A narrative review of patients' lived experience of having a pressure injury.

AIM: To explore patients' experiences of living with pressure injuries. DESIGN: A qualitative narrative review and thematic synthesis of qualitative research studies. DATA SOURCES: Six electronic databases were searched: Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar (for grey literature). The search was conducted between October 2022 and April 2023. Setting: Acute, community and care home settings across the UK, France, Belgium and the US. REVIEW METHODS: The PRISMA checklist for reporting systematic reviews was used. The included studies were evaluated for quality using the CASP tool. The Joanna Briggs Institute data extraction tool was used to extract data from the included studies. Thematic synthesis was used to identify themes to present a coherent and nuanced understanding of patients' experiences of living with pressure injuries. RESULTS: Nine studies involving 244 participants, aged 21 to 101, with pressure injuries, met the inclusion criteria. Three key themes emerged using thematic analysis: physiological, emotional and psychological, and social effects. Within these themes, subthemes such as endless pain and discomfort, loss of mobility and independence, and social isolation were dominant in all aspects of the lives of patients living with pressure injuries. CONCLUSIONS: This narrative review gives clear and multifaceted insight into the impact of pressure injuries on individuals' lives, emphasising the necessity for patient-centred care and the integration of evidence-based tools for effective pain management and risk assessment. The impact of pain on emotional and psychological wellbeing was significant, and the financial implications are scarcely known. Future research is needed to explore the experiences of younger adults and the financial consequences of living with pressure injuries.

Sharps injuries within the healthcare student population: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Studies have reported evidence on sharps injuries among nursing, medical and dental students but little is known about the amount, type and causes of sharps injuries affecting other healthcare students. AIM: The aim of the narrative review was to identify the extent, type and causes of sharps injuries sustained by healthcare students, especially those not in those fields. METHOD: Eight databases were searched using keywords to identify studies published between 1980 and March 2023. FINDINGS: This narrative review highlights that some groups of healthcare students, including those studying pharmacy, physiotherapy and radiography, sustain sharps injuries from similar devices as reported in research on such injuries in nursing, medical and nursing students. Sharps injuries happen in a range of healthcare environments, and many were not reported by students. The main cause of a sharps injury identified was a lack of knowledge. CONCLUSION: More research is needed on the extent of sharps injuries in healthcare students in European countries and the UK as well as on their physical and psychological effects. Education and training in sharps use and disposal are essential.

Exploring the psychological effects of sharps injuries sustained by healthcare workers.

Much of the research into sharps injuries sustained by healthcare workers focuses on prevalence and incidence and to a lesser extent the financial implications of such injuries. An under-researched area is the psychological effects of such injuries. This article reports the findings of a narrative literature review that aimed to synthesise the evidence on this subject. Electronic databases and the grey literature were searched with no date limits set and 27 articles were included in the review. Findings suggested that healthcare workers may experience a range of psychological issues following a sharps injury, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. There was also evidence to suggest that the necessary psychological follow-up care is often inadequate, so improvements are required in this area. Further research is necessary to enhance understanding of the psychological effects of sharps injuries on healthcare workers and to ensure they receive appropriate support.

The psychological impact of sharps injuries sustained by medical students.

Much is known and reported about sharps injuries among healthcare workers, but there has been a lack of published evidence regarding the psychological impact of sharps injuries among medical students. The purpose of this narrative review was to discover the psychological impact of sharps injuries within the medical student population. Medical, health and psychology databases were searched for studies written in the English language and published between 1980 and 2021. The review identified six studies conducted in six countries which described the psychological impacts of sharps injuries among medical students as being fear, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings highlight the potential psychological issues created by sharps injuries, and highlights that further research is needed into this topic to aid the education and prevention of this harmful problem.

Investigating the incidence and type of sharps injuries within the nursing student population in the UK.

