To examine if trans and gender non-conforming participants perceive greater healthcare inequities in their interactions with healthcare practitioners than cisgender sexual minority participants, and analyse free text responses from transgender and gender non-conforming participants to gain possible insight into causes of inequities.
A cross-sectional study.
An anonymous online survey of over 2800 self-selecting LGBTQI+ participants, 30% of whom identified as trans and gender non-conforming. The research team devised closed and open-ended questions about perceptions of healthcare provision and analysed quantitative responses using SPSS and open-ended data through thematic analysis.
Over half of trans and gender non-conforming participants reported having had occasion to educate healthcare professionals about LGBTQI+ identities and a majority reported that healthcare professionals made incorrect assumptions about their LGBTQI+ identity. Invalidation and pathologisation of participants' trans and gender non-conforming identity and unhelpful therapeutic approaches were some of the negative health experiences cited.
Trans and gender non-conforming populations experience significant barriers to healthcare relative to their cisgender sexual minority peers. Cisnormative thinking in healthcare practice together with a lack of knowledge of trans and gender non-conforming people's experiences leads to substandard care and acts as a barrier to disclosure and help seeking.
Culturally responsive healthcare is critical to ending health inequities experienced by trans and gender non-conforming people.
Problem addressed: Healthcare inequities among trans and gender non-conforming participants.
Main findings: Trans and gender non-conforming participants reported more negative perceptions of their healthcare experiences compared to cisgender sexual minority participants.
Where and on whom will the research have an impact? Healthcare educators/practitioners.
Strobe.
Members of the LGBTQI+ community were part of the research advisory group and inputted into paper authorship.
Highlights the need for training to increase cultural competency among healthcare providers.
To explore the lived experiences of intensive care nurses caring for patients with limited English proficiency.
A hermeneutic, interpretive phenomenological design was used.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with intensive care nurses recruited through purposive sampling. Data collection included Qualtrics screening surveys and semi-structured Zoom interviews. The research team, comprising linguistically diverse faculty and undergraduate research assistants, employed reflexivity techniques to minimise bias and enhance interpretive rigour. Data were analysed via inductive analysis using the hermeneutic circle.
Five main themes emerged organically from the data: Complications of Care Relating to Verbal Communication Challenges. Benefits and Barriers of Nursing Informatics in Linguistic Care. The Universal Language: Nursing Effort Builds Trust. The Ripple Effect: Chronological Considerations for Patient Care. Moving Forward: Where Do We Go From Here?
Based on these findings, a four-phase model was developed to guide individual and system-level interventions to reduce nurse moral distress and improve language equity in critical care.
Language barriers in the intensive care unit hinder communication, increase stress for patients and nurses, and impact care quality. While nurses' efforts to bridge these gaps are valued, systemic changes (such as expanded interpreter availability and improved cultural safety training) are necessary to support culturally, linguistically, and medically appropriate care.
Findings highlight the need for increased institutional support, additional resources for night-shift staff, and the integration of cultural humility education into intensive care training. The Limited English Proficiency Moral Distress Action Cycle for Critical Care Nursing, developed from this study, offers a flexible framework to guide the implementation of these improvements and reduce nurse moral distress. Future research should explore interventions to promote cultural and linguistic competence in multilingual patient populations.
Q: What problem did the study address?
A: The nurse-identified clinical, ethical, and workflow risks created when interpreters or translation tools are inadequate for critical care.
Q: What were the main findings?
A: Language barriers jeopardise teaching, informed consent, and symptom reporting. Video and phone interpreters or translation apps are vital but are often scarce, unreliable, or impersonal, particularly during night shifts. Nurses bridge these gaps by building trust through empathy, non-verbal communication, and learning key phrases. Yet, effective care for patients with limited English proficiency requires extra time, increasing workloads and fuelling moral distress related to language-discordant care. Nurses consistently called for 24/7 interpreter coverage; more reliable devices and cultural humility training must be implemented system-wide.
