Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire for community health nurses: reliability and validity of a Spanish adaptation.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to translate the community nursing version of the Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire, adapt the Spanish translation to the primary care context in Spain, and evaluate its reliability and validity. BACKGROUND: Instruments available in Spanish to date are not designed to rigorously evaluate barriers and incentives associated with evidence-based practice implementation in community health nursing. DESIGN: Classical Test Theory approach. METHODS: The 49-item Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire was translated, back-translated and pilot-tested. Two items were added to assess respondents' ability to read and understand the English language. During the first six months of 2010, 513 nurses from 255 primary health care centres in Catalunya (Spain) voluntarily participated in the study. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Internal structure was analysed by principal component analysis. A randomized, controlled, parallel-design study was carried out to test scores' sensitivity to change with two groups, intervention and control. The intervention consisted of eight hours of in-person training, provided by experts in evidence-based practice. RESULTS: Of 513 nurses, 445 (86·7%) nurses responded to all 51 items. Factor analysis showed six components that explained 51% of the total variance. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were satisfactory (Cronbach α and intraclass correlation coefficients >0·70). A total of 93 nurses participated in the sensitivity-to-change tests (42 in the intervention group, 51 controls). After the training session, overall score and the 'skills for evidence-based practice' component score showed a medium (Cohen d = 0·69) and large effect (Cohen d = 0·86), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire adapted to community health nursing in the primary care setting in Spain has satisfactory psychometric properties. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The Developing Evidence-Based Practice questionnaire is a useful tool for planning and evaluating the implementation of evidence-based practice in community health nursing.

Impact of a quality improvement intervention on nurses' management of same-day primary care flow.

AIM: To evaluate the impact of an interdisciplinary intervention designed to improve the capacity of nurses to manage walk-in patient demand for primary health care. BACKGROUND: Implementation of a programme to expand nursing practice is a complex process that requires the application of context-appropriate measures and adaptation when results do not meet expectations. METHODS: A longitudinal, uncontrolled intervention study with a 3-year follow-up, from 2009 to 2012, was carried out in Catalonia (northeast Spain). The intervention included three training periods focused on clinical and instrumentation topics. The capacity of nurses to manage walk-in patient demand was assessed by determining the number of cases resolved and of return visits for the same complaint within 72 hours. RESULTS: In total, 2751 patient care demands were evaluated. Resolved cases increased (χ(2)  = 54.624, df = 1, P < 0.001) and the number of return visits decreased (χ(2)  = 54.585, df = 1, P < 0.001) significantly from baseline to the end of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses' capacity to manage walk-in patient demand improved after an interdisciplinary intervention using a mutually agreed upon, locally adapted approach. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: To improve outcomes, nurses in management positions should systematically consider the need for skills training, specific academic courses, leadership development and, as appropriate, legislative initiatives.

[Implementation of an integrated nursing liaison model: a descriptive study]. / Implementación de un modelo integrado de enfermería de enlace: un estudio descriptivo.

AIMS: To evaluate the implementation of a liaison nursing model that integrates primary care and hospital functions and to analyze the role of this model in situations of dependency. METHOD: We performed an analytical-observational study of demand for liaison in continuity of care during the first year after implementation of the model. Patients were classified into six categories. The degree dependency was established by means of the Barthel index and Virginia Henderson's needs. RESULTS: A total of 515 cases of liaison were observed (women: 57.3%, age: 69.32 +/- 18.25). Origin: hospital (78.1%), primary care (21.9%); destination: hospital (6.8%), primary care (82.1%), other (11.1%). Most frequent patient profile: continuity of cures/techniques. Main altered needs: hygiene/skin (65.8%), movement (55.5%), dressing (47.4%) and elimination (26.2%). Degree of dependency: no dependency (15.2%), slight dependency (62.7%), moderate dependency (3.4%), high dependency (18%). The degree of dependency was lower in hospital demand than in primary care demand (p<0.001). Other services involved: social work (21.7%), Functional Interdisciplinary Social-Health Unit (10.3%), Administration (5%), Domiciliary Care Support Team Program (4.7%), Residential Physio-Rehabilitation Team (3.9%). ProdeP project (people over 65): 37.5% showed dependency (low dependency [14.5%], moderate [33%], high or complete dependency [52.5%]). CONCLUSIONS: TThe highest flow was from the hospital setting to primary care, with a lower degree of dependency but greater urgency in the provision of continuity of care. We observed a high percentage of dependency. The liaison nursing model facilitates provision of coordinated and comprehensive care, with a high component of situations of dependency.