Nurs. Rep., Volume 13, Issue 4 (December 2023) – 33 articles

Background: The literature review on perceptions of nursing competencies shows a critical shortage of studies addressing this topic. Aim: To examine and compare perceptions of important nursing competencies of nursing graduates, and nurse managers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 students, who were recent graduates of the nursing school with RN degrees and had completed advanced training lasting 3 months at the Sheba Academic School of Nursing and the Academic School of Tel Aviv-Yafo, and 183 nurse managers with at least one year of seniority in the position in hospitals and community clinics in Israel. The recruitment and data collection of the nurse managers lasted 12 months, from July 2021 to July 2022, and for nursing graduates, two months, from June 2022 to July 2022. An online questionnaire was constructed and validated by five professional and experienced individuals in the research domains for adequate content validity. The questionnaire consisted of 47 items in total. Domains included: (1) professionalism in research; (2) skills for direct treatment; (3) support and communication; (4) professional knowledge; (5) personal abilities; and (6) critical thinking and innovation. Results: Overall, 331 valid questionnaires were collected (85% response rate). The difference in the nurse’s research professionalism index was found to be statistically significant with a higher rating given by nurse managers, p = 0.003. However, the difference in the direct treatment index of nurses was found to be statistically not significant, p = 0.610, between newly graduated nurses and nurse managers. The independent sample t-test indicated a significant difference with a higher rating among nurse managers in the nurse’s support and communication index, p = 0.020; professional knowledge index, p < 0.001; personal abilities index, p < 0.001; and critical thinking index, p = 0.006, between newly graduated nurses and nurse managers. Conclusion: Nursing education programs aimed at training future nurses with core competences should include a curriculum designed to promote the acquisition of these six core competences leading to a congruence between the role expectations of nurse managers and those of newly graduated nurses. Full article

As recipients of healthcare, patients provide invaluable contributions when assessing quality. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore and describe how patients experienced quality of care during their stay in a Norwegian hospital. In this study, 39 patients were interviewed. The data were analyzed via conventional content analysis. The results showed that patients’ experiences of quality were associated with interactions with medical staff, while their physical surroundings had less of an impact. The quality of healthcare was described on a continuum from good to bad. Patients assessed quality positively when they felt they were taken care of. The feeling of not being taken care of provoked feelings of insecurity, resignation, being “overlooked”, and inferiority. A prerequisite for patients to feel cared for was staff presence, which enabled and encouraged patients to share their thoughts. This required medical staff to have competency, interpersonal skills, and time accessibility. In addition, a culture that is person-oriented and not task-oriented was valued. From our study, we see the opportunity within healthcare systems to improve the quality of care by having staff engage in active listening, promote an environment of mutual respect, and encourage active participation from patients in their healthcare decisions and plans. This study was prospectively registered with the Norwegian Social Science Data Services on 9 July 2015 with registration number 44034. Full article

Breastfeeding is internationally recognized as the optimal form of infant nutrition. The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) is an evidence-informed program that leads to improved breastfeeding outcomes. Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, Nova Scotia has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Canada. Additionally, only two birthing hospitals in the province have BFI designation. We aim to address this gap using a sequential qualitative descriptive design across three phases. In Phase 1, we will identify barriers and facilitators to BFI implementation through individual, semi-structured interviews with 40 health care professionals and 20 parents. An analysis of relevant policy and practice documents will complement these data. In Phase 2, we will develop implementation interventions aimed at addressing the barriers and facilitators identified in Phase 1. An advisory committee of 10–12 administrative, clinical, and parent partners will review these interventions. In Phase 3, the interventions will be reviewed by a panel of 10 experts in BFI implementation through an online survey. Feedback on the revised implementation interventions will then be sought from 20 health system and parent partners through interviews. This work will use implementation science methods to support integrated and sustained implementation of the BFI across hospital/community and rural/urban settings in Nova Scotia. This study was not registered. Full article

