ICA-EMA: A Tool for Assessing Nursing Complexity of Patients With Oncohematologic Disease in an Italian Center.

Inpatients with hematologic cancer (HC), particularly in an aging population, often require levels of nursing care that feel very demanding. Therefore, it is important to assess nursing complexity in this care environment. The purpose of this study is to assess nursing complexity of inpatients with HC. A prospective observational study was carried out on 131 patients admitted to an adult hematologic center in northern Italy. The following variables were analyzed by means of the Index of Caring Complexity (ICA): age, sex, diagnostic category, purpose of admission, presence of transplant, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and length of stay. A total sample of 131 patients were enrolled. Patients older than 65 years, with a history of transplant, admitted for complications, and with a diagnosis of myeloma or myelodysplasia had higher ICA scores. Therefore, patients in these groups are more likely to exhibit a higher nursing complexity than other patients. The study results can help health-care professionals identify, at an early stage, patients who need higher levels of nursing care; promote a more efficient allocation of nursing staff to the patient needs based on their group; and qualify the need for higher levels of nursing care in order to improve nursing care quality and achieve higher standards of care in Italian hematologic centers.

Elementos do cuidado de enfermagem aos pacientes onco-hematológicos: um estudo de caso / Elements of nursing care for onco-hematology patients: a case study / Atención de los elementos para pacientes onco-hematológicos: un estudio de caso

Objective: To identify the elements of nursing care to onco-hematological patients hospitalized in the hematology of a university hospital located in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Method: This is a case study whose data collection was between February and June 2013 through a semistructured interview with 10 members of the unit's nursing team and submitted content analysis, approved by the CEP under opinion144.119. Results: As an element of care for onco-hematologic patients, those related to prevention of bleeding and infection, comfort, emotional support and orientation were pointed out. Conclusion: It was observed that such elements are essential for the maintenance of a safe and efficient treatment of these patients not only in the hospital environment, but also in the home context. And they need to be understood and incorporated by all involved to guarantee quality of life for onco-hematologic patients

Objetivo: Identificar los elementos del cuidado de la enfermería a pacientes onco-hematológicos internados en la hematología de un hospital universitario localizado en el Estado de Río de Janeiro. Método: Trata-se de un estudio de caso, cuya coleta de datos ocurrió entre febrero y junio de 2013 por medio de entrevista semi-estructurada con 10 miembros de la enfermería de la unidad y sometidos análisis de contenido, aprobado por el CEP en opinión144.119. Resultados: Apontar como elemento de cuidado de los pacientes onco-hematológicos relacionados con la prevención de sangramento e infección, el confort, el apoyo emocional y orientativo. Conclusión: Observamos que los elementos son esenciales para un mantenimiento de un tratamiento seguro y eficiente

Objetivo: Identificar os elementos do cuidado de enfermagem a pacientes onco-hematológicos internados na hematologia de um hospital universitário localizado no Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Método:Trata-se de um estudo de caso, cuja coleta de dados ocorreu entre fevereiro a junho de 2013 por meio de entrevista semiestruturada com 10 membros da equipe de enfermagem da unidade e submetida análise de conteúdo, aprovado pelo CEP sob parecer n.144.119. Resultados: Apontaram como elemento do cuidado aos pacientes onco-hematológicos os relacionados à prevenção de sangramento e infecção, conforto, apoio emocional e orientação. Conclusão: Observou-se que tais elementos são essenciais para a manutenção de um tratamento seguro e eficiente destes pacientes, não só no ambiente hospitalar, mas também no contexto domiciliar,os quais precisam ser compreendidos e incorporados por todos os envolvidos para garantir qualidade de vida aos pacientes onco-hematológicos

Ethical competence in DNR decisions -a qualitative study of Swedish physicians and nurses working in hematology and oncology care.

