Quality of Life in Patients with Excellent 3-Month Clinical Outcome after First-Ever Ischemic Stroke: A Time to Redefine Excellent Outcome?

INTRODUCTION: Ischemic stroke (IS) may have impact on long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) even in the patients with good clinical outcome, and tools mostly used for the assessment of outcome may underestimate or not reflect all relevant sequels after IS. We aimed to analyze HRQoL in the patients with excellent outcome after IS. METHODS: We analyzed consecutive IS patients enrolled in the prospective FRAILTY study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04839887) with excellent 3-month clinical outcome (score 0-1 in modified Rankin Scale [mRS]). Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) version 3.0 and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used for the HRQoL, anxiety, and depression assessments, and subgroup comparisons were performed according to NIHSS score (0, ≥1), age (50<, ≥50 years), and sex. RESULTS: In total, 158 patients (55.7% men, mean age 60.3 ± 13.4 years) were analyzed, and 72.2% of them had score 0 in mRS. The overall lowest median scores were found in the SIS domain "emotion," "strength," and "participation." Patients with NIHSS ≥1 had lower scores in all SIS domains except "emotions" and "mobility." Patients ≥50 years had lower score in "mobility" (p = 0.004) and females in domain of "social participation" (p = 0.044). No differences were found among all subgroups in HADS anxiety and depression. Age, NIHSS score, and depression were found negative predictors for the physical domains of HRQoL. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Despite excellent 3-month clinical outcome after IS, patients had affected substantially their HRQoL, especially those with NIHSS ≥1. Patients ≥50 years had more affected "mobility" and females "social participation."

Examining the Perspectives of Nurse Managers on Missed Nursing Care in Surgical Units.

OBJECTIVE: To examine nurse managers' perspectives on missed nursing care (MNC) on surgical units. BACKGROUND: The phenomenon of MNC is an important concern for nurse researchers. However, the reality of how it is experienced by clinical nurse managers is largely unexplored. Understanding nurse managers' experiences with MNC could help develop useful approaches to reducing levels of MNC. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted between December and June 2020, using face-to-face semistructured interviews with 10 nurse managers. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: 1) awareness of MNC; 2) rationale for MNC; 3) consequences of MNC; 4) questions of reporting; and 5) management of MNC. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse managers must use their positions and leadership skills to expect appropriate staffing approaches and material resources for surgical units, effective process for newly hired nurses, and the establishment of a reporting system for MNC to reduce the phenomenon in practice.

Missed nursing care as reported by paediatric nurses: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: Missed nursing care (MNC) significantly affects patient safety and quality of care. It is a widely used concept that has been studied in different settings, but research in paediatric care is quite limited. Therefore, this descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to report the prevalence, patterns, correlates, factors and predictors of MNC in paediatric care units in two central European countries. DESIGN: A cross-sectional comparative study. METHODS: Data collection was carried out between June and November 2021 using the MISSCARE Survey-Pediatric. The study included 441 registered nurses working in paediatric care units in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in the SPSS 25.0 statistical program. RESULTS: Almost all nurses, 92.7% of nurses missed at least one nursing activity during the last shift. The most missed care activity in both countries was the promotion of neuroevolutionary development, and the most prominent reasons were labour resources. MNC was weakly but significantly correlated with nurse experience in the current position and was predicted by the country, nurse education and overtime hours (p ≤ .05). Differences in prevalence of MNC and reasons for MNC were identified based on several variables (p ≤ .05). CONCLUSION: The assessment of MNC in paediatric settings is often a neglected area, although the prevalence in this study was moderate. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Nurse staff shortages, as a global problem, have many impacts on patient outcomes in the delivery of nursing care. However, there are also many factors that can reduce the prevalence of MNC. More research should focus on a closer examination of these factors that involve hospital and nurse variables. REPORTING METHOD: The study was carried out according to the STROBE checklist and the RANCARE guideline. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Return to work after ischaemic stroke in young adults: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to synthesize the body of knowledge on the factors that are important to the process of returning to work after ischaemic stroke in young adults under 55 years of age. METHODS: Guidelines regarding the scoping review methodology developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute, and the PRISMA checklist for scoping reviews were used. A total of 2,249 studies were identified through a bibliographic search in six databases. RESULTS: A total of ten studies were finally selected to respond to the research questions. Eight studies were quantitative observational studies, and two studies had a case study design. The rate of returning to work varied between the studies. The frequency of returning to work in young stroke patients, independent of the time of assessment, ranged from 42.4% to 86%. Returning to work after ischaemic stroke in young adults is a complex process and multidimensional problem which is affected by clinical variables (level of neurological deficits, cognitive ability, independency in activities of daily living, fatigue and depression, cardiovascular factors), as well as the socioeconomic and occupational status. CONCLUSION: There is insufficient evidence concerning interventions promoting return to work. Future studies should focus on examining effective interventions to help young stroke survivors return to work.

