From Health Literacy to Self-Care: Contributions of the Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing.

(1) Background: Initiatives aimed at assessing and intervening in health literacy have the potential to promote adherence to self-care behaviours, which is the main focus of intervention by rehabilitation nurses. Thus, the objectives were to analyse the level of health literacy of working-age citizens and identify priority areas for intervention by rehabilitation nurses. (2) Methods: Quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional study, conducted in a multinational company, with the participation of 161 workers. The data were collected between 14 April and 7 May 2021, using a self-completion questionnaire composed of sociodemographic and clinical characterization and the European Health Literacy Survey, following a favourable opinion from the Ethics Committee and the company's management. (3) Results: Overall, low to moderate literacy scores were predominant. Age and education were significantly associated with literacy scores. Workers with higher levels of health literacy had no diagnosed illnesses, took less medication, reported less sadness, fewer memory changes and less muscle and joint pain. (4) Conclusions: The fact that higher levels of health literacy trigger self-care behaviours and, consequently, fewer health problems reinforces the need for rehabilitation nurses to invest in this area.

Explanatory approach to the grounding of the professional nursing practice

Introduction: In the current health care environment, the needs of the population provided the perfect opportunity for nurses to (re)define their practice and professional career. Within this framework, this study aimed thus at identifying the bases that are underlying the practice, as well as the factors that stimulate or jeopardise the quality of care and a practice that is consistent with the desired grounding. Method: Qualitative study with a phenomenological nature carried out in 19 public hospitals in mainland Portugal with the participation of 56 nurses. The tool used for collecting data was a semi-structured interview. Results: Regarding the factors that stimulate or jeopardise the quality of care a prac-tice that is consistent with the desired grounding, we could highlight features that were perfectly integrated in the triad structure, process and result. In relation to "structure", we could point out the following: organizational resources, human and material resources, service organization, nursing sustainment practices and organization of nursing care. Concerning "process", we could analyse: decision-making process, guiding principles for the professional practice, scientific methodology of health care service, health care documentation process, communication process, collaborative practice and management practice. In what concerns "result", the features were less evident in the participants' speech, and more stressed among clients and nurses. Conclusion: The explanatory approach to the grounding of the professional nursing practice, outlined in a three-dimensional perspective, makes clear the theoretical framework that grounds the practice, as well as the factors in hospital environment, that stimulate or jeopardise the quality of the nursing care

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