The effect of animal-assisted intervention on fear in children in the emergency department: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of animal-assisted intervention on the fears of hospitalized children in the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The randomized controlled trial was conducted between April and June 2023 in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkiye. The study included 70 children aged 5 to 7 years old (the study group was 35, and the control group was 35). The study and control groups were randomly assigned to strata using simple randomization. While goldfish were used for animal-assisted intervention in the study group, routine care was continued in the control group. The "Child Fear Scale" and "The Scale of Children's Fear of Nursing Interventions and Instruments Used in Hospital" were used as data collection tools. RESULTS: The mean score of the fear scale in the post-test scores of the study group children was significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001). After the animal-assisted intervention, the mean fear scores of the children in the care study group toward nursing interventions and the materials used decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Furthermore, when the two groups were compared, the difference between the post-test scores was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Animal-assisted intervention was determined to be effective in decreasing the fear levels of the children in the study group. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: During hospitalization in the emergency department, methods appropriate to the child's developmental level and animal-assisted interventions were found to be effective in reducing children's fear levels.

Meta-analysis of the effects of bundle interventions on ICU-acquired weakness intervention.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a secondary neuromuscular complication in critically ill patients, characterized by profound weakness in all four limbs. Studies have shown that bundles of care are nursing strategies that combine a series of evidence-based interventions, which collectively optimize patients' clinical outcomes compared to individual interventions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of bundle interventions on ICU-AW deeply exploring the characteristics of bundle interventions, patient outcomes related to ICU-AW, and primarily investigating the effects of bundle interventions on ICU-AW. The main focus is to explore the clinical value of bundle interventions in treatment of ICU-acquired weakness in patients. METHODS: Computer and manual searches were conducted using keywords to retrieve relevant studies on the effects of bundle interventions on ICU-AW from databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and EMbase. The search period ranged from database inception to the present. The control group received standard ICU care, including basic nursing, while the intervention group received bundle nursing interventions. RESULTS: A total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1545 participants (790 in the intervention group and 755 in the control group) were included. Meta-analysis results showed that the intervention group had significantly higher muscle strength (MD = 7.41, 95% CI: 6.65-8.16, P< 0.00001) and daily living ability (MD = 34.01, 95% CI: 32.54-35.48, P< 0.00001) than the control group. Additionally, the incidence of ICU-AW (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.26-0.59, P< 0.00001), mechanical ventilation time (MD =-3.71, 95% CI: -3.58∼-2.76, P< 0.0001), and ICU length of stay (MD =-2.73, 95% CI: -3.14∼-2.31, P< 0.00001) were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: ICU-AW has a severe negative impact on the recovery and functional restoration of ICU patients, increasing the treatment complexity for healthcare providers and the mortality and disability rates for patients. The bundled care approach may help reduce the incidence of ICU-AW, promote the restoration of daily activity function, enhance muscle strength, and reduce ICU stay and mechanical ventilation time for ICU patients. However, the long-term effects of bundle interventions still require further in-depth research.

