Dermatology Self-Medication in Nursing Students and Professionals: A Multicentre Study.

Current evidence shows that the prevalence of self-medication in healthcare professionals and their students is troublingly high despite them knowing the risks involved. There is limited research on self-medication in dermatology, and there are even fewer studies on this practice among nurses and nursing students, despite the potential mucocutaneous health problems that may affect them. The aims of our study were to examine the prevalence of self-medication mainly in the field of dermatology among nurses and nursing students as well as to explore if age or years of professional/academic practice influenced such behaviour. This multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021. In total, 120 nurses from the University Hospital of Pontevedra and 303 nursing students from the Universities of Vigo and Santiago de Compostela (N-W Spain) participated in this study (n = 423). An ad hoc questionnaire was used to evaluate self-medication decision-making. Self-medication for dermatological diseases was reported by 58.39% (n = 247) of participants. Among our respondents, 44.44% of nurses and 42.68% of students would recommend treatment for skin diseases to a third party. We found a higher prevalence of medication without prescription in nurses than in students (p < 0.001). More experience (p = 0.01) and older age (p < 0.001) were associated with more self-medication in the case of nurses and students, respectively. The prevalence of self-medication and treatment recommendation to a third party are cause for concern. Identifying these situations and associated factors may help to implement evidence-based strategies and education.

Off-label Prescription in Paediatric Dermatology: A Retrospective Observational Study in a Tertiary Hospital.

Off-label prescription in paediatric patients is common, where some studies indicate that dermatological conditions are more prone to off-label treatment. This is the first study to analyse the prevalence of off-label prescription in paediatric dermatology consultation. This retrospective observational study was performed using the medical records of paediatric patients who were evaluated in a paediatric dermatological consultation in Pontevedra University Hospital, Pontevedra, Spain. Of the 468 patients reviewed, 186 prescriptions were issued and 51.10% were off-label prescription drugs. The dermatological conditions for which off-label prescription was most common were atopic dermatitis (29.0%), followed by warts (12.9%) and infantile haemangiomas (11.8%). With respect to drugs, topical tacrolimus (23.7%) was the most frequently prescribed off-label drug. The main reason for prescribing an off-label drug was for a disease not included on the label (62.4%), followed by issuing it at a lower age than authorized (55.9%). There was a significant association between a higher percentage of off-label prescription and younger age (p < 0.001), and the treatment of vitiligo, infantile haemangiomas and warts (p < 0.001). Likewise, the off-label prescription was significantly more common in the case of topical terbinafine, timolol, desloratadine and topical salicylic acid (p < 0.001). To conclude, off-label prescription is predominant in paediatric dermatology, as observed in 51.1% of our patients.

Care tasks and impact of caring in primary family caregivers: A cross-sectional study from a nursing perspective.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers of persons with dementia often experience a negative impact on their health. More studies based on nursing theories are needed to improve the provision of care. AIMS: To describe the care provided by family caregivers of persons with dementia and the impact on their health, as well as to analyse how personal variables of caregivers are related to care tasks and their health impact. METHODS: Multi-centric cross-sectional prospective study conducted on a sample of 423 primary family caregivers of persons with dementia from Spain. Data were collected through ICUB97-R questionnaire (January-April 2019), based on the fourteen needs of Virginia Henderson's Nursing Model. Data was analysed through one-way analysis of variance and Student's t-test. RESULTS: The caregiver profile was a middle-aged married woman without higher education living with the cared person, predominantly her mother. The most frequently provided care corresponded to "nutrition" and "movement" needs. Lack of free time, modifications on leisure activities, reduced sleep or rest and disruption of family life emerged as the greatest repercussions on the caregiver's health. The age of the caregiver and time caring showed differences on impact of care and care tasks, respectively. CONCLUSION: The identification of the types of care provided, the health impact of caring and the variables affecting the family caregiver's vulnerability is essential to develop effective individualised nursing care plans, including health education interventions to improve the quality of life of both caregivers and persons cared for.

