Abstract: This research paper aims to explore the contribution of the Strengths Perspective to mental health nursing practice. The Strengths Perspective emerged from the area of social work and is primarily concerned with emphasising the strengths and resources of the person, as they define them. The premise is that if a person is able to identify and call on those strengths then he or she is able to improve the quality of their life. The paper outlines the historical, philosophical and moral foundations of the Strengths Perspective and discusses the humanistic approach to mental health nursing. The aim is to demonstrate that the Strengths Perspective and mental health nursing have a strong alignment, particularly with regard to a person-centred approach to care. The influence and constraints of the biomedical model on both mental health nursing and strengths based practice is a theme of the paper. The contention is that the biomedical or pathological approach to care can often disable, not enable consumers of health care, whereas an approach that centres on a person and their strengths is more likely to empower and liberate. The paper concludes with a discussion of themes that emerged from reflection on the literature and propositions are then made about how mental health nurses might orientate their thinking and practice to utilise the Strengths Perspective to augment their clinical work.

Abstract: The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of pentoxifylline as an adjunct to compression bandaging in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. The CENTRAL registers of the Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases and Wounds Groups were searched – each register is routinely updated by extensive searches of electronic databases, handsearching of relevant journals and conference proceedings, and contact with product companies and experts in the field. The drug's manufacturer was contacted and the references of review articles and all obtained trials were scrutinised for further citations. Randomised controlled trials published in any language comparing pentoxifylline and compression with placebo in adult participants with venous ulceration were included. Trials must have reported a meaningful objective outcome (rates of healing, proportions healed, time to healing). Details from eligible trials (independently selected by two reviewers) were extracted and summarised by one reviewer. A second reviewer independently verified extracted data. Eleven clinical trials were identified. Five trials compared pentoxifylline with placebo (compression standard therapy). Six trials were excluded. Pentoxifylline and compression was more effective than placebo and compression (RR 1.30, 95% C1 1.10-1.54) and was robust to sensitivity analyses. The greater number of adverse effects (46 reports) occurred in the pentoxifylline group, although this was not significant (RR 1.12, 95% C1 0.77-1.62); 34 percent of adverse effects were gastro-intestinal. Seven of 21 reported withdrawals were for adverse effects. In conclusion, pentoxifylline appears an effective adjunct to compression bandaging in the treatment of venous ulcers. The absence of cost-effectiveness data suggests it not be employed as a routine adjunct, but it could be considered as for those patients not responding to compression therapy alone. The majority of adverse effects are likely to be tolerated by patients.