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Anteayer Journal of Advanced Nursing

The meaning of preparedness for informal caregivers of older adults: A concept analysis

Abstract

Aim

To examine the concept of preparedness over time in research with informal caregivers of older adults.

Design

Concept analysis.

Methods

Rodgers' evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to guide this theoretical paper due to the dynamic nature of preparedness, which is influenced by both context and time. Using Rodgers' inductive approach, concept elements were derived from a content analysis of included studies. In the final step, to generate hypotheses and implications regarding the concept, the conceptual structure of preparedness of informal caregivers of older adults was connected to a theoretical problem in the nursing discipline using the Caregiving Stress Process Framework.

Data Sources

Four databases (EBSCO CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid PsycINFO and Scopus) were searched in November 2022 and updated in September 2023. No date limits were set for searching, as the intent was to analyse possible variations of the concept over time.

Results

The attributes of preparedness include self-confidence, having knowledge, skills and abilities to perform daily tasks, handling emotions and developed over time. These attributes can be compared with the stressors outlined in the Caregiving Stress Process Framework (i.e., the moment the caregiver identifies some ‘stressor’; something that prevents them from feeling confident in their preparedness).

Conclusion

The concept of preparedness of informal caregivers of older adults is defined as caregiver's self-confidence about their current competence related to the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform daily tasks, and to handle emotions over time. To link the concept to a theoretical perspective, we propose adaptations to a well-known theory, the Caregiving Stress Process Framework. Future research on caregiving preparedness needs to avoid circular definitions and work with the attributes of preparedness to support caregivers.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

This paper contributes to the development of interventions that focus on the health and preparedness of informal caregivers of older adults. Clarifying the concept of preparedness helps nurses to support caregivers since it is then known which aspects are included in the preparedness of caregivers (e.g., daily tasks and handling emotions). A more fulsome understanding of preparedness supports us to see beyond stressors of caregiving.

Impact

This study addresses informal caregivers of older adults' preparedness to provide care. We synthesized existing definitions that have been used in research with this population to propose a robust conceptualization of the concept of preparedness, which contributes to better understanding of how preparedness can be supported.

Reporting Method

We were unable to locate a reporting method related to this kind of work (concept analysis).

Patient or Public Contribution

Not applicable as no new data generated.

Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) in an outpatient oncology surgery setting to securely email, collect, and manage survey data

Abstract

Background

Nursing interventions in the post-operative time period including psychological and emotional support, adverse event education, and instructions for follow-up care contribute patient satisfaction, safety, and quality of life. However, the time spent in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and hospital continues to shorten around the world to reduce health care spending and improve patient outcomes. Nurses conducting research during the important post-operative recovery period need to utilize unique techniques and emerging technologies to contact, recruit and collect data outside of the hospital setting including the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) platform.

Aims

This paper describes the feasibility and acceptability, facilitators and barriers of the software application, REDCap, to complete a repeated-measures, descriptive correlational study in patients undergoing outpatient breast cancer surgeries.

Methods & Materials

The recruitment, data collection and storage were completed utilizing the secure REDCap Platform. The Institutional Research Board (IRB)-approved study was a repeated-measures, descriptive, correlational study with data collection at three time points. The data points aligned with important transitions and routine visits to improve data collection feasibility and increase relevance to clinical practice.

Results

The sample consisted of women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing breast conserving surgery between August 15 and October 15, 2020. There were 123 potential participants, of which 76 started the surveys and 75 participated (61%) responded and participated in the study on Post-operative Day 1. Fifty-nine participants (78%) completed the surveys on post-operative Day 14.

Discussion

As the frequency of outpatient treatment increases, nurses conducting post-operative research will need to collect the data outside of the hospital setting.

Conclusion

Email provides a method of studying new phenomena by recruiting participants, providing information about the study, and collecting results in a non-traditional setting. REDCap provides a method to facilitate nursing research through a securely encrypted integrated process.

Parental presence, participation, and engagement in paediatric hospital care: A conceptual delineation

Abstract

Aim

To delineate between the concepts of parental presence, participation, and engagement in paediatric hospital care.

Design

The concepts' uses in the literature were analysed to determine attributes, influences, and relationships.

Methods

Delineations of each concept are established and conceptual definitions are proposed following Morses' methods.

Data Sources

MEDLINE (PubMed); CINAHL, PsycINFO, Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCOhost); Embase, Scopus (Elsevier); Google Scholar. Search dates October 2021, February 2023.

