Family members' perceptions of counselling during visits to loved ones in an adult ICU.

AIMS: The study's aims were to (1) assess family members' perceptions of the quality of the counselling they received while visiting a loved one in an adult ICU and (2) identify factors that influence family members' perceptions of counselling quality. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of visiting family members of adult ICU patients. METHODS: Family members (n = 55) at eight ICUs across five Finnish university hospitals completed a cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: Family members assessed the quality of counselling in adult ICUs to be good. Factors associated with the quality of counselling were knowledge, family-centred counselling, and interaction. Family members' ability to live normally was associated with understanding of the loved one's situation (ρ = 0.715, p < 0.001). Interaction was associated with understanding (ρ = 0.715, p < 0.001). Family members felt that intensive care professionals did not adequately ensure that they understood counselling-related issues and that they lacked opportunities to give feedback, in 29% of cases, staff asked the family members whether they understood the counselling and 43% of family members had opportunities to offer feedback. However, the family members felt that the counselling they received during ICU visits was beneficial.

Visual impairment and the need for vision care services amongst older Finnish people receiving home care.

AIM: This study aimed to describe visual performance and the need for vision care services among Finnish older people receiving home care. We evaluated the applicability of the Resident Assessment Instrument of Home Care (RAI HC) in identifying visual impairment (VI) and the need for vision care services among older people. DESIGN: A descriptive quantitative, cross-sectional design. METHODS: Visual impairment and the need for vision care services for older people receiving home care (N = 70) were determined by an optometrist's screening examination and vision assessment by home care workers using the RAI HC instrument. In this study, the definition of visual impairment was visual acuity (VA) <0.63 (logMAR >0.2). RESULTS: According to the distance VA measurements, 41% of the participants showed VI (<0.63) of the better eye, while the RAI HC assessment revealed VI among 36% of the participants. The Kappa value for interrater reliability in classifying VI was 0.137. The optometrist's vision screening examination recognized a previously unknown and unmet need for vision care services more than twice as often as the RAI HC assessment.

Effectiveness of interventions used to prepare preschool children and their parents for day surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate how effective preparatory interventions for paediatric day surgery are at reducing parents' anxiety and stress and children's pain and fear. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and reported using the PRISMA 2020 checklist. PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus, Medic and Web of Science were screened for original research published up until December 2020, while Mednar and EBSCO Open Dissertations were used to identify any relevant grey literature. The methodological quality and risks of bias were evaluated according to JBI guidelines by two authors. The eligibility criteria were parents of a preschool (2- to 6-year-old) child going through day surgery with preparatory interventions, outcomes measured anxiety, stress (parent), fear and pain (child), and randomised controlled trial (RCT). RESULTS: Two thousand and three hundred and fourteen RCTs were screened. Fifteen studies (including 1514 participants) were chosen for narrative synthesis of parental anxiety and stress and children's fear and pain. Nine studies underwent a meta-analysis of parental anxiety (n = 970). The interventions were categorised as functional, informative or a combination of both. Four interventions reduced parents' anxiety while two significantly alleviated children's postoperative pain. The interventions found to be effective combined various ways of providing information. The meta-analysis did reveal a statistically significant impact on parents' anxiety (SMD =0.22, 95% Cl [0.03, 0.41], z = 2.28, p = .023). None of the studies dealt with parental stress or fear in children. CONCLUSIONS: The studied interventions used various preparatory approaches, some of which were effective at reducing parental anxiety. More RCT studies are needed to find the most effective methods for preparing parents and their children for day surgery. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Preparation for day surgery through appropriate interventions can reduce anxiety among parents and postoperative pain in children.