BACKGROUND: DNR decisions are frequently made in oncology and hematology care and physicians and nurses may face related ethical dilemmas. Ethics is considered a basic competence in health care and can be understood as a capacity to handle a task that involves an ethical dilemma in an adequate, ethically responsible manner. One model of ethical competence for healthcare staff includes three main aspects: being, doing and knowing, suggesting that ethical competence requires abilities of character, action and knowledge. Ethical competence can be developed through experience, communication and education, and a supportive environment is necessary for maintaining a high ethical competence. The aim of the present study was to investigate how nurses and physicians in oncology and hematology care understand the concept of ethical competence in order to make, or be involved in, DNR decisions and how such skills can be learned and developed. A further aim was to investigate the role of guidelines in relation to the development of ethical competence in DNR decisions. METHODS: Individual interviews were conducted with fifteen nurses and sixteen physicians. The interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Physicians and nurses in the study reflected on their ethical competence in relation to DNR decisions, on what it should comprise and how it could be developed. The ethical competence described by the respondents related to the concepts being, doing and knowing. CONCLUSIONS: In order to make ethically sound DNR decisions in oncology and hematology care, physicians and nurses need to develop appropriate virtues, improve their knowledge of ethical theories and relevant clinical guidelines. Ethical competence also includes the ability to act upon ethical judgements. Continued ethical education and discussions for further development of a common ethical language and a good ethical working climate can improve ethical competence and help nurses and physicians cooperate better with regard to patients in relation to DNR decisions, in their efforts to act in the best interest of the patient.

Ambulatory care for haematology and oncology patients.

Bethan Ingram, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Teenage Cancer Trust Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, discusses alternatives to inpatient-focused services.

O adolescente frente ao transplante de células tronco-hematopoiéticas: contribuições para as ações do Enfermeiro na equipe multiprofissional / The adolescent in front of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: contributions to the Nurse´s actions in the multidisciplinary team

O câncer constitui um problema de saúde pública para o mundo desenvolvido e também para nações em desenvolvimento. Segundo a estimativa realizada pelo Inca para o ano de 2012, a partir dos dados dos Registros de Câncer de Base Populacional (RCBP), o percentual mediano dos tumores pediátricos encontrava-se próximo de 3%. Para o ano de 2012, com exceção dos tumores da pele não melanoma, estavam previstos 384.340 casos novos de câncer. Destes, ocorrerão cerca de 11.530 casos novos de câncer em crianças e adolescentes até os 19 anos. Este estudo teve por objeto as expectativas de vida do adolescente frente ao transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH) e como objetivos: descrever as expectativas dos adolescentes que se submeteram ao TCTH e analisar compreensivamente as expectativas de vida destes jovens que se submeteram ao TCTH. Trata-se de estudo de natureza qualitativa, pautado no referencial teórico-metodológico da fenomenologia sociológica de Alfred Schutz. O cenário para sua realização foi uma unidade de Transplante de Medula Óssea, localizada em um hospital federal de referência nacional, localizado na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Os participantes do estudo foram oito adolescentes, na faixa etária entre 12 e 18 anos de idade, que se encontravam em fase pós-TCTH, em acompanhamento no hospital diariamente ou já de alta hospitalar da unidade. Para a realização do trabalho de campo, foi utilizada a entrevista fenomenológica como instrumento de captação das falas, as quais foram guiadas pelas seguintes questões orientadoras: fale para mim como foi esse período de adoecimento para você. Quais as suas expectativas em relação ao transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas? O que você espera da sua vida diária/cotidiana agora após a realização do transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas? As falas foram transcritas, analisadas para então serem categorizadas...

Cancer is a public health problem for the developed world and also to developing nations. According to the estimate done by Inca to 2012, from data of Cancer Registries of Population Based (CRPB), the average percentage of pediatric tumors was around 3%. For 2012, with the exception of non-melanoma skin tumors, 384,340 new cases of cancer were estimated. Of these, around 11,530 new cases of cancer occurred in children and adolescents up to 19 years old. The aim of this study was adolescent´s life expectations facing the hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and as objectives: to describe the expectations of adolescents who have undergone the HSCT and analyze comprehensively the life expectancy of these young people who have undergone the HSCT. This is a qualitative study, based on theoretical-methodology reference of the sociological phenomenology of Alfred Schutz. The scenario for its realization was a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, located in a federal national reference hospital, located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Study participants were eight adolescents, aged between 12 and 18 years old, who were undergoing HSCT, monitoring in the hospital daily or already discharged from the unit. For the completion of fieldwork, the phenomenological interview was used as an instrument to capture lines, which were guided by the following guiding questions: tell me how this period of illness to you was. What are your expectations for the hematopoietic stem cell transplant? What do you expect from your daily life now, after completion of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation? The lines were transcribed, analyzed to then be categorized...

