Implementation of Nurse Prescriptions throughout the Public Health System in Catalonia (2021-2022).

BACKGROUND: Nurses in Catalonia have always prescribed health advice, health products, and medication in line with the professional competency of the discipline. Legislation about nurse prescriptions and the implementation of nurse prescribing varies widely among different countries. This article reports data regarding nurse prescribing in Catalonia in 2021 and 2022. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal study analyzed data from all care-providing units in Catalonia's integrated public health system. RESULTS: The number of nurse prescriptions increased from 139,435 in 2021 to 573,822 in 2022, and the number of nurses issuing prescriptions increased from 3604 in 2021 to 5563 in 2022. The proportion of prescriptions for different products was similar in the two years analyzed. Prescriptions for medication increased by 7.5% in 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse prescribing is a recent advance in Catalonia. Despite some difficulties in rollout, the data indicate that this practice is becoming consolidated, as in other European countries.

Exploring nurses' experiences: Abandoning the profession and migrating for improved opportunities.

AIM: This study explores nurses' experiences in migration for employment and professional abandonment in Barcelona (Spain). METHODS: Employing a mixed-design approach comprising 1) a qualitative descriptive phenomenological study, followed by 2) a subsequent cross-sectional study, 20 and 225 nurses participated in each study, respectively. Qualitative data, gathered through 4 focus group discussions, underwent inductive thematic analysis, following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines, while quantitative data were descriptively analyzed. FINDINGS: Three qualitative themes emerged: 1) Migration motives, such as improved job opportunities, permanent contracts, continuous training, and professional recognition; 2) Reasons for leaving or contemplating leaving the profession, including excessive workload, lack of recognition, limited development, and exhaustion; 3) Nurses' needs, encompassing more staffing, improved remuneration, permanent contracts, flexible schedules, greater autonomy, and career growth. The cross-sectional study revealed a 13.5 % professional abandonment rate at some point across all demographics and seniority levels. Migration trends varied by professional experience, with younger nurses seeking better conditions and opportunities elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS: Multifactorial causes underlie job migration and professional abandonment, necessitating comprehensive interventions to improve nurses' working and professional conditions.

[Shortage of nurses in Spain: from the global case to particular situation. SESPAS Report 2024]. / Escasez de enfermeras en España: del caso global a la situación particular. Informe SESPAS 2024.

The nursing shortage is a multi-causal phenomenon that affects all countries and currently a global concern. The shortage of nurses jeopardizes the sustainability of health systems and the population health outcomes. Spain has historically had no difficulties in attracting new generations of nurses. The shortage of nurses is caused by the precarious working conditions and lack of professional development that have led to episodes of high international migration and abandonment of the profession. In this paper we focus on the evolution of different indicators of the working conditions of non-specialist nurses, who make up the bulk of the profession. These indicators allow us to analyse the abandonment of the profession, the duration of contracts, their full-time or part-time dedication and the excessive hiring. We have analysed the effect of COVID-19 and the labour reform on these indicators. COVID-19 reduced the abandonment of the profession and is currently at its lowest level, it has also accelerated the need to improve working conditions by increasing the percentage of permanent contracts and reducing the multiplicity of contracts in the same month. The labour reform has helped reduce the percentage of temporary contracts until reaching around 80% of the total contracts, and has reduced the number of nurses in Spain with more than one contract in the same month to below 3000 nurses on a sustained basis.

