Citizen Science Studies in Nursing: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Citizen science is a research approach wherein citizens actively participate alongside professionals in some or all stages of the research process. The bidirectional benefits it generates, especially in the field of health, including empowerment, new hypotheses, and results, and addressing issues truly important to society, justify the necessity to establish a common framework and address barriers to ensure a fruitful evolution of this new approach within nursing research. The aim was to analyze nursing projects with a citizen science focus that have been conducted. METHODS: PRISMA guidelines were employed to conduct a systematic review. Searches were conducted on PubMed, CINHAL, LILACS, IBECS, and Cochrane. Following the identification and screening process, 13 studies were included. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Joanna Brigg Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist and the quality of citizen science research using the Citizen Science Appraisal Tool. RESULTS: Citizen science studies in nursing were notably recent (2017-2023). Five research areas were identified, with environmental health being the most predominant. Multiple tools, both technological and traditional, were utilized, with the "Photovoice" and "Our Voice" methodologies being prominent. Citizen participation was limited to data collection and analysis in 7 out of the 13 studies, with most studies working with small samples. Findings regarding the application of this practice were positive, but no study exceeded 26 points on the CSAT scale to be considered high quality in citizen science. CONCLUSIONS: Citizen science can be a promising approach within the field of nursing. There is a need to increase individual participation to fully realize the potential bidirectional benefits. It is imperative to establish a common theoretical framework and continue working on the development of this methodology within nursing.

[Sense of coherence in breastfeeding women: A scoping review].

BACKGROUND: The establishment of breastfeeding may sometimes be stressful. We aimed to analyze the sense of coherence in lactating women to determine the general resistance resources during lactation and the professional interventions that promote a high sense of coherence. METHODS: A search of studies in English, Spanish, or Portuguese on lactating women's sense of coherence was carried out in PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and CINAH databases published between May and November 2022. Study quality and risk of bias were examined according to ICROMS and STROBE criteria. RESULTS: We identified 316 studies, of which eight -all of adequate quality- were included, three qualitative and five quantitative. A high level of maternal sense of coherence was related to longer duration, self-efficacy, attachment, and enjoyment of the breastfeeding experience. The main general resistance resources were to receive social support, particularly from partners, mothers, and health professionals. The interventions that favored the sense of coherence were mainly those related to a close, empathic, personalized, comprehensive, and family-centered professional support. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of the level of sense of coherence in lactating mothers may help identify women with a higher risk of weaning and establish professional intervention strategies that improve the breastfeeding experience.

Sentido de coherencia en mujeres lactantes: una revisión de alcance / Sense of coherence in breastfeeding women: A scoping review

Fundamento. El establecimiento de la lactancia materna puede resultar una situación potencialmente estresante. El objetivo del estudio es analizar el sentido de coherencia en mujeres lactantes, establecer los recursos generales de resistencia que lo modulan, y determinar las intervenciones profesionales que lo promueven. Metodología. Se incluyeron estudios en inglés, español o portugués, que evaluaran el sentido de coherencia de las mujeres lactantes, localizados en las bases de datos PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect y CINAHL entre marzo y mayo de 2023. La calidad de los estudios y el riesgo de sesgo se evaluaron siguiendo los criterios ICROMS y STROBE. Resultados. Se identificaron 316 registros, de los que se incluyeron un total de ocho estudios, tres cualitativos y cinco cuantitativos, todos con calidad suficiente. Un alto nivel de sentido de coherencia materno se relacionó con mayor duración, autoeficacia y disfrute de la experiencia de lactancia, y mayor apego. Los principales recursos generales de resistencia fueron percibir apoyo social, especialmente de parejas, madres y personal sanitario, además de experiencia previa positiva y una actitud positiva. Las intervenciones que favorecieron el sentido de coherencia fueron las relacionadas con un apoyo profesional estrecho, empático, personalizado, integral y centrado en la familia. Conclusiones. La determinación del nivel de sentido de coherencia en madres lactantes puede ayudar a identificar a mujeres con mayor riesgo de destete temprano, y a establecer estrategias de intervención profesional que mejoren la experiencia de lactancia materna. (AU)

