To identify distinct sleep quality patterns among patients with heart failure (HF) using a person-centred approach and explore demographic and clinical predictors of these patterns.
Secondary analysis of baseline cross-sectional data from the MOTIVATE-HF (MOTIVATional intErviewing to improve self-care in Heart Failure patients) randomised controlled trial. Latent class analysis (LCA) was applied to Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) component scores to identify distinct subgroups of patients. Demographic, clinical and psychological variables were examined as potential predictors of cluster membership.
Three healthcare settings in Italy: hospital, outpatient and community-based care.
510 adult patients diagnosed with HF (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II–IV) with poor self-care were included. Patients with severe cognitive impairment or recent myocardial infarction were excluded.
Primary outcome: Sleep quality, measured using the PSQI, analysed through LCA to identify sleep disturbance clusters. Secondary outcomes included demographic and clinical characteristics predicting cluster membership.
The mean age was 72.4 years (SD=12.3), with most participants married or partnered (62%) and retired or unemployed (83.9%). Mild comorbidities were present in 53.3% of the sample (mean Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI)=2.91, SD=1.98), and 61.4% were classified in NYHA class II. Three sleep quality clusters emerged: (1) adequate sleep duration but disturbed sleep and daytime dysfunction (46.1%); (2) severe sleep problems with low use of sleeping medications (25.3%); and (3) minor sleep problems with mild disturbances (28.6%). Patients in Cluster 1 were older (mean age=73.3 years), had lower physical and mental quality of life (Short-Form 12 Physical Component Summary=33.66; Mental Component Summary=42.65), and higher anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-A=8.82). Patients in Cluster 2 had more severe comorbidities (CCI=3.55), poorer cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)=21.5) and lower ejection fraction (mean=40%). Patients in Cluster 3 were younger (mean age=68.2 years), had better cardiac function (ejection fraction=46.6%), better cognitive status (MoCA=24.5) and the highest quality of life (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire=63.1).
Patients with HF exhibit heterogeneous sleep quality patterns with specific clinical and psychological profiles. These findings highlight the need for personalised interventions, systematic sleep assessments and the integration of cardiac rehabilitation strategies into standard HF care.
To describe the prevalence and determinants of workplace violence against nurses in the Italian home care setting.
Secondary cross-sectional analysis of data from the multicentre study AIDOMUS-IT.
Nurses employed in home care services provided by Italian Local Health Authorities were interviewed using a variety of instruments. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was performed to model the risk of workplace violence against nurses in the last 12 months. Variables related to violence were selected among sociodemographic characteristics (such as age and gender), work-related factors (including years of experience, team composition, overtime working, previous experience in mental health care, burnout) and organisational elements (including leadership and support, workload, staffing and resources adequacy, and time to reach the patients' homes). Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were used to present the results.
A total of 3949 nurses participated in the study and 20.49% of them reported to have experienced an episode of violence in the last 12 months. Determinants of higher risk of violence episodes were younger age (aOR = 1.02, p = 0.002), higher workload (aOR = 1.01, p = 0.002), working in a multiprofessional team (aOR = 1.24, p = 0.018), perception of inadequate managerial leadership and support (aOR = 1.38, p = 0.003), and higher burnout levels (aOR = 1.01, p < 0.001).
The prevalence of workplace violence against Italian home care nurses is high. Several modifiable determinants were found to be associated with a higher risk of violence, which can potentially be mitigated with tailored interventions.
Effective preventive strategies must be developed to lessen workplace violence against nurses in the home care setting. These strategies should focus on strengthening nursing managers' leadership and support skills, enhancing team-building strategies, avoiding inadequate workload, monitoring nurses' burnout, estimating optimum staffing levels, and assigning advanced-career nurses to home care services. These measures are imperative to guarantee the quality and safety of home care organisations and to attain favourable outcomes in the provision of care.
This study aimed to explore the prevalence and determinants of workplace violence against nurses in the Italian home care settings. We found that out of the 3949 nurses surveyed, 20% of the sample reported one episode of violence during the last 12 months. Determinants of this violence included younger age, higher workload and burnout, being in a multiprofessional team, and perception of lack of leadership and support by the nurse manager. The results of this study can be used to tailor interventions aimed at mitigating the risk factors of violence, particularly those that can be modified (e.g., workload, burnout, and leadership).
The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
No patient or public contribution.
Nurses' job satisfaction in hospitals is fundamental for the quality of care and the safety of patients. However, sociodemographic trends require moving care to patients' homes, and the predictors of job satisfaction for nurses working in the home care settings remain largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate job satisfaction of nurses working in Italian home care settings and its determinants.
