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AnteayerInternacionales

Artificial Intelligence and the National Violent Death Reporting System: A Rapid Review

imageAs the awareness on violent deaths from guns, drugs, and suicides emerges as a public health crisis in the United States, attempts to prevent injury and mortality through nursing research are critical. The National Violent Death Reporting System provides public health surveillance of US violent deaths; however, understanding the National Violent Death Reporting System's research utility is limited. The purpose of our rapid review of the 2019-2023 literature was to understand to what extent artificial intelligence methods are being used with the National Violent Death Reporting System. We identified 16 National Violent Death Reporting System artificial intelligence studies, with more than half published after 2020. The text-rich content of National Violent Death Reporting System enabled researchers to center their artificial intelligence approaches mostly on natural language processing (50%) or natural language processing and machine learning (37%). Significant heterogeneity in approaches, techniques, and processes was noted across the studies, with critical methods information often lacking. The aims and focus of National Violent Death Reporting System studies were homogeneous and mostly examined suicide among nurses and older adults. Our findings suggested that artificial intelligence is a promising approach to the National Violent Death Reporting System data with significant untapped potential in its use. Artificial intelligence may prove to be a powerful tool enabling nursing scholars and practitioners to reduce the number of preventable, violent deaths.

Gender differences found in fall-related factors among community-dwelling Korean older adults

Por: Zhang · N. · Arunachalam · U.

Commentary on: Suh M, Kim DH, Cho I, Ham OK. Age and gender differences in fall-related factors affecting community-dwelling older adults. J Nurs Res. 2023 Apr 1;31(2):e270. doi: 10.1097/jnr.0000000000000545.

Implications for practice and research

  • Future research could explore and test the efficacy of gender-specific fall prevention protocols.

  • In practice, understanding that there are gender-based risk factors for falls would assist and prompt nurses and health professionals to perform assessments or interventions to specifically mitigate those risks

  • Context

    Falls are an incredibly common issue among older adults, with potentially serious downstream consequences. Suh et al (2023) aimed to explore not only the prevalence of falls but also the factors relating to age, gender and falls. It is well established that there are gender differences in the prevalence of falls, however, the reasoning is not fully understood. This study was conducted to address the paucity in...

    Low-quality evidence for medication errors reduction strategies in hospital paediatrics

    Por: Desforges · J. · Roumeliotis · N.

    Commentary on: King C, Dudley J, Mee A, Tomlin S, Tse Y, Trivedi A, Hawcutt DB; Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health/Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacist Group Joint Standing Committee on Medicines. For children admitted to hospital, what interventions improve medication safety on ward rounds? A systematic review. Arch Dis Child. 2023 Jul;108(7):583–588. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324772. Epub 2023 Feb 15. PMID: 36792347.

    Implications for practice and research

  • Medication errors can occur throughout many complex steps.

  • Children are exposed to a higher risk of harm than adults when it comes to medication errors.

  • High-quality evidence for interventions that reduce medication errors in children on rounds is lacking.

  • Context

    King et al conducted a systematic review of interventions aimed at reducing medication errors during inpatient rounds in children’s hospitals.1 Medication errors in hospitals may arise at many points in a complicated cascade of steps...

    How healthy dietary patterns have an impact on overall and cause-specific mortality?

    Por: Nguyen · N. T. H. · Duong · T. V.

    Commentary on: Shan Z, Wang F, Li Y, Baden MY, Bhupathiraju SN, Wang DD, Sun Q, Rexrode KM, Rimm EB, Qi L, Tabung FK, Giovannucci EL, Willett WC, Manson JE, Qi Q, Hu FB. Healthy Eating Patterns and Risk of Total and Cause-Specific Mortality. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 Feb 1;183(2):142-153. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.6117. Erratum in: JAMA Intern Med. 2023 Jun 1;183(6):627.

    Implications for practice and research

  • Wholesome eating diets can be customised to align with person’s culinary traditions and tastes in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to decrease the mortality risk.

  • Provide updated scientific evidences on the benefits of maintaining a healthy diet throughout the life course to take appropriate strategies and policies.

  • Context

    Healthy eating patterns play a prominent role in preserving public health. The association between dietary patterns with the mortality risk has been investigated in numerous countries.1 2

    Impact of moral distress on early career nurses: an integrative review

    Por: Finch · N.

    This is a summary of Loyd et al.1

    Background and purpose

  • ‘Moral distress’ is described by Jameton as ‘...aris[ing] when one knows the right thing to do, but institutional constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action’ (p. 6).2

  • Moral distress may cause nurses to question their career choice, and to feel disempowered and unhappy in their work. This may have a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of nursing staff, leading to burnout and high staff turnover.