Evaluating health related quality of life in outpatients receiving anti-cancer treatment: results from an observational, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in outpatients receiving anti-cancer treatment. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional, single-center study that assessed HRQOL in cancer patients receiving antineoplastic treatment. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients were included in the study; the median total FACT-G score was 66 ± 12.9; the scores for the physical well-being, social/family well-being, emotional well-being and functional well-being domains were 17.8 + 4.8, 19.1 ± 4.4, 14.8 ± 3.8 and 14.3 ± 4.7 respectively. Patients with adverse events had poorer HRQOL compared to those without them (FACT-G score 62.2 vs. 67.3; p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis the variables associated with poorer HRQOL in the form of a gradient were tumor stage and performance status (ECOG); female sex was also associated with poorer HRQOL. CONCLUSION: In our study, the neoplastic disease and anti-cancer treatment toxicities had an impact on HRQOL. Patients had poorer scores in the functional well-being domain and higher ones in the social/family well-being domain. Variables associated with worse HRQOL were tumor stage, performance status (ECOG) and female sex.

Gender impact of caring on the health of caregivers of persons with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a brain syndrome that affects a growing number of persons worldwide and generates a strong and progressive demand for care from a family caregiver, usually females. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the care provided by family caregivers of persons with dementia as well as the impact on their health and its interrelation with gender. PATIENT INVOLVEMENT: This study was carried out in collaboration with the 13 associations of family caregivers of persons with dementia that are part of a Regional Federation. This partnership worked towards bettering patient care and proposing improvements to the public health system. METHODS: A multi-institutional cross-sectional study. A total of 462 primary family caregivers of persons with dementia from north-west Spain were included. Data were collected between January and April 2019 with an anonymous self-administered validated questionnaire (ICUB-97) based on Virginia Henderson's nursing care model. RESULTS: The most affected needs in family caregivers are those related to "recreational activities", "communication" and "rest and sleep". Statistically significant differences between male and female participants' pattern of care and health-related impacts were found, especially in issues related to work and family reconciliation. DISCUSSION: Care plans should be developed taking gender perspective into account. From a nurse model point of view, more research is necessary to reduce health disparities. This study provides an assessment of gender differences in care and the impact on caregivers' health. PRACTICAL VALUE: Regarding the specific health conditions of female caregivers and from a holistic point of view, these findings could provide novel and interesting data that might help to implement gender perspective in nursing care plans, generally invisible in routine clinical practice.

Cutaneous adverse events in patients receiving anticancer therapy in a tertiary hospital setting: the old and the new.

BACKGROUND: Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are increasingly prescribed, but classic chemotherapy agents are still highly used in cancer treatment. Both therapies, the old and the new, are associated with cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) that can cause treatment interruptions or reduce the quality of life of patients. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, single-center study that included consecutive cancer patients presenting CAEs. The main objective was to describe CAEs derived from antineoplastic drugs. Secondary objectives were to determine the number and severity of CAEs and if there were differences regarding CAEs between conventional chemotherapeutics and targeted therapies. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included with a total number of 177 CAEs. Of the 114 patients, 64 presented a single CAE, 37 patients had two CAEs, and 13 patients presented three CAEs. The most frequent CAEs were pruritus, xerosis, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE), and alopecia. The majority of CAEs were mild (63.2%), followed by moderate (29.9%) and severe (6.7%) CAEs. Of the 114 patients, 103 (90.3%) received topical agents and 11 (9.7%) required systemic treatment for the management of CAEs. Prophylactic treatment for CAE was delivered to only 4/114 (3.5%) patients. No significant differences were found in the number or severity of CAEs between conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Close collaboration between oncologists and dermatologists is essential to start preventive measures on time, enhance patient education, and avoid unnecessary dose reductions or treatment interruptions. The multidisciplinary approach can offer better management of skin toxicities.

Cutaneous adverse events and quality of life in outpatients receiving anticancer agents: results from an observational, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Despite growing interest in cutaneous adverse events (CAEs) and their management in patients with cancer, they are often underreported and there are no extensive data on their impact on quality of life (QoL). Healthcare professionals should consider this issue in order to minimize its negative impact on QoL and improve patient outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of CAEs on QoL in outpatients receiving anticancer drugs and aims to determine the differences in QoL between conventional chemotherapy versus targeted therapies. METHODS: A total of 114 cancer patients with CAEs were included in this observational, cross-sectional study. Patient-reported outcomes instruments (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Skindex-16) were used. RESULTS: Mean scores in QoL indices were 65.3±13.4, 8.4±5, and 30.8±16.9 in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General, Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Skindex-16, respectively. The CAEs that had the greatest impact on dermatologic-related QoL were hand-foot skin reaction, rash, palmo-plantar erythrodysesthesia, and papulopustular eruption. No significant differences in QoL indices according to the type of treatment (conventional chemotherapy versus targeted therapy) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: CAEs, and particularly hand-foot toxicities, rashes, and papulopustular eruptions, can have an impact on QoL in outpatients receiving anticancer drugs as evaluated with three different patient-reported outcomes instruments. No differences in QoL related to CAEs were observed between conventional chemotherapy and targeted therapy.