The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic majorly impacted the population and public services. In Finland, a state of emergency was declared to ensure the security of healthcare resources, and prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) organizations faced emergency conditions for the first time. This study explores the leadership challenges related to well-being experienced during the early phase of the pandemic. This qualitative study utilized reflective essay material written between August and November 2020 by experienced advanced-level paramedics (n = 30) who participated actively in EMS fieldwork at the beginning of the pandemic. The material (32,621 words) was analyzed with inductive content analysis. The work well-being-related leadership challenges experienced by paramedics during the early phase of the pandemic were divided into four upper categories: inadequate guidance, workplace reorganization, atmosphere mismanagement, and insufficient resources to cope. These upper categories were comprised of 17 subcategories. Several actions can be taken to enhance personnel well-being and prepare for similar challenges. Guidance and support should be clear and timely. Visible leadership should be emphasized and enhanced with modern communication. Efforts should be made to strengthen the work atmosphere to support those on the front lines of healthcare. This study was not registered on a publicly accessible registry. Full article

Background: The end of life and death have changed from being issues managed within the family, assumed as part of life, to occur within health institutions for the majority of patients. The amount of patients dying at home has decreased, and the roles of families and communities in death and dying have become involuted, threatening related traditions and knowledge. As a result, a need to promote the end of life at home in this new self-serving society has arisen. In that context, the main objective of this study was to find out what patients and their families need during the end-of-life process in order to feel effectively accompanied at this time. Methods: With that objective, a descriptive qualitative study was conducted via the content analysis of data from semi-structured interviews and focus groups. This research adhered to the COREQ guidelines. The sample consisted of 36 informants selected via intentional sampling of family members and patients integrated into the Comprehensive Palliative Care Process (PAI Paliativos). Results: The results suggest the existence of several common needs such as communication and presence, including the conspiracy of silence as an important factor generating suffering for both. However, there are specific needs such as autonomy, dignity, and respect for patients, which must be taken into account. Conclusions: The results of this study will allow us to establish intervention strategies for effective accompaniment of patients’ family members at the end of life and the avoidance of ethnocentrism in this process. This study was retrospectively registered with the (nursrep-1194226) on the (21 April 2023). Full article

Nomophobia is a phenomenon that describes the fear of not having one’s mobile phone accessible. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of nomophobia among nursing students as well as its relationship with procrastination and social anxiety. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 308 nursing students. Data were collected using the Nomophobia Questionnaire, Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form, and Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults. Additionally, sociodemographic variables related to academic performance and smartphone use were collected. We performed a descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analysis of the Nomophobia Questionnaire score. Results: 19.5% (n = 60) of the students presented with or were at high risk of nomophobic behaviour. Moreover, nomophobic behaviour was positively correlated with high levels of social anxiety (p < 0.001), longer daily smartphone usage time (p < 0.001), and a high frequency of smartphone checking in class (p < 0.001). The predictive variables for nomophobic behaviour included age, variables related to smartphone use, social anxiety levels, work, procrastination tendency, sex, and self-reported average grade. Conclusion: One out of five students in the sample studied presented with or were at high risk of nomophobic behaviour. Additionally, nomophobic behaviour was associated with social anxiety and variables related to smartphone use. This study was not registered. Full article

The value of families and professionals in mental health care is well understood. Patient perspectives appear to have gotten less attention to date. This study investigated the perspectives of hospitalized mental health care users on the involvement of family members in their care using a qualitative phenomenological design. The participants with lived experience of family members being involved in their care were chosen using non-probability, purposive sampling. Individual interviews were carried out with the assistance of a voice recorder and observation notes. Because of data saturation, only fifteen people were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. It started with reading and reviewing the transcript to extract key statements about the phenomenon. The meaning was then determined by carefully studying the primary significant statements and phrases. The established meanings were then organized into themes and subthemes. The three themes that emerged from the data analysis are as follows: a wide variation in patients’ perspectives when family members remind them of their medicine, unpredictable visitation by family members, and a lack of support from family members. There were also the following five sub-themes: not visiting mental health care users in the hospital causes uncertainty about their future, mental health care users were concerned by fewer visits from relatives, friends were perceived as a contributory factor to no or limited visitation by family members, disappointment by a lack of financial support, and perceived lack of emotional support from family members. There is a need for family members to visit mental health care users to remove uncertainty about their future. Healthcare providers should listen to mental health care users to identify the challenges they are faced with, and hospital policies tailored to enhancing the involvement of family members should be formulated. Full article