  • Nurses in the first 5 years of their career (early career nurses) may be particularly at risk of experiencing moral distress as they make the stressful and challenging transition from student to qualified practice.

  • The purpose of the review is to synthesise the literature regarding moral distress in the first 5 years of qualified practice.

  • ...

    Describing nurses' communication about evidence‐based practice change: A social network analysis of hospital nurses

    Abstract

    Background

    Nurses play a critical role in providing evidence-based, high-quality care to optimize patient outcomes. Models from implementation science suggest social networks may influence the adoption of evidence-based practices (EBPs). However, few studies have examined this relationship among hospital nurses. Social network analysis (SNA) mathematically evaluates patterns of communication, a critical step in implementation. Exploring hospital nurses' communication networks may provide insight into influences on the adoption of EBPs.

    Aims

    This study aimed to describe complete communication networks of hospital nurses for practice changes on inpatient units, including upper level nursing administrators.

    Methods

    This descriptive, exploratory, cross-sectional study used SNA on two inpatient units from one hospital. A sociometric survey was completed by nurses (unit to executive level) regarding communication frequency about practice changes. Network-level density, diameter, average path length, centralization, and arc reciprocity were measured. Attribute data were used to explore subnetworks.

    Results

    Surveys from 148 nurses on two inpatient adult intensive care units (response rates 90% and 98%) revealed high communication frequency. Network measures were similar across the two units and among subnetworks. Analysis identified central (charge nurses and nurse leaders) and peripheral members of the network (new-to-practice nurses). Subnetworks aligned with the weekend and shift worked.

    Linking Evidence to Action

    Established communication channels, including subnetworks and opinion leaders, should be used to maximize and optimize implementation strategies and facilitate the uptake of EBPs. Future work should employ SNA to measure the impact of communication networks on promoting the uptake of EBP and to improve patient outcomes.

    Sense of coherence moderates job demand‐resources and impact on burnout among nurses and midwives in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional survey

    Abstract

    Aim

    This study aimed to test the propositions using the job demands-resources (JD-R) model for main/moderation/mediation effects of a sense of coherence and practice environment support on mental well-being (anxiety, depression and burnout) outcomes in nurses and midwives in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Design

    Cross-sectional quantitative survey.

    Data Sources

    The study was a cross-sectional design using self-report questionnaires reported as per the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Guidelines. Following human research ethics approval (2020.ETH.00121) participants were recruited to take part in an online anonymous survey using self-report instruments to test the JD-R model in Australia.

    Results

    156 participant nurses and midwives experienced anxiety, depression and emotional burnout during COVID-19. While a considerable proportion of participants indicated high levels of emotional exhaustion, their responses showed low levels of depersonalization (detached response to other people) and high levels of personal accomplishment (high levels of work performance and competence). A sense of coherence was a significant protective factor for mental health well-being for the participants, which is to say, high levels of sense of coherence were predictive of lower levels of anxiety, depression and burnout in this study sample.

    Conclusion

    It is evident that both nursing and midwifery professions require psychosocial support to preserve their health both in the short and long term. Ensuring individualized tailored support will require a layered response within organizations aimed at individual self-care and collegial peer support.

    Patient or Public Contribution

    There was no patient or public contribution in this study, as the focus was on nurses and midwives.

    Utilizing Telenursing to Supplement Acute Care Nursing in an Era of Workforce Shortages: A Feasibility Pilot

    imageHospitals are experiencing a nursing shortage crisis that is expected to worsen over the next decade. Acute care settings, which manage the care of very complex patients, need innovations that lessen nurses' workload burden while ensuring safe patient care and outcomes. Thus, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a large-scale acute care telenurse program, where a hospital-employed telenurse would complete admission and discharge processes for hospitalized patients virtually. In 3 months, almost 9000 (67%) of patient admissions and discharges were conducted by an acute care telenurse, saving the bedside nurse an average of 45 minutes for each admission and discharge. Preliminary benefits to the program included more uninterrupted time with patients, more complete hospital admission and discharge documentation, and positive patient and nurse feedback about the program.

    Patient experiences during the planned perioperative care pathway: An integrative review

    Abstract

    Aims

    This integrative review aimed to synthesize evidence about the patients' experiences during the planned perioperative care pathway.

    Design

    Integrative review.