¿Qué conocen las enfermeras de Galicia sobre las voluntades anticipadas? / What do Galicia's nurses know about living wills?

Objetivo: Analizar el grado de conocimiento y la actitud sobre las voluntades anticipadas de las enfermeras que trabajan en 3 hospitales del Servizo Galego de Saúde (España). Método: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, multicéntrico. Se realizó un muestreo estratificado a enfermeras de los complejos hospitalarios Universitarios de Ourense, Ferrol y Vigo. Se calculó un tamaño muestral de 239 individuos. La recogida de los datos se realizó durante el primer semestre de 2018 mediante un cuestionario validado autocumplimentado («Cuestionario de conocimientos y actitudes de los profesionales sanitarios en el proceso de declaración de voluntades vitales»). Resultados: Participaron un total de 262 enfermeras. Un 50% cree que los profesionales sanitarios están obligados a informar sobre las voluntades anticipadas. Un 2% considera que tiene suficiente información sobre el tema, y así lo demuestran en las preguntas de conocimientos, donde entre un 61-93% fallan en las preguntas relacionadas con la documentación, uso y aspectos legales de las mismas. Un 84% considera que tiene la obligación de respetar los valores y creencias de los pacientes y un 89% que los pacientes tienen derecho a recibir y decidir sobre la atención idónea. Un 13% considera que los pacientes no están bien informados sobre voluntades anticipadas, y un 83% recomendaría a sus pacientes crónicos la realización del documento de voluntades anticipadas. Conclusiones: Las enfermeras tienen un gran desconocimiento sobre los aspectos legales y el uso de las voluntades anticipadas, lo que les hace sentirse poco capaces para informar a sus pacientes sobre las mismas. A pesar de la falta de conocimiento, su actitud es positiva y la mayoría manifiesta que las recomendaría a sus pacientes

Objective: To analyse the level of knowledge and attitudes concerning living wills of nurses working in 3 hospitals of Servizo Galego de Saúde (Spain). Method: Descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-centre study. Stratified sampling was carried out with nurses from the University Hospital Complexes of Ourense, Ferrol and Vigo. A sample size of 239 individuals was calculated. The data was collected during the first semester of 2018 using a validated self-administered questionnaire («Cuestionario de conocimientos y actitudes de los profesionales sanitarios en el proceso de declaración de voluntades vitales»). Results: A total of 262 nurses participated. Fifty percent believe that health professionals are obliged to inform about living wills. Two percent consider that they have enough information on the subject, and this is demonstrated in the knowledge questions, where between 61%-93% fail in the questions related to the documentation, use, and their legal aspects. Eighty-four percent consider that they have the obligation to uphold the values and beliefs of patients, and 89% that patients have the right to receive and decide on the right care. Thirteen percent consider that patients are not well informed about living wills, and 83% would recommend to chronic patients that they complete a living will. Conclusions: Nurses have a great lack of knowledge about the legal aspects and the use of living wills, which makes them feel unable to inform their patients about them. Despite of the lack of knowledge, their attitude is positive and most of them state that they would recommend them to their patients

What do Galicia's nurses know about living wills? / ¿Qué conocen las enfermeras de Galicia sobre las voluntades anticipadas?

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the level of knowledge and attitudes concerning living wills of nurses working in 3 hospitals of Servizo Galego de Saúde (Spain). METHOD: Descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-centre study. Stratified sampling was carried out with nurses from the University Hospital Complexes of Ourense, Ferrol and Vigo. A sample size of 239 individuals was calculated. The data was collected during the first semester of 2018 using a validated self-administered questionnaire («Cuestionario de conocimientos y actitudes de los profesionales sanitarios en el proceso de declaración de voluntades vitales¼). RESULTS: A total of 262 nurses participated. Fifty percent believe that health professionals are obliged to inform about living wills. Two percent consider that they have enough information on the subject, and this is demonstrated in the knowledge questions, where between 61%-93% fail in the questions related to the documentation, use, and their legal aspects. Eighty-four percent consider that they have the obligation to uphold the values and beliefs of patients, and 89% that patients have the right to receive and decide on the right care. Thirteen percent consider that patients are not well informed about living wills, and 83% would recommend to chronic patients that they complete a living will. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses have a great lack of knowledge about the legal aspects and the use of living wills, which makes them feel unable to inform their patients about them. Despite of the lack of knowledge, their attitude is positive and most of them state that they would recommend them to their patients.

