Contributory factors related to patient safety incidence: A nursing perspective

Background: There are growing concerns about patient safety and quality assurance enhancement in the healthcare setting because of the increase in the incidence of patient harm and adverse events over the years. Aim: This study explored the contributory factors associated with patient safety practices. Setting: The study was conducted in two private hospitals in Gauteng province, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative approach was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues pertaining to patient safety incidence. Purposive sampling was used to select professional nurses practicing within the two private hospitals. Thematic analysis was used. The study utilised the Donabedian model of patient safety and quality. Results: The study revealed that majority of the professional nurses did not understand the concept of patient safety; there was poor communication between the multidisciplinary team. There was poor adherence to patient safety policies. Conclusion: Patient safety issues remain an issue of concern in public health. There is a need for nurses to be capacitated on the implementation of patient safety programmes as well as improving communication within the multidisciplinary team. Identifying and addressing risk and contributory factors will help reduce the global burden of patient harm. Contribution: The study has presented the challenges as seen with patient safety and made recommendations on how to improve patient safety from the nursing perspective. It is anticipated that the results of this study may be used to create awareness on patient safety issues. This should promote a good healthcare climate in private healthcare institutions.

Evaluation of psychological pain for cancer patients and analysis of contributory factors / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To evaluate the degree of psychological pain for cancer patients undergoing surgical treatment and analyze the contributory factors to provide the theoretical basis for psychological intervention for cancer patients with surgical treatment. Methods    The clinical data of 455 cancer patients who received surgeries in our hospital from November 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 225 males and 230 females aged 53.80±13.50 years. By applying the method of convenient sampling, a cross-sectional survey was carried out by gathering the general information of the patients and evaluating their mental condition with the distress thermometer. The contributory factors were discussed by logistic regression analysis. Results    The score for the psychological pain of the patients was 4.11±2.49 points. The main factors contributing to the psychological pain were physical problems, emotional problems and family matters. The logistic regression analysis showed that the main factors related to the degree of psychological pain were cancer types (P=0.023), religious belief (P=0.046), number of niduses (P=0.016), respiratory status (P=0.004), medical expense (P=0.007), grief (P=0.001) and anxiety (P=0.040). Conclusion    Nearly half of the patients have been subjected to apparent psychological pain, and emotion and physical problems are the main factors. It is crucial to pay attention to the patients’ mental problems, seek convenient tools for psychological evaluation, and take actions to deal with the psychological problems and physical symptoms.

Carotid atherosclerosis and contributing factors in a population at high risk of stroke / 中华健康管理学杂志

Objective To investigate the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis in a population of permanent residents (age ≥40 years) at high risk of stroke in Xuejiadao Street,Huangdao District,Qingdao City,and to provide a scientific basis for reduction of carotid atherosclerosis in high-risk communities.Methods Using a cluster sampling method,10 007 permanent residents of age ≥40 years were enrolled in the study.Based on data from an early population screening project,1 478 subjects at high risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke were included for analysis.These study subjects were divided into a carotid atherosclerosis risk group and a normal group.General data were recorded,and the results of a physical examination and clinical and biochemical tests were used to analyze risk factors.Results Of 1 478 high-risk subjects aged (58.8± 9.7) years,726 had normal arteries.Of these,264 (36.36％) were males and 462 (63.64％)were females.Carotid atherosclerosis was identified in 752 cases aged (61.4± 9.5) years,with a detection rate of 50.88％.Of these,390 were males (51.86％) and 362 were females (48.14％).Univariate analysis showed that age,male sex,history of heart disease,diabetes,or hypertension,smoking,alcohol intake,waist circumference,and elevated homocysteine and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were positively correlated with carotid atherosclerosis in those at high risk of stroke,while physical exercise showed a negative correlation;these results were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Multiple logistic regression analysis [OR (95％CI)] showed that age [1.621 (1.410-1.865)],male sex [0.474 (0.378-0.594)],history of heart disease [1.336 (1.085-1.645)],diabetes [1.312 (1.021-1.685)],or hypertension [1.408 (1.074-1.846)],and increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [1.444 (1.191-1.751)] were positively correlated with carotid atherosclerosis in those at high risk of stroke,while physical exercise [0.810 (0.690-0.950)] showed a negative correlation;these results were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Targeting elderly men at high risk of stroke for intervention and guidance to manage hypertension,diabetes,and other chronic diseases,as well as comprehensive preventive and control measures,including reasonable physical exercise,can effectively reduce the occurrence of carotid atherosclerosis in communities.