Practicing nurses' and nursing students' perceptions of climate change: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Human activities have significantly contributed to a persistent climate change trend, posing substantial threats to human health. Nurses regularly interact with patients experiencing the consequences of climate change, making their engagement in addressing this issue crucial. Nonetheless, our understanding of nurses' viewpoints regarding climate change remains limited. AIM: This scoping review aims to identify practicing nurses' and nursing students' perceptions of climate change. DESIGN: To fulfil this objective, a documentary search strategy was developed using an iterative process. METHODS: The search strategy was tested in four bibliographic databases, as well as in the grey literature. A 2-stage selection process was conducted, and relevant data were extracted from selected articles for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-two scientific articles and 11 documents from nursing associations were selected. The findings suggest that while many nurses and nursing students are concerned about climate change and its effects on their patients' health, their role in addressing the climate crisis is not well understood. Many barriers such as having a heavy workload and the lack of support hindered their ability to adjust their practice in response to the changing climate. Furthermore, many expressed a need for trainings on climate change issues. CONCLUSIONS: These results raise a great and urgent demand for these professionals to receive appropriate training to cope with climatic threats to health. Future research should focus on the development of nursing climate leadership, and healthcare organizations should support nursing initiatives and help raise nurses' awareness regarding climate change.

Le contact peau-à-peau précoce auprès de nouveau-nés à terme : expérience vécue par des parents primipares.

Introduction : Early skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is recommended for all healthy full-term newborns.Background : Very few studies have looked specifically at the personal experience of first-time parents when their full-term baby is born.Objectives : To describe the experience of first-time parents who engaged in early SSC with their full-term newborn, and their perception of the contribution and the role of nurses in the success of this practice.Method : This descriptive phenomenological study was carried out in a medical center in the Quebec region. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with ten parents.Results : Parents reported experiencing a series of moments filled with emotion, happiness, comfort, closeness, and intimacy. The results appear to show that an enhanced attachment bond is formed. Parents consider the contribution and the role of nurses to be essential to the success of early SSC.Discussion : It is important to strengthen, encourage, and expand the practice of early SSC among new mothers and to provide a greater opportunity for fathers to carry out this practice with their newborn in the immediate postnatal period.Conclusion : Early SSC has positive effects for both first-time parents and the newborn.

Left atrium dilatation and multiple vascular territory strokes.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cause of ischemic stroke and is associated with recurrence and with acute multi-vessel territory non lacunar stroke. Many cryptogenic strokes could be secondary to undiagnosed paroxystic AF. As left atrium (LA) dilatation is a risk factor of AF, we sought to determine if moderate or severe LA dilatation was associated with multiple vascular territory infarcts on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute ischemic stroke without known AF. Normal LA diameter values are ≤4.0 cm for men and ≤3.8 for women. METHODS: Patients who presented at our center between 2006 and 2011 with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemick attack (TIA) who had a transthoracic echocardiography and a brain MRI were included. Patients with known or de novo AF diagnosed within 3 months of the event were excluded. The main outcome was the presence of acute multi-vessel territory infarct(s) on MRI. RESULTS: 356 patients were included. The mean LA diameter was 37 mm in the control group (normal or mildly dilated LA) and 49 mm in those with moderately to severely enlarged LA (p<0.001). More patients in the LA dilatation group met the main outcome (20% vs 6%; OR 3.89; 95% CI 1.32-11.43; p=0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: LA dilatation (at least moderate) is associated with acute non lacunar multiple vascular territory infarcts on MRI in patients with AIS or TIA without known AF or a confirmed diagnosis of AF. Further studies are necessary to determine if this population might benefit from anticoagulation therapy.