Intensive care professionals' perceptions of the quality of counselling provided in the ICU: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care professionals (ICPs) have a key role in counselling adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their family members. The counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members can be described based on the content, implementation, benefits, and resources. AIMS: The study had two specific aims: first, to assess ICPs' perceptions of the quality of counselling provided to ICU patients and their family members; and second, to explore which factors ICPs feel is associated with the quality of counselling. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of ICPs working in adult ICUs in Finnish university hospitals. Data were collected using the Counselling Quality Instrument. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and chi-square and t-test statistical methods. RESULTS: A total of 182 ICPs returned the questionnaire, reflecting a response rate of 18.6%. Most of the respondents were nurses (97%) and the mean age was 42 years. The ICPs reported having adequate time for patient- (77%) and family-centered (73%) counselling, but only 47% felt that their units had the appropriate facilities. There were statistically significant differences between patient- and family-centered counselling and the ICP's self-assessed competence (p < .001), goal-oriented counselling (p < .001), and atmosphere during counselling (p < .001). ICPs' attitudes towards counselling impacted how these professionals assessed patients' and family members' confidence, along with patient recovery (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the provision of high-quality counselling has beneficial effects; however, it also indicates that there is a need for training that considers each ICP's professional experience and patient- and family-centered factors, which may differ from one another. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: According to ICPs, the quality of counselling can be enhanced by empowering ICPs to improve counselling and providing appropriate ICU facilities for counselling, such as a private room for family members.

Perceived health among percutaneous coronary intervention patients over a six-year follow-up period.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to describe long-term perceived health among patients after a percutaneous coronary intervention as well as clarify the associations between perceived health and various factors. BACKGROUND: Perceived health is an important outcome for coronary heart disease patients who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention. Poor perceived health predicts low adherence to treatment, morbidity and mortality. DESIGN: An explanatory and descriptive survey with a six-year follow-up (STROBE Statement: File S1). METHODS: Baseline data (n = 416) were collected in 2013, with follow-up data collected from the same study group in 2019 (n = 154) at two university hospitals and three central hospitals in Finland. The employed self-reported questionnaire was based on the EuroQoL visual analogue scale and EuroQol five-dimensional scale. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate methods. RESULTS: Perceived health did not significantly differ four months or six years after percutaneous coronary intervention. The respondents most commonly reported pain and discomfort (62.1%), problems in mobility (50.3%), issues with usual activities (27.5%), and anxiety and depression (24.0%). Managing self-care (8.5%) was least likely to be an issue for the respondents. A majority of the reported problems were of a mild nature. The consumption of an adequate amount of vegetables, lower systolic blood pressure, regular follow-up treatment, lack of prior invasive procedures, and younger age predicted better scores for both perceived health and its separate dimensions. CONCLUSION: Regular follow-up is important to ensure after percutaneous coronary intervention to identify patients with pain and discomfort, mobility problems, depression and anxiety. Healthcare professionals should pay particular attention to elderly patients, who have undergone severe invasive procedures. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study confirms the importance of regular follow-ups for post-percutaneous coronary intervention patients. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients have completed a self-reported questionnaire based on informed consent.

Finnish nursing students' perceptions of the development needs in palliative care education and factors influencing learning in undergraduate nursing studies - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nurses have an essential role in providing high-quality palliative care to patients and their families. Hence, they require adequate palliative care education. However, there is only limited insight into how final-year nursing students perceive palliative care education in undergraduate nursing programs. This study aimed to describe nursing students' perspectives of the development needs of palliative care education. An additional two aims emerged based on the collected data, namely, to describe the preferred education for palliative care and the factors which promote or hinder palliative care learning during undergraduate nursing studies. METHODS: The research was guided by a descriptive qualitative approach and applied inductive content analysis. The frequencies (f) of identified codes (reduced expressions) were counted to show the noteworthiness of each category in relation to the entirety. The participants were final-year nursing students (n = 766) who had participated in a national survey. RESULTS: The inductive content analysis identified three unifying categories. The first was 'Development needs and views of palliative care education' (f = 524), which consisted of the main categories 'the need to develop palliative care education' (f = 414) and 'meaning of palliative care and its education' (f = 110). Secondly 'Preferred types of palliative care education' (f = 1379), including the main categories 'teaching contents in palliative care education' (f = 905), 'teaching methods for palliative care learning' (f = 393), and 'placement of palliative care studies' (f = 81). Thirdly 'The facilitators and barriers to palliative care learning' (f = 401), consisting of the main categories 'factors facilitating palliative care learning' (f = 66) and 'barriers to palliative care learning' (f = 335). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides detailed information about nursing student's perspectives of palliative care education and its development needs. Hence, the results are relevant to decision-makers who want to develop undergraduate nursing curricula. This study highlights that palliative care education should be developed by ensuring that all students have equal access to palliative care education provided by highly competent teachers. Possibilities for clinical placements or visits to palliative care units during the education should also be improved. The participating students felt unprepared to provide high-quality palliative care even though they responded that palliative care is an important topic in their nursing studies.