Living with spinal cord injury (SCI) is a challenge that begins in the acute phase, when the disease, the limitations, and the treatments fill the days at the hospital. This study aims to understand the healthcare experience of the person with SCI in the acute phase, based on the Activities of Living Nursing Model (ALNM). It is a qualitative and phenomenological study based on the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was performed using the ATLAS.ti software and Bardin’s methodology. The article was written following the COREQ guidelines. The categories were defined using the Roper–Logan–Tierney Model for Nursing. The sample included 16 people with incomplete SCI, different etiology, and neurological levels. Eleven of the twelve ALNM emerged from the interviews. The activities of mobilizing, eliminating, maintaining a safe environment, and communicating were emphasized the most. Controlling body temperature was not relevant. Mobility deficits and pain increased dependence. Feelings of motivation, encouragement, and frustration were highlighted. Professional expertise, rehabilitation resources, and support equipment promoted independence. The results in this sample revealed that people with SCI in the acute phase have complex challenges related to dependence awareness and treatments, but they always keep recovery expectations in mind. Full article

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused one of the worst global pandemics in recent decades. It has disrupted education systems worldwide, leading to a forced shift from traditional face-to-face to blended or fully distanced learning, requiring a higher level of student readiness for self-directed learning (SDL) and a more internal locus of control (LOC). Objective: This study explored the relationship between locus of control and level of readiness for SDL among Saudi nursing students and whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted this relationship. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational descriptive study was conducted to survey 277 Saudi nursing students enrolled in the bachelor program at one of the reputable universities in Saudi Arabia. An E-questionnaire containing two scales, the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale for Nursing Education, and the Locus of Control Scale, was used to collect data in addition to the selected participants’ characteristics. Results: Nursing students had a moderate-to-low level of readiness for SDL (mean = 144.0), and the majority had an external LOC. There was a significant association between locus of control and level of readiness for self-directed learning (r = 0.19 *, p = 0.001), and the internal locus of control was more significantly associated with self-directed learning (r = 0.22 *, p = 0.0001) than with external locus of control. Conclusion: The study findings indicate a propensity of respondents indicating an external locus of control, whereas most of the respondents’ reported levels of readiness ranged between low and moderate across all dimensions of self-directed learning. This study was not registered. Full article

Project-based learning (PBL) is a teaching methodology that allows students to acquire knowledge and competencies through the completion of projects that respond to real-life problems. The aims of this study were to evaluate the acquisition of knowledge of students of the Aging Nursing subject through a PBL-based intervention and determine the degree of student satisfaction with the use of this methodology. A mixed, quasi-experimental, pre–post study was conducted without a control group using an educational intervention based on PBL and descriptive phenomenology with content analysis of the experiences reported after it. A knowledge questionnaire about nursing homes was administered before the start of the intervention. After using PBL to carry out the subject project, the same knowledge questionnaire and an ad hoc questionnaire on satisfaction, assessment, and improvement aspects were administered. In total, 111 nursing students participated. The difference in knowledge after the educational intervention was significant. The mean pre-intervention score was 5.56, SD 1.50, and the mean post-intervention score was 7.14, SD 1.59, (p = 0.001). In total, 74% of the students stated that they were very satisfied with the use of this methodology. The students had a positive perspective on the process of acquiring knowledge that PBL allows. The students improved their knowledge about the planning and management of nursing homes with the use of the project-based learning teaching methodology. They were very satisfied with said activity. Teachers must be adequately trained for the correct implementation of this teaching methodology. This study was not registered. Full article

Phlebitis secondary to vascular access is one of the most frequent complications in hospital care. This study aims to evaluate the scientific activity related to this complication through a bibliometric analysis. The search was performed on a single day, 23 January 2023, to ensure the inclusion of all articles and to avoid bias caused by the daily updates of the open access database. The data were recovered from Web of Science. The sample comprised a total of 1596 publications that met the inclusion criteria. The United States was the country with the largest number of publications, citations, and international cooperation with respect to phlebitis and vascular access. The most important author was Rickard CM. Of all the publications selected, a total of 1586 (99.37%) were original articles. The highest number of articles on the subject was recorded in 2021, and the most common research areas were General Internal Medicine and Nursing. The analysis of the clusters (KeyWords Plus and Author keywords) and co-occurrences enabled identification of areas of interest and their possible development. These areas included the prevention, risk, and associated complications of catheter-associated phlebitis. Other aspects that are a priori relevant, such as assessment and treatment, were found to be little investigated. While research on this subject is increasing internationally, more collaborations are still required between researchers, as well as new approaches related to the management of catheter-associated phlebitis. The dimensions that should continue to be considered in new research, according to the findings of this review, are instruments for phlebitis assessment and their validation, and the treatments to follow in the case of established phlebitis. For this reason, the bibliometric information presented is key for new or consolidated researchers in the field, especially because of its practical and clinical implications for patient safety. Full article

The barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities are many. One of the areas in which many problems have been identified is the sexual domain. This descriptive study aims to analyze the attitudes of the family environment, professional carers, and the general population toward their sexuality. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between 2022 and 2023, using convenience sampling among family members and carers from different centers working with people with intellectual disabilities in Spain, and among the general population not related to people with intellectual disabilities. A total of 583 responses were received and significant differences were found for all variables, with the variables related to family or work proximity being those that provided the most significant and relevant results. It was observed that the male sex has a more paternalistic attitude and that in rural areas there is a more permissive attitude towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities. People who work with people with disabilities have more positive attitudes towards this group, while direct relatives have more paternalistic attitudes. Nursing care in the community and specialized centers should be based on an adequate therapeutic relationship and personalized care. Full article

There is some evidence that aspects of nurse–doctor communication are associated with the quality of care and treatment patients receive whilst they are in hospital. To date, no studies have examined stakeholder perceptions on how patient care is influenced by clinical communication between nurses and doctors. We conducted a concept mapping study to generate a deep understanding of how clinical communication impacts patient care. Concept mapping has six phases: preparation, idea generation, structuring, representation, interpretation, and utilization. A total of 20 patients, 21 nurses, and 21 doctors participated in the study. Brainstorming generated 69 discreet statements about how nurse–doctor communication impacts patient care. The structuring (rating and clustering) phase was completed by 48 participants. The data interpretation workshop selected a five-cluster solution: effective communication, trust, patient safety, impediments to patient care, and interpersonal skills. On the final concept map, the five clusters were arranged in a circle around the center of the map. Clusters were relatively equal in size, suggesting that each concept makes a broadly equal contribution to how nurse–doctor communication influences patient care. Our study suggests that there are multiple aspects of clinical communication that impact patient care. Candidate interventions to enhance nurse–doctor communication may need to consider the complex nature of interprofessional working. Registration: This study was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF) on 09.07.2020 (osf.io/9np8v/) prior to recruiting the first participant. Full article

The social stigma toward individuals with mental health problems is habitual among nursing students, which can lead to poor quality of health care services for patients with mental illnesses. The purpose of the present study was to learn about nursing students’ perceptions of providing care to patients with severe mental disorders before and after participating in a simulated student clinical case. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted through 39 interviews. The difficulties expected by the students and their perceptions about patients were explored before the simulation training. Their perceptions about the use of clinical simulation for learning about the adequate management of these patients were analyzed afterwards. Results: Before the simulation training, the students assessed the case as being complicated, expressed their lack of specific training, and felt fear and insecurity, thus reproducing the stigma towards mental health patients. After this training, they positively valued the usefulness of the clinical simulation for gaining confidence and overcoming the stigma. Discussion: The use of high-fidelity simulation offers nursing students the opportunity to approach patients with mental health conditions, overcoming their fears and normalizing mental disorders. Simulation training allows nursing students to analyze the reasoning of clinical judgment and to detect the influence of previous prejudices about mental illness in their clinical decision. This study was not registered. Full article

Background: Nurse managers face great challenges in responding to organizational demands. There exists a general mismatch between managerial span of control and the demands of the job post, which can lead to overburdening and attrition. The aim of this review was to identify the effects of the nurse manager span of control on hospital organizations. Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out on nurse manager span of control using the Medline, Embase and Web of Science databases. Results: 21 articles were included. Our findings indicate that the span of control of nursing managers influences outcomes in inpatients, professionals, nurse managers, and the organization. Conclusions: The span of control of each nurse manager must be assessed and adjusted to each case. An appropriate span of control will lead to improved outcomes for stakeholders and the organization as a whole. Implications for nursing management: Tools must be developed and implemented to measure and evaluate the span of control of nurse managers. This study was not registered. Full article

