The evidence base of nurse-led family interventions for improving family outcomes in adult critical care settings: A mixed method systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the consequences of a patient's admission to critical care settings, causing families to face more psychosocial issues than in previous years. Thus, nurses and other clinicians need to keep abreast of interventions that support the families of critical care patients. OBJECTIVE: To provide evidence of nurse-led family interventions and their family outcomes in adult critical care settings. DESIGN: A mixed method systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis checklist. DATA SOURCES: The search included both a screen of relevant databases (PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library) and the screening of citations in relevant articles. Studies published in the English language between January 2010 and October 2020 were considered. The final database searches were performed on 20 October 2020. METHODS: Screening and eligibility assessment were conducted using the Rayyan software. Studies describing the family outcomes of nurse-led interventions in adult critical care settings through either qualitative or quantitative methods were included, i.e., the mixed method synthesis permitted the inclusion of either qualitative or quantitative findings. Article quality was evaluated by three authors using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tools. FINDINGS: A total of 15 studies - two trials, eight quasi-experimental studies, four qualitative, and one mixed method met the inclusion criteria. The described interventions were organized into five categories: educational/informational; family involvement in care; diary; communication; and bundled interventions. These categories varied in terms of elements, delivery, and family outcomes. Nurse-led interventions that resulted in small to medium improvements in family outcomes included educational interventions with digital storytelling, a bundled approach, informational nursing interventions, and nurse-driven emotional support. The included studies (n = 2) that investigated family rounds in the ICU reported that this approach did not noticeably influence family outcomes. CONCLUSION: The differences in the intervention elements, tools, and outcomes evaluated in this review reflect the diversity of family needs, and that numerous interventions have already been developed to promote family health in critical care settings. The evidence suggests that interdisciplinary nurse-led family interventions can improve family outcomes. Tweetable abstract: Interprofessional nurse-led family interventions draw on diverse approaches and improve family outcomes in adult critical care settings.

Relationship between health literacy and quality of life among hemodialysis patients, Tehran, Iran, 2019.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease and dialysis are associated with various complications. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the relationship between health literacy and quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis in hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: In this study, a descriptive - correlational study design with 138 sample size was used. Convenience sampling was used to select the study participants. We collected the data on May-September 2019. Data collection was done using the HELIA and KDQOL SF™. RESULTS: In this study, 133 respondents fully completed the questioners. The mean score of health literacy of the respondents was 49.03 (± 22.37) while the average score of quality of life of the respondents in this study was 53.01 (± 14.86). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, patients receiving haemodialysis had insufficient health literacy and a better quality of life. In order to address the health literacy needs of the patients, consideration of continuous health education and assessment in this patient subpopulation could gradually improve their health literacy and quality of life. Health care providers such as nurses could improve Health Literacy and substantially Quality of Life through interventions aimed at determining existing literacy needs in the long and short term treatment course for individual dialysis patients.

The relationship between health literacy and quality of life among hemodialysis patients: An integrative review.

BACKGROUND: Various studies have highlighted the correlates to health literacy and quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis therapy. However, evidence of how these two outcomes could influence each other is not clear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the correlation between health literacy and quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis. METHODS: This is an integrative review of correlational studies. This study conforms to the preferred reporting items for integrative reviews described by Whitemore and Knafl. We search for studies reporting on the correlation of health literacy and quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis in six databases, that is PubMed, Web of Science/Knowledge, Scopus and Embase, Google Scholar and Ovid MEDLINE. RESULTS: In this review five studies were included after screening them against the inclusion criteria. Two studies were identified from Iran, and one study was identified each from Australia, Turkey, and the USA. Most studies were descriptive comparative in nature, while two studies were experimental. Shayan's study had the highest number of participants. This study reports on 1,063 patients receiving dialysis. Most studies were conducted at different centers. Findings from three studies showed that there was a significant relationship between health literacy and quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: There is a relationship between health literacy and quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis. Conclusively, addressing health literacy may improve the quality of life among patients receiving hemodialysis.

Family members' experiences in adult intensive care units: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Admission to Intensive Care Units (ICU) exposures family members to a new environment, advanced monitoring systems and aggressive treatments. This is coupled with the critical condition of the patient being admitted in ICU. In such times of stress and crisis, families have varying experiences as they navigate the ICU journey. These happen more or less in chronological phases. AIM: This review sought to describe the experiences of family members of patients admitted in adult ICUs. DATA SOURCES: Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched, using keywords and free-text words. METHODS: Curation of the review question involved problem identification, a scoping search, developing a search strategy, evaluation, data analysis, and reporting. Freehand search in reference lists of eligible articles was also done to obtain potentially eligible articles published in English language between 2007 and 2018. Studies were included if they reported on family members' experiences in adult ICUs. This review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). RESULTS: Upon completion of the screening process, 28 studies were included. Most studies were conducted in the United States while no study was identified from Africa. We report on 717 family members. Family members' experience of the ICU journey falls into three main themes: (i) Floating, (ii) Probing and (iii) Continuity or Closure. CONCLUSION: As healthcare technology advances, the ICU environment consequently needs to evolve. As such, healthcare providers will need to adjust their practice, support and consider the patients' family as the other part of the patient and members of the care team in order to meet their expectations. Further research highlighting family members' experience of the ICU journey in Africa is needed.

Factors associated with treatment outcome of acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis among patients less than 18 years in Mekelle City, Public Hospitals, North Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess factors associated treatment outcomes of acute post streptococcal glomerular nephritis among patients less than 18 years old in Mekelle City Public Hospitals. RESULTS: About 334 medical records c of children with acute post streptococcal glomerular nephritis were revised during the study period. Of these 244 (73.1%) had a positive outcome. acute post streptococcal glomerular nephritis was found to be statically significant associated with age < 5 years, duration of infection, the source of infection and length of stay in Hospital.