Public health nurse perspectives on predicting nonattendance for cervical cancer screening through classification, ensemble, and deep learning models.

OBJECTIVES: Women's attendance to cervical cancer screening (CCS) is a major concern for healthcare providers in community. This study aims to use the various algorithms that can accurately predict the most barriers of women for nonattendance to CS. DESIGN: The real-time data were collected from women presented at OPD of primary health centers (PHCs). About 1046 women's data regarding attendance and nonattendance to CCS were included. In this study, we have used three models, classification, ensemble, and deep learning models, to compare the specific accuracy and AU-ROC for predicting non-attenders for CC. RESULTS: The current model employs 22 predictors, with soft voting in ensemble models showing slightly higher specificity (96%) and sensitivity (93%) than weighted averaging. Bagging excels with the highest accuracy (98.49%), specificity (97.3%), and ideal sensitivity (100%) with an AUC of 0.99. Classification models reveal Naive Bayes with higher specificity (97%) but lower sensitivity (91%) than Logistic Regression. Random Forest and Neural Network achieve the highest accuracy (98.49%), with an AUC of 0.98. In deep learning, LSTM has an accuracy of 95.68%, higher specificity (97.60%), and lower sensitivity (93.42%) compared to other models. MLP and NN showed the highest AUC values of 0.99. CONCLUSION: Employing ensemble and deep learning models proved most effective in predicting barriers to nonattendance in cervical screening.

Qualidade de vida no trabalho de enfermeiros intensivistas durante a Covid-19 / Quality of work life of intensive care nurses during Covid-19 / Calidad de vida laboral de enfermeras de cuidados intensivos durante la Covid-19

Objetivo: identificar os fatores associados à qualidade de vida no trabalho de enfermeiros intensivistas de Boa Vista, Roraima. Método: estudo descritivo-correlacional, realizado entre novembro/2022 e janeiro/2023 com 36 enfermeiros intensivistas de um hospital público. Resultados: predominaram profissionais do sexo feminino (66,7%), casado(a)/união estável (55,6%) e com tempo médio de atuação em UTI de 6,6 anos. A maioria foi diagnosticada com COVID-19 (91,7%), maior exigência no trabalho (97,2%), cansaço físico e mental (94,4%), insegurança quanto a proteção e EPI (58,3%), insônia (63,9%), irritação (72,2%), medo de perder amigos e parentes (91,7%), falta de apoio e reconhecimento dos superiores (69,4%). A qualidade de vida no trabalho apresentou a esfera Psicológica/Comportamental com maior pontuação (65,3) e a esfera Econômica/Política com menor pontuação (43,1). Conclusão: a pandemia refletiu negativamente sobre a qualidade de vida dos enfermeiros, pois é notório o elevado crescimento de profissionais que adoeceram fisicamente e mentalmente

Objective: to identify factors associated with quality of life at work among intensive care nurses in Boa Vista, Roraima. Method: descriptive-correlational study, carried out between November/2022 and January/2023 with 36 intensive care nurses from a public hospital. Results: professionals were predominantly female (66.7%), married/in a stable relationship (55.6%) and with an average time working in the ICU of 6.6 years. The majority were diagnosed with COVID-19 (91.7%), greater work demands (97.2%), physical and mental fatigue (94.4%), insecurity regarding protection and PPE (58.3%), insomnia (63.9%), irritation (72.2%), fear of losing friends and relatives (91.7%), lack of support and recognition from superiors (69.4%). Quality of life at work had the Psychological/Behavioral sphere with the highest score (65.3) and the Economic/Political sphere with the lowest score (43.1). Conclusion: the pandemic had a negative impact on the quality of life of nurses, as the high increase in professionals who became physically and mentally ill is notable

Objetivo: identificar factores asociados a la calidad de vida en el trabajo entre enfermeros de cuidados intensivos en Boa Vista, Roraima. Método: estudio descriptivo-correlacional, realizado entre noviembre/2022 y enero/2023 con 36 enfermeros de cuidados intensivos de un hospital público. Resultados: los profesionales eran predominantemente del sexo femenino (66,7%), casados/en pareja estable (55,6%) y con tiempo promedio de permanencia en la UTI de 6,6 años. La mayoría fueron diagnosticados con CO-VID-19 (91,7%), mayor exigencia laboral (97,2%), cansancio físico y mental (94,4%), inseguridad en cuanto a protección y EPI (58,3%), insomnio (63,9%), irritación (72,2% ), miedo a perder amigos y familiares (91,7%), falta de apoyo y reconocimiento de los superiores (69,4%). La calidad de vida en el trabajo tuvo el ámbito Psicológico/Conductual con la puntuación más alta (65,3) y el ámbito Económico/Político con la puntuación más baja (43,1). Conclusión: la pandemia tuvo impacto negativo en la calidad de vida de los enferme-ros, siendo notable el alto aumento de profesionales que enfermaron física y mentalmente

