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Contraceptive use by number of living children in Ghana: Evidence from the 2017 maternal health survey

by Sarah Compton, Emmanuel Nakua, Cheryl Moyer, Veronica Dzomeku, Emily Treleaven, Easmon Otupiri, Jody Lori

Background

There is a significant literature describing the link between parity and contraceptive use. However, there is limited knowledge about the disaggregation by parity of the type of contraceptives. In this study, we describe the use of contraceptives by parity among women of reproductive age in Ghana, focusing on use of highly effective methods (injection, pill, intrauterine device, implant, and sterilization).

Methods

Using the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey, a nationally-representative cross-sectional household survey, we describe contraceptive method use by number of living children among sexually active women of reproductive age. We then estimated predictors of use of highly effective contraception in a multilevel logistic regression model.

Results

Most women in this survey are not using any method of contraception, although this varies by whether or not they have begun childbearing. Contraceptive method use varies by number of living children. Before having children, natural (periodic abstinence and withdrawal) and episodic (condoms) methods dominate. Once a woman has one living child, method preference changes to injectables and implants. Factors associated with using a highly effective method of contraception are: having >3 children, being in a relationship, having had an abortion, being younger than age 30, and having had sexual intercourse within days of answering the survey (p Conclusion

In this analysis, the number of living children a woman has, her age, and timing of last intercourse are the most significant predictors of using a highly effective method of contraception. However, the majority of participants in this study report not using any method of contraception to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Future research that attempts to unpack the disconnect between not wanting to become pregnant and not using contraception is warranted.

Factors associated with poor outcomes after congenital heart surgery in low-resource setting in Pakistan: insight from the IQIC Registry - a descriptive analysis

Por: Furnaz · S. · Shaikh · A. S. · Qureshi · R. · Fatima · S. · Bangash · S. K. · Karim · M. · Amanullah · M.
Objective

This study aimed to assess the International Quality Improvement Collaborative single-site data from a developing country to identify trends in outcomes and factors associated with poor outcomes.

Design

Retrospective descriptive study.

Setting

The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan.

Participants

Patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD).

Outcome measure

Key factors were examined, including preoperative, procedural and demographic data, as well as surgical complications and outcomes. We identified risk factors for mortality, bacterial sepsis and 30-day mortality using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

A total of 3367 CHD surgical cases were evaluated; of these, 59.4% (2001) were male and 82.8% (2787) were between the ages of 1 and 17 years. Only 0.2% (n=6) were infants (≤30 days) and 2.3% (n=77) were adults (≥18 years). The in-hospital mortality rate was 6.7% (n=224), and 4.4% (n=147) and 0.8% (n=27) had bacterial sepsis and surgical site infections, respectively. The 30-day status was known for 90.8% (n=3058) of the patients, of whom 91.6% (n=2800) were alive. On multivariable analysis, the adjusted OR for in-hospital mortality was 0.40 (0.29–0.56) for teenagers compared with infancy/childhood and 1.95 (1.45–2.61) for patients with oxygen saturation

Conclusions

We observed a high prevalence of postoperative infections and mortality, especially for high-risk procedures, according to RACHS-1 risk category, in infancy/childhood, in children with genetic syndrome or those with low oxygen saturation (

The Effects of Race, Ethnicity, and Maternal Education on Infant Mortality

imageBackground The state of New Jersey has a large Black/African American (AA) versus White racial disparity in infant mortality and educational level at childbirth. This disparity, measured by rate ratio, increases with greater maternal education among varied racial–ethnic groups. The nature of this disparity measured by rate differences has not been explored. Objectives Infant birth and mortality data were used to examine whether racial or ethnic disparities in infant mortality increased with greater maternal education, comparing rate differences and rate ratios. Racial and ethnic variations in the association between maternal education and infant mortality were examined. Methods Data were from the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data for all New Jersey births between 2014 and 2018 stratified by race and ethnicity, maternal education, and infant mortality (n = 481,333). R software was used to create a data set and estimate additive and multiplicative interactions, rate differences, and rate ratios for infant mortality by maternal race/ethnicity and educational levels among four racial–ethnic groups. Results Infant mortality was significantly greater for Black/AA and Hispanic mothers than for White mothers. At all educational levels, Black/AA mothers had the highest prevalence of infant mortality compared to other racial or ethnic groups. Rate differences in infant mortality showed a decrease in Black/AA–White differences for mothers with a high school education or less compared to mothers with a college degree. However, rate ratios showed an increase in Black/AA–White ratio with increasing education levels for mothers with high school education or less than mothers with a college degree. Risk ratios comparing infant mortality for Black/AA versus Hispanic or Asian mothers showed more than a twofold greater risk at all education levels for Black/AA infants. Finally, college-educated Black/AA mothers had significantly higher rates of infant mortality than White or Hispanic mothers with a high school education or less. Discussion/Implications Black/AA mothers with a college degree had a higher infant mortality rate than White, Hispanic, or Asian mothers with a high school education or less. Future research should address contextual/systemic contributors to this disparity.

