To investigate the effects of active involvement of family caregivers in adult in-hospital care on patients' readmissions, complications, mortality, length of hospital stay, quality of life, psychological distress and activities of daily living, as well as on the satisfaction of patients, HCPs and family caregivers.
Systematic review.
Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, EBSCO CINAHL, Cochrane Library (from inception to February 2024).
The PRISMA 2020 statement was followed. Prospective controlled studies focusing on active involvement of family caregivers in adult in-hospital care were included. Two independent teams of authors conducted study selection, quality assessment and data extraction.
Thirteen studies were included, comprising 11 randomised controlled trials. The clinical and methodological heterogeneity precluded a meta-analysis. Six of these studies were performed in stroke patients. Some studies reported statistically significant benefits of active family involvement on readmission rates, hospital LOS, ADL, psychological distress for patients and family members, QoL and satisfaction of family caregivers. However, others did not observe differences in these outcomes. For complication rates, mortality and satisfaction of patients and HCPs, no studies demonstrated significant differences between groups.
Further research is needed to provide a conclusive answer as to whether active family caregiver involvement improves outcomes of adult hospitalised patients.
Despite the inconclusive findings of this review, advocating for active involvement of family caregivers in adult in-hospital care fits the perspective of patient- and family-centred care.
As the care of hospitalised adults is shifting to a more family-centric approach, investigating the effects of an active role of family caregivers in adult in-hospital care is necessary. However, the small number of studies available and heterogeneity between studies included in this review hamper firm conclusions. Further evaluations through well-designed studies are required.
To explore the experiences of new graduate registered nurses in caring for the deteriorating patient in rural areas.
New graduate registered nurses often feel unprepared to care for the deteriorating patient. Whilst literature has recognised new graduate registered nurses working within metropolitan areas feel ill-equipped to care for deteriorating patients, there is a paucity of literature focused on experiences within the rural context.
Qualitative, descriptive phenomenological approach.
In-depth interviews were undertaken with 7 participants in rural Eastern Australia with collected data being subject to thematic analysis.
Three themes were identified that shares the lived experiences of the participants as they transitioned into the rural team: First encounters—Transition to the rural team; Practice support for managing deterioration; and The road to confidence.
New graduate registered nurses are unprepared to care for the deteriorating patient in rural areas. Practice support and barriers to ongoing education are influential on their experience with findings from this study supporting focused rural healthcare preparation from tertiary education providers, plus structured practice support from senior rural nurses and health facility orientation programs. Preparation should include the use of digital technologies and escalation and management of the deteriorating patient alongside rural policies and procedures to enhance patient safety and support new graduate rural nurses.
The findings have implications for tertiary undergraduate nursing education and those supporting New Graduate Registered Nurses in their transition to practice in rural areas. Enhancement of new graduate nurses' skills and abilities in recognition and responding to patient deterioration through both technological and personnel support will enhance patient safety within rural health care.
Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).
7 participants were involved in the study.
To examine the evidence from systematic reviews on the development, implementation, and/or sustainability of age-friendly cities and communities programmes.
This review was informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute umbrella review methodology.
Critical appraisal, data extraction, and synthesis were carried out according to the Joanna Briggs protocol for undertaking umbrella reviews.
An extensive CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PubMed and Scopus search was conducted for literature published from January 2007 to July 2024. Finalised search terms included ‘age-friendly’, ‘age-friendly cities and communities’ ‘systematic review’, meta-analysis', ‘integrative review’, ‘narrative review’, ‘scoping review’, ‘rapid review’ and ‘scientometric review’ in combination with index terms were utilised to locate relevant literature.
Ten reviews were included comprising 4 scoping reviews, 1 interpretive review, 1 integrative review, 2 systematic reviews, 1 rapid review and 1 structured literature review. Synthesised findings were presented under the categories of ‘Development’; ‘Implementation’; and ‘Sustainability’.
The findings are relevant to policy, practice and research. Longitudinal and evaluation research is needed to determine the long-term sustainability of AFCC programmes. More evidence is required on the success of programmes in marginalised communities and low to middle-income countries. Designing appropriate environments for ageing in place has far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of communities, especially our oldest citizens. This is particularly salient in this time of unprecedented population ageing. Nurses must have an in-depth understanding of the broader determinants of health, including ensuring environments are fit for purpose and meet the needs of older communities.
Understanding the importance of ensuring our cities and communities are age-friendly will positively influence the health and social care provided by nurses to older adults.
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyse checklist were used to report the screening process.
There was no patient or public contribution to this umbrella review.
The PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023413096 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=413096)
Evaluate the relationship between hospital nursing resources and outcomes among patients with chronic wounds.
Cross-sectional observational.
Hospital-level predictors included the nurse work environment, proportion of Bachelor of Science (BSN)-prepared nurses, and skill mix (i.e., registered nurses [RN] as proportion of nursing personnel). Outcomes included in-hospital and 30-day mortality, discharging to a higher level of care and length of stay. Individual-level nurse data were aggregated to create hospital-level measures of nursing resources. We utilised multi-level modelling with nurses nested within hospitals and outcomes at the patient level.
Three datasets from 2021: RN4CAST-New York/Illinois survey, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review claims and American Hospital Association Annual Survey.
The sample included 34,113 patients with chronic wounds in 215 hospitals in New York and Illinois. In adjusted models, a 1 standard deviation improvement in the work environment was associated with 12% lower odds of in-hospital mortality, 8% lower odds of discharging to a higher level of care and a shorter length of stay by a factor of 0.96. A 10% increase in BSN composition was associated with 8% reduced odds of in-hospital mortality and 6% reduced odds of 30-day mortality. A 10% increase in skill mix was associated with 12% lower odds of in-hospital mortality and a shorter length of stay by a factor of 0.91.
Improved nursing resources are associated with better outcomes among patients with chronic wounds.
Nurses manage the care of patients with chronic wounds; thus, hospital investment in nursing resources is imperative for good outcomes.
Modifiable hospital nursing resources are associated with outcomes among patients with chronic wounds, a complex population.
STROBE.
To gain insight into healthcare professionals' perceptions and needs regarding hospital-to-home transitions.
Qualitative phenomenological study.
Hospital and primary care professionals participated in focus groups and interviews. Participants were recruited from a Dutch University hospital and from our networks between May and September 2023. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
We conducted seven focus groups and twelve interviews. Three themes emerged: “Collaboration and information exchange between professionals”, “Coordination and continuity of care”, and “Interaction between professionals, patients, and families”.
This study suggests that professionals would benefit from clear guidelines and arrangements for communication with colleagues to support care coordination and continuity. Collaboration and information sharing are essential for providing integrated, patient-centred care. Additionally, involving patients and families in decision-making regarding hospital-to-home transitions, in a way that considers their needs, is important for effective care.
This study highlights the importance of clear communication and collaboration between professionals to ensure continuity of care. It emphasises the need for integrated care, where patients and families are actively involved without being overwhelmed.
Transitions from hospital-to-home are often hindered by fragmented, non-individualised care. Improved collaboration, clear coordination, and patient-family involvement can address this. This research can positively impact professionals across different settings, policymakers, and advocacy groups aiming to improve integrated patient-centred care.
The interview guide was developed with professionals who reviewed it and provided feedback. Professionals provided us with their lived experiences by participating in interviews and focus groups.
This study adhered to the COREQ guidelines.
N.A
To investigate the barriers experienced by intensive care nurses and registered nurses and to provide optimal nursing for adult patients with a temporary tracheostomy in intensive care and general wards.
Tracheostomy is widely used in intensive care units, around 20% of intensive care unit patients undergo tracheostomy insertions and expect high quality of care. Caring for patients with a tracheostomy is complex and challenging task. An investigation of barriers to care for adult patients with a temporary tracheostomy in a hospital setting is essential to ensure that these patients receive the highest quality of care and to identify areas for improvement.
This paper applied secondary analysis to data from two qualitative studies, including narrative interviews and maximum variation sampling.
Secondary analysis of primary qualitative datasets is appropriate when the analysis extends rather than exceeds the primary. The analysis was based on interview data collected from six intensive care nurses and six registered nurses from two university teaching hospitals in Norway. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data was analysed using the qualitative analysis suggested by Graneheim and Lundman. This study adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting in a qualitative research (COREQ) checklist.
Four main themes were identified as barriers to care for adult patients with a temporary tracheostomy in the hospital: encountering ambivalence, inadequate staffing levels, lack of patient continuity of care and lack of systematic follow-up.
Understanding barriers to care is crucial for hospitals and healthcare organisations to develop targeted interventions and educational programs to address these barriers and improve the care provided to adult patients with tracheostomies in hospital settings.
To examine the association between mutuality and quality of life in nurse–patient dyads.
A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted.
The study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Italy. We enrol both inpatients and outpatients with chronic diseases and their nurses with a convenience sampling. One-hundred ninety-two dyads participated to the study. A self-assessment instrument including the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12), and the Nurse Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale (NPM-CI scale), in the two versions—one for patients and one for nurses, was administered. The effects of nurse–patient mutuality on the physical and mental quality of life of nurses and patients were estimated with a series of actor-partner-interdependence models (APIM).
