[Effectiveness of a nursing intervention on patient anxiety before transfusion of packed red blood cells]. / La efectividad de una intervención enfermera sobre la ansiedad del paciente ante la transfusión de concentrado de hematíes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention regarding anxiety and satisfaction in patients requiring a red blood cell transfusion. METHOD: Randomised, controlled, single-blind clinical trial in patients requiring a packed red blood cell transfusion. SAMPLE SIZE: alpha=.05, beta=.10, to detect a 10% difference, 70 subjects in each group. The sampling recruitment was randomised to the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: an intervention protocol with oral and written information using a published guide on the safety, risks and benefits of haemotherapy for the IG, and an equivalent one on general health topics for the CG. DEPENDENT VARIABLES: pre- and post-anxiety state; Spielberger's validated questionnaire: STAI. Satisfaction, by an ad hoc questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical variables: description, reason for transfusion, prescription knowledge, incidents, records. RESULTS: There was a total of 144 subjects, 73 (50.69%) in the IG, and 71 (49.31%) in the CG. The mean age was 55.80 years, with 56.94% males, and a first transfusion in 52.08%. Comparability between the IG and the CG was tested and confirmed. The decrease in anxiety after the intervention for the IG was 19.99, compared to 25.48 in CG. The difference was greater than the proposed 10%, and was statistically significant. The preference for information was 98.60% in IG, compared to 43.70% in CG. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis was confirmed; a protocolised nursing educational intervention protocol increased patient satisfaction with nursing care, and decreased patient anxiety, thus preventing complications and providing greater safety to the users.

Comparison of the Sensititre YeastOne colorimetric microdilution panel and the NCCLS broth microdilution method for antifungal susceptibility testing against Candida species.

We evaluated the commercially prepared Sensititre YeastOne colorimetric antifungal panel to determine the susceptibility of 170 Candida spp isolates to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and flucytosine. The NCCLS reference microdilution method (M27-A document) was used as reference method. The YeastOne panel was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. For the colorimetric method, MICs were determined at 24 h of incubation. MICs for the NCCLS reference method were read at 48 h of incubation. The overall agreement within +/-2 dilutions by both methods was calculated against the four antifungal agents. This agreement was 92.9, 68.2, 77.6 and 80% for amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and flucytosine, respectively. Thirteen isolates (7.6%) showed very major discrepancies for fluconazole and 12 (7%) for itraconazole. We found that the reading of MIC with the YeastOne panel was somewhat easier than the reading of reference MIC, although the determination of endpoint was sometimes difficult, especially for azoles, because the trailing effect appeared in a high percentage of isolates.

La efectividad de una intervención enfermera sobre la ansiedad del paciente ante la transfusión de concentrado de hematíes / Effectiveness of a nursing intervention on patient anxiety before transfusion of packed red blood cells

Objetivos: Evaluar la efectividad de una intervención educativa sobre la ansiedad y la satisfacción en pacientes con indicación de transfusión de hematíes. Método Ensayo clínico aleatorizado, controlado, simple ciego, en pacientes con indicación de transfusión de concentrado de hematíes. Tamaño muestralAlfa 0,05, beta 0,10, diferencia a detectar 10%, 70 sujetos en cada grupo. Muestreo por reclutamiento con asignación aleatoria a grupo intervención (GI) y control (GC). Variables independientes: intervención protocolizada en GI mediante información oral y escrita sobre seguridad, riesgos y beneficios de la hemoterapia mediante guía editada; la del GC será equivalente sobre temas de salud general. Variables dependientes: ansiedad-estado preintervención y postintervención; cuestionario validado de Spielberger: STAI. Satisfacción, cuestionario ad hoc. Variables sociodemográficas y clínicas: filiación, motivo de transfusión, conocimiento de la prescripción, incidencias, antecedentes. Resultados Ciento cuarenta y cuatro sujetos, 73 (50,69%) en GI y 71 (49,31%) en GC. Edad media 55,80 años, sexo masculino 56,94%, primera transfusión 52,08%. Comparabilidad entre GI y GC comprobada y ratificada. Tras la intervención la ansiedad disminuyó, siendo en GI de 19,99, frente a 25,48 en GC; la diferencia fue muy superior al 10% propuesto y estadísticamente significativa. La preferencia por la información fue del 98,60% en GI, frente al 43,70% en GC. Conclusiones Se confirma nuestra hipótesis; una intervención educativa enfermera protocolizada aumenta la satisfacción del paciente con los cuidados de enfermería y disminuye su ansiedad, con lo que previene complicaciones y ofrece a los usuarios una mayor seguridad (AU)

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention regarding anxiety and satisfaction in patients requiring a red blood cell transfusion. METHOD: Randomised, controlled, single-blind clinical trial in patients requiring a packed red blood cell transfusion. Sample size: alpha=.05, beta=.10, to detect a 10% difference, 70 subjects in each group. The sampling recruitment was randomised to the intervention group (IG) and the control group (CG). Independent variables: an intervention protocol with oral and written information using a published guide on the safety, risks and benefits of haemotherapy for the IG, and an equivalent one on general health topics for the CG. Dependent variables: pre- and post-anxiety state; Spielberger's validated questionnaire: STAI. Satisfaction, by an ad hoc questionnaire. Sociodemographic and clinical variables: description, reason for transfusion, prescription knowledge, incidents, records .RESULTS: There was a total of 144 subjects, 73 (50.69%) in the IG, and 71 (49.31%) in the CG. The mean age was 55.80 years, with 56.94% males, and a first transfusion in 52.08%. Comparability between the IG and the CG was tested and confirmed. The decrease in anxiety after the intervention for the IG was 19.99, compared to 25.48 in CG. The difference was greater than the proposed 10%, and was statistically significant. The preference for information was 98.60% in IG, compared to 43.70% in CG.CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis was confirmed; a protocolised nursing educational intervention protocol increased patient satisfaction with nursing care, and decreased patient anxiety, thus preventing complications and providing greater safety to the users (AU)