Development, Validation, and Usability of the Chatbot ESTOMABOT to Promote Self-care of People With Intestinal Ostomy

imageThis study aimed to describe the process of construction, validation, and usability of the chatbot ESTOMABOT to assist in the self-care of patients with intestinal ostomies. Methodological research was conducted in three phases: construction, validation, and usability. The first stage corresponded to the elaboration of a script through a literature review, and the second stage corresponded to face and content validation through a panel of enterostomal therapy nurses. In the third phase, the usability of ESTOMABOT was assessed with the participation of surgical clinic nurses, patients with intestinal elimination ostomies, and information technology professionals, using the System Usability Scale. The ESTOMABOT content reached excellent criteria of adequacy, with percentages of agreement equal to or greater than 90%, which were considered adequate, relevant, and representative. The evaluation of the content validity of the script using the scale content validity index/average proportion method reached a result above 0.90, and the Fleiss κ was excellent (P

Involvement of an IgE/Mast cell/B cell amplification loop in abdominal aortic aneurysm progression

by Alexia Loste, Marc Clément, Sandrine Delbosc, Kevin Guedj, Jean Sénémaud, Anh-Thu Gaston, Marion Morvan, Guillaume Even, Grégory Gautier, Alexander Eggel, Michel Arock, Emanuele Procopio, Catherine Deschildre, Liliane Louedec, Jean-Baptiste Michel, Lydia Deschamps, Yves Castier, Raphaël Coscas, Jean-Marc Alsac, Pierre Launay, Giuseppina Caligiuri, Antonino Nicoletti, Marie Le Borgne

Aims

IgE type immunoglobulins and their specific effector cells, mast cells (MCs), are associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression. In parallel, immunoglobulin-producing B cells, organised in tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) within the aortic wall, have also been linked to aneurysmal progression. We aimed at investigating the potential role and mechanism linking local MCs, TLO B cells, and IgE production in aneurysmal progression.

Methods and results

Through histological assays conducted on human surgical samples from AAA patients, we uncovered that activated MCs were enriched at sites of unhealed haematomas, due to subclinical aortic wall fissuring, in close proximity to adventitial IgE+ TLO B cells. Remarkably, in vitro the IgEs deriving from these samples enhanced MC production of IL-4, a cytokine which favors IgE class-switching and production by B cells. Finally, the role of MCs in aneurysmal progression was further analysed in vivo in ApoE-/- mice subjected to angiotensin II infusion aneurysm model, through MC-specific depletion after the establishment of dissecting aneurysms. MC-specific depletion improved intramural haematoma healing and reduced aneurysmal progression.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that MC located close to aortic wall fissures are activated by adventitial TLO B cell-produced IgEs and participate to their own activation by providing support for further IgE synthesis through IL-4 production. By preventing prompt repair of aortic subclinical fissures, such a runaway MC activation loop could precipitate aneurysmal progression, suggesting that MC-targeting treatments may represent an interesting adjunctive therapy for reducing AAA progression.

Assessment of psychological terror and its impact on mental health and quality of life in medical residents at a reference medical center in Mexico: A cross-sectional study

by Víctor Manuel Enriquez Estrada, Neftali Eduardo Antonio-Villa, Omar Yaxhemen Bello-Chavolla, Carlos Fredy Cuevas-García, Pedro Luis Vargas Gutiérrez, Irma Sau-Yen Corlay Noriega, Luis Rey García-Cortés

Background

Mobbing, particularly in medical residencies, can lead to psychological terror with lasting mental and physical health consequences. Its impact on Mexican residents, however, remains underexplored.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of psychological terror among medical residents at a medical center in Mexico City.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, medical residents from various specialties were assessed for mobbing domains, quality of life, and anxiety/depression using the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terror (LIPT), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Psychological terror was defined as a LIPT score ≥ p80. Linear and binomial logistic regression models were used to explore independent predictors of mobbing and psychological terror.