The extent to which mobile applications support independence among the visually impaired - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Visual impairment (VI) problems are increasing as the global aging population grows. Mobile devices have become essential to interacting with friends and society. Because the visually impaired are no exception, it would be useful to determine the functionalities that best support the independence of people with VI. The currently available functionalities and applications were analysed to provide insight about which features the visually impaired value most. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Webropol survey with structured and open-ended questions was carried out. The participants (n = 26) were asked about their use of mobile applications and opinions regarding the usefulness of certain applications in promoting independent functioning. An instrument was developed for this study based on previous literature, and its quality was assured through an expert panel evaluation and pre-testing. The collected data were analysed statistically and by inductive content analysis. RESULTS: A majority of the participants were active users of mobile devices. Substantial variation was observed in the evaluations of how useful various applications are to different everyday tasks. The participants suggested numerous improvements, such as additional customization, to the current mobile devices and applications.Implications for RehabilitationPeople with VI benefit from the use of mobile devices in the same way that the population with normal vision does, and mobile devices and applications can be pivotal to supporting their independence.The participants offered innovative ideas and suggestions for how mobile devices and applications could be designed to better meet the needs of the visually impaired.

Adherence to self-management in patients with multimorbidity and associated factors: A cross-sectional study in primary health care.

AIM: The aim of the study was to explore the adherence to self-management of patients with multimorbidity, identify associated factors, and determine explanatory factors of their adherence to self-management in terms of the Theory of Adherence of People with Chronic Disease. BACKGROUND: Adherence to self-management is essential for successful care of multimorbid patients, but multimorbidity poses challenges for both patients and practitioners due to its care complexity and broad impact on patients' lives. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, descriptive exploratory design with the STROBE reporting checklist was applied. METHODS: Adult multimorbid patients who attended primary healthcare consultations in Finland were surveyed using self-administered questionnaires with several instruments including the Adherence of People with Chronic Disease Instrument, Kasari's FIT Index, and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification test. Responses of 124 patients were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, binary logistic regression analysis, and Chi-squared, or corresponding, tests. RESULTS: Most patients' responses indicated good or adequate adherence to care regimens and medications. However, adherence to self-management for a healthy lifestyle was more frequently inadequate. Adherence was significantly associated with several patient-related factors, including demographic and health-related factors, perceived adequacy of loved ones, and patient activation. Significant explanatory factors for adherence included energy and willpower, motivation, results of care, sense of normality, fear of complications and additional diseases, and support from nurses, from physicians, and from family and friends. Various factors were relevant for specific aspects of self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbid patients' adherence to self-management is not an 'all or none phenomenon, but a multifaceted process with numerous associated and explanatory factors. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings highlight needs for an individualised whole-person approach in multimorbid patients' care to provide the required support for good adherence to self-management. Healthcare professionals, especially nurses working in primary health care, are well-positioned to meet this need.

Association between perceived health and adherence to treatment after percutaneous coronary intervention: A long-term follow-up study.

