Critical thinking among institutional academic advisors and sociodemographic, professional and academic variables: A multicenter correlation study.

BACKGROUND: In nursing education, essential skills include Critical Thinking (CT). There is scant evidence on how nurse educators could promote CT in students in a clinical context. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the level of CT and correlated variables in healthcare nurses overseeing the clinicals of nursing undergraduates. METHODS: The study population were all nurse educators for clinicals at hospitals with nursing undergraduates. To evaluate the CT skills of nurses the Nursing Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice Questionnaire (N-CT-4 practice) was administered. Frequencies, percentages and measures of central tendency and scatter were obtained. A bivariate analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the nurse educators' CT level and the sociodemographic, professional and academic levels. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare two independent groups. Statistical significance was defined as P < .05. RESULTS: The total number of participants was 639. The highest mean CT level was seen in clinical nurses involved in undergraduate nursing instruction and with experience of up to 10 years (mean CT score = 372 (33.3), p = .007). Global CT levels were similar in women and men (mean CT score: 364 (31.9) in women and 358 (40.5) in men, p = .187), with statistically significant differences only observed in the intellectual and cognitive indicator (P = .022). CONCLUSIONS: CT levels are high in teaching healthcare professionals in the clinical environment.

National validation of the nursing Intensive-Care satisfaction scale: Research protocol.

AIM: Validate the Nursing Intensive-Care Satisfaction Scale in ICUs throughout Spain. Identify the improvement strategies recommended by the patients and professionals. DESIGN: Quantitative psychometric methodology and a cross-sectional descriptive correlational design. METHODS: The study population will be all patients discharged from 19 participating ICUs in Spain. Consecutive sampling (n = 564). Once discharged from the ICUs, they will receive the questionnaire and then, after 48 hours it will be given to them again to analyse the temporal stability. To validate the questionnaire, the internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha) and temporal stability (test-retest) will be analysed. RESULTS: Improve the quality of nursing care by modifying, changing or strengthening behaviours, skills, attitudes or areas for improvement involved in the process.

La colaboración interdisciplinar en las unidades de cuidados intensivos / Interdisciplinary collaboration in intensive care units from the experience of nurses

Objetivo: Comprender la experiencia vivida por las enfermeras que trabajan en las UCI polivalentes de un hospital de tercer nivel de la ciudad de Barcelona en relación con la colaboración interprofesional. Metodología: Diseño cualitativo exploratorio, multicéntrico de tipo descripción interpretativa. El ámbito de estudio fue cuatro UCI polivalentes de cuatro hospitales públicos y universitarios de tercer nivel. La muestra estuvo formada por 8 enfermeras. El muestreo teórico de variación máxima. La técnica de obtención de información fue el grupo de discusión con grabación de audio. Se realizó un análisis temático de contenido. Se siguieron los criterios de confiabilidad y autenticidad, así como el proceso de reflexividad durante todo el estudio. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética de Investigación Clínica (CEIC). Resultados: Emergieron 2 grandes temas: la definición de colaboración interprofesional y propuestas de futuro. Las enfermeras consideran que la confianza y el respeto son la base de la colaboración interprofesional y aseguran la continuidad de los objetivos planificados. La comunicación y la relación entre iguales son dos de los factores que intervienen en la colaboración interprofesional. Es necesario cambiar de una jerarquía convencional a una visión compartida que mejoraría la participación de las enfermeras. Conclusiones: Los grandes pilares de la colaboración interdisciplinar son la comunicación efectiva y el trabajo en equipo, basado en la confianza y el respeto. Las líneas futuras de trabajo van enfocadas a la formación interdisciplinar de los futuros profesionales, la implantación real del pase conjunto y la mejora del clima laboral. (AU)