Postpartum depression (PPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be prevalent, and disabling women with mental disorders and obstetric violence (OV) may be a trigger for them, particularly during maternity. We aimed to analyze the association between manifestations of OV with the development of PPD and PTSD during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. This systematic review was based on the PRISMA 2020 statement and explored original articles published between 2012 and 2022. A total of 21 articles were included in the analysis, and bias was assessed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project’s Quality Assessment Tool. The highest rate of PPD symptoms appeared in women under 20 years old, multiparous, and with low education levels. The higher PTSD ratio was present in women under 35 years, primiparous, and with secondary studies. The mode of labor (instrumental or C-section) was identified as a major risk factor of PPD, being mediator variables of the informal coercion of health professionals and dissatisfaction with newborn healthcare. Instead, partner support during labor and high satisfaction with healthcare during birth were protective factors. Regarding PTSD, the mode of labor, several perineal tears, and the Kristeller technique were risk factors, and loss of autonomy and coercion modulated PTSD symptomatology. The protective factors for PTSD were respect for the labor plan, adequate communication with health professionals, social support during labor, and the skin-to-skin procedure. This systematic review provides evidence that OV contributes to PPD and PTSD, being important in developing standardized tools to prevent it. This study recommends changes in maternal healthcare policies, such as individualized healthcare assistance, humanized pregnancy protocols, and women’s mental health follow-up, and improvements in the methodological quality of future research. Full article

Mobile health clinics (MHCs) serve as an alternative HIV care delivery method for the HIV-burdened eThekwini district. This study aimed to describe and profile the HIV care services provided by the MHCs through process evaluation. A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative evaluation study was performed on 137 MHCs using total population sampling. An online data collection method using a validated 50-item researcher-developed instrument was administered to professional nurses who are MHC team leaders, following ethical approval from the local university and departments of health. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The results described that HIV care services are offered in open spaces (43%), community buildings (37%), solid built buildings called health posts (15%), vehicles (9%), and tents (2%) with no electricity (77%), water (55%), and sanitation (64%). Adults (97%) are the main recipients of HIV care in MHCs (90%) offering antiretroviral therapy (95%). Staff, monitoring, and retaining care challenges were noted, with good linkage (91%) and referral pathways (n = 123.90%). In conclusion, the standardization and prioritization of HIV care with specific contextual practice guidelines are vital. Full article

Background: Prehospital care is intricate and unpredictable. Nurses in this environment encounter psychologically challenging situations and traumatic experiences daily. Nurses respond variably when delivering care in this context. This study aims to map the emotional management strategies used by prehospital nurses. Methods: Research was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, and the Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal (RCAAP). The inclusion criteria were studies with prehospital nurses in Portuguese, English, and Spanish languages, covering all study types. Results: From the initial 511 studies identified, four studies were deemed eligible after rigorous screening. The strategies used are individual (pre- and post-event) and collective, varying from formal to informal, with or without institutional support. Notable experiences included a lack of technical/scientific preparation, personal life association, treating acquaintances, pediatric-age patients, childbirth, cardiopulmonary arrests in young individuals, traffic accidents, and suicides. Conclusions: Nurses need training in basic emotional management tools. This research provides an initial understanding of their emotional well-being’s impact on personal and professional performance. This study was prospectively registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF) on 29 June 2023, with the registration number: z638t. Full article