Background. The establishment of breastfeeding may sometimes be stressful. We aimed to analyze the sense of coherence in lactating women to determine the general resistance resources during lactation and the professional interventions that promote a high sense of coherence. Methods. A search of studies in English, Spanish, or Portuguese on lactating women's sense of coherence was carried out in PubMed, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, and CINAH databases published between May and November 2022. Study quality and risk of bias were examined according to ICROMS and STROBE criteria. Results. We identified 316 studies, of which eight -all of adequate quality- were included, three qualitative and five quantitative. A high level of maternal sense of coherence was related to longer duration, self-efficacy, attachment, and enjoyment of the breastfeeding experience. The main general resistance resources were to receive social support, particularly from partners, mothers, and health professionals. The interventions that favored the sense of coherence were mainly those related to a close, empathic, personalized, comprehensive, and family-centered professional support. Conclusions. The detection of the level of sense of coherence in lactating mothers may help identify women with a higher risk of weaning and establish professional intervention strategies that improve the breastfeeding experience. (AU)

Spanish version of the Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale (HFSPS v.3) - psychometric properties.

Background: The Heart Failure Somatic Perception Scale (HFSPS) is an instrument that examine the existence and gravity of physical signs and symptoms in patients with heart failure, as well as early and subtle symptoms of HF that have clinical value, we aimed to translate and adapt the HFSPS from English to Spanish and evaluate the psychometric properties. Method: HFSPS translation and back translation were carried out according to the method established by of Beaton et al. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to test the factor structures. To assess criterion-related validity, HFSPS factor scores were correlated with Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) scores using the Spearman correlation method. The reliability of the internal consistency of the HFSPS was determined by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the factor score determination coefficient. Results: Data from 173 patients with a mean age of 80.7 years (SD 9.1), women (51.1%), were analyzed. The majority (74.7%) were NYHA class II/III. The confirmatory factor analysis of four factors after eliminating one item showed fit indices close to the recommended indices: χ2 = 169.237, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.920, TLI = 0.901, RMSEA = 0.057 and SRMR = 0.061. Regarding the validity related to the criterion, all the scores of the HFSPS dimensions were correlated with all the scores of the KCCQ dimensions and were statistically significant. The reliability of the HFSPS factors of the coefficient of determination obtained scores of 0.73 for the dyspnea factor and early and subtle and lower for edema and chest discomfort with fewer items. Cronbach's alpha was acceptable for three of the scales >0.71 and poor 0.52 for chest discomfort with two items. The internal consistency index based on the model was 0.850. Conclusion: The Spanish version of the HFSPS is a valid and reliable instrument that that would be feasible to use in clinical and research setting to evaluate in the perception of symptoms in patients with heart failure.

Autonomy of Nursing Students: Methodological Study of Validation of the PALOP Scale Portuguese Short Version.

The cultivation of critical thinking and decision-making skills promotes student autonomy. Only a few instruments measure nursing students' autonomy, and the PALOP® Scale is one of them. This study aimed to semantically and culturally adapt the PALOP® Scale to European Portuguese and assess the psychometric properties of a short version. A methodological study was conducted with 530 second and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students. Content validity was assessed using exploratory and discriminant factor analysis, and reliability was determined through analyses of internal consistency, temporal stability, and floor and ceiling effects. The analysis of the psychometric properties of a short version of the PALOP®-PT Scale revealed complete agreement (100%) among panel members for content validity. The scale also showed discriminative capacity among second- and fourth-year students (t (528) = -7.907, p < 0.001) with a five-factor structure, with a total explained variance of 57.2%. Reliability analysis showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.935) and moderate temporal stability (95% ICC (3.1) = 0.520 [0.290-0.693], p < 0.01). The short version of the PALOP®-PT Scale is a promising tool to assess nursing students' perceived autonomy and identify necessary adjustments to their professional identity.