Nursing interventions for pediatric patients with cancer and their families: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Clinical nursing care is an essential element in pediatric oncology. The body of research interventions targeting pediatric oncology patients and their families has grown in recent years. However, no reviews are currently available on nursing interventions for pediatric oncology. AIM: The aim was to develop a comprehensive overview of the available nursing interventions for pediatric oncology patients and their families, outline the characteristics of the interventions, and identify any knowledge gaps. METHODS: This review was conducted in accordance with the JBI guidelines for scoping reviews. Citations were retrieved from the following databases: Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Embase. The following inclusion criteria were applied: peer-reviewed studies written in English, Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish from 2000 onward and reporting on pediatric patients with cancer and/or family members of a pediatric patient with cancer who received non-pharmacological and non-procedural nursing interventions provided by a pediatric oncology hospital service. Eligible studies were screened by title and abstract, and in full text by two independent reviewers. Critical appraisal was achieved using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. FINDINGS: Among 2762 references, 26 studies met the inclusions criteria, comprising 25 unique nursing interventions. 89 % had been published from 2013 onward, reflecting the rapid changes occurring in pediatric oncology treatment. 36 % were qualitative, 58 % were quantitative and 8 % employed mixed methods. The studies were characterized by considerable diversity in terms of intervention content, components, timing of delivery, and delivery mode. 60 % of the interventions were targeted parents among whom mothers were highly overrepresented (75 %). 16 % adopted a family-centered focus. CONCLUSION: This review contributes to building a more comprehensive understanding of the evidence base within pediatric oncology nursing research. This field is evolving and holds the potential to support families with childhood cancer across various phases of their treatment trajectory. However, a clear need exists to develop and test interventions with a genuinely family-centered focus, targeting both patients and family members. A considerable gap exists in reporting of the intervention development process and intervention characteristics. Improving the reporting of intervention development is needed to enhance research quality and facilitate subsequent adaptation or upscaling of interventions for use in other populations and contexts. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Nursing interventions can support families with childhood cancer but future intervention studies need to enhance transparency in reporting @IJNSjournal.

The effects of nurse-led spiritual care on psychological well-being in the healthcare services of patients with cardiovascular diseases in Iran: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) significantly impacts patients' lives, affecting not only their physical health but also their spiritual well-being. While holistic care acknowledges the importance of addressing spiritual needs, the integration of nurse-led spiritual care within CVD management remains understudied. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of spiritual and psychological interventions in enhancing quality of life and reducing anxiety among CVD patients. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SID, Magiran, and Web of Science) for relevant articles published in English and Persian between 2013 and 2023. The risk of bias in included experimental and quasi-experimental studies was assessed using ROB 2 and ROBINS-I scales. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 1416 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, along with qualitative evaluation, 15 studies with a total of 1035 participants were selected for review. These studies explored the impact of spiritual interventions (e.g., healthy heart model, emotion-oriented approach, communication with a higher power, acceptance, and relationship improvement) on anxiety, stress, life expectancy, depression, blood parameters, spiritual experiences, pain, and negative emotions in CVD patients. All reviewed studies reported positive outcomes with spiritual interventions, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing anxiety, depression, pain, stress, and negative emotions, while also improving quality of life and possibly life expectancy. CONCLUSION: Integrating spiritual care into routine care for CVD patients presents a promising approach to improve their overall well-being. This review highlights the effectiveness of spiritual interventions in reducing various negative emotions and enhancing quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO (CRD42023448687).

Non-Adherence to Peripheral Venous Catheter Care Protocols Significantly Decreases Patient Safety and Impacts Costs: A Retrospective Observational Study.

In the healthcare field, the effective implementation of clinical protocols is crucial to ensuring patient safety and well-being. In this context, this study evaluates nurses' adherence to the maintenance and replacement protocol of peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) in a university hospital in Spain, examining the impact of compliance with the protocol on the loss of PVCs and on patient safety in addition to analyzing the related costs. A retrospective observational study was conducted with 590 patients who were admitted in 2018 and 2019. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate, was used to see the association between the study variables; with the dependent variable being the loss of PVCs (including, as a dependent variable, the loss of PVCs before 48 h). The patients' electronic and physical medical records were reviewed to analyze nursing interventions related to the management of PVCs. A total of 24% of patients experienced PVC loss within the first 24 h after insertion. Failure to comply with the protocol resulted in 80% more catheter loss and increased the cost of cannulation by 46.84%. Low compliance with PVC care protocols significantly increases the risk of catheter loss, suggesting the need for increased training and strict protocol implementation. The findings emphasize the critical role of nursing in ensuring patient safety through adherence to evidence-based protocols. Continuing education and diligent protocol implementation are essential to reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes.

A community-based participatory research approach to evaluating and improving hepatitis C risk, knowledge, and stigma associations among people who inject substances in Indiana.