Q: Where and on whom will the research have an impact?
A: Findings can guide nurses, managers, leaders, and administrators to improve both language concordant and discordant nursing care and train nurses in cultural and linguistic competencies for a multilingual patient population. Ultimately, these efforts have been shown to improve the quality, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of patient care. The study also identifies moral-distress triggers and introduces the Limited English Proficiency Moral Distress Action Cycle (LEP-MDAC). This model is proposed for use in other high-acuity settings worldwide that seek to provide language-concordant or language-discordant care effectively.
SRQR.
None.
To describe patient outcomes for patients at high risk of mortality (with a prognosis of three months or less to live) where a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant (PCNC) was embedded in a General Medicine team. To explore patients and/or their carers feedback and allied health, nursing professionals' perspectives on integrating a palliative care approach in the General Medicine ward.
Prospective exploratory study.
SQUIRE reporting guidelines was adopted for the study reporting. This study was conducted over six weeks in a general medicine ward at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were 20 patients aged > 65 years with non-malignant, chronic conditions at high risk of mortality within three months and had 18 nursing and allied health professionals involved in their care. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and qualitative survey data were analysed thematically.
Twenty patients participated, with an average age of 87 years. 55% spoke a language other than English. PCNC interventions, focused on care coordination and family liaison, were found to facilitate timely referrals to other support services, improve communication and better address end-of-life care needs. Healthcare professionals recognised the benefits of PCNC involvement; however, a key qualitative theme was staff reluctance to raise palliative care needs due to perceived role boundaries and limited confidence. While PCNC presence improved communication and advocacy, barriers included time constraints and patient/family resistance.
Embedding a PCNC in a general medicine team appears to enhance care coordination and support timely palliative care integration. Addressing barriers and optimising workflow can improve patient, carer and clinician experience as well as improve resource utilisation.
The model has the potential to enhance patient-centred care and clinician support in acute general medicine settings.
The research will have an impact on acute care settings, particularly general medicine units, by informing models of integrated palliative care for patients with complex needs and enhancing staff capability and confidence in providing timely, person-centred care.
Patients or members of the public were not involved in the design, conduct, analysis or manuscript preparation of this study. The project was a prospective observational study with limited scope and resources, which did not include a formal patient or public involvement component.
To develop and psychometrically test a comprehensive Cancer Nurse Self-Assessment Tool (CaN-SAT).
Modified Delphi to assess content validity and cross-sectional survey to assess reliability and validity.
Phase 1: An expert group developed the tool structure and item content. Phase 2: Through a modified Delphi, cancer nursing experts rated the importance of each element of practice and assessed the relevance and clarity of each item. Content Validation Indexes (CVI) were calculated, and a CVI of ≥ 0.78 was required for items to be included. Phase 3: Cancer nurses participated in a survey to test internal consistency (using Cronbach's alpha coefficients) and known-group validity (through Mann–Whitney U tests). This study was reported using the Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies (GRRAS) checklist.
The CaN-SAT underwent two rounds of Delphi with 24 then 15 cancer nursing experts. All elements of practice were rated as important. Only three items achieved a CVI < 0.78 after round one; however, based on open-ended comments, 26 items were revised and one new item added. After round two, all items received a CVI above 0.78. The final tool consisted of 93 items across 15 elements of practice. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were between 0.92 and 0.98 indicating good reliability. Mann–Whitney U tests demonstrated significant differences between clinical nurses and advanced practice nurses across 13 out of 15 elements of practice.
The CaN-SAT is a comprehensive, valid and reliable tool that can be used for cancer nurses to self-assess current skill levels, identify their learning needs and inform decisions about educational opportunities to optimise cancer care provision.
The research team included three patient advocates from Cancer Voices NSW, who were actively involved in all aspects of the study and are listed as authors.
To explore the enablers of and barriers to implementing advanced practice nursing in primary health care in Germany and Brazil.
A qualitative cross-country comparative study.