Analysis of the Attitudes towards Sexuality in People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The barriers faced by people with intellectual disabilities are many. One of the areas in which many problems have been identified is the sexual domain. This descriptive study aims to analyze the attitudes of the family environment, professional carers, and the general population toward their sexuality. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out between 2022 and 2023, using convenience sampling among family members and carers from different centers working with people with intellectual disabilities in Spain, and among the general population not related to people with intellectual disabilities. A total of 583 responses were received and significant differences were found for all variables, with the variables related to family or work proximity being those that provided the most significant and relevant results. It was observed that the male sex has a more paternalistic attitude and that in rural areas there is a more permissive attitude towards the sexuality of people with intellectual disabilities. People who work with people with disabilities have more positive attitudes towards this group, while direct relatives have more paternalistic attitudes. Nursing care in the community and specialized centers should be based on an adequate therapeutic relationship and personalized care.

Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on female sexual function: A systematic review protocol and meta-analysis.

AIM: To recognize, appraise and summarize the research evidence that has explored the results of pelvic floor muscle training on female sexual function. DESIGN: Systematic review and possible meta-analysis. METHODOLOGY: Between September and October 2022, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Scopus electronic databases will be searched. We will include RCT's in English, Spanish and Portuguese that investigate the results of pelvic floor muscle training on female sexual function. The data will be extracted by two researchers independently. Risk of bias will be measured from the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The meta-analysis of the results will be performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 2. RESULTS: This systematic review and possible meta-analysis will contribute significantly to the promotion of pelvic floor health and women's sexual function and to strengthen clinical practice and define other areas of study.

Gender equity in the scientific nursing journals indexed in Journal Citation Reports: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Scientific activity has been connected to the proven inequality between women and men. To examine the state of gender equality in nursing research by analyzing the representation of male and female as editors and as authors of articles published in scientific journals. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out between September-2019 and May-2020. All the scientific publications published in 115 nursing journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports in the years 2008, 2013, and 2017 were chosen as analysis units. The main variables studied were gender of the "journal editor"; gender of the "first author", "last author", "corresponding author", and "first author in funded articles". Descriptive and inferential analysis was performed. Results: The proportion of male editors in 2008, 2013, and 2017 was 23.3, 19, and 18.5% respectively, with a male/female ratio of 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5. Male editors are mainly found in the journals of the first quartile (Q1 = 33.8%, ratio1:2), compared to the journals of the fourth quartile (Q4 = 6.6%, ratio1:14), p < 0.01. The male authorship position was "last author" (30.9%, ratio1:2), "corresponding author" (23.3%, ratio 1:3), "first author" (22.1%, ratio 1:4) and "first author in funded articles" (21.8%, ratio 1:4). Furthermore, in 19.5%, of the articles there were more male authors. The percentage of articles with male authorship increased from 2008 to 2017, "first author" (21.1-23.4%; p < 0.01), "last author" (30.0-31.1%; p = 0.22), "corresponding author" (22.5-24.2; p = 0.01), and "first author in funded articles" (18.1-25.9%; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Men are over-represented in the editor role in the most prestigious nursing journals. There are a higher proportion of male authors in the main positions of authorship.

Skin-to-skin contact in mothers with suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends skin-to-skin contact (SSC) in newborns of mothers with COVID-19, applying infection prevention and control measures, and after a process of antenatal counseling on the possible risks and benefits. In this study, the reasons given for and against postnatal SSC in mothers with COVID-19 were reviewed. METHOD: Between November and December 2020, we conducted a scoping review. Twenty-six relevant studies were identified. The results were extracted and presented narratively. RESULTS: The reasons described for avoiding SSC have include contradictory recommendations, risk of virus transmission, impossibility of universal antepartum maternal screening for COVID-19, work overload, and ethical considerations. The reasons given for the maintenance of SSC include maternal and infant benefits of SSC, previous experiences in viral outbreaks, protection of newborns against infections, decreased contact with professionals, caregivers and surfaces, and preservation of natural processes. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendation to allow SSC is based primarily on the acceptance that horizontal perinatal transmission is unlikely if correct hygiene precautions are taken and that the benefits of SSC outweigh the potential risks of neonatal COVID-19 infection. Knowing the reasons that have motivated the current recommendations on SSC is essential to be able to carry out an effective prenatal parental education that allows a shared decision to be made.