    Data Sources

    Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline Ovid, Scopus, and American Psychological Association (APA) PsychINFO. Original, peer-reviewed studies published in English between 2012 and 2023 exploring patient experiences during the planned perioperative care pathway were reviewed.

    Methods

    This review was guided by the Whittemore and Knafl method and followed PRISMA guidelines to search the literature. Twenty-two articles were selected for the final study.

    Results

    Three themes emerged: Sharing of information is empowering; interpersonal relationships are valued by patients, and hospital systems and care co-ordination influence the patient experience.

    Conclusions

    The quality and consistency of the information patients receive can both support and undermine patient confidence in health professionals. The quality of relationships that participants experience and effective communication with health professionals can support or compromise the quality of the patients' perioperative experience. The nature of the hospital systems and care co-ordination in hospital has implications for the quality of recovery from surgery.

    Impact

    This review evaluates whether national and international health services and organizations, adhering to the WHO guidelines, have developed and implemented intentionally focused perioperative care with the aims to achieving effective and sustainable surgical outcomes through increased patient satisfaction.

    No Patient or Public Contribution

    This article is an integrative review and does not include patient or public contribution.

    Nurses' safety climate, quality of care, and standard precautions adherence and compliance: A cross‐sectional study

    Abstract

    Introduction

    Investigations about the interrelationships of nurses' safety climate, quality of care, and standard precautions (SP) adherence and compliance remain particularly scarce in the literature. Thus, we tested a model of the associations between nurses' safety climate, quality of care, and the factors influencing adherence and compliance with SPs utilizing the structural equation modeling (SEM) approach.

    Design

    Cross-sectional design complying with STROBE guidelines.

    Methods

    Using convenience sampling, nurses (n = 730) from the Philippines were recruited. Data were collected between April and September 2022 using four validated self-report measures. Spearman Rho, mediation and path analyses, and SEM were employed for data analysis.

    Results

    Acceptable model fit indices were shown by the emerging model. The safety climate is positively associated with quality of care and factors influencing adherence to and compliance with SPs. Quality of care directly affected factors influencing adherence to SPs. The factors influencing adherence to SPs directly affected SP compliance. Quality of care mediated between safety climate and the factors influencing adherence to SPs. Factors influencing adherence to SPs mediated between safety climate, quality of care, and SP compliance.

    Conclusions

    The study's variables are not distinct but overlapping nursing concepts that must be examined collectively. Nurse administrators can utilize the emerging model to formulate strategies and regulations for evaluating and enhancing nurses' safety climate, quality of care, and SP adherence and compliance.

    Clinical Relevance

    Our findings may impact policymaking, organizational, and individual levels to improve nurses' clinical practice.

    Patient or Public Contribution

    This study had no patient contribution or public funding.

    Living with multimorbidity: A qualitative exploration of shared experiences of patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals in managing symptoms in the United States

    Abstract

    Aims

    To elicit experiences of patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals in intermediate care units (IMCUs) in an academic medical centre in Baltimore, MD related to the challenges and intricacies of multimorbidity management to inform development of a multimorbidity symptom management toolkit.

    Design

    Experience-based co-design.

    Methods

    Between July and October 2021, patients aged 55 years and older with multimorbidity admitted to IMCUs at an academic medical centre in Baltimore, Maryland, USA were recruited and interviewed in person. Interdisciplinary healthcare professionals working in the IMCU were interviewed virtually. Participants were asked questions about their role in recognizing and treating symptoms, factors affecting the quality of life, symptom burden and trajectory over time, and strategies that have and have not worked for managing symptoms. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used for analysis.

    Results

    Twenty-three interviews were conducted: 9 patients, 2 family caregivers, and 12 healthcare professionals. Patients' mean age was 67.5 (±6.5) years, over half (n = 5) were Black or Hispanic, and the average number of comorbidities was 3.67. Five major themes that affect symptom management emerged: (1) the patient–provider relationship; (2) open and honest communication; (3) accessibility of resources during hospitalization and at discharge; (4) caregiver support, training, and education; and (5) care coordination and follow-up care.

    Conclusion

    Patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals often have similar goals but different priorities for multimorbidity management. It is imperative to identify shared priorities and target holistic interventions that consider patient and caregiver experiences to improve outcomes.

    Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care and Impact

    This paper addresses the paucity of research related to the shared experience of disease trajectory and symptom management for people living with multimorbidity. We found that patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals often have similar goals but different care and communication priorities. Understanding differing priorities will help better design interventions to support symptom management so people with multimorbidity can have the best possible quality of life.