Efeito de vídeo educativo no comportamento de higiene bucal de pacientes hematológicos / Effects of an educational video on the oral hygiene of patients with hematologic disorders / Efecto de video educativo en el comportamiento de higiene bucal de pacientes hematológicos

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia e a aceitação de um vídeo como estratégia de ensino da higiene bucal para pacientes com doenças hematológicas em tratamento quimioterápico. Trata-se de estudo quase experimental, tipo antes-depois, no qual foram incluídos 23 sujeitos. Depois de observada a técnica de higiene bucalhabitual, o paciente assistiu a um vídeo sobre este procedimento. Posteriormente, o sujeito realizou novamente a higienização bucal. Aplicou-se o teste t de "Student" pareado para comparar as médias de acertos dos passos desta técnica antes e após apresentação do vídeo. O desempenho na realização do procedimento foi superior após os sujeitos assistirem ao vídeo (p <0.0001), sendo que a utilização desta estratégia foi bem-aceita pelos pacientes. O vídeo sobre a técnica de higiene bucal mostrou-se eficaz para o ensino deste procedimento e foi bem aceito pelos pacientes. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 01718002)

The current study aims at evaluating the effectiveness and acceptance of a video as a strategy for teaching oral hygiene to patients with hematologic disorders receiving chemotherapy. It is a quasi-experimental before and after study, composed of 23 subjects. After their routine oral hygiene routine was observed, patients watched a video about the procedure. Afterwards, the subjects carried out their oral hygiene once more. A paired student's t-test was used to compare the average of how many steps were performed correctly before and after the video presentation. Procedure performance was higher after watching the video (p <0.0001), being that the strategy was well accepted by patients. The oral hygiene video proved to be effective for the teaching of this procedure and was well accepted by patients. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 01718002)

Estudio que objetivó evaluar la eficacia y aceptación de un video como estrategia de enseñanza de la higiene bucal en pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas en tratamiento quimioterápico. Estudio cuasi-experimental, tipo antes-después, en el que fueron incluidos 23 sujetos. Luego de observada la técnica de higiene bucal habitual, el paciente vio un video sobre dicho procedimiento. Posteriormente, el sujeto realizó nuevamente la higienización bucal. Se aplicó test t de Student pareado, para comparar los promedios de acierto de los pasos de esta técnica antes y después de la presentación del video. El desempeño en la realización del procedimiento fue superior luego de ver el video (p<0,0001), siendo que la utilización de esta estrategia fue bien aceptada por los pacientes. El video sobre la técnica de higiene bucal se mostró efectivo para la enseñanza del procedimiento y fue bien aceptado por los pacientes. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT 01718002)

Pain and anxiety during bone marrow biopsy.

A bone marrow biopsy is considered to be painful, often causing anxiety. We observed large differences between patients and wondered which factors cause pain and anxiety. In a prospective study, 202 patients were analyzed. Experienced hematologists and fellows in training (17% of biopsies) performed bone marrow aspirates and biopsies from the posterior iliac crest. Demographics, disease category, performance score, source of information, number of previous biopsies, experience of the hematologist, and length and quality of the biopsy were recorded. Pain and anxiety were measured using a visual analog scale and verbal rating score. Data were subjected to univariate and multivariate regression. The median pain score was 1.9 (range 0-10); 21% did not experience any pain. Anxiety scored 1.8 (range 0-10), and correlated positively with pain (p = .000). By univariate analysis, young age, poor performance, the physician as source of information, and prolonged procedures were associated with more pain. In multivariate analysis, anxiety, information from the physician, and a prolonged procedure persisted. Length or artifacts of the core biopsy did not correlate with pain. In conclusion, bone marrow biopsies performed in an optimal setting by experienced hematologists cause only mild pain, with, however, some patients experienced serious problems. To reduce pain, not only careful local anesthesia, but also the addition of systemic analgesics and especially anxiety reduction seems to be useful.

Communicating with haematology patients: a reflective account.

Nurses are required to keep their knowledge and skills up to date to ensure their practice is evidence-based. Reflection in and on practice can be used to ensure care provision is evidence-based, to increase self-awareness and to promote positive change. Timely communication of high-quality information tailored to patients' needs is required. When a breakdown in communication occurs in practice, it can have a negative effect on patients and the professionals providing their care. Using an example from my practice experience, this article aims to highlight the importance of communication, reflection and knowledge in nursing practice.

Procedural justice, supervisor autonomy support, work satisfaction, organizational identification and job performance: the mediating role of need satisfaction and perceived organizational support.