Results

Multinational publications dated 1991–2023 revealed these concepts represent a range of parental behaviours, beliefs, and actions, which are not always perceptible to nurses, but which are important in family-integrated care delivery. Parental presence is the state of a parent being physically and/or emotionally with their child. Parental participation reflects parents' performing caregiving activities with or without nurses. Parental engagement is a parents' state of emotional involvement in their child's health and the ways they act on their child's behalf.

Conclusion

These concepts' manifestations are important to parental role attainment but may be inadequately understood and considered by healthcare providers.

Implications

Nurses have influence over parents' parental presence, participation, and engagement in their child's care but need support from healthcare institutions to ensure equitable family-integrated care delivery.

Impact

Problem: Lack of clear definition among these concepts results in incomplete and at times inequitable family-integrated care delivery. Findings: Parental presence is an antecedent to parental participation, and parental presence and participation are elements of parental engagement. The concepts interact to influence one another. Impact: Hospitalized children, their families, nurses, and researchers will benefit through a better understanding of the concepts' attributes, interactions, and implications for enhanced family-integrated care delivery.

Perceived barriers and facilitators to preventing hospital‐acquired pressure injury in paediatrics: A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Aim

This qualitative study aimed to identify nurses' and allied health professionals' perceptions and experiences of providing hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) prevention in a paediatric tertiary hospital in Australia, as well as understand the perceived barriers and facilitators to preventing HAPI.

Design

A qualitative, exploratory study of hospital professionals was undertaken using semi-structured interviews between February 2022 and January 2023.

Methods

Two frameworks, the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM-B) and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), were used to give both theoretical and pragmatic guidance. Participants included 19 nursing and allied health professionals and data analysis was informed by the framework approach.

Results

Analysis revealed nine core themes regarding professionals' beliefs about the barriers and facilitators to HAPI prevention practices across seven TDF domains. Themes included HAPI prevention skills and education, family-centred care, automated feedback and prompts, allocation and access to equipment, everybody's responsibility, prioritizing patients and clinical demands, organizational expectations and support, integrating theory and reality in practice and emotional influence.

Conclusion

These findings provide valuable insights into the barriers and facilitators that impact paediatric HAPI prevention and can help identify and implement strategies to enhance evidence-based prevention care and prevent HAPI in paediatric settings.

Impact

Overcoming barriers through evidence-based interventions is essential to reduce HAPI cases, improve patient outcomes, and cut healthcare costs. The findings have practical implications, informing policy and practice for improved preventive measures, education, and staffing in paediatric care, ultimately benefiting patient well-being and reducing HAPIs.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution. The focus of the study is on healthcare professionals and their perspectives and experiences in preventing HAPIs in paediatric patients. Therefore, the involvement of patients or the public was not deemed necessary for achieving the specific research objectives.

Compassion in health professionals: Development and validation of the Capacity for Compassion Scale

Abstract

Background

Health professionals witness pain and suffering when they care for sick people and their families. Compassion is a necessary quality in their work as it combines the will to help, alleviate suffering and promote the well-being of both the people they are attending and the professionals themselves. The aim of the study was to design and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Capacity for Compassion Scale (CCS).

Design

A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale (reliability, temporal stability, content validity, criterion validity and construct validity).

Methods

The study was carried out in two phases: pilot study and final validation. The data were collected between April and May 2022. The sample was selected by convenience sampling and was made up of a total of 264 participants, 59 in the pilot phase and 205 in the final validation.

Results

The Capacity for Compassion Scale has been shown to have good psychometric properties in relation to reliability, temporal stability, and content, criterion, and construct validity. Factor analysis showed that there were four subdimensions of the scale: motivation/commitment, presence, shared humanity and self-compassion. The results also indicate that compassionate ability is significantly correlated with age and work experience.

Conclusions

The Capacity for Compassion Scale shows adequate psychometric properties. This instrument measures the compassion capacity of health professionals, which is a valuable discovery for new lines of research in this field.

Impact

Through this scale, low levels of capacity for compassion can be detected that negatively influence the quality of care provided by health professionals. The Capacity for Compassion Scale can therefore contribute to the identification of needs and promote training around compassion for health professionals.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

What Problem did the Study Address?

Compassion in health professionals has positive effects on improving the quality of care, the satisfaction of professionals and the work environment. There are compassion cultivation programmes whose validity has been proven for the development of the dimensions of compassion. There is no specific instrument that measures capacity for compassion in healthcare professionals.

What were the Main Findings?

A scale is designed to measure capacity for compassion in health professionals. This is the only such scale available up until now. The scale measures four dimensions of compassion: motivation/commitment, presence, shared humanity and self-compassion.