Conflictos éticos en los cuidados de Enfermería durante la pandemia por COVID-19 / Ethical conflicts in Nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objetivos: el objetivo principal fue identificar los conflictos éticos con los que se encontraron las/os enfermeras/os durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en España en el ámbito profesional.Método: se realizó un estudio cualitativo mediante etnografía para acercarse a la experiencia vivida por las/os enfermeras/os trabajando en España durante la primera ola de la pandemia COVID-19. Se empleó un muestreo intencional para seleccionar a 33 participantes, a quienes se contactó para llevar a cabo entrevistas no estructuradas por vía telemática. El análisis de los datos se efectuó mediante un enfoque temático que involucró la identificación de unidades de significado y la generación de códigos.Resultados: participaron 29 enfermeras/os, mayoritariamente mujeres trabajadoras en un hospital. Se identificaron tres conflictos éticos principales. El primero se relacionó con la “Priorización por edad: conflicto en el tratamiento equitativo”, que surgió debido a la limitación de recursos y la toma de decisiones difíciles. El segundo conflicto se denominó “Morir en soledad: conflicto con el trato humano del paciente”, ya que los familiares no podían acompañar a sus allegados al final de sus vidas por las restricciones de visita. El tercer conflicto fue “Cuidar con (in)seguridad: conflicto de poner al paciente, la enfermera y la familia en riesgo”, relacionado con la escasez de material de protección, lo que generó temor a posibles contagios tanto en el ámbito profesional como familiar.Conclusiones: la identificación de estos conflictos éticos subraya la necesidad de reorientar la ética del cuidado en salud para futuras pandemias por parte de los gestores de centros sanitarios. (AU)

Objective: the main objective was to identify the ethical conflicts faced by Nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain in their professional setting.Method: a qualitative study was conducted through ethnography in order to approach the experience lived by Nursing professionals working in Spain during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Intentional sampling was used to select 33 participants, who were contacted to participate in non-structured online interviews. Data analysis was conducted with a thematic approach which involved the identification of units of meaning and the generation of codes.Results: the study included 29 Nursing professionals, mostly women, working at a hospital. Three main ethical conflicts were identified. The first was related to “Prioritization by age: conflict in equitable treatment”, which came up due to limited resources and difficult decision making. The second conflict was called “Dying alone: a conflict with the humane treatment of patients”, because relatives could not accompany patients at the end of their lives due to visiting restrictions. The third conflict was: “Care with (in)security: the conflict of putting patients, nurses and relatives at risk”, associated with the lack of protection materials, which generated fear of potential contagion both in the professional and the family setting.Conclusion: the identification of these ethical conflicts underlines the need to redirect the ethics of healthcare for future pandemics by health center managers. (AU)

Experiences of Telenursing in Overcoming Challenges and Applaying Strategies by COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation: Qualitative Study in Primary Care.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant increase in the use of telenursing to provide care for patients at home. However, the quality of the patient experience when nurses rely on technology instead of personal contact has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to understand the perspectives of COVID-19 patients in home isolation who received telenursing from primary care nurses during the initial phase of the pandemic. A qualitative study was conducted that employed purposive sampling and involved semi-structured interviews via videoconference with fourteen COVID-19 patients from two primary health centers in Catalonia (Spain). Thematic analysis was used, and the study adhered to the COREQ checklist. The findings revealed three themes related to the challenges faced by COVID-19 patients in home isolation: physical symptoms, emotional and social difficulties, and a lack of information. Three themes emerged regarding the strategies patients employed to overcome these challenges and the role of nurses: self-care, emotional support, and personal commitment. The patients reported having achieved strategies to improve their physical, psychological, and situational well-being despite the unprecedented situation. The study highlights that telenursing is a valuable resource for delivering patient-centered care, which could lead to changes in organisational policies and the development of best clinical practices.

Experiences of Spanish nurses in the rollout of nurse prescribing: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Nurse prescribing has legal recognition in Spain, after a long regulatory process, with confusing, changing legislation that does not fully coincide with the reality of nurses' practice. There is currently no research available on how nurses have experienced the rollout of nurse prescribing. The objective of this study is to describe the experiences of nurses in the rollout of nurse prescribing in the province of Barcelona, Spain. Method: A descriptive qualitative study with intentional sampling was carried out between March 2021 and July 2022. The data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and discussion groups. The participants were 24 nurses working in the province of Barcelona who were accredited in nurse prescribing or involved in the rollout of nurse prescribing. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis, following Braun and Clark. The COREQ checklist was used to report findings. Results: We describe nurses' responses on the following themes: internal and external barriers; strategies to support nurse prescribing in the initial rollout and proposals for improvement; and factors linked to nurses' satisfaction. Discussion: The regulatory process has provided a safety framework for nurse prescribing. Strategies are needed for its comprehensive development and its acceptance among the public. The findings give visibility to nurse prescribing internationally.