Multicenter observational cross-sectional study.
This study was conducted in the districts of 70 local health authorities in Italy. Data on the characteristics of the organization and nurses were collected. Nursing job satisfaction was evaluated on a four-point scale ranging from “very satisfied” to “very dissatisfied.” Additionally, the following variables were assessed: workload, quality of leadership, work–private life conflict, burnout symptoms, possibility for development, staffing and resource adequacy, nurse manager ability, safety climate, and teamwork climate. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing job satisfaction.
Only organizational variables had a predictive value for nurses' job satisfaction. Workload (OR = 1.01; p = 0.033), work–private life conflict (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001), burnout (OR = 1.02; p < 0.001), and staffing inadequacy (OR = 1.44; p = 0.003) predicted higher levels of nurse dissatisfaction. Instead, high-quality leadership (OR = 0.981; p < 0.001), possibility for development (OR = 0.973; p < 0.001), and good teamwork climate (OR = 0.994; p = 0.003) were predictors of better levels of satisfaction.
This study suggested that home care nurses are generally satisfied with their jobs. To enhance job satisfaction, it is essential to improve nurses' work environment, the leadership quality and ensure professional development.
Our results are globally relevant as they contribute to the limited evidence available on this topic in home care settings. This study emphasizes the need of measuring nurses' job satisfaction and implementing interventions to promote healthy work environments.
To identify the current presence of stereotypes about the nursing profession in Italy and to understand how gendered processes and modalities are regulated and expressed in the physician-nurse dyad, and the implications for professional identity and autonomy.
Qualitative multimethod design.
Forty-five interviews were conducted with nurses and physicians. The collected qualitative data underwent automatic textual data analysis using a multidimensional exploratory approach and a gender framework analysis.
In Italy, nurses' roles are still associated with gender stereotypes stemming from the predominant male culture, which affects sexual and gender identity, the division of labor, and access to career paths. This leads to disadvantages in the nursing profession, which is heavily dominated by women.
Biological differences between sexes generate an unconscious yet shared symbolic gender order composed of negative stereotypes that influence nurses' professional roles and activities. They follow behaviors that enter the work routine and institutionalize organizational processes. These effects are also seen in the asymmetric, limited, and reciprocal interprofessional relationships between male physicians and female nurses, where the former hinders the latter's professional autonomy and access to top positions.
This survey raises awareness of gender issues and stimulates reflection. It also enables health and nursing organizations to take action to raise gender awareness and education by countering the image of a non-autonomous profession. The analysis of gender processes allows us to identify interventions that can counteract forms of oppression in the work environment that lead to the emergence of nursing as a non-autonomous profession.
To describe how workplace violence (WPV) is experienced by nurses in hospitals and community services and identify protective and risk factors.
An online cross-sectional national study was conducted from January to April 2021 in Italy. Hospitals and community services were involved in the study. The survey combined the adapted and validated Italian version of the Violence in Emergency Nursing and Triage (VENT) questionnaire, which explores the episodes of WPV experienced during the previous 12 months, the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) and some additional questions about staffing levels extracted from a previous RN4CAST study. Nurses working in all clinical settings and community services were invited to participate in the survey. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. We adhered to the STROBE reporting guidelines.
A total of 6079 nurses completed the survey, 32.4% (n = 1969) had experienced WPV in the previous 12 months, and 46% (n = 920) reported WPV only in the previous week. The most significant protective factors were nurses' age, patients' use of illegal substances, attitude of individual nurses and considering effective the organization's procedures for preventing and managing episodes of violence. The most significant risk factors included workload, recognizing violence as an inevitable part of the job, patients' cultural aspects and patients' agitated behaviour. The frequency of WPV was significantly higher in certain areas, such as the emergency department and in mental health wards.
Workplace violence (WPV) against nurses is a very frequent and concerning issue, especially in hospitals and community services. Based on our findings, integrated and multimodal programmes for prevention and management of WPV are recommended. More attention and resources need to be allocated to reduce WPV by improving the quality of nurses' workplace environment and implementing violence-free policies for hospitals.
Workplace verbal and physical violence is a widespread phenomenon, both in hospital and community settings, and even during COVID-19 pandemic. This problem is exacerbated by the lack of effective reporting systems, fear of retaliation and the tendency to consider violence as an inevitable part of the job. The characteristics of professionals, patients, work environment and organizational factors are involved in the spread of workplace violence, determining its multifactorial nature. Integrated and multimodal programmes to prevent and manage of workplace violence are probably the only way to effectively counteract workplace violence against nurses. Healthcare policymakers, managers of hospital and community services need to proactively prevent and effectively manage and monitor episodes of violence. Nurses need to feel protected and safeguarded against any form of verbal or physical violence, to provide high-quality care in a totally safe environment.