AIM: To test a model linking procedural justice, supervisor autonomy support, need satisfaction, organizational support, work satisfaction, organizational identification and job performance. BACKGROUND: Research in industrial and organizational psychology has shown that procedural justice and supervisor autonomy support lead to positive outcomes. However, very little research related to this subject has been conducted in healthcare settings. Moreover, few studies have examined mechanisms that could account for these positive relationships. DESIGN: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. METHOD: Convenience sampling was used and a sample of 500 nurses working in haematology, oncology and haematology/oncology units in France was surveyed in 2011. The final sample consisted of 323 nurses (64.6% response rate). The hypothesized model was tested using structural equation modelling. RESULTS: Procedural justice and supervisor autonomy support significantly and positively influenced need satisfaction and perceived organizational support, which in turn positively predicted work satisfaction, organizational identification and job performance. CONCLUSION: Organizations could deliver training programmes for their managers aimed at enhancing the use of fair procedures in allocating outcomes and developing their autonomy-supportive behaviours to improve nurses' work satisfaction, organizational identification and job performance.

Speech pathology services to children with cancer and nonmalignant hematological disorders.

Children with cancer and nonmalignant hematological disorders may require speech pathology (SP) support; however, limited evidence is available describing prevalence and severity of swallowing/feeding and communication impairments in this population. A retrospective chart review of 70 children referred to SP at the newly formed Queensland Children's Cancer Centre was conducted to describe the prevalence and severity of swallowing/feeding and communication dysfunction, and the association between impairment, oncology and hematology diagnosis, and service utilization (time and occasions of service). Swallowing/feeding disorders were the most commonly observed impairments at initial assessment (58.6%). Children with central nervous system tumors (P = .03) and nonmalignant hematological disorder (P = .03) had significantly higher rates of feeding impairment than other oncology and hematology diagnostic groups. Children with central nervous system tumors had the highest rates of oral phase (P = .01) and pharyngeal phase (P = .01) dysphagia (swallowing disorder). No significant difference was found between diagnostic groups for intensity of SP service delivery. Prospective research is required to examine prevalence and severity of disorders, and service utilization in a more established clinic, and to investigate interactions between cancer treatment and swallowing/feeding and communication dysfunction.

Effectiveness of participatory-action-research to put in practice evidence at a nursing onco-hematology unit.

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence implementation through participatory-action research (PAR). A prospective quasi-experimental design with two non-equivalent and non-concurrent groups (2006 and 2008) was adopted. The research was conducted at the bone marrow transplant unit of a tertiary-level Spanish hospital. To put the evidence in practice, PAR was adopted as an "intervention studied". The dependent variables were: professional performance and patient outcomes (psycho-emotional area and adverse effects). In total, 125 patients were recruited (1(st) period=56; 2(nd) period=69). The results in the second period show significant improvements in professional performance in terms of the quality of the registers of signs and symptoms. In the psycho-emotional area, the psycho-social adjustment improved significantly; without caregiver burden or satisfaction showing any clear tendencies. Among the adverse effects, catheter-related thrombosis and catheter-related infection improved significantly; there were no significant differences in the level of pain or mucositis. Through the PAR, evidence could be put in practice and the outcomes under analysis could be improved.

Effectiveness of participatory-action-research to put in practice evidence at a nursing onco-hematology unit / Avaliação da efetividade da aplicação de evidências por meio de pesquisa-ação-participante em uma unidade de enfermagem hematológica / Evaluación de la efectividad de la implantación de evidencias mediante una investigación-acción-participante en una unidad de enfermería oncohematológica