Fanny Bré in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939): The meaning of nursing care in the international brigades.

Fanny Bré was a volunteer nurse in the International Brigades, who fought in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) on the side of the democratically elected Republican government. The objective of this study is to understand the relationship between Bré's antifascist ideas, her conception of care and the activities she carried out in the Spanish hospitals of Casa Roja (Murcia), Villa Paz (Selices, Cuenca) and Vic (Barcelona). We use narrative biography to describe Bré's personal, political and professional trajectory. To do so, we conducted a content analysis of primary sources archived in Spain, Russia and France and secondary sources that emerged from a thorough literature review. We identified three thematic axes: (1) a concept of nursing in the service of the antifascist struggle, (2) nursing activity for high-quality care and (3) political action for improving hospital organisation and care. The interest of Bré's texts transcends the war in Spain because, in them, Bré questions the neutrality of care by revealing that care can itself be a political act.

Education on Vaccination Competence: an Intensive Course for Skillful Health Science Students.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most successful and cost-effective interventions for public health. Studies have shown that health professionals who have good knowledge and positive attitudes towards vaccination are more likely to provide effective vaccination protection to people, including themselves. Therefore, health science students must acquire evidence-based knowledge during their education to meet the challenges of healthcare. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and feedback of health science students who participated in the Educating Vaccination Competence (EDUVAC) Intensive Course. Methods: A five-day Intensive Course was implemented for health science students, which included a pre-assignment. The EDUVAC Intensive Course used different teaching methods (lectures, workshops, interactive games, discussions), group work, study visits, and cultural programs to encourage students' motivation. For the purpose of the study, students filled out an online questionnaire after giving informed consent. Results: Sample consisted of 31 health science students from five European Higher Institutions. They had very good knowledge on most knowledge questions. In the post measurement it was significantly greater and equal to 81%, p<0.001. Almost all students (93.5%) totally agreed that "It is important for adults to receive all recommended vaccines according to national guidelines". The statement "I have had an active attitude and participation in the Intensive Course" received 80.6% total agreement. Over 90.3% rated the Intensive Course as "excellent" or "above average". Conclusions: After completing the EDUVAC Intensive Course, students felt confident in their vaccination knowledge and skills, which benefited their professional development.

Defining competencies for nurse anaesthetists: A Delphi study.

AIM: To define the competencies of nurse anaesthetists in the hospitals of Catalonia on the basis of their clinical practice through a consensus-building process. DESIGN: We used the Delphi method to determine consensus among a group of 16 nurse anaesthetists. METHODS: Between February and June 2020, we administered a questionnaire of 142 questions distributed among seven domains: expert, communicator, collaborator, manager, health advocate, scholar and professional. Two rounds were conducted. RESULTS: In round 1, 18 competencies were discarded and nine had inconclusive results. Eighteen competencies were proposed by participants. The nine competencies with inconclusive results and the 18 newly proposed competencies were considered in round 2. In round 2, three of these 27 competencies tested were discarded, and consensus was reached on the other 24. CONCLUSION: Health education and the empowerment of the patient and family are fundamental pillars in the practice of nurse anaesthetists in Spain, especially in pre-anaesthetic assessment and pain care. These areas of practice can help define competencies in other countries where the profession of nurse anaesthetist is less developed. IMPACT: The lack of regulation of the competencies of nurse anaesthetists leads to great variability in training and practice. The results can help in their standardization in Spain and in other countries lacking regulation. Our approach can also help policymakers and hospital administrators in health systems that are undergoing the process of regulation. The regulation of the competencies of nurse anaesthetists will allow them to contribute their expertise to the health-illness continuum, increasing safety and improving the quality of care.

