Kennedy terminal ulcer and other skin wounds at the end of life: An integrative review.

AIMS: To undertake an integrative literature review to identify, analyse and synthesize current literature on the Kennedy terminal ulcer (KTU) and other unavoidable skin injuries that appear at the end of life regardless of the healthcare context in which they occur. METHODS: Integrative review following the Whittemore and Knafl methodology. The search was carried out in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Scopus. It was limited to articles in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. As there is little scientific production on the subject, no restrictions were applied regarding publication date. RESULTS: Only 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. These articles were reviewed and analysed. Four relevant issues emerged: Skin failure, SCALE, Kennedy Terminal Ulcer, Trombley-Brennan: different names for the same problem; the defining characteristics and physiopathology of KTU; the differences between KTU and other injuries; and the care approach for KTU and other unavoidable injuries at the end of life. CONCLUSIONS: We identified gaps regarding the physiopathology of KTU since the current knowledge is based only on hypotheses. There is also a large gap in the knowledge about care approaches, perhaps because care plans are not recorded. Despite this, it is clear that the main objective in this situation at the end of life would be to prioritize patient comfort and quality of life.

Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Spanish Version of the Nursing Outcome "Pain Control" in Primary Care Patients with Chronic Pain.

The control of chronic pain is a major challenge for patients and health care professionals. To culturally adapt the Nursing Outcomes Classification outcome "Pain control" (PC) to the Spanish health care setting and to analyze its psychometric properties and sensitivity to change. A study of three stages was designed: (1) Translation and cultural adaptation by translation-back-translation method, (2) content validation by a group of experts, and (3) observational-longitudinal study in patients with chronic pain. Patient sampling was nonprobabilistic, and participants completed forms and questionnaires and responded to a question on pain. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis, content validity index (for global PC and each indicator), principal component analysis, Spearman's test, Cronbach's α, Cohen's κ coefficient, and Wilcoxon range test. The new Spanish version of "Pain control" was semantically equivalent to the original, with a mean content validity index of 0.96. The clinical study included 88 patients with long-term pain, and the mean (standard deviation) interval between assessments (baseline and final) was 29.33 (8.05) days. Thirteen indicators were organized into two components. There was divergent but not convergent validity with the Change Pain Scale and Brief Pain Inventory. Between-observer agreement was κ = 0.48 and internal consistency was α = 0.85. No differences were found between mean baseline and final scores. The Spanish version of "Pain control," culturally adapted and structured in two components (13 indicators), is useful to assess and monitor pain control in patients with chronic pain.

A Digital Tool for Measuring Healing of Chronic Wounds Treated with an Antioxidant Dressing: A Case Series.

(1) Abstract: Wound monitoring is an essential aspect in the evaluation of wound healing. This can be carried out with the multidimensional tool HELCOS, which develops a quantitative analysis and graphic representation of wound healing evolution via imaging. It compares the area and tissues present in the wound bed. This instrument is used for chronic wounds in which the healing process is altered. This article describes the potential use of this tool to improve the monitoring and follow-up of wounds and presents a case series of various chronic wounds with diverse etiology treated with an antioxidant dressing. (2) Methods: A secondary analysis of data from a case series of wounds treated with an antioxidant dressing and monitored with the HELCOS tool. (3) Results: The HELCOS tool is useful for measuring changes in the wound area and identifying wound bed tissues. In the six cases described in this article, the tool was able to monitor the healing of the wounds treated with the antioxidant dressing. (4) Conclusions: the monitoring of wound healing with this multidimensional HELCOS tool offers new possibilities to facilitate treatment decisions by healthcare professionals.

Drone Applications for Emergency and Urgent Care: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the use of drones in health emergencies has increased. Among their main benefits are avoiding endangering rescuers, travelling long distances in a short time, or contacting victims in risky situations; but despite their multiple advantages, their use has not been fully demonstrated. STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify the available evidence on the use of drones in emergency health care compared to traditional health care. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature was conducted. Search protocols were developed to locate studies that met the established selection criteria. Six experimental or quasi-experimental studies with high methodological quality published from the beginning of indexing until 2020 were included. RESULTS: Drones covered a significantly larger area than other traditional tracking methods and were very useful for performing preliminary triage, determining needs, and knowing the scene prior to the arrival of rescuers. In addition, drones reduced the time required to locate the victim. CONCLUSIONS: Drones are an element to be taken into account when attending health emergencies as they significantly improve the distance travelled to locate accident victims, have the possibility of performing triage prior to the arrival of the health care units, and improve the time and quality of the care provided.

