ARRAY OF NEW CLINICAL INSIGHTS, RESEARCH ADVANCES IN HEALTH CARE
SHOWCASED AT STATE OF THE SCIENCE CONGRESS, SEPT. 26-28

WASHINGTON, DC -- New cautions against bed rest treatment during pregnancy, early warning signs to detect the teasing and bullying that can lead to suicide in teens, factors that can hinder breastfeeding by new mothers, the gaps that reveal how patients' and regulatory agencies' definitions of "quality" nursing home care often don't agree, and other important new insights will be presented Sept. 26-28 in Washington, D.C., as leading health researchers gather for the 2002 State of the Science Congress.

Top researchers from the nation's nursing schools -- representing the largest health care profession -- will gather over three days at Washington's J.W. Marriott Hotel for symposia and paper and poster presentations that will examine, among other issues, new findings on the adverse effects of pregnancy bed rest on mothers' weight gain and infants' birth weight; how mothers' attitudes about food can contribute to overfeeding and obesity in infants; how age, gender, and ethnicity influence how quickly patients seek treatment during a heart attack; the risks posed by the low incidence of bone-density testing by women diagnosed with osteoporosis; and strategies for finding Alzheimer's and other dementia patients who are "unattended wanderers" from their communities and safely returning them to caretakers.

More than 200 original research papers will be presented at this landmark event hosted by 23 of the nation's leading nursing organizations.

The State of the Science Congress, held every three years, showcases the latest developments and emerging discoveries in nursing science affecting nursing practice and other aspects of health care and local and national health policies. Nurse researchers from across the U.S. and other nations will join with recognized experts, policy makers, academic leaders, and funders of nursing science to explore the latest scientific advances across a range of major research themes, including:

Investigators will present findings on a broad range of clinical issues -- highlighting the breadth of nursing's involvement across a wide spectrum of health care -- such as the impact of miscarriage on couple relationships; the risks to older women from misuse of over-the-counter herbal products; care programs that view the family as patient at the end of life; how the presence of stepchildren in the home can increase the risk of femicide by abusive partners; and how personality, emotions, and cognitive functioning predict a patient's compliance with cholesterol-lowering treatment.

Among other areas, symposia will examine the potential of cardiovascular "hyperreactivity" as a marker to identify and treat hypertension in its early stages; the preparation of health care providers for civilian and military responses to biochemical terrorism; new clues from teens on ways to prevent drunk driving and promote other healthy behaviors in their population; and techniques to overcome the challenges in conducting health research with children, adolescents, and older adults.

Paper sessions will focus on a wide array of health concerns, such as the impact of nursing care on patients' safety and health outcomes; programs to improve understanding and support of caregivers; studies of care in ethnically diverse cultures; treatments to more effectively manage pain and other symptoms in cancer patients, help children better cope with chronic conditions, and alleviate depression and stress in vulnerable populations; advances in using telehealth and other technology as "enablers" in health maintenance and promotion; and new strategies for health promotion in women, children, and older adults.

Patricia A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health, will open the conference on Thursday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m. with remarks on "Nursing Science: The Foundation of Nursing Practice and Better Health." Special plenary sessions also will examine the latest state of the science in developing strategies to reduce and eliminate "unequal treatment" and other racial and ethnic disparities in health care, advances in studying innovative models of nursing care, and overviews of the major contributions of nurse researchers to better health and health care.

State of the Science Congress Sponsoring Organizations:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing · Sigma Theta Tau International · Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality · American Academy of Nursing · American Association of Critical-Care Nurses · American Nephrology Nurses Association · American Nurses Foundation · American Organization of Nurse Executives · American Psychiatric Nurses Association · Association of Academic Health Centers · Association of Rehabilitation Nursing · Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing · Eastern Nursing Research Society · Emergency Nurses Association · Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research · Midwest Nursing Research Society · National Institute of Nursing Research · National League for Nursing · Oncology Nursing Society · Southern Nursing Research Society · TriService Nursing Research Program · Western Institute of Nursing · Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society