Effectiveness of nursing interventions in the prevention of falls in older adults in the community and in health care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCT.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness of fall prevention programs in people aged 65 years and older involving nursing professionals. METHODS: We included available full-text randomized clinical trials on nurse-led prevention of falls in the community in people over 65 years of age and reporting the incidence of such falls. An extensive search was performed in 14 databases covering the period 2016-2018 for publications in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The quality of the papers was assessed independently and blindly by reviewers working in pairs using the risk of bias dominios of the Cochrane Collaboration. The hazard ratio was used as a measure of the effect size of the incidence of falls. A random-effects model was assumed for statistical analyses. The influence of moderator variables of the studies on the effect sizes was performed using ANOVAs and its 95% CI for each moderator category. RESULTS: A total of 31 randomized clinical trials were selected with 25,551 participants. The most frequent type of intervention was education (57.1%), followed by multifactorial models (37.1%). The probability of falling was significantly reduced by 13% in the intervention groups compared to the control groups (RR+=0.87). Multifactorial (RR+=0.89) and education-based (RR=+0.84) interventions significantly reduced the probability of falls by 11% and 16%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Discarding publication bias prevention programs carried out by nurses produce a significant 10% reduction in falls. Education-based and multifactorial interventions are the most effective when conducted by nurses.

Assessment of high fidelity simulation with actors in palliative care in nursing students: a mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVE: The most effective training methods are experiential, including those focused on experiences and emotions. Clinical simulation, especially high-fidelity simulation, is one of the most effective methodologies for the acquisition of competencies in care like palliative care. The simulation with actors can train future healthcare science professionals: in technical, intellectual, or interpersonal skills. The objective is to evaluate high-fidelity simulation with actors as a tool in palliative care training for nursing students. METHOD: Over three years, the study was conducted in a Faculty of Nursing of the south of Spain with nursing students. A mixed methods study with sequential explanatory design in three moments was conducted: (1) Quasi-experimental study in a single group (n = 12) before and after attending the palliative care course with Clinical Simulation with actors to assess the communication skills (CICAA scale), (2) Qualitative study with phenomenological perspective after Clinical Simulation (174 reflective students' narratives), (3) Cross-sectional observational study, one year later, to assess the transfer of knowledge and skills to the clinical practice (71 students). RESULTS: Students who interacted with actors in Clinical Simulation improved their communication skills and the ability to establish an effective helping relationship with both end-of-life patients and their families. The students perceived the Clinical Simulation as an innovative learning methodology that is useful to encourage reflection and transfer of learning during their clinical internship. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization of the use of active learning methodologies is recommended for a better acquisition of transversal skills such as communication skills in palliative care.

Relationship between Falls and the Use of Medications and Diseases in an Otago Exercise Programme in Old People Living in the Community in Spain.

(1) Background: Falls are a significant health problem among older adults, and can result in severe injuries, disability, and even death. In Spain, the prevalence of falls is lower if the person lives in the community than if they are institutionalized. Research has shown that exercise is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of falls among older adults. The objective of this study was to study the influence of a multicomponent exercise intervention on falls in people between 65 and 80 years of age despite the presence of diseases and drug use that are risk factors for falls; (2) Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study that focuses on people aged 65-80 who attended 21 primary healthcare centres. Target: Inclusion criteria were people between 65 and 80 years of age, living in the community with independent ambulation, and who were served by the healthcare centre of their region. Variables analysed: The number and characteristics of falls, sociodemographic, drug use, and previous diseases; (3) Results: The drugs associated with falls are benzodiazepines (OR 2.58), vasodilators (OR = 2.51), and psychotropics (OR = 1.61). For one of the years, a relationship was found between the consumption of antidepressants and falls (OR = 1.83). The associated diseases were mental and behavioural (OR = 2.53); (4) Discussion: The intervention has been related to the reduction in falls in people who consumed benzodiazepines, vasodilators, and psychotropics and in people with mental disorders; (5) Conclusion: This research concludes the importance of the implementation of the Otago Exercise Programme in the prevention of falls in the elderly.

