Prevalence and multicenter observational study on falls of hospitalized children and Italian, linguistic-cultural validation of the Humpty Dumpty Fall Scale.

INTRODUCTION: Falls in hospitals are a major problem also in pediatric settings. No Pediatric Fall Risk Assessment Scales (PFRAS) are validated in Italian. GOALS: to perform the Italian validation of the Humpty-Dumpty Falls Scale (HDFS); to assess its predictive performance; to estimate the frequency of falls in hospitalized children and to analyze possible associations between children's clinical variables and falls. METHODS: The study's first step was the cultural-linguistic validation of HDFS in Italian. Second, evaluation of the Italian HDFS's performance on 1500 hospitalized children. Third, modifications of the Italian HDFS to improve its performance. Fourth, analysis of falls frequency and associations between falls and patients' clinical variables. RESULTS: The Italian HDFS (HDFS-ita) showed good Validity (SCVI=0.92) and inter-rater Reliability (Cohen's kappa=0.965), but poor Sensitivity (77.8%) and Specificity (36.6%). A new 3-item version of the HDFS-ita (HDFS-ita-M) was set, with a cut-off of 7, only for subjects 1 to 15 year-old. Although better, the HDFS-ita-M's performance remains poor (Sensitivity=77.8%, Specificity=53.3%, ROC curve's AOC=0.670). The frequency of pediatric falls was 6.38 per thousand children (CI95% 3.36-12.08) with a maximum frequency in children aged 3 to 6 years (11.28 per thousand children, CI95% 3.84-32.63). Motor/walking disorders (p=0.005), enuresis (p=0.0002), being in single room (p=0.04), admittance to pediatric neuropsychiatry/neurology wards (p=0.001), and neurological disorders (p=0.02) were associated to falls. DISCUSSION: HDFS-ita-M has a better but still poor performance than HDFS-ita. This study provides useful data about pediatric falls and their possible risk factors which will help pediatric hospitals in determining patient safety policies. Further studies are needed to determine an adequate panel of variables to estimate pediatric falls risk.

Knowledge, attitude and disinformation regarding vaccination and immunization practices among healthcare workers of a third-level paediatric hospital.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination represents one of the most effective means of preventing infections for the population and for the public health in general. Recently there has been a decline in vaccinations, also among healthcare workers (HCWs). The aim of the study is to detect the knowledge, skills, attitudes and barriers of HCWs regarding vaccinations in a tertiary children's hospital in order to support clinical management in immunisation practices. METHODS: An observational study was conducted on 255 subjects over a period of 8 months. The 31-item questionnaire considered profession, level of instruction and different ages. It included questions taken from a questionnaire used for a Canadian research and one used by the Bellinzona hospital. A 4-point Likert scale and closed-ended questions were used. A confidence interval of 95%, p value ≤ 0.05, Chi-square, ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis test were considered. RESULTS: In the last 5 years less than one third of the sample were vaccinated against flu. 77.8% (n.130) of nurses and 45.8% (n.19) of doctors were not vaccinated (p < 0.0001). As for risk perception, 51.5% of nurses and 90.6% of doctors believe that their risk of contracting influenza is greater than that of the general population. In relation to the injection site, in all the age ranges there was a high level of knowledge except for those aged over 61 who responded incorrectly. Doctors were more prepared (p < 0.0001). 50% of the sample used internet only as a source of information for vaccines. Generally, scientific sources were used infrequently. The higher the education level, the more frequent the utilisation of trustworthy scientific resources and literature. (p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: In line with the attitude observed in recent years, nurses are not inclined to get vaccinated themselves although they agree to having their children vaccinated. HCWs have a good level of knowledge about vaccines and immunisation practices. With the nurses we found that the higher the education level, the greater the knowledge about vaccines which leads to the conclusion that low levels of adherence are not due to a lack of knowledge, but rather, to a low perception of risks. Hence the need to strengthen the vaccination strategies inside the companies.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus eradication in cystic fibrosis patients: A randomized multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies, based on a limited number of patients using non-uniform therapeutic protocols, have analyzed Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) eradication. METHODS: In a randomized multicenter trial conducted on patients with new-onset MRSA infection we evaluated the efficacy of an early eradication treatment (arm A) compared with an observational group (B). Arm A received oral rifampicin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (21 days). Patients' microbiological status, FEV1, BMI, pulmonary exacerbations and use of antibiotics were assessed. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were randomized. Twenty-nine (47.5%) patients were assigned to active arm A and 32 (52.5%) patients to observational arm B. Twenty-nine (47.5%) patients, 10 patients in arm A and 19 in arm B, dropped out of the study. At 6 months MRSA was eradicated in 12 (63.2%) out of 19 patients in arm A while spontaneous clearance was observed in 5 (38.5%) out of 13 patients in arm B. A per-protocol analysis showed a 24.7% difference in the proportion of MRSA clearance between the two groups (z = 1.37, P(Z>z) = 0.08). Twenty-seven patients, 15 (78.9%) out of 19 in arm A and 12 (92.3%) out of 13 in arm B, were able to perform spirometry. The mean (±SD) FEV1 change from baseline was 7.13% (±14.92) in arm A and -1.16% (±5.25) in arm B (p = 0.08). In the same period the BMI change (mean ±SD) from baseline was 0.54 (±1.33) kg/m2 in arm A and -0.38 (±1.56) kg/m2 in arm B (p = 0.08). At 6 months no statistically significant differences regarding the number of pulmonary exacerbations, days spent in hospital and use of antibiotics were observed between the two arms. CONCLUSIONS: Although the statistical power of the study is limited, we found a 24.7% higher clearance of MRSA in the active arm than in the observational arm at 6 months. Patients in the active arm A also had favorable FEV1 and BMI tendencies.