The Role of Antioxidants on Wound Healing: A Review of the Current Evidence.

(1) Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in the preparation of the normal wound healing response. Therefore, a correct balance between low or high levels of ROS is essential. Antioxidant dressings that regulate this balance are a target for new therapies. The purpose of this review is to identify the compounds with antioxidant properties that have been tested for wound healing and to summarize the available evidence on their effects. (2) Methods: A literature search was conducted and included any study that evaluated the effects or mechanisms of antioxidants in the healing process (in vitro, animal models or human studies). (3) Results: Seven compounds with antioxidant activity were identified (Curcumin, N-acetyl cysteine, Chitosan, Gallic Acid, Edaravone, Crocin, Safranal and Quercetin) and 46 studies reporting the effects on the healing process of these antioxidants compounds were included. (4) Conclusions: this review offers a map of the research on some of the antioxidant compounds with potential for use as wound therapies and basic research on redox balance and oxidative stress in the healing process. Curcumin, NAC, quercetin and chitosan are the antioxidant compounds that shown some initial evidence of efficacy, but more research in human is needed.

Validation of the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge questionnaire in nursing students: Rasch analysis. / Validación del cuestionario de Conocimientos sobre prevención de lesiones por presión en estudiantes de Enfermería: análisis Rasch.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to measure the knowledge of nursing students at the University of Jaén about evidence-based recommendation for the prevention of pressure injuries. METHOD: A cross-sectional observational and validation study was carried in 2019, using an online survey. All the students registered on the Nursing Degree programme of the University of Jaén were invited to participate. The psychometric properties of the Pressure Injury Prevention Knowledge questionnaire (PIPK) were tested by a Rasch analysis. With the analysis, the percentage of correct and wrong answers was calculated, the global score and the association with some educational variables. RESULTS: The PIPK questionnaire showed adequate psychometric characteristics (alpha=.89) and good fit to the Rasch model. The average knowledge score on pressure injury prevention obtained was 21.0 (this is 67.7% of the maximum). Higher scores were obtained by the students that had finished some clinical placements; those with more placements; had attended a meeting about pressure injuries and those in a higher year of the programme. CONCLUSIONS: The PIPK questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the knowledge of nursing students about pressure injuries prevention. The nursing students of the University of Jaén obtained a score in the questionnaire higher than 50%.

Development of the Aerial Remote Triage System using drones in mass casualty scenarios: A survey of international experts.

The use of drones for triage in mass-casualty incidents has recently emerged as a promising technology. However, there is no triage system specifically adapted to a remote usage. Our study aimed to develop a remote triage procedure using drones. The research was performed in three stages: literature review, the development of a remote triage algorithm using drones and evaluation of the algorithm by experts. Qualitative synthesis and the calculation of content validity ratios were done to achieve the Aerial Remote Triage System. This algorithm assesses (in this order): major bleeding, walking, consciousness and signs of life; and then classify the injured people into several priority categories: priority 1 (red), priority 2 (yellow), priority 3 (green) and priority * (violet). It includes the possibility to indicate save-living interventions to injured people and bystanders, like the compression of bleeding injuries or the adoption of the recovery position. The Aerial Remote Triage System may be a useful way to perform triage by drone in complex emergencies when it is difficult to access to the scene due to physical, chemical or biological risks.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Nursing Outcome "Pain: Adverse Psychological Response" in Patients With Chronic Pain.

PURPOSE: To culturally adapt into Spanish and validate the outcome "Pain: Adverse psychological response" (code 1306) in patients with chronic pain. METHODS: A three-stage study was conducted: (a) translation and cultural adaptation, (b) content validation, and (c) clinical validation. FINDINGS: The Spanish version of the outcome "Pain: Adverse psychological response" has high content validity ( 0.91). Fourteen indicators were organized into two factors. This version offers good reliability in both inter-observer agreement (kappa = 0.72) and internal consistency (alpha = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish adaptation of "Pain: Adverse psychological response" is a reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of emotional aspects of chronic pain. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The Spanish adaptation of this outcome offers nurses a set of structured indicators to measure the adverse emotional impact of chronic pain.