Promoting empowerment and self-care in older women through participatory action research: Analysis of the process of change.

AIM: To generate and understand the process of change in the empowerment of women from 60 to 80 years old through a Participatory Action Research. SPECIFIC AIM: To analyse the women participants' experiences concerning empowerment and self-care. DESIGN: We use the Participatory Action Research approach (in its critical option) in the Socio-critical Paradigm and applying the Kemmis and McTaggart Model. METHODS: A group of 10 women participants from 60 to 80 years old was created and developed the Participatory Action Research from June 2019 to May 2020. This group was involved in 22 group sessions, individual interviews, reflective diaries and triangulation with quantitative data. RESULTS: Findings were interpreted based on the Gestalt Self Theory. Women generated changes in their empowerment based on three characteristics (self-determination, self-esteem and self-confidence) and, consequently, in their self-care. They did so according to two distinct patterns of behaviour: Leader women and follower women. The former took the lead in transforming their realities and the latter observed them and evolved in a slower and more reflective manner. These changes had an impact on the most individual level (inner world) and went beyond that barrier, modifying in turn their immediate surroundings and the social level (outer world). CONCLUSIONS: The group of older women began to consider their needs and consider themselves as important once they worked on their self-determination, self-esteem and self-confidence; we show these are key aspects to work on their empowerment and promote their self-care. IMPACT: The patterns of behaviour and dimensions of empowerment detected may help in future research designs and emancipatory community interventions in this population group.

Participatory Action Research on empowerment in older women: A theoretical-methodological analysis.

This article aims to conceptually and methodologically analyse the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR), through field research, in order to increase knowledge about it, and to illustrate its strengths and weaknesses to encourage its use in Health Sciences. Within qualitative methodology, PAR can be used as a tool for the analysis of change and transformation, whose objective is the emancipation and liberation of people who find themselves in an oppressive social context. The assessment of this approach is based on field research with older women who sought to improve their self-care through empowerment. For this purpose, PAR was undertaken, consisting of 22 sessions and two individual telephone calls where qualitative and quantitative data generation tools were used; all this through the most critical modality of PAR. In an exercise of reflexivity, modifications and improvements in the intervention were detected to work with older women in future research. The analysis carried out makes it possible to generate new knowledge on PAR for future research thanks to the identification of critical points: the link generated, the adaptation of tools to older women, and the handling of the high volume of data produced.

Effects of nursing interventions to improve inpatients' sleep in intensive and non-intensive care units: Findings from an umbrella review.

AIM: This review aimed to synthesise the available reviews on the effects of nursing interventions on sleep quality among patients hospitalised in intensive care and non-intensive care units. BACKGROUND: Poor sleep quality is a common fact in hospitalised patients. Nurses can contribute to the improvement of patients' sleep quality and duration. DESIGN: A review of intervention reviews was carried out and reported following the PRISMA guidelines and checklist. METHODS: We systematically searched for reviews published from January 2009 to December 2019 in PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science, Joanna Briggs Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. Searches were repeated at 24 November 2020 to include the most recent evidence. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. RESULTS: Nine reviews (representing 109 original papers) met the selection criteria and were included for critical appraisal. Overall, nursing interventions and sleep quality were poorly defined. We grouped the interventions into 3 categories (environmental, barrier and internal interventions) to provide a more comprehensive overview and examine effects of nursing interventions on inpatients sleep quality. Inconsistent results were obtained and low quality of the original articles was reported, making it difficult to establish absolute conclusions. CONCLUSION: The impact of environmental changes on patients' sleep was positive but inconclusive, while use of earplugs and eye masks, music and acupuncture generally showed positive results with moderate quality of evidence, and no harmful effects were reported.

Sleep quality among inpatients of Spanish public hospitals.