A 1-m distance is not safe for children with cystic fibrosis at risk for cross-infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Although maintaining a distance of 1 m between persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a universal recommendation to prevent respiratory cross-infections such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, evidence supporting this preventive measure is scarce. Examining 336 samples from 42 patients with CF collected experimentally from sterile surfaces after speaking and coughing, we found that transmission of P aeruginosa beyond 1 m is possible during both talking and coughing, although the probability is low (1.7%).

Providing transcultural to children and parents: an exploratory study from Italy.

PURPOSE: Immigration and multiculturalism are relatively recent in Italian society, and social adaptation to this new reality is still ongoing. Immigrants to Italy mainly come from China, Albania, Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe. Because no study about this topic was found, our goal was to investigate attitudes and problems encountered by Italian nurses in a paediatric setting with regard to nursing care of children and their families from other countries. DESIGN AND METHODS: Exploratory study. An anonymous 11-item "ad hoc" questionnaire was distributed to 201 ward nurses of the Meyer Paediatric Hospital, Florence, Italy in May 2007. FINDINGS: In all, 129 nurses (64.1%) answered the questionnaire; 78.3% reported having experienced some difficulties in providing care to foreign children and their families. The language barrier was reported as the most important, although more than two-thirds of nurses speak a language in addition to Italian. About half of the nurses encountered problems in care because of different nutrition and personal hygiene customs of patients and their families. Religious and spiritual practices were perceived as a problem by only a minority of nurses. Almost half of the nurses reported having been involved in care situations wherein they felt embarrassed or disapproval concerning the behaviour of parents of foreign children. This included discomfort about different views concerning the social role of women. Nurses also perceived in foreign parents opinions different from their own about the role of nurses (10%) and attitudes of children toward pain associated with medical procedures (45%). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study we know about regarding attitudes of Italian nurses toward multicultural care. Effective communication is the main aspect of delivering culturally competent care. Language as a means of communication is paramount for an effective nurse-patient relationship without which nursing care is unsatisfactory. Our study indicates the importance of teaching transcultural nursing, cultural diversity, and culturally competent nursing care in university and continuing professional education programs for Italian nurses and nursing students. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study indicates the strengths and weaknesses of Italian nurses in managing the care of non-Italian children and their families; and the need for a background of transcultural nursing and theory.

Use of non-conventional nurses' attire in a paediatric hospital: a quasi-experimental study.

AIMS: To test the impact of a multi-coloured non-conventional attire on a population of children admitted to a paediatric hospital. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental before-after controlled study. BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that non-conventional nurses' uniforms in paediatric settings may contribute to lowering children's distrust towards healthcare providers and reduce fear. Little formal research has investigated on the impact of nursing attire in a paediatric setting. No study has so far analysed the effects in actual use of a non-conventional, other than the traditional type of uniform, on a paediatric hospitalised population. Design: A quasi-experimental study. METHODS: We introduced multi-coloured nurses' attire in two wards of a paediatric hospital. Using open questions and semantic differential scales (SDS), we evaluated the effects of this non-conventional attire on a group of hospitalised children, compared to sex-and-age-matched controls interviewed before the introduction. Parents were also interviewed. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve hospitalised children and their parents (n = 112) were studied. The percentage of positive words used by children to define their nurse was higher in children interviewed after the introduction of non-conventional uniforms (96.2% vs. 81.8%, p = 0.01). Children's perception of nurses was significantly improved by the use of multi-coloured attire ('bad'-'good' SDS: p = 0.01; 'disagreeable'-'nice' SDS: p = 0.001). Children's perceptions regarding hospital environment did not change. Parents' perception of nurses' uniform adequacy to the role and capability to reassure resulted improved (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Multi-coloured non-conventional attire were preferred by hospitalised children and their parents. Their introduction improved the perception children have of their nurses. Moreover, the coloured uniforms improve the parents perception about the reliability of the nurse. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The use of non-conventional nurses' attire can contribute to improve the child-nurse relation, which has the potential to ease the discomfort experienced by children due to hospitalisation.