    Reporting Method

    We have adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) guidelines in our reporting.

    Patient or Public Contribution

    This study has been designed and implemented with patient and public involvement throughout the process, including community advisory board engagement in the project proposal phase and interview guide development, and member checking in the data collection and analysis phases. The method we chose, experience-based co-design, emphasizes the importance of engaging members of a community to act as experts in their own life challenges. In the coming phases of the study, the public will be involved in developing and testing a new intervention, informed by these qualitative interviews and co-design events, to support symptom management for people with multimorbidity.

    Caregiving in the COVID‐19 pandemic: Family adaptations following an intensive care unit hospitalisation

    Abstract

    Aim and Objective

    To identify how family caregivers adapt to the caregiving role following a relative's COVID-19-related intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalisation.

    Background

    Family caregiving is often associated with poor health amongst caregivers which may limit their capacity to effectively support patients. Though severe COVID-19 infection has necessitated increasing numbers of persons who require caregiver support, little is known about these caregivers, the persons they are caring for, or the strategies used to effectively adjust to the caregiving role.

    Design

    A qualitative descriptive study design was adopted, and findings are reported using COREQ.

    Methods

    A secondary analysis of transcripts from semi-structured interviews conducted with recently discharged ICU patients who had COVID-19 (n = 16) and their family caregivers (n = 16) was completed using thematic analysis. MAXQDA 2020 and Miro were used to organise data and complete coding. Analysis involved a structured process of open and closed coding to identify and confirm themes that elucidated adaptation to family caregiving.

    Results

    Six themes highlight how family caregivers adapt to the caregiving role following an ICU COVID-19-related hospitalisation including (1) engaging the support of family and friends, (2) increased responsibilities to accommodate caregiving, (3) managing emotions, (4) managing infection control, (5) addressing patient independence and (6) engaging support services. These themes were found to be congruent with the Roy adaptation model.

    Conclusions

    Family caregiving is a stressful transition following a patient's acute hospitalisation. Effective adaptation requires flexibility and sufficient support, beginning with the care team who can adequately prepare the family for the anticipated challenges of recovery.

    Relevance to Clinical Practice

    Clinical teams may improve post-hospitalisation care outcomes of patients by preparing families to effectively adjust to the caregiver role—particularly in identifying sufficient support resources.

    Patient or Public Contribution

    Participation of patients/caregivers in this study was limited to the data provided through participant interviews.

    Cultural acceptability of STI screening guidelines and sexual positioning assessments among black sexual minority men

    Abstract

    Aim

    To identify attitudes towards HIV/STI screening guidelines and explore the acceptability of assessing sexual positioning practices among Black sexual minority men (SMM).

    Background

    Risks for HIV/STIs vary by sexual positioning practices. However, clinicians and Black SMM do not always discuss sexuality with each other. Therefore, HIV/STI screening and testing remain suboptimal.

    Design

    Qualitative study using focus groups.

    Methods

    Data were obtained from 12 focus groups and one in-depth interview conducted in Baltimore, MD among HIV-negative Black SMM between October 2019 and May 2020 (N = 39). Groups were stratified into three age categories: 18–24, 25–34 and 35+. Participants were given the “5 P's” from the CDC's 2015 Sexual History Screening Guidelines and asked to discuss attitudes towards existing questions regarding sexual positioning practices. Themes were identified using an electronic pile sorting approach.

    Results

    Most identified as homosexual/gay/same gender-loving (68%), were employed (69%) and single (66%). Additionally, 34% had ever been diagnosed with an STI, of whom 38% had a history of repeated STI acquisition in their lifetime. Participants across age groups said clinicians should use the words “top” and “bottom” to demonstrate cultural familiarity and build trust. Some said that screening for sexual positioning was unnecessary and intrusive; others said that questions should be justified. Younger men wanted clinicians to ask questions in ways that make them feel cared for.

    Discussion

    Guidelines should include language for clinicians to use culturally specific language and better ways to prepare Black SMM patients for screening.

    Impact to Nursing Practice

    Some Black SMM will not discuss sexual positioning practices without clinicians' demonstration of cultural understanding and respect. Screening should incorporate culturally responsive language, justification and convey care.

    Reporting Method

    Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).

    No Patient or Public Contribution

    There was no patient or public involvement in the design or drafting of this discursive paper.

    Cardiometabolic profile of young adults with intellectual disability

    Por: McKenna · N. · Brown · M.