Purpose: Understanding the nurses experience who work in the ICUs of a high complexity hospital in Barcelona in relation to interprofessional collaboration. Methodology: Interpretative description by a qualitative exploratory and multicenter design. The study area was four ICUs from four high complexity, public and universitary hospitals. The sample consisted of 8 nurses. Theoretical sampling of maximum variation was used. The information gathering technique was the discussion group with audio recording. A thematic content analysis was carried out. The criteria of reliability and authenticity, as well as the process of reflexivity, were followed throughout the study. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CEIC). Results: Two major themes emerged: the definition of interprofessional collaboration and proposals for the future. Nurses consider that trust and respect are the basis of interprofessional collaboration and ensure the continuity of planned objectives. Communication and the relationship between equals are two of the factors involved in interprofessional collaboration. It is necessary to change from a conventional hierarchy to a shared vision that would improve the participation of nurses. Conclusions: The great pillars of interdisciplinary collaboration are effective communication and teamwork, based on trust and respect. Future lines of work are focused on the interdisciplinary training of future professionals, the actual implementation of the clinical sessions and the improvement of the work environment. (AU)

Psychometric properties of the Nursing Intensive Care Satisfaction Scale: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patient satisfaction with nursing care is an indicator of patient satisfaction with the hospital stay in general. The Nursing Intensive Care Satisfaction Scale is the only scale about patient satisfaction with nursing care received in an intensive care unit that incorporates the critically ill patient's perspective into its design and validation. We validated the scale nationally, incorporating intensive care units at public and private hospitals of different levels of complexity in Spain. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to validate in Spanish intensive care units the Nursing Intensive Care Satisfaction Scale, a patient-centred questionnaire that evaluates recently discharged intensive care patients' satisfaction with the nursing care they received. DESIGN: We used a psychometric quantitative methodology and a descriptive cross-sectional design. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted in intensive care units at level II and III public and private hospitals throughout Spain. The study population was all patients discharged from intensive care units from December 2018 to December 2019 from the 19 participating hospitals. We used consecutive sampling until reaching a sample size of 677 patients. The assessment instruments were given to patients at discharge and 48 h later to measure temporal stability. METHODS: The validation process included the analysis of internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient), temporal stability (test-retest), construct validity through a confirmatory factor analysis, and criterion validity using the Pearson correlation coefficient and three criterion items that assessed similar constructs. RESULTS: The reliability of the scale was 0.97, and the factors obtained values between 0.87 and 0.96. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the total scale was 0.83, indicating good temporal stability. Construct validity showed a good fit and a four-factor structure, in accordance with the theoretical model. Criterion validity presented a correlation that was between moderate and high (range: 0.46 to 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: The Nursing Intensive Care Satisfaction Scale has good psychometric properties, demonstrating its ability to accurately measure patient satisfaction across a range of contexts in Spain. Continuous monitoring of satisfaction will allow nurses to identify areas for improvement that can increase the quality of care.

Satisfaction of intensive care unit patients linked to clinical and organisational factors: A cross-sectional multicentre study.

BACKGROUND: The satisfaction of critical care patients with the nursing care they receive is a key indicator of the quality of hospital care. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to analyse the level of satisfaction of critical care patients in relation to the nursing care received and to determine the relationship between the level of satisfaction and sociodemographic, clinical, and organisational variables. DESIGN: This was a prospective, descriptive correlational study. SETTING AND METHODS: The population consisted of all patients discharged from the intensive care units (ICUs) of 19 hospitals in Spain between December 2018 and December 2019. The level of satisfaction was measured using the validated Nursing Intensive Care Satisfaction Scale, and sociodemographic, clinical, and organisational data were collected. RESULTS: Participants' mean age (n = 677) was 59.7 (standard deviation: 16.1), and 62.8% of them were men (n = 426). Satisfaction with the nursing care received was 5.66 (SD: 0.68) out of a possible 6. The score for overall satisfaction presented statistically significant relationships with the hours of mechanical ventilation (p = 0.034), with the participant's perception of own health status (p = 0.01), with the participant's perceived degree of own recovery (p = 0.01), with the hospital's complexity level (p = 0.002), with the type of hospital (p = 0.005), and with the type of ICU (p = 0.004). Finally, the logistic regression model shows that the Nursing Intensive Care Satisfaction Scale score was not linked to age or sex but did have a statistically significant relationship with the perceived degree of recovery (p < 0.001) and the type of ICU (p=<0.001). The variables that predicted satisfaction were age, degree of recovery, and the type of ICU. CONCLUSION: Several studies show that patient satisfaction is related to the patient's perceived health status and perceived degree of recovery, a finding that is confirmed in our study. Our study moves beyond these outcomes to show that the hours of mechanical ventilation and the characteristics of the hospital also have a significant relationship with patients' satisfaction.