OBJECTIVES: To explore hepatitis C risk, knowledge, and stigma among individuals who inject substances in South Central Indiana. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study design was employed using a community-based participatory research approach. The community partner was a grassroots harm reduction organization. SAMPLE: Participants in this study were at least 18 years of age, current residents of Indiana, and self-identified as injection substance users (n = 179). MEASUREMENTS: The survey measured hepatitis C risk, knowledge, and stigma, as well as differences in hepatitis C risk scores among key demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Most participants identified as male (n = 106, 59%), White (n = 139, 78%), and straight (n = 143, 80%). People of color reported lower hepatitis C knowledge than White participants. Women had significantly lower hepatitis C knowledge compared with men. LGBTQ participants reported increased hepatitis C risk compared with straight participants. Increased frequency of substance use was associated with decreased stigma. Unhoused participants demonstrated significantly lower hepatitis C knowledge compared with housing-secure participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings increase understanding that knowledge and risk around hepatitis C are associated with demographic characteristics. Results underscore the need for tailored public health interventions to increase hepatitis C knowledge, reduce stigma, and improve testing and treatment among vulnerable populations.

Nurture clinic: Promoting mental health of children and adolescents.

Background: Nurses play an important role in multidisciplinary teams while treating children and adolescents with mental health issues. Nurses should recognize and capitalize on the client's and family's strengths as they develop interventions, provide education, and refer to resources as appropriate. Materials and Methods: It is a mixed-method research, with an initial qualitative phase of obtaining data by in-depth interviews of parents on caring for children and adolescents with mental illness followed by quantitative assessment of the level of care dependency and implementation of need-based nursing interventions to the children and adolescents with mental illness. Results: A total of 235 boys and 123 girls received the interventions. The majority of them (51.4%) were boys aged between 6 and 12 years and the highest diagnosis was attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (34%). The need-based interventions required were nutrition (90%), prevention of injury and infection (83%), and positive and productive engagement (80%). Other interventions included self-care, physical activity, and medication. Conclusion: Need-based nursing interventions help in promoting the mental health of children and adolescents. This approach may be extended to primary care facilities and community mental healthcare by nurses.

Postoperative Ileus and Nonpharmacological Nursing Interventions for Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: This review evaluates nonpharmacological interventions for postoperative ileus (POI) prevention and treatment. DESIGN: We systematically reviewed articles from various databases between January 2012 and February 2023 on POI prevention in colorectal surgery patients, emphasizing nursing interventions. METHODS: Inclusion was based on criteria such as language (English or Turkish), date range, and study type. The risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane's RoB2 tool. FINDINGS: Of the 3,497 articles found, 987 unique articles were considered. After title and abstract reviews, 977 articles were excluded, leaving 52 randomized controlled trials for examination. Common interventions included chewing gum, early hydration, acupuncture, and coffee consumption. Compared to control groups, intervention groups had quicker bowel function return, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and enhanced quality of life. CONCLUSION: Nondrug nursing interventions post colorectal surgery can effectively mitigate POI, optimize bowel function, and boost patient satisfaction, warranting their incorporation into post-surgery care protocols.

Effect of psychological nursing interventions on effectiveness and quality of life in schizophrenia patients receiving modified electroconvulsive therapy.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a common and severe mental disorder characterized by severe thought disturbances, hallucinations, delusions, and emotional instability. For some patients, conventional treatment methods may not effectively alleviate symptoms, necessitating the use of alternative therapeutic approaches. Modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) is an effective treatment modality for schizophrenia, inducing anti-depressive and antipsychotic effects through the stimulation of brain electrical activity. AIM: To explore the impact of psychological nursing intervention (PNI) before and after MECT on the efficacy and quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: Eighty patients with schizophrenia who received MECT treatment from 2021 to 2023 were randomly divided into two groups: The intervention group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 40). The intervention group received PNI before and after MECT, while the control group received routine nursing care. The efficacy of MECT was evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) before and after the treatment. The quality of life was assessed by the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) after the treatment. RESUITS: The intervention group had significantly lower scores of PANSS and CGI than the control group after the treatment (P < 0.05). The intervention group also had significantly higher scores of SF-36 than the control group in all domains except physical functioning (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PNI before and after MECT can improve the efficacy and quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. It is suggested that nurses should provide individualized and comprehensive psychological care for patients undergoing MECT to enhance their recovery and well-being.

