Analysis of mental health effects among nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Working on the frontline during the pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of health professionals. A significant proportion experienced anxiety, insomnia, posttraumatic stress or depression. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Analysis and synthesis of the evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses based on their work context. There exists a gap in the literature as no studies were found that analysed the effects on nurses' mental health according to the level of care they worked in (hospital-primary care-nursing home). WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: There is an urgent need to assess and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental well-being of nurses, and to monitor international policies for the improvement of nurses' working conditions. ABSTRACT: Introduction Health professionals have suffered negative consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. No review has specifically addressed the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of nurses exclusively according to the work context. Aim To analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses who have worked in hospitals, primary care centres and social health centres. Method PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Cochrane databases were searched (Prospero number: CRD42021249513). Out of 706 papers, 31 studies (2020-2021) were included in the systematic review. A qualitative synthesis method was used to analyse the data. Results Most studies were conducted in hospitals or frontline settings. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms was for anxiety 29.55%, depression 38.79%, posttraumatic stress disorder 29.8%, and insomnia 40.66%. Discussion This review highlights the mental health effects among nurses working in acute hospital settings. It also evidences a data gap on mental health effects among nurses working in primary health care and in nursing homes. Implications for practice In the post phase of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to assess and respond to the impact on the mental well-being of nurses, and to monitor international policies for the improvement of nurses' working conditions.

Web-Based Personalized Intervention to Improve Quality of Life and Self-Efficacy of Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Long-term breast cancer survivors (>5 years free of disease) may suffer late sequelae of cancer that impact on their quality of life. The use of telehealth for cancer care is recommended but little is known about the effectiveness of digital interventions for long-term cancer survivors. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based personalized intervention based on artificial intelligence instead of usual primary health care to improve the quality of life of long-term survivors of breast cancer and self-efficacy for the management of late sequelae. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted. The sample will consist of long-term breast cancer survivors recruited from primary health centers. Women will be randomly assigned to the intervention group to receive a web-based personalized intervention or to the control group to receive standard primary health care by nurses. Data on quality of life of cancer survivors and self-efficacy for the management of late sequelae of cancer will be collected and assessed at preintervention, and at 3, 6, and 9 months. It is expected that, at the end of the programme, the experimental group will have improved quality of life and improved self-efficacy for the management of late sequelae of cancer.

Mental health of Spanish nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses working in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare centers in Navarre (Spain). BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers, especially nurses, are at high risk for developing mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. INTRODUCTION: Spain ranks among the European countries with the highest incidence of and mortality from COVID-19 and has a 31% deficit in the number of nurses compared with the average for the European Union. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 800 Registered Nurses in Navarre, Spain. Four standardized instruments, along with a self-administered online questionnaire, were used to measure the impact in terms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used to report this study. RESULTS: Of the 800 nurses, 68% had some level of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, and of these, 38% had moderate or severe symptoms. Those who worked in hospital COVID units and in nursing homes showed a higher impact on their mental health. DISCUSSION: The sustained pressure that nurses have experienced in their work during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected their mental health. CONCLUSION: This study found that nurses who worked in hospital COVID units and in nursing homes during the pandemic had worse mental health outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING/POLICY: Recommendations for nursing policy include the need to implement coaching and emotional programs to support nurses on the frontlines of the pandemic. There is also an urgent need for the implementation of national training programs to strengthen health emergency preparedness, improve response capacity, and increase the resilience of nurses to disasters.

Continuity of Care Challenges for Professional Nursing Practice / Desafíos en la continuidad de cuidados para la práctica profesional de enfermería / Desafios na continuidade de cuidados para a prática profissional de enfermagem

The transformation of health systems to meet the needs of chronic and multi-pathological patients has turned continuity of care into one of the mainstays of care programs and the design of new resources to care for these patients and their families. In this context, nurses' professional practice poses challenges for the three dimensions of continuity of care: relational, informational, and managerial. Faced with these challenges, nursing research is essential for the profession and necessary to promote innovative quality care.

La transformación de los sistemas sanitarios para dar respuesta a las necesidades del paciente crónico y pluripatológico ha situado la continuidad de cuidados como uno de los pilares en los que se basan los programas de atención y el diseño de nuevos recursos para atender a estos pacientes y a sus familias. En este contexto, la práctica profesional de las enfermeras presenta retos y desafíos en las tres dimensiones de la continuidad de cuidados: relacional, informativa y de gestión. Ante estos desafíos, la investigación en enfermería es fundamental para la profesión y necesaria para promover unos cuidados innovadores y de calidad.

A transformação dos sistemas sanitários para atender às necessidades do paciente crônico e pluripatológico situa a continuidade de cuidados como um dos pilares nos quais os programas de atenção e a criação de recursos para assistir esses pacientes e suas famílias estão baseados. Nesse contexto, a prática profissional dos enfermeiros apresenta desafios e obstáculos nas três dimensões da continuidade de cuidados: relacional, informativa e de gestão. Diante desses desafios, a pesquisa em enfermagem é fundamental para a profissão e necessária para promover cuidados inovadores e de qualidade.