Incidence of cystic fibrosis in the Albanian population.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening genetic disease in the Western world. Its incidence varies between 1:4,000 and 1:2,500 among Europeans. No data are available on the incidence of CF among Albanians, mainly due to difficulties of the local health system. GOALS: To estimate the incidence of CF and the prevalence of healthy carrier status among Albanian ethnic people; to evaluate the incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns. METHODS: We used the database of the newborn screening of Tuscany, Italy for the period 1991-2005. Children born to both Albanian parents in Tuscany were identified and incidences were calculated. RESULTS: The incidence of CF among Albanians (1/555, 99% CI: 1/2,980-1/306) was significantly higher than the rest of the Tuscan population (1/4,101, 99% CI: 1/5,564-1/3,248). The prevalence of CF carrier status among Albanians living in Tuscany is estimated to be 1/12 (99%CI 1/27-1/9) while in the rest of the Tuscan population it is 1/32 (99%CI 1/37-1/28). The incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns (1/55 99%CI: 1/74-1/44) was significantly higher than in the rest of the population (1/84, 99%CI 1/88-1/82). CONCLUSION: The incidence of CF among Albanians is considerably higher than expected. Albanian people have a risk to give birth to children with CF higher than the rest of Europeans. The implementation of a newborn screening program in Albania, together with a CF follow up program is highly advisable.

[Voluntary incident reporting by nurses in a pediatric hospital: a pilot study]. / La segnalazione volontaria di eventi awersi da parte di infermieri in un ospedale pediatrico: studio pilota.

UNLABELLED: In recent years Voluntary Incident Reporting (VIR) has spread as a tool to monitor and prevent adverse events in healthcare (AE). In Italy, experiences of VIR are limited. AIM: The goals of this pilot study were to test the feasibility of a VIR system in a population of nurses of a Pediatric Hospital and to make a preliminary survey of situations of risk for patients' safety, to plan corrective actions. METHODS: Nurses of 3 wards were asked to report AEs with or without harm for patient, near misses and unsafe behaviours or situations at risk for generating AEs. Results were cumulatively reported to participating nurses during ward's meetings and possible corrective interventions were discussed. RESULTS: The study was carried out from April to August 2006. Eighty-seven nurses participated. Forty-eight reports were made (one third signed, two thirds anonymous). Twenty reports (41.6%) regarded unsafe behaviours or situations at risk for AEs, 11 near misses, 15 AEs without patient harm and 2 AEs with harm. Twenty-three reports involved patients. Reports regarded mainly therapy (62.5%), care delivery (14.5%), equipment (8.3%), clinical documentation (6.3%). 40% of all AEs and near misses were reported to happen during the first or the last hour of the shift. AEs most frequently reported were: missing administration of treatments, administration of a wrong drug or of a wrong dose. "Look-alike" drugs and incomplete or illegible prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study confirms that nurses are generally willing to get involved in VIR systems. It also suggests that to succeed VIR systems have to ensure that reporters remain anonymous and non-prosecutable.

[Control of postoperative pain in children undergoing hypospadias surgery: quasi-experimental controlled trial]. / Controllo del dolore post-operatorio nel bambino operato di ipospadia: studio quasi-sperimentale controllato.

BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital anomalies occurring in approximately (1/300) male births. If it is not surgically corrected the consequences may negatively impact on quality of life in adolescents. The surgery is very invasive and the post-operative phase very painful. To improve the control of post-operative pain, continuous analgesia via epidural catheter was implemented. AIMS: To compare the effectiveness in controlling pain of two different regimens: continuous epidural catheter infusion vs oral and rectal non-steroidal pain-killers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Comparative study on children undergoing hypospadias surgery. Group A (catheter) was treated with continuous postoperative analgesia via epidural catheter and Group B (scheduled times) with rectal and oral analgesics at scheduled times and on demand, after caudal block. In both groups nurses measured pain with VAS and FLACC scales (score from 0 to 10) for 72 hours after surgery. RESULTS: 41 children were studied (average age 64.1 months, SD 47.3), with 332 post-operative pain recordings (Group A n = 161, Group B n = 171). Mean pain score of Group A was 0.13 (SD 0.3) and 0.45 (SD 0.8) in group B, p = 0.006. The median duration of the epidural catheter was 65 hours, mean 51.8 hours (SD 24.3). During the 1st post-operative medication, the mean pain score in Group A was 1.2 (SD 1.4), and 3.2 (SD 1.8) in group B, p = 0.003. In group A the number of pain scores indicating pain (> 0) where 3.1% while in group B were 10.5%, p = 0.0007. CONCLUSIONS: In children undergoing hypospadias surgery, post-operative analgesia with continuous epidural catheter infusion seems to offer a better analgesic coverage than the traditional oral/rectal analgesic treatment at scheduled times and on demand.

Patient risk of contact with respiratory pathogens from inanimate surfaces in a cystic fibrosis outpatient clinic. A prospective study over a four-year period.

Acquisition of respiratory pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Research on the prevalence of these pathogens on environmental surfaces of a CF Center is scanty, and so far no study has determined what risk CF patients have of coming in contact with them during their visits to the CF Center. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of some respiratory pathogens in samples taken systematically during a 4-year period from inanimate surfaces and sinks in a CF Outpatient Clinic, and to estimate the risk that a non-PA colonized CF patient has of contact with PA when visiting the CF Center. Microbiological samples were taken and cultured from the inanimate surfaces and sinks of the Outpatient clinic of a CF Center once a month from 2001 to 2005. Four hundred and sixty environmental specimens were collected: 36.3% were positive for respiratory pathogens (23% of rooms' inert surfaces, 49.5% of sinks). Achromobacter xylosoxidans was found in 0.8% of surface samples. PA was isolated in 22.8% samples. The estimated risk for each non-colonized patient of coming in contact with PA on the surfaces in the Clinic at each visit was 5.4 per thousand (CI95% 0.9-30.1). Genotyping of a sample of environmental PA strains revealed a genetic relation between environmental and clinical isolates in most cases. Micro-organisms relevant for CF patients can be found on inanimate surfaces of a CF Center, although the risk for patients of coming in contact with PA during their visits to the CF center seems low.

[Influenza vaccination of nurses in an Italian pediatric hospital: effects on absenteeism and on costs, factors associated with vaccine uptake and analysis of personal motivations. A prospective cohort study]. / Una campagna di vaccinazione antinfluenzale gratuita tra gli infermieri in un ospedale pediatrico: fattori associati all'adesione, analisi delle motivazioni, effetti sulle assenze ed analisi dei costi. Studio di coorte prospettico.

AIMS: To evaluate the effects on absenteeism and on costs for the health care system (HCS) of influenza vaccination offered to nurses in a paediatric hospital; the factors associated with vaccination acceptance and non-acceptance; the motivations of vaccine-recipient and non-recipient nurses. METHODS: Cohort study. During the 2005-2006 influenza season we observed the entire nurse population of a Paediatric Hospital (n = 327) who were offered influenza vaccination at no cost at the working place. An anonymous questionnaire was also administered. RESULTS: Vaccination rate was 30.3%. Mean days of sick leave of vaccinated nurses (3.4 per 100 calendar days) and non vaccinated nurses (4.5 per 100 calendar days) differed but not significantly. The saving for HCS due to vaccination of less than 1/3 of nurses was equal to 0.67 nurse-years. Age > or = 40 years (RR 1.47, p = 0.01), length of service > or = 20 years (RR 1.81, p = 0.0003) and working in oncology ward (RR 2.09, p = 0.002) were predictors of adhesion to the vaccination campaign. Among motivations given for vaccination were: not to transmit influenza to hospitalised children (62.8%), to avoid getting sick (55.6%), to protect own family members (49.4%). Only 34% of vaccinated nurses would have made vaccination even if not offered for free. Among non-recipients' main motivations were: vaccination is unnecessary (62.4%), no trust in its efficacy (8.8%). No differences were found in the incidence of influenza symptoms reported by vaccinated and non vaccinated nurses. DISCUSSION: The utility of influenza vaccination to reduce absenteeism of nurses remains unclear. Strategies for influenza vaccination campaigns should particularly address younger nurses and should take into account the beliefs of each nurse in regards to own health.