Where and on Whom will the Research Have an Impact?

The development of specific programmes that can increase the compassion of health professionals with all the benefits that this can bring to health care is encouraged. It will be possible to analyse the effects of training programmes on the cultivation of compassion.

Exploring home births in Catalonia (Spain): A cross‐sectional study of women's experiences and influencing factors

Abstract

Aim

The study explores the experiences of women with low-risk pregnancies and no complications who planned a home birth.

Design

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire.

Methods

The questionnaire included socio-demographic, obstetric and perinatal variables. Birth satisfaction was evaluated via the Spanish version of the childbirth experience questionnaire. The study group comprised home-birthing women in Catalonia, Spain. Data were collected from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.

Results

A total of 236 women responded. They reported generally positive experiences, with professional support and involvement being the most highly rated dimensions. Better childbirth experiences were associated with labour lasting less than 12 h, no perineal injuries, no intrapartum transfers to hospital, euthocic delivery and the presence of a midwife.

Conclusions

Women's positive home birth experiences were linked to active participation and midwife support. Multiparous women felt safer. Medical interventions, especially transfers to hospitals, reduced satisfaction, highlighting the need for improved care during home births.

Implications for the Profession and Patient Care

Home births should be included among the birthplace options offered by public health services, given the extremely positive feedback reported by women who gave birth at home.

Impact

Home birth is not an option offered under Catalonia's public health system only as a private service. The experience of home-birthing women is unknown. This study shows a very positive birth experience due to greater participation and midwife support. The results help stakeholders assess home birth's public health inclusion and understand valued factors, supporting home-birthing women.

Reporting Method

The study followed the STROBE checklist guidelines for cross-sectional studies.

Public Contribution

Women who planned a home birth participated in the pilot test to validate the instrument, and their contributions were collected by the lead researcher. The questionnaire gathered the participants' email addresses, and a commitment was made to disseminate the study's results through this means.

Phenomenography: A useful methodology for midwifery research

Abstract

Aims

To outline the theoretical, philosophical, and major assumptions associated with phenomenography and then address the application of a phenomenographical approach within the context of midwifery research.

Background

Phenemonography is a little-known qualitative research approach amongst the main design traditions of phenomenology, grounded theory, case study, and ethnography more typically used within midwifery research. Phenomenography aims to describe the qualitatively different ways that people perceive, conceptualize, or experience a phenomenon. Phenemonography has a distinctly different approach from other qualitative methods as it places emphasis on the ‘collective’ meaning over individual experience.

Methodology

Phenomenography, as an approach, rests within the interpretivist paradigm recognizing that there are multiple interpretations of reality. Phenomenography emphasizes the various ways that people experience the same phenomenon, including both the similarities and differences. The second-order perspective embraced by phenomenography suggests that the researcher directs themselves towards people's understanding of the world; essentially the world is described as it is understood rather than as it is. It is the reporting about how these different realities appear at a collective level that is the output of phenomenographic research.

Findings

A framework for conducting phenomenographic research is illustrated by outlining the steps within the methodological approach required to undertake a research study using phenemonography.

Conclusion

Phenomenography is a qualitative research approach that can usefully be applied in many midwifery contexts where a collective understanding of a phenomena is required. Using a phenomenographic approach can provide the midwifery profession with knowledge about variations in how women and midwives think, and how aspects of different phenomena are experienced in within a midwifery setting.

Women's experiences of online antenatal education: An integrative literature review

Abstract

Aim

To identify what is currently known about how women experience online antenatal education.

Design

Integrative literature review.

Review Methods

This integrative review applied the five-stage methodological framework outlined by Whittemore and Knafl (2005), supporting rigour in problem identification, selection and critical appraisal of quality literature, data analysis and synthesis of findings.

Data Sources

A literature search was conducted in May/June 2022, utilizing databases including OVID Embase, CINAHL, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP database, Nursing and Allied Health database, Wiley Online Library, Google scholar search engine and related reference lists. The search was limited to English language and primary research articles published in the last 10-year period (2012–2022).

Results

12 articles met inclusion criteria. Three primary themes were identified: Comprehensibility: Looking back – understanding women's needs and preferences; Manageability: In the moment – flexibility versus social connection; and Meaningfulness & sustainability: Looking forward – the future of digital maternity education.

Conclusion

Findings identified a marked digital divide for women accessing online antenatal education, placing vulnerable women at risk of continuing inequity. E-health literacy frameworks need to be implemented to create genuine accessibility, comprehensibility and cultural responsiveness to best meet the needs of users.