Antioxidant dressing therapy versus standard wound care in chronic wounds (the REOX study): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A wound that does not heal in the orderly stages of the healing process or does not heal within 3 months is considered a chronic wound. Wound healing is impaired when the wound remains in the inflammatory stage for too long. A range of factors can delay the healing process: imbalance between proteases and protease inhibitors in the wound bed; bacterial colonization and the presence of biofilm; and oxidative stress. Recently, wound management has improved significantly. A new antioxidant dressing has been developed, which combines an absorbent matrix obtained from locust bean gum galactomannan and a hydration solution with curcumin and N-acetylcysteine. This dressing combines the advantages of moist healing in exudate management and free radical neutralization, achieving wound reactivation. The primary aim of this study is to compare the effect of the antioxidant dressing on chronic wound healing against the use of a standard wound dressing in patients with hard-to-heal wounds. METHODS: We will conduct a multicentre, single-blind, randomized controlled trial with parallel groups. Participants will be selected from three primary public health care centres located in Andalucía (southern Spain). Patients will be randomized into an intervention group (antioxidant dressing) or a control group (standard wound dressing). Assessments will be carried out at weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8. Follow-up will be for a period of 8 weeks or until complete healing if this occurs earlier. DISCUSSION: The findings from this study should provide scientific evidence on the efficacy of the antioxidant dressing as an alternative for the treatment of chronic wounds. This study fills some of the gaps in the existing knowledge about patients with hard-to-heal wounds. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03934671. Registered on 2 May 2019.

[Compilation of historical anecdotes about chronic wounds. Well-known people who have suffered from them]. / Anecdotario histórico de las heridas crónicas. Personajes ilustres que las han padecido.

Throughout the course of human history many people have been affected by the presence of chronic wounds. Millions of anonymous people have suffered bed sores, varicose ulcers, arterial ulcers or neuropathic ulcers. But there have been some famous people who, from time to time, remove these lesions from their cloak of invisibility In our day and age, every time a famous person suffers from these wounds, we observe how the means of communication publicize this health problem. However famous people also suffered from these wounds in the past. In this article, the authors will review historical figures who died due to these feared sores. Kings or saints have been affected by this problem. Specifically the authors will focus on six historical figures: three kings, one composer and two saints,; the authors shall analyze the influence of chronic wounds as a cause of their deaths. This article was submitted at the VII National Symposium on Bed Sores and Chronic Wounds and at the First Latin American Congress on Ulcers and Wounds.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Nursing Outcome Knowledge: Pain Management in People with Chronic Pain.

Pain has a major impact on health and quality of life. Since the level of knowledge of painful conditions can influence how these are addressed and managed, assessing this knowledge in patients becomes crucial. As a result, it is necessary to have culturally adapted and validated instruments that specifically measure patients' knowledge of chronic pain management. The objective of this study was to carry out the Spanish cultural adaptation and the validation of the outcome Knowledge: PainManagement of the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) in patients with chronic pain, defined as extent of understanding conveyed about causes, symptoms, and treatment of pain. A three-stage study was designed: 1) translation and cultural adaptation through an expert panel, 2) content validation, 3) clinical validation. This study provides nurses with a Spanish version of this scale adapted to their context, as well as a set of structured indicators to measure patients' knowledge about chronic pain. The results indicated that the culturally adapted Spanish version of the outcome Knowledge: PainManagement had a high level of content validity (CVI = 0.92), with 27 indicators being distributed between two factors. This version has been shown to be reliable in terms of inter-observer agreement (κ = 0.79) and internal consistency (α = 0.95). In conclusion, Knowledge: PainManagement has been shown to be reliable and valid to measure knowledge of chronic pain.

Clinical Validation of the Nursing Outcome "Pain: Disruptive Effects" in People With Chronic Pain in Spain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The measurement of the effects of chronic pain on the patients is a challenge for nurses. The purpose was to translate into Spanish and to assess the psychometrics of the indicators of the nursing outcome "Pain: disruptive effects." METHODS: A three-stage study: (a) translation and cultural adaptation, (b) content validation, (c) clinical validation in 10 healthcare centers. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the outcome "Pain: disruptive effects" has high content validity (CVI = .90) with 17 indicators organized into three factors. The Inter-observer agreement was good (kappa = .66) and the internal consistency high (alpha = .90). CONCLUSIONS: The 17 indicators of the outcome "Pain: disruptive effects" has evidence of reliability and validity for assessing the harmful effects of chronic pain.

[Skin care and prevention of bed sores in bedridden patients]. / Cuidados de la piel y prevención de úlceras por presión en el paciente encamado.