Sleep is a complex process and is needed both in health and illness. Deprivation of sleep is known to have multiple negative physiological effects on people's bodies and minds. Despite the awareness of these harmful effects, previous studies have shown that sleep is poor among hospitalised patients. We utilized an observational design with 343 patients recruited from medical and surgical units in 12 hospitals located in nine Spanish regions. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients were collected. Sleep quality at admission and during hospitalisation was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Sleep quantity was self-reported by patients in hours and minutes. Mean PSQI score before and during hospitalisation were respectively 8.62 ± 4.49 and 11.31 ± 4.04. Also, inpatients slept about an hour less during their hospital stay. Lower educational level, sedative medication intake, and multi-morbidity was shown to be associated with poorer sleep quality during hospitalisation. A higher level of habitual physical activity has shown to correlate positively with sleep quality in hospital. Our study showed poor sleep quality and quantity of inpatients and a drastic deterioration of sleep in hospital versus at home. These results may be helpful in drawing attention to patients' sleep in hospitals and encouraging interventions to improve sleep.

[Limited Reuse and Extended Use of Filtering Facepiece Respirators]. / Reutilización limitada y uso extendido de mascarillas de media-alta filtración.

AIM: Personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators, is essential in a pandemic like COVID-19, which has required, on many occasions, the reuse of material due to its shortage. The aim of this review is to summarize available evidence on the reuse and extended use of filtering facepiece respirator. METHOD: Scoping review. Search through natural language in PUBMED and Centers, Agencies and Organizations for Disease Control. Limited to articles published between 2010-2020 in English and Spanish. RESULTS: 83 articles were located, 14 were selected, plus 5 recommendations. The topics included in this study are classified in 7 sections: expiration, extended use and reuse of masks, handling techniques, sealing, physical-psychological effects and compliance, contamination and decontamination of respirators. CONCLUSIONS: The reuse of masks is not recommended by official organizations or manufacturers, and is only accepted in extraordinary cases, such as pandemics. The studies are characterized by having small samples, using different models of respirators adjusting their recommendation to the model.

[Disinfectants and antiseptics facing coronavirus: synthesis of evidence and recommendations]. / Desinfectantes y antisépticos frente al coronavirus: Síntesis de evidencias y recomendaciones.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the available evidence on the use of antiseptics and disinfectants in the face of VIDOC-19 infection. METHOD: Bibliographic search in the main databases (WOS, CCC, DIIDW, KJD, MEDLINE, RSCI, SCIELO, PubMed, BMJ Best Practice, Cochrane Library, UptoDate) and on the web of official bodies in March 2020, using descriptors and truncations. The search was limited to reviews published between 2016-2020. RESULTS: Thirty-six papers were identified (no duplicates) of which 17 were selected for relevance and specificity and one paper was added from the literature review. In the documents finally used, no evidence was located, but experiences and recommendations of interest were found, highlighting the importance of material, environmental and, very significantly, hand disinfection. CONCLUSION: There is no clear evidence, nor are there clear recommendations for the use of one or another antiseptic, although the action of sodium hypochlorite, ethanol and hydrogen peroxide is highlighted in comparison to others such as benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine digluconate, povidoeyodine and diluted ethyl alcohol. Particular importance is attached to their use in hand hygiene, the use of protective equipment and environmental disinfection.

The Relation between Functional Performance, Falls and Previous Falls Among Participants in the Otago Programme: A Secondary Data Analysis.