Results

Of the 349 participants included (median age: 28; IQR: 27–30 years), 19.5% (95% CI: 15.5%-24.0%) were identified with psychological terror. Furthermore, 39% reported higher-degree trainees as mobbing perpetrators. Women in surgical residencies in their second or fifth year were found to experience higher levels of mobbing. Manifested bullying, workplace stigma, and inappropriate tasks were the most impacted mobbing domains. Anxiety, diminished mental health quality of life, and higher degree of medical specialization were independent predictors of mobbing. Meanwhile, increased anxiety, affiliation to surgical specialties, and being in the second or fifth year of training were identified as predictors of psychological terror.

Conclusions

Mobbing and psychological terror are prevalent conditions among medical residents in Mexico. Identification of occupational conditions and adverse psychological stressors can help to improve quality of life and training of medical residents.

Attitudes of patients with schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar disorders towards medication self‐management during hospitalisation

Abstract

Background

Medication self-management (MSM) is defined as a person's ability to cope with medication treatment for a chronic condition, along with the associated physical and psychosocial effects that the medication causes in their daily lives. For many patients, it is important to be able to self-manage their medication successfully, as they will often be expected to do after discharge.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the willingness and attitudes of patients with schizophrenia spectrum or bipolar disorders regarding MSM during hospital admission. A secondary aim was to identify various factors associated with patient willingness to participate in MSM and to describe their assumptions concerning needs and necessary conditions, as well as their attitudes towards their medication.

Methods

A multicentre, quantitative cross-sectional observational design was used to study the willingness and attitudes of psychiatric patients regarding MSM during hospitalisation. The study adhered to guidelines for Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE).

Results

In this study, 84 patients, of which 43 were patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 41 were patients with bipolar disorders, participated. A majority of the patients (81%) were willing to participate in MSM during their hospitalisation. Analysis revealed patients are more willing to MSM if they are younger (r = −.417, p < .001) and a decreasing number of medicines (r = −.373, p = .003). Patients' willingness was positively associated with the extent of support by significant others during and after hospitalisation (Pearson's r = .298, p = .011). Patients were convinced that they would take their medication more correctly if MSM were to be allowed during hospitalisation (65%).

Conclusion

Most of the patients were willing to self-manage their medication during hospitalisation, however, under specific conditions such as being motivated to take their medication correctly and to understand the benefits of their medication.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

From a policy point of view, our study provided useful insights into how patients look at MSM to enable the development of future strategies. Since patients are willing to self-manage their medication during hospitalisation, this may facilitate its implementation.

Patient contribution

Patients were recruited for this study. Participation was voluntary, and signed informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the questionnaire.

Safety culture in maternity hospital: Perception of nurse‐midwives

Abstract

Aim

To explore nurse-midwives' perceptions of safety culture in maternity hospitals.

Design

A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted using focus groups and reported following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Methods

Data were obtained through two online focus group sessions in June 2022 with 13 nurse-midwives from two maternity hospitals in the central region of Portugal. The first focus group comprised 6 nurse-midwives, and the second comprised 7 nurse-midwives. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis.

Findings

Two main themes emerged from the data: (i) barriers to promoting a safety culture; (ii) safety culture promotion strategies. The first theme is supported by four categories: ineffective communication, unproductive management, instability in teams and the problem of errors in care delivery. The second theme is supported by two categories: managers' commitment to safety and the promotion of effective communication.

Conclusion

The study results show that the safety culture in maternity hospitals is compromised by ineffective communication, team instability, insufficient allocation of nurse-midwives, a prevailing punitive culture and underreporting of adverse events. These highlight the need for managers to commit to providing better working conditions, encourage training with the development of a fairer safety culture and encourage reporting and learning from mistakes. There is also a need to invest in team leaders who allow better conflict management and optimization of communication skills is essential.

Impact

Disseminating these results will provide relevance to the safety culture problem, allowing greater awareness of nurse-midwives and managers about vulnerable areas, and lead to the implementation of effective changes for safe maternal and neonatal care.

Patient or Public Contribution

There was no patient or public contribution as the study only concerned service providers, that is, nurse-midwives themselves.