Relationship between changes in the public health nurses' workforce and the empirical Bayes estimates of standardized mortality ratio: a longitudinal ecological study of municipalities in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The role of public health nurses (PHNs) in the community is expected to become increasingly important, along with the promotion of a comprehensive community care system. However, a comprehensive study of all municipalities is yet to be undertaken, and the relationship between the workforce of PHNs and health indicators is yet to be clarified. This study examined the effect of workforce change among PHNs, one of the structural indicators of PHNs' activities regarding changes in the empirical Bayes estimate of standardized mortality ratios (EBSMRs). METHODS: An ecological study was conducted using municipality-level aggregate data. The data used were publicly available Japanese government statistics. The first-difference model of panel data analysis was used to examine the relationship between changes in EBSMR and changes in the number of PHNs per 100,000 population from 2010 to 2015, adjusting for the effects of population and other healthcare resources, including the number of physicians, medical clinics, general hospitals, and welfare facilities. The variation by the 47 prefectures was added to the linear model as a random effect. We also performed a sensitivity analysis using the full Bayesian inference using the Besag-York-Mollie model. RESULTS: For males, EBSMRs for all causes and malignant neoplasms significantly decreased with an increase in the number of PHNs per population (coefficients: -1.00 and -0.89, p values: 0.008 and 0.043, respectively). For females, although all EBSMRs except malignant neoplasms showed decreased tendencies due to the increase in the number of PHNs per population, none of them were significant. The full Bayesian inference confirmed these associations. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in the number of PHNs per population was significantly associated with a greater reduction in deaths from all causes and malignant neoplasms in males. The results of the full Bayesian inference also suggest that the workforce of PHNs may be related to changes in standardized mortality ratios for deaths from all causes in females.

Implementing public health nursing training for Ireland's National Healthy Childhood Programme.

Public health nurses (PHNs) in Ireland provide preventative child health. An evidence-based National Healthy Childhood Program (NHCP) has been in development since 2016. The final program implementation, including training all PHNs coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: To describe implementation and evaluation of a blended training program for PHNs DESIGN: The evaluation used quantitative and qualitative methods underpinned by an implementation science framework to assess the training program. The three-phase blended training was led by a Training and Resources implementation team. Data from a national cohort of PHNs (n = 1671) who completed training were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: The majority of PHNs completed a suite of four online units (phase 1), as well as self-directed and asynchronous content in phase 2. Results of phase 2 indicated it met participant needs in terms of knowledge but outstanding needs in terms of skills remained. Phase 3 (a modified Face to Face Clinical Skills Review) was completed by 1671 PHNs over a 5-month period in 2020. Evaluation was very positive in terms of organisation and usefulness for practice. CONCLUSIONS: Despite challenges the NHCP training implementation goals were met. A well-designed blended learning training program met service delivery imperatives and PHN needs.

Estilo de liderazgo situacional en el profesional de enfermería y su relación con factores laborales / Style of situational leadership in the nursing professional and its relationship with labor factors in a second level hospital, 2021 / Estilo de liderança situacional no profissional de enfermagem e sua relação com fatores de trabalho. hospital de segundo nível, 2021