The aging process and environmental aggressions will leave their imprints on the state of a person's skin, possibly compromising some of its functions. Age is a risk factor for the development of bed sores, but not the only factor nor the most important one; therefore, we need to develop prevention programs directed to all patients who spend long periods of time sedentary or bedridden. Prevention programs for bed sores must be based on the best evidence available and include a risk evaluation on these factors: suffering a lesion due to pressure, specific skin treatment, incontinence control, excessive humidity posture changes and the use of special surfaces to manage pressure during an increase in mobility or activity by the patient, local pressure reducing devices as well as paying attention to special situations. All of these care measures have to be developed based on a continuity of treatment among the institutions and caretakers involved with treating each patient.

[Cultural adaptation and content validation of the «Pain level¼ outcome of the Nursing Outcomes Classification]. / Adaptación cultural y validación de contenido del resultado «Nivel del dolor¼ de la Clasificación de Resultados de Enfermería.

AIMS: To translate and culturally adapt the Pain Level outcome to the Spanish context to validate the contents of the Spanish version of the «Pain level¼ outcome. METHOD: The original English version of the «Pain level¼ outcome was translated into Spanish (twice); then back-translated into English, and all the discrepancies were resolved after consulting with NOC authors. A panel consisting of 21 experts in pain care assessed this culturally adapted Spanish version, in order to score the content validity. In the first step, the experts scored the adequacy of each indicator to the concept «Pain level¼. In the second round, three new indicators were scored. The Statistical analysis included content validity index (CVI), probability of agreement by chance, and modified kappa statistic. RESULTS: A Spanish version was developed including label, definition, two groups of indicators, and two measurement scales. This version is fully adapted to the Spanish context and language. A set of 21 indicators (19 translated and two new) was selected, and 4 were deleted (three translated and one new). The CVI-average score was 0.83 and the CVI-universal agreement was 0.05. CONCLUSION: The Spanish-version of the outcome «Pain level¼ is semantically and culturally to adapted to a Spanish context and preserves equivalency with the original. Content validation has identified indicators useful for practice. The clinimetric properties (validity and reliability) of the adapted version could be tested in a clinical study with people suffering from acute pain.

Práctica basada en evidencia en estudiantes de enfermería colombianos / Practice based on evidence from Colombian nursing students / Prática baseada na evidencia de estudantes colombianos de enfermagem

Objetivo. Determinar el nivel de competencias sobre Práctica Basada en Evidencia en estudiantes de un programa de Enfermería de Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Mediante un diseño cuantitativo, descriptivo y correlacional, el estudio se desarrolló en 2 fases. La primera fase consistió en la adaptación cultural y validación de contenido del cuestionario de Competencias en Práctica Basada en la Evidencia (CACH-PBE) al contexto Colombiano; este instrumento valora tres factores: Actitudes, Habilidades y Conocimientos. En la segunda fase se aplicó el cuestionario a una muestra de 291 estudiantes del Programa de Enfermería de una Universidad de Cúcuta, Colombia, durante el primer semestre del 2016. Resultados. Se encontró un promedio de edad de 20 años, de género femenino en su mayoría, el 57,4 % de ellos no tenía ninguna formación previa sobre PBE y el 57.1 % la había recibido en metodología de investigación. La puntuación global de competencia en PBE fue de 3,58 sobre un máximo de 5, destacando la dimensión Actitudes hacia la PBE con mayor puntuación y la dimensión Conocimientos con menor; encontrándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas a mayor medida en que los estudiantes se encontraban en un semestre superior. Conclusiones. Los estudiantes obtuvieron un nivel medio en competencias para la PBE, asociándose un impacto positivo de la formación académica recibida, ya que en los últimos semestres se evidenció mayor puntuación con respecto a los primeros.

Objective: To determine the level of competence regarding Practice Based on Evidence in students of a nursing program in Colombia. Materials and methods: Through a quantitative, descriptive, and correlational design, the study was developed in two phases. The first phase, consisted on the cultural adaptation and validation of the content of the questionnaire of Competitions in Practice Based on Evidence (CACH-PBE) to the Colombian context; this instrument evaluates 3 factors: attitudes, skills, and understanding. In the second phase, the questionnaire was applied to a sample of 291 students of the nursing program of a university in Cucuta­ Colombia during the first semester of 2016. Results: An average age of 20 years was found, mostly females, 57.4% did not have previous training about PBE and 57.1% had received training of PBE in methodology of research. The global score in PBE competence was of 3.58 out of a maximum of 5; highlighting the Attitude dimension toward the PBE with the highest score and the Knowledge dimension with the lowest score; encountering statistically significant differences to a greater extent as the students moved ahead to a higher semester. Conclusions: The students received an average level in competences for the PBE, associating a positive impact with the academic training received, considering that in the last semesters a higher score was evidenced compared to the first ones.