The impact of nursing interventions on the rehabilitation outcome of patients after lumbar spine surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the impact of nursing interventions on the rehabilitation outcomes of patients after lumbar spine surgery and to provide effective references for future postoperative care for patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. METHODS: The study included two groups: a control group receiving routine care and an observation group receiving additional comprehensive nursing care. The comprehensive care encompassed postoperative rehabilitation, pain, psychological, dietary management, and discharge planning. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey, self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) were used to assess physiological and psychological recovery. Blood albumin, haemoglobin, neutrophil counts, white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ) were measured, and the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions was also recorded. RESULTS: Patients in the observation group exhibited significantly improved VAS, ODI, SF-36, SDS and SAS scores assessments post-intervention compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, levels of IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-γ were more favorable in the observation group post-intervention (P < 0.05), indicating a reduction in inflammatory response. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions between the groups (P > 0.05), suggesting that the comprehensive nursing interventions did not increase the risk of adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive nursing interventions have a significant impact on the postoperative recovery outcomes of patients with LSS, alleviating pain, reducing inflammation levels, and improving the overall quality of patient recovery without increasing the patient burden. Therefore, in clinical practice, it is important to focus on comprehensive nursing interventions for patients with LSS to improve their recovery outcomes and quality of life.

Conclusiveness of Cochrane Reviews on Nursing Interventions for Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Analysis.

Background: This study aimed to assess the conclusiveness of Cochrane Reviews (CRs) in oncology nursing. Methods: We searched systematically for all CRs published in the Cochrane Library in the oncology nursing field between January 2014 and April 2023. We analyzed the difference between conclusive and inconclusive outcomes using the χ2 and Mann-Whitney U-tests and identified 430 articles. However, we excluded 385 articles after reviewing their titles and abstracts. We assessed 45 full-text articles for eligibility and identified 32 articles. Of the 32 articles, we extracted 19 interventions. Results: The overall outcomes were 182 cases, with 51.6% (n = 94) and 48.4% (n = 88) demonstrating conclusiveness and inconclusiveness, respectively. Regarding conclusiveness, 28.0% (n = 51) and 23.6% (n = 43) reported that the studied interventions were effective and ineffective, respectively. We found that studies on interventions related to physical activity and yoga had significantly high rates of conclusive. Compared with inconclusiveness outcomes, conclusive outcomes involved significantly more studies (p < 0.001) and patients (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Ultimately, these findings reveal that in the oncology nursing field, only 51% of the main outcomes of each nursing intervention in CRs were conclusive.

Prediction of Positive Patient Health Questionnaire-2 Screening Using Area Deprivation Index in Primary Care.

Depression is recognized as a significant public health issue in the United States. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 21.0 million adults aged 18 or older had major depressive disorder in 2020, including 14.8 million experiencing a major depressive episode with severe impairment. The aim is to predict the positivity of Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) outcomes among patients in primary care settings by analyzing a range of variables, including socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and health behaviors, thereby identifying those at increased risk for depression. Employing a machine learning approach, the study utilizes retrospective data from electronic health records across 15 primary care clinics in South Florida to explore the relationship between social determinants of health (SDoH), including area of deprivation index (ADI) and PHQ-2 positivity. The study encompasses 15 primary care clinics located in South Florida, where a diverse patient population receives care. Analysis included 94,572 patient visits; 74,636 records were included in the study. If a zip+4 was not available or an ADI score did not exist, the visit was not included in the final analysis. Screening involved the PHQ-2, assessing depressed mood and anhedonia, with a cutoff >2 indicating positive screening. ADI was used to assess SDoH by matching patients' residential postal codes to ADI national percentiles. Demographics, sexual history, tobacco use, caffeine intake, and community involvement were also evaluated in the study. Over 40 machine learning algorithms were explored for their accuracy in predicting PHQ-2 outcomes, using software tools including Scikit-learn and stats models in Python. Variables were normalized, scored, and then subjected to predictive regression models, with Random Forest showing outstanding performance. Feature engineering and correlation analysis identified ADI, age, education, visit type, coffee intake, and marital status as significant predictors of PHQ-2 positivity. The area under the curve and model accuracies varied across clinics, with specific clinics showing higher predictive accuracy and others (p > .05). The study concludes that the ADI, as a proxy for SDoH, alongside other individual factors, can predict PHQ-2 positivity. Health organizations can use this information to anticipate health needs and resource allocation.

