Trending Topics from the March/April 2021 RNJ

If you are an ARN member or a Rehabilitation Nursing Journal (RNJ) subscriber, you should soon receive your March/April 2021 issue in the mail. Check out a preview of three great articles that will be gracing the pages of this issue, or visit the journal online to read the full issue.

Development and Validation of an Age-Appropriate Website for Children Requiring Clean Intermittent Catheterization
Our nursing colleagues in Brazil developed an age-appropriate website for pre-school aged children requiring clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). The website includes illustrations along with 2D and 3D animation. Child-friendly characters demonstrate the assembly of materials needed during CIC, handwashing, hygiene of genitalia, and the catheterization technique for both males and females. Content validity was assessed by a team of experts while face validity was assessed by parents of children needing CIC. Read the article for more information.

Evidence-Based Care of Children With Tracheostomies: Hospitalization to Home Care
This issue contains a clinical update of evidence-based care of children with tracheostomies. The article reviews both stoma care and tracheostomy suctioning. Using the best evidence available leads to better patient outcomes in all settings and reduces the risk of morbidity and mortality. Read the article for more information.

Effects of Laughter Therapy on Life Satisfaction and Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Nursing Homes in Turkey: A Parallel Group Randomized Controlled Trial
Researchers sought to determine if laughter therapy could make a difference in the life satisfaction and loneliness of older adults in a nursing home in Turkey. Each laughter therapy session consisted of four parts: warm-up exercises, deep breathing exercises and hand clapping, children's games and laughter exercises and breathing exercises and meditation. In a randomly controlled trial, there was a difference in loneliness between the two groups, with loneliness being decreased in the experimental group. In conclusion, laughter therapy can potentially be incorporated into a healthcare professional's practice to help reduce loneliness in older adults. Read the article for more information.