AIMS: To identify associations between perceived health and treatment adherence six years after percutaneous coronary intervention. DESIGN: A non-experimental descriptive long-term follow-up study. METHODS: Baseline data (n = 416) were collected in 2013, with follow-up data collected in 2019 (n = 154), using the EuroQoL scale, EuroQoL visual analogue scale, and Adherence of Patients with Chronic Disease Instrument. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate methods. RESULTS: The average age of the 154 respondents was 68.5 years (SD 7.01), with a majority males (n = 118, 86.6%). Adherence to a healthy lifestyle, good perceived results of care, support from nurses, high sense of normality, low fear of complications, motivation, older age, and duration of coronary artery disease were associated with better general perceived health as well as its dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). CONCLUSION: Support from nurses is a key factor to ensuring high perceived health among post-percutaneous coronary intervention patients. This support must be continuous and motivate the patient to adhere to a healthy lifestyle. Patients should feel comfortable sharing their problems and fears. This type of relationship will allow health care professionals to assess the patient's current situation and address potential problems about mobility, pain and discomfort, as well as anxiety and depression to strengthen the patient's sense of normality and enable them to confidently lead a normal life. IMPACT: The research aimed to gain knowledge about how perceived health is associated with treatment adherence six years after percutaneous coronary intervention. The results emphasise that a nurse's support of patients is crucial to the care process, as adherence to treatment showed a clear positive association with perceived health in the analysed sample of post-PCI patients.

Nursing students' competence profiles in gerontological nursing-A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The study aimed to describe and explain the self-assessed gerontological nursing competence levels of Finnish nursing students and factors relating to it. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design, reported by The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology guidelines. METHODS: Data were collected with the GeroNursingCom instrument, which features 53 items relating to 11 competence factors. The K-clustering technique and the Chi-squared, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney tests were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Seven hundred and ninety-nine nursing students from nine randomly selected higher education institutions were invited to participate in 2019. Three distinct student profiles were identified according to the data (N = 274): Profile A-lower intermediate competence (23.1% of students), Profile B-intermediate competence (45.8%) and Profile C-high competence (31.1%). The strongest competence area for all students was appreciative encounter and interaction, and the weakest was supporting the older person's sexuality. Nursing students have diverse backgrounds and their overall competence in gerontological nursing is shaped in part by their previous education, motivations and work experience. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Recognizing students' different gerontological nursing competence profiles enables the implementation of targeted education to improve competence in clinical practice.

A Hands-On Exercise on Caries Diagnostics among Dental Students-A Qualitative Study.

According to current care practices, the aim is to prevent the onset of caries lesions and to stop the progression of incipient lesions. A visual lesion assessment system, International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS), has been developed to promote reliability and repeatability of assessment of different stage caries lesions. The aims of this study were to evaluate the experiences of a hands-on exercise with authentic teeth as an adjunct to lecturing among third-year dental students and to evaluate the learning process during the hands-on exercise measured by qualitative (inductive content) analysis of the given feedback. In 2018, 51 third-year dental students at the University of Oulu, Finland, participated in a hands-on exercise on caries detection, where they assessed the depth and activity of lesions in extracted teeth using the ICDAS classification. After the lecture, students evaluated the exercise, giving feedback according to five given topics, three of which were analyzed using inductive content analysis. The exercise was considered useful and necessary but, overall, also challenging. The diverse activities and materials, as well as observational methods, promoted learning. The classification of lesions, the diagnostic methods, and the fact that there was not enough time to adopt things during the exercise were found to be challenging. For developing the exercise, the students suggested that more time should be scheduled for it and there should be more individual teaching. This qualitative study showed that, despite the challenge in caries diagnostics, dental students perceive the hands-on exercise as both a communal and individual learning experience.

Developing an Instrument to Measure Self-Efficacy, Challenges and Knowledge in Oral Care among Geriatric Home Care Nurses-A Pilot Study.

