Predictive validity of a pressure injury risk assessment tool at different time-points in patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Multiple risk assessment scales are available for predicting the development of pressure injuries (PIs) in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Most PI risk assessment tools have been validated at the time of admission; however, another time point during treatment could better reflect clinical changes and therefore, the risk of PIs. AIMS: The study aimed to examine the predictive validity of PI risk assessment scale designed for ICU patients, the conscious level, mobility, haemodynamic, oxygenation and nutrition (COMHON) index, at several time points or intervals during ICU stay. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational prospective study undertaken over a period of 1 year (July 2021-June 2022). Patients admitted to ICU for >3 days were included. The number, location and degree of the PIs were recorded. The level of risk for developing PIs during the stay was determined by calculating the COMHON scores at admission, and 72 h, as well as the highest and mean score. Predictive validity was studied using accuracy parameters and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The best cutoff point was also determined and used to compare risk between categories. RESULTS: Of the 286 patients included in the study, 160 (59%) were male. The level of severity evaluated using the APACHE II scale was 18.4 ± 5.8 points. Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 32.1% (n = 92) of the patients and 20.6% (n = 59) received high flow oxygen therapy. The incidence of PI was 15.4% (n = 44), with sacral location in 47.7% (n = 21) and grade II in 75% (n = 33) of the patients. The AUC was 0.907 (0.872-0.942); 0.881 (0.842-0.920); 0.877 (0.835-0.920) and 0.749 (0.667-0.831) at the mean, the highest, 72 h and ICU admission scores, respectively. The best cutoff point was 13 in all patients. The risk of developing a PI was 6.4 times higher in the high-risk group (>13 points). CONCLUSIONS: The best predictive capacity for the COMHON index risk assessment was the mean and highest scores. The predictive accuracy was higher on the third day of the patient's stay than on admission, and this was attributed to the clinical changes observed in some patients over the course of their critical illness. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Patients in ICU are at high risk of developing PIs, therefore, preventive measures should be maximized. Risk assessment should be carried out sequentially owing to the changes that patients present throughout their ICU stay and preventive measures should be used according to the risk level.

Assessment of pressure injury risk in intensive care using the COMHON index: An interrater reliability study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the interrater reliability of the COMHON (level of COnciousness, Mobility, Haemodynamics, Oxygenation, Nutrition) Index pressure injury risk assessment tool. DESIGN: Interrater reliability was tested. Twenty-five intensive care patients were each assessed by five different nurse-raters from a pool of intensive care nurses who were available on the days of assessment. In total, 25 nurses participated. SETTING: Two general and one cardiovascular surgery intensive care units in Istanbul, Turkey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Interrater reliability was analysed using intraclass correlations, and standard errors of measurement (SEM) were calculated for sum scores, risk level and item scores. Minimally detectable change (MDC) was also calculated for sum score. Consistency between paired raters was analysed using Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (r) for sum score and Spearman's rho (rs) for ordinal variables. RESULTS: All assessments were completed in ≤5 min. Interrater reliability was very high [ICC (1,1) = 0.998 (95 % CI 0.996 - 0.999)] with a SEM of 0.14 and MDC of 0.39. Consistency between paired raters was strong for sum and item scores and risk levels (coefficients >0.6). All scale items showed correlations of >.3 with the sum score. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate near-perfect interrater reliability. Further research into the psychometric properties of the COMHON Index and its impact on preventative intervention use is warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Pressure injury risk assessment within intensive care should be setting-specific due to the unique risk factors inherent to the patient population, which are not considered by general pressure injury risk assessment tools. An intensive care-specific pressure injury risk assessment tool was tested and demonstrated high reliability between intensive care nurses. Further research is needed to understand how its use in practice affects preventative intervention implementation and, in turn, how it impacts pressure injury outcomes.

Safe Care and Medication Intake Provided by Caregivers at Home: Reality Care Study Protocol.