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar el estilo de liderazgo situacional del profesional de enfermería y su relación con los factores laborales en un hospital de segundo nivel. Metodología: Se trata de un estudio descriptivo relacional de corte transversal. La población de estudio fueron 111 enfermeras, para la recolección de datos se utilizó el instrumento de Paul Hersey y Keneth Blanchard (1973), el cual consta de 12 situaciones. El instrumento del estudio se envió por correo electrónico y WhatsApp, y se utilizó el formato en papel para incrementar la tasa de respuesta. La información se procesó a través del programa SPSS V24. Resultados: Se obtuvo una tasa de respuesta del 56%. Los participantes tienen una edad media de 36 años y una DE 11,82. Hay un predominio del sexo femenino del 90,3%, el 36% tiene estudios a nivel de especialización y maestría. En cuanto a los años laborando, más del 40% tiene menos de 5 años. El estilo mayormente adoptado por el personal es el estilo participativo (E3) 42%, seguido del estilo persuasivo (E2) 37%, dirigir (E1) 13%, por último, el estilo delegar (E4) 8%. El estilo de liderazgo situacional no presentó asociación estadísticamente significativa con los años laborando y la preparación académica, ya que se obtuvo valores p> 0.05. Se evidencio una relación estadísticamente significativa entre los años de labor como profesional de enfermería y la preparación académica, con una p<0.05. Conclusión: El estilo de liderazgo predominante es el participativo y no se evidenció relación estadísticamente entre el estilo de liderazgo y los factores laborales.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the situational leadership style of the nursing professional and its relationship with work factors in a second-level hospital. Methodology: This is a descriptive, relational, cross-sectional study. The study population was 111 nurses; for data collection the instrument of Paul Hersey and Keneth Blanchard (1973), which consists of 12 situations, was used. The research instrument was sent by email and WhatsApp, and available in print to increase the response rate. The information was processed through the SPSS V24 program. Results: A response rate of 56% was obtained. The participants have a mean age of 36 years and a SD of 11.82. There is a female predominance of 90.3%, where 36% has studied at the specialization and master's level. Regarding the years working, more than 40% has worked less than 5 years. The style mostly adopted by the staff is the participative style (E3) 42%, followed by the persuasive style (E2) 37%, directing (E1) 13%, and finally, the delegative style (E4) 8%. The situational leadership style did not present a statistically significant association with the years of work and academic preparation, since p values> 0.05 were obtained. A statistically significant relationship was evidenced between the years of work as a nursing professional and academic preparation, with a p <0.05. Conclusion: The predominant leadership style is participative and there was no statistically evidenced relationship between leadership style and work factors.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o estilo de liderança situacional do profissional de enfermagem e sua relação com fatores de trabalho em um hospital de segundo nível. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo relacional transversal. A população do estudo foi de 111 enfermeiros, para coleta de dados o instrumento de Paul Hersey e Keneth Blanchard (1973), que consiste em 12 situações. O instrumento de estudo foi enviado por email e WhatsApp, e o formato de papel foi utilizado para aumentar a taxa de resposta. As informações foram processadas através do programa SPSS V24. Resultados: Obteve-se uma taxa de resposta de 56%. Os participantes têm idade média de 36 anos de idade e DE de 11,82. Há predominância do sexo feminino de 90,3%, 36% têm estudos no nível de especialização e mestrado. Quanto aos anos de trabalho, mais de 40% têm menos de 5 anos. O estilo adotado principalmente pelos funcionários é o estilo participativo (E3) 42%, seguido pelo estilo persuasivo (E2) 37%, direto (E1) 13%, e por último, o estilo delegado (E4) 8%. O estilo de liderança situacional não apresentou associação estatisticamente significante com os anos de trabalho e preparação acadêmica, uma vez que foram obtidos valores p> 0,05.Foi evidenciada uma relação estatisticamente significativa entre os anos de trabalho como profissional de enfermagem e preparação acadêmica, com p<0,05. Conclusão: O estilo de liderança predominante é participativo e não houve relação estatística entre estilo de liderança e fatores de trabalho.

Representações sociais do autocuidado na percepção de homens com diabetes / Representaciones sociales del autocuidado en la percepción de hombres con diabetes / Social representations of self-care in the perception of men with diabetes

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender as representações sociais de homens com diabetes sobre o seu autocuidado. Método: abordagem processual das representações sociais com amostra por tipicidade (n=50), composta de homens atendidos num serviço ambulatorial mineiro. Coletaram-se dados de caracterização e realizaram-se entrevistas individuais em profundidade durante três meses. Foram tratados os dados, usando softwares SPPS versão 26, NVivo Pro11® e Iramuteq com análise de conteúdo (coeficiente de Pearson ≥0,70), e atendidos os requisitos ético-legais. Resultados: idade predominante ≥50 anos. Emergiram dos discursos duas categorias: 1) Possibilidade do diabetes: atitudes adotadas ou negligenciadas - enfocando adequações em hábitos alimentares; 2) Diabetes e autocuidado: prática social do cuidado enfocando a necessidade de controle da alimentação e prática de atividade física, visando à prevenção de complicações associadas. Conclusão: a adesão/negligência ao autocuidado evidenciadas remetem à necessidade de fortalecimento dos sistemas de apoio ao grupo referente às ações de prevenção de doença e promoção da saúde, visando a controle dos fatores de risco modificáveis e dos níveis glicêmicos e diagnóstico precoce para o adiamento/manejo das possíveis complicações.

RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender las representaciones sociales de hombres con diabetes sobre su autocuidado. Método: enfoque procesal de las representaciones sociales con muestreo por conveniencia (n=50), compuesta de hombres atendidos en un servicio ambulatorio de Minas Gerais-Brasil. Se recogieron datos de caracterización y se realizaron entrevistas individuales en profundidad durante tres meses. Fueron tratados los datos, usando softwares SPPS versión 26, NVivo Pro11® e Iramuteq con análisis de contenido (coeficiente de Pearson ≥0,70), y atendidos los requisitos ético-legales. Resultados: edad predominante ≥50 años. Surgieron, de los discursos, dos categorías: 1) Posibilidad de la diabetes: actitudes adoptadas u olvidadas - enfocando adecuaciones en hábitos alimenticios; 2) Diabetes y autocuidado: práctica social del cuidado enfocando la necesidad de control de la alimentación y práctica de actividad física, teniendo por objetivo la prevención de complicaciones asociadas. Conclusión: la adhesión/negligencia evidenciada al autocuidado remiten a la necesidad de fortalecimiento de los sistemas de apoyo al grupo referente a las acciones de prevención de enfermedad y promoción de la salud, buscando controlar los factores de riesgo modificables y los niveles glucémicos y diagnóstico precoz para el aplazamiento/manejo de las posibles complicaciones.

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the social representations of men with diabetes concerning their self-care. Method: a procedural approach to social representations with sampling by typicity (N=50), composed of men treated in an outpatient service in Minas Gerais. The study collected characterization data and performed in-depth individual interviews for three months. The data were processed using the software SPPS version 26, NVivo Pro11®, and Iramuteq with content analysis (Pearson's coefficient ≥0.70), and ethical-legal requirements were met. Results: predominant age of 50 years. Two categories emerged from speeches: 1) possibility of diabetes: attitudes adopted or neglected - focusing on adjustments in eating habits; 2) Diabetes and self-care: social practice of care focusing on the need for food control and practice of physical activity, aimed at preventing complications associated. Conclusion: the adherence/neglect to self-care evidenced refer to the need to strengthen the support systems to the group regarding the actions of disease prevention and health promotion, aiming at control of modifiable risk factors and glycaemic levels and early diagnosis for the postponement/management of possible complications.

Importancia del tamaño del efecto para la comparación de dos o más grupos en investigaciones en salud pública / The Importance of Effect Size for Comparing Two or More Groups in Public Health Research

Señor Editor: Muchos estudios en ciencias de la salud, con el objetivo de comparar las puntuaciones de una variable entre dos o más grupos (por ejemplo, sexo, nivel socioeconómico, nivel de instrucción, tipo de enfermedad, entre otras), recurren a la determinación de la existencia o no de diferencias estadísticamente significativas reportadas, fundamentalmente, a través de los valores del test de significancia de la hipótesis nula (NHST, por sus siglas en inglés), procedimiento que actualmente se encuentra en discusión.1,2 En este sentido, el NHST puede considerarse como un procedimiento insuficiente para la valoración de la importancia práctica de los resultados. Entre las limitaciones del NHST se pueden mencionar las siguientes: considerar solo el error máximo permitido para rechazar una hipótesis nula (Ho) de ausencia de diferencias estadísticamente significativas y la alta sensibilidad respecto al tamaño de la muestra, donde muestras grandes tienden a estar asociadas también con el rechazo de la Ho.3,4,5 Ante esta situación, se hace necesario el reporte de medidas del tamaño del efecto que permiten la cuantificación de la eficacia de diferentes niveles de una variable independiente. De esta manera, de acuerdo a lo sugerido por el Comité Internacional de Editores de Revistas Médicas,6 se busca complementar la información acerca de la existencia de diferencias estadísticamente significativas (obtenida a través del NHST) con información que indique la magnitud de tales diferencias...(AU)

HPV vaccine promotion: Snapshot of two health departments during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted routine health care services including immunization delivery. The most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States is the human papillomavirus (HPV), and its sequelae may be prevented by vaccination. Sequelae that can develop if one's immune system is not able to clear the infection include warts, precancerous lesions, and cancer. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) reports almost everyone who is sexually active will encounter the virus at some time during their life. Most of the estimated 79 million infections occur among people who are in their late teens or early 20s. Since 2006, there has been a vaccine available to prevent HPV infections in both males and females; however, administration of this vaccine has only been about half the rate of other vaccines and vaccine hesitancy may play a role. Public health nurses are vital in providing accurate and nonjudgmental vaccine education to their clients, especially unaccompanied minors seeking care in public health department clinics. This paper will explore the recommendations for providing this vaccine as well as a snapshot of current practice in two health departments in the Southeast region of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Associations between oil development and sexually transmitted infections: Public health nurse perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Oil development (OD) has been associated with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates, with limited focus on the North Dakota (ND) oil boom. Public health (PH) nurse experiences can provide context related to health challenges during OD-related population booms. OBJECTIVE: To compare reported STI rates in ND oil-producing (OP) and non-oil-producing (NOP) counties before, during, and after the oil boom and describe PH nurse experiences during this time. DESIGN: We conducted secondary data analysis of oil production data and reported rates for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and conducted interviews with ND PH nurses. SAMPLE: PH nurses within ND counties geographically located in or near OD in the state. MEASUREMENTS: ND county-level OD data trends were compared to similarly timed reported rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea in OP and NOP counties. PH nurse interviews were conducted addressing their STI-related experiences working in PH during the oil boom. RESULTS: Significant findings include a correlation between OD and gonorrhea rates. PH nurses described a limited PH infrastructure to meet the health needs of a transient, increasing population. CONCLUSIONS: Expanding the role of PH nurses in ND to implement STI screening and treatment would improve access to STI testing allowing for comprehensive reporting of STIs.