Impact assessment following implementation of a vascular access team.

BACKGROUND: A vascular access team (VAT) was created in 2018 with the aim of improving vascular access and reducing complications associated with catheters. The impact of the introduction of a VAT in the insertion and maintenance of peripheral insertion central catheters (PICCs) was assessed. The cost-benefit associated with the use of a VAT was evaluated and the satisfaction of patients and professionals interacting with the VAT was measured. METHODS: In a prospective study, 275 PICCs inserted by the VAT were assessed for their impact on complications. PICCs were implanted with maximum barrier measures using an ultrasound with IC-ECG. Also, patient and professional satisfaction have been analysed thought a questionnaire over the phone or online, and hospital financial data was used to assess the cost impact of the insertion methodology followed by the VAT versus Anaesthesia Service. RESULTS: The thrombosis rate was 2.5% (7) and the bacteraemia rate was 1.1% (3). The use of the IC-ECG was correlated with a lower complication than the RX + IC-ECG (OR = 3.28, p = 0.021). In addition, there was a high level of perceived satisfaction for the patients surveyed and for the healthcare professionals involved in the care and management of these devices. The calculated saving for the implementation of the VAT was 61.81% compared with PICCs implanted in Anaesthesia Service. CONCLUSION: Low complication rates and high overall satisfaction scores in patients and professionals were observed, showing that a specialist VAT can have a positive impact in the insertion of PICCs and which also has a clear economic benefit.

The Spanish Version of the Child Medical Fear Questionnaire: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation.

Having valid and reliable tools that help health professionals to assess fear in children undergoing medical procedures is essential to offer humanised and quality of care in the paediatric population. The aim of this study was to develop the cross-cultural adaptation and the evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the "Child Medical Fear Scale" in its shortened version (CMFS-R). The design consisted of two phases: first, of cross-cultural adaptation and second, of the psychometric validation of the CMFS-R with a sample of 262 children from Spain, applying a cross-sectional design. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess construct validity and the Cronbach's alpha and the adjusted item-total score correlation coefficients were performed to study reliability. The results confirmed internal consistency and construct validity of the Spanish version of the CMFS-R, indicating that the scale has an acceptable level of validity and reliability. Therefore, this study brings a new version of the scale to assess fear related to medical procedures for use in the Spanish paediatric population.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Overall Burden of Accidental Injuries in Navarra, Spain: Epidemiology of Injuries in Children.

Injuries caused by accidents or violent situations in pediatric patients are a serious social problem where prevention plays a key role. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological situation of pediatric injuries in Spain. A prospective study of pediatric patients receiving care in the Emergency Service of the Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra due to for reasons of accidental injury was conducted. The study covered a period of 1 year and assessed a total of 16 variables. There were a total of 8,876 patients, of whom 56.4% were males. Traumatic injuries such as fractures and craniocerebral trauma were identified as the most frequent injuries, occurring as a result of injuries mainly in the home. In females, there was a decrease in the incidence of injuries related to age. There was a greater incidence at the end of the day, during the weekend, and in the months of March to October. The epidemiological profile of pediatric patients who met with accidents in Navarra, Spain, is described. The knowledge of the main areas and factors related to injuries allows us to improve preventive measures, which would contribute to better control in this region of Spain.

Differences in the treatment and evolution of acute coronary syndromes according to gender: what are the causes?

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to analyse the differences in the treatment and the evolution of acute coronary syndromes according to the gender of the patient and to determine the likely causes of these differences. BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies confirm the differences in the course and treatment of acute coronary syndromes according to factors such as gender and age. The factors associated with the observed gender-based differences are not known. DESIGN AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted on 596 patients treated in the Hospital Emergency Service of the Hospital Complex of Navarra, Spain, from 1 January 2012 to April 2013 with acute coronary syndromes. A bivariate and logistic analysis has been made by adjusting the age and severity of process to know the differences by gender. RESULTS: A total of 71·8% (n = 428) were men, and the remaining 28·2% (168) were women. The mean age of the men was 66·4 ± 12·7 years, and the mean age of the women was 72·5 ± 13·9 years. We found that antiplatelet drugs (68·4 vs. 22·7%), blockers (70 vs. 25·4%), ACE inhibitors (56·2 vs. 15·6%), fibrinolysis (17·2 vs. 4·5%, p = 0·025) and primary angioplasty (AP) (38·7 vs. 16·3%, p = 0·008) were less frequently administered to women compared with men. We observed an additional delay in the demand for health care in women with acute coronary syndromes compared with men. CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between treatment differences and gender. The delay in the request of health care in women is observed to be the largest correlating factor, in addition to voluntary discharge in women affected by acute coronary syndromes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Delays in seeking medical care or voluntary discharge are likely factors related to worse outcomes in women. These factors should be explored, and the results should be made available to the public, particularly to women.