Implications for the Profession and/or Health Care Consumer

As digital health is an emerging field, there is strong evidence that online antenatal education requires further evaluation to better meet the needs of pregnant women and their support people. Enhancing digital health literacy for health professionals will also promote a greater understanding for how to uphold and support the socio-technical dimensions of online service delivery.

Patient or Public Contribution

There were no patient or public contributions as part of this integrative review of the literature.

Nursing students' and educators' perspectives on sustainability and climate change: An integrative review

Abstract

Aim

To identify and synthesize research on the awareness, attitudes and action related to sustainability and climate change from the perspective of nursing students and educators globally.

Design

Integrative review.

Methods

The review was guided by Whittemore and Knafl. Included studies were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A deductive content analysis based on Elo and Kyngäs' methodology was employed.

Data Sources

CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, British Education Index, GreenFILE and Scopus were searched up to the 8th November 2022.

Results

Thirty-two studies were included in the review. Two studies included nursing educators in their samples, the rest focused solely on students. Findings suggest that whilst some students were aware of sustainability issues and felt that nurses have a responsibility to mitigate climate change, others showed limited awareness and believed that nurses have more important priorities. A global interest was seen among students for increased curricular content related to sustainability and climate change. Waste management and education of others were suggested actions students can take; however, barriers included lack of confidence and limited power.

Conclusion

There is a need for sustainability education within nursing curricula, accompanied by student support.

Implications for the Profession

The review acts as a starting point to make sustainable healthcare and climate change mitigation integral aspects of nursing.

Impact

Sustainability education within nursing curricula can positively impact on sustainable healthcare and climate change mitigation. More research is needed on the perspectives of nursing educators.

Reporting Method

The review is reported according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.

The potential of structured active play for social and personal development in preschoolers during cancer treatment: A qualitative RePlay study

Abstract

Aim

To explore the potential of a structured active play intervention to promote social and personal development in preschoolers during cancer treatment.

Design

A hermeneutic-phenomenological inspired explorative study.

Methods

Participant observations were conducted on 15 consecutively sampled children (aged 1–5 years) from April 2021 to April 2022. Observations were written as narrative scenic descriptions from field notes and were analysed inspired by hermeneutic-phenomenological analysis and using a thematic analysis structure.

Results

Observations were carried out during 67 group or individual structured active play sessions, resulting in 129 scenic descriptions. Observations of the children's emotional, verbal and bodily expressions and social interactions resulted in three main themes: (1) wanting to play, (2) gaining confidence in movement and (3) being part of a group. The findings showed how children, irrespective of age and the severity of their illness, wanted to play and expressed joy of movement. The children's daily physical state fluctuated and influenced their motivation to participate as well as their confidence in their physical abilities. Through structured active play and with support from their parents and healthcare professionals, the children had successful movement experiences and regained confidence in movement, supporting their personal development. Playing together with other children and accompanied by their parents, healthcare professionals supported the children's opportunities to practice social skills, such as turn-taking, waiting and taking charge. Familiarity, recognizability and fun were key motivational components for the children.

Conclusion

Participating in structured active play during treatment has the potential to promote personal and social development in preschoolers with cancer. Parents play a crucial role in supporting the participation of their children.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The healthcare system and healthcare professionals should provide opportunities for preschoolers with cancer and other illnesses to participate in structured active play.

Impact

What problem did the study address? Cancer treatment affects the development of preschoolers’ gross motor-, personal and social skills—essential skills in childhood development. This study aimed to explore the potential for social and personal development through structured active play. What were the main findings? This study found that preschoolers want to play, and participating in structured active play can support their personal and social development through regained confidence in movement and becoming part of a group. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? The research impacts healthcare professionals working with preschoolers in the healthcare system. Creating opportunities for preschoolers to participate in structured active play throughout treatment can promote personal and social development.

Reporting Method

The study adheres to relevant EQUATOR guidelines and is reported according to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist.

Patient or Public Contribution

Participants in this study were preschoolers with cancer and their parents. No public or patient involvement in the design of this study.

Trial and Protocol Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04672681. Registered on December 17, 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04672681.

‘Hearing silences’: Exploring culturally safe transitional care: A qualitative study among Turkish‐speaking migrant frail older adults

Abstract

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the experiences and transitional care needs of Turkish frail older adults living in the UK and determine how this information can be utilized to improve the provision of culturally sensitive care during the transitional period.

Design

Qualitative descriptive research with semi-structured individual interviews.