Fall prevention is a key priority in healthcare policies. Multicomponent exercises reduce the risk of falls. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between functional performance and falls after following the Otago multicomponent exercise programme and previous falls. A prospective multi-centre intervention study was performed on 498 patients aged over 65 in primary care, with or without a history of previous falls. Sociodemographic, anthropometric and functionality data were collected. The primary outcome was the occurrence of falls; functional performance was measured using the Tinetti, Short Physical Performance Battery and Timed Up and Go tests. Among the patients, 29.7% referred to previous falls. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) increase in falls at 6 months (10.1%) and at 12 months (7.6%) among participants with previous falls in the baseline assessment compared to those without. In addition, the existence of previous falls could be considered a risk factor at 6 and 12 months (OR =2.37, p = 0.002, and OR = 1.76, p = 0.046, respectively). With regard to balance and gait, differences between the groups were observed at 6 months in the Tinetti score (p < 0.001) and in the baseline assessment Timed Up and Go score (p < 0.044). Multicomponent exercises improve the fall rate, balance and gait in older people, although this improvement is less in people with previous falls. Earlier intervention and tailoring of exercises in patients with previous falls could help improve outcomes.

[The care in the prevention of falls in elderly people: Meta-summary of qualitative articles]. / El cuidado en la prevención de caídas en personas mayores: metaresumen de artículos cualitativos.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the qualitative evidence on the role of care providers in the prevention of falls of persons over 65 years of age in centres and in the community. DESIGN: Meta-summary of qualitative evidence following the aggregation method. DATA SOURCES: Extensive manual search of 16 databases (CINAHL, Pubmed/Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, PeDRO, Opengrey (Reports), Cuiden, Cuidatge, Enfispo, Medes, Lilacs, Teseo, Dissertation and Thesis Global and Ibecs), in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese; no time limit. SELECTION OF STUDIES: Selection and blind critical appraisal by pairs. A first relevance and relevance screening and a second critical appraisal screening were carried out. A total of 4170 articles were located; 41 qualitative articles were critically appraised and 31 were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: Data regarding author, year, study design, location, participants (number, age, sex and occupation), study methods and findings were extracted. RESULTS: The analysis revealed four major themes: precipitating factors, preventive models, feelings and decision-making process. It also highlights the difficult act of ethical balance, the role of the institution in prevention and the fragmentation of care, as keys to successful implementation. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show the complexity of fall prevention and the need to incorporate care providers' opinions in preventive models.

Managing and keeping control: A qualitative synthesis of nursing and care staff strategies to prevent older people from falling.

AIM: To better understand formal care providers' role in fall prevention. DESIGN: Qualitative synthesis as part of an integrative review. DATA SOURCES: Fifteen electronic databases were consulted with the time limit being December 2017. Studies included were qualitative primary studies on formal care providers and fall prevention of people over 65 years of age in health care facilities. 17 studies were included. REVIEW METHODS: Qualitative researchers carried out a critical appraisal and abstraction of the studies retained. Primary studies were imported into Nvivo 12 software; grounded theory procedures of constant comparison, microanalysis, coding, development of memos and diagrams were completed concurrently in a continuous growing process of data conceptualization. Analysis was iterative; it started with open coding and ended with the development of an integrative memo. FINDINGS: Primary studies were synthesized with the emerging core category of "Managing and keeping control" and described by the emerging strategies of risk management, risk control and articulation work. These three categories account for the formal care providers' role in fall prevention in health care facilities. CONCLUSION: Fall prevention is not given by a series of means and instruments; it is rather built in the interactions between formal care providers and the material and social world. The interactive character of prevention implies that outcomes cannot always be anticipated. IMPACT: Although falls are one of the most researched clinical problems in nursing, the role played by nursing and care staff is dispersed and scantily documented. Formal care providers alternate risk management with risk control strategies to prevent older people from falling in health care facilities, they also resort to the articulation of the health care team as a complementary strategy. This review shows the dynamic character of fall prevention, which is something that has tended to go unnoticed in the literature and in policy.

Detection of factors influencing circadian rhythms on Intensive Care inpatients and hospitalization: Protocol for an observational study.