Background: Breastfeeding is the ideal approach for feeding infants and is an important public health consideration. Successful exclusive breastfeeding initiation and duration is influenced by fathers’ support. Paternal self-efficacy to support breastfeeding has also been shown to mediate infant feeding practices. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support maternal exclusive breastfeeding. Methods: We adopted a cross-sectional survey design for this study. In total, 215 Thai fathers who had a partner with a term (37–42 weeks) pregnancy participated in the study. Data were collected from antenatal care clinics at two hospitals in Northern Thailand between June and August 2022. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Fathers’ Attitude toward Exclusive Breastfeeding questionnaire, the Fathers’ Knowledge about Exclusive Breastfeeding questionnaire, and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (Short-Form). Multiple linear regression and hierarchical regression were used to analyze factors influencing Thai fathers’ self-efficacy to support maternal exclusive breastfeeding. Results: The mean breastfeeding self-efficacy score was 52.94 (SD = 8.58), indicating that fathers were confident they were able to support their partners’ breastfeeding. Regression analysis revealed family type, fathers’ attitude toward, and fathers’ knowledge about exclusive breastfeeding significantly explaining 14.90% of the variance in paternal breastfeeding support self-efficacy. However, fathers’ age, education, employment, income, and number of living children were not associated with their self-efficacy. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that family type and fathers’ attitudes/knowledge about breastfeeding influenced their self-efficacy to support exclusive breastfeeding. Nurses should consider implementing breastfeeding interventions specific to fathers to enhance their attitudes and knowledge about breastfeeding, including increasing fathers’ self-efficacy to support maternal exclusive breastfeeding efforts. Full article

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Cardiovascular diseases are common complications after chemotherapy due to the effect of the drug on lipid levels. This study aimed to explore the changes in lipid profiles in patients with breast cancer under chemotherapy. Methods: In this prospective study, 50 patients with breast cancer participated. Three biochemical–lipid hematological tests were performed: total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL-C), and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) before initiation (pre-chemotherapy), at the start (first follow-up), and at the completion (second follow-up) of the first cycle of chemotherapy. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistical Software (version 22.0). Results: Mean TC values increased significantly at second follow-up. TGs values decreased significantly from first to second follow-up. HDL-C was significantly lower at first follow-up compared with pre-chemotherapy and was similar to the pre-chemotherapy levels at second follow-up. LDL-C values were significantly higher at second follow-up compared with pre-chemotherapy measurement. Significantly positive correlations of BMI with pre-chemotherapy LDL-C, first follow-up TC, first follow-up LDL-C, second follow-up TC, and second follow-up LDL-C were found. Conclusions: There is a statistically significant increase in the levels of TC and LDL-C in breast cancer patients during chemotherapy. This study was not registered. Full article

Aim: To analyse recommended interventions for the safe and responsible dissemination of suicidal behaviour in the media for preventive purposes. Background: Suicide is a serious public health problem that leads to more than 700,000 deaths per year, which translates into one death every forty seconds. The media play a significant role in shaping public perceptions and reflecting societal issues. Because of its active role in the construction of reality, the way in which the media report and expose suicidal behaviour has the capacity to influence the population in either a preventive or harmful way. Design: An umbrella review was carried out and a report was written according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Overviews of Reviews. Methods: We systematically searched for reviews published from inception to February 2023 in MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL and PsycInfo (via EBSCOhost), Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and Google Scholar. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. Results: Six systematic reviews with a moderate to high quality level were selected. Among the recommended interventions were the inclusion of positive messages of hope, resilience, or of overcoming the event, narratives with information on available resources or the promotion of support-seeking attitudes as an effective prevention mechanism, as well as the avoidance of repetitive reporting of the same suicide. The appropriate and responsible dissemination of information on suicidal behaviour in the media with complete and up-to-date information on available centres, organisations, institutions, and resources has proven to be effective, especially in vulnerable populations. Conclusion: Educating and training the media in an appropriate approach to disseminating suicidal behaviour helps to reduce the number of suicidal behaviours. Knowing what information is advisable to include in the news item as well as what information to avoid is a strong point. Guidelines to promote responsible media reporting are a key component of suicide prevention strategies. This study was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 23 April 2022 with the registration number CRD42022320393. Full article