Confidence in a Vaccine against COVID-19 among Registered Nurses in Barcelona, Spain across Two Time Periods.

OBJECTIVE: To report the vaccine hesitancy (VH) for a vaccine against COVID-19 in registered nurses in Barcelona, with measurements taken at two stages, prior to the vaccination campaign and once 75% vaccination coverage had been reached. METHODS: A self-completed online survey was administered in December 2020 and again in July 2021 through the College of Nurses of Barcelona. It measured the prevalence of VH against a government-approved vaccine recommended by their employer, their intention to be vaccinated, perceptions of disease risk and vaccine protection, attitudes and beliefs to vaccination and social norm. Bivariate analysis according to VH and application time are presented. RESULTS: 2430 valid responses were obtained in the first measurement and 2027 in the second. At both times, 86% were women and 69% worked mainly in the public sector. Prior to the vaccine availability, VH was 34.2%, decreasing to 17.9%. Risk perceptions were significantly lower in those with VH compared to non-VH, in all groups studied and at both times, while safety and efficacy perceptions increased in all groups, significantly less in VH. The greatest benefit of the COVID-19 vaccine is perceived by pharmaceutical companies. VH nurses perceived a more hesitant social environment. CONCLUSION: As the vaccination was rolled out, VH in nurses declined, with time improving the confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. Risk perceptions also decreased over time, except for the perception of severity in HCW where it increased. Trust in institutions impacts trust in vaccines.

High hiring rate of nurses in Catalonia and the rest of Spain hides precarious employment from 2010 to 2019: A quantitative study.

AIM: This study aims to describe the hiring of nurses in Catalonia and the rest of Spain over 10 years. BACKGROUND: Precarious employment (PE) has negative consequences for nurses' quality of life and work performance. METHODS: Quantitative study using a retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive design. We analysed publicly available employment data from Catalonia and the rest of Spain. RESULTS: Nurses are among the health professionals with the lowest proportion of open-term (permanent) contracts, 25% during the first 4 years of employment. During the study period, each nurse hired had an average of 3.44 contracts per year. The proportion of nurses with a fixed-term (non-permanent) contract shrank from 25.3% in 2006 to 20.5% in 2012 and grew rapidly to 38.7% in 2018. We estimate that 14,800 nurses signed fixed-term contracts in 2018 without ever having registered as unemployed in nursing. CONCLUSION: High rates of fixed-term hiring and the high number of contracts per nurse are evidence of a high level of PE for nurses in Catalonia. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: When policymakers and workforce planners design recruitment and retention programmes for nurses, they should consider improving working conditions by extending more open-term contracts to combat PE and, indirectly, the shortage of nurses.

Psychological Distress, Burnout, and Academic Performance in First Year College Students.

BACKGROUND: The first years of university can be very challenging for students. Previous research has focused on the study of the prevalence of burnout and of psychological distress in medical students. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of psychological symptoms and burnout reported by first-year students, the relationship between these variables and their academic performance, and the differences between health and non-health sciences students. METHODS: An observational study with a cross-sectional design was performed. Students of health sciences (medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, psychology), and non-health sciences (biology, social sciences, business management, and engineering) undergraduate programs completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS). Students' grades for the first semester were collected. RESULTS: A sample of 506 students participated. Prevalence of psychological distress was 27.1% and burnout was 7.3%. Academic performance was unaffected in relation to either psychological distress or burnout. Non-health sciences students showed a greater risk of depression. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of the high prevalence of psychological distress in the first year of college. Even when burnout prevalence was low, the results suggest the need to introduce prevention programs to improve the psychological wellbeing of these students.