Patients' and nurses' perceptions of their mutuality were positively correlated. For patient mental quality of life, there was a statistically significant actor effect both for patients, and for nurses. There was also a consistent statistically significant partner effect for patient mental quality of life. There were no statistically significant actor or partner effects for the nurses' and patients' physical quality of life. This construct may be influenced by additional components, further studies are needed.
Mutuality between nurses and patients in chronic diseases influence both patient and nurse quality of life.
Our results support the importance of taking a dyadic perspective when considering mutuality and quality of life in nurse–patient dyads.
Nurse–patient mutuality is an indicator of a high-quality relationship, which allows shared goals and shared decision-making. Quality of life is one of the most important outcomes for chronic conditions patients and is an indicator of well-being. Quality of life is also an important variable in healthcare professionals' lives. Little is known about the association between mutuality and quality of life in nurse–patient dyads. Mutuality has an actor effect on patient's and nurse's quality of life and has a negative partner effect on patient's quality of life. The understanding of mutuality and interdependence within the dyad, could increase mental quality of life in nurse–patient dyads.
STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed in this study.
Patients were involved in the sample of the study.
To develop and preliminarily validate a measure of beliefs about compassion in health care and assess whether and which beliefs may predict compassion.
Pre-registered cross-sectional online survey study with a repeated-measures vignette component.
Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor analyses were performed on a split sample of 890 healthcare professionals in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). Links with fears of compassion for others, burnout, trait compassion, compassion competency and ability and self-efficacy were used to assess convergent and divergent validity. Linear mixed model regression analyses were used to assess relationships between beliefs and compassion. In writing this report, we adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
Four-factor structure featuring three negative (compassion as harmful, not useful, draining) and one positive (compassion is important) type of beliefs was established. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit and subscales indicated good measures of validity. Internal consistency was achieved for the subset of beliefs (harmful, not useful). Regression analyses indicated negative effects of the belief that compassion is draining on caring, motivation to help and compassion overall; negative effects of the belief that compassion is not useful on the motivation to help and a positive effect of the belief that compassion is important on caring and compassion overall. There was no effect of beliefs that compassion is harmful on compassion measures.
This report extends prior qualitative studies of beliefs about compassion in a large healthcare sample, offering a way to measure these potentially malleable factors that might be targeted in education, interventions and future research.
The study was designed in consultation with healthcare and compassion research professionals, including substantial input from Indigenous Māori healthcare professionals.
To test the influences of patient, safety event and nurse characteristics on nurse judgements of credibility, importance and intent to report patients' safety concerns.
Factorial survey experiment.
A total of 240 nurses were recruited and completed an online survey including demographic information and responses to eight factorial vignettes consisting of unique combinations of eight patient and event factors. Hierarchical multivariate analysis was used to test influences of vignette factors and nurse characteristics on nurse judgements.
The intraclass coefficients for nurse judgements suggest that the variation among nurses exceeded the influence of contextual vignette factors. Several significant sources of nurse variation were identified, including race/ethnicity, suggesting a complex relationship between nurses' characteristics and their potential biases, and the influence of personal and patient factors on nurses' judgements, including the decision to report safety concerns.
Nurses are key players in the system to manage patient safety concerns. Variation among nurses and how they respond to scenarios of patient safety concerns highlight the need for nurse-level intervention.
Complex factors influence nurses' judgement, interpretation and reporting of patients' safety concerns.
Understanding nurse judgement regarding patient-expressed safety concerns is critical for designing processes and systems that promote reporting. Multiple event and patient characteristics (type of event and apparent harm, and patient gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and communication approach) as well as participant characteristics (race/ethnicity, gender, years of experience and primary hospital area) impacted participants' judgements of credibility, degree of concern and intent to report. These findings will help guide patient safety nurse education and training.
STROBE guidelines.
Members of the public, including patient advocates, were involved in content validation of the vignette scenarios, norming photographs used in the factorial survey and testing the survey functionality.
To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the training process, procedures, measures and recruitment strategies necessary for a future investigation to test the reliability and validity of using positivity resonance measures in health care encounters.
Although the measurement of positivity resonance is promising, and non-participant observation is considered effective, their approaches to studying nurse–patient relationships have not been fully explored.
A mixed-methods observational study.