Leisure Programmes in Hospitalised People: A Systematic Review.

Nurses carry out holistic assessments of patients during hospital admission. This assessment includes the need for leisure and recreation. Different intervention programmes have been developed to meet this need. The aim of this study was to investigate hospital leisure intervention programmes described in the literature in order to determine their effects on patient health and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the programmes as reported by health professionals. A systematic review of articles in English or Spanish published between 2016 and 2022 was carried out. A search was performed in the following databases: CINAHL COMPLETE, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Dialnet and the Virtual Health Library and Web of Science resources. A total of 327 articles were obtained, of which 18 were included in the review. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using the PRISMA, CASPe and STROBE scales. A total of six hospital-based leisure programmes were identified, including a total of 14 leisure interventions. The activities developed in most of the interventions effectively reduced the levels of anxiety, stress, fear and pain in patients. They also improved factors such as mood, humour, communication, wellbeing, satisfaction and hospital adaptation. Among the main barriers to implementing hospital leisure activities is the need for more training, time and adequate spaces for them develop. Health professionals consider it beneficial for the patient to develop leisure interventions in the hospital.

Factors Associated With Resilience During Long-Term Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Resilience has been associated with greater adherence to treatment, better outcomes, and improved quality of life (QOL) in people with chronic health conditions. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, treatment accessibility-related, clinical, and psychological variables associated with resilience in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing long-term hemodialysis (>6 months). METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional, and correlational study. The instruments used were the Spanish versions of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale-10, and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36. The participants were categorized as resilient (with a score of ≥49.37 on the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale) or nonresilient. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables with predictive power for the group with the resilient profile. RESULTS: Perceived stress, general QOL, and subcomponents of QOL, such as the physical component and burden of kidney disease, were identified as factors related to the resilient profile. DISCUSSION: Identifying the factors related to resilient adjustment in patients with advanced CKD may assist health caregivers in improving adherence to treatment, treatment outcomes, and QOL.

Usefulness of Midline Catheters versus Peripheral Venous Catheters in an Inpatient Unit: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

Canalization of vascular accesses is one of the most used techniques in hospitalization units. When talking about peripherally inserted catheters, we can differentiate between peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC), midline catheters, and long peripheral catheters (LPC). Midline catheters are rarely used despite being recommended for intravenous therapies lasting more than six days. This research is a pilot study of a longitudinal clinical trial. It aims to compare the complications associated with intravenous therapy between the control group (CG) with a PIVC and the experimental group (EG) with a midline in an Internal Medicine Unit of a Spanish hospital for three months. In this study, 44 subjects participated, 25 in the CG and 19 in the EG. The duration of cannulation was longer in the experimental group (8.13 days vs. 3.22, p < 0.001), and the appearance of phlebitis was more significant in the control group (19 patients in CG and 25 patients in EG). Midlines have presented a longer duration of cannulation and fewer complications than the PIVC. This protocol was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05512117).

Nurses' Perception of Patient Safety Culture in a Referral Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Healthcare systems are becoming increasingly complex which is helping to promote a 'culture of safety' within them based on the best scientific evidence available. Indeed, creating a positive institutional culture of patient safety is reflected in health outcomes. The aim of this present study was to describe the perception of culture of safety by nurses in adult inpatient units in a tertiary hospital and to analyze adverse events reporting. It was a cross-sectional study in which 202 nurses from adult hospitalization units of the Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe in Valencia (Spain) participated. The perception of safety culture was measured using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety questionnaire version 1.0, which consists of 42 items distributed in 12 dimensions that are considered strengths or weaknesses. In addition, adverse events related to nursing care during the study period and those reported in the official hospital registry were collected. Finally, the association between safety culture and sociodemographic and labor variables was explored. A total of 148 responses to the questionnaire were analyzed (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94), where seven dimensions and 25 items were identified as weaknesses. Two hundred and fourteen events were identified and none were reported in the official registry. Years of experience were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with safety culture. It is necessary to establish strategies to improve the perception of the safety culture of nurses, as well as to make nurses aware of the importance of notifying adverse events derived from health care.