AIMS: Identify the prevalence of circadian health disorders in ICU and hospitalized patients. Stablish the relationship of the circadian system with light, temperature, noise and nursing activities. BACKGROUND: Commonly, self-assessment through subjective questionnaires is used for research about sleep quality. However, more reliable and valid measures should be applied objectively to find out the real prevalence of the problem. There is a negative relationship between circadian rhythms and hospitalization. In this study, we will analyse sleep patterns and hospital environments to implement measures to improve the quality of care related to sleep. DESIGN: Descriptive observational study. It is estimated that 975 patients from 13 hospitals need to be recruited from ICU and hospitalization units. The sample should meet the following criteria: Patients over 18 admitted to ICU and medical units, length of stay between 96-148 hr, with no visual, hearing or moderate-severe cognitive impairment. Variables: Sleep variables are collected with an electronic device (named Kronowise® and Kronobed®), circadian and infrared light exposure, environmental noise, temperature, unit structural characteristics, nursing care (from 0 to 6 a.m.) and, characteristics of hospitalization period. The study, registered on Clinical Trials, initiated in December 2019 and it will continue up to December 2022. DISCUSSION: Using objective and subjective measures of sleep and circadian rhythms, this study will shed light on the factors that negatively affect the hospitalized patients' sleep quality and circadian health. The ultimate goal is to design hospital guidelines to minimize the adverse effects on the dependent variables studied. Arguably, these guidelines will contribute to reducing the risk of these alterations and it will also serve to improve the nursing activities. CONCLUSION: We expect to obtain adequate results for the creation of a protocol to improve the circadian health, quality of care and health outcomes related to sleep in patients.

[Scoping review about the recommendations for home isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Scoping review sobre las recomendaciones para el aislamiento domiciliario en la pandemia de COVID-19.

AIM: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected countries on all continents where containment and isolation measures have been systematically applied. This review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the management of home isolation due to COVID-19 infection. METHOD: A scoping review has been carried out using the Trip Database, PUBMED, CINAHL, COCHRANE and Scopus controlled language without any limits. From all the documents located, information was extracted on the date of publication, country of publication, type of study, assessment of the level of evidence and degree of recommendation, and results of interest to answer the research question. Critical reading of the selected documents has been carried out, but without using it as an exclusion criterion but rather informative. RESULTS: 163 records were located and 14 were selected. The recommendations have been grouped into 10 topics around all the daily management of home care. CONCLUSIONS: The scarcity of robust evidence on isolation from COVID-19 infection is objective. Most of the documents are reviews carried out after the consensus of experts at the international level.

[Fall prevention in older people and their families: a qualitative synthesis]. / La prevención de las caídas de las personas mayores y sus familiares: una síntesis cualitativa.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse and synthesize the evidence on fall prevention of people older than 65 years and their family care providers METHOD: Qualitative synthesis, which is a part of a convergent systematic integrative review. Forty-one qualitative studies were retained for full text scrutiny. Nine studies on family care providers were selected for this synthesis. RESULTS: Care providing, and kinship relationships mediated family care providers' interventions to prevent falls in older people. The fall of the dependent relative constitutes a turning point in these relationships. Family care providers are vulnerable to having a fall themselves and therefore receivers of preventive interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account the context of care and family relations will improve the effectiveness of preventive interventions and will facilitate adherence. Fall prevention policy and programmes must pay better attention to the health and wellbeing of family care providers.

The efficacy of nursing interventions on sleep quality in hospitalized patients: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of interventions that could be performed by nurses to improve the sleep quality of hospitalized patients in acute and semi-acute units. DESIGN: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and narrative synthesis. DATA SOURCES: Seven electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, ISI WoS, CENTRAL, PsycInfo, and Embase) were accessed on 20 May 2019 with a temporal limit of 10 years prior. REVIEW METHODS: Original research studies of interventions that could be delivered by nurses to improve sleep quality during hospitalization in acute and semi-acute units were included. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed by two independent reviewers. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The interventions carried out in the trials were classified into four categories of measurement: environmental, physical, behavioural, and combined. Fourteen studies obtained statistically significant improvements; two showed a blend of significant and non-significant improvements; and one reported non-significant results. However, only four trials of the seventeen were judged as having a low risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Overall evidence about interventions that could be performed by nurses to improve perceived sleep quality in hospitalized patients was found to be positive, and no negative effects were reported. However, higher quality research using both subjective and objective measures is needed, in order to strengthen the evidence.