Compassion in health professionals: Development and validation of the Capacity for Compassion Scale

Abstract

Background

Health professionals witness pain and suffering when they care for sick people and their families. Compassion is a necessary quality in their work as it combines the will to help, alleviate suffering and promote the well-being of both the people they are attending and the professionals themselves. The aim of the study was to design and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Capacity for Compassion Scale (CCS).

Design

A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale (reliability, temporal stability, content validity, criterion validity and construct validity).

Methods

The study was carried out in two phases: pilot study and final validation. The data were collected between April and May 2022. The sample was selected by convenience sampling and was made up of a total of 264 participants, 59 in the pilot phase and 205 in the final validation.

Results

The Capacity for Compassion Scale has been shown to have good psychometric properties in relation to reliability, temporal stability, and content, criterion, and construct validity. Factor analysis showed that there were four subdimensions of the scale: motivation/commitment, presence, shared humanity and self-compassion. The results also indicate that compassionate ability is significantly correlated with age and work experience.

Conclusions

The Capacity for Compassion Scale shows adequate psychometric properties. This instrument measures the compassion capacity of health professionals, which is a valuable discovery for new lines of research in this field.

Impact

Through this scale, low levels of capacity for compassion can be detected that negatively influence the quality of care provided by health professionals. The Capacity for Compassion Scale can therefore contribute to the identification of needs and promote training around compassion for health professionals.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

What Problem did the Study Address?

Compassion in health professionals has positive effects on improving the quality of care, the satisfaction of professionals and the work environment. There are compassion cultivation programmes whose validity has been proven for the development of the dimensions of compassion. There is no specific instrument that measures capacity for compassion in healthcare professionals.

What were the Main Findings?

A scale is designed to measure capacity for compassion in health professionals. This is the only such scale available up until now. The scale measures four dimensions of compassion: motivation/commitment, presence, shared humanity and self-compassion.

Where and on Whom will the Research Have an Impact?

The development of specific programmes that can increase the compassion of health professionals with all the benefits that this can bring to health care is encouraged. It will be possible to analyse the effects of training programmes on the cultivation of compassion.

Effect of womens literacy status on maternal healthcare services utilisation in Ethiopia: a stratified analysis of the 2019 mini Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey

Por: Handebo · S. · Demie · T. G. · Gessese · G. T. · Woldeamanuel · B. T. · Biratu · T. D.
Objectives

Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high in sub-Saharan Africa with 533 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, accounting for 68% of all maternal deaths worldwide. Most maternal deaths could be prevented by adequate maternal health service use. The study examined the effect of literacy status on maternal health services utilisation among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.

Design

A cross-sectional study.

Settings

Ethiopia.

Participants

A weighted sample of 3839 reproductive-age women who gave birth in the last 5 years preceding the survey and whose literacy status was measured were included in this study. The survey used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

This study used a dataset from the recent Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Surveys. We assessed the maternal health service utilisation among reproductive-age women. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to assess the association between literacy status and maternal healthcare utilisation while controlling for other factors. Adjusted OR with a 95% CI was reported.

Results

About 63.8% of reproductive-age women were illiterate. The prevalence of antenatal care (ANC) 1, ANC 4, skilled birth attendance and postnatal care (PNC) services utilisation was 74.9%, 43.5%, 51.9% and 32.0%, respectively. Literate women had significantly higher ANC 1, ANC 4, skilled birth attendance, and PNC services utilisation than illiterate women (p

Conclusion

Literate women had a significantly higher maternal healthcare services utilisation than illiterate, modified by sociodemographic and obstetric-related factors. Hence, wholehearted efforts should be directed towards educating and empowering women.

Effects of a laboratory-based aerobic exercise intervention on brain volume and cardiovascular health markers: protocol for a randomised clinical trial

Por: Molina Hidalgo · C. · Collins · A. M. · Crisafio · M. E. · Grove · G. · Kamarck · T. W. · Kang · C. · Leckie · R. L. · MacDonald · M. · Manuck · S. B. · Marsland · A. L. · Muldoon · M. F. · Rasero · J. · Scudder · M. R. · Velazquez-Diaz · D. · Verstynen · T. · Wan · L. · Gianaros · P. J
Introduction

Physical activity (PA) has beneficial effects on brain health and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Yet, we know little about whether PA-induced changes to physiological mediators of CVD risk influence brain health and whether benefits to brain health may also explain PA-induced improvements to CVD risk. This study combines neurobiological and peripheral physiological methods in the context of a randomised clinical trial to better understand the links between exercise, brain health and CVD risk.