Optimization of nursing interventions for postoperative mental status recovery in patients with cerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HCH), the most common chronic diseases, has become a topic of global public health discussions. AIM: To investigate the role of rehabilitative nursing interventions in optimizing the postoperative mental status recovery phase and to provide clinical value for future rehabilitation of patients with HCH. METHODS: This randomized controlled study included 120 patients with cerebral HCH who were contained to our neurosurgery department between May 2021-May 2023 as the participants. The participants have randomly sampled and grouped into the observation and control groups. The observation group received the rehabilitation nursing model, whereas the control group have given conventional nursing. The conscious state of the patients was assessed at 7, 14, 21, and 30 d postoperatively. After one month of care, sleep quality, anxiety, and depression were compared between the two groups. Patient and family satisfaction were assessed using a nursing care model. RESULTS: The results showed that the state of consciousness scores of the patients in both groups significantly increased (P < 0.05) after surgical treatment. From the 14th day onwards, differences in the state of consciousness scores between the two groups of patients began to appear (P < 0.05). After one month of care, the sleep quality, anxiety state, and depression state of patients were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Satisfaction with nursing care was higher in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rehabilitation nursing model has a more complete system compared to conventional nursing, which can effectively improve the postoperative quality of life of patients with cerebral hemorrhage and improve the efficiency of mental state recovery; however, further analysis and research are needed to provide more scientific evidence.

Use of nursing care bundles for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in low-middle income countries: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant concern in low-middle-income countries (LMICs), where the burden of hospital-acquired infections is high, and resources are low. Evidence-based guidelines exist for preventing VAP; however, these guidelines may not be adequately utilized in intensive care units of LMICs. AIM: This scoping review examined the literature regarding the use of nursing care bundles for VAP prevention in LMICs, to understand the knowledge, practice and compliance of nurses to these guidelines, as well as the barriers preventing the implementation of these guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: The review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) five-stage framework and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines guided reporting. Searches were performed across six databases: CINAHL, Medline, Embase, Global Health, Scopus and Cochrane, resulting in 401 studies. RESULTS: After screening all studies against the eligibility criteria, 21 studies were included in the data extraction stage of the review. Across the studies, the knowledge and compliance of nurses regarding VAP prevention were reported as low to moderate. Several factors, ranging from insufficient knowledge to a lack of adequate guidelines for VAP management, served as contributing factors. Multiple barriers prevented nurses from adhering to VAP guidelines effectively, including a lack of audit/surveillance, absence of infection prevention and control (IPC) teams and inadequate training opportunities. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the need for adequate quality improvement procedures and more efforts to conduct and translate research into practice in intensive care units in LMIC. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: IPC practices are vital to protect vulnerable patients in intensive care units from developing infections and complications that worsen their prognosis. Critical care nurses should be trained and reinforced to practice effective bundle care to prevent VAP.

