The Social and Professional Image of the Nurse: Results of an Online Snowball Sampling Survey among the General Population in the Post-Pandemic Period.

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed people's lifestyles by imposing social, economic, and labor changes. Health professionals have been in the spotlight, occasionally even elevated to the status of "heroes", as they have been at the forefront of the health emergency. Media exposure has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the evolution and perception of the public's image of nurses, especially within the Italian context. Currently, there is only one study conducted in Italy during the pandemic period. For this reason, we have opted to delve further into this subject during the post-pandemic period, with the ultimate goal of identifying this perceptual evolution. Methods. An online snowball sampling survey was conducted among the Italian population using social networks between August 2022 and January 2023. The survey utilized the Nursing Attitude Questionnaire (NAQ) to collect data. Results. The sample consisted of 564 individuals. Among the respondents, 63.8% (n = 360) were familiar with the nursing pathway, and the level of agreement regarding the training of nurses was 81.5% (n = 260). In terms of recognizing the professional role of nurses, variations emerged in certain domains of the NAQ. Specifically, professional values of nurses were more pronounced in northern and central Italy (M = 26.27). Moreover, stereotypes were more prevalent in the north (23.73 ± 3.538) and the center (23.13 ± 4.104) (p = 0.001). Conclusions. The sample acknowledged a unique competence inherent to nurses that cannot be replaced by other professionals. The study population perceives the nursing profession as pivotal within the IHS (Integrated Health System). However, the attractiveness of the profession remains exceedingly low. This study was not registered on a publicly available registry.

The Experience of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Menopausal Symptoms, Sleep Disturbance, and Body Image among Patients with Breast Cancer-A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The objective was to decrease patient menopausal symptoms, sleep disturbance, and body image using a nonpharmacological therapy for cultivating key healthy lifestyle habits in patients with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants were 26 women with breast cancer who had recently received structured mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training in a clinical trial. Focus groups and interviews were conducted, during which the participants were asked semistructured, open-ended questions regarding the experiences of MBSR. RESULTS: The participants indicated that MBSR helped them to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats, and improve sleep quality and be more at ease with the external aspect of their body. On the other hand, during MBSR intervention in a group manner, the participants felt more psychological support and an outlet for sharing negative emotional experiences. CONCLUSION: This study identified the short-term benefits associated with group-based MBSR for women with breast cancer. In addition, our research identified the difficulties of intervention measures and coping methods. The study described the benefits of MBSR for patients with breast cancer. The findings of this study will help nursing staff identify the main coping menopausal symptoms and control negative mental health.

The Mindfulness and the Emotional Regulation Skills in Italian Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Survey-Correlational Study.

Purpose: To analyze the differences in mindfulness level and emotional regulation skills, as cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression subdimensions, according to sex and years of work experience in a sample of Italian nurses directly involved in the care of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Then, correlations were also performed in order to evidence relationships between the mindfulness tendency and the emotional regulation skills, both in cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, too. Design of study: Descriptive correlational study. Methods: In June 2020, an online questionnaire was administered. Data relating to sex and years of work experience, the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) in the cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression subdimensions were collected. Findings: Two hundred nurses were enrolled. Males recorded higher MAAS values compared to females (p = .001). No significant differences were registered in the MAAS scores according to years of work experience and regarding the ERQ subscales according to sex and work of experience, too. Also, any correlations were reported between MAAS and ERQ subscales. Conclusions: Future training on the basic principles of mindfulness and Emotion Regulation were considered a priority in nurses to better self-modulate their own beings, particularly during the pandemic period.

The Role of Nutrition During the COVID-19 Pandemic: What We Know.

BACKGROUND: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) infection provokes serious clinical consequences, which in many situations need hospitalization of the patient in Intensive Care Unit. Additionally, SARS-COV-2 infection can indirectly cause deaths in aged individuals as well as in patients with co-morbidities. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic in both hospitalized patients and the general population. METHODS: Authors searched Medline (PubMed), Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google, and Institutional websites for medical subheadings terms and free full text referred to "SARS-CoV-2", COVID-19", "nutrition", "immune system", before 31st July 2020. RESULTS: A total of 20 articles describing different nutritional interventions for patients with SARS-- CoV-2 infection focusing on the general population have been included. Of these, 6 studies are dealing with nutritional interventions for patients with SARS-CoV2 infection. The others are focalized on a potential beneficial effect exerted by a Mediterranean diet (MD), related to the supplementation of micronutrients and vitamins. CONCLUSION: A correct lifestyle, including the consumption of nutrients largely present in MD, may be beneficial for preventing or improving prognosis in the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A psychoneuroendocrino-immune approach in the nursing treatment of anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Recent clinical reports have shown an increasing number of patients afflicted by eating disorders in the western world. There are numerous causes and mechanisms leading to eating disorders that affect the psychoneuroendocrinoimmune system. In this study, we define a novel psychoneuroendocrinoimmune nursing approach for anorexic and bulimic patients' treatment. According to the specific diagnostic items deriving from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases, and clinical guidelines in eating disorders formulated by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, we carried out a qualitative study on the nursing treatment chosen by 210 international centers considered as a sample. This study was based on a no structured interview via e-mail to better understand the nursing approach in anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Thanks to the selected centers' answers, four different levels of nursing care were identified, that include: the nursing role analyzing the spectrum of patients' problems; the nursing intervention in inpatient care; the nursing intervention in outpatient care; the day hospital treatment. All four prove to be especially useful in the nursing practice.