[Active-Murcia program: secondary analysis, with a gender perspective, on the quality of life of participating women.] / Programa Activa-Murcia: análisis secundario, con perspectiva de género, sobre la calidad de vida en mujeres participantes.

OBJECTIVE: Nowadays sedentarism has become a public health issue, as a matter of gender and age. Older women are more sedentary, which affects their Quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Activa-Murcia Program impact over the Quality of life in women participating in it. METHODS: Longitudinal retrospective descriptive study within a gender perspective was carried out, including women who had participated in the Activa-Murcia Program. A SF-36 Survey of Quality of Life has been evaluated, scoring age range in three different stages and the enviroment in which they live. An analysis of repeated measurements was carried aout using ANOVA, and the Bonferroni Test was used for the pairwise analysis. RESULTS: The sample included 1,140 women. "Overall health" dimension improved up to 3 points, except in women over 60. Score highed inversely proportional to their age in the following dimensions: "Vitality" in 9.9, 6.2 and 3.9; "Mental health" in 7.7, 5.6 and 3.7; "Declared health evolution" in 11.2, 8.6. and 7.6. Women between 30-44 years old living in rural areas and those over 60 living in urban areas did not improve in "Social functions". Dealing with "Emotional Role", women between 30-44 and women between 45-59 in urban areas improved (p<0.05). There was a statistical asociation between being highly aged and improving less in "Vitality", "Emotional Role" and "Mental health". CONCLUSIONS: As women were getting older improve less in the dimensions of quality of life; so that could show, among others, an empowerment deficit.

OBJETIVO: El sedentarismo es un problema de Salud Pública, influenciado por brechas de género y edad. Las mujeres mayores son más sedentarias, lo que repercute en su calidad de vida. El objetivo general de este trabajo fue evaluar el impacto del Programa Activa-Murcia sobre la calidad de Vida de las participantes en dicho programa. METODOS: Se realizó un análisis secundario con perspectiva de género de un estudio descriptivo longitudinal retrospectivo de una cohorte de mujeres que habían participado en el Programa Activa-Murcia, evaluándose las dimensiones del Cuestionario de Calidad de Vida SF-36 y las puntuaciones según tres franjas etarias y el ámbito en el que vivían. Se realizó un análisis de medidas repetidas mediante ANOVA, y para el análisis por pares se utilizó el Test de Bonferroni. RESULTADOS: La muestra la componían 1.140 mujeres. La dimensión "Salud General" mejoró alrededor de 3 puntos, excepto en las mayores de 60 años. Aumentaron las puntuaciones de forma inversamente proporcional a la edad en siguientes dimensiones: "Vitalidad", en 9,9, 6,2 y 3,9 puntos; "Salud Mental", en 7,7, 5,6 y 3,7 puntos; y "Evolución Declarada de Salud", en 11,2, 8,6 y 7,6 puntos. Las mujeres entre 30-44 años rurales y las mayores de 60 años urbanas no mejoraron en "Función Social". Sobre el "Rol Emocional", las mujeres entre 30-44 años y las mujeres entre 45-59 años de zona urbana mejoraban (p<0,05). Existió asociación estadísticamente significativa entre tener mayor edad y mejorar menos en "Vitalidad", "Rol Emocional" y "Salud Mental". CONCLUSIONES: Las mujeres mayores mejoran menos en las dimensiones de la calidad de vida, lo que podría indicar, entre otros motivos, un déficit de empoderamiento.

Situating Preventive Action in a Moral and Clinical Context: A Qualitative Synthesis on Fall Prevention.