Nursing interventions for the self-efficacy of ostomy patients: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy interventions, which include the acquisition of skills that enable patients to manage their health on a daily basis, play a key role in ostomy patients, which leads to significant changes in the quality of life of patients. In this context, nursing interventions to increase self-efficacy of ostomy patients are very important. In this context, nursing interventions are crucial to increase the self-efficacy of ostomy patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is to describe nursing interventions for ostomy patients' self-efficacy (primary outcome) and the impact of these interventions on patient outcomes (complications, quality of life, satisfaction, psychological resilience, stoma adaptation) (secondary outcomes). METHOD: As a systematic review, this study included articles published in PUBMED, Web of Science, Science-Direct, TUBITAK-ULAKBIM, and TRDizin databases between January 2013 and January 2023 that included nursing interventions for self-efficacy ostomy patients. This systematic review was developed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB2 tool developed by Cochrane. RESULTS: A total of 1211 articles were retrieved from the databases using Turkish and English keywords. Fifteen studies met the study criteria. These studies found that various interventions, such as training, telephone follow-up, psychosocial support groups, or mobile applications provided to intervention groups, increased self-efficacy, decreased stoma-related complications, improved stoma adaptation, and improved quality of life by increasing patients' knowledge and awareness of stoma. CONCLUSION: Nursing interventions to improve the self-efficacy and adaptation of ostomy patients are critical. This improvement leads to a reduction in adverse patient outcomes and ostomy complications, shorter hospital stays, and increased patient and nurse satisfaction.

First pill hardest to swallow: An evaluation study of cardiovascular nurse-led follow-up phone calls.

INTRODUCTION: Screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) followed by preventive medication is expected to reduce CVD (2,3,5). However, insufficient medication adherence may affect screening effectiveness (11-12). It remains uncertain which interventions are suitable to support citizens in their decision-making about taking CVD preventive medication. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated if and how three nurse-led telephone follow-up (TFU) calls supported citizens in making informed decisions regarding CVD preventive medication and thereby potentially strengthened their medication adherence. METHODS: Employing a theory-based evaluation design inspired by Dahler-Larsen (39-41), we developed and tested a programme theory describing if and how the TFU calls supported medical decision-making and potentially improved medication adherence. Data were collected via telephone. FINDINGS: We analysed 61 TFU calls collected between May 2017 and April 2019 and found that TFU calls supported participants' reflections on preventive medication. TFU calls supported informed decision-making regarding initiating medication, allowing participants to consider personal preferences and values, including both opting for and abstaining from medication. The content of the TFU calls revolved around four crucial themes: I) understanding the purpose of taking the medicine; II) meaningfulness and joint reflection support the decision; III) relation to healthcare professionals; and IV) taking medication for the first time. CONCLUSION: TFU calls effectively supported citizens' understanding and addressed their needs. Trusted healthcare professionals' recommendations were preferred for decisional support. Initiating CVD preventive medication was particularly challenging for citizens who had not previously taken such medication. We recommend scheduling TFU calls early: the first after one week, the second after one month and the third after six months.

The efficacy of nursing interventions in preventing surgical site infections in patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose significant risks to patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD), impacting recovery and increasing healthcare burdens. This study assesses the efficacy of targeted nursing interventions in reducing SSIs and enhancing wound healing in this vulnerable patient group. A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2022 to August 2023 at a single institution, involving 120 paediatric patients divided into control (standard postoperative care) and observation (specialized nursing interventions) groups. Nursing interventions included preoperative disinfection, strategic use of antibiotics, rigorous aseptic techniques and comprehensive postoperative care. Inclusion criteria encompassed a broad spectrum of CHD patients, while exclusion criteria aimed to minimize confounders. The Institutional Ethics Committee approved the study protocols. Baseline characteristics were comparable across groups, ensuring homogeneity. The observation group exhibited significantly lower SSI rates (1.7%) compared to the control group (11.6%), with a notable increase in optimal wound healing (Grade A) outcomes (73.3% vs. 30%). The differences in healing efficacy and infection rates between the two groups were statistically significant, emphasizing the effectiveness of the targeted nursing interventions in enhancing postoperative recovery for paediatric patients undergoing CHD surgery. The study demonstrates that targeted nursing interventions can significantly reduce SSI rates and improve wound healing in paediatric CHD surgery patients. These results underscore the importance of specialized nursing care in postoperative management. Future research, including larger-scale clinical trials, is necessary to validate these findings and develop comprehensive nursing care guidelines for this population.