The role of geriatric nurses is essential in preventing oral health problems of older people with impaired daily functioning. Nurses have reported low self-efficacy with regard to oral health care practices and wish to receive more information on the topic. The main aim of this pilot study was to develop an instrument to measure the self-efficacy beliefs, challenges and knowledge of geriatric home care nurses with regard to the oral health care of older. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate geriatric home care nurses' self-efficacy beliefs, challenges and knowledge regarding the oral health care of the older people. In this case, 18 nurses participated in a one-day intervention and filled in the questionnaire before and after the intervention. The comments and questions of the nurses were analysed utilising the principles of inductive content analysis. Cronbach's alpha for the scales varied between 0.69-0.79. The interactive intervention improved both nurses' self-efficacy beliefs and oral health-related knowledge, and most of the challenges faced by nurses in older people's oral health care were diminished. Financial resources and older people's self-determination were the most common limitations to oral care. In this pilot study, we developed an instrument to measure geriatric home care nurses' self-efficacy beliefs, challenges and knowledge regarding older people's oral health care. In the future, this instrument can be validated with a larger study population.

Social, health and rehabilitation sector educators' competence in evidence-based practice: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to identify and describe the characteristic profiles of evidence-based practice competence of educators in the social, health and rehabilitation sectors and to establish relevant background factors. DESIGN: This study was carried out as a descriptive cross-sectional study. METHODS: Data were collected from social, health and rehabilitation sector educators working in the 21 Finnish universities of applied sciences and seven vocational colleges (n = 422; N = 2,330). A self-assessment instrument measuring evidence-based practice competence was used. Competence profiles were formed using a K-cluster grouping analysis. RESULTS: Three distinct competence profiles were identified and delineated. Most educators feel that they can guide students' critical thinking and are able to seek and produce scientific knowledge. Evidence-based practice competence was explained by background factors such as year of graduation (for higher degree), level of education, job title, current employer and current field of work.

Patient participation during primary health-care encounters among adult patients with multimorbidity: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patient participation is essential for achieving high-quality care and positive outcomes, especially among patients with multimorbidity, which is a major challenge for health care due to high prevalence, care complexity and impact on patients' lives. OBJECTIVE: To explore the patient participation related to their own care among patients with multimorbidity in primary health-care settings. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult multimorbid patients who visited primary health-care facilities. The key instrument used was the Participation in Rehabilitation Questionnaire. Data representing 125 patients were analysed using various statistical methods. RESULTS: The respondents generally felt patient participation to be important, yet provided highly varying accounts regarding the extent to which it was realized by professionals. Information and knowledge and Respect and encouragement were considered the most important and best implemented subcategories of participation. Several patient-related factors had a statistically significant effect on patient perceptions of participation for all subcategories and as explanatory factors for perceptions of total participation in univariate models. Most patients reported active participation in health-care communication, positively associated with patient activation and adherence. Gender, perceived health, patient activation and active participation were explanatory factors for total importance of participation in multivariate models, while patient activation was retained for realization of participation. CONCLUSIONS: Multimorbid patients require individualized care that promotes participation and active communication; this approach may further improve patient activation and adherence. Poor perceived health and functional ability seemed to be related to worse perceptions of participation. PATIENT AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: The study topic importance was based on the patients' experiences in author's previous research and the need to develop patient-centred care.

Challenging situations and competence of nursing staff in nursing homes for older people with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Dementia causes behavioural changes in people that often lead to earlier placement in a nursing home. Staff can find these behavioural changes challenging and require specific competencies to support and care of people living with dementia. However, there is little information regarding the competencies nurses require in dementia care. Thus, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of challenging situations in nursing homes of older people with dementia, characterise the nursing staff's responses to such situations and contribute to a model outlining competences that dementia care nurses require. METHODS: Data were collected using mixed methods in a cross-sectional survey of views of nursing staff (n = 106) in two nursing homes in Finland during May to June 2018 using a structured questionnaire including open-ended questions. Quantitative data acquired were analysed statistically, and responses to the open-ended question were analysed using content analysis methodology. RESULTS: Most nurses (98%) reported that challenging situations occurred daily or weekly. The most common reported forms of challenging behaviour were as follows: wandering, restlessness, constant leaving, repeated inquiries and requests and opposition to treatment (mentioned by 95%, 90%, 85%, 83% and 83% of respondents, respectively). Five key competencies were identified from their responses: practical knowledge, theoretical knowledge, therapeutic use of self, social competence and self-management. They also indicated significant correlations between leadership and both the impact of challenging behaviour on coping at work and use of physical restraints on older people with dementia. CONCLUSION: Challenging situations in nursing homes of older people with dementia are very common. There is a need to identify specific competencies for caring for people with dementia in addition to updating official guidelines to handle such situations. The support of supervisors and competencies related to therapeutic use of self in nursing are highly important for nurses providing care for people with dementia.