JUSTIFICATION: Providing care to patients with several conditions and simultaneously taking several medications at home is inexorably growing in developed countries. This trend increases the chances of home caregivers experiencing diverse errors related with medication or care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of four different educational solutions compared to the natural intervention (absence of intervention) to provide a safer care at home by caregivers. METHOD: Prospective, parallel, and mixed research study with two phases. Candidates: Home-based caregivers caring a person with multiple comorbid conditions or polymedication who falls into one of the three profiles of patients defined for the study (oncology, cardiovascular, or pluripathological patients). First phase: Experts first answered an online survey, and then joined together to discuss the design and plan the content of educational solutions directed to caregivers including the identification of medication and home care errors, their causes, consequences, and risk factors. Second phase: The true experiment was performed using an inter- and intrasubject single-factor experimental design (five groups: four experimental groups against the natural intervention (control), with pre- and post-intervention and follow-up measures) with a simple random assignment, to determine the most effective educational solution (n = 350 participants). The participants will be trained on the educational solutions through 360 V, VR, web-based information, or psychoeducation. A group of professionals called the "Gold Standard" will be used to set a performance threshold for the caring or medication activities. The study will be carried out in primary care centers, hospitals, and caregivers' associations in the Valencian Community, Andalusia, Madrid, and Murcia. EXPECTED RESULTS: We expect to identify critical elements of risk management at home for caregivers and to find the most effective and optimal educational solution to reduce errors at home, increasing caregivers' motivation and self-efficacy whilst the impact of gender bias in this activity is reduced. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial NCT05885334.

Evaluation of Lactobacillus Coryniformis K8 Consumption by Health Care Workers Exposed to COVID-19 (LactoCor2 Project): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT5711 has immune-modulating properties, enhances the immune response to viral antigens leading to the production of specific antibodies, and has anti-inflammatory activity, which may help to prevent uncontrolled inflammatory processes leading to respiratory and other organ failures. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the consumption of a probiotic strain on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in health personnel who carry out their professional work among patients with infection or suspected infection by SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial in which the experimental group will receive a capsule of L coryniformis K8 per day (3×109 colony former units/day), and the control group will receive a daily placebo capsule consisting of maltodextrin. A sample size of 314 volunteers was calculated. Volunteers must meet the following inclusion criteria: older than 20 years and active health personnel caring for patients with COVID-19, including all professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, and caretakers at the 2 referral hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19. The main outcome of the clinical trial will be the incidence of symptomatic infection by SARS-CoV-2 in personnel who care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. RESULTS: The study had to be extended to the 2 referral hospitals that treat patients with COVID-19 in the province of Granada (Andalusia, Spain); Hospital San Cecilio and Hospital Virgen de las Nieves. A total of 255 individuals met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to one of the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this randomized controlled trial will provide valuable information regarding the administration of L coryniformis K8 against COVID-19, including whether there are fewer infectious processes due to this virus or, in case of occurrence, whether the disease is milder in participants taking the probiotic strain. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04366180; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04366180. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/37857.

Compliance with preventive measures recommended by an international study group for pressure injuries in adult critically ill patients.

The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study is to analyse the degree of compliance with the preventive measures for pressure injuries reported by an International Study Group in a cohort of adult critically ill patients. The level of risk of developing pressure injuries was determined using the Conscious level, Mobility, Hemodynamics, Oxygenation and Nutrition (COMHON) index. According to the level of risk, the preventive measures applied to each patient and scores on the different components of the index were recorded. Number, location and degree of pressure injuries were registered. Seventy-three patients (male: 68%) with an acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II: 12,1 ± 6,2 and 56,1% of them with invasive mechanical ventilation. The prevalence of pressure injuries was 21,9%, with 43,7% of sacral location and 75% of grade II. The level of risk using the COMHON index was distributed between low 30,1%, intermediate 23,3% and high 46,6%. The compliance range from 0% (offloading heel devices) to the use of active mattress and incontinence pads (100%). Regarding repositioning the degree of compliance varies (from 20% to 80%) according if patients with contraindications (4 points in subscale of Mobility) or those with the capacity to mobilise themselves (2 points in subscale of Mobility) are included in the denominator. We have found that in our ICU there is a wide range of compliance with the use of the preventive measures recommended by the International Study Group. Some of them are related not by the general score of the COMHON scale, but to that obtained in its subscale components.

Second Victim Support at the Core of Severe Adverse Event Investigation.