Nine focus groups were conducted: 4 in Brazil and 5 in Germany with 48 participants (23 primary health care policy stakeholders and 25 nurses practicing in primary health care and general practitioners) between May 2022 and June 2023. The data were analysed by content analysis using a deductive–inductive approach.
Our findings reveal a need for clarity around the concept, specific roles and responsibilities of advanced practice nurses in primary health care. Although there is still no regulation in place for practising advanced practice nursing in either country, clear drivers can be observed, with Germany strengthening community health nursing and Brazil following clinical protocols in nursing practice. Dialogue among stakeholders—at both the policy and practitioner levels—is essential to bridge communication gaps. Additionally, involving patients in the implementation process is crucial for the holistic integration of advanced nursing roles.
Political, organisational and financial barriers persist, such as the need to establish both legal foundations and regulatory frameworks, enhance political participation within the nursing profession, and involve stakeholders in dialogue and consensus-building efforts. Giving advanced practice nursing a higher priority on political and research agendas—with policy adjustments and input from practitioners—can help integrate advanced practice nursing into primary health care.
Our findings highlight that actively involving nursing as an equal partner in political discourse is seen by stakeholders as crucial to drive the implementation process forward sustainably.
This study addresses the lack of data on the enablers and barriers to implementing advanced practice nursing in primary health care in Germany and Brazil. It underscores the need for clearer definitions of advanced practice nursing in primary health care, as well as sufficient regulation and funding. Dialogue is essential to bridge gaps and foster mutual understanding. The findings support future practice development and research, especially in countries that have introduced advanced nursing practice roles in primary health care.
The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ).
No involvement of patient and public contribution.
Our study highlights the growing adoption of expanded nursing responsibilities even in countries that have not yet formally implemented advanced practice nursing roles.
To conduct a concept analysis of ‘safe mobility’, with specific application in hospitalised older adults, identifying its defining attributes, antecedents and consequences.
The promotion of safe mobility is essential for maintaining the functionality of hospitalised older adults. However, this idea is not yet clearly defined in the scientific literature, requiring a conceptual analysis for better understanding and applicability in nursing practice.
Concept analysis.
The concept analysis methodology of Walker and Avant was employed, consisting of eight steps. Sources from the scientific literature (BDENF/VHL, Scopus, CINAHL/EBSCO, Embase, Web of Science, PEDro, MEDLINE/PubMed and CAPES Thesis and Dissertation Catalogue, as outlined in a scoping review previously published by the authors) and terminologies from dictionaries and nursing practice, such as SNOMED CT, ICNP, NANDA, NIC and NOC, were analysed.
The concept of ‘safe mobility’ does not have a consolidated definition but was identified through three defining attributes: active movement, prevention of fall-related harm and prevention of immobility-related harm. The antecedents include the older adults' conditions, adaptation of the hospital environment, training of the multidisciplinary team, patient behaviour and family involvement. The consequences involve the maintenance of functionality, improvement of quality of life, reduction of hospital length of stay and costs, as well as a decrease in rates of readmission, referrals to long-term care institutions and mortality.
The concept analysis revealed that safe mobility involves promoting active movement and preventing harm related to both immobility and falls.
Strategies based on this concept can improve the quality of life of older adults, reduce complications and optimise hospital costs.
This concept analysis examines existing literature and does not require patient-related data collection. The methodological approach does not necessitate collaboration with the public.
To review the evidence on the experiences and perceptions of culturally and linguistically diverse informal carers supporting older adults during transitions from hospital to home, including their interactions with transitional care interventions.
Scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, AMED, PsycINFO, Global Health, Social Work Abstracts, JBI EBP, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, ProQuest and Informit for studies published between January 2010 and November 2024.
Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Analysis followed the Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for Practice and Research recommendations framework.