Enhancing Adolescent Girls' Well-Being in the Arctic-Finding What Motivates Spending Time in Nature.

BACKGROUND: According to previous studies, the natural environment positively influences well-being, including that of adolescent girls. However, knowledge is lacking on what motivates adolescent girls to spend time in nature. A secondary analysis of qualitative data was conducted employing three preexisting sets of interview data that had formed the basis of previously published research reports. A novel perspective on what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature was uncovered-a finding that previous articles have not reported. AIM: The aim was to describe what motivates adolescent girls in the Arctic to spend time in nature. METHODS: The participants were adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 living in the province of Finnish Lapland. The girls wrote about well-being (n = 117) and were interviewed (n = 19) about the meaning of seasonal changes, nature and animals' influence on well-being. Also, five focus group interviews (n = 17) were held. The materials were analyzed by inductive content analysis. RESULTS: After the secondary analysis, three generic categories were found: (1) wanting to have pleasant emotions, (2) the possibility of participating in activities and (3) a desire to feel better. The main category of "need to experience positive sensations" was formed. CONCLUSION: Based on these results, through personalized guidance and advice, it is possible to strengthen adolescent girls' willingness to spend time in nature.

Background characteristics and exposure to violence predict well-being at work among psychiatric outpatient nurses.

AIMS: To investigate the well-being at work and analyze relevant predictors of it among nurses working in psychiatric outpatient settings including following specific objectives 1) describe the current state of well-being at work among psychiatric nurses; and 2) examine how background characteristics and exposure to violence predict well-being at work. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey design. METHODS: Two-staged sampling was used to select participants from psychiatric outpatient units. Data were collected with printed Nordic Questionnaire for Monitoring the Age Diverse Workforce (QPSNordic-ADW) and Violence Incidence Assessment (VIA-Q) questionnaire from January 2019 to June 2019. Descriptive statistics were performed to summarize the collected data and binary logistic regression was used to identify predictors related to the well-being at work. RESULTS: The respondents (n = 181) generally evaluated well-being at work quite positively but were more critical towards interaction with their immediate superior, organizational culture, interaction between work and private life, and organizational commitment. Working experience in psychiatric nursing and experiences of harassment were identified as strong predictors of well-being at work. CONCLUSION: The management of healthcare organizations should discuss nursing ethics and morale more, as well as pay attention to the ethical environment to prevent moral distress among nurses. Several weaknesses seem to exist especially in the management of psychiatric outpatient units which influence nurses' well-being at work. Identification of these can help organizations to develop management and implement interventions to increase nurses' well-being at work. Conversations about the managerial culture and collegial climate should also arise at the organizational and unit levels.

