvimento esplenomegálico, submetidos à esplenectomia subtotal com preservação do pólo superior esplênico irrigado apenas pelos vasos esplenogástricos. MÉTODO: Quatro pacientes masculinos (14, 14, 16 e 17 anos) com esplenomegalia (três de etiologia esquistossomática e um com cirrose auto-imune) e retardo do desenvolvimento somático e sexual foram submetidos à esplenectomia subtotal. As indicações para cirurgia foram sangramento de varizes do esôfago e pancitopenia. RESULTADOS: Em todos os casos houve retomada do crescimento e após um ano eles já se encontravam dentro da faixa de desenvolvimento somático e sexual compatível com a idade. CONCLUSÃO: O hipodesenvolvimento esplenomegálico não é decorrente da presença do baço, mas de seu crescimento; a esplenectomia subtotal é um procedimento adequado para tratar o retardo de desenvolvimento somático e sexual por esplenomegalia.

Modificações da qualidade de vida sexual de obesos submetidos à cirurgia de Fobi-Capella

OBJETIVO: Analisar as modificações na qualidade de vida sexual de obesos, proporcionadas pela redução do peso corpóreo, após a realização da gastroplastia à Fobi-Capella. MÉTODOS: Estudo quantitativo, prospectivo e longitudinal com cortes transversais, realizado entre março de 2005 e março de 2007, com 21 obesos mórbidos. Critérios de inclusão: idade de 20 a 50 anos, índice de massa corpórea (IMC) =40 Kg/m² e insucesso em tentativas de tratamento clínico para obesidade nos últimos dois anos. Coleta de dados clínicos em prontuários e aplicação de questionário específico com questões relativas à função sexual, realizadas antes e seis meses após a cirurgia. Os escores obtidos foram analisados com o auxilio do programa Epi-Info6, empregando o teste T de student para amostras pareadas. RESULTADOS: O valor total aumentou seis meses após a cirurgia em 76,19%, permaneceu inalterado em 14,29% e diminuiu em 9,52%. Os domínios referentes a função erétil e a relação sexual aumentaram em 71,42%, ao desejo sexual em 52,38% e ao orgasmo em 28,57%. A satisfação sexual aumentou em 57,14%. As médias do valor total e dos seus domínios antes e seis meses após a cirurgia, exceto aquelas referentes ao orgasmo e ao desejo sexual, apresentam diferenças estatisticamente significativas. CONCLUSÃO: A qualidade de vida sexual em homens obesos melhora após a realização da gastroplastia à Fobi-Capella. Evidenciaram-se modificações favoráveis na função sexual desses indivíduos após a perda de peso.

Incidência de disfunção sexual em pacientes com obesidade e sobrepeso

OBJETIVO: avaliar a prevalência de disfunção sexual em pacientes com obesidade e sobrepeso atendidos no Hospital Universitário Professor Alberto Antunes (HUPAA - UFAL). MÉTODOS: trata-se de um estudo descritivo transversal. A amostra foi constituída por pacientes do sexo feminino com sobrepeso ou obesidade. Foram coletados os dados antropométricos para avaliação do índice de massa corporal (IMC) e da circunferência da cintura (CC). Em todos os indivíduos foi realizada a avaliação dos níveis séricos de glicose, colesterol total e triglicerídeos. Aplicou-se a versão validada em português do Índice de Função Sexual Feminina (IFSF), que analisa a resposta sexual quanto a desejo, excitação, lubrificação vaginal, orgasmo, satisfação sexual e dor. O escore total é a soma dos escores para cada domínio multiplicada pelo fator correspondente e pode variar de '2' a '36', considerando risco para disfunção sexual um escore total menor ou igual a '26'. RESULTADOS: foram avaliadas 23 mulheres com média de idade de 44 anos, onde 73,9% eram obesas e 82,6% apresentaram risco muito aumentado para complicações metabólicas (CC e"88cm). O risco aumentado para disfunção sexual esteve presente em 78,3% das entrevistadas, ocasionando prejuízos biopsicossociais. HAS, DM e dislipidemia estavam presentes em 33,3%, 22,2% e 61,1%, respectivamente, das pacientes sob risco para disfunção sexual. CONCLUSÃO: a análise dos resultados demonstra a necessidade de uma melhor investigação e atenção dos médicos para com pacientes com obesidade ou sobrepeso.