A enfermagem de saúde pública e as políticas públicas de saúde: um estudo de caso / La enfermería de salud pública y las políticas públicas de salud: uno estudio de caso / Public health nursing and public health policies: a case study

Resumo Objetivos caracterizar as intervenções do enfermeiro especialista de saúde comunitária e de saúde pública de um Agrupamento de Centros de Saúde; identificar os principais fatores facilitadores para o desempenho das competências, e a contribuição para as políticas públicas de saúde. Método estudo de caso, com enfermeiros da especialidade em enfermagem de saúde comunitária e de saúde pública. Coleta de dados por meio de entrevista, no período de outubro a dezembro de 2019. A análise foi guiada por duas estratégias: partir das proposições teoréticas e trabalhar os dados emergentes; e duas técnicas: combinar padrões, "pattern matching" e construir explicações, "explanation building". Resultados a partir da matriz construída, surgiram dez proposições teoréticas, dez evidências emergentes, cinco padrões e cinco hipóteses explicativas. Sobressaem intervenções de vigilância epidemiológica, planeamento e gestão de projetos. A formação pessoal e a comunicação destacam-se como fatores facilitadores. Conclusão e implicações para a prática a intervenção do enfermeiro dessa especialidade apresenta uma dimensão centrada no planeamento e gestão de projetos, identifica e reflete os fatores facilitadores do desempenho das suas competências, enquanto aplicador de políticas públicas de saúde.

Resumen Objetivos caracterizar las intervenciones del enfermero especialista en salud comunitaria y salud pública de un Grupo de Centros de Salud, identificar los principales fatores facilitadores para el desempeño de competencias, y la contribución a las políticas públicas de salud. Método estudio de caso, con enfermeros especialistas en enfermería de salud comunitaria y de salud pública. Recolección de datos realizada por entrevista, de octubre a diciembre de 2019. El análisis estuvo guiado por dos estrategias: partiendo de las proposiciones teóricas y trabajando con los datos emergentes; y dos técnicas: combinación de patrones, "pattern matching" y construcción de explicaciones, "explanation building". Resultados De la matriz construida surgieron diez proposiciones teóricas, diez evidencias emergentes, cinco patrones y cinco hipótesis explicativas. Se destacan intervenciones de vigilancia epidemiológica, planificación y gestión de proyectos. El entrenamiento personal y la comunicación se destacan como factores facilitadores. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica La intervención del enfermero en estas especialidades presenta una dimensión centrada en la planificación y gestión de proyectos, identifica y refleja los factores facilitadores del desempeño de sus competencias, como aplicador de las políticas públicas de salud.

Abstract Objectives to characterize the interventions of specialist nurses of community health and public health of a Group of Health Centers, to identify the main facilitating factors for the performance of competences, and the contribution to public health policies. Method this is a case study carried out with nurses specialized in community health and public health nursing. Data were collected through interviews from October to December 2019. Analysis was guided by two strategies: starting from the theoretical propositions and working the data from the ground up; and two techniques: pattern matching and explanation building. Results from the constructed matrix, ten theoretical propositions, ten emerging evidences, five patterns and five explanatory hypotheses emerged. There are interventions for epidemiological surveillance, planning and project management. Personal training and communication stand out as facilitating factors. Conclusion and implications for practice the intervention of the nurses of these specialties presents a dimension centered on project planning and management identifies and reflects the facilitating factors of the performance of their competencies, as an applicator of public health policies.