Objectives: This article focuses on exploring the evolution of palliative care in Portugal. Ten years after the approval of its Basic Law, the aim was to investigate the quality of the path followed and the guidelines that could promote its development. Thus, this study sought to identify (a) the goals of the current members of parliament concerning palliative care, (b) the major priorities that should guide the development of palliative care in the coming decade, (c) the facilitating or hindering factors to accelerating the process, and (d) to propose consensually agreed measures for the integral development of palliative care within the health system. Methods: The qualitative data analysis was performed through the reading of the literature and interviews conducted via Zoom with several intentionally chosen participants. The data extracted from the previous studies were analyzed in a focus group. The NVivo^® 10 was used for the data processing and categorization. Results: Three key themes emerged concerning the current status of palliative care: the policymakers, the health professionals, and the society. This first line of structuring is explained by a second set of categories, namely, (a) the knowledge about palliative care; and (b) palliative care organization from the policymakers’ perspective. In the health professionals’ domain: (a) knowledge about palliative care, (b) clinical training, and (c) medical specialty. Finally, in society: (a) knowledge about palliative care. Significance of the results: Advancing general education, increasing the qualitative training for different health professionals, reformulating the laws supporting them, promoting the flexibility of the implementation methodologies, and establishing a medical specialty are crucial to achieving the proposed goal. This study was not registered. Full article

Social responsibility has been a core value of the nursing profession, particularly in the area of health disparity. Nevertheless, it is unclear what is meant by social responsibility. This study examined ways to define the concept of the social responsibility of nursing organizations to understand the meaning of social responsibility in the nursing profession. Methods: The concept analysis process reported by Walker and Avant was used to clarify the meaning of social responsibility in nursing organizations. Results: Defining the attributes of the social responsibility of nursing organizations included accessing, educating, and practicing as approaches for strategizing the social and structural change in inequity, caring for oppressed groups suffering socially from those with privilege and power, and taking action for health policy changes in social and political unequal contexts. The antecedents of social responsibility in nursing organizations included recognizing personal characteristics, the perspective of vulnerable populations, and the social and environmental status quo, as well as educating public services on the ethical and moral reasoning of social issues. The consequences of the social responsibility of nursing organizations were achieving social justice as equal access to basic human health needed at a societal level, equal access to effective nursing practices, and the development of health promotion policies for world health administrative practices in nursing. Conclusion: This study provides guidance to direct future studies by identifying conceptual attributes in the context of the social responsibility of nursing organizations. Full article

Emergency services are frequently called to attend mental health incidents and are looking for innovative ways to improve their responses and reduce the burden on services. Involuntary detention of people living with mental illness is considered more frequent than necessary, leading to increased pressure on emergency departments, and is often a traumatic experience for patients. The Police, Ambulance, Clinician Early Response (PACER) model was developed in 2019 in Canberra, Australia, and seeks to reduce involuntary detentions by embedding a mental health clinician into emergency services as a mobile mental health crisis response intervention. This protocol details a retrospective cohort study that will examine the association between PACER and involuntary detentions using medical and police records and compare the results to standard ambulance and police responses. We will use relative risk and odds ratio calculations to determine the probability of being involuntarily detained or diverted from hospital; and we will describe the patient characteristics and outcomes in the PACER cohort. Results will be reported using the STROBE checklist for reporting cohort studies. This study was not registered on a publicly accessible registry. Full article

Early detection of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in children is crucial. Due to COVID-19, maternal and child health services have been suspended temporarily, increasing the risk of late detection of DDH. This study aimed to reveal Japan’s current situation regarding community hip screening for newborns and infants and to provide health guidance for caregivers regarding DDH. A web-based, nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and March 2023 (n = 1737). One public health nurse overseeing maternal and child health per municipality responded to the 2022 municipality hip screening system. Among the 436 municipalities that responded (response rate: 25.1%), 97.5% implemented hip screening within 4 months, and approximately 60% performed it during newborn home visits, while only 2.3% conducted hip ultrasound screening. Perfect checking of the risk factors for DDH during newborn home visits and training opportunities for home visitors must be improved. Educational programs regarding DDH for home visitors and caregivers are needed to prevent the late diagnosis of DDH. Furthermore, collaboration between pediatric orthopedic surgeons and nurses is crucial for developing effective community-based hip-screening systems by bridging the evidence and practice gap in the early detection of DDH. Full article

Urinary tract infections are among the most prevalent types of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals and nursing homes, and they are primarily a result of unnecessary catheter usage and inadequate care. In Portugal, epidemiological data indicate that catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain widespread in clinical settings, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality rates among vulnerable populations. This study aimed to assess urinary catheter use in an oncology ward in Portugal and to evaluate nurses’ adherence to the government-endorsed standards for preventing CAUTIs. An observational study was conducted over a four-month period with daily assessments of nurses’ practices during urinary catheter insertion and maintenance using a government-endorsed auditing tool. Data were collected through on-site observations and nurses’ feedback. The findings revealed a urinary catheter utilization rate of 17.99%. However, there was a lack of complete adherence to government-endorsed standards among oncology nurses (0%). These results indicate that current practices lack evidence-based standardization. Therefore, there is a need to develop and implement quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and experiences. Full article