Association of sex and age and delay predictors on the time of primary angioplasty activation for myocardial infarction patients in an emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Time between Emergency Department (ED) and ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) activation time is a good indicator of ED quality. STEMI delays are of particular importance in some subgroups, such as women and the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of sex and age with activation time in STEMI patients admitted to the ED. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was conducted including all patients admitted to the ED activated as a STEMI. The main variable was activation time. To evaluate the independent predictors of activation time, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out, variables were sex, age, sex and age combined, chest pain, ST elevation in the electrocardiogram, and first medical contact (FMC) at the hospital's ED. RESULTS: A total of 330 patients were included. They were classified by sex: 23.9% (78) women and 76.1% (249) men; and age: 51.1% (167) <65 yo and 48.9% (160) ≥65 yo. Women and elderly patients exhibited a more atypical presentation. Multivariate analysis shows that showed that elderly age (OR=1.976 95%; CI=1.257-3.104; p = 0.003) and FMC prior to attending the ED (OR=1.762; 95% CI=1.117-2.779; p = 0.015) were associated with a longer activation time. Women older than 65 years old showed the longest activation time. CONCLUSION: STEMI delays are longer in women and the elderly with atypical presentation. Age ≥65 and FMC outside the ED were associated with an increase in the activation time. This highlights the need to develop strategies to improve activation time for these specific patient groups.

Modelos de evaluación de la calidad de la atención de enfermería en el ámbito hospitalario: revisión de la literatura / Models for evaluating the quality of nursing care in the hospital environment: a literature review

Objetivo: Identificar las características de los modelos de evaluación de la calidad de la atención de enfermería y los resultados generados en términos de calidad y seguridad del paciente en un entorno hospitalario descritos en la literatura científica de los últimos 25 años. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en PubMed y Scopus. Se incluyeron artículos sobre modelos de evaluación de la calidad publicados en inglés, español y portugués entre 1995 y 2020. La revisión se desarrolló en 5 pasos: identificación del problema; búsqueda de literatura; agrupando la información de los estudios; analizar e integrar los resultados de los estudios; e interpretar la evidencia y presentar los resultados. Cada paso fue realizado por dos revisores independientes. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 8 artículos para la revisión. Existe una gran heterogeneidad en la definición de los modelos de evaluación de la calidad y los indicadores a utilizar. El modelo de evaluación de la calidad de Donabedian es el más utilizado. Conclusión: Los modelos de evaluación de la calidad están adaptados o implementados parcialmente. (AU)

Aim: To identify the characteristics of the models for evaluating the quality of nursing care and the results generated in terms of quality and patient safety in a hospital setting described in the scientific literature over the last 25 years.Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed and Scopus. Articles on quality evaluation models published in English, Spanish and Portuguese between 1995 and 2020 were included. The review was developed in 5 steps: problem identification; literature search; grouping the information from the studies; analyzing and integrating the results of the studies; and interpreting the evidence and presenting the results. Each step was performed by two independent reviewers.Results: 8 articles were selected for the review. There is a great degree of heterogeneity in the definition of the quality evaluation models and the indicators to be used. Donabedian’s quality evaluation model is the most widely used.Conclusion: Quality assessment models are adapted or partially implemented. (AU)

Psychometric properties of the oral feeding assessment in premature infants scale.