There is limited evidence and a lack of standard operating procedures to address the impact of serious adverse events (SAE) on healthcare workers. We aimed to share two years' experience of a second victim support intervention integrated into the SAE management program conducted in a 500-bed University Hospital in Granada, Spain. The intervention strategy, based on the "forYOU" model, was structured into three levels of support according to the degree of affliction and the emotional needs of the professionals. A semi-structured survey of all workers involved in an SAE was used to identify potential second victims. Between 2020 and 2021, the SAE operating procedure was activated 23 times. All healthcare workers involved in an SAE (n = 135) received second-level support. The majority were physicians (51.2%), followed by nurses (26.7%). Only 58 (43.0%) received first-level emotional support and 47 (34.8%) met "second victim" criteria. Seven workers (14.9%) required third-level support. A progressive increase in the notification rates was observed. Acceptance of the procedure by professionals and managers was high. This novel approach improved the number of workers reached by the trained staff; promoted the visibility of actions taken during SAE management and helped foster patient safety culture in our setting.

Incidence and risk factors for postintensive care syndrome in a cohort of critically ill patients. / Incidência e fatores de risco associados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos em uma coorte de pacientes em estado crítico.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of postintensive care syndrome in a cohort of critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit and to identify risk factors related to its development in the physical, cognitive and mental health areas. METHODS: This was a prospective observational cohort study developed in the intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients with intensive care unit stays equal to or longer than one week and the need for mechanical ventilation for more than 3 days, shock or delirium were included in the study. Demographic variables, reasons for admission, diagnoses, sedation, type of mechanical ventilation used, complications and length of stay were recorded. A univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors related to postintensive care syndrome. The scales used for the assessment of the different spheres were Barthel, Pfeiffer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Impact of Event Scale-6. The main variables of interest were postintensive care syndrome incidence overall and by domains. Risk factors were examined in each of the health domains (physical, cognitive and mental health). RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 16.5. The mean number of intensive care unit days was 17. The incidence of global postintensive care syndrome was 56.3% (n = 49, 95%CI 45.8 - 66.2%). The incidence of postintensive care syndrome in each of the spheres was 32.1% (physical), 11.5% (cognitive), and 36.6% (mental health). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postintensive care syndrome is 56.3%. The mental health sphere is the most frequently involved. The risk factors are different depending on the area considered.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos em uma coorte de pacientes em estado crítico admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva e identificar fatores de risco relacionados ao seu desenvolvimento nas áreas de saúde física, cognitiva e mental. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo de coorte observacional prospectivo desenvolvido na unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital universitário. Foram incluídos no estudo pacientes internados em unidade de terapia intensiva a partir de 1 semana e com necessidade de ventilação mecânica por mais de 3 dias, choque ou delirium. Foram registradas variáveis demográficas, motivo da admissão, diagnósticos, sedação, tipo de ventilação mecânica, complicações e tempo de internação. Realizou-se análise univariada para identificar os fatores de risco relacionados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos. As escalas utilizadas para a avaliação das diferentes esferas foram Barthel, Pfeiffer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale e Impact of Event Scale-6. As principais variáveis de interesse foram incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos de modo geral e por domínios. Os fatores de risco foram examinados em cada um dos domínios da saúde (saúde física, cognitiva e mental). RESULTADOS: Participaram 87 pacientes. A Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II média foi de 16,5. O número médio de dias na unidade de terapia intensiva foi 17. A incidência geral da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos foi de 56,3% (n = 49; IC95% 45,8 - 66,2). A incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos em cada uma das esferas foi de 32,1% (física), 11,5% (cognitiva) e 36,6% (saúde mental). CONCLUSÃO: A incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos foi de 56,3%. A esfera da saúde mental foi a mais frequentemente envolvida. Os fatores de risco diferem, dependendo da área considerada.

Evaluation of the effect of Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 consumption in health care workers exposed to COVID-19.