Modulating Elements of Nurse Resilience in Population Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 has significantly affected the work environment of nurses. In the face of the challenges posed by stressors in clinical practice, some nurses adapt and prove to be resilient. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nature of care itself and the new ways of working are potentially very stressful. We aim to analyze the resilience of care nurses to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a systematic review of nurse caregiver resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Our search was conducted in the WOS, Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, BVS/LILACS, and Cuiden databases. The inclusion criteria were: studies published in Spanish or English; carried out from March 2020 to May 2021 on nurses caring for patients with COVID-19; and investigating the factors influencing the psychological impact, resilience, strategies to develop it, and interventions to promote it during this pandemic and others, such as SARS, MERS, or ebola. The quality of the studies and the risk of bias were evaluated following ICROMS, STROBE and AMSTAR-2 criteria. Twenty-two studies were selected. Most of the studies highlighted the presence of stressors in nurses, emphasizing those of the environment, which converged in dysfunctional responses that hurt their resilience. The most persuasive factors were social and organizational support. Coping strategies developed by nurses and especially interventions by organizations were detected as instruments to foster resilience, but have not been well researched. Resilience has a key moderating role in mitigating the psychological impact of nurses in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SÍNDROME DE ULISES: un desafío para las enfermeras ante el que estar preparadas / ULYSSES SYNDROME: a challenge for nurses to be prepared for

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Spanish Version of the Scale "Eventos Adversos Associados às Práticas de Enfermagem" (EAAPE): Validation in Nursing Students.

Healthcare carried out by different health professionals, including nurses, implies the possible appearance of adverse events that affect the safety of the patient and may cause damage to the patient. In clinical practice, it is necessary to have measurement instruments that allow for the evaluation of the presence of these types of events in order to prevent them. This study aims to validate the "Eventos adversos associados às práticas de enfermagem" (EAAPE) scale in Spanish and evaluate its reliability. The validation was carried out through a cross-sectional study with a sample of 337 nursing students from the University of Valencia recruited during the 2018-19 academic year. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out using principal components and varimax rotation. The factor analysis extracted two factors that explained 32.10% of the total variance. Factor 1 explains 22.19% and refers to the "adverse results" of clinical practice (29 items), and factor 2 explains 9.62% and refers to "preventive practices" (24 items). Both factors presented high reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.902 and 0.905, respectively). The Spanish version of the EAAPE is valid and reliable for measuring the perception of adverse events associated with nursing practice and the presence of prevention measures.

Contents of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Subject in the Undergraduate Nursing Curricula of Spanish Universities: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students must receive adequate training in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), which could allow them to acquire sufficient knowledge to solve the future SRH needs of everyone. In this study, the contents of the SRH subject in the undergraduate nursing curricula of 77 Spanish universities were examined to determine what SRH training nursing students are receiving. METHODS: The contents of the SRH subject of all the curricula that were available online were reviewed. The distribution of the contents (topics) in the two areas (reproductive health and sexual health) was analyzed, and the prevalence of each topic was established. It was also determined whether there were differences between public (n = 52) and private universities (n = 25). RESULTS: The training of nursing students focuses mainly on the area of Reproductive Health (15 topics). Most of the topics of this area had a prevalence greater than 50%. Although the area of Sexual Health had 14 topics, most of these topics had a low prevalence (<20%), especially in private universities. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that there is considerable variation in the distribution and prevalence of SRH topics between universities. The contents of the area of Reproductive Health are usually prevalent in most of the curricula. However, the contents of the area of Sexual Health are minimal in most of the universities. An organizational effort is required to determine and standardize the contents of SRH that nursing students should receive in Spain to avoid inequalities in their training. Guaranteeing homogeneous SRH contents will avoid deficit situations that could affect people's care.