Vascular cognitive impairment: most useful subtests of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment in minor stroke and transient ischemic attack.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cognitive impairment is frequent in cerebrovascular disease but often remains undetected. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) has been proposed in this context. Our aim was to evaluate the MoCA and its subtests in cerebrovascular disease. METHODS: We assessed 386 consecutive patients with minor stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Score <4) or transient ischemic attack at 3 months. The MoCA and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were administered. Computed tomography (CT) scans were assessed for stroke and white matter changes. An unfavorable functional outcome was defined as mRS >1. RESULTS: The prevalence of cognitive impairment (cutoff of 26) was 55% using the MoCA and 13% using the MMSE. In a multivariate analysis, MoCA <26 was associated with the outcome (OR 3.00, CI 1.78-5.03), as were remote lacunar stroke on CT and white matter changes of at least moderate severity. Five subtests (5-word recall, word list generation, trail-making, abstract reasoning and cube copy) formed an optimal short MoCA with 6/10 or less showing a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 83%. CONCLUSION: This study extends the utility of the MoCA to milder forms of cerebrovascular disease. The MoCA is associated with the 3-month functional outcome. Five subtests may constitute an optimal brief tool in vascular cognitive impairment.

Troponin elevation predicts atrial fibrillation in patients with stroke or transient ischemic attack.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of ischemic stroke. Cardiac troponin (cTnI) is a marker of myocardial damage and may predict arrhythmia. We sought to determine if increased cTnI levels were a predictor of new-onset AF in ischemic stroke or patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA). METHODS: Consecutive patients who presented to Charles-Lemoyne Hospital between October 2006 and November 2010 with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke or TIA, without a history of AF, with a baseline measurement of cTnI were included in the study. The primary outcome was new-onset AF on 24-hour Holter measurement within 1 week of admission in patients without AF on the baseline electrocardiogram (ECG). Secondary outcomes included AF on Holter measurement, death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke within 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 408 patients were included. Forty-six patients (11.3%) had elevated cTnI levels. These patients were older and had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease and diabetes. AF on baseline ECG or 24-hour Holter measurement was present in 51 patients (12.5%) and was more frequent among patients with increased cTnI levels compared to patients with normal cTnI levels (34.7% vs 9.7%; P = .004 multivariate analysis). Elevated cTnI levels also predicted the composite outcome of stroke, MI, and death at 3 months (50.0% vs 16.1%; P = .0001). CONCLUSIONS: cTnI elevation predicts new-onset AF on 24-hour Holter measurement in patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA and may indicate a poorer prognosis and a higher risk of stroke, MI, and death at 3 months.

Statins may increase intracerebral hemorrhage volume.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have suggested an association between hypocholesterolemia and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). In the SPARCL trial, statin use increased ICH risk. We tested the hypothesis that use of statins affects the volume of spontaneous ICH and contributes to the progression of ICH volume between baseline and follow-up CT scans. METHODS: Consecutive cases of spontaneous ICH were reviewed. Secondary causes were excluded. We measured ICH volume on the baseline and follow-up CT scans using the AxBxC/2 method. Multivariate analysis and logistic regression modeling were used. The primary outcome was the ICH volume on the baseline CT scan. Secondary outcomes included volume variation between the baseline and the first follow up CT scans and death. RESULTS: Of 303 subjects, 71 were taking a statin at the time of the ICH (23%). Statin users were significantly more likely to be younger, to have co-morbidities and take anticoagulant or anti-platelet medication. They also had a higher baseline ICH volume than non-statin users (median 31.2 [10, 82.1] ml vs 16 [4, 43.8] ml; p=0.006). Adjusting for possible confounders, statins remained associated with an increased ICH volume (p=0.007). There was a significant mean ICH volume progression between the first and second CT scans in statin users (+10.8 vs +0.9 ml; p=0.03; 95% CI: [-1, +22.6] [-2.5, +4.3]). No difference in mortality was seen between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors may be a risk factor for increased ICH volume in spontaneous brain hemorrhages and could contribute to hemorrhage's volume progression.