Seventeen studies involving 1275 carers were included. Carer experiences were summarised into four themes: (1) cultural and communication barriers; (2) role ambiguity and practical challenges; (3) limited involvement in discharge planning and (4) barriers to accessing support and services. Perceptions of transitional care interventions were mixed. While some interventions improved carer preparedness and reduced stress, most lacked cultural tailoring and did not address carers' psychosocial and communication needs.
Culturally and linguistically diverse informal carers face challenges navigating transitional care. While involving them in care planning improves outcomes, implementation remains inconsistent. Emotional support and culturally tailored services are insufficient.
There is a need for culturally and linguistically tailored transitional care programmes that prioritise carer education and communication support. Key areas for improvement include: (1) health literacy and system navigation; (2) involvement in care planning; (3) communication with providers; (4) psychosocial and emotional support and (5) culturally appropriate services. Future research should explore the unique emotional and psychosocial needs of these carers to inform targeted support strategies.
This review follows the PRISMA guideline for reporting.
No patient or public contribution.
Despite a growing multidisciplinary interest in the Child and Family Centred Care approach, its meaning remains unclear in extant literature. It is, therefore, crucial to explore, analyse, describe, and clarify the concept of the Child and Family Centred Care approach and its associated terms.
A three-phased principle-based concept analysis approach was used to analyse the concept of Child and Family Centred Care. A systematic search of literature was completed using the CINAHL, PsycINFO, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Peer-reviewed articles on Child and Family Centred Care, published from inception to 2023 were included if they were available in English and discussed children aged zero to 17 years, healthcare providers, and/or caregivers. A systematic screening of articles was undertaken to remove duplicates and articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria. A concept quality criteria assessment was performed independently based on a recommended appraisal tool.
Full texts of the retained 23 titles were included in the deductive thematic analysis. Guided by the three-phased principle-based concept analysis approach, data were grouped into epistemological, pragmatic, linguistic, and logical principles. The study revealed various characteristics of the concept of interest to highlight the common terms associated with the concept, primarily being collaboration, participation, communication, and respect/dignity.
This concept analysis provides a theoretical definition of the Child and Family Centred Care approach. The definition emphasises the child as an individual and an active collaborator with healthcare providers and their family. Standardised language improving health outcomes, patient satisfaction, and healthcare systems.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
To explore the learning processes and prerequisites for nursing students to develop and achieve passing clinical competence, following an initial failing grade in their clinical education.
A constructivist grounded theory study was employed.
Data were collected between January 2022 and June 2024 through individual interviews with seven undergraduate nursing students retaking their clinical education in the final semester at a university in Sweden. In addition, individual interviews were conducted with four teachers in higher education and two focus group discussions, one with four teachers in higher education and another with a clinical teacher and a supervisor. The data analysis was conducted using an iterative process of constant comparison of data in different phases.
The analysis resulted in a theoretical model of person-centred learning which illustrates nursing students' learning processes and the prerequisites for them to develop and achieve clinical competence in clinical education. The model's core learning processes involve tailoring clinical education to students' needs: acknowledging one's own learning needs, receiving supervision which addresses their specific needs and having an educational institution which meets these needs are the three main learning processes that define student development. Students' acknowledgement of their personal learning needs itself entails three learning processes: trusting one's own knowledge, reflecting on and applying the nursing process, and reflecting on one's own learning. For students to progress in the learning process, prerequisites related to supervision and an educational institution meeting the students' needs must be in place.
The study provides evidence for a person-centred model which promotes nursing students' learning and development of clinical competence during clinical practice at the end of their nursing education.
This model can provide support to coordinators and supervisors in nursing education with regard to planning and implementing clinical education.
This grounded theory study provides a theoretical model for nursing students' learning and development of clinical competence during their clinical education in their final year of nursing education. A person-centred learning approach in clinical education can provide learning prerequisites for students to successfully achieve learning objectives and develop safe competences for the profession. The findings of the study can offer valuable support and direction to nursing students, educators, and clinical practice supervisors in the planning and implementation of clinical education.
