Romantic relationships for women with anorexia nervosa: an integrative literature review

OBJECTIVE

To critically appraise literature concerning romantic relationships for women with anorexia nervosa (AN), and to gain perspective on future research directives.

METHOD

Key electronic databases, reference lists, and journals were searched. The search was limited to features of romantic relationships and their quality. Nineteen studies were critiqued and abstracted.

RESULTS

All 19 studies used a quantitative design; no qualitative studies were retrieved. Methodological strengths of these studies included confounder control and appropriate statistical analyses for design. Weaknesses included a failure to declare study designs, address sources of bias, and justify study samples, as well as a lack of con-founder control.

DISCUSSION

The review drew attention to the varied relational experiences and marked relationship dissatisfaction expressed by women with AN. However, an understanding of relationship quality and its dynamic nature remains limited. Future research should focus on how meanings are negotiated in relationships, providing detailed descriptions of the women's experiences, which is best done with qualitative study. Well-conducted longitudinal research should address questions that cannot be answered by current research designs, such as temporality.

Student nurse computer experience and preferences for learning

Seventy-three third and fourth year generic baccalaureate and post-RN university nursing students aged 20-50 years responded to a survey designed to assess their experience with and interest in use of computers for nursing. The survey included questions about use of computers for educational purposes, nursing practice, and nursing administration. There was much variation between student actual and preferred experience. In general, students showed the strongest preference for learning applications for clinical practice, and less interest in learning about those for education and administration. The results of the survey show that these students would like more knowledge and skills to prepare them for careers in our increasingly computerized health care environment.