Health Inequities in LGBT People and Nursing Interventions to Reduce Them: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people present poorer mental and physical health results compared to the heterosexual and cisgender population. There are barriers in the healthcare system that increase these health inequities. OBJECTIVE: To synthesise the available evidence on how nurses can intervene in reducing health inequities in LGBT people, identifying their specific health needs and describing their experiences and perceptions of the barriers they face in the healthcare system. METHODS: Systematic review. Between March and April 2021, a bibliographic search was carried out in the Cuiden, LILACS, PubMed, Dialnet, SciELO, Trip Database, and Web of Science databases and metasearch engines. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Articles published in the last 5 years that address the specific health needs of LGBT people, their experiences and perceptions, or interventions in this group in which nurses may engage. RESULTS: A total of 16 articles were selected. Health disparities were detected in the LGBT community, which exhibited higher rates of mental health problems, substance abuse, risky sexual behaviours, self-harm, and suicide. These inequalities were related to minority stress, and each of them differently impacted individual populations within the broader LGBT community depending on their sexual orientations and gender identities. The impact of these factors was, in turn, modified by the intersections of race/ethnicity, geographic region, and socioeconomic factors. LGBT people described discriminatory experiences by health professionals, as well as their distrust and fear in this setting. Nurses can carry out interventions such as inclusive education about sex and sexual and gender diversity and bullying and suicide prevention programmes, and can provide gender-affirming and family-centred care. CONCLUSIONS: LGBT people experience health inequities and discrimination in the healthcare system. Nurses can implement diverse interventions to reduce these problems and, moreover, these health professionals are obliged to acquire cultural competence regarding LGBT health.

Revisión crítica de la Escala de Evaluación de la Lactancia Materna LATCH. Un estudio cualitativo / Critical review of the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool. A qualitative study

Objetivo: Describir las percepciones de los profesionales de la salud sobre las limitaciones de la Escala de Evaluación de la Lactancia Materna LATCH. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo con un enfoque fenomenológico descriptivo. Se llevaron a cabo, entre marzo y mayo de 2019, entrevistas a 22 profesionales de la salud que desempeñaban su actividad principal en unidades de hospitalización posparto. Se tomaron notas de las entrevistas, que se analizaron para identificar las limitaciones de la escala. Resultados: Los profesionales identificaron que todos los ítems de la escala LATCH eran indicadores basados en la evidencia, adecuados para la valoración de la lactancia materna, aunque cuestionaron la relevancia y la pertinencia de su observación/evaluación durante el ingreso hospitalario posparto. Asimismo, indicaron que es necesario determinar los momentos más oportunos para llevar a cabo las evaluaciones, y sugirieron revisar el sistema de puntuación para no mermar la confianza de las madres. Conclusiones: Este estudio proporciona un valioso proceso reflexivo sobre la escala LATCH, que pone de manifiesto que la versión actual de este instrumento no satisface plenamente a los profesionales entrevistados en su aplicación durante el ingreso hospitalario posparto. (AU)

Objective: To describe health professionals’ perceptions of the limitations and strengths of the LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Scale. Methodology: Qualitative study with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Between March and May 2019, interviews were conducted with 22 health professionals who performed their main activity in postpartum hospitalization units. Notes were taken of the interviews that were analyzed to identify the limitations and strengths of the scale. Results: The professionals identified that all items on the LATCH scale were adequate evidence-based indicators for the assessment of breastfeeding, although they questioned the relevance and appropriateness of their observation/assessment during postpartum hospital admission. They also indicated the need to determine the most appropriate times to carry out the assessments and suggested revising the scoring system so as not to undermine mothers’ confidence. Conclusions: This study provides a valuable reflective process on the LATCH scale that shows that the current version of the instrument does not fully satisfy the professionals interviewed in its application to the early postpartum period. (AU)