[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschoolers: nature, assessment and treatment]. / Le Trouble Déficitaire de l'Attention avec Hyperactivité (TDAH) au préscolaire : nature, évaluation et traitement.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequently diagnosed behaviour problem in school-age children. Although more and more preschool-age children are referred in clinical settings for typical ADHD symptoms, few studies have examined the nature, the assessment as well as the treatment of ADHD in this age group. This literature review addresses the nature, the assessment, and the treatment of ADHD during the preschool period. The main themes reviewed are: prevalence, symptomatology, etiology, comorbidity, consequences on normal development and adaptation of the child, evolution of symptoms from preschool to school period, difficulties related to diagnosis, assessment modalities, psychosocial treatment, and pharmacological treatment.

The development of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors during the preschool years: the predictive validity of parental assessments.

The objectives of this study were to establish the different developmental trajectories of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors on the basis of both mother and father ratings at 19, 32, 50, and 63 months, and to examine the predictive validity of these trajectories with respect to later hyperactive-impulsive behaviors, as rated by teachers in the first 2 years of school. Hyperactive-impulsive behaviors were assessed in a population-based sample of 1,112 twins (565 boys and 547 girls) at 19, 32, 50, and 63 months of age. The results revealed a differentiated and consistent view of developmental trajectories of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors derived from these repeated assessments, with 7.1% of children seen by mothers (7% for fathers) as displaying high and stable hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. According to mother ratings, children on a high-chronic trajectory were more likely than other children to display hyperactive-impulsive behaviors at 72 and 84 months according to their teachers. Repeated measures over time and father-based trajectories significantly added to the prediction teacher later ratings of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. These results support the predictive validity of parental assessment of hyperactive-impulsive behaviors during the preschool years and their use to identify children at risk for further evaluation and possible intervention.

Short-term benefits and risks of intravenous iron: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous (IV) iron may correct anemia more efficiently than oral iron, but it has been associated with allergic and hemodynamic reactions, and it may increase the risks of infectious complications. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify these controversial issues. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Studies evaluating the use of IV iron compared to enteral or no iron with outcomes within 2 months of treatment initiation were identified. Only randomized controlled trials were included. When a meta-analysis was possible, studies were combined with the Review Manager of the Cochrane Collaboration Group 2003. Statistics were calculated as standardized mean differences (SMDs), with a random-effect model. RESULTS: Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed a significant increase in the reticulocyte count (SMD, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10-1.29; p = 0.02) and in ferritin levels (SMD, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.69-1.68; p = 0.00001), but it also showed that in such a short period of time, IV iron does not correct hemoglobin (Hb)-hematocrit (Hct) better than enteral or no iron. In a sensitivity analysis, however, the increase in Hb-Hct became significant in the nondextran group (SMD, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.04-0.51; p = 0.02). No increase in transferrin saturation was observed. Meta-analysis of the allergic and hemodynamic reactions was not possible as most studies did not clearly describe these outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that treatment with nondextran IV iron may benefit a wide variety of patients. Randomized controlled studies are definitively needed to further evaluate the usefulness and safety of IV iron.

Living in the community while waiting for an admission in long-term care: satisfaction with a transitional nursing home project.

This qualitative study took place in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The main objective was to evaluate satisfaction with a transitional program aimed at keeping seniors in the community while waiting for admission to a public long-term care facility. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 4 types of informants: seniors, family members, facility managers, and hospital or community care coordinators. Results show that satisfaction varies according to groups of informants but seniors are the most satisfied of all.

Efficacy of topiramate, valproate, and their combination on aggression/agitation behavior in patients with psychosis.