Professionals that work in neonatal units need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the premature infant who is in the transition process from feeding through a gastric tube to oral feeding. The main aim of this study was to validate the Oral FEeding Assessment in premaTure INfants (OFEATINg) instrument. A psychometric validity and reliability study was conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units of two public, metropolitan, university hospitals. The study population were premature infants at a postconceptional age of 31-35 weeks. The study included evaluation of the reliability, convergent, discriminant and construct validity, sensitivity and specificity of the OFEATINg instrument. A total of 621 feedings of 56 preterm infants were evaluated. Confirmatory factor analysis identified 3 factors and 13 indicators with a good fit to the model. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.78. The instrument showed high indices of inter-rater reliability (Pearson 0.9 and intraclass correlation coefficient 0.95). The OFEATINg scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating the readiness for oral feeding of preterm infants. It may enable clinicians to evaluate the physiological and behavioral abilities involved in the oral feeding process and help them make decisions related to the transition to full oral feeding.Clinical trial registration: This study was prospectively registered at the two Institutional review boards.

Patients' experience while transitioning from the intensive care unit to a ward.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients can experience emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder when they leave the ICU, also referred to as post-intensive care syndrome. A deeper understanding of what patients go through and what they need while they are transitioning from the ICU to the general ward may provide input on how to strengthen patient-centred care and, ultimately, contribute to a positive experience. AIM: To describe the patients' experience while transitioning from the ICU to a general ward. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative study. METHOD: Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analysed using a qualitative content analysis. The qualitative study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. FINDINGS: Forty-eight interviews were conducted. Impact on emotional well-being emerged as a main theme, comprising four categories with six subcategories. CONCLUSION: Transition from the ICU can be a shock for the patient, leading to the emergence of a need for information, and an impact on emotional well-being that has to be planned for carefully and addressed prior to, during, and following transition from the ICU to the general ward. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: It is essential that nurses understand patients' experiences during transfer, identifying needs and concerns to be able to develop and implement new practices such as ICU Liaison Nurse or Nurse Outreach for the follow-up of these patients, the inclusion of a consultant mental health nurse, and the application of patient empowerment during ICU discharge.

Academic evaluation, management and satisfaction of clinical practicums among undergraduate students: software CliPrAS@UB.

AIM/OBJECTIVE: To determine the development of competency acquisition, the satisfaction of the agents involved and recording incidents with a digital platform CliPrAS @UB on the Clinical Placements I and II courses in the second and third years of the Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. BACKGROUND: The teaching of clinical practice subjects requires an analysis of the competence evolution, a management structure and an analysis of the satisfaction of the agents involved in the subject. DESIGN: Prospective, analytical, observational cohort study. METHODS: The study was carried out in a public university center in Barcelona with 387 students distributed in nine centers of the network of Health Institutions. RESULTS: An increase of 2.32 points was observed in the competence dimensions of Professional Practice and with a reduction in the average score in the skills of care provision, therapeutic communication and professional development of more than 0.08 points. Regarding the seminars, a reduction of the average global score of 0.58 points was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the CliPrAS @ UB computer platform has improved the implementation of the mandatory documents, the recording of incidents and the overall satisfaction of the students.

