472 NURSEEDUCATIONTODAY

Health and Lifestyle Mildred Blaxter Routledge 1990 268pp illus ISBN: 0-415-00147-l 212.95

This book attempts to build models of the relationship between health and lifestyle, encompassing habits such as alcohol consumption and exercise and also the social circumstances in which people live. It is based on the results of a national survey conducted in England, Wales and Scotland during 1984/5 using a sample of just over 9000 individuals and employing a wide variety of data collection techniques, including physio- logical measurements, open-ended interviews and self-completion questionnaires.

Amongst the topics investigated are the relative significance of economic, cultural and behavioural factors on health status and the degree of responsi- bility an individual should have for his or her own health. The conclusions derived from the data are numerous: amongst the most revealing include the suggestion that those people who are most exposed to adverse influences such as poverty, are infact less likely to attribute ill-health to environmental factors, and that the ‘North/South divide’ has limited significance on health in itself, the place of residence being less important that the @pe of area (e.g. rural/industrial) wherever geographically situated. The author con- cludes by highlighting that although broad statements about the effects of class, income, area of residence or the relationship of behaviour to health, may seem to offer simple implications for policy, they can never be assumed to be universally applicable. Furthermore health-change policies which focus entirely on the individual may be ineffective not only because expo- sure to health risks is largely involuntary, but also as this study shows, because of unwarranted assumptions about the extent to which behaviour can, in certain circumstances, be effective in improving health.

This book is a very useful research-based text and as well as offering a great deal of valuable and revealing information on individual perspectives of health, it is likely to stimulate much debate amongst those readers involved in health promotion and health education. It is certainly a book to which students and practitioners of community nursing and health visiting will wish to refer.

CAROLINECARLISLE BA MSc RGN SCM NDN Cert RNT

Nursing and the Law David Carson &Jonathan Montgomery MacMillan 1989 13Opp ISBN: I-333-49572-l 26.95

This text sets out, in a lively question and answer approach, to answer the most common queries nurses have about the nature and process of law affecting them. It is a deliberately brief and down to earth

volume, designed by its authors to cut away the mystery of legal matters, and get to the practical concerns of everyday practitioners of care. It avoids discussion of medical case histories, the law as it affects doctors, concentrating instead, upon the scanter. but perhaps clear problems that have concerned nurses. By and large the authors succeed in doing just that. The text is readable, well up to date, and does avoid the worst excesses of legal jargon and unnecessary niceties. The questions posed do indeed seem to reflect the concerns of at least this reviewer’s colleagues and students. The glossary was especially welcome (if a little too brief), covering as it does those central definitions such as a ‘duty of care’, ‘negligence’ and ‘trespass’. Against these encouraging comments, it’s also fair to say that this volume isn’t that rich in situation examples, and these have always been a useful way of pointing out the critical points. Examples where they appear look cramped on the page. and often spill over onto the next, in a rather untidy manner. Cost is manageable for a wide range of nurses, but given the growing importance of law in nursing, I wonder whether the presentation of this volume does itjustice? In short this is an adequate first reader, very accessible and practical in its approach. It may be a little thin on examples to become a core text within college courses.

BOBPRICE

SRN BA MSc Cert Ed

Legal Aspects of Nursing Bridgit Dimond Prentice Hall International 1990 516pp iflus ISBN: O-13-529355-3 f14.95

If we are to avoid practising defensive nursing care, and to continue safe yet imaginative practice, we must understand the law affecting our profession. That seems to have been the concern behind this excellent textbook, which sets out to address all the key areas of worry. It not only discusses the classic problem areas, negligence, consent, confidentiality and accountabi- lity, but the process of legal and professional discipline proceedings as well. Understanding just what is involved in a civil action, criminal charge or disci- plinary hearing (UKCC) seems an important aspect of this topic, and the case examples illustrate the matters clearly. Following broad introductory chapters, the author goes on to explore the legal aspects of specialist practice. Midwives, nurse teachers, theatre nurses, colleagues in the community, child care and ITU will all find useful guidelines here. It was pleasing to find that not only was the subject well covered, but that explanation was both clear and unpatronising. This however does not preclude the author from admitting that some areas of law have not been fully tested in practice. In conclusion then, this is an admirable text. prepared by a well qualified author who has a firm