Video recordings of 30 nurse–patient dyads completing telehealth video visit encounters were edited and coded using behavioural indicators of positivity resonance. A post-visit survey gathered data on the participants' perceptions of positivity resonance and the study procedures. The research team completed memos and procedural logs to provide narrative data on the study's training, coding, recruitment and operational procedures. The study included 33 persons with cancer and 13 oncology nurses engaging in telehealth video visit encounters at an academic oncology ambulatory care center located in the southeastern United States.
Study procedures were found to be feasible and acceptable to participants. An adequate sample of participants (N = 46) were enrolled and retained in the study. Interrater reliability, as evidenced by Cohen's weighted kappa, ranged from .575 to .752 and interclass correlation coefficients >.8 were attainable within a reasonable amount of time and with adequate training. Behavioural indicators of positivity resonance were observed in all telehealth visits and reported by the participants in the perceived positivity resonance survey. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist guided reporting.
Designing research around the concept of positivity resonance is an innovative and feasible approach to exploring how rapport is cultivated within nurse–patient relationships.
Measuring positivity resonance may hold promise for exploring patient and nurse outcomes including trust, responsiveness, health-related behaviours, well-being, resilience and satisfaction.
The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist guided the reporting of results to ensure that adequate details of the study were provided to ensure an accurate and complete report.
Planning of the research design and study procedures was done in consultation with nurse clinicians with experience with telehealth and managers responsible within the practice setting where the study was conducted. This ensured the study procedures were ethical, safe, secure and did not create unnecessary burden to the study participants. The study included collecting data from nurse and patient participants about the acceptability of the study procedures.
To examine the role of nurse–patient mutuality on three self-care behaviours in chronic illness patients.
A cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted.
Mutuality was measured with the Nurse–Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale which has the dimensions of developing and going beyond, being a point of reference and deciding and sharing care, and self-care was measured with the Self-care of Chronic Illness Inventory (SC-CII). Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to assess the contribution of three dimensions of mutuality on self-care maintenance, monitoring and management behaviours controlling for patient gender, age, education, number of medications, and presence of a family caregiver.
The sample included 465 inpatients and outpatients with at least one chronic illness. The three dimensions of mutuality had different roles in their influence on the three dimensions of self-care. Developing and going beyond was significantly associated with self-care maintenance and self-care monitoring behaviours. Point of reference was significantly associated with self-care maintenance behaviour. Deciding and sharing care was significantly associated with self-care monitoring and self-care management behaviours.
The mutuality between nurse and patient may be a novel area of research to support and improve patient self-care behaviours with implications for clinical practice and education.
Mutuality between nurse and patient increases patient engagement, symptom recognition, decision-making process and patient-centred approach favouring the development of self-care behaviours.
Mutuality between nurse and patient is a new concept and its association with the patient outcomes could bring relevance to the nursing profession. Self-care behaviours are important in the management of chronic diseases, but are difficult to perform. Mutuality between nurse and patient influences the three different behaviours of self-care in chronic illness, for this reason it is important to increase the level of mutuality in this dyad.
STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was followed in this study.
Patients were involved in the sample of the study.
To establish a supportive care framework for addressing unmet needs among breast cancer survivors, providing practical guidance for healthcare providers to assess and manage these needs, ultimately enhancing the health outcomes and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
We conducted a two-round Delphi survey to gather expert opinions regarding the unmet needs supportive care framework for breast cancer survivors.
Initial framework identification and inquiry questionnaire creation was achieved via literature search and expert group discussions, which included 15 experts from nursing practice, clinical medicine, nursing management and nursing education was conducted using a Delphi survey. To establish consensus, a two-round Delphi poll was done, using criteria based on the mean (≥4.0), coefficient of variation (CV < 0.25) and percentage for entire score (≥20%).
Experts reached a consensus, leading to six care modules, and 28 care entries: Tumour Detection Support (three care entries), Management of Complications of Antitumor Therapy (seven care entries), Healthy Lifestyle Management (five care entries), Sexual and Fertility Support (four care entries), Psychosocial Support (four care entries) and Resource and Linkage Support (five care entries).
To address breast cancer survivors' unmet needs, a supportive framework was developed to actively enhance their health outcomes. However, further refinement and feasibility testing using mobile devices or artificial intelligence are required.
This pioneering framework prioritises addressing unmet needs and equips healthcare providers to assess and manage these needs effectively, facilitating the implementation of programs aimed at improving the well-being of breast cancer survivors.
This study was guided by a modified guideline for the Conducting and Reporting of Delphi Studies (CREDES) (Palliative Medicine, 31(8), 684, 2017).
No Patient or Public Contribution.
The Delphi study methodology does not require registration.