Methods

“The ‘Silences’ Framework guided the research design, from conceptualizing the research question to structuring the report of final outputs. For this study, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen older adults living with frailty and five family caregivers between January and May of 2023 in the United Kingdom.

Results

Major themes that were identified included: (i) information and communication, (ii) care and support, (iii) the role of culture and (iv) trust and satisfaction. Further analysis, through discussion and immersion in the data, revealed that care transition periods were presented alongside three phases of transitional care: pre-transition (during hospitalization), early-transition (the period between discharge and the 7th day after discharge) and late transition (the period between the 8th day and 12th month after discharge).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that the communication and informational needs of frail older individuals change during the transition period. While Turkish older adults and family caregivers expressed satisfaction with healthcare services in the UK, many struggled due to a lack of knowledge on how to access them.

Impact

The support of family caregivers is a crucial component in facilitating transitional care for frail older patients, as they help in accessing healthcare services and using technological devices or platforms. It should be noted that family caregivers often hold the same level of authority as their elderly Turkish counterparts.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

A survey of Indonesian nurses' educational experiences and self‐perceived capability to care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Aims

To describe Indonesian nurses' educational experience regarding care for people with intellectual disability and/or autism and to explore if these educational experiences are associated with their self-perceived confidence, comfort, knowledge and preparedness to care for these cohorts.

Design

Cross-sectional descriptive survey.

Methods

A descriptive survey tool utilized in a study of Australian registered nurses was replicated and adapted for this study. Following descriptive analysis, chi-square analyses were undertaken to explore associations between educational experiences, and self-rated measures of confidence, comfort and knowledge to work with people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Although there was no end-user involvement in the design of the study, the concepts explored have all been raised by those with lived insights of intellectual disability and/or autism as being critical to their healthcare experiences.

Results

There were 544 complete responses, and 51.7% were not exposed to any educational or clinical content relevant to caring for people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Moderate to low levels of self-perceived confidence, comfort, knowledge and preparedness to address healthcare needs of these cohorts were reported. Significant associations were identified between educational and clinical experiences during undergraduate training, and higher levels of self-perceived confidence, comfort and knowledge.

Conclusion

Mirroring international literature, the findings of this study highlight a large proportion of Indonesian nurses had little educational experience relevant to caring for people with intellectual disability and/or autism, and have relatively low levels of self-reported capability.

Impact

This study highlights gaps in the educational experiences, and self-perceived confidence, comfort, knowledge and preparedness of Indonesian nurses regarding caring for people with intellectual disability and/or autism. Given that internationally, people with intellectual disability and/or autism have disproportionately negative health outcomes and experiences, these findings have substantial implications for nursing curriculum, policy and professional development.

Care call requests and inpatient beds modernization: Is there any link? A prospective observational study in the oncological setting

Abstract

Aim

The study aims to analyse the principal causes of patients' care calls and compare differences before and after inpatient beds' technological modernization in a surgical breast oncological ward.

Design

A prospective observational study was conducted under the STROBE guidelines. Data were collected from June to September 2022.

Methods

Statistical analyses were performed to compare each reason for care calls, by shifts and pre and post-inpatient bed modernization.

Results

Two thousand five hundred and fifty-nine care request calls were analysed during the 202 observed shifts. The most frequent reason was related to the requests for positions.

Conclusion

Technological modernization of the beds has not led to effective—positive—changes; on the contrary, it seems at first glance to show an upward trend in calls above all in the short period after the changes.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care

What problem did the study address? By analysing the principal causes of care calls and comparing the differences before and after inpatient beds' technological modernization, this study evaluates if inpatient gear or device modernization can impact care call requests. What were the main findings? The results show that the most frequent reasons for care calls were position, possession and other. These findings seem not superimposable; the hypothesis supported by the international literature in which the causes relating to potty and pain were found among the main reasons. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? These results could impact the care organizational area in nursing care and could improve care quality, patient satisfaction and safety.

Reporting Method

This prospective observational study was conducted following STROBE guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

After adequate information (presentation, design methods and objectives), all unit healthcare staff agreed to collaborate in the study.

Firearms and post‐separation abuse: Providing context behind the data on firearms and intimate partner violence

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study is to provide insight from maternal survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) describing their experiences with their ex-partners' firearm ownership, access, storage and behaviours in the context of co-parenting and separation.

Design

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study informed by the IPV and Coparenting Model.