The attitudes of mental health nurses that support a positive therapeutic relationship: The perspective of people diagnosed with BPD.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Some nurses develop positive relationships with people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD), while others have negative emotional reactions to people diagnosed with this disorder. The therapeutic relationship is key in the practice of mental health nursing. Enhanced knowledge of BPD allows mental health nurses to develop improved self-awareness, knowledge and understanding of the individuals and insight into the therapeutic challenges, which can improve attitudes towards people with this diagnosis. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: We are lacking knowledge about the perspective of people diagnosed with BPD on the attitudes of mental health nurses that facilitate a positive therapeutic relationship. The perspective of people with a BPD diagnosis on the therapeutic relationship offers key information about the attitudes that they credit with supporting their recovery. The participants-people diagnosed with BPD-perceived that the following attitudes of mental health nurses reinforced the therapeutic relationship: confidence in the person's recovery, non-judgement, sense of humour, availability and humanity. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The study highlights mental health nurses' attitudes that participants perceived as having a positive effect on the therapeutic relationship. The recognition among people diagnosed with BPD of the constructive attitudes of mental health nurses may improve nurses' motivation to improve care for these patients. This study will allow mental health nurses to increase their awareness of the importance of attitude in the therapeutic relationship with people diagnosed with BPD. ABSTRACT: Introduction The therapeutic relationship between mental health nurses and people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) is essential to successful treatment, and nurses' attitudes are a key component of this relationship. Some nurses develop positive therapeutic relationships with people diagnosed with BPD, while others have negative emotional reactions which in turn limit their ability to develop a positive therapeutic relationship. There is a gap in the literature with respect to how people diagnosed with BPD perceive the attitudes of mental health nurses that foster a positive therapeutic relationship. Aim To describe how people diagnosed with BPD who have experienced an improvement perceive the role of the attitudes of mental health nurses in building a positive therapeutic relationship. Method Qualitative descriptive design with 12 interviews; thematic content analysis. Results Participants identified five attitudes of mental health nurses as contributing to a positive therapeutic relationship: confidence in their ability to recover, non-judgement, humour, availability and humanity. Discussion Nurses' attitudes are key to the therapeutic relationship. It may be possible for nurses to improve their attitudes towards patients diagnosed with BPD through self-reflection. Implications for practice Mental health nurses should incorporate methods that explore attitudes and attitudinal development of the workforce.

Spanish nurses' experiences with personal protective equipment and perceptions of risk of contagion from COVID-19: A qualitative rapid appraisal.

AIMS AND OBJETIVES: Explore nurses' experiences and perception of risk regarding the use of personal protective equipment during the first wave of the pandemic in Spain. BACKGROUND: The contribution of our study is to use qualitative methods to understand nurses' experiences and perceptions of the risk of the contagion linked to the shortage of PPE during the first wave of the pandemic, whose explosive start strained health systems around the globe. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive design according to the Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal model. METHODS: Semi-structured videoconference interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of 29 nurses including staff nurses, nursing supervisors and nursing directors from hospital and community services of the Spanish health system. Interviews lasted 30-45 min and were conducted in May 2020. We carried out a thematic analysis using Dedoose. The COREQ checklist was used to report findings. RESULTS: We identified the following themes and subthemes: 1. Experiences with personal protective equipment: scarcity, inequality, reutilization, self-protection, delegation of responsibility, and gap between protocols and reality; 2. Perception of the risk of contagion: lack of credibility, lack of trust, lack of support, and meeting subjective needs. CONCLUSIONS: The scarcity of personal protective equipment and inequality in its distribution led nurses to take initiatives to feel more protected. Mid-ranking supervisors were caught between the responsibility of monitoring and rationing personal protective equipment and providing the necessary protection to nurses. The disjuncture between protocols and the available supply of personal protective equipment caused confusion. Lack of credibility, lack of trust and lack of support from management influenced participants' perception of the risk of contagion. Mid-ranking supervisors were often responsible for trying to alleviate fear among nursing staff. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Understanding the factors involved in risk perception can be helpful to decision-makers who help protect nurses in clinical practice. These results can help administrators and policymakers because they point to the need for nurses to feel that their departments and centers look after their safety at work. Transparent communication and emotional support may contribute to their well-being in the face of risk.