Strong down-regulation of glycophorin genes: A host defense mechanism against rotavirus infection.

The mechanisms of rotavirus (RV) infection have been analyzed from different angles but the way in which RV modifies the transcriptome of the host is still unknown. Whole transcriptome shotgun sequencing of peripheral blood samples was used to reveal patterns of expression from the genome of RV-infected patients. RV provokes global changes in the transcriptome of infected cells, involving an over-expression of genes involved in cell cycle and chromatin condensation. While interferon IFI27 was hyper-activated, interferon type II was not suggesting that RV has developed mechanisms to evade the innate response by host cells after virus infection. Most interesting was the inhibition of genes of the glycophorins A and B (GYPA/B) family, which are the major sialoglycoproteins of the human erythrocyte membrane and receptor of several viruses for host invasion. RV infection induces a complex and global response in the host. The strong inhibition of glycophorins suggests a novel defense mechanism of the host to prevent viral infection, inhibiting the expression of receptors used by the virus for infection. The present results add further support to the systemic nature of RV infection.

Development and Validation of a New Clinical Scale for Infants with Acute Respiratory Infection: The ReSVinet Scale.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A properly validated scoring system allowing objective categorization of infants with acute respiratory infections (ARIs), avoiding the need for in-person assessment and that could also be used by non-health professionals is currently not available. We aimed to develop a new clinical assessment scale meeting these specifications. METHODS: We designed a clinical scale (ReSVinet scale) based on seven parameters (feeding intolerance, medical intervention, respiratory difficulty, respiratory frequency, apnoea, general condition, fever) that were assigned different values (from 0 to 3) for a total of 20 points.170 children under two years of age with ARI were assessed independently by three pediatricians using this scale. Parents also evaluated their offspring with an adapted version of the scale in a subset of 61 cases. The scale was tested for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), Pearson correlation coefficient for the items in the scale, inter-observer reliability (kappa index) and floor-ceiling effect. RESULTS: Internal consistency was good for all the observers, with the lowest Cronbach's alpha being 0.72. There was a strong correlation between the investigators (r-value ranged 0.76-0.83) and also between the results obtained by the parents and the investigators(r = 0.73). Light's kappa for the observations of the three investigators was 0.74. Weighted kappa in the group evaluated by the parents was 0.73. The final score was correlated with length of hospital stay, PICU admission and Wood-Downes Score. CONCLUSIONS: The ReSVinet scale may be useful and reliable in the evaluation of infants with ARI, particularly acute bronchiolitis, even with data obtained from medical records and when employed by parents. Although further studies are necessary, ReSVinet scale already complies with more score validation criteria than the vast majority of the alternatives currently available and used in the clinical practice.

The Burden of Pediatric Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Spain (2008-2013).

BACKGROUND: Invasive meningococcal disease remains a rare infectious disease not only with high mortality but also with important morbidity. Until recently no universal vaccine existed against serogroup B, which explains most of the cases in settings like Europe. The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical course and sequelae of meningococcal disease in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective review of all children younger than 15 years admitted to any of the 36 hospitals in the MENDICOS Spanish network (www.mendicos.org) with confirmed or probable invasive meningococcal disease in children between January 2008 and December 2013. RESULTS: A total of 458 cases were identified across the country, most of them occurring in previously healthy children (91.5%; n = 419/458). Median (interquartile range) age was 1.7 (0.7 and 4.6) years, with 53.1% of the cases occurring in children younger than 2 years; 82.1% (n = 368) were laboratory confirmed cases; 95.2% (n = 256) of those serogrouped were serogroup B. The diagnosis was meningitis in 24.9% (n = 114) of the cases, sepsis in 37.1% (n = 170) and both in 38.0% (n = 174). Mean hospital length of stay was 11.6 (10.9) days; 79.2% (n = 354) of the patients required pediatric intensive care unit admission, with a mean pediatric intensive care unit stay of 3.9 (4.9) days; 3.5% (n = 16) died; 12.9% (n = 59) of the survivors were discharged with some kind of physical sequelae, mainly neurological (n = 23). CONCLUSIONS: Serogroup B invasive meningococcal infection explains substantial morbidity and mortality in Spain, occurring mainly in infants. The recent availability of a vaccine against serogroup B may change this scenario. Given that the vast majority of the cases occur in otherwise healthy children, inclusion of the meningococcal B vaccine in the national immunization program should be carefully considered.