Effectiveness of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Education on Emergency Nurses' EBP Attitudes, Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, Skills, and Behavior: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Emergency care clinicians are expected to use the latest research evidence in practice. However, emergency nurses do not always consistently implement evidence-based practice (EBP). An educational intervention on EBP was implemented to promote emergency nurses' use of EBP, and the effectiveness of it was evaluated. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an EBP educational intervention on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The study also examined learners' satisfaction with the EBP educational intervention. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with parallel groups with evaluations before the education, immediately after it, and 6 and 12 months after the education was conducted at four emergency departments in two university hospitals. The experimental group (N = 40) received EBP education while the control group (N = 40) completed self-directed EBP education. The primary outcomes were emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior, while the secondary outcome was satisfaction with the EBP education. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants of an experimental and 29 participants of a control group completed the study. There were no statistically significant (p < .05) improvements and differences between groups in EBP attitude, self-efficacy, or behavior immediately after the EBP education. At the 6-month measurement point, the experimental group showed significantly better EBP attitudes, behavior, knowledge, and self-efficacy than the control group. At the 12-month measurement point, the improvements began to decrease. The groups also differed significantly in terms of participant satisfaction with how the teacher encouraged learners to ask clinical questions. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The EBP educational intervention implemented in this study had a positive effect on emergency nurses' EBP attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, and behavior. The effects of the education appeared the best 6 months after the education. After this point, the results began to decrease and approached baseline levels. EBP educational interventions designed for emergency nurses should apply various teaching strategies to improve their EBP attitude, knowledge, self-efficacy, skills, behavior, and satisfaction with the education.

Frequent attenders' experiences of encounters with healthcare personnel: A systematic review of qualitative studies.

Rather than measure demographic factors such as socioeconomics, the aim of this study was to examine the lived experience of frequent attenders by synthesizing findings on their encounters with healthcare personnel. The Scopus, CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, and PubMed (Medline) databases were searched in May 2020 in order to screen studies by title and abstract (n = 1794) and full-text (n = 20). Findings from the included studies (n = 6) were then pooled using meta-aggregation, yielding the following results: difficulties in resolving frequent attenders' situations may create "service circles," frustrating patients with their situation; frequent attenders' own expertise regarding their condition should be recognized and valued alongside that of healthcare professionals when performing collaborative care; a lack of empathy and disparagement may make frequent attenders feel misunderstood and unappreciated; frequent attenders should be recognized as individuals by taking their circumstances into account and providing support accordingly. Frequent attenders' experiences demonstrate the importance of shared decision-making, continuity of care, and acknowledging these patients' individual circumstances. Identifying the variety of frequent attenders' service needs by synthesizing their experiences is a practical way of organizing patient-centered healthcare services.

Differentiating middle-aged long-term and short-term frequent attenders by means of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 Study.

BACKGROUND: Frequent attendance is largely a temporary phenomenon, but only few previous studies have made a distinction between long-term frequent attenders (FAs) and short-term FAs. AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of middle-aged long-term FAs and short-term FAs. METHODS: Data from a large Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study's (NFBC1966) 46-year follow-up study (performed in 2012, N = 10 321) were used. The participants (n = 4390) had used public primary healthcare (PPHC) services at least once during 2013-2016 according to Finnish national register data on outpatient visits. A FA was considered a patient who had used PPHC services ≥8 times during 1 year. A long-term FA: a patient who was a FA in at least 3 years during 2013-2016. A short-term FA: a patient who was a FA in 1 or 2 years in 2013-2016. Cross-tabulation, Pearson's chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U test, and univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used. RESULTS: Of the 4390 participants, 132 (3.0%) were long-term FAs, 645 (14.7%) were short-term FAs, and 3613 (82.3%) were non-FAs. During 2013-2016, long-term FAs accounted for 34.8% of PPHC visits, while short-term FAs accounted 15.4%. Compared to short-term FAs, depression and high income (preventive attribute) were associated with long-term FAs. Female gender and managing usual activities were associated with short-term FAs. Poor self-reported health was associated with both long-term FAs and short-term FAs but increased the risk of being a long-term FA over three times compared to short-term FAs. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged long-term FAs and short-term FAs have distinct characteristics; namely, depression and high income differentiate long-term FAs from short-term FAs. Poor self-reported health was associated with long-term FAs in particular. In order to identify FAs with prolonged service needs and to develop far-reaching interventions, the focus of research should be on long-term FAs.