AIMS: To identify the incidence and type of sharps injuries within a UK nursing student population. BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that nursing students sustain sharps injuries across the world, but there is a lack of data from the UK. Design: Questionnaire survey. METHODS: A survey was administered to a volunteer sample of nursing students (n=1015) in a university, following which the survey was distributed to nursing students nationwide using snowball sampling via social media. Datasets from 1015 nursing students were available for analysis. RESULTS: Sharps injuries were most likely to occur with glass ampoules, when preparing injections and to occur in the second year of the programme. Contributing factors to sharps injury were identified, with inexperience being the primary cause. Some nursing students reported psychological impacts after sustaining the sharps injury. CONCLUSION: Sharps injuries are common among nursing students, and can have many psychological consequences for an individual.

The experience and psychological impact of a sharps injury on a nursing student population in the UK.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to explore the experience and psychological impact of sustaining a sharps injury within a nursing student population in the UK. Design: A qualitative approach was taken, using two methods to gather data, namely a Twitter chat and interviews. METHODS: A Twitter chat was orchestrated to investigate the experiences of sharps injury with nursing students and registered nurses nationwide (n=71). Interviews were conducted with nursing students from a university in the UK who had sustained a sharps injury (n=12) to discover their experiences and the impact of the injury. Findings were then synthesised and examined. RESULTS: Some nursing students reported psychological impacts after sustaining the sharps injury, which affected both their professional and personal life. The qualitative findings were synthesised into eight themes. CONCLUSION: Sharps injuries can have many psychological impacts on the individual nursing student and necessary support should be available.

The impact of sharps injuries on student nurses: a systematic review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this review was to discover the impact of sharps injuries in the student nurse population. BACKGROUND: Much is known and reported about sharps injuries in registered nurses, but there has been a lack of published evidence regarding sharps injuries within the student nurse population. METHOD: A systematic review of nursing, health and psychology databases was conducted. The limits set were publications between 1980 and 2014 in the English language. Studies were identified then, following a rigorous critical and quality appraisal with validated tools, were selected for the systematic review. RESULTS: A total of 40 articles met the inclusion criteria, reporting studies conducted in 18 countries. Psychological and physical impacts of sharps injuries in student nurses were reported, such as fear, anxiety and depression, although these impacts were not quantified using a validated instrument. CONCLUSION: The impact of sharps injuries can be severe, both psychological and physical. This systematic review shows that further research is needed into this, especially in under-researched areas such as the UK, to establish the impact of sharps injuries within this population. Further research would also aid the education and prevention of this harmful problem. The review also emphasises the psychological issues relating to sharps injuries, the impact these can have on individuals and the support and counselling that student nurses require after injury. RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE: These findings highlight the potential psychological issues that can result from sharps injuries in this population.

Assessing the risk of post-operative nausea and vomiting.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common complication for many surgical patients, causing anxiety and distress. Evidence suggests that nursing practice in this area is inconsistent and that nurses' knowledge needs to improve, to promote better patient outcomes. This article provides a review of the incidence of PONV, associated complications and risk factors. Examples of risk assessment tools that could be used to identify patients at risk of developing PONV are described to ensure timely and appropriate treatment.

Needlestick and sharps injuries in the nursing student population.

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) and sharps injuries are a potential source of harm. Such injuries can cause considerable distress and have an economic effect on both the person who is injured and the healthcare organisation. Although data regarding trained nurses are more plentiful, there is a dearth of published information and research on the incidence and causes of NSIs and sharps injuries in the nursing student population, especially in the UK. This article provides an overview of the available evidence. There is a need for better education of nursing students and more effective supervision in relation to NSIs and sharps injuries.

The management of lipohypertrophy in diabetes care.

Lipohypertrophy has been a recognized complication of insulin therapy for many years, yet research shows that its prevalence in insulin-injecting patients with diabetes remains high. The problem for the patient is that the injection of insulin into a site of lipohypertrophy, although painless, may lead to erratic absorption of the insulin, with the potential for poor glycaemic control and unpredictable hypoglycaemia. Despite the important implications of this for diabetes control in insulin-injecting patients, there is a dearth of information and completed research into the condition. This article raises awareness of lipohypertrophy by reviewing the available literature on the prevention, identification and management of the condition from a nursing perspective. Recommendations for medical and nursing practice in diabetes care to improve prevention and management of lipohypertrophy are made.