The prevention of falls is an integral part of the safety culture of health institutions with mandatory fall prevention programs set within health care facilities. Care providers are key in identifying the risks of falls and in implementing strategic actions to prevent them. With the aim to better understand practices of fall prevention, we conducted a synthesis of qualitative evidence on care providers' practices to prevent older people from falling in health care facilities. This synthesis is part of an integrative review of the role of care providers in fall prevention of adults aged 65 years and above. Primary studies were synthesized with the emerging core category of "a complex decision" and described by four emerging conditions that make that decision complex: (a) permanent threat of a fall, (b) continuous flow of information, (c) lack of control, and (d) ethical dilemmas and moral issues over the course of action. The present synthesis shows that before implementing preventive actions, care providers consider the conditions in which they are immersed, in this way situating their preventive actions in a clinical and a moral context.

"Falls prevention among older people and care providers: protocol for an integrative review".

AIM: To review the evidence about the role of care providers in fall prevention in older adults aged ≥ 65 years, this includes their views, strategies, and approaches on falls prevention and effectiveness of nursing interventions. BACKGROUND: Some fall prevention programmes are successfully implemented and led by nurses and it is acknowledged the vital role they play in developing plans for fall prevention. Nevertheless, there has not been a systematic review of the literature that describes this role and care providers' views on fall's prevention initiatives. DESIGN: A convergent synthesis of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. The eligibility criteria will be based on participants, interventions/exposure, comparisons, and outcomes for quantitative studies and on population, the phenomena of interest and the context, for qualitative studies. To extract data and assess study qualities members of the research team will work in pairs according to their expertise. The review will follow the guidelines for integrative reviews and the proposed methods will adhere to the PRISMA statement checklist complemented by the ENTREQ framework. As qualitative synthesis are emergent, all procedures and changes in procedure will be documented. DISCUSSION: The review has a constructivist drive as studies that combine methods ought to be paradigmatic driven. Review questions are broad to allow issues emerge and have purposefully left the design flexible to allow for adjustments as the review progresses. The review seeks to highlight the roles that care providers play in fall prevention and their views on fall's prevention initiatives.

Efficacy of a self-management plan in exacerbations for patients with advanced COPD.

BACKGROUND: Self-management interventions improve different outcome variables in various chronic diseases. Their role in COPD has not been clearly established. We assessed the efficacy of an intervention called the self-management program on the need for hospital care due to disease exacerbation in patients with advanced COPD. METHODS: Multicenter, randomized study in two hospitals with follow-up of 1 year. All the patients had severe or very severe COPD, and had gone to either an accident and emergency (A&E) department or had been admitted to a hospital at least once in the previous year due to exacerbation of COPD. The intervention consisted of a group education session on the main characteristics of the disease, an individual training session on inhalation techniques, at the start and during the 3rd month, and a written action plan containing instructions for physical activity and treatment for stable phases and exacerbations. We determined the combined number of COPD-related hospitalizations and emergency visits per patient per year. Secondary endpoints were number of patients with visits to A&E and the number of patients hospitalized because of exacerbations, use of antibiotics and corticosteroids, length of hospital stay, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: After 1 year, the rate of COPD exacerbations with visits to A&E or hospitalization had decreased from 1.37 to 0.89 (P=0.04) and the number of exacerbations dropped from 52 to 42 in the group of patients who received the intervention. The numbers of patients hospitalized, at 19 (40.4%) versus 20 (52.6%) (P=0.26), and those who went to A&E, at 9 (19.1%) versus 14 (36.8%) (P=0.06), due to exacerbation of COPD were also lower in this group. Intake of antibiotics was higher in the intervention group, whereas use of glucocorticoids was slightly lower, though there were no significant differences (P=0.30). There were also no differences between groups in the length of hospital stay (P=0.154) or overall mortality (P=0.191). CONCLUSION: The implementation of a self-management program for patients with advanced COPD reduced exacerbations that required hospital care.