Research on the quality of life has become of great importance. It is used by clinical researchers to compare the impact of treatment regimens on patients. The choice of treatment method may significantly depend on the patient’s opinion. A cross-sectional study was conducted using the method of a diagnostic questionnaire survey. The research tools were the authors’ questionnaire and the standardized WHOQOL-BREF. The study was conducted among patients with lymphoma, treated systemically. More than half of the surveyed patients assessed their overall quality of life as good (50%) and very good (6%), while the expressed satisfaction with health most often ranged from neutral (38%—neither good nor bad) to dissatisfactory (30%) and very dissatisfactory (6%). As regards the detailed domains, the area of physical functioning was rated the lowest, while for the remaining domains—psychological, social, environmental—values above average (60.38–64.30) were observed. Social support, particularly from the immediate family, resulted in a higher assessment of the quality of life. The occurrence of side effects related to anticancer treatment and the disease had a statistically significant impact on the decrease in the quality of life, particularly in the physical domain. Full article

This study assessed the risk perceptions among disaster relief nurses (DRNs) in Japan by focusing on 15 risk factors associated with frequent natural disasters and the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study that targeted DRNs across six prefectures in Japan and explored nurses’ perceptions of risks including radiation exposure, volcanic eruptions, and mass infections. The findings indicated a heightened perception of radiation and nuclear-related risks. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, DRNs perceived “mass infection” as a significant risk. An age-based analysis revealed that younger nurses had more dread about “mass infection” and had heightened uncertainty about the “X-ray test” compared with their older peers. Understanding DRNs’ risk perceptions is crucial for effective disaster response preparedness and training. The study highlights the need to address these perceptions to ensure that DRNs are well prepared and supported in their roles. This study was not pre-registered on a publicly accessible registry. Full article

From a public health standpoint, a stringent visitation policy was necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it had unforeseen communicative and emotional health consequences for family members. This study explored family members’ experiences regarding implementing a restricted visitation policy when a patient was admitted with COVID-19 at public hospitals in the Vhembe district. Researchers used an exploratory, descriptive, and contextual qualitative technique. Twelve family members made up the population. Unstructured telephone interviews were used to obtain the data, and open coding was used to analyse data. Ethics were consistently followed. Before taking part, participants provided verbal informed consent, acknowledging that they could withdraw from the study if necessary. Three themes emerged: inadequate measures for temporary communication channels and techniques, the mental health effects of COVID-19 admission, and poor/lack of standardised visitation policy during the COVID 19-pandemic. There was a need to balance safety from contracting COVID-19 infection and promoting family-centred care. Virtual visits through telecommunication solutions could reduce fear and anxiety as the family could be updated on the progress of the hospitalised relative. Alternatively, hospital managers must allocate a dedicated person in the unit to update families when they call and enquire about the conditions. Full article

(1) Background: health care workers, particularly nurses, have been regularly assaulted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose: to evaluate the prevalence and location of assaults against nursing personnel in Latin America, and to determine predictor factors for aggression against nurses. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was answered by 374 nurses working in health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aggression against nurses was estimated using the Victimization Scale. (3) Results: A total of 288 nurses were included in this study. The victimization scale showed that 52.1% of nurses have suffered aggression by the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Males were more likely to be attacked than females (p < 0.05). Additionally, males were attacked more frequently on public transport (x² = 6.72, p = 0.01). The home neighborhood and markets were other locations with a higher risk of being assaulted (OR: 3.39, CI: 1.53–7.50). (4) Conclusions: Our results indicate that nurses in Latin America who work during the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation have been frequently assaulted by the general public. Males are more frequently attacked than females and the main places of aggression are public transportation, their home neighborhood and supermarkets. Implications for nursing practice: it is necessary to create and implement protocols and guidelines to support nursing personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was retrospectively registered at the Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco (103/CIPDACS/2020) on the (08/2020). Full article