Following the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, an unprecedented burden has been placed on health care systems, with health care workers (HCWs) being most at risk of COVID-19 infection. The effect of the probiotic Loigolactobacillus coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 on frontline HCWs exposed to the virus was studied in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Parameters related to the incidence and severity of COVID-19 as well as the immune response and the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine were evaluated. For 2 months, a group of 250 front-line HCWs over the age of 20 was randomly allocated to receive either L. coryniformis K8 or a placebo daily. SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence was verified via PCR or antigen test. In those volunteers who were vaccinated during the intervention, serum levels of specific IgG were analyzed at the end of the study. The incidence of COVID-19 infection was very low [IR (SD) = 0.016 (0.011)], and no significant difference was found between the groups [IRR (95% CI): 1.008 (0.140-7.268), p = 0.994]. For immune response analysis, the total sample was divided according to the days between the first dose and the antibody analysis (cutoff points were set at ≤ 56, 57-80 and ≥ 81 days). The specific IgG level decreased over time (p > 0.001). However, in the subgroup of subjects for whom more than 81 days had passed since they received the first dose, the specific IgG levels were significantly higher in the those that took the L. coryniformis K8 [7.12 (0.21)] than in the control group [6.48 (0.19)] (P = 0.040). Interestingly, the subjects who started probiotic consumption before the first dose reported significantly fewer side effects (of any kind) at the 1st dose of the vaccine (OR: 0.524, p = 0.043), specifically less arm pain (OR: 0.467, p = 0.017). In conclusion, the administration of L. coryniformis K8 CECT 5711 to HCWs helps to extend the immune protection generated by the COVID-19 vaccine over time.

Incidência e fatores de risco associados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos em uma coorte de pacientes em estado crítico / Incidence and risk factors for postintensive care syndrome in a cohort of critically ill patients

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos em uma coorte de pacientes em estado crítico admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva e identificar fatores de risco relacionados ao seu desenvolvimento nas áreas de saúde física, cognitiva e mental. Métodos: Este foi um estudo de coorte observacional prospectivo desenvolvido na unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital universitário. Foram incluídos no estudo pacientes internados em unidade de terapia intensiva a partir de 1 semana e com necessidade de ventilação mecânica por mais de 3 dias, choque ou delirium. Foram registradas variáveis demográficas, motivo da admissão, diagnósticos, sedação, tipo de ventilação mecânica, complicações e tempo de internação. Realizou-se análise univariada para identificar os fatores de risco relacionados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos. As escalas utilizadas para a avaliação das diferentes esferas foram Barthel, Pfeiffer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale e Impact of Event Scale-6. As principais variáveis de interesse foram incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos de modo geral e por domínios. Os fatores de risco foram examinados em cada um dos domínios da saúde (saúde física, cognitiva e mental). Resultados: Participaram 87 pacientes. A Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II média foi de 16,5. O número médio de dias na unidade de terapia intensiva foi 17. A incidência geral da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos foi de 56,3% (n = 49; IC95% 45,8 - 66,2). A incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos em cada uma das esferas foi de 32,1% (física), 11,5% (cognitiva) e 36,6% (saúde mental). Conclusão: A incidência da síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos foi de 56,3%. A esfera da saúde mental foi a mais frequentemente envolvida. Os fatores de risco diferem, dependendo da área considerada.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the incidence of postintensive care syndrome in a cohort of critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit and to identify risk factors related to its development in the physical, cognitive and mental health areas. Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study developed in the intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients with intensive care unit stays equal to or longer than one week and the need for mechanical ventilation for more than 3 days, shock or delirium were included in the study. Demographic variables, reasons for admission, diagnoses, sedation, type of mechanical ventilation used, complications and length of stay were recorded. A univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors related to postintensive care syndrome. The scales used for the assessment of the different spheres were Barthel, Pfeiffer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Impact of Event Scale-6. The main variables of interest were postintensive care syndrome incidence overall and by domains. Risk factors were examined in each of the health domains (physical, cognitive and mental health). Results: Eighty-seven patients were included. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 16.5. The mean number of intensive care unit days was 17. The incidence of global postintensive care syndrome was 56.3% (n = 49, 95%CI 45.8 - 66.2%). The incidence of postintensive care syndrome in each of the spheres was 32.1% (physical), 11.5% (cognitive), and 36.6% (mental health). Conclusions: The incidence of postintensive care syndrome is 56.3%. The mental health sphere is the most frequently involved. The risk factors are different depending on the area considered.

Translation and piloting of the Chinese Mandarin version of an intensive care-specific pressure injury risk assessment tool (the COMHON Index).