The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence implementation through participatory-action research (PAR). A prospective quasi-experimental design with two non-equivalent and non-concurrent groups (2006 and 2008) was adopted. The research was conducted at the bone marrow transplant unit of a tertiary-level Spanish hospital. To put the evidence in practice, PAR was adopted as an "intervention studied". The dependent variables were: professional performance and patient outcomes (psycho-emotional area and adverse effects). In total, 125 patients were recruited (1st period=56; 2nd period=69). The results in the second period show significant improvements in professional performance in terms of the quality of the registers of signs and symptoms. In the psycho-emotional area, the psycho-social adjustment improved significantly; without caregiver burden or satisfaction showing any clear tendencies. Among the adverse effects, catheter-related thrombosis and catheter-related infection improved significantly; there were no significant differences in the level of pain or mucositis. Through the PAR, evidence could be put in practice and the outcomes under analysis could be improved.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a efetividade da aplicação de evidências pela pesquisa-ação-participante (PAR). Como método usou-se o desenho quase-experimental prospectivo, com dois grupos não equivalentes e concorrentes (2006-2008), em uma unidade de enfermagem para transplante de medula óssea de hospital terciário espanhol. A intervenção estudada foi a integração de evidências pela PAR. As variáveis dependentes estudadas foram: o desempenho profissional e os resultados de saúde nos pacientes (área psicoemocional e efeitos adversos). Recrutaram-se 125 pacientes (Grupo 1=56, Grupo 2=69). Pôde-se observar pelos resultados melhora significativa no segundo grupo, na qualidade dos registros de enfermagem na avaliação de sinais e sintomas do paciente. Na área psicoemocional, o ajuste psicossocial do paciente melhorou significativamente, porém, nenhuma mudança foi observada na sobrecarga do cuidador ou satisfação do paciente. Em relação aos efeitos adversos, tanto o bloqueio quanto a infecção relacionada ao cateter melhoraram significativamente, mas não foi encontrada nenhuma diferença na dor nem na mucosite. Conclui-se que a PAR tem servido para apresentar evidências e melhorar os resultados de saúde.

La finalidad fue evaluar la efectividad de la implantación de evidencias mediante una investigación-acción-participante (IAP). Diseño cuasi-experimental prospectivo con dos grupos no equivalentes ni concurrentes (2006 a 2008) en una unidad de enfermería de trasplante de medula ósea de un hospital español de tercer nivel. La intervención estudiada fue la implantación de evidencias mediante una IAP. Las variables dependientes: desempeño profesional y resultados de salud (área psico-emocional y efectos adversos). Se reclutaron 125 pacientes (1er grupo=56; 2º grupo=69). Se aprecia una mejoría significativa en el segundo grupo en la calidad de los registros de valoración de signos y síntomas. En el área psico-emocional, el ajuste psico-social mejora significativamente; no hay cambios en la sobrecarga ni la satisfacción. En efectos adversos, la obstrucción e infección relacionada con catéter mejoran significativamente; no hay diferencias en dolor y mucositis. La IAP ha servido para implantar evidencias y mejorar los resultados de salud.

As relações interpessoais no cuidar do cliente em espaço onco-hematológico: uma contribuição do enfermeiro / The interpersonal relations in the take care of the client in onco-hematological space: a nurse's contribution

Durante minha trajetória profissional experenciando o cuidar de clientes portadores de doença onco-hematológica percebi a luta destes seres humanos pela vida e como a relação enfermeiro-cliente era vital para a realização do cuidado. O enfermeiro interage grande parte do tempo com esta clientela a qual percorre uma trajetória de re-internações e longos períodos de tratamento. Nesse sentido, entendendo que a relação interpessoal como uma condição importante para que o enfermeiro compreenda o outro em sua totalidade e preste um cuidado singular, delimitei como objeto de estudo as relações interpessoais do enfermeiro na ação de cuidar do cliente internado para tratamento onco-hematológico. Para tanto, o objetivo foi compreender o significado das relações interpessoais na ação de cuidar do enfermeiro junto ao cliente internado para tratamento onco-hematlógico. Trata-se de estudo de natureza qualitativa, cujo referencial teórico pautou-se nas concepções da fenomenologia sociológica de Alfred Schutz. O cenário de realização do estudo foi a enfermaria de Hematologia de um Hospital Universitário Federal do estado do Rio de Janeiro e os sujeitos foram todos os seis enfermeiros lotados nessa unidade. Antes da etapa de campo e em cumprimento aos princípios éticos da Resolução 196/96 do CNS que trata da pesquisa com seres humanos, o projeto foi submetido ao Comitê de Ética dessa instituição cenário do estudo, sendo aprovado com o Parecer nº 092/11. A captação das falas deu-se por meio de entrevista com a utilização das seguintes questões orientadoras: fale para mim sobre as ações que você desenvolve junto ao cliente internado para tratamento onco-hematológico; o que significam as relações interpessoais na ação de cuidar do cliente internado para tratamento onco-hematológico?; e o que você faz para que esta relação aconteça? A análise compreensiva das falas possibilitou a apreensão das categorias: cuidar através de procedimentos técnicos e científicos, orientando para o enfrentamento da doença e atender o paciente na perspectiva de suas necessidades estabelecendo a relação interpessoal entre enfermeiro e o cliente. O enfermeiro descreve as ações desenvolvidas junto ao cliente em tratamento onco-hematológico como um fazer técnico, rico em procedimentos, que tem em vista apoiar o cliente para enfrentar o tratamento difícil de uma doença grave, a partir de suas necessidades, estabelecendo uma relação íntima, transparente e forte, ocorrendo de forma espontânea e natural. Para estabelecer esta relação os enfermeiros utilizam estratégias como: a empatia, a brincadeira, o carinho, a confiança e a disponibilidade para promover o cuidado de enfermagem. As relações interpessoais se mostraram inerentes à ação de cuidar desse enfermeiro, ator social da equipe de saúde, o qual possui a disponibilidade para interagir com o cliente, transcendendo o aspecto tecnicista, fazendo parte de sua identidade profissional o constituinte relacional.