The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist and the Guideline for Reporting and Evaluating Grounded Theory Research Studies (GUREGT).
This study did not include patient or public involvement.
To test the clinical validity of clinical indicators and causal relationships of aetiological factors of the new nursing diagnosis of inadequate health self-efficacy in people with hypertension.
The diagnosis of inadequate health self-efficacy has both theoretical and content validity. However, a clinical validation study is needed to establish an appropriate framework for distinguishing individuals who manifest this unique human response.
The study adopts a cross-sectional clinical validation approach, adhering strictly to the STROBE guidelines throughout its design and implementation.
Naturalistic sampling was used to identify 302 adults diagnosed with hypertension. Their data were subjected to latent class analysis, which facilitated the identification of a comprehensive set of clinical indicators that demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy and established posterior probabilities to guide the inference of inadequate health self-efficacy. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude of the impact of aetiological factors.
The prevalence of inadequate health self-efficacy was 76.61%. Among the 13 indicators examined, seven demonstrated notable sensitivity: ‘risk-prone health behaviour’, ‘failure to take action that prevents health problems’, ‘inadequate self-control’, ‘avoidance behaviours’, ‘negative health self-perception’, ‘inadequate health-related quality of life’ and ‘difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle’. Additionally, two indicators showed high specificity: ‘difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle’ and ‘inadequate adherence to treatment regimen’. Notably, 15 aetiological factors were identified as significantly associated with an increased risk of inadequate health self-efficacy.
A clinical framework consisting of eight clinical indicators and 15 aetiological factors was developed to characterise inadequate health self-efficacy in individuals with hypertension.
Clinical validation provides insight into the precision of clinical indicators and the magnitude of the effect of putative causal elements, thereby facilitating identification and tailored intervention for individuals with hypertension and inadequate health self-efficacy.
Approximately 25% of the Brazilian population suffers from mental disorders, a prevalence exacerbated by systemic and cultural factors such as socioeconomic inequalities, underfunded mental health services, regional disparities, and persistent stigma. These conditions significantly impact hospital care. Nurses, due to their direct contact with these patients, face challenges ranging from managing physical conditions to handling verbal aggression and psychiatric crises. This study aimed to assess the scientific evidence regarding nursing care for hospitalized patients with psychiatric disorders.
A systematic review with a mixed-methods approach was conducted, registered in PROSPERO (#CRD42022359288) and guided by PRISMA standards. Databases, such as MEDLINE, LILACS, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and BDEnf, were searched using keywords like “Mental disorder,” “Psychiatric health,” “Nursing care,” and “Hospital.” Methodological quality was assessed using JBI and SQUIRE tools. The integration of quantitative and qualitative components occurred through meta-aggregation of qualitative data and frequency-based coding of quantitative themes, allowing thematic convergence across study designs.
Six studies were included. Meta-aggregation revealed frequent terms, such as “Nurse,” “Emergency,” “Screening,” “Patient,” and “Care.” Similarity analysis linked “Nurse” with “perception” and “experience” and “Emergency” with “Screening” and “Mental health,” highlighting the importance of experience and training. Five categories emerged: (1) professional experience (19.05%, showing skill gaps despite experience); (2) caring process (19.05%, stressing efficient screening); (3) barriers and challenges (19.05%, revealing difficulty with comorbidities); (4) training process (19.05%, identifying training deficiencies); and (5) therapeutic interventions (23.81%, discussing restraint use). These percentages refer to the proportional frequency of themes identified across the total number of studies analyzed. For thematic classification, only statistically significant chi-square values (p < 0.05) were considered in the grouping of content.
Nursing care for psychiatric patients in hospitals faces challenges like insufficient training and difficulty managing psychiatric comorbidities. Recommendations include incorporating structured mental health content into nursing curricula and hospital-based continuing education programs. These strategies may guide future healthcare policies in Brazil by improving patient safety, reducing hospital readmissions, and promoting more humane, evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted education and training to improve nursing care for psychiatric patients in hospital settings.