Objective: To translate an intensive care-specific pressure injury risk assessment tool (the COMHON Index) from English into Chinese Mandarin. Methods: A four-step approach to instrument translation was utilised: 1) English-Mandarin forward-translation by three independent bilinguists; 2) Mandarin-English back-translation by two other independent bilinguists; 3) comparison of forward and back-translations, identification of discrepancies, with required amendments returned to step one; and 4) piloting of the translated instrument. The pilot study was undertaken in a Chinese surgical intensive care unit with a convenience sample of 20 nurses. A five-point ordinal scale (1 = very difficult; 5 = very easy) was used to assess ease-of-use and understanding. Translations were retained where medians ≥ 4 indicated use and understanding was easy to very easy. Results: Five iterations of steps 1 to 3, and two sets of amendments to the original English instrument, were required to achieve translation consensus prior to pilot testing. Subscale scoring, sum scoring, and risk categorisation were documented in most pilot assessments (≥ 80%), but three sum scores were incorrectly tallied. The overall tool and all subscales were easy to use and understand (medians ≥ 4), and most assessments (16/20, 80%) took ≤ 5 min to complete. Thus, translations were retained, with minor amendments made to instrument instructions for scoring and risk categorisation. Conclusions: An easy-to-use Chinese Mandarin intensive care-specific pressure injury risk assessment tool has been introduced through cross-cultural translation. However, it requires further testing of interrater reliability and agreement. A rigorous translation and reporting exemplar is presented that provides guidance for future translations.

Agreement of blood glucose measured with glucose meter in arterial, central venous, and capillary samples in adult critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of blood glucose in critically ill patients is still performed in many ICUs with glucose meters and capillary samples. Several prevalent factors in these patients affect the accuracy of the results and should be interpreted with caution. A weak recommendation from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) suggests the use of arterial blood rather than capillary blood for point of care testing using glucose meters. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To analyse the agreement between arterial, central venous, and capillary blood samples of glucose values measured by glucose meter in critically ill patients and study potential confounding factors. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study in a general intensive care unit (ICU). Patients needing insulin treatment (subcutaneous or intravenous) and blood glucose control were included. METHODS: Standardized collection of blood samples and measurement of glucose values with a glucometer. Agreement was studied by the Bland-Altman method and stratified analysis of disagreement-survival plots was used to study the influence of haematocrit, pH range, SOFA score, capillary refilling time, intravenous insulin infusion, and lactic acid. RESULTS: A total of 297 measurements from 54 patients were included. The mean arterial blood glucose was 150.42 (range 31-345 mg/dL). In the graphical analysis, there is a poor agreement both in capillary and venous central to arterial samples, but in opposite direction (underestimation of capillary and overestimation of central venous). Factors associated with a reduction in the agreement between arterial and capillary samples were elevated lactate, poor capillary refilling, and hemodynamic failure. Patients without hemodynamic compromise have an acceptable agreement with values for absolute differences of 16 mg/dL for a disagreement of 10%. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients, the measurement of blood glucose with a glucose meter should be performed with arterial samples whenever possible. Capillary samples do not accurately estimate arterial blood glucose values in patients with shock and/or vasoactive drugs and underestimate the values in the range of hypoglycemia. Venous samples are subject to error because of potential contamination. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study adds support to the recommendation of using arterial blood rather than capillary or venous blood when using glucose meters in critically ill patients, especially in those with hemodynamic failure.

Addressing Acute Stress among Professionals Caring for COVID-19 Patients: Lessons Learned during the First Outbreak in Spain (March-April 2020).

Objectives: To describe lessons learned during the first COVID-19 outbreak in developing urgent interventions to strengthen healthcare workers' capacity to cope with acute stress caused by health care pressure, concern about becoming infected, despair of witnessing patients' suffering, and critical decision-making requirements of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic during the first outbreak in Spain. Methods: A task force integrated by healthcare professionals and academics was activated following the first observations of acute stress reactions starting to compromise the professionals' capacity for caring COVID-19 patients. Literature review and qualitative approach (consensus techniques) were applied. The target population included health professionals in primary care, hospitals, emergencies, and nursing homes. Interventions designed for addressing acute stress were agreed and disseminated. Findings: There are similarities in stressors to previous outbreaks, and the solutions devised then may work now. A set of issues, interventions to cope with, and their levels of evidence were defined. Issues and interventions were classified as: adequate communication initiative to strengthen work morale (avoiding information blackouts, uniformity of criteria, access to updated information, mentoring new professionals); resilience and recovery from physical and mental fatigue (briefings, protecting the family, regulated recovery time during the day, psychological first aid, humanizing care); reinforce leadership of intermediate commands (informative leadership, transparency, realism, and positive messages, the current state of emergency has not allowed for an empirical analysis of the effectiveness of proposed interventions. Sharing information to gauge expectations, listening to what professionals need, feeling protected from threats, organizational flexibility, encouraging teamwork, and leadership that promotes psychological safety have led to more positive responses. Attention to the needs of individuals must be combined with caring for the teams responsible for patient care. Conclusions: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has a more devastating effect than other recent outbreaks, there are common stressors and lessons learned in all of them that we must draw on to increase our capacity to respond to future healthcare crises.