During my professional trajectory experiencing the take care of the clients with onco-hematological disease, I perceived the fight of these human beings for the life and how the nurse-client relationship was vital for the care realization. The nurse interacts much of the time with this clientele which comes a way of re-hospitalizations and long ways of treatment. In this sense, understanding that the interpersonal relation be an important condition so that the nurse understand the other in its totality and take a singular care I delineated as study object the nurse´ s interpersonal relations in the action of take care of the client hospitalized for onco-hematological treatment. For such, the objective was to understand the meaning of the interpersonal relationship in the action of take care of the nurse with the hospitalized client for onco-hematological treatment. It treats of study of qualitative nature, which theoretical reference based on the conceptions of the sociological phenomenology of Alfred Schütz. The Scenario of the study realization was the nursery of Hematology of a Federal University Hospital of the Rio de Janeiro state and the subjects were all the six (06), nurses placed in this unit. Before the field step and in compliance with the ethical principles of the 196/96 Resolution of the CNS that treats of the research with human beings, the project was submitted to the Ethical Committee of this institution scenario of this study, being approved with the Opinion n. 092/11. The speeches capture occurred by means of interview with the utilization of the following guiding questions: Talk to me about the actions that you develop with the hospitalized client for onco-hematological treatment. What means the interpersonal relationships in the action of take care of the hospitalized client for onco-hematological treatment? What do you do so that this relationship occurs? The comprehensive analysis of the speeches made possible the categories´ apprehension: To take care through technical and scientific procedures guiding to the confronting of the disease and Attend the patient in the perspective of its needs establishing the interpersonal relationship between nurse and the client. The nurse describes the actions developed with the client in onco-hematological treatment as a technical making, rich in procedures that have in view to support the client to confront the hard treatment of a serious disease, from its needs, establishing a close, transparent and strong relationship occurring in a spontaneous and natural way. To establish this relationship the nurses use strategies like: the empathy, the joke, the confidence, the availability to promote the care of nursing. The interpersonal relationships showed inherent to the action of take care of this nurse, social actor of the health team, which has the possibility to interact with the client, transcending the technicality aspect, being part of its professional identity the relational constituent.

Validation of a physiological track and trigger score to identify developing critical illness in haematology patients.

OBJECTIVE: To validate two physiological track and trigger systems; the early warning score (Morgan et al., 1997) and the trust observation chart on a haematology unit. The study aimed to determine whether either of these systems could be used to identify developing critical illness in haematology. RESEARCH DESIGN: A prospective validation study where all patients' physiological observations were recorded, the level of care they were receiving assessed and after data collection finished, the triggers and EWS calculated. SETTING: A haematology unit in an inner London hospital. RESULTS: 71 patients took part in the study; 17 of these became critically ill. The sensitivity of both systems compared favourably with other studies. However, specificity was lower. This will mean a number of false negative results within this patient group. CONCLUSION: The study concluded that the systems are useful adjuncts to identify developing critical illness in haematology patients but cannot be used in isolation due to the high number of false negative results that occur. Any plan to introduce either system should acknowledge the increase in workload that will result.

Implementation of the pediatric early warning scoring system on a pediatric hematology/oncology unit.

Despite improved outcomes for pediatric Hematology/Oncology patients over the past 15-20 years, sepsis and other acute events continue to cause serious illness in these children. Implementing a pediatric early warning scoring tool (PEWS) with an associated multi-disciplinary action algorithm in a pediatric Hematology/Oncology unit helped to remove barriers that prevented timely referral of children who are clinically deteriorating and requiring immediate help, enhanced multi-disciplinary team communication, and has led to a more than 3-fold increase in days between codes on the Hematology/Oncology unit.