Effectiveness of internet-based nursing interventions for the treatment of patients with periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis, one of the most common oral diseases, is a chronic inflammatory condition occur in response to bacterial plaque biofilms. Plaque control and oral hygiene instructions are the most widely used and effective nonsurgical treatment for periodontitis, which is based on a partnership between patient and clinician and requires a life-long commitment. The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of internet-based nursing interventions for the treatment of patients with periodontitis. The findings from this study may help to enhance the therapeutic outcomes for patients with periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 80 patients with periodontitis treated in Zhejiang Province Stomatology hospital from December 2021 to January 2023 were randomly selected and divided into control group and intervention group with 40 cases each. The control group was given routine oral health guidance and the intervention group received internet based nursing intervention. The periodontal pocket depth, percentage of periodontal pocket depth (PD) ≥ 4 mm, bleeding on probing (BOP)%, and self-efficacy scale for oral health care (SESS) were assessed and compared at four time points: initial visit, 6-8-weeks follow-up, 3-months follow-up, and 6-months follow-up. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, gender, initial visit PD, initial visit PD ≥ 4 mm (%), initial visit BOP (%), and initial visit SESS (P > 0.05). The intervention group showed a significantly decreased percentage of PD ≥ 4 mm at 6-8 weeks and 6-months follow-up compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The PD, BOP%, and SESS scores of the intervention group were significantly better than those of the control group at 6-months follow-up (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in patient satisfaction between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that the internet-based nursing intervention in conjunction with periodontal treatment was able to improve the periodontal pocket depth, gingival bleeding and the level of self-efficacy of patients, suggesting that it is necessary to carry out the extended oral hygiene instructions via internet-based platforms for the patients in clinical practice.

The Impact of Nursing Interventions on the Treatment Outcomes of Renal Cell Carcinoma with Postoperative Interleukin-2 and Recombinant Human Interferon.

Objective: This study investigates the impact of nursing interventions on treatment outcomes and adverse reaction rates in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients treated postoperatively with Interleukin-2 and recombinant human Interferon. Methods: In a retrospective analysis of 90 RCC patients, 43 received standard care (control group), while 47 received additional nursing interventions (intervention group), including psychological care, vital signs monitoring, dietary care, adverse reaction management, and post-discharge care. Patients with concurrent major diseases or other malignancies were excluded. Key assessments included clinical symptom improvement, treatment efficacy, and postoperative adverse reactions. Results: Among the 90 participants, no significant demographic differences were found between the two groups. The intervention group showed significant improvements in fever resolution, leukocyte normalization, and shorter hospital stays. The overall treatment effectiveness was similar in both groups (90.7% in the intervention group vs 91.5% in the control group). However, the intervention group experienced significantly fewer postoperative adverse reactions, including fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, bone marrow suppression, and neurological abnormalities (6.3% vs 23.2%). Conclusion: The study suggests that nursing interventions can improve treatment outcomes by reducing postoperative adverse reactions in RCC patients receiving postoperative Interleukin-2 and recombinant human Interferon. The overall effectiveness of treatment and care was comparable between the groups. Further extensive studies are needed to confirm these findings and fully understand the impact of nursing interventions on RCC patient outcomes.

Nursing interventions for dyspnoea management among inpatients with cancer in palliative care.

BACKGROUND: Dyspnoea, a commonly reported symptom among patients with cancer, necessitates the need for appropriate non-pharmacological interventions for its management and suitable assessment scales. AIMS: To explore the nursing interventions and assessment scales for managing dyspnoea in patients with cancer receiving palliative care. METHODS: Systematic review. Five databases (CINAHL Complete, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched, and seven studies were identified. Only studies that comprised randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised controlled trials or quasi-experimental settings were included. FINDINGS: Nursing interventions, that support a patient's physical breathