Validity and reliability of the RAC adult infection risk scale: A new instrument to measure healthcare-associated infection risk.

Healthcare-associated infections represent a public health problem, and they have repercussions for patient safety. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Rodríguez-Almeida-Cañon (RAC) adult infection risk scale, focusing on the construct and predictive validity and reliability. The study enrolled 278 patients at a large hospital in southern Brazil. The research process involved the following three phases: construct validation, assessing predictive validity, and assessing reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit using a two-factor model with 15 items. The logistic regression analysis showed an association between the scale score and prediction of developing healthcare-associated infections (odds ratio: 1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.28). The Cronbach's alpha was 0.72 for intrinsic factors subscale and 0.71 for extrinsic factors subscale. A high level of inter-rater agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.97) was found for both subscales. The Bland and Altman method showed narrow agreement limits, demonstrating good agreement between evaluators. The findings of this study showed that the RAC adult infection risk scale is a new, reliable, and psychometrically valid instrument to assess healthcare-associated infections risk. Future research using this scale may lead to a better understanding of the healthcare-associated infections risk and assist health professionals in decision-making for interventions to improve patient safety.

International Collaboration and New Research Evidence on Nanda International Terminology.

OBJECTIVES: To discuss priorities and possibilities for promoting international collaboration and new research evidence on NANDA International, Inc. (NANDA-I). METHODS: Theoretical reflection article based on the literature and the authors' opinions on the subject matter, carried out by six research nurses. CONCLUSIONS: International research collaboration for NANDA-I allows the improvement of research production in an actual clinical setting, especially with multicenter and validation studies, conducted by researchers from different countries. This provides for improved understanding of patients' experiences and may help to produce robust scientific evidence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING KNOWLEDGE: The generation of new evidence may lead to an increase in NANDA-I visibility and in nurses' understanding of its meaning for clinical practice and for the formulation of diagnostic hypotheses.

NANDA-I, NOC, and NIC Linkages for Nutritional Problems.

PURPOSE: To determine nursing outcomes and interventions for problem-focused nursing diagnoses related to nutritional problems. METHODS: Judgment of linkages among nursing diagnoses, outcomes, and interventions using a multiple review process. Five nursing diagnoses were selected, and then outcomes and interventions were determined, based on clinical expertise and scientific literature. FINDINGS: Nursing outcomes and interventions were determined for the resolution or improvement of the nursing diagnoses, with selection of interventions that could influence the progression of the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides knowledge for developing care plans for patients with nutritional problems and evaluating the response to the interventions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: NANDA-I, Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), and Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) linkages facilitate nurses' ability to select nursing outcomes and interventions for patients with nutritional problems.

Adverse Reactions to Medications: Concept Analysis and Development of a New Risk Nursing Diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the concept of adverse reaction to medications and to develop the new nursing diagnosis Risk for Adverse Reactions to Medications. METHODS: Concept analysis using Walker and Avant's eight step method. FINDINGS: Thirty-three articles indexed in four databases were included. The components of the new nursing diagnosis were determined, including possible nursing outcomes and interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The concept analysis supported the development of the new nursing diagnosis Risk for Adverse Reactions to Medications, which may help nurses to evaluate and identify patients susceptible to adverse reactions. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The establishment of this nursing diagnosis will provide nurses an opportunity to implement interventions to anticipate and effectively intervene with patients at risk for this condition.

Evaluation of Acute Pain in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate pain levels in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC). METHODS: Prospective cohort study conducted in the surgical hospitalization units of a university hospital in southern Brazil. Twenty-four patients were evaluated and followed-up for four consecutive days after THA. FINDINGS: A significant difference was found between the first and last evaluations for the outcome pain level (2102). Two indicators also showed statistically significant differences overtime. CONCLUSIONS: The NOC outcome and indicators demonstrated the different pain levels of patients who underwent THA. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The NOC system is applicable to clinical practice, because it facilitated the follow-up of patient progression.

Evaluation of Patients in a Smoking Cessation Support Group Using the Nursing Outcomes Classification.

PURPOSE: To evaluate patients in a smoking cessation support group using the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC). METHODS: Prospective observational cohort study conducted with 21 patients participating in a smoking cessation support group. Data were collected using an instrument consisting of 2 NOC outcomes and 20 indicators, applied during each of the six support group meetings. FINDINGS: The two NOC outcomes, Smoking Cessation Behavior (1625) and Substance Withdrawal Severity (2108), showed statistically significant differences over time in many of their indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The NOC outcomes demonstrated the clinical evolution and behavioral improvement of patients during the smoking cessation process. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The findings highlight important elements of the evaluation of behavioral change and severity of withdrawal symptoms.

Nursing Outcomes for the Evaluation of Patients During Smoking Cessation.

OBJECTIVES: To select outcomes of the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) and develop operational definitions for their indicators in order to evaluate patients during smoking cessation. METHODS: A consensus study among experts, involving eight nurses. A 100% consensus was required to select the outcomes. Operational definitions were developed based on the literature. RESULTS: Two outcomes were selected, Smoking Cessation Behavior (1625)-with nine indicators, and Substance Withdrawal Severity (2108)-with 11 indicators, for which we developed operational definitions. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus allowed the selection of NOC outcomes and indicators, which will allow us to evaluate patients during smoking cessation using a standardized classification. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: A standardized classification provides a more qualified evaluation of patients during smoking cessation.