Design of the EBE-ST Questionnaire among Nursing Students: Multicenter Study from Eight Universities in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Twenty years after the degree in nursing was introduced in Spain, the subject of evidence-based nursing is still unstructured and unestablished in most faculties. Moreover, there are hardly any rigorous studies at a national level that evaluate the current state of this competence in our faculties. Understanding the starting point is essential for the curricular design to ensure that evidence-based practice is implemented among future professionals. AIM: To design and validate an evidence-based nursing competency questionnaire for fourth-year nursing students. METHODS: A specific questionnaire was developed and validated (EBE-ST). A cross-sectional survey design with psychometric validation of an instrument. Participants were 304 senior year nursing students from eight universities in Spain (2020). RESULTS: The EBE-ST questionnaire is composed of 33 items that determine eight factors. It presents adequate reliability and validity (alpha = 0.882), measuring knowledge, attitudes and the practical application of evidence-based practice. CONCLUSIONS: We have created an instrument with good psychometric properties to measure evidence-based practice competence among senior nursing students. The heterogeneity of knowledge regarding evidence-based nursing in our country suggests that further reflection is warranted on the incorporation of this topic during undergraduate training. We have designed and validated an evidence-based nursing competency questionnaire specific to nursing students.

The importance of organizational variables in treatment time for patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction improve delays in STEMI.

BACKGROUND: The time between arrival at the emergency department (ED) and balloon (D2B) in STEMI is one of the best indicators of the quality of care. Our aim is to describe treatment times and evaluate the causes of delay. METHODS: This is an observational retrospective study, including all consecutive STEMI code patients ≥18 years old treated in the ED from 2013 to 2016.All the patients were stratified into two groups: delayed group with D2B>70min and non-delayed ≤70. The primary variable was D2B time. FINDINGS: In total 327 patients were included, stratified according to their D2B as follows: 166 (67·48%) in the delayed group and 80 (32·52%) in the non-delayed group. The delayed group was older (p=0·005), with more females (p=0·060) and more atypical electrocardiogram (ECG) STEMI signs or symptoms (p=0·058) (p=0·087). Predictors of shorter D2B time were: typical STEMI ECG signs and short training sessions for nurses on identifying STEMI patients. INTERPRETATION: There are delays particularly in specific groups with atypical clinical presentations. Short training sessions aimed at emergency nurses correlate with shorter delay. This suggests that continuing training for emergency nurses, along with organizational strategies, can contribute to increasing the quality of care. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT04333381.

Patient-Centered Outcomes with Pituitary and Parasellar Disease.

Over the last 2 decades, advances in the diagnosis and management of pituitary diseases have made it possible to attain an endocrine "cure" in a large proportion of patients. In other words, tumors can be excised or controlled with drugs, mass effects of the lesion on surrounding structures can be solved, and pituitary deficiencies can be substituted with all relevant hormones. While this is considered a satisfactory outcome for health care providers, patients often suffer from an aftermath of prior endocrine dysfunction exposure, with irreversible effects, both physically and psychologically, which have a great impact on their everyday life. Diagnostic delay, often of several years, adds a negative impact on health perception. This affects their social, professional, and family domains and determines their future life. Understanding that this may occur is important, and health care providers should offer information to prepare the patient for this difficult journey, especially in the case of acromegaly, Cushing disease, or hypopituitarism. In order to maintain a good quality of life (QoL) in the long-term, patients need to adapt to this new situation, something that may be difficult, since they often cannot continue with all the activities and rhythm they used to do. Depression is often the consequence of maladaptation to the new situation, leading to impaired QoL.

Analysis of the evolution of competences in the clinical practice of the nursing degree.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the student's progression in the acquisition of specific and transversal competences in relation to the competence dimensions.Method: the cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in the clinical practice subjects included in the Nursing Degree. We included 323 students and we contemplated the development of competences through an ad-hoc questionnaire with 4 dimensions: delivery and care management, therapeutic communication, professional development and care management. RESULTS: the academic results between the practice of the second and third year showed an improvement in care provision and therapeutic communication skills (Clinical Placements I: 12%-29%; Clinical Placements II: 32%-47%) and worsened in professional development and care management (Clinical Placements I: 44%-38%; Clinical Placements II: 44%-26%). CONCLUSION: the correlations between these two years were high in all the dimensions analyzed. The evaluation of competence progression in the context of clinical practice in nursing university studies allows us to optimize these practices to the maximum and establish professional profiles with a greater degree of adaptation to the professional future.

