Countries' cultures and professional nursing values: Cross-cultural evidence from Spanish and Colombian nursing students.

This study aimed to identify countries' cultural values associated with the importance given to certain professional nursing values by nursing students from Spain and Colombia. Weis and Schank's Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) in its Spanish version and the Hofstede cultural classification were used for this purpose. The sample was composed of 880 nursing students. Nursing students from both countries showed a greater importance for professional nursing values compared to evidence from other countries. Significant differences were also found in the total score, dimensions, and items, always being higher for Colombian students. Based on regression results, the impact that the academic year had on the importance given to NPVS-R is non-linear (U-inverted). Both groups of students gave the highest importance to the same group of items. Those showing the largest difference in the rankings were associated with country culture differences based on the scores identified by Hofstede. Colombian and Spanish societies present similarities in Power Distance and Uncertainty Avoidance, as well as differences in the other cultural dimensions.

Nursing professional values: validation of a scale in a Spanish context.

PURPOSE: To validate culturally the "Nursing Professional Values Scale: NPVS-R" for use in Spain. METHODS: We used the forward and backward translation method with complementary qualitative methodology. We first formed discussion groups to detect cultural differences, then set up a multidisciplinary group to ascertain the equivalence or discrepancies between the English and Spanish versions and to decide on the final pre-test version. This was used in the pilot test given to 10 second-year nursing students of the School of Nursing of Vitoria, Spain. RESULTS: The majority of the questions were classified as equivalents (23 of 26). Some questions were modified by the discussion group. Following the backward translation and evaluation by the multidisciplinary group, two questions needed small changes and four needed significant changes. The differences were resolved by decentralization. CONCLUSIONS: The resulting Spanish version of the NPVS-R, is culturally and semantically equivalent to the original English version and is appropriate for measuring the perception of nursing professional values in nursing professionals and students in Spain. To verify reliability and validity of the scale, the final version after the pilot test has been passed to 960 nursing diploma students all over Spain.

Experiencia emocional de las cuidadoras informales / Emotional experience of informal carers

Objetivo: explorar qué sienten y piensan las mujeres cuidadoras desus padres diagnosticados de Alzheimer.Metodología: cualitativa a través del estudio de casos. La estrategiade generación de datos fue la entrevista consecutiva en profundidad.Las seis participantes, mujeres cuidadoras de 45 a 55 años, fueronelegidas a través de una selección teórica de informantes clave.La dinámica analítica fue emergente e inductiva aplicando como métodoel análisis de contenidos categorial.Resultados: las mujeres que han participado en el estudio han sidosocializadas en valores colectivistas e individualistas, expresando sentiren diferentes momentos del proceso de cuidar: tristeza, culpa,rabia, miedo y angustia que mantenidas en el tiempo les producíauna sobrecarga física y emocional que viven como asfixiante. Seacompañaba esta situación de manifestaciones como insomnio, fatiga,dolor de espalda, ansiedad e incluso angustia que derivan enprocesos de enfermedad. Además recurrían a la expresión de emocionesen círculos cercanos. La rabia no es bien resuelta cuando elfoco que la desencadena surge dentro de la unidad familiar. La culparesulta difícil de gestionar. Las mujeres pueden poner límites sinllegar a asumir el cuidado como sacrificio.Conclusiones: la cuidadora está sometida a una gran sobrecarga físicay emocional potenciada por valores contrapuestos derivados dedos socializaciones: el individualismo y el colectivismo. En coherenciacon los resultados, las intervenciones profesionales deben teneren cuenta el contexto cultural de las cuidadoras informales

Objective: to explore what women caring for their parents diagnosedwith Alzheimer’s feel and think about their situation.Methodology: qualitative measure through the evaluation of casereports. Data was generated by means of an in-depth consecutiveinterview. The six participants were women aged 45 to 55 who wereselected through a theoretical selection of key informants. Emergingand inductive analytical dynamics were used and a categorical contentanalysis applied.Results: women who took part in the study were socialised intocollectivist and individualistic values and admitted to have felt sadness,guilt, rage, fear and anxiety at different times of the caringprocess. If sustained over time, these emotions could cause physicaland emotional overload which participants perceived as suffocating.This situation was accompanied by manifestations such as insomnia,fatigue, back pain, anxiety or even anguish which may leadto the development of pathological conditions. Furthermore, thesewomen expressed their feelings in their close circle of friends. Rageis not resolved properly when the triggering factor resides withinthe family unit. Guilt is hard to manage. Women can set limits withoutassuming their role as a sacrifice.Conclusions: carers are subjected to an extenuating physical and emotionaloverload enhanced by counterpoised values derived from twosocialisations: individualism and collectivism. In line with the results,professional interventions should take into account the cultural contextof informal carers

Estrategias de Afrontamiento beneficiosas para las mujeres que cuidan de un progenitor con Alzheimer / Coping strategies of women who care for a parent suffering from Alzheimer's disease

Justificación: El cuidado a un mayor con Azheimer supone un cambio importante en las vidas de las mujeres entre 45 y 55 años. Su doble condición de mujer e hija, y compatibilizarlo con una actividad extradoméstica, les sume en una alta exigencia que les lleva a poner en riesgo su salud física y mental. Conocer estas repercusiones nos permitirá dar una mejor atención de enfermería. Objetivo: Desvelar las estrategias e instrumentos que les han servido de ayuda a estas mujeres para afrontar la exigencia del cuidado de un familiar mayor, diagnosticado de Alzheimer, en fase 3-4. Metodología: Es de corte cualitativo utilizando el estudio de casos como método de indagación. La estrategia de generación de datos es la entrevista consecutiva en profundidad. Las seis participantes, mujeres cuidadoras de 45 a 55 años fueron elegidas a través de una selección teórica de informantes clave. La dinámica analítica fue emergente e inductiva aplicando como método el análisis de contenidos categorial. Resultados y conclusiones: Dar respuesta a la actividad laboral y cuidadora les lleva a atravesar situaciones angustiosas ante las que la cuidadora percibe pérdida de control, produciéndoles un alto grado de estrés según ellas mismas expresan. Ante esta situación las cuidadoras han puesto en marcha estrategias cognitivas y conductuales como: la búsqueda de apoyo, la búsqueda de información, la distracción, la resolución de problemas y la reevaluación. Todas estas estrategias de afrontamiento les conduce a una mayor competencia para cuidar del mayor, un mayor control de la situación, una mejor asimilación del proceso y a un mejor ajuste social, en definitiva a un afrontamiento positivo ante esta situación complicada, difícil y estresante

Introduction: Caring for an elderly person with Alzheimer's disease implies a big change in the lives of women aged between 45 and 55. Their dual position as wife and daughter and the need to combine this with work outside the home make heavy demands on them which put their physical and mental health at risk. Aim: To discover the strategies and tools that have helped these women to deal with the implications of caring for a an elderly relative diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease in phase 3-4. Methods: We used a qualitative design and case study as research methods Data were collected with the strategy of in-depth consecutive interviews. The six participants were women carers aged between 45 and 55, chosen through a theoretical selection of key informants. The study uses an emergent, inductive approach applying categorial content analysis Results and conclusions: Responding to the demands of work and caring leads them to suffer distressing situations in which the carer is aware of loss of control and a high degree of stress, as they themselves express it. In the face of this situation the carers have resorted to cognitive and conductual strategies such as the the search for support, information, hobbies, problem-solving and reassessment. All these coping strategies lead to greater competence in caring for the elderly person, more control of the situation, a better acceptance of the process and a better social adjustment. The end result is a positive approach to this complicated, difficult and stressful situation