    Commentary on: Zwack CC, McDonald R, Tursunalieva A, Lambert GW, Lambert EA. Exploration of diet, physical activity, health knowledge and the cardiometabolic profile of young adults with intellectual disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2022 Jun;66(6):517-532. doi: 10.1111/jir.12917. Epub 2022 Feb 9.

    Implications for practice and research

  • Adults with intellectual disabilities need education and additional support to increase daily physical activity and improve their diets.

  • Longitudinal studies are required to identify how adults with intellectual disabilities apply nutrition and activity-related knowledge and the supports that work to reduce cardiometabolic disease.

  • Context

    Research evidence details the significant health needs and inequalities experienced by many people with intellectual disabilities that contribute to their poor physical and mental health. While life expectancy has increased, many continue to die prematurely from avoidable and preventable conditions. Poor diet, obesity, low levels of physical activity, poor lipid profile and type 2...

    The effect of a mindfulness‐based intervention on stress overload, depression, and mindfulness among nurses: A randomized controlled trial

    Abstract

    Background

    Nurses experience various health-related issues due to the nature of their work.

    Aim

    This study aimed to examine the effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on stress overload, depression and mindfulness among nurses. A secondary objective was to examine the role of the setting (i.e., in and out of the hospital as a natural setting) on mindfulness-based intervention effectiveness.

    Methods

    A randomized controlled trial with three groups' pretest–posttest design was used in this study. A total of 195 nurses were recruited—65 intervention-inside hospital, 60 intervention-outside hospital, and 63 control. The mindfulness-based intervention was delivered by a certified mindfulness practitioner over 4 weeks in Jordan. Data were collected using a demographics questionnaire, the Stress Overload Scale Short, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised, and the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire.

    Results

    Multivariate analysis showed a statistically significant effect of the intervention on the linear combination of the dependent variables V = 0.44, F[6, 368] = 17.56, p < .001. Follow-up analyses showed that a mindfulness-based intervention significantly decreased stress overload, depression, and increased mindfulness levels among nurses in intervention groups compared with the control group. In addition, conducting a mindfulness-based intervention outside the hospital has a better effect on mindfulness levels than the inside hospital.

    Linking Evidence to Action

    The effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on stress overload, depression, and mindfulness should be considered when planning for nurses' well-being and the quality of care provided. Nurse managers are encouraged to use the study's findings to promote nurses' well-being.

    Associations Between Psychosocial Needs, Carbohydrate-Counting Behavior, and App Satisfaction: A Randomized Crossover App Trial on 92 Adults With Diabetes

    imageTo examine whether psychosocial needs in diabetes care are associated with carbohydrate counting and if carbohydrate counting is associated with satisfaction with diabetes applications' usability, a randomized crossover trial of 92 adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes requiring insulin therapy tested two top-rated diabetes applications, mySugr and OnTrack Diabetes. Survey responses on demographics, psychosocial needs (perceived competence, autonomy, and connectivity), carbohydrate-counting frequency, and application satisfaction were modeled using mixed-effect linear regressions to test associations. Participants ranged between 19 and 74 years old (mean, 54 years) and predominantly had type 2 diabetes (70%). Among the three tested domains of psychosocial needs, only competence—not autonomy or connectivity—was found to be associated with carbohydrate-counting frequency. No association between carbohydrate-counting behavior and application satisfaction was found. In conclusion, perceived competence in diabetes care is an important factor in carbohydrate counting; clinicians may improve adherence to carbohydrate counting with strategies designed to improve perceived competence. Carbohydrate-counting behavior is complex; its impact on patient satisfaction of diabetes application usability is multifactorial and warrants consideration of patient demographics such as sex as well as application features for automated carbohydrate counting.

    Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) in an outpatient oncology surgery setting to securely email, collect, and manage survey data

    Abstract

    Background

    Nursing interventions in the post-operative time period including psychological and emotional support, adverse event education, and instructions for follow-up care contribute patient satisfaction, safety, and quality of life. However, the time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital continues to shorten around the world to reduce health care spending and improve patient outcomes. Nurses conducting research during the important post-operative recovery period need to utilize unique techniques and emerging technologies to contact, recruit and collect data outside of the hospital setting including the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) platform.

    Aims

    This paper describes the feasibility and acceptability, facilitators and barriers of the software application, REDCap, to complete a repeated-measures, descriptive correlational study in patients undergoing outpatient breast cancer surgeries.