Nursing students' evaluation of patient safety culture in three central European countries: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate and compare the perceptions of nursing students regarding patient safety culture (PSC) during the COVID-19 pandemic in three Central European countries. METHODS: Data were collected from 624 nursing students between April and September 2021 using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. RESULTS: The evaluation of the PSC dimensions did not reach the expected level of 75 %. Significant associations were found between the perception of the dimensions of the individual PSC and age, student status, study year, and clinical placement. The overall patient safety grade, the number of events reported, and the number of events reported by nursing students were significantly predicted by several dimensions of the PSC (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of patient safety culture by nursing students offers a unique perspective. Students come with 'fresh eyes' and provide different perspectives that can provide healthcare leaders with a practical opportunity to identify blind spots, review and improve safety protocols, and foster a more inclusive culture that prioritizes patient safety.

Missed, rationed or unfinished nursing care: A scoping review of patient outcomes.

AIMS: To collate evidence about patient outcomes resulting from the phenomenon of incomplete nursing care described in the literature variously as missed, rationed, or unfinished nursing care. BACKGROUND: Nursing care which is not completed is known to have a negative impact on patients. However, to date, there has been no thorough exploration of the extent and potential seriousness of patient outcomes. METHODS: The search was performed in four scientific databases; 44 studies were included in the final content analysis. RESULTS: Missed, rationed and unfinished care negatively influence the patient outcomes in the context of patient safety and quality of nursing care. Despite the differences among concepts, the negative association with patient outcomes was significant and common for all concepts. CONCLUSION: Awareness of potential harm of the phenomena to patient outcomes may help the management to develop preventive strategies to reduce or eliminate its actual occurrence. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Hospital management should consider the phenomenon as an indicator of the quality of nursing care as well as establish the routine monitoring of the phenomena in the assessment of patient safety in healthcare facilities.

Unmet care needs in psychiatric healthcare context: A systematized literature review.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT: Missed, rationed or unfinished nursing care represents a global problem that jeopardizes the provision of quality and safe care. This phenomenon is frequently observed in adult, paediatric and child healthcare facilities and various care units. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE: The findings of this review contribute valuable information to inform evidence-based practices, foster organizational improvements and ultimately optimize the overall quality of care in psychiatric healthcare settings. In addition, the review illuminates the far-reaching consequences of care on both patient and nurse outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for tailored strategies to mitigate these effects. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Based on the synthesis of the literature, a thorough and continuous assessment of patient care needs in the physical, psychological and social domains is needed, primarily utilizing standardized instruments designed for psychiatric settings to ensure a comprehensive understanding of unmet needs. Based on identified unmet needs, nurses should develop individualized care plans and tailor interventions to address them. In addition, nurse managers must adopt and implement regular monitoring mechanisms to track the prevalence of unmet care needs and at the same time establish reporting systems that capture the proportion of unmet needs, allowing timely interventions and adjustments to care delivery. Lastly, nurse managers must not only emphasize the importance of ethical care practices and dignity-focused interventions but also educate healthcare providers, especially nurses, on the potential threats to patient dignity arising from unmet care needs. ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Despite frequent observations of unmet care needs in acute care adult settings, there are a limited number of studies that focus on investigating this phenomenon in the psychiatric setting. AIM: To synthesize the existing empirical research on unmet care needs in psychiatric healthcare settings. METHODS: The search was carried out in August 2023 in four scientific databases, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science and OVID Nursing, based on their institutional availability. The search produced 1129 studies. The search and retrieval process reflected the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. RESULTS: This review included 14 studies investigating unmet care needs in the psychiatric healthcare setting. Unmet care needs included three domains: physical, psychological and social. The analysis of the factors revealed factors related to the characteristics of the organization, nurse and patient. DISCUSSION: The classification of unmet needs provides a comprehensive understanding of the various challenges facing people in psychiatric healthcare settings. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Identified factors that influence the occurrence of unmet care needs will help prevent the occurrence of unmet care needs and timely assessment. The resolution of needs helps to achieve patient and nurse outcomes, increase the quality of care provided and patient satisfaction in a psychiatric healthcare setting.

How to return? experiences of patients in working age after first Ischaemic stroke: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of patient´s perspective at 12 - 24 months post-stroke.

BACKGROUND: Limited evidence of young adult patient-reported outcomes and experiences after ischaemic stroke has been conducted. AIM: To investigate the meaning of the lived experiences of stroke patients in working age 12-24 months after their first IS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The exploratory qualitative study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design. Nine ischaemic stroke patients (with age ranges from 41 to 50 years) took part in semi-structured qualitative interviews. RESULTS: Even with mild residual neurological deficit, IS negatively impacted the quality of life daily and social life. Six subthemes and three interconnected group experiential themes were generated: (i) From confusion to understanding (ii) Triggers for rebuilding; and (iii) Challenges and benefits. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the current gaps and limitations in supporting the needs of stroke patients in working age in long-term post-stroke care. The findings are crucial for healthcare professionals to develop improved age- and mild- impairment-appropriate strategies or tailor self-management interventions for stroke patients of working age.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04839887.

Face Validity, Content Validity, and Psychometric Testing of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture Among Undergraduate Nursing Students.