The increasing prevalence of burnout, compassion fatigue, and reduced compassion satisfaction among healthcare professionals has highlighted the need for effective interventions. Mobile applications offer a promising solution due to their accessibility and low cost.
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness of mobile interventions in addressing burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction among healthcare professionals, while analyzing subcomponents of burnout to account for the frequently overlapping definitions and symptoms shared by these conditions. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies published between 2010 and 2024. Data were synthesized using a random effects model, with effect sizes estimated in Hedge's g.
Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising 11 RCTs and 3 quasi-experimental studies, with participant numbers ranging from 20 to 2182. Most intervention content focused on mindfulness and meditation (n = 7) and resilience-based programs (n = 3). The systematic review indicated mixed results for mindfulness and resilience apps, while most studies that used meditation showed improvements in burnout. Although interventions directly targeting compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction showed no significant effects, the meta-analysis revealed improvements in burnout domains, including a significant effect on personal accomplishment (Hedge's g = 0.51) and mixed findings for emotional exhaustion. While these interventions do not directly reduce compassion fatigue or raise compassion satisfaction, they may contribute to job satisfaction and a sense of professional efficacy. A sensitivity analysis improved homogeneity, leading to significant effects on emotional exhaustion and the generalizability of our findings.
Interventions focused on mindfulness, resilience training, and other strategies via mobile applications enhance personal accomplishment among healthcare professionals and show promising results in reducing emotional exhaustion. Their effectiveness in reducing compassion fatigue, depersonalization, and increasing compassion satisfaction remains inconsistent. Current research predominantly focuses on healthcare professionals, despite evidence suggesting that a broader range of healthcare professionals also suffer from compassion fatigue and burnout. The limited data on compassion fatigue and satisfaction highlights a gap in the current literature, showing the need for further high-quality studies in the form of RCTs.
To review older persons' lived experiences and perceptions of loneliness in residential care facilities and characterise mechanisms underlying their experiences through a comprehensive loneliness model.
A systematic review synthesising qualitative research on the experiences of loneliness among older people living in residential care facilities.
This review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines with quality appraisal conducted using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist.
Articles published in English (2014–2024) from CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science.
Sixteen articles met inclusion criteria, representing 357 participants across 10 countries and regions. Three core themes of loneliness were identified: relational and individualised loneliness experiences, perception and emotional distress and the influence of context and cognitive processes in modulating loneliness. A conceptual model delineating the mechanisms of older residents' loneliness in residential settings was developed.
This review highlights the influence of older persons' residential context and cognitive processes, particularly their perceptions, in triggering loneliness. The perceptions of reduced social control and insufficient social connections in residential settings exacerbate older persons' loneliness, precipitating distressing emotional responses and diminished quality of life.
Residential care facilities have a crucial responsibility in establishing a supportive atmosphere conducive to positive social engagement for older residents. Future research must explore strategic transformations of older persons' perceptions through mechanistic targets and tailored care plans to reshape their social expectations within the context of residential care facilities, potentially mitigating loneliness.
This review addresses the problem of understanding the mechanisms and experiences of loneliness among older persons in residential care facilities. The findings highlight the critical need for supportive social environments and targeted interventions in residential care settings to improve residents' well-being and quality of life globally.
Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research statement.
No patient or public contribution.
To develop and psychometrically test two newly developed Cancer Nurse Self-Assessment Tools for early and metastatic breast cancer (CaN-SAT-eBC and CAN-SAT-mBC).
Instrument development and psychometric testing of content validity, reliability and construct validity.
A three-phase procedure was conducted. Phase 1: An expert working group was formed to design and develop each tool using Benner's Model of Clinical Competence. Phase 2: The Content Validation Index (CVI) was used to assess the relevance and clarity of each item on the tools with breast cancer nurse experts and nursing educators. A CVI ≥ 0.78 was required for an item to be included in each tool. Phase 3: The tools were tested for internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha and construct validity using principal component analysis (PCA). The Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies were followed in reporting this study.