In this study, we aimed to characterize the impact of long COVID on quality of life and approaches to symptom management among Black American adults.
As a novel condition, qualitative evidence concerning long COVID symptoms and their impact on quality of life can inform the refinement of diagnostic criteria and care plans. However, the underrepresentation of Black Americans in long COVID research is a barrier to achieving equitable care for all long COVID patients.
We employed an interpretive description study design.
We recruited a convenience sample of 15 Black American adults with long COVID. We analysed the anonymized transcripts from race-concordant, semi-structured interviews using an inductive, thematic analysis approach. We followed the SRQR reporting guidelines.
We identified four themes: (1) The impact of long COVID symptoms on personal identity and pre-existing conditions; (2) Self-management strategies for long COVID symptoms; (3) Social determinants of health and symptom management; and (4) Effects on interpersonal relationships.
Findings demonstrate the comprehensive ramifications of long COVID on the lives of Black American adults. Results also articulate how pre-existing conditions, social risk factors, distrust due to systemic racism, and the nature of interpersonal relationships can complicate symptom management.
Care approaches that support access to and implementation of integrative therapies may be best suited to meet the needs of long COVID patients. Clinicians should also prioritize eliminating patient exposure to discrimination, implicit bias, and microaggressions. This is of particular concern for long COVID patients who have symptoms that are difficult to objectively quantify, such as pain and fatigue.
While patient perspectives and experiences were the focus of this study, patients were not involved with the design or conduct of the study, data analysis or interpretation, or writing the manuscript.
To determine the frequency, timing, and duration of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) and their impact on health and function.
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection is an emerging major public health problem that is poorly understood and has no current treatment or cure. PASC is a new syndrome that has yet to be fully clinically characterised.
Descriptive cross-sectional survey (n = 5163) was conducted from online COVID-19 survivor support groups who reported symptoms for more than 21 days following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Participants reported background demographics and the date and method of their covid diagnosis, as well as all symptoms experienced since onset of covid in terms of the symptom start date, duration, and Likert scales measuring three symptom-specific health impacts: pain and discomfort, work impairment, and social impairment. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies were computed for participant demographics and symptom data.
Participants reported experiencing a mean of 21 symptoms (range 1–93); fatigue (79.0%), headache (55.3%), shortness of breath (55.3%) and difficulty concentrating (53.6%) were the most common. Symptoms often remitted and relapsed for extended periods of time (duration M = 112 days), longest lasting symptoms included the inability to exercise (M = 106.5 days), fatigue (M = 101.7 days) and difficulty concentrating, associated with memory impairment (M = 101.1 days). Participants reported extreme pressure at the base of the head, syncope, sharp or sudden chest pain, and “brain pressure” among the most distressing and impacting daily life.
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection can be characterised by a wide range of symptoms, many of which cause moderate-to-severe distress and can hinder survivors' overall well-being.
This study advances our understanding of the symptoms of PASC and their health impacts.
To identify studies and the content of the interventions that have facilitated the implementation of pressure injury (PI) prevention measures in nursing home settings.
A scoping review methodology was employed. The author has carried out the following steps successively: Identified this scoping review's questions, retrieved potentially relevant studies, selected relevant studies, charted the data, summarised the results, and consulted with stakeholders from nursing homes in China.
Six electronic databases and three resources of grey literature—PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Psych INFO, Open Grey, MedNar, ProQuest Dissertations, and Theses Full Texts were searched from January 2002 through May 2022.
Forty articles were included, among which the primary interventions were quality improvement, training and education, evidence-based practice, device-assisted PI prophylaxis, nursing protocols, and clinical decision support systems. Twenty-three outcome indicators were summarised in 40 articles, which included 10 outcome indicators, seven process indicators, and six structural indicators. Furthermore, only five articles reported barriers in the process of implementing interventions.
The common interventions to promote the implementation of PI prevention measures in nursing homes are quality improvement, training, and education. Relatively limited research has been conducted on evidence-based practice, clinical decision support systems, device-assisted PI prophylaxis, and nursing protocols. In addition, there is a paucity of studies examining the impediments to implementing these measures and devising targeted solutions. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies include analysis and reporting of barriers and facilitators as part of the article to improve the sustainability of the intervention.
This article reminds nursing home managers that they should realise the importance of implementation strategies between the best evidence of PI prevention and clinical practice. Also, this review provides the types, contents, and outcome indicators of these strategies for managers of nursing homes to consider what types of interventions to implement in their organisations.
The protocol of this scoping review was published as an open-access article in June 2022 (Yang et al., 2022).