Alcohol Use and Sexual Violence among Nursing Students in Catalonia, Spain: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: Sexual violence (SV) has become common in universities for reasons related to unwanted social/peer pressures regarding alcohol/drug use and sexual activities. Objectives: To identify perceptions of SV and alcohol use and estimate prevalence among nursing students in Catalonia, Spain. (2) Methods: Observational descriptive cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of nursing students attending public universities. (3) Results: We recruited 686 students (86.11% women), who reported as follows: 68.7% had consumed alcohol, 65.6% had been drunk at least once in the previous year, 62.65% had experienced blackouts and 25.55% had felt pressured to consume alcohol. Drunkenness and blackouts were related (p < 0.000). Of the 15.6% of respondents who had experienced SV, 47.7% experienced SV while under the influence of alcohol and were insufficiently alert to stop what was happening, while 3.06% reported rape. SV was more likely to be experienced by women (OR: 2.770; CI 95%: 1.229-6.242; p = 0.014), individuals reporting a drunk episode in the previous year (OR: 2.839; 95% CI: 1.551-5.197; p = 0.001) and individuals pressured to consume alcohol (OR: 2.091; 95% CI: 1.332-3.281; p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Nursing instructors need to raise student awareness of both the effects of alcohol use and SV, so as to equip these future health professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to deal with SV among young people.

Emotion management and stereotypes about emotions among male nurses: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing requires a high load of emotional labour. The link between nursing, emotional labour and the female sex, complicates the figure of the male nurse, because masculinity is associated with physical or technical (rather than emotional) and moreover is defined in contrast to femininity. Our objective was to understand how emotion management is described by male nurses who work in the paediatrics department of a Spanish tertiary hospital. METHODS: Qualitative descriptive study. The participants were selected through intentional sampling in the paediatrics department of a Spanish tertiary hospital. We conducted semi-structured interviews until reaching data saturation. We carried out a content analysis, using Lincoln and Guba's definition of scientific rigour. RESULTS: We identified two key themes in the data: 1) Stereotypes related to the emotional aspects of care: Participants took for granted some gender stereotypes while questioning others and defended alternative ways of managing emotions related to care. 2) Emotion management strategies: Participants described keeping an emotional distance, setting boundaries, relativising problems and using distraction and humour. DISCUSSION: Nursing care is conditioned by gender roles and stereotypes that present men as less capable than women of feeling and managing emotions. However, emotion management is necessary in nursing care-especially in paediatrics-and our participants reported using strategies for it. Although participants continued to interpret care in terms of traditional roles, they contradicted them in adapting to the emotional labour that their job requires. CONCLUSIONS: New behaviours are emerging among male nurses, in which care and emotion management are not exclusively the purview of women. Our participants reproduced some gender stereotypes while disrupting others, and they tended to cling to the stereotypes that were favourable to them as male nurses. As we work towards a gender-neutral profession, these results represent a first step: male participants reported that they provide care and manage their emotions as well as (or better than) women. However, because they substantiated their claims by drawing on negative stereotypes of women, further progress must be made.

Front-line nurses' responses to organisational changes during the COVID-19 in Spain: A qualitative rapid appraisal.