Preventing and Addressing the Stress Reactions of Health Care Workers Caring for Patients With COVID-19: Development of a Digital Platform (Be + Against COVID).

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 became a major public health concern in March 2020. Due to the high rate of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in a short time, health care workers and other involved staff are subjected to a large workload and high emotional distress. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to develop a digital tool to provide support resources that might prevent and consider acute stress reactions in health care workers and other support staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The contents of the digital platform were created through an evidence-based review and consensus conference. The website was built using the Google Blogger tool. The Android version of the app was developed in the Java and XML languages using Android Studio version 3.6, and the iOS version was developed in the Swift language using Xcode version 11.5. The app was evaluated externally by the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality. RESULTS: We detected the needs and pressing situations of frontline health care workers, and then, we proposed a serial of recommendations and support resources to address them. These resources were redesigned using the feedback received. A website in three different languages (Spanish, English, and Portuguese) and a mobile app were developed with these contents, and the AppSaludable Quality Seal was granted to the app. A specific self-report scale to measure acute stress and additional tools were included to support the health care workforce. This instrument has been used in several Latin American countries and has been adapted considering cultural differences. The resources section of the website was the most visited with 18,516 out of 68,913 (26.9%) visits, and the "Self-Report Acute Stress Scale" was the most visited resource with 6468 out of 18,516 (34.9%) visits. CONCLUSIONS: The Be + against COVID platform (website and app) was developed and launched to offer a pool of recommendations and support resources, which were specifically designed to protect the psychological well-being and the work morale of health care workers. This is an original initiative different from the usual psychological assistance hotlines.

Recomendaciones para la recuperación de las segundas víctimas del SARS-CoV-2 / No disponible

OBJETIVO: Enunciar un conjunto de recomendaciones para incrementar la resiliencia de las organizaciones y los profesionales sanitarios frente al impacto de la crisis ocasionada por la pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. MÉTODO: Estudio cualitativo para la búsqueda de consenso con participación de 30 profesionales de diferentes disciplinas (medicina preventiva, calidad asistencial, seguridad del paciente, atención primaria, psiquiatría y psicología). Principales resultados: Tras la identificación de las principales fuentes de estrés y la definición de los objetivos de la fase de recuperación, se consensuaron un total de 17 recomendaciones, 13 de ellas con foco organizacional y las cuatro restantes, centradas en profesionales. CONCLUSIONES: La recuperación del sistema sanitario tras la pandemia por la COVID19 pasa por restaurar la moral y el bienestar de sus profesionales, de lo contrario la calidad asistencial y la seguridad de los pacientes se verán comprometidas. Estas recomendaciones pretenden ser un punto de partida en esta dirección

OBJECTIVE: To provide a set of recommendations to increase the resilience of health care organizations and professionals to the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic crisis. METHOD: Consensual qualitative study with the participation of 30 professionals from different disciplines (preventive medicine, quality of care, patient safety, primary care, psychiatry and psychology). MAIN RESULTS: After the identification of the main sources of stress and the definition of the objectives of the recovery phase, a total of 17 recommendations were agreed upon, 13 of them with an organizational focus and the remaining four focused on professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The recovery of the health system after the COVID19 pandemic requires restoring the morale and well-being of its professionals, otherwise the quality of care and patient safety will be compromised. These recommendations are intended as a starting point in this direction

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico. Opinión de estudiantes universitarios de Enfermería / Limitation of therapeutic effort. Opinion by Universtity Nursing Students

