Qualification of palliative nursing assistance in the use of the subcutaneous route.

OBJECTIVES: to describe the experience of conducting workshops for teaching the subcutaneous fluid infusion therapy in palliative care patients. METHODS: experience report based on four workshops with a workload of nine hours each, addressing the teaching, implementation of the technique, and management in the use of subcutaneous fluid infusion therapy in patients in palliative care. The host institution was a private hospital, which had two care units in the state of Rio de Janeiro. RESULTS: we identified little knowledge about the theme. Due to the dynamics used, the workshops made it possible to qualify the participants to perform and manage the subcutaneous route in palliative care environments. CONCLUSIONS: the workshops were an important means of training, qualification, and dissemination of nursing care in a palliative care environment. The resources used to enable the qualification in the execution and management of the presented technique.

Práticas de medicações injetáveis: conduta referida de profissionais de enfermagem / Prácticas de medicaciones inyectables: conducta referida de los profesionales de enfermería / Injectable medications: self-reported practices of nursing professionals

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar a conduta referida de profissionais da enfermagem, do estado de São Paulo, sobre Práticas de Medicações Injetáveis. Método: Estudo tipo survey que identificou a frequência referida sobre Práticas de Medicações Injetáveis mediante resposta de questionário eletrônico, validado, entre setembro e dezembro de 2017. Resultados: Considerando as 1.295 respostas computadas, foram identificadas inconformidades como compartilhamento de frascos multidoses para dois ou mais pacientes (10,8%), reutilização de insumos de uso único, como seringas para salinização de pacientes diferentes (1,2%) e reencape de agulhas após uso (4,9%). Foram referidas maior adesão ao uso de luvas para administração de injeções endovenosas (80,5%) e falta de treinamento para manipulação de dispositivos de segurança (13%). Dados correlacionais apontaram que, quanto maior a idade, melhor era a conduta referida na prática de injetáveis. Conclusão: Embora a maioria das condutas configure-se dentro das Boas Práticas de Medicações Injetáveis, há relatos de práticas de risco, como compartilhamento de insumos de uso único. O treinamento para uso de dispositivos de segurança ainda não é uma realidade para todos os profissionais, visto que muitos o referiram como raro.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar la conducta de profesionales de enfermería del estado de São Paulo sobre Prácticas de Medicaciones Inyectables. Método: Se trata de un estudio tipo survey, el cual identificó la frecuencia de Prácticas de Medicaciones Inyectables mediante respuesta de un cuestionario electrónico, validado entre septiembre y diciembre de 2017. Resultados: Teniendo en cuenta las 1.295 respuestas computadas, se identificaron inconformidades como el uso de frascos de dosis múltiples para dos o más pacientes (10,8%), la reutilización de insumos de un solo uso, como jeringas para la salinización de diferentes pacientes (1,2%) y el reencapuchado de agujas después de su uso (4,9%). Sobresalió la adhesión al uso de guantes para las inyecciones intravenosas (80,5%) y la falta de capacitación sobre la manipulación de dispositivos de seguridad (13%). Los datos correlativos señalaron que, a mayor edad, mejor la conducta referida en la práctica de los inyectables. Conclusión: Aunque la mayoría de las conductas se configuran dentro de las Buenas Prácticas de Medicaciones Inyectables, se informa sobre la existencia de prácticas de riesgo, como el compartir insumos de un solo uso. La capacitación en el uso de dispositivos de seguridad aún no es una realidad para todos los profesionales y muchos han declarado que raramente se los entrena en esa área.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the self-reported injectable medications of nursing professionals in the state of São Paulo. Method: Survey study that assessed the self-reported frequency of injection medications through a validated electronic questionnaire, applied from September to December 2017. Results: The 1,295 computed responses showed non-compliances such as sharing multidose vials for two or more patients (10.8%), reusing single-use supplies, such as use of saline flush syringes for different patients (1.2%) and needle recapping after use (4.9%). Greater adherence to glove use for administration of intravenous injections (80.5%) and lack of training for handling safety devices (13%) were reported. Correlational data showed that, the older the age, the better the self-reported injecting practices. Conclusion: Although most practices are within Safe Injecting practices, there are reports of risky practices, such as sharing single-use supplies. Training for the use of safety devices is not yet a reality for all professionals, since many reported it as rare.

Lay caregivers' perspectives on injecting subcutaneous medications at home.

BACKGROUND: Most palliative care patients prefer to be cared for at home. While promoting quality of life for patients, this preference impacts on their caregivers. Lay caregivers in Australia can be required to deliver and adjust complex medication regimens.This study aimed to investigate caregivers' perceptions concerning the injection of subcutaneous medications. METHODS: Fourteen caregivers were interviewed on two occasions, once during the caregiving phase and two months after bereavement. RESULTS: In the first interview, caregivers expressed anxieties associated with their ability to undertake the task of administering injections, including fears of overdosing their family member. In the bereavement interview caregivers reflected they were pleased they had contributed to the symptom relief of a family member and that although they would not necessarily volunteer to inject family members again, they were generally empowered by the experience. It is important for health professionals to support lay caregivers to successfully achieve their extended caregiving role.

Quality of life of patients undergoing ovarian stimulation with injectable drugs in relation to medical practice in France.

The French study VISION is a multicentric, prospective and retrospective study, designed first to evaluate patients' quality of life during ovarian stimulation for ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI) or IVF, and secondly to analyse current medical practice in France. Answers were directly entered on a pocket PC. The study was conducted from January to August 2004 and 186 practitioners filled in a total of 1476 questionnaires. The percentages for the different treatments used were analysed according to type of technique [ovulation induction, IUI, IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)], type of product used [urinary gonadotrophins, recombinant FSH (rFSH), gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists] and methods of administration (intramuscularly, subcutaneously, use of Pen-injector, nurses or self-injections). Initial and total amounts of urinary gonadotrophins per cycle were approximately 30% higher compared with rFSH for IUI and IVF. Generally, the impact of these treatments on professional or social life was less than expected. Patients saw self-injection as a significant improvement in their life, especially when using an injection pen, and when other drugs were also self-injected during treatment (human chorionic gonadotrophin, GnRH agonists or antagonists). Clear information is necessary to increase patient's compliance to the treatment. Simplification will make these procedures more patient-friendly and less of a struggle.

Intermittent subcutaneous injections of pain medication: effectiveness, manageability, and satisfaction.

This study describes the use of intermittent subcutaneous injections of medications for pain control in a home hospice program. Six questionnaires were used to collect data over a one-year time period on the 52 patients who received medications by this route. Eighty-four percent of those patients had a diagnosis of cancer; patients received hospice care for a mean of 25 days. On average, intermittent subcutaneous medications were instituted three days prior to the patient's death. The main indication for this route was difficulty swallowing. Morphine was the most frequently used drug; side effects from the medication and problems with the route were rarely reported. Demographic information was collected on both the nursing staff and patients' caregivers; analysis indicated that caregivers were able to manage the injections and were satisfied with the method. Assessment of pain prior to and following the injections demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in controlling patients' pain.