Reduction of visual and auditory stimuli to reduce pain during venipuncture in premature infants. Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the reduction of visual and auditory stimuli on pain during venipuncture in premature newborns of 32-36 weeks of gestation. DESIGN: Open, randomized, non-blind parallel clinical trial. METHOD: Study to take place at the neonatal intensive care unit of a University Hospital in 2019-2021. Fifty-six recently born babies between 32-36 weeks of gestation will participate. The dependent variable is the level of pain determined using the premature infant pain profile instrument. The intervention will be assigned randomly using the random.org software. Data analysis will be carried out using the IBM SPSS v.25 software assuming a level of significance of 5%. DISCUSSION: The evidence for the efficacy of reducing sensory stimulation and its effect on pain in minor procedures has not been studied in depth. There are no studies that evaluate the reduction of visual and auditory stimuli in a combined way. IMPACT: It is easy to incorporate the reduction of visual and auditory stimuli into nursing practice. The results of this study could have a direct impact on clinical practice. Trial registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04041635.

Analysis of the evolution of competences in the clinical practice of the nursing degree / Análise da evolução de competências da prática clínica no curso de enfermagem / Análisis de la evolución de las competencias en la práctica clínica del grado en enfermeira

Objective: to analyze the student's progression in the acquisition of specific and transversal competences in relation to the competence dimensions. Method: the cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in the clinical practice subjects included in the Nursing Degree. We included 323 students and we contemplated the development of competences through an ad-hoc questionnaire with 4 dimensions: delivery and care management, therapeutic communication, professional development and care management. Results: the academic results between the practice of the second and third year showed an improvement in care provision and therapeutic communication skills (Clinical Placements I: 12%-29%; Clinical Placements II: 32%-47%) and worsened in professional development and care management (Clinical Placements I: 44%-38%; Clinical Placements II: 44%-26%). Conclusion: the correlations between these two years were high in all the dimensions analyzed. The evaluation of competence progression in the context of clinical practice in nursing university studies allows us to optimize these practices to the maximum and establish professional profiles with a greater degree of adaptation to the professional future.

Objetivo: analisar a progressão de estudantes na aquisição de competências específicas e transversais em relação às dimensões de competência. Método: este estudo transversal descritivo foi realizado no contexto das disciplinas de prática clínica do curso de enfermagem. O desenvolvimento de competências de 323 alunos foi analisado usando um questionário ad-hoc com quatro dimensões: provisão e gerenciamento do cuidado; comunicação terapêutica; desenvolvimento profissional; e gerenciamento do cuidado. Resultados: os resultados acadêmicos obtidos no segundo e terceiro anos apresentaram melhora nas habilidades referentes à provisão do cuidado e comunicação terapêutica (Práticas Clínicas I: 12%-29%; Práticas Clínicas II: 32%-47%) e uma piora no desenvolvimento profissional e gerenciamento do cuidado (Práticas Clínicas I: 44%-38%; Práticas Clínicas II: 44%-26%). Conclusão: as correlações entre estes dois anos foram altas em todas as dimensões analisadas. A avaliação da progressão de competências no contexto da prática clínica do curso de enfermagem nos permite otimizar estas práticas ao máximo e estabelecer perfis profissionais com maior grau de adaptação para o futuro profissional.