No patient or public contribution.
To evaluate the impact of nurse care changes in implementing a blood pressure management protocol on achieving rapid, intensive and sustained blood pressure reduction in acute intracerebral haemorrhage patients.
Retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data over 6 years.
Intracerebral haemorrhage patients within 6 h and systolic blood pressure ≥ 150 mmHg followed a rapid (starting treatment at computed tomography suite with a target achievement goal of ≤60 min), intensive (target systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg) and sustained (maintaining target stability for 24 h) blood pressure management plan. We differentiated six periods: P1, stroke nurse at computed tomography suite (baseline period); P2, antihypertensive titration by stroke nurse; P3, retraining by neurologists; P4, integration of a stroke advanced practice nurse; P5, after COVID-19 impact; and P6, retraining by stroke advanced practice nurse. Outcomes included first-hour target achievement (primary outcome), tomography-to-treatment and treatment-to-target times, first-hour maximum dose of antihypertensive treatment and 6-h and 24-h systolic blood pressure variability.
Compared to P1, antihypertensive titration by stroke nurses (P2) reduced treatment-to-target time and increased the rate of first-hour target achievement, retraining of stroke nurses by neurologists (P3) maintained a higher rate of first-hour target achievement and the integration of a stroke advanced practice nurse (P4) reduced both 6-h and 24-h systolic blood pressure variability. However, 6-h systolic blood pressure variability increased from P4 to P5 following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, compared to P1, retraining of stroke nurses by stroke advanced practice nurse (P6) reduced tomography-to-treatment time and increased the first-hour maximum dose of antihypertensive treatment.
Changes in nursing care and continuous education can significantly enhance the time metrics and blood pressure outcomes in acute intracerebral haemorrhage patients.
STROBE guidelines.
No Patient or Public Contribution.
To evaluate changes in compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), compassion satisfaction (CS) and fear of COVID-19 among Spanish nurses by comparing two assessment points: before and after the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.
The COVID-19 pandemic has produced a great impact in healthcare worker's professional quality of life, especially among nurses. CF, BO and fear of COVID-19 decisively affect the care provided by nurses and put them at risk for mental health problems, so longitudinal studies are essential.
A repeated cross-sectional design was carried out with a time-lapse of 12 months.
A total of 439 registered nurses in December 2020 and 410 in December 2021 participated in this study through an online survey. Data were collected using the Professional Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Occupational and sociodemographic variables were also analysed. This article adheres to the STROBE guidelines for the reporting of observational studies.
The fear of COVID-19 has not been reduced among nurses. The levels of BO remain stable and continue to be high in half of the professionals. CF has been reduced with a small effect size (d = 0.30), while CS has also decreased (d = 0.30). Positive correlations were found in both assessment points between fear of COVID-19 and BO (r = .44, p ≤ .001; r = .41, p ≤ .001) and also between fear of COVID and CF (r = .57, p ≤ .001; r = .50, p ≤ .001). Negative correlations between fear and CS were also found (r = − .16, p = .001; r = − .22, p ≤ .001).
Programmes to reduce fear of COVID-19, BO and CF are needed to improve mental health and to prevent psychological distress among nurses, as well as to increase CS and preserve the productivity and quality of nursing care.
The nurses collaborated by participating in the present study anonymously and disinterestedly.
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.
El Cuidado Humanizado de Enfermería, como expresión del arte de cuidar, se caracteriza por entablar una relación eminentemente ética y de confianza en su interacción con el Otro. Medir este constructo ha sido el objetivo del instrumento Percepción de Comportamientos de Cuidado Humanizado de Enfermería (PCHE). El presente artículo muestra el proceso de construcción y de validación del instrumento, y su correlación teórica con los planteamientos filosóficos del cuidado humano de Jean Watson. El instrumento PCHE, en sus tres versiones, ha contado con la medición de validez facial y de contenido. En su tercera versión contó, además, con la validez de constructo y la medición de la confiabilidad, permitiendo concluir que el instrumento PCHE-III es confiable y mide las características asociadas al fenómeno del Cuidado humanizado en enfermería.