Public health nurses' workforce factors and population health outcomes in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: (a) To examine associations between public health nurse (PHN) workforce factors (PHNs' highest education and PHNs' mean years of employment) and health-risk behaviors (smoking and physical inactivity rates), and (b) to investigate the associations between PHN workforce factors and premature mortality rates across all counties of the United States. DESIGN: Secondary analysis. SAMPLE: A total of 5,705 PHNs from the 2015 National Nursing Workforce Survey and 2,977 U.S. counties from the 2016 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps data were included. METHODS: Multilevel linear regression was used. RESULTS: Bachelor's, and master's or doctorate-prepared PHNs accounted for 41.5% and 17.0%, respectively. The mean year of employment among PHNs was 17.3. The percentages of PHNs with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees were significantly associated with decreased physical inactivity rates. The PHNs' mean year of employment was significantly associated with decreased physical inactivity rates and reduced premature age-adjusted mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that PHNs with higher levels of education and more years of employment were important in improving health outcomes (health-risk behavior and premature mortality). Policymakers need to consider strategies to encourage more PHNs to obtain advanced degrees and to retain PHNs longer in the public health field.

Factors Associated with Prenatal Smoking Cessation Interventions among Public Health Nurses in Japan.

This study aimed to identify the factors associated with prenatal smoking cessation interventions based on the 5As model among public health nurses (PHNs) in Japan. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to February 2020 via a self-administered questionnaire. The study subjects were 1988 PHNs working in 431 health centers of municipalities and special wards across the country. Of the 1988 questionnaires mailed, 521 responses (26.2%) were included in the analysis. Of the 521 responses, most of the respondents were female (98.1%) and the mean age was 37.5 years. There were statistically significant differences on age, work regions, experience years working as a PHN and smoking cessation training after becoming a PHN in implementing the 5As. Self-efficacy, professional development competency, research utilization competency, age and experience years working as a PHN were positively associated with the 5As. Social nicotine dependence was negatively associated with the 5As. Furthermore, self-efficacy mediated the relationship between the 5As and professional development competency, research utilization competency, social nicotine dependence, age and experience years working as a PHN. In the future, smoking cessation intervention training should be widely implemented to improve self-efficacy and prenatal smoking cessation interventions among Japanese PHNs.

Factors associated with household contacts' tuberculosis testing and evaluation.

PURPOSE: No research has been done in New York City that shows the demographic characteristics of household contacts testing, evaluation, and treatment of LTBI. The objective of the study was to identify demographic factors associated with household contacts' TB testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment. DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the New York City (NYC) TB registry data that examined the factors (gender, age, country of birth, race/ethnicity, and borough of residence) associated with TB testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment. The study sample included all household contacts of TB cases identified from 2010 to 2014 (N = 3,008). The data set was chosen when nurses were the primary case managers at chest centers in the department of health. Descriptive and inferential analysis was used to identify factors associated with testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of household contacts associated with testing, evaluation, and LTBI treatment were consistent with those of TB cases in NYC from 2010 to 2014. Those not tested, not fully evaluated, and refusing LTBI treatment were most often aged 18-44 years and were non-US born. Males were significantly more likely than females not to be fully evaluated. Among racial/ethnic groups, Asian and Hispanic persons were at higher risk of not being fully evaluated, and residents of Queens had the highest risk among the five boroughs. In multivariate analyses, age was a significant predictor of behavior, such that the older the person the less likely to get TB testing or to accept LTBI treatment. Non-US country of birth was associated with lower likelihood of being fully evaluated but more likely to accept LTBI treatment when fully evaluated, while Asian or Hispanic race/ethnicity was associated with higher likelihood of both behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Findings on age from this study will enable public health agencies and public health nurses to plan for effective strategies that will increase the number of household contacts who accept TB testing and evaluation, as well as the numbers who will accept and complete LTBI treatment.

Knowledge, attitudes, practice and related factors of oral cancer prevention among public health nurses in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: Public health nurses (PHNs) in Taiwan act as individual/family-based primary care providers and as population-based community care providers. A little information is currently available on the ability of PHNs to prevent oral cancer. We surveyed knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of oral cancer prevention among PHNs. METHODS: This study recruited 400 PHNs through the Taiwan Public Health Center. A structured electronic questionnaire was used to collect PHNs' demographics and scale scores for oral cancer knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviour. RESULTS: Providing PHNs with oral cancer prevention education, having the supervisor's support for preventive work and receiving in-service education would improve PHNs' knowledge, attitude and behaviour for oral cancer prevention. Attitude, oral cancer-related courses arranged by current employer (major factor), supervisor's support for work and having responsibility for oral cancer prevention were associated with the oral cancer preventive behaviour of PHNs, and explain 41.1% of total variance. CONCLUSIONS: We established a linear regression model for understanding the role of PHNs in the practice of preventing oral cancer. It may be useful for the government in improving school-based and in-service oral cancer prevention education programmes for PHNs as well as developing programmes for increasing public awareness and education of oral cancer prevention.

