Nurses' perceptions and demands regarding COVID-19 care delivery in critical care units and hospital emergency services.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health challenge that puts health systems in a highly vulnerable situation. Nurses in critical care units (CCUs) and hospital emergency services (HESs) have provided care to patients with COVID-19 under pressure and uncertainty. OBJECTIVE: To identify needs related to safety, organisation, decision-making, communication and psycho-socio-emotional needs perceived by critical care and emergency nurses in the region of Madrid, Spain, during the acute phase of the epidemic crisis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study (the first phase of a mixed methods study) with critical care and emergency nurses from 26 public hospitals in Madrid using an online questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 557, with 37.5% reporting working with the fear of becoming infected and its consequences, 28.2% reported elevated workloads, high patient-nurse ratios and shifts that did not allow them to disconnect or rest, while taking on more responsibilities when managing patients with COVID-19 (23.9%). They also reported deficiencies in communication with middle management (21.2%), inability to provide psycho-social care to patients and families and being emotionally exhausted (53.5%), with difficulty in venting emotions (44.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Critical care and emegency nurses may be categorised as a vulnerable population. It is thus necessary to delve deeper into further aspects of their experiences of the pandemic.

Painful experience in adolescents undergoing surgical correction of scoliosis. / Experiencia dolorosa en adolescentes tratados mediante corrección quirúrgica de escoliosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to learn about the post-surgical pain experience in adolescents undergoing surgical correction of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: Qualitative study with an interpretative phenomenological approach. Through semi-structured interviews, 7 informants, women aged between 12 and 21, were interviewed between the third and fifth day after being surgically treated for AIS correction. The speeches were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content Analysis method was used to analyse the discourse. RESULTS: The categories established were: influential factors, values and ideas, coping mechanisms and improvement areas. Painful experience is a determining factor during recovery, influenced by the individuals themselves, as well as by the support received, and the environment. Their main values and ideas about the process are based on pre-surgical information, which they consider insufficient. In order to cope, they use of distraction, relaxation and drug consumption. According to the informants, increasing the information they are given about the process, facilitating visits and incorporating complementary techniques would improve pain control. CONCLUSIONS: Pain is the main focus of the process and is influenced by several factors. The patients' coping mechanisms help in its management. They also put forward different improvement areas.

Factores asociados al sobrepeso y la obesidad infantil en España, según la última encuesta nacional de salud (2011) / Factors associated with overweight and childhood obesity in Spain according to the latest national health survey (2011)

Objective: To describe the factors associated with overweight/obesity in Spain according to the latest National Health Survey (2011). Method: Descriptive cross-sectional study with 3,752 children aged 2 to 15 years (boys=2,007; girls=1,745). Main variables: overweight; obesity; gender; level of education of the head of the family; monthly income; hours of sleep; physical exercise; hours of TV and/or computer use; daily breakfast; parents' weight perception. Diagnostic criterion was based on WHO growth patterns, defined overweight with +1SD and obesity, +2SD. Results: Boys more obese than girls. Children whose parents had a lower level of education, those who did not practice physical activity and whose parents had an income of less than 900€ per month showed a higher percentage of overweight/obesity. Conclusions: Children whose parents had a lower education and monthly income presented a higher percentage of obesity. Sleeping the recommended hours and doing some type of physical activity reduces obesity.

Objetivo: Descrever os fatores associados com sobrepeso/obesidade na Espanha, segundo dados da última Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (2011). Método: Estudo descritivo transversal com 3.752 crianças de 2 a 15 anos (meninos=2007; meninas=1.745). Principais variáveis: excesso de peso; obesidade; sexo; nível de escolaridade do chefe da família; renda mensal; horas de sono; exercício; horas de utilização da televisão e/ou computador; desjejum diário; percepção de obesidade dos pais. O diagnóstico baseou-se em padrões de crescimento da OMS, sendo o excesso de peso +1DP e a obesidade +2DP. Resultados: Meninos mais obesos que meninas. Crianças cujos pais tinham menos anos de estudo, aquelas que não praticam atividade física e cujos pais possuíam uma renda menor de 900 € mensal mostraram maior percentual de obesidade. Conclusão: Menor nível de escolaridade e baixa renda contribuem mais para a obesidade. Dormir as horas recomendadas e fazer algum tipo de atividade física reduz a obesidade.

Objetivo: Describir los factores asociados al sobrepeso/obesidad en España según datos de la última Encuesta Nacional de Salud (2011). Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal en población infantil de 2 a 15 años. Participaron 3752 individuos (niños n=2007 y niñas n=1745). Muestreo aleatorio polietápico estratificado. Principales variables: sobrepeso; obesidad; sexo; nivel de estudios del progenitor; ingresos mensuales; horas de sueño; ejercicio físico; horas de uso de televisión y/u ordenador; desayuno diario; percepción ponderal de los progenitores. Los criterios diagnósticos fueron los estándares de OMS, definiéndose sobrepeso con +1SD y obesidad, +2SD. Resultados: Niños más obesos que niñas. Niños/as cuyos progenitores presentaban un nivel de estudios bajo, niños/as que no hicieron ningún ejercicio y cuyos progenitores ganaron menos que 900€ mensuales presentaron un mayor sobrepeso/obesidad. Conclusión: Niños/as con progenitores con bajo nivel de estudios y de ingresos presentaron mayor obesidad. Dormir las horas recomendadas y hacer actividad física disminuye la obesidad.