Each tool underwent two rounds of content validation. Ten experts were involved in the content validation for the CaN-SAT-eBC and 12 experts involved for CaN-SAT-mBC. The final versions comprised 18 (CAN-SAT-eBC) and 22 elements (CaN-SAT-mBC). All items obtained a satisfactory CVI of 0.83–1.0. Data from 159 and 126 nurses were analysed to evaluate reliability for CaN-SAT-eBC and CaN-SAT-mBC, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for all elements were between 0.83 and 0.98. The PCA supported that each element was unidimensional and composed of internally correlated items, with the exception of the ‘Diagnostics’ element of practice which has a two-component structure measuring basic and advanced diagnostic tasks.
The two CaN-SATs are comprehensive, valid and reliable. They can be used for self-assessment by nurses in relation to breast cancer care and for identifying learning needs for long-term professional development. The self-assessment tools can also be used to develop education initiatives for specialised breast cancer nurses.
No patient or public contribution.
Ensuring an appropriate length of stay (LOS) is a primary goal for hospitals, as prolonged LOS poses clinical risks and organizational challenges. Children and adolescents are particularly susceptible to prolonged LOS due to frequent hospitalizations and unique vulnerabilities, including developmental disabilities that may necessitate additional care and monitoring. This study aims to describe the LOS of children and adolescent patients and identify the sociodemographic, organizational, clinical, and nursing care factors contributing to prolonged LOS in this population.
Observational, retrospective, monocentric study.
A sequential sampling approach was used to select the clinical records of 1538 children and adolescent patients admitted to an Italian university hospital in 2022. The study included all children and adolescents aged 3–18 who were hospitalized for a minimum of 2 days. Patients from outpatient units and those with LOS shorter than 2 days were excluded. The Neonatal Pediatric Professional Assessment Instrument (PAIped) and the Hospital Discharge Register were used to collect sociodemographic, organizational, clinical, and nursing care patient data, including nursing diagnoses (NDs) and nursing actions (NAs). A forward stepwise regression approach was used to identify predictors of LOS among the selected variables. A mediation analysis was conducted to explore the role of nursing predictors, identified in the stepwise regression, as mediators between the number of medical diagnoses and LOS.
Positive correlations between the number of medical diagnoses, NDs, NAs, and LOS were discovered (r s = 0.262, p = < 0.001; r s = 0.114, p = < 0.001; r s = 0.384, p = < 0.001, respectively). Longer hospital stays were associated with an increased number of medical diagnoses, NDs, and NAs. The number of NAs emerged as an independent predictor of LOS (β = 0.516; p < 0.001). Other significant determinants of LOS included a higher number of NAs and medical diagnoses, the presence of a medical DRG category, increased DRG weight, emergency admissions, residency in rural areas, and older age (F = 122.222, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.361, adjusted R 2 = 0.358). The mediation analysis showed that the number of medical diagnoses positively predicted the number of NAs (β = 2.774, p < 0.001), which, in turn, positively affected LOS (β = 0.162, p < 0.001). A significant indirect effect of the number of medical diagnoses on LOS through NAs was observed (β = 0.448, 95% CI [0.34, 0.55]), along with a significant direct effect of medical diagnoses on LOS, even with the mediator in the model (β = 0.633, p < 0.001), indicating partial mediation (F = 321.6892; R 2 = 0.295; p < 0.001). These results highlight the influence of medical diagnoses on LOS through the mediating role of NAs.
Our study highlights the significant interplay between determinants of LOS in children and adolescent patients, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions, resource planning, and the integration of clinical nursing information systems to enhance care quality and support evidence-based practices.
Optimizing resource distribution and implementing specific interventions for patients at risk of prolonged LOS could help mitigate this negative outcome and enhance the quality of care. Incorporating nursing data into DRG systems could improve reimbursement accuracy and benefit the nursing profession, which may result in better patient outcomes and lower hospital expanses.
