Epistaxis first-aid management: a needs assessment among healthcare providers.

PURPOSE: To perform a needs assessment of epistaxis first-aid measures practiced by family physicians and Emergency Department (ED) staff in London, Ontario, Canada. METHODS: Paper-based multiple-choice questionnaires were distributed to participants. Participant recruitment was conducted in two parts: 1) 28 Emergency Medicine (EM) attending physicians, 21 resident physicians training in the ED, and 26 ED nurses were surveyed while on duty in the ED; 2) 27 family physicians providing walk-in or urgent care and attending a continuing medical education (CME) event were also surveyed. Respondents were asked to identify where to apply compression to the nose and how patients should be positioned during acute epistaxis. RESULTS: Regarding where to apply compression, 19% of family physicians, 43% of EM physicians, 24% of residents, and 8% of ED nurses responded correctly. Regarding positioning, all groups responded similarly with 54-62% responding correctly. Twenty-one percent of emergency physicians, 19% of residents, 11% of family physicians, and 4% of nurses responded correctly to both questions. CONCLUSIONS: Most family physicians, EM attending physicians, ED nurses, and residents could not correctly identify basic first-aid measures for acute epistaxis. This study identifies an area where knowledge is lacking and the potential for improvement in patient management and education.

Colonoscopy Direct Observation of Procedural Skills Assessment Tool for Evaluating Competency Development During Training.

INTRODUCTION: Formative colonoscopy direct observation of procedural skills (DOPS) assessments were updated in 2016 and incorporated into UK training but lack validity evidence. We aimed to appraise the validity of DOPS assessments, benchmark performance, and evaluate competency development during training in diagnostic colonoscopy. METHODS: This prospective national study identified colonoscopy DOPS submitted over an 18-month period to the UK training e-portfolio. Generalizability analyses were conducted to evaluate internal structure validity and reliability. Benchmarking was performed using receiver operator characteristic analyses. Learning curves for DOPS items and domains were studied, and multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of DOPS competency. RESULTS: Across 279 training units, 10,749 DOPS submitted for 1,199 trainees were analyzed. The acceptable reliability threshold (G > 0.70) was achieved with 3 assessors performing 2 DOPS each. DOPS competency rates correlated with the unassisted caecal intubation rate (rho 0.404, P < 0.001). Demonstrating competency in 90% of assessed items provided optimal sensitivity (90.2%) and specificity (87.2%) for benchmarking overall DOPS competence. This threshold was attained in the following order: "preprocedure" (50-99 procedures), "endoscopic nontechnical skills" and "postprocedure" (150-199), "management" (200-249), and "procedure" (250-299) domain. At item level, competency in "proactive problem solving" (rho 0.787) and "loop management" (rho 0.780) correlated strongest with the overall DOPS rating (P < 0.001) and was the last to develop. Lifetime procedure count, DOPS count, trainer specialty, easier case difficulty, and higher cecal intubation rate were significant multivariable predictors of DOPS competence. DISCUSSION: This study establishes milestones for competency acquisition during colonoscopy training and provides novel validity and reliability evidence to support colonoscopy DOPS as a competency assessment tool.

Capacidade de inferência diagnóstica de enfermeiros especialistas / Diagnostic inference capacity of specialist nurses / Capacidad de inferencia diagnóstica de enfermeras especialistas

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a capacidade de inferência diagnóstica de enfermeiros especialistas. Método: Estudo descri tivo, realizado em julho de 2013, com cinco enfermeiros especialistas do grupo de pesquisa intitulado Práticas Assistenciais e Epidemiológicas em Saúde e Enfermagem. A capacidade de inferência diagnóstica foi avaliada por meio dos testes de eficiência, taxa de falso positivo, taxa de falso negativo e tendência. A pesquisa foi aprova da pelo comitê de ética em pesquisa da instituição responsável, por meio do protocolo N° 148.428. Resultados: Dentre os especialistas avaliados quanto a sua capacidade de inferência diagnóstica, apenas dois atingiram as pontuações desejáveis dos quatro atributos avaliados. Conclusão: Conclui-se que poucos enfermeiros especialistas obtiveram resultado satisfatório. Assim, é necessário o desenvolvimento de estratégias de aprendizado desde a graduação e a realização de educação continuada para os profissionais da prática.

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the capacity for diagnostic inference among specialist nurses. Method: Descriptive study, performed in July 2013, with five specialist nurses of the research group entitled Care and Epidemiology Practices in Health and Nursing. The diagnostic inference capacity was assessed through efficiency tests, false posi tive rate, false negative rate and trend analysis. The research was approved by the research ethics committee of the sponsoring institution, through the Protocol N°148.428. Results: Among the specialists evaluated for their diagnostic inference capacity, only two reached the desirable scores out of the four attributes evaluated. Con clusion: It is concluded that few specialist nurses obtained satisfactory results. Thus, it is necessary to develop learning strategies in their undergraduate studies and their continuing education for practitioners.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Comprobar la capacidad de inferencia diagnóstica de enfermeras especialistas. Método: Estudio des criptivo, llevado a cabo en julio de 2013, con cinco enfermeras especialistas del grupo de investigación titula do Prácticas de Atención y Epidemiológicas en Salud y Enfermería. La capacidad de inferencia diagnóstica se evaluó a través de pruebas de eficiencia, tasa de falsos positivos, falsos negativos y tendencia. La investigación fue aprobada por el comité de ética en investigación de la institución responsable, a través del Protocolo N°148.428. Resultados: Entre los especialistas evaluados como su capacidad de inferencia diagnóstica, sólo dos alcanza ron los puntajes deseables de los cuatro atributos. Conclusión: Se concluye que pocas enfermeras especialistas obtuvieron resultados satisfactorios. Por lo tanto, es necesario desarrollar estrategias de aprendizaje desde su graduación y la educación continua de los profesionales en la práctica.

The implementation and evaluation of a communication skills training program for oncology nurses.

Many nurses express difficulty in communicating with their patients, especially in oncology settings where there are numerous challenges and high-stake decisions during the course of diagnosis and treatment. Providing specific training in communication skills is one way to enhance the communication between nurses and their patients. We developed and implemented a communication skills training program for nurses, consisting of three teaching modules: responding empathically to patients; discussing death, dying, and end-of-life goals of care; and responding to challenging interactions with families. Training included didactic and experiential small group role plays. This paper presents results on program evaluation, self-efficacy, and behavioral demonstration of learned communication skills. Three hundred forty-two inpatient oncology nurses participated in a 1-day communication skills training program and completed course evaluations, self-reports, and pre- and post-standardized patient assessments. Participants rated the training favorably, and they reported significant gains in self-efficacy in their ability to communicate with patients in various contexts. Participants also demonstrated significant improvement in several empathic skills, as well as in clarifying skill. Our work demonstrates that implementation of a nurse communication skills training program at a major cancer center is feasible and acceptable and has a significant impact on participants' self-efficacy and uptake of communication skills.