Objetivo. Determinar o nível de competências sobre Prática Baseada na Evidencia (PBE) de estudantes de um curso de Enfermagem na Colômbia. Materiais e métodos. O estudo se desenvolveu em duas fases, através um delineamento quantitativo, descritivo e correlacional, A primeira fase, consistiu na adaptação cultural e validação de conteúdo do questionário de Competências em Prática Baseada na Evidencia (CACH-PBE) no contexto Colombiano; este instrumento valora três fatores: Atitudes, Habilidades e Conhecimentos. Na segunda fase, aplicou-se o questionário a uma amostra de 291 estudantes do Programa de Enfermagem de uma Universidade localizada na cidade de Cúcuta ­ Colômbia, durante o primeiro semestre de 2016. Resultados. Encontrou-se uma média de idade de 20 anos, de género feminino em sua maioria, o 57,4% deles não tinham nenhuma formação previa sobre PBE e o 57,1% a receberam em metodologia da pesquisa. A pontuação global de competência em PBE foi de 3,58 sobre um máximo de 5; destacando a dimensão Atitudes para a PBE com maior pontuação e a dimensão Conhecimentos com menor; encontrando-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas a maior medida em que os estudantes se encontravam num semestre superior. Conclusões. Os estudantes obtiveram um nível médio em competências para a PBE, associando-se um impacto positivo da formação académica recebida, já que nos últimos semestres se evidenciou maior pontuação respeito dos primeiros.

[Reliability of the Nursing Outcome "Knowledge: Health Resources" when used in primary and hospital care]. / Evaluación de la fiabilidad del Resultado de Enfermería «Conocimiento: recursos sanitarios¼ en Atención Primaria y Hospitalaria.

AIMS: To study the reliability (inter-observer agreement and internal consistency) of the Spanish version of the Nursing Outcome "Knowledge: Health Resources" and determine the differences in reliability when used by nurses in two settings: community care and hospital care. METHOD: Reliability study. 12 experienced nurses were paired (community and hospital) to use this nursing outcome questionnaire to assess health service users. Data were obtained by direct interview with 60 patients. Statistical analysis was performed to obtain; weighted kappa index, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The inter-observer agreement on the "Knowledge: Health Resources" outcome in Spanish was measured by weighted Kappa 0.557 (95% CI=0.381-0.733) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.561 (95% CI=0.361-0.712). The indicators showed values ranging from κ=0.268 I to κ=0.507. The internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha=0.854). There were no statistically significant differences in reliability when used in different settings: community care and hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of this nursing outcome has a moderate reliability. A cultural adaptation of this outcome should be made.

Pressure ulcer care in Spain: nurses' knowledge and clinical practice.

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to determine: (a) Spanish nurses' level of knowledge of existing guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, (b) the level of implementation of this knowledge in clinical practice and (c) the professional and educational factors that influence knowledge and practice. BACKGROUND: Improvement in pressure ulcer care depends both on the dissemination of knowledge and on its implementation in clinical practice. Studies carried out in several countries have demonstrated gaps in knowledge about recommendations for pressure ulcer care and deficiencies in their implementation. METHODS: A survey was carried out between September 2001 and June 2002, targeting a cluster randomized sample of 2006 Registered Nurses and Licensed Practice Nurses working at hospitals, primary healthcare centres and elder care centres in Andalusia (Spain). RESULTS: The response rate was 36.9% (n = 740). The level of knowledge of prevention interventions was 79.1%, while that of treatment interventions was 75.9%. The levels of implementation in clinical practice were notably lower: 68.1% for prevention, and 65.3% for treatment. Nurses holding a university degree obtained higher scores, and those who had received specific education in pressure ulcer care obtained higher scores both for knowledge and clinical practice. Taking part in research projects also improved knowledge implementation. CONCLUSION: Although most of the recommendations on pressure ulcer care found in guidelines are well known by nurses, there is a group of interventions about which they have insufficient knowledge and low implementation rates.