Screening for partner violence in the early postpartum period: are we missing families most at risk of experiencing violence?

OBJECTIVES: In Manitoba, government policy is for public health nurses to screen families with newborns within 1-week post-discharge for risk factors associated with poor child developmental health. The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of families who are screened for intimate partner violence (IPV) with families without a documented response to an IPV screen item. This information can be used to help identify and target families in need of support whose needs are not being met within the current system. METHODS: Manitoban women giving birth to a live singleton in the province from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2006 were included in the analyses (N = 52,710). Data were part of a larger research study following these families for several years to examine longer-term developmental outcomes. Administrative databases from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy provided data for the study. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine relationships between IPV screen status and socio-demographic covariates and birth outcomes. RESULTS: In the study population, 66.7% of the sample were screened for IPV. Women less than 20 years of age, not in married or common-law unions, and living in lower income areas were less likely to have a documented response to the IPV screen item. A low number of prenatal care visits, prenatal mental health problems, and prenatal substance use, as well as premature and low birthweight delivery, were associated with a decreased likelihood of having a documented response to the IPV screen item. CONCLUSION: Incorporating violence screening into routine prenatal and postnatal care, rather than only screening women after birth, may help to better identify families with unmet needs and ensure more timely referrals to positive strengths-based supports and services.

Competency model for public health nurses working on tobacco control in local governments in Japan: A qualitative study.

AIM: In Japan, public health nurses play a major role in tobacco control at the local government level. However, the competencies required are not clear. This study aimed to identify competencies of public health nurses working on local tobacco control in Japan. METHODS: Twelve expert public health nurses from nine local governments in Japan participated in semi-structured interviews using the Behavioral Event Interview. Data analysis used the Iceberg Model and qualitative descriptive methods. RESULTS: The competencies of the public health nurses were driven by three "motives": strong motivation to pioneer and change tobacco control; unwavering determination to remove barriers to tobacco control; and strong drive to achieve tobacco control. Public health nurses also showed three "attitudes": a partnership-oriented stance to delivering tobacco control; enthusiasm for evidence-based goals; and commitment to developing expertise and roles. These underpinned eight "skills": advocating to raise awareness of the need for tobacco control; positioning tobacco control as a policy issue based on regional and social situations; creating an organizational system for tobacco control; pioneering opportunities for intervention and delivering effective and locally appropriate activities; evaluating and improving the quality of tobacco control measures; developing and establishing community-based measures for tobacco-free communities; expanding activities by strategically collaborating with stakeholders; and coordinating and negotiating to avoid conflicts. CONCLUSIONS: Public health nurses who promote tobacco control share characteristics, despite barriers such as resistance inside and outside the organization. In the future, these could be used as indicators of the competency of public health nurses working on local tobacco control.

As intervenções e responsabilidades do enfermeiro de saúde pública em Portugal: uma scoping review / The public health nurse's interventions and responsibilities in Portugal: a scoping review / Las intervenciones y responsabilidades del enfermero de salud pública en Portugal: una scoping review

Objetivo: revisar os estudos que referenciam as intervenções e responsabilidades do enfermeiro de saúde pública, desde a criação do Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS) Português em 1979, até aos nossos dias. Método: scoping review, seguindo a versão PCC - participants, concept and context, do The Joanna Briggs Institute. Consultamos bases de dados como a Biblioteca do Conhecimento Online, Scientific Eletronic Library Online, EBSCOhost Online Research Databases. O período de publicação foi de 1979 a 2018. Resultados: selecionamos quatro artigos publicados e seis dissertações de mestrado, entre 2010 e 2016. Os temas têm a ver com atividades e atuações dos enfermeiros, autonomia e competências, fundamentos normativos, perceções de equipas de saúde, transmissão e obtenção de informação em saúde. Conclusão: Os resultados apurados, mesmo que escassos, forneceram pistas para uma reflexão acerca do modo, tipo dos processos de intervenção, destes enfermeiros, que segundo a opinião de alguns deles, compreendem mais as suas competências do que as concretizam.

Objective: to review studies that refer to interventions and responsibilities of public health nurses, since the creation of the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS) in 1979, to the present day. Method: scoping review, following the PCC - participants, concept and context version of The Joanna Briggs Institute. We consulted databases such as the Biblioteca do Conhecimento Online, Scientific Electronic Library Online, EBSCOhost Online Research Databases. The publication period was from 1979 to 2018. Results: we selected four published articles and six master's dissertations, between 2010 and 2016. The subjects have to do with nurses' activities and actions, autonomy and competences, normative foundations, perceptions of nursing teams, health, transmission and collection of health information. Conclusion: The results, even if scarce, provided clues for a reflection on the mode, type of intervention processes of these nurses, who, according to some of them, understand their competences more than they concretize them.