Objetivo: analizar la progresión del alumno en la adquisición de competencias específicas y transversales en relación con las dimensiones de competencia. Método: el estudio descriptivo transversal se realizó en los sujetos de práctica clínica incluidos en la licenciatura de Enfermería. Incluimos 323 estudiantes y contemplamos el desarrollo de competencias a través de un cuestionario ad hoc con 4 dimensiones: suministro y gestión del cuidado; comunicación terapéutica; desarrollo profesional; y, gestión del cuidado. Resultados: los resultados académicos entre la práctica del segundo y tercer año mostraron una mejora en la provisión del cuidado y en las habilidades de comunicación terapéutica: (Colocaciones clínicas I: 12% -29%; Colocaciones clínicas II: 32% -47%) y empeoraron en el desarrollo profesional y en la gestión del cuidado (Colocaciones clínicas I: 44%-38%; Colocaciones clínicas II: 44%-26%). Conclusión: las correlaciones entre estos dos años fueron altas en todas las dimensiones analizadas. La evaluación de la progresión de competencias, en el contexto de la práctica clínica, en los estudios universitarios de enfermería, nos permite optimizar estas prácticas al máximo y establecer perfiles profesionales con un mayor grado de adaptación al futuro profesional.

Level of satisfaction of critical care patients regarding the nursing care received: Correlation with sociodemographic and clinical variables.

BACKGROUND: The satisfaction of critical care patients regarding the nursing care received is a key indicator of the quality of hospital care. It is, therefore, essential to identify the factors associated with the level of satisfaction of critical care patients. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the level of satisfaction of critical care patients in relation to the nursing care received and to determine the relationship between the level of satisfaction and the sociodemographic and clinical variables. METHODS: This is a prospective and descriptive correlational study. The population were all patients discharged (January 2013 to January 2015) from three intensive care units of a third-level hospital (n = 200). The data on the satisfaction level were collected using the previously validated Nursing Intensive-Care Satisfaction Scale, and the sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean participants' age in the study (n = 200) was 65.9 years (standard deviation 13.4 years), with a 66% proportion of men (n = 132). There was a very high level of satisfaction regarding the nursing care received during the patients' stay in the intensive care unit, with a rating of 5.73 (standard deviation 0.41). There is no correlation between the level of satisfaction and the sociodemographic variables collected. However, there were statistically significant differences in the average score of the overall level of satisfaction (rho = 0.182, p = 0.010) with respect to the perception of the state of health. CONCLUSION: Critical care patients expressed very high rates of satisfaction, for both the scale as a whole and each of the factors. A high level of satisfaction is strongly influenced by the perception of the state of health.

Quality of Life in Cushing's disease: A long term issue?

The purpose of this review is to describe how quality of life (QoL) is impaired in patients with hypercortisolism due to Cushing's syndrome of any aetiology, including pituitary-dependent Cushing's disease. It is worse in active disease, but improvement after successful therapy is often incomplete, due to persistent physical and psychological co-morbidities, even years after endocrine "cure". Physical symptoms like extreme fatigability, central obesity with limb atrophy, hypertension, fractures, and different skin abnormalities severely impair the affected patients' everyday life. Psychological and cognitive problems like bad memory, difficulties to concentrate and emotional distress, often associated with anxiety and depression, make it difficult for many patients to overcome the aftermath of treated Cushing's syndrome. Recent studies have shown diffuse structural abnormalities in the central nervous system during active hypercortisolism, thought to be related to the wide distribution of glucocorticoid receptors throughout the brain. Even though they improve after treatment, normalization is often not complete. Shortening the exposure to active Cushing's syndrome by reducing the often long delay to diagnosis and promptly receiving effective treatment is highly desirable, together with preparing the patient for the difficult periods, especially after surgery. In this way they are prepared for the impairments they perceive in every day life, and live with the hope of later improvement, which can be therapeutic in many instances.

Nursing Intensive-Care Satisfaction Scale [NICSS]: Development and validation of a patient-centred instrument.