Objetivo principal: Conocer los conocimientos y percepciones de los profesionales sanitarios sobre el método madre canguro (MMC) en las unidades neonatales españolas. Metodología: Estudio transversal, observacional y descriptivo, mediante encuesta online. Resultados principales: 331 profesionales respondieron la encuesta. 83,7% estaban formados en MMC. Respecto a las percepciones y barreras, no hubo diferencias significativas entre profesionales según su formación en MMC. La limitación con mayor porcentaje fue la inestabilidad hemodinámica con un 82,8%. Un 55,3% afirmó haber puesto limitaciones al MMC debido a la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 y un 96,4% estableció que sería útil disponer de una guía de consenso sobre MMC a nivel nacional. Conclusión principal: Los profesionales sanitarios de las unidades neonatales españolas están formados en el cuidado MMC, conociendo bien cuáles son sus beneficios, pero todavía afloran algunas percepciones que pueden interferir en la implantación eficaz del MMC.
Objetivo principal: Identificar la evidencia científica disponible sobre los diversos estigmas que provoca la infertilidad a diversos niveles en quien la padece. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de los últimos diez años en las bases de datos PubMed, Web of Science y Cinahl. Resultados principales: Aunque a priori pudiera parecer que existen grandes diferencias culturales en la percepción de la infertilidad como fenó-meno a nivel íntimo, existen una serie de parámetros coincidentes en la gestión de este tipo de problemáticas por parte de los afectados, tales como la vergüenza, el sentimiento de culpa o incluso el miedo al abandono por parte de la pareja. Conclusión principal: El fenómeno de la infertili-dad continúa siendo un grave problema para miles de parejas que desean tener un hijo. Aunque esta estigmatización suele tener diferentes conse-cuencias dependiendo de diversos factores culturales, existen una serie de aspectos coincidentes sin importar el país del que se provenga.
Objetivo principal: El objetivo perseguido en esta investigación es estudiar la relevancia y características de la administración oral de fármacos, y sus implicaciones para los cuidados de enfermería, buscando aumentar la seguridad y efectividad de la misma. Metodología: Realizamos un estudio descriptivo en un servicio de medicina interna, concretamente de 194 episodios de ingreso correspondientes al año 2014. A continuación, se analizaron los principios activos y formas farmacéuticas más empleados por vía oral, revisando en la evidencia científica cuáles de ellos requerían recomendaciones especiales para garantizar la seguridad y eficacia en su administración. Resultados principales: La mayoría de los principios activos empleados poseen recomendaciones especiales, y se cometen errores e interacciones significativas como consecuencia de no aplicarlas. Conclusión principal: La administración de medicamentos oral entraña una serie de características, en la que los cuidados de enfermería, permiten al profesional garantizar que un proceso interdisciplinario como el tratamiento farmacológico, conduzca a una administración personalizada, segura y eficaz.
Introducción: La Cultura de Seguridad del paciente está relacionada con las creencias y actitudes que asumen los profesionales en su práctica, para garantizar que no se causará daño innecesario o potencial, asociado a la atención en salud. Objetivos: Determinar la percepción de la Enfermería de Atención Primaria sobre las diferentes dimensiones de la Seguridad del Paciente y detectar si la carga asistencial y los años de experiencia profesional son factores que pueden interferir en la adopción de dicha cultura. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Analiza los resultados del cuestionario "Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture" (MOSPS) en su versión española. El cuestionario va dirigido a los enfermeros del área de salud de Palencia de Atención Primaria. Para el análisis de resultados se emplea la herramienta Excel del Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture (MOSPSC) para su uso por los equipos de atención primaria del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Se añade análisis bivariante con las variables independientes edad y número de Tarjetas Sanitarias asignadas considerando una p<0.05 .Se calcula el Índice Sintético de Seguridad del Paciente (ISSP). El análisis es realizado con el paquete estadístico SPSS versión 19.0. Resultados: Se identifican 11 áreas fuertes en cultura de seguridad y destaca “el seguimiento de la atención a los pacientes”. Con potencial de mejora, “la comunicación franca” y “la comunicación sobre el error”. No resultó relación estadísticamente significativa entre la cultura de seguridad y las variables edad de los profesionales y número de tarjetas asignadas. El ISSP es 3,57. Conclusiones: El hecho de mostrar 11 áreas fuertes y ninguna débil en el análisis de respuestas positivas por variables, permite un escenario idóneo a reforzar y revela el protagonismo de los profesionales de enfermería de AP en la consecución de una atención segura.
Muchos pacientes que requieren cuidados paliativos a menudo visitan el servicio de urgencias. Debido a que este departamento está enfocado en salvar vidas, el tratar a pacientes en estas circunstancias puede acarrear gran cantidad de problemas, y esencialmente problemas de pérdida de dignidad. Así pues, comprender el punto de vista de los profesionales puede ser muy beneficioso a la hora de atender las necesidades de este tipo de pacientes y mejorar su atención [fragmento de texto].