Methods

The analytic sample consists of self-identified maternal survivors (n = 14) who completed semi-structured qualitative interviews between January and May 2023 describing experiences of post-separation abuse. Participants were recruited through social media and domestic violence advocacy and legal aid organizations. In the interview guide, participants were asked one item about firearm exposure: Have you or your children had any experiences with guns and your ex-partner that made you or your children feel scared? Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Interview transcripts were managed and coded in ATLAS.ti using a codebook. Codes were applied using descriptive content analysis, discrepancies reconciled and themes related to firearm exposure in the context of post-separation abuse identified.

Results

Six themes emerged related to firearm experiences and post-separation abuse: (1) gun ownership (2) gun access; (3) unsafe storage; (4) direct and symbolic threats; (5) involving the children; (6) survivors' protective actions.

Conclusion

This manuscript provides context on how abusive ex-partners' firearm ownership, access and threats cause terror and pervasive fear for mothers and children following separation. Analysis of qualitative data provides important insights into opportunities to address firearm injury prevention.

Impact

Findings add to the contextual understanding of how survivors of IPV experience non-fatal firearm abuse. Existing quantitative data may not capture the full extent of fear caused by perpetrators' gun ownership access and symbolic threats. Data from this study can help inform firearm injury prevention efforts.

Patient or Public Contribution

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank the individuals who helped in cognitive testing of the interview guide prior to conducting interviews with participants, including (3) survivors of post-separation abuse. The authors would also like to acknowledge domestic violence advocates and those individuals who helped with recruitment and connected us with participants. Importantly, with deep gratitude, the authors would like to thank the participants who generously shared their time and stories with us.

Remote and technology‐mediated working during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative exploration of the experiences of nurses working in general practice (the GenCo Study)

Abstract

Aim

To explore how nurses working in general practice experienced remote and technology-mediated working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Exploratory qualitative study with nursing team members working in general practices in England and national nurse leaders.

Methods

Data were collected between April and August 2022. Forty participants took part in either semi-structured interviews or focus groups. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis informed by the PERCS (Planning and Evaluating Remote Consultation Services) Framework. University of York ethics approval [HSRGC/2021/458/I] and Health Research Authority approval were obtained [IRAS:30353. Protocol number: R23982. Ref 21/HRA/5132. CPMS: 51834]. The study was funded by The General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust.

Results

Participants continued to deliver a significant proportion of patient care in-person. However, remote and technology-mediated care could meet patients' needs and broaden access in some circumstances. When remote and technology-mediated working were used this was often part of a blended model which was expected to continue. This could support some workforce issues, but also increase workload. Participants did not always have access to remote technology and were not involved in decision-making about what was used and how this was implemented. They rarely used video consultations, which were not seen to add value in comparison to telephone consultations. Some participants expressed concern that care had become more transactional than therapeutic and there were potential safety risks.

Conclusion

The study explored how nurses working in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic engaged with remote and technology-mediated working. It identifies specific issues of access to technology, workload, hybrid working, disruption to therapeutic relationships, safety risks and lack of involvement in decision-making. Changes were implemented quickly with little strategic input from nurses. There is now an opportunity to reflect and build on what has been learned in relation to remote and technology-mediated working to ensure the future development of safe and effective nursing care in general practice.

Impact

The paper contributes to understanding of remote and technology-mediated working by nurses working in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicates to employers and policy makers how this can be supported moving forward.

Reporting method

Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (O'Brien et al., 2014).

Patient or public contribution

This was a workforce study so there was no patient or public contribution.

Implications for the profession and patient care

The paper highlights specific issues which have implications for the development of remote, technology-mediated and blended working for nurses in general practice, care quality and patient safety. These require full attention to ensure the future development of safe and effective nursing care in general practice moving forward.

Optimization of solid oral dosage form administration to patients with swallowing difficulties: An integrative review

Abstract

Aim

To appraise and synthesize research investigating optimizing the administration of solid oral dosage forms (SODFs) to adults with swallowing difficulties.

Design

An integrative review.

Methods

An electronic search was conducted on Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Public Medline interface), Elsevier SciVerse Scopus and Scientific Electronic Library Online (updated February 2023). Restriction regarding the publication date was not considered for the inclusion of records. Studies addressing risks, general aspects, recommendations about patient postural adjustments, swallowing techniques, swallowing aids and aspects of concealment of SODFs were included.