AIMS: To identify the organisational changes faced by front-line nurses working with COVID-19 patients during the first wave and describe how they responded to these changes. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the provision of care and the management of health care around the world. Evolving information about SARS-CoV-2 meant that health care facilities had to be reorganised continually, causing stress and anxiety for nurses. METHODS: Qualitative study based on Rapid Research Evaluation and Appraisal (RREAL). The research took place in hospital and community health settings of the Spanish national health system with a purposive sampling of 23 front-line nurses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between May and June 2020. The duration was 30-45 min per interview. We used the Dedoose® data analysis software to perform a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Nurses responded to organisational changes using the following strategies: improvisation, adaptation and learning. CONCLUSION: Our rapid approach allowed us to record how nurses responded to changing organisation, information that is easily lost in a disaster such as the COVID-19. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Knowing about their strategies can help planning for future health disasters, including subsequent waves of the COVID-19.

Trends of multimorbidity in 15 European countries: a population-based study in community-dwelling adults aged 50 and over.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this work was to analyse the prevalence trends of multimorbidity among European community-dwelling adults. METHODS: A temporal series study based on waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) was conducted, and community-dwelling participants aged 50+ (n = 274,614) from 15 European countries were selected for the period 2004-2017. Prevalence, adjusted by age, Average Annual Percentage Change (APC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were all calculated. Trend analyses were realised by period, age groups and groups of diseases. RESULTS: The results showed a large variability in the prevalence of multimorbidity in adults aged 50 and over among European countries. Increase in the prevalence of multimorbidity in the countries of central Europe (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany and Switzerland) and Spain in both sexes, and in the Netherlands among men. Stability was observed in northern and eastern European countries. Musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative groups showed more significant changes in the trend analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This information can be useful for policy makers when planning health promotion and prevention policies addressing modifiable risk factors in health.

Borderline personality disorder in a community setting: service users' experiences of the therapeutic relationship with mental health nurses.

People with borderline personality disorder (BPD) suffer from severe symptoms and crises that put their lives at risk. BPD's symptoms make it difficult for nurses to establish good therapeutic relationships with people who suffer from it, thus hindering their recovery and contributing to stigma. We explored the experiences of people with BPD who were under the care of mental health nurses at a community mental health centre and who reported a reduction in distress. Our goal was to identify the actions and psychotherapeutic factors of the therapeutic relationship that people with BPD considered to be useful in their recovery. Our qualitative approach made it possible for us to learn about individual experiences and meanings and describe the perception of participants. Our sample included 12 participants. Data consisted of qualitative interviews with all participants and nursing records for six of the participants. We conducted an inductive thematic content analysis, resulting in a hierarchical system of subthemes and themes. We found that participants considered the following psychotherapeutic actions to be useful in recovery: learning about the disorder, building trust, and being empowered through validation.

Understanding the Challenges of Induction of Lactation and Relactation for Non-Gestating Spanish Mothers.

BACKGROUND: Induced lactation and relactation are the processes that enable breastfeeding in non-gestating mothers. RESEARCH AIM: The aim of this study was to describe and interpret the challenges faced by mothers who undergo induced breastfeeding and relactation for adopted infants, infants born via surrogacy, and infants born to same-sex female partners. METHODS: A qualitative study was performed using in-depth interviews conducted with Spanish women (N = 9) who had decided to undergo induced lactation or relactation. The data were collected between October 2014 and May 2017. The length of the study was due to the difficulty in locating and recruiting the sample. Interviews were transcribed and coded with the ATLAS.ti v.7.5.7 software. We performed a deductive thematic analysis, creating categories based on the interview questions, which we developed on the basis of previous literature about induced lactation and relactation. RESULTS: Participants described the following challenges: the physical hardships of the process; breastfeeding problems; difficulty with accessing information about induced lactation or relactation; and lack of support from health professionals. Breastfeeding periods lasted from 1.5 months to 4 years. Participants reported that breastfeeding increased the closeness between the mother and child and that this feeling of closeness tended to decrease after breastfeeding cessation. CONCLUSION: We offer data and analysis that can improve our understanding of the lived experiences of women undergoing the process of relactation or induced lactation and may help guide intervention strategies to support women in this situation.