[Fatigue, quality of life, and use of healthcare resources in children with complex chronic diseases].

BACKGROUND: The objective was to assess fatigue in children with complex chronic diseases (CCCDs) and analyze its relationship with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, use of healthcare services, and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in CCCDs attended in a tertiary hospital during 2016. Fatigue (PedsFacit-F questionnaire) and quality of life (PedsQL) were determined, and the following variables were registered: use of health resources, disease group, time with disease, and educational level and type of employment of the parents. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the use of healthcare resources. RESULTS: Seventy children were included in this study; mean age 10.5 years (range: 8-17), 41.4% girls, and cancer was the most frequent group disease (28.6%). Annual use of healthcare resources (38.86; SD: 30.73) increased with fatigue (r=-0.292; p=0.015). Higher levels of fatigue were determined for children with cancer (24.9; SD: 10.7) in comparison to other pathologies, while lower levels were found for heart diseases (44.5; SD: 7.9). The QoL perceived by CCCDs (20.6; SD: 16.5) directly correlated (p<0.001) with that of their parents (22.8; SD: 16.8); a correlation with fatigue was seen in both cases (r=0.528 and r= 0.441; p<0.0001). The adjusted effect of higher levels of fatigue (lower scores), lower length of disease duration, and higher level of education of the mother, predicted greater use of healthcare resources. CONCLUSION: CCCDs with higher fatigue levels use healthcare resources more often and perceive a worse QoL. This should be considered when providing care to this population.

Fatiga, calidad de vida y utilización de recursos sanitarios en niñoscon enfermedades crónicas complejas / Fatigue, quality of life and health resource utilisation in children with complex chronic diseases

Fundamento: Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la fatiga en niños con enfermedades crónicas complejas (NECC) y analizar su asociación con características clínicas, sociodemográficas, utilización de servicios de salud y calidad de vida. Material y método: Estudio transversal realizado en NECC atendidos en un hospital terciario durante 2016. Se determinaron la fatiga (cuestionario PedsFacit-F) y la calidad de vida (cuestionario PedsQL), y se recogieron las variables uso de recursos sanitarios, grupo de enfermedad, tiempo con la enfermedad, y nivel de estudios y ocupación profesional de los progenitores. Se elaboró un modelo de regresión múltiple para predecir el uso de recursos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 70 niños, edad media 10,5 años (rango: 8-17), 41,4% niñas; la enfermedad oncológica fue la más frecuente (28,6%). El uso anual de recursos sanitarios (38,86; DE: 30,73) aumentó con la fatiga (r=-0,292; p=0,015). Las enfermedades oncológicas causaron más fatiga (24,9; DE: 10,7) que otras patologías y las cardiológicas menos (44,5; DE: 7,9). La calidad de vida percibida por NECC (20,6; DE: 16,5) correlacionó directa y significativamente (p<0,001) con la de sus progenitores (22,8; DE: 16,8); ambas se correlacionaron con la fatiga (r=0,528 y r=0,441; p<0,0001). El modelo de regresión lineal mostró que el efecto ajustado de mayor fatiga (menor puntuación), menor tiempo con la enfermedad y mayor nivel de estudios de la madre predijeron mayor uso de recursos de salud. Conclusión: Los NECC con mayor fatiga hacen mayor uso de los recursos sanitarios, y perciben una peor calidad de vida, aspectos que deberían tenerse en cuenta a la hora de prestar atención a esta población.(AU)

Background: The objective was to assess fatigue in children with complex chronic diseases (CCCDs) and analyze its relationship with clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, use of health care services, and quality of life (QoL). Methods.: Cross-sectional study carried out in CCCDs attended in atertiary hospital during 2016. Fatigue (PedsFacit-F questionnaire) and quality of life (PedsQL) were determined, and the following variables were registered: use of health resources, disease group, time with disease, and educational level and type of employment of the parents. A multiple regression model was developed to predict the use of healthcare resources. Results: Seventy children were included in this study; mean age 10.5 years (range: 8-17), 41.4% girls, and cancer was the most frequent group disease (28.6%). Annual use of healthcare resources (38.86; SD: 30.73) increased with fatigue (r= -0.292; p= 0.015). High-er levels of fatigue were determined for children with cancer (24.9; SD: 10.7) in comparison to other pathologies, while lower levels were found for heart diseases (44.5; SD: 7.9). The QoL perceived by CCCDs (20.6; SD: 16.5) directly correlated (p <0.001) with that of their parents (22.8; SD: 16.8); a correlation with fatigue was seen in both cases (r= 0.528 and r= 0.441; p <0.0001). The adjusted effect of higher levels of fatigue (lower scores), lower length of diseaseduration, and higher level of education of the mother, predicted greater use of healthcare resources. Conclusion: CCCDs with higher fatigue levels use healthcare resources more often and perceive a worse QoL. This should be con-sidered when providing care to this population.(AU)