Results

Fifty-three records published between 2002 and 2021 were included. The main administration risks were aspiration, asphyxia and solid oral dosage form-induced oral/oesophageal mucosal lesions. The most frequent general aspect reported was administering one oral dosage form at a time. The sitting position was the most patient postural adjustment mentioned. The most frequently reported solid oral dosage form swallowing technique was the lean-forward method for capsules. Solid oral dosage form swallowing aids cited: tongue and throat lubricant and solid oral dosage form coating device, swallowing cup and swallowing straw.

Conclusion

The literature data on administering SODFs for adults with swallowing difficulties were appraised and synthesized. Some aspects, for example, not administering SODFs simultaneously, can make swallowing safer. Postural adjustments and solid oral dosage form swallowing aids are important to avoid administration risks. Swallowing SODFs can be easier if learned by techniques. Liquid and food are helpful as vehicles, and several of these have been listed.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

By optimizing the contributing factors of administering oral pharmacotherapy, the nurse can use appropriate practices to improve patient safety. Additionally, knowing and establishing the administration aspects are reasonable steps for standardizing care for patients with swallowing oral dosage form difficulties.

Impact

This study addressed administering SODFs to adult patients with swallowing difficulties. The administration of SODFs to adult patients with swallowing difficulties can be optimized if only one oral dosage form at a time is administrated and if patient postural adjustments, swallowing techniques and swallowing aids are used. This investigation will impact the care of patients with swallowing difficulties.

Reporting Method

The authors declare they adhered to the relevant EQUATOR guidelines and report following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Statement.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

The well‐being of nurses working in general practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study (The GenCo Study)

Abstract

Aim

Exploration of experiences of nurses working in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate the impact on nurses' professional well-being.

Design

An exploratory qualitative study comprised of case studies of three general practice sites in England and a nationwide interview study of nurses working in general practice and nurse leaders. The study was funded by The General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust. University of York ethics approval (HSRGC/2021/458/I) and Health Research Authority approval was obtained (IRAS: 30353, Protocol number: R23982, Ref 21/HRA/5132, CPMS: 51834).

Methods

Forty participants took part. Case site data consisted of interviews/focus groups and national data consisted of semi-structured interviews. Data collection took place between April and August 2022. Analysis was underpinned by West et al.'s The courage of compassion. Supporting nurses and midwives to deliver high-quality care, The King's fund, 2020 ABC framework of nurses' core work well-being needs.

Findings

The majority of participants experienced challenges to their professional well-being contributed to by lack of recognition, feeling undervalued and lack of involvement in higher-level decision-making. Some participants displayed burnout and stress. Structural and cultural issues contributed to this and many experiences pre-dated, but were exacerbated by, the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

By mapping findings to the ABC framework, we highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of nurses working in general practice and contributing workplace factors. The issues identified have implications for retention and for the future of nursing in general practice. The study highlights how this professional group can be supported in the future.

Impact

The study contributes to our understanding of the experiences of nurses working in general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Findings have implications for this skilled and experienced workforce, for retention of nurses in general practice, the sustainability of the profession more broadly and care quality and patient safety.

Reporting Method

Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (O'Brien et al. in Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 89(9), 1245–1251, 2014).

Patient or Public Contribution

As this was a workforce study there was no patient or public contribution.

The role of psychosocial factors and biological sex on rural Thai adolescents' drinking intention and behaviours: A structural equation model

Abstract

Aims

To examine the contributions of psychosocial factors (attitude towards drinking, perceived drinking norms [PDNs], perceived behavioural control [PBC]), and biological sex on drinking intention and behaviours among rural Thai adolescents.

Design

A cross-sectional study design.

Methods

In 2022, stratified by sex and grade, we randomly selected 474 rural Thai adolescents (M age = 14.5 years; SD = 0.92; 50.6% male) from eight public district schools in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modelling with the weighted least square mean and variance adjusted was used for data analysis.

Results

All adolescents' psychosocial factors contributed significantly to the prediction of drinking intention, which subsequently influenced their drinking onset, current drinking and binge drinking pattern in the past 30 days. PDNs emerged as the strongest psychosocial predictor of drinking intention, followed by PBC. Rural adolescents' drinking intention significantly mediated the relationship between all psychosocial factors and drinking behaviours either fully or partially. The path coefficient between drinking attitude and drinking intention was significantly different between males and females.

Conclusion

Different from previous studies focus on adolescents' drinking attitude, rural Thai adolescents' PDNs play a significant role on their drinking intention and subsequently their drinking onset and patterns. This nuanced understanding supports a paradigm shift to target adolescents' perceived drinking norms as a means to delay their drinking onset and problematic drinking behaviours.