Methods and analysis

In this 12-month trial, 130 healthy individuals between the ages of 26 and 58 will be randomly assigned to either: (1) moderate-intensity aerobic PA for 150 min/week or (2) a health information control group. Cardiovascular, neuroimaging and PA measurements will occur for both groups before and after the intervention. Primary outcomes include changes in (1) brain structural areas (ie, hippocampal volume); (2) systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses to functional MRI cognitive stressor tasks and (3) heart rate variability. The main secondary outcomes include changes in (1) brain activity, resting state connectivity, cortical thickness and cortical volume; (2) daily life SBP stress reactivity; (3) negative and positive affect; (4) baroreflex sensitivity; (5) pulse wave velocity; (6) endothelial function and (7) daily life positive and negative affect. Our results are expected to have both mechanistic and public health implications regarding brain–body interactions in the context of cardiovascular health.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (IRB ID: 19020218). This study will comply with the NIH Data Sharing Policy and Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical Trial Information and the Clinical Trials Registration and Results Information Submission rule.

Trial registration number

NCT03841669.

Care call requests and inpatient beds modernization: Is there any link? A prospective observational study in the oncological setting

Abstract

Aim

The study aims to analyse the principal causes of patients' care calls and compare differences before and after inpatient beds' technological modernization in a surgical breast oncological ward.

Design

A prospective observational study was conducted under the STROBE guidelines. Data were collected from June to September 2022.

Methods

Statistical analyses were performed to compare each reason for care calls, by shifts and pre and post-inpatient bed modernization.

Results

Two thousand five hundred and fifty-nine care request calls were analysed during the 202 observed shifts. The most frequent reason was related to the requests for positions.

Conclusion

Technological modernization of the beds has not led to effective—positive—changes; on the contrary, it seems at first glance to show an upward trend in calls above all in the short period after the changes.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care

What problem did the study address? By analysing the principal causes of care calls and comparing the differences before and after inpatient beds' technological modernization, this study evaluates if inpatient gear or device modernization can impact care call requests. What were the main findings? The results show that the most frequent reasons for care calls were position, possession and other. These findings seem not superimposable; the hypothesis supported by the international literature in which the causes relating to potty and pain were found among the main reasons. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? These results could impact the care organizational area in nursing care and could improve care quality, patient satisfaction and safety.

Reporting Method

This prospective observational study was conducted following STROBE guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

After adequate information (presentation, design methods and objectives), all unit healthcare staff agreed to collaborate in the study.

Association between health literacy and nursing care in hospital: A retrospective study

Abstract

Aims

To describe the health literacy (HL) levels of hospitalised patients and their relationship with nursing diagnoses (NDs), nursing interventions and nursing measures for clinical risks.

Design

Retrospective study.

Methods

The study was conducted from December 2020 to December 2021 in an Italian university hospital. From 146 wards, 1067 electronic nursing records were randomly selected. The Single-Item Literacy Screener was used to measure HL. Measures for clinical risks were systematically assessed by nurses using Conley Index score, the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score, Braden score, and the Barthel Index. A univariable linear regression model was used to assess the associations of HL with NDs.

Results

Patients with low HL reported a higher number of NDs, interventions and higher clinical risks. HL can be considered a predictor of complexity of care.

Conclusions

The inclusion of standardised terms in nursing records can describe the complexity of care and facilitate the predictive ability on hospital outcomes.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care

HL evaluation during the first 24 h. From hospital admission could help to intercept patients at risk of higher complexity of care. These results can guide the development of interventions to minimise needs after discharge.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was required to design or undertake this research. Patients contributed only to the data collection.

Seguridad de la terapia vasoactiva en adultos con choque séptico mediante un catéter venoso periférico

Objetivo principal: Evidenciar la seguridad del inicio de vasopresores mediante un catéter venoso periférico corto en pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de choque séptico, a través de la metodología Enfermería Basada en Evidencia. Metodología: Revisión sistemática. La búsqueda de evidencia se realizó en dos periodos, del 15 al 23 de septiembre del 2022 y del 3 al 20 de octubre del 2022, se utilizaron fuentes de búsqueda e información: base de datos PubMed y el buscador Google académico. Resultados principales: Se evaluaron 19679 pacientes, el tiempo de administración de la infusión fue de 101.05 horas, con una duración media de 22.63 horas, el evento adverso con más incidencia fue la extravasación con duración media de 7.5 horas, el vasopresor más utilizado fue la norepinefrina. Conclusión principal: Administrar vasopresores por vía periférica es seguro, considerando factores que reducirían significativamente el riesgo de complicaciones.