    Methods & Materials

    The recruitment, data collection and storage were completed utilizing the secure REDCap Platform. The Institutional Research Board (IRB)-approved study was a repeated-measures, descriptive, correlational study with data collection at three time points. The data points aligned with important transitions and routine visits to improve data collection feasibility and increase relevance to clinical practice.

    Results

    The sample consisted of women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing breast conserving surgery between August 15 and October 15, 2020. There were 123 potential participants, of which 76 started the surveys and 75 participated (61%) responded and participated in the study on Post-operative Day 1. Fifty-nine participants (78%) completed the surveys on post-operative Day 14.

    Discussion

    As the frequency of outpatient treatment increases, nurses conducting post-operative research will need to collect the data outside of the hospital setting.

    Conclusion

    Email provides a method of studying new phenomena by recruiting participants, providing information about the study, and collecting results in a non-traditional setting. REDCap provides a method to facilitate nursing research through a securely encrypted integrated process.

    Understanding the needs and preferences for cancer care among First Nations people: An integrative review

    Abstract

    Aim

    This systematic review aimed to identify the needs and preferences for cancer care services among Australian First Nations people.

    Design

    Integrative review.

    Data Sources

    An integrative review was conducted. A wide range of search terms were used to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the searches in electronic databases. Methodological quality assessment, data extraction, was conducted independently by two reviewers, and a narrative synthesis was conducted.

    Results

    Forty-two studies were included. A total of 2965 Australian First Nations adults, both men and women of various ages across the lifespan, were represented; no First Nations children affected by cancer were represented in the studies. Three themes emerged which included: (1) discrimination, racism and trauma, resulting from colonization, directly impacted First National people's cancer care experience; (2) cultural ways of knowing, being and doing are fundamental to how First Nations people engage with cancer care services; and (3) First Nations people need culturally safe person-centred cancer care services that address practical needs.

    Conclusion

    Most participants represented in this review experienced discrimination, racism and trauma, resulting from colonization, which directly negatively impacted Aboriginal peoples' cancer care experience. While the Optimal Cancer Pathway (OCP) was launched in Australia several years ago, people with cancer may continue to experience distressing unmet care needs.

    Patient or Public Contribution

    Our team includes both First Nations people, non-First Nations researchers and healthcare professionals with expertise in cancer care. The researchers employed decolonizing restorative approaches to ensure voice, respect, accountability and reciprocity in this review work.

    Implications for Nursing Practice

    Members of the multidisciplinary team including nurses and policymakers should reflect on these findings, ensure that they have up-to-date cultural safety training and stand together with Indigenous and non-Indigenous cancer leaders to take proactive steps to stamp out and dismantle oppression in health, and safely implement the OCP.

    Best practices for communication while wearing facemasks: A scoping review

    Abstract

    Introduction

    Facemasks are an important piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) to mitigate the spread of respiratory illnesses, but they can impede communication between patients and healthcare providers. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify effective communication practices while wearing facemasks.

    Design

    Scoping review using a systematic search of articles from the PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase databases.

    Methods

    The PEO (population, exposure, outcome) methodology was selected for this systematic scoping review. The population of interest (P) includes humans of all ages (children, adults, and older adults); the exposure of interest (E) is PPE that covers the mouth (i.e., facemasks); and the outcome of interest (O) is successful or unsuccessful communication practices. The Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals appraisal guidelines were used to determine the level and quality of the research.

    Results

    Thirty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Seventeen of these were high- or good-quality research studies, and the remaining 22 were non-research articles included with separate analysis as part of the scoping review. The 17 articles encompassed 2656 participants. The highest quality evidence indicated that standard surgical masks have the least impact on speech perception compared to other non-transparent mask types, and that recognizing emotions is less accurate with facemasks, necessitating compensatory actions (i.e., reducing extraneous noise, using a microphone to amplify voice, and employing clear speech). Evidence was contradictory regarding the use of transparent masks. Evidence was of limited quality for other non-verbal and verbal communication strategies.

    Conclusion

    Awareness of communication challenges is crucial when wearing facemasks. More high-quality studies are needed to evaluate communication techniques when speakers are wearing facemasks. Basic strategies such as selecting an appropriate mask type, reducing extraneous noise, using microphones, verbalizing emotions, and employing clear speech appear to be beneficial.

    Clinical Relevance

    The findings of this scoping review highlight the importance of considering communication challenges while wearing facemasks in the healthcare settings. The review suggests that selecting an appropriate mask type, reducing extraneous noise, verbalizing emotions, and employing clear speech are some strategies that may be effective in mitigating the impact of facemasks on communication between patients and healthcare providers.

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