To evaluate the accuracy of the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) assignments by GPT-4, a large language model (LLM), compared to senior emergency department (ED) nurses and physicians.
An observational study of 100 consecutive adult ED patients was conducted. ESI scores assigned by GPT-4, triage nurses, and by a senior clinician. Both model and human experts were provided the same patient data.
GPT-4 assigned a lower median ESI score (2.0) compared to human evaluators (median 3.0; p < 0.001), suggesting a potential overestimation of patient severity by the LLM. The results showed differences in the triage assessment approaches between GPT-4 and the human evaluators, including variations in how patient age and vital signs were considered in the ESI assignments.
While GPT-4 offers a novel methodology for patient triage, its propensity to overestimate patient severity highlights the necessity for further development and calibration of LLM tools in clinical environments. The findings underscore the potential and limitations of LLM in clinical decision-making, advocating for cautious integration of LLMs in healthcare settings.
This study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines for reporting observational studies.
To synthesise the effectiveness of massage therapy for cancer pain, quality of life and anxiety among patients with cancer.
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
This review was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies evaluating the effects of massage therapy on cancer pain, quality of life or anxiety in patients with cancer pain were eligible. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation were used to assess the quality of studies. Outcomes were pooled using standardised mean differences and narratively synthesised when meta-analysis was not possible.
Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, ProQuest Theses and Dissertations were searched for English peer-reviewed studies and grey literature published from inception to 8 January 2024.
Thirty-six RCTs involving 3671 participants were included. Massage therapy significantly improved pain (pooled SMD = −0.51, 95% CI −0.68 to −0.33), quality of life (pooled SMD = 0.48, 95% CI 0.19–0.78 when higher scores indicate better quality of life; pooled SMD = −0.52, 95% CI −0.88 to −0.16 when higher scores indicate poorer quality of life) and anxiety (pooled SMD = −0.38, 95% CI: −0.57 to −0.18) post-intervention. All outcomes had very low certainty of evidence. Most studies had unclear or high risk of bias.
This review found that massage therapy is beneficial to patients with cancer in improving pain, quality of life and anxiety. Healthcare institutions and healthcare professionals should recognise the value of massage therapy to enhance the care of patients with cancer pain.
PRISMA guidelines.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
PROSPERO CRD42023407311.
To test a middle-range theory (MRT) for the nursing diagnosis of ineffective breathing pattern in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) based on analysis of two general propositions.
This cross-sectional study is guided by STROBE. The propositions represent hypotheses about the relationships between the concepts of this MRT to be tested empirically, and thus, log-linear models were used to verify the structure of the proposition related to the stimuli. Diagnostic accuracy measures, univariate logistic regressions and the Mann–Whitney test were used to analyse the structure of the propositions related to behaviours.
The analysis of the propositions related to the stimuli (eight concepts, four of which were classified as focal stimuli and four as contextual stimuli) suggested a reclassification of the stimulus “deformities in the thoracic wall” which became too focal. In the analysis of the propositions related to behaviours (17 concepts, five of which were classified as acute confirmatory, nine as acute clinical deterioration and three classified as chronic), guided changes in the operationalisation of concepts were suggested after comparing clinical findings; thus, acute confirmatory behaviours now have 10 concepts, while acute clinical deterioration behaviours and chronic behaviours continued with nine and three concepts, respectively, but with reclassifications between them.
Changes in the operationalisation of the classification of the elements of the two propositions occurred after comparing the clinical findings with the theoretical model.
By establishing precise causal relationships and describing how IBP manifests itself over time in children with CHD, empirical testing of this MRT helps nurses understand clinical reasoning based on temporal logic and spectral interaction between diagnostic components, which in turn will improve the use and accuracy of nursing diagnoses.
Children and adolescents with CHD were recruited for this study sharing their clinical history and physical lung examination.