12 pasos para la lectura de un artículo científico con fines de implementación

La lectura crítica de artículos científicos es una competencia que todo profesional de la salud debería cultivar, en tanto le permite evaluar la calidad de la investigación y determinar su relevancia y aplicabilidad en la práctica clínica. Con esta destreza se favorece la capacidad de adaptarse a los continuos avances en el ámbito de la salud, a la vez que se refuerzan las decisiones sustentadas en información confiable y actualizada, todo lo cual redundará en una mayor seguridad y mejores resultados en el cuidado de los pacientes [Fragmento de texto].

Sistemas de inteligencia y asignación de profesionales en la futura Agencia Estatal de Salud Pública

Sr. Director: El Reglamento Sanitario Internacional (2005) exponía que las amenazas para la salud pública internacional en el siglo XXI se centraban en 7 campos: enfermedades epidemiógenas, enfermedades transmitidas por los alimentos, brotes accidentales, brotes intencionados, accidentes por sustancias químicas tóxicas, accidentes radio nucleares y desastres ambientales [Fragmento de texto].

Spanish version of the Self‐Care of Chronic Illness Inventory: A validation study amongst community‐dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity

Abstract

Aim

To psychometrically assess the Spanish version of the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII-Sp) in community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity.

Design

A methodological study.

Method

A total of 1260 older adults participated in the study between May 2020 and February 2022. The data were analysed using SPSS Statistics® 26 and AMOS® 24. The items' content validity index and the Fleiss' kappa were calculated to assess the SC-CII-Sp's content validity. Convergent validity was assessed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient between the participants' scores on the SC-CII-Sp and their scores on the Spanish Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy scale (SCD-SE). Construct validity was tested by performing a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The SC-CII-Sp's reliability was tested by computing the Cronbach's alpha.

Results

The SC-CII-Sp showed good content and convergent validity. The CFA showed that the SC-CII-Sp has three sub-scales. The 8-item Self-Care Maintenance sub-scale has good internal consistency and is comprised of two dimensions: illness-related and health-promoting behaviour. The Self-Care Monitoring sub-scale had excellent internal consistency and its five loaded items belonged to a single dimension. The 6-item Self-Care Management sub-scale has adequate internal consistency and two dimensions: autonomous and consulting behaviour.

Conclusion

The Spanish version of SC-CII is a valid and reliable instrument to be used in the assessment of self-care behaviours amongst Spanish-speaking, community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity.

Implications for the Profession

Nurses need valid and reliable tools to assess self-care behaviours in Spanish-speaking community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity. This study provides a 19-item tool that allows for the comprehensive evaluation of self-care behaviours in healthy and ill states.

Impact

Using the SC-CII-Sp in clinical or research settings could help nurses to examine the effects of different interventions on self-care behaviours amongst Spanish-speaking, community-dwelling older adults with chronic multimorbidity.

Patient or Public Contribution

None to be reported.

Attitudes and experiences related to the deaths of COVID‐19 patients among nursing staff: A qualitative evidence synthesis

Abstract

Aim

To identify and synthesize the experiences and attitudes of nursing staff regarding the deaths of COVID-19 patients.

Review Methods

A qualitative evidence synthesis was carried out, using Noblit and Hare's meta-ethnographic approach. The review protocol was listed in PROSPERO (CRD42022330928). Studies published from January 2020 to January 2022 that met the criteria were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, CUIDEN and PsycInfo. A total of 12 articles were included.

Results

Thirty-three metaphors emerged, which were grouped into three main themes: Determining factors of care, Feelings about death and Strategies for coping with death. Nurses reported the high emotional toll, the absence of family and the lack of staff, protocol and training as determining factors. Furthermore, staff had doubts about the quality of care that COVID-19 patients received. As coping strategies, nurses developed avoidance behaviours towards COVID-19 patients, selective memories, resilience, and/or leaving the profession.