Objetivo: revisar estudios que se refieren a intervenciones y responsabilidades de enfermeros de salud pública, desde la creación del Servicio Nacional de Salud de Portugal (SNS) en 1979, hasta la actualidad. Método: revisión de alcance, siguiendo el PCC - participantes, concepto y versión de contexto del Instituto Joanna Briggs. Consultamos bases de datos como Biblioteca do Conhecimento Online, Scientific Eletronic Library Online, EBSCOhost Online Research Databases. El período de publicación fue 1979 a 2018. Resultados: seleccionamos cuatro artículos publicados y seis disertaciones de maestría, entre 2010 y 2016. Los temas tienen que ver con las actividades, acciones de los enfermeros, autonomía y competencias, fundamentos normativos, percepciones de los equipos de enfermería, salud, transmisión y recopilación de información sanitaria. Conclusión: los resultados, aunque escasos, proporcionaron pistas para reflexionar sobre el modo, tipo de procesos de intervención de estos enfermeros, quienes, según algunos de ellos, entienden sus competencias más de lo que las concretan.

[Relationship between the manpower of full-time and part-time public health nurses and standardized mortality ratios: An ecological study in municipalities in Japan].

Objectives　The purpose of this ecological study was to clarify the relationship between the manpower of full-time and part-time public health nurses (PHNs) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) in municipalities in Japan.Methods　We divided 1,225 municipalities with a population over 10,000 for which SMRs were officially published into two groups based on whether the municipality had established a public health center (PHC): general municipalities and PHC-established cities. A linear mixed model was used to examine the relationships among the number of full-time PHNs; cumulative total number of workdays for part-time PHNs; and other healthcare and social welfare resources for SMRs for all causes, malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular disease, and heart disease.Results　A higher cumulative total number of workdays for part-time PHNs was significantly associated with lower SMRs in both groups for all causes (males and females), lower SMRs in the general municipalities for malignant neoplasms (males) and heart disease (males), and lower SMRs in PHC-established cities for malignant neoplasms (males and females). The number of full-time PHNs had no effect on SMRs.Conclusion　This study suggested that an increase in the manpower of municipal PHNs improves the health and wellbeing of residents.

[Relationship between pregnancy factors and low birth weight infants, miscarriages, and stillbirths: A follow-up survey on birth conditions of pregnant women who received the maternal and child health handbook from public health nurses and midwives].

Objectives　The final evaluation of the Japanese government's Healthy Parents and Children 21 project in 2014 noted an increase in low birth weight infants as an aspect that worsened. In order to reduce the number of low birth weight infants, miscarriages, and stillbirths in Kurume City, we conducted a survey aimed at researching new measures, including the search for new risk factors of birth complications.Methods　The participants of this study were 2,986 pregnant women who submitted a pregnancy notification form in 2014. We excluded women who moved away from Kurume city or for whom birth weight records could not be obtained. Information from the pregnancy notification form was linked to birth weight records to examine the relationships between low birth weight infants, miscarriages, stillbirths, and pregnancy attributes. Variables that were shown to be related in an initial univariate analysis were analyzed further in a multiple logistic regression analysis with low birth weight, miscarriage, or stillbirth as the response variables.Results　A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being 35 years or older (odds ratio [OR]: 1.41), height less than 158 cm (OR: 1.45), non-pregnant body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5 (OR: 1.48), and detection of physical abnormalities by a physician during the pregnancy (OR: 2.20) were independent maternal factors that were significantly associated with low birth weight. Being aged 35 years or older (OR: 2.05) and smoking (OR: 3.42) were independent factors that were significantly associated with miscarriage and stillbirth. In addition, the cessation of alcohol use (OR: 0.51) significantly reduced this risk.Conclusion　Because some biological factors such as "age" and "non-pregnant BMI" are invariable, we encourage pregnant women to get checkups to detect abnormalities early or to attend birthing classes that offer mental support, especially for pregnant women over 35 years. We want to tell young generations that pregnant women over 35 are at an increased risk of having low birth weight infants, miscarriages, and stillbirths, and those pregnant women with a lower BMI have an increased risk of low birth weight infants. "Maintenance of appropriate body weight," "smoking," "alcohol," socioeconomic issues such as "lack of systems for seeking advice and support staff," and "financial concerns" can be improved with health education from public health nurses and multidisciplinary support interventions. At the Children Care Support Center in Kurume city, professionals work together to provide continuous support to families during pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. As a result, we may be able to contribute to reducing the number of low birth weight infants, miscarriages, and stillbirths.