OBJETIVO: conocer la opinión de los estudiantes de Enfermería sobre la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico (LET). MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo transversal sobres 97 alumnos de 3º y 4º curso de la Escuela Universitaria de Enfermería Virgen de las Nieves de Granada, mediante el cuestionario anónimo autoadministrado, validado por Llaja Rojas et al. (15). Otras variables: profesión, sexo, estado civil, edad, años de experiencia laboral y religión. Tratamiento y análisis de los datos: análisis descriptivo de las variables y análisis bivariante mediante la prueba Ji Cuadrado. RESULTADOS: el 48,4% se declaraba católico no practicante. Para el 91,8% la decisión de mayor peso en cuanto a la LET la tiene el paciente. En cuanto a la eutanasia, un 88,9% estaba de acuerdo con legalizarla y un 92,5% la aplicaría. El 92,5% de los católicos no practicantes estaban de acuerdo con legalizar la eutanasia, frente al 100% de los no creyentes (p< 0,000). Para un 90,9% de los no creyentes, frente a un 54,5% de los católicos practicantes, no hay calidad de vida si se está conectado a un ventilador mecánico (p= 0,026). CONCLUSIONES: los estudiantes de Enfermería tienen muy en cuenta la opinión del paciente ante la LET. Mayoritariamente están a favor de legalizar la eutanasia y aplicarla, así como la antidistanasia y ortotanasia. Las creencias religiosas tienen influencia sobre algunas de las cuestiones exploradas. Una gran mayoría considera que situaciones como vivir en silla de ruedas, tener colostomía permanente, recibir quimioterapia o tener traqueostomía definitiva, pueden otorgar cierta calidad de vida, mostrando una opinión muy positiva del proceso de enfermedad

OBJECTIVE: to identify what is known about the Spanish Red Cross Nurses-Ladies. METHOD: a historical research was conducted, based on a bibliographic review. Documentary sources: virtual catalogues of libraries and document archives, electronic databases, catalogues of journals specialized in history, and other internet sources. Descriptors used: the History of Nursing, the History of the Spanish Red Cross, Red Cross nurses, Queen Victoria Eugenia of Battemberg, Carmen Angoloti Mesa, Duchess de la Victoria, and Red Cross ladies/nurses/assistants/volunteers. RESULTS: the analysis included 42 documents from studies based on primary sources, and results were presented in five sections: overall historical development, functioning and organization, care and social work, and promoting leading figures. CONCLUSIONS: though there is currently a large volume of studies on the history of Nurses-Ladies, it is necessary to go deeper through new research on some aspects, such as the work they conducted during their career

Limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en cuidados intensivos / Limitation of Therapeutic Effort in Intensive Care

OBJETIVO: explorar la opinión del personal de Enfermería de un servicio de Cuidados Intensivos de un centro hospitalario médico-quirúrgico sobre la limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico. MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo prospectivo, realizado durante los meses de octubre y noviembre de 2013, mediante la cumplimentación de un cuestionario validado autoadministrado. La población de estudio han sido los/las auxiliares y profesionales de Enfermería de la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves de Granada. Los criterios de inclusión fueron tener una experiencia mayor a dos años de trabajo en la unidad. Se analizaron las variables sociodemográficas y cualitativas, estudiando con chi-cuadrado posibles asociaciones estadísticas. RESULTADOS: de las 88 personas encuestadas, 58 enfermeras/os y 30 auxiliares, el 72,4% piensa que no es lo mismo no instaurar que retirar una forma de tratamiento ya instaurado, frente al 27,6% que opina que sí es igual. En cuanto a quién debe tomar la decisión de la aplicación de medidas extraordinarias de soporte en enfermedades irrecuperables, el 77% da mayor peso a la decisión del paciente. El 57% ha hecho público su deseo de no recibirlas si estuviera en situación crítica o de terminalidad. Sobre la legalización de la eutanasia, un 71,8% está a favor y un 81,4% la aplicaría en pacientes irrecuperables o en estado agónico si lo hubieran expresado previamente. El 98,9% está a favor de la práctica de la ortotanasia. CONCLUSIONES: cabe destacar la importancia de la existencia del registro de voluntades anticipadas, debiendo fomentarse el uso de dicho registro para evitar los conflictos de intereses, conociendo bien la opinión del paciente. Cuando no se cuente con dicho documento, en caso de conflicto, siempre y cuando el paciente no tenga autonomía para decidir, lo que parece más acertado es la intervención del Comité de Ética Asistencial