Impact

Higher levels of perceived drinking norms significantly led to the increase in drinking intention among adolescents. Minimizing adolescents' perceptions of favourable drinking norms and promoting their capacity to resist drinking, especially due to peer pressure, are recommended for nursing roles as essential components of health education campaigns and future efforts to prevent underage drinking.

Patient or Public Contribution

In this study, there was no public or patient involvement.

Cluster analysis of heart failure patients based on their psychological and physical symptoms and predictive analysis of cluster membership

Abstract

Aim

Patients with heart failure experience multiple co-occurring symptoms that lower their quality of life and increase hospitalization and mortality rates. So far, no heart failure symptom cluster study recruited patients from community settings or focused on symptoms predicting most clinical outcomes. Considering physical and psychological symptoms together allows understanding how they burden patients in different combinations. Moreover, studies predicting symptom cluster membership using variables other than symptoms are lacking. We aimed to (a) cluster heart failure patients based on physical and psychological symptoms and (b) predict symptom cluster membership using sociodemographic/clinical variables.

Design

Secondary analysis of MOTIVATE-HF trial, which recruited 510 heart failure patients from a hospital, an outpatient and a community setting in Italy.

Methods

Cluster analysis was performed based on the two scores of the Hospital Anxiety-Depression scale and two scores of the Heart-Failure Somatic Perception Scale predicting most clinical outcomes. ANOVA and chi-square test were used to compare patients' characteristics among clusters. For the predictive analysis, we split the data into a training set and a test set and trained three classification models on the former to predict patients' symptom cluster membership based on 11 clinical/sociodemographic variables. Permutation analysis investigated which variables best predicted cluster membership.

Results

Four clusters were identified based on the intensity and combination of psychological and physical symptoms: mixed distress (high psychological, low physical symptoms), high distress, low distress and moderate distress. Clinical and sociodemographic differences were found among clusters. NYHA-class (New York Heart Association) and sleep quality were the most important variables in predicting symptom cluster membership.

Conclusions

These results can support the development of tailored symptom management intervention and the investigation of symptom clusters' effect on patient outcomes. The promising results of the predictive analysis suggest that such benefits may be obtained even when direct access to symptoms-related data is absent.

Implications

These results may be particularly useful to clinicians, patients and researchers because they highlight the importance of addressing clusters of symptoms, instead of individual symptoms, to facilitate symptom detection and management. Knowing which variables best predict symptom cluster membership can allow to obtain such benefits even when direct access to symptoms-data is absent.

Impact

Four clusters of heart failure patients characterized by different intensity and combination of psychological and physical symptoms were identified. NYHA class and sleep quality appeared important variables in predicting symptom cluster membership.

Reporting Method

The authors have adhered to the EQUATOR guidelines STROBE to report observational cross-sectional studies.

Patient or Public Contribution

Patients were included only for collecting their data.

The role of perceived organizational support for nurses' ability to handle and resolve ethical value conflicts: A mixed methods study

Abstract

Aim

To explore if and how nurses' perceived organizational support affects their ability to handle and resolve ethical value conflicts.

Design

A mixed methods design with a longitudinal questionnaire survey and focus group interviews.

Methods

A questionnaire survey in six hospitals in two Swedish regions provided data from 711 nurses responding twice (November–January 2019/2020 and November–January 2020/2021). A cross-lagged path model tested the mutual prospective influence between the organizational climate of perceived organizational support, frequency of ethical value conflicts, and resulting moral distress. Four focus group interviews were conducted with 21 strategically selected nurses (April–October 2021). Qualitative data collection and analysis were inspired by Grounded Theory.

Results

A climate of perceived organizational support was empowering, contributing to role security. It prospectively decreased the frequency of ethical value conflicts but not the moral distress when conflicts did occur.

Conclusion

It is important to facilitate the development of perceived organizational support among nurses, but also to reduce the occurrence of ethical value conflicts that the nurses cannot resolve.

Implications for the Profession

By ensuring a shared care ideology, good inter-professional relations within the entire care organization, providing clear and supportive organizational structures, and utilizing competence adequately, healthcare managers can facilitate and support the development of perceived organizational support among nurses. Nurses who are empowered by perceived organizational support are stimulated by and take pride in their work and experience the work as meaningful and joyful.

Impact

The study addressed the question of whether healthcare organizations could support nurses to resolving ethical value conflicts, and thus reduce moral distress. Perceived organizational support is related to factors such as ideological caring alignment and supportive organizational preconditions. This study contributes specific knowledge about how healthcare organizations can empower nurses to effectively resolve ethical value conflicts and thereby reduce their moral distress.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.

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