Background and Purpose: Nursing students have an essential role in patient safety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the face validity, content validity, and psychometric properties of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture for Nursing Students (HSOPS-NS). Methods: The cross-sectional study was carried out between January and October 2021. The participants were undergraduate nursing students (N = 482) from 16 Czech nursing faculties. Results: Exploratory factor analysis revealed an eight-factor structure, which was verified by confirmatory factor analysis using the optimization process that results in adequate goodness-of-fit indices (root mean squared error approximation = .037; standardized root mean squared residuals = .056; comparative fit index = .935; Tucker-Lewis index = .926; incremental fit index = .936). The internal consistency of a new model was excellent (α = .914). Conclusion: The results indicate that the HSOPS-NS shows evidence of reliability and validity and is a valuable measure of safety culture as perceived by nursing students.

Nurses' Perception of Patient Safety Culture in Primary Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Results.

Investigation of nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture (PSC) might be beneficial in identifying safety areas that need improvement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reports on the PSC in primary care from the nurses' perspective during the pandemic. Nurses (n = 117) evaluated teamwork (87.3%) and staff training (80.9%) positively but work pressure and pace (26.1%) and patient care tracking (45.3%) concerning PSC dimensions negatively. Limited care coordination and continuity lead to patient hospitalizations and care fragmentation. However, regular assessment of PSC can lead to adopting the necessary strategies to reinforce weaknesses and thus improve patient safety in primary care.

Factors Contributing to Rationed Nursing Care in the Slovak Republic-A Secondary Analysis of Quantitative Data.

Rationed nursing care is a significant problem in healthcare facilities worldwide. Awareness of contributing factors to rationed care might support the development and implementation of strategies for reducing this phenomenon from clinical practice. The study examined the association between selected hospital, unit, and staff variables and the prevalence of rationed nursing care. Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected between December 2017 and July 2018 from 895 registered nurses in seven acute care hospitals in the Slovak Republic was performed. Data were collected using the questionnaire Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics in the statistical program SPSS 25.0. Statistically significant associations were found between rationed nursing care and unit type, education, shift type, nurses' experience in the current unit, overtime hours, missed shifts, intention to leave the position, perceived staff adequacy, quality of patient care, and job satisfaction. Differences in rating rationed nursing care, quality of patient care, and job satisfaction were identified based on hospital type. Together with top hospital management, nurse managers should develop targeted interventions focusing on mitigating rationed nursing care from the clinical practice with a focus placed on university hospitals. Quality and safe care might be ensured through constant monitoring of the quality of patient care and job satisfaction of nurses as these factors significantly predicted the estimates of rationed nursing care.

Adaptation and Psychometric Testing of the Czech and Slovak Version of the Missed Nursing Care in Infection Prevention and Control Survey.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Only a limited number of items involved in missed nursing care inventories specifically focused on infection control practices. The study aimed to adapt and evaluate psychometric properties of the Czech and Slovak version of the Infection Control Missed Care survey; and to assess and compare the amount, type,and reasons for missed nursing care in infection prevention and control amongCzech and Slovak nurses. METHODS: The convenience sample of 1459 nurses from the Czechand Slovak republic was recruited. Analysis of the nurses' responses to both subscales of the surveys and validation of their data was undertaken using the item response theory (Rasch scaling). RESULTS: The now-modified Czech version consists only of 20 items measuring the type and frequency of missed care and 11 items focusing on the reasons for missed care. The now modified Slovak version consists of 34 items measuring the type and frequency of missed care and 17 items measuring the reasons for missed care. Reliability estimates with the removal of unreliable items showed acceptable reliability estimates for both sub-scales of the instrument. CONCLUSIONS: With modification to the two subscales used in the survey (removal of poorly fitting items) it should be reliable, and the resulting data could be used for further investigation such as factor analysis or modelling. The modified Infection Control Missed Care survey could be useful in further research investigating a relationship between nurse staffing, skill mix, and infection control outcomes in acute care hospitals.

Undergraduate nursing students' experiences of rationed nursing care - A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students are required to spend a significant portion of their educational preparation in clinical practice. Because of the prevalence of missed or rationed care, it seems irrefutable that students are exposed to rationed care during their practice placement, or that they contribute to its prevalence either actively or passively. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to discover how nursing students interpret the concept of rationed care, and their experiences of rationing in practice. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative study. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen final year nursing students from three universities within the Slovak Republic. METHODS: Semistructured face-to-face interviews were conducted (n = 18). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis which resulted in the development of themes and subthemes. RESULTS: We identified three meaningful themes focused on the phenomenon of rationed care from the perspective of nursing students, namely Incomplete care is normalized; Provision of impersonal patient care; and the Existence of a hidden curriculum for practice placements. CONCLUSIONS: Student nurses were quite demanding about the learning experience during their clinical training. They are often frustrated by inconsistencies between their theoretical preparation and the realities of practice. They recognise difficulties for registered nurses in providing safe, high quality care in constrained circumstances, and although they are critical of this, they acknowledge their own acceptance of the situation. Based on this, students must establish an understanding of the theory behind, and reasons for rationed care before commencing clinical placement. A greater understanding would enable students to develop strategies for coping with inconsistencies and voicing concerns.