RISULTATI RICERCA

In this article, the major findings from a research program exploring the behavioral-experiential nature of suffering are revised and summarized. Suffering is perceived as comprising of two major behavioral states: enduring (in which emotions are suppressed, and is manifested as an emotionless state) and emotional suffering (an overt state of distress in which emotions are released). Individuals who are suffering move back and forth between these two states according to their own needs, their recognition/acknowledgement/acceptance of events, the context, and the needs and responses of others. Implications for the provision of comfort during suffering states are presented

Paola Di Giulio points out the importance of practising Evidence-Based Medicine in the Nursing context. Evidence-Based Nursing, through the utilization reviews, have improved the quality of health care services. Yet EBN, according to Di Giulio, should be integrated with qualitative studies, epidemiological research and investigation on the decision-making processes. This kind of studies should be carried out with the same methodological strength that guides the EBN approach.

In Italy, even if men have always been employed in nursing care and we have witnessed female doctors since the beginning of 20th century, health care services are shaped along the professional dominance of male-doctors upon femalenurses. Yet, at the end of the nineties the situation changed. By now, almost half of the doctors are women while about a fifth (21% - February 2001) of nurses are men. Such a situation, according to Giovanna Vicarelli, deserves a set of reflections in order to understand its consequences on professional identities and on the organization of health care services

The core mission of the Nursing profession is undoubtly focused on taking care of people. Any "subject to subject" work is a kind of service in which production and consumption cannot be separated. Understanding of the sociological sources of carework in general calls for an explanation of the basis of social bonds. A diffusion in the Nursing profession of a holistic definition of health (bio-psychological- social and spiritual) is parallel to the contemporary cultural search of authenticity and self-realization in social relationships. So far spiritual work has to be defined as different from religion: a wider and deeper understanding of interdependence between social actors follows this line of thinking