Conclusions

The difficulty in providing adequate nursing care and the high number of deaths has increased anxiety and stress among nurses. These factors, alongside their lived experiences of seeing patients suffering, many dying alone without family members, have had psychological repercussions on nursing staff.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The results demonstrate a high emotional toll and doubts surrounding their caregiving role caused by the lack of professional training needed to face a pandemic. This research shows what has been learned for future pandemics and highlights basic components that could provide a foundation for coping interventions for healthcare professionals.

Impact

What Problem did the Study Address?

The challenges posed by COVID-19 patient deaths for nursing staff around the world and also by the pandemic circumstances in which those deaths occurred.

What were the Main Findings?

The high number of deceased patients who were isolated from family members, communication with family members and doubts surrounding care given during the pandemic have created feelings of fear, stress and anxiety, as well as obsessive thoughts that have changed nursing staff's perception of death due to COVID-19.

Where and on whom will the Research have an Impact?

Results will be useful for preparing for future pandemics, and for policymakers and health staff in supporting healthcare professionals by creating programmes to help them cope with the emotional toll they have felt after dealing with death in such unprecedented circumstances.

Reporting Method

The authors have adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and the eMERGe Reporting Guidance.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

Cambio social y transformación del cuidado en la familia

A pesar de los cambios sociales: ¿se sigue erigiendo la familia como una institución cuidadora?, ¿cómo ha cambiado su estructura?, ¿se han debilitado los lazos familiares o se están transformando? En este texto, se analiza la evolución de la familia desde las teorías sociológicas más clásicas hasta los pensadores posmodernos. Se reflexiona sobre las implicaciones de un cambio social y si las transformaciones del presente se han hecho permeables a la dinámica familiar y la función cuidadora de la misma. Como conclusión, se vislumbra que, tanto la familia como sus habilidades cuidadoras, son el espejo de una sociedad en continuo cambio. Está emergiendo un nuevo espacio que, en forma de resistencia, permite hacer uso de los modos de hacer heredados con una visión renovada.

La trascendencia de los cuidados invisibles

Los cuidados invisibles se engloban en la práctica de los cuidados y se relacionan con la parte emocional, la humanización y la trascendencia. Es la parte no técnica, pero que acompaña a los diferentes procedimientos y técnicas de unos cuidados profesionalizados. Objetivo. Analizar los cuidados que realizan los profesionales de enfermería sobre las dimensiones de los cuidados invisibles para un mayor conocimiento y reconocimiento de estos, por los profesionales y la institución. Metodología. Se trata de una investigación mixta. Una parte, con un diseño cualitativo fenomenológico, y otra, con un diseño observacional descriptivo y transversal. Los participantes implicados serán los pacientes y los profesionales de enfermería de las diferentes unidades y servicios del Hospital Universitario Son Espases. Para la recogida de los datos cualitativos se utilizará la entrevista grupal para explorar la percepción de los cuidados invisibles. Para la recogida de los datos cuantitativos se utilizará la herramienta Microsoft Forms 365® para la recogida de las respuestas del cuestionario de percepción del cuidado invisible de enfermería (PCIE, dirigido a los pacientes), y el cuestionario Care-Q que evalúa las dimensiones de los cuidados invisibles y el cuestionario ad hoc para identificar acciones de cuidados invisibles (dirigidos a los profesionales). Posteriormente, se implantará en el programa Millennium® para el registro de los cuidados invisibles en los planes de cuidados y visibilizar el valor que representan en el cuidado global y el tiempo dedicado en la jornada laboral.

Abstract

Invisible care is included in the practice of care and is related to the emotional part, humanization and transcendence. It is the non-technical part, but it accompanies the different procedures and techniques of professionalized care. Objective. Analyze the care provided by nursing professionals on the dimensions of invisible care for greater knowledge and recognition of these, by professionals and the institution. Methodology. It is a mixed investigation. One part, with a qualitative phenomenological design, and another, with a descriptive and cross-sectional observational design. The participants involved will be the patients and nurses from the different units and services of the Son Espases University Hospital (HUSE). For the collection of qualitative data, the group interview will be used to explore the perception of invisible care. For the collection of quantitative data, the Microsoft Forms 365® tool will be used to collect the responses to the perception questionnaire of invisible nursing care (PCIE, aimed at patients), and the Care-Q questionnaire that evaluates the dimensions of invisible care and the ad hoc questionnaire to identify invisible care actions (aimed at nurses). Later, it will be implemented in the Millennium® program to record invisible care in care plans and make visible the value they represent in global care and the time spent during the workday.

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