OBJECTIVE: to explore the opinion of the Nursing staff in the Intensive Care Unit of a clinical-surgical hospital about the limitation of therapeutic effort. METHOD: prospective descriptive study, conducted during October and November, 2013, through a validated self-completion questionnaire. The study population was the Nursing assistants and professionals from the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Granada. The inclusion criteria were experience over two years in said Unit. Socio-demographical and qualitative variables were analyzed, and potential statistical associations were studied with Chi-square Test. RESULTS: out of those 88 persons analyzed, 58 nurses and 30 assistants, a 72.4% thinks that not initiating is not the same as withdrawing treatment already initiated, vs. 27.6% who think that it is the same. Regarding who must make the decision to apply extraordinary support measures in incurable conditions, 77% assigns higher weight to patients' decision. A 57% have made public their wish not to receive them if they were in a critical or end-stage situation. Regarding the legalization of euthanasia, 71.8% are in favour, and 81.4% would apply it in incurable patients or dying situations, if previously expressed. A 98.9% are in favour of orthothanasia. CONCLUSIONS: the importance of the existence of an AdvanceDirective Registry must be pointed out; the use of said registry should be encouraged in order to prevent a conflict of interests, through a clear awareness of the patient's opinion. When this document is not available, in case of conflict, and provided patients are not able to decide on their own, the intervention of the Healthcare Ethics Committee appears as the most adequate solution

Niveles de concordancia interobservador de las escalas Norton y Braden en cuidados críticos / Interobserver concordance degrees in Norton and Braden scales for critical care

Objetivo: analizar la fiabilidad interobservador de cada uno de los ítems que componen las escalas Norton y Braden cuando se utilizan en cuidados intensivos. Material y método: estudio descriptivo multicéntrico en las Unida desde Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) de dos hospitales de Granada, con dos observadores en el Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (HUVN) y tres en el Hospital Universitario San Cecilio (HUSC) de Granada. Se seleccionaron268 pacientes en HUSC y 215 en HUVN, teniendo en cuenta una proporción de acuerdo esperada de 0,65 y una seguridad del 95%. Para el cálculo de la fiabilidad interobservador se utilizó el coeficiente de Kappa(dos observadores) y Kappa Fleiss (tres observadores). Se calcularon intervalos de confianza para un 95% de seguridad (IC 95%).Resultados: la fiabilidad total interobservador fue Muy Buena para ambas escalas: k= 0,8196 (IC 95%: 0,7350-0,901) para la escala Norton yk= 0,90 (IC 95%: 0,858-0,940) para Braden. En la escala de Norton los ítems Estado Físico e Incontinencia presentaron concordancias Moderada y Débil, el resto entre Buenas-Muy Buenas. En la escala de Braden, elítem Riesgo de Lesiones mostró concordancia Pobre (en HUVN) y Buena(en HUSC); el resto entre Moderadas-Muy buenas. Conclusiones: en ambos centros el ítem Estado físico muestra menos concordancia para la escala Norton. Para la Braden destaca el nivel de Pobre para Riesgo de Lesiones solamente en el centro sanitario que no se usaba habitualmente (menor nivel entrenamiento). La fiabilidad interobservador total de las escalas es mucho mayor que por ítems porque estas estratifican los riesgos (AU)

Objective: to analyze the interobserver reliability of each of the items included in the Norton and Braden Scales, when used in intensive care. Materials and method: multicenter descriptive study in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of two hospitals in Granada, with two observers in the Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (HUVN), and three in the Hospital Universitario San Cecilio (HUSC) in Granada. There was a selection of268 patients in HUSC and 215 in HUVN, taking into account an expected0.65 proportion of agreement, and a 95% safety. The Kappa coefficient was used (two observers) in order to calculate interobserver reliability, aswell as the Kappa Fleiss (three observers). Confidence intervals were calculated for 95% safety (CI 95%).Results: total interobserver reliability was Very Good for both scales: k=0.8196 (CI 95%: 0.7350-0.901) for the Norton Scale and k=0.90 (CI95%: 0.858-0.940) for Braden. Within the Norton Scale, the items Physical Condition and Incontinence showed Moderate and Weak concordances, while the rest ranged between Good- Very Good. Within the Braden Scale, the item Risk of Lesions showed Poor (in HUVN) and Good concordance (in HUSC); the rest ranged between Moderate-Very Good. Conclusions: in both centers, the item Physical Condition shows lower concordance for the Norton Scale. In terms of the Braden Scale, Poor concordance for Risk of Lesions is noticeable only in that health centre where it was not typically used (lower training level).The total interobserver reliability of scales is higher than per items, because there is risk stratification in scales (AU)