Topiramate is an antiepileptic drug, recently also used in the treatment of psychiatric diseases. Inasmuch as topiramate and valproate, which are currently used for aggressive behavior, share several pharmacological mechanisms (positive modulatory effect on the GABA activity and negative modulatory effect on glutamatergic neurotransmission), the objective of the present study was to compare the pharmacological effects of topiramate with those of valproate and their combination in patients with psychiatric disorders showing marked aggression and agitation. A retrospective, case-controlled, mirror-image study was carried out in a sample of 45 inpatients affected by schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorder, and hospitalized in a maximum-security Canadian psychiatry hospital. Overt Aggression Scale, Agitation-Calmness Evaluation Scale, number and intensity of psychotic episodes, number of episodes of withdrawal from group activities per week, and number of therapeutic isolation per week and of strict surveillance intervention per week were evaluated before and after the treatments. Results indicate that patients treated with topiramate show a decrease in the average score of the Overt Aggression Scale, a decrease of episodes of agitation and of strict surveillance interventions. This effect was similar to the group treated with valproate or with the combination of valproate-topiramate. However, valproate therapy, but not topiramate therapy, decreased the intensity of agitation episodes measured by the Agitation-Calmness Evaluation Scale; valproate and the combination topiramate-valproate decreased the number of psychotic disorganization episodes as well. These results suggest that topiramate could be a valid medicine in the control of aggression in psychosis. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies need to further assess this pharmacological indication.

Response inhibition after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children: impairment and recovery.

Children who experience traumatic brain injury (TBI) often show cognitive impairments postinjury, some of which recover over time. We examined the recovery of motor response inhibition immediately following TBI and over 2 years. We assessed the role of injury severity, age at injury, and lesion characteristics on initial impairment and recovery while considering the role of pre-injury psychiatric disorder. Participants were 136 children with TBI aged 5-16 years. Latency of motor response inhibition was measured with the stop-signal task within 1 month of the injury and again at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The performance of the TBI participants at each measurement occasion was standardized with 117 children of similar age, but without injury. Residualized latency scores were calculated. Growth curve analyses showed an initial impairment in response inhibition and improvement over the 2 years following injury. Younger TBI patients were initially more impaired although they exhibited greater recovery of response inhibition than did older TBI patients. Longer duration of coma, but not reactivity of pupils or Glasgow Coma Scale score, predicted initial deficit. Lesion characteristics or pre-injury attention deficit hyperactivity disorder did not predict initial impairment or recovery. Replication with longitudinal testing of a comparison group of children sustaining extracranial injury is necessary to confirm our findings.

Less money, less care: how nurses in long-term care allocate hours of needed care in a context of chronic shortage.

The average funding of long-term care in Quebec, Canada, currently covers < 70% of the care hours required, which means that 30% of needs are unmet. The aims of this study were to understand how nurses, when they are in a position to do so, assign care hours, which needs are unmet by care dimensions and whether dimensions with unmet needs vary with client profiles. One-hundred-and-four nurses working in long-term care facilities participated in the study. They filled out individual questionnaires containing three case studies in the form of vignettes. When obliged to cut 30% of the care hours, the nurses ensured that treatment and diagnostic methods were done as prescribed and that vital feeding and elimination functions were preserved. However, they made the choice to cut some mobility and personal-care activities and, especially, communication with patients, families and other professionals. In this, they partly follow the theoretical care prioritization approach of Lefebvre and Dupuis, who take into account the degree of discomfort caused by the situation, the problem's place in Maslow's hierarchy of needs and the availability of a solution. Thus, although the choices made by the nurses follow a logical pattern, they could result in medium-term deterioration in the functional autonomy of their older patients. The overall consequences of these decisions are discussed.

Depressive symptoms and associated factors in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

PROBLEM: To compare depressive symptoms in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to those in healthy children, and to explore the influence of individual and family factors on level of depression. METHODS: Individual interviews with 68 children, ages 7 to 12 years, in order to complete the Children's Depression Inventory. FINDINGS: Children with ADHD reported significantly more depressive symptoms than did children without ADHD; 14.7% of children with ADHD reached the threshold of a 19 point score, which suggests clinical depression. No significant effects of individual and family factors on level of depression were found. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADHD are more inclined to experience depressive symptoms than are healthy children. To plan appropriate interventions, nurses evaluating and working with children with ADHD should always consider a possible coexistence of depressive symptoms.