Standardized language systems for the design of high-fidelity simulation scenarios: A Delphi study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify which of the standardised Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) activities should be used in the design of clinical cases with high fidelity simulation for educational preparation of undergraduate nursing students in non-technical skills. DESIGN AND METHODS: A three-round Delphi study was carried out: the first round with taxonomy experts, the second round with academic and clinical lecturers with limited experience in the simulation-based learning methodology, and the third round with academic and clinical lecturers having at least two years of simulation experience. The NIC interventions were grouped into two levels of competence in accordance with the undergraduate nursing degree curriculum (1st- and 2nd-year students, the "novice" level; 3rd- and 4th-year students, the "advanced" level). The NIC allows the description of nurse student competencies in multiple clinical scenarios and throughout various contexts: theory, clinical practice and simulation. FINDINGS: The experts identified 163 interventions in 8 areas as relevant and feasible, selecting 42 for the "novice" students, in Nursing Fundamentals (13) and Adult Nursing Care 1 (29), and 97 for the "advanced" students: Maternity Care and Child Health Nursing (18), Mental Health (13), Nursing Care of Older People (12), Community Health Nursing (20) and Adult Nursing Care 2 (34). In addition, 24 interventions were identified as cross-cutting, with training to be provided across all four years of the degree. CONCLUSION: A total of 163 interventions of the NIC list were selected by experts as being both relevant and feasible to nursing undergraduate education. This creates the favourable framework to design high-fidelity scenarios for the training of non-technical skills according to the competences required and in line with the health care reality. Therefore, enabling an optimal combination of theoretical education by academic lecturers with practical training by clinical lecturers and staff nurses.

The dynamic experience of pain in burn patients: A phenomenological study.

Although pain is one of the main sources of suffering during the acute phase and rehabilitation in burn patients, it remains as a major challenge for burn care, and clinical management not always correlates with the experience felt by patients. The aim of this study was to understand the experience of pain from people who has suffered severe burns, to identify personal strategies used to cope with this challenging event. A qualitative phenomenological study with purposive sampling was carried out with severe burn patients admitted to a Burn Unit. Through individual in-depth interviews, verbatim transcription and content analysis, two main categories were isolated: a dynamic and changing experience of pain, from the onset to the hospital discharge, and diverse strategies developed by patients to cope with pain, being distraction the most frequently used. Pain experienced acquires its maximum intensity during wound care, and divergent patients' opinions about sedation are present. This study highlights how understanding subjective experiences is an invaluable aid to improve care in pain assessment and management. Furthermore, it points out the need to guarantee patient involvement in the organization and improvement of burn care, inasmuch as traditional professional centered approach is not ensuring an optimal management.

Effectiveness of Food-Based Fortification in Older People. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Early intervention with nutritional support has been found to stop weight loss in older people malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. Enriched food could be a more attractive alternative to improve meals, than conventional oral nutritional supplements. AIMS: To determine the effectiveness of food-based fortification to prevent risk of malnutrition in elderly patients in community or institutionalized elderly patients. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted of randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental, and interrupted time series including a longitudinal analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Elderly patients who are institutionalized, hospitalized or community-dwelling, with a minimum average age of 65 years. All type of patient groups, with the exception of people in critical care, or those who were recovering from cancer treatment, were included. INTERVENTION: Studies had to compare food-based fortification against alternatives. Studies that used oral nutritional supplementation such as commercial sip feeds, vitamin or mineral supplements were excluded. The search was conducted in Cochrane, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, and Cuiden. An independent peer review was carried out. RESULTS: From 1011 studies obtained, 7 were included for the systematic review, with 588 participants. It was possible to perform meta-analysis of four studies that provided results on caloric and protein intake. Food-based fortification yielded positive results in the total amount of ingested calories and protein. Nevertheless, due to the small number of participants and the poor quality of some studies, further high quality studies are required to provide reliable evidence. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Despite the limited evidence, due to their simplicity, low cost, and positive results in protein and calories intake, simple dietary interventions based on the food-based fortification or densification with protein or energy of the standard diet could be considered in patients at risk of malnutrition.