AIM: The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Nursing Intensive-Care Satisfaction Scale to measures satisfaction with nursing care from the critical care patient's perspective. BACKGROUND: Instruments that measure satisfaction with nursing cares have been designed and validated without taking the patient's perspective into consideration. Despite the benefits and advances in measuring satisfaction with nursing care, none instrument is specifically designed to assess satisfaction in intensive care units. DESIGN: Instrument development. METHODS: The population were all discharged patients (January 2013 - January 2015) from three Intensive Care Units of a third level hospital (N = 200). All assessment instruments were given to discharged patients and 48 hours later, to analyse the temporal stability, only the questionnaire was given again. The validation process of the scale included the analysis of internal consistency, temporal stability; validity of construct through a confirmatory factor analysis; and criterion validity. RESULTS: Reliability was 0.95. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the total scale was 0.83 indicating a good temporal stability. Construct validity showed an acceptable fit and factorial structure with four factors, in accordance with the theoretical model, being Consequences factor the best correlated with other factors. Criterion validity, presented a correlation between low and high (range: 0.42-0.68). CONCLUSIONS: The scale has been designed and validated incorporating the perspective of critical care patients. Thanks to its reliability and validity, this questionnaire can be used both in research and in clinical practice. The scale offers a possibility to assess and develop interventions to improve patient satisfaction with nursing care.

Prevalencia e implicaciones pronósticas de los trastornos del sueño en la insuficiencia cardiaca crónica / Prevalence and prognostic implications of sleep disorders in patients with chronic heart failure

Objetivos. Evaluar la prevalencia e implicaciones pronosticas de los trastornos del sueño en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca crónica atendidos en una unidad de Insuficiencia Cardiaca hospitalaria. Método. Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y prospectivo. Ámbito: Unidad de Insuficiencia Cardiaca del Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Participantes: pacientes atendidos por primera vez en la Unidad entre abril de 2014 y noviembre de 2014. Variables: se realizó una evaluación de los trastornos del sueño mediante el cuestionario Insomnia Severity Index8,9 modificado. Se obtuvieron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos y farmacológicos de la historia clínica del paciente. Se evaluó la aparición de eventos adversos en el seguimiento (hospitalización por insuficiencia cardiaca o muerte de causa cardiovascular). Análisis: las variables cualitativas se describieron en forma de porcentajes y las cuantitativas en forma de media y desviaciones estándares. Resultados. La muestra total fue de 68 pacientes con una media de edad de 68 ± 12 años; un 59 % de los pacientes fueron varones. La etiología de la insuficiencia cardiaca fue en un 37 % de causa no isquémica, en un 40 % de causa isquémica, en el 10 % valvular y en un 13 % de otras etiologías. Los trastornos del sueño estaban presentes en el 48.5 % del total de la muestra (33 pacientes). Los pacientes con trastornos del sueño presentaron mayor incidencia de efectos adversos cardiovasculares en el seguimiento (21 % frente a 0 %; p < 0.05). Conclusiones. La prevalencia de los trastornos del sueño es alta en pacientes con insuficiencia cardiaca y se asocia a un peor pronóstico clínico (AU)

Objectives. To evaluate the prevalence and prognostic implications of sleep disorders in patients with chronic heart failure treated in a hospital’s Heart Failure Unit. Method. An observational, descriptive and prospective study. The study was carried out in Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Heart Failure Unit, Barcelona. Participants consisted of patients arriving to the Unit for the first time between April and November 2014. An assessment of sleeping disorders was performed using the modified questionnaire Insomnia Severity Index8,9. Patient’s sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacological data was obtained from their medical history. Adverse events during follow-up, (hospitalization due to heart failure and/or cardiovascular death), were assessed. In the analysis, qualitative variables were described as percentages and quantitative variables as mean and standard deviations. Results. The total sample consisted of 68 patients with a mean age of 68 ± 12 years. 59 % of patients were male. The etiological cause of heart failure was: in 37 % of the cases non-ischemic, 40 % ischemic, 10 % valvular and 13 % presented other etiologies. Sleep disorders were present in 48.5 % of the total sample (33 patients). Patients with sleep disorders had a higher incidence of cardiovascular adverse effects during the follow-up: 21 % vs 0 %; p <0.05. Conclusions. The prevalence of sleep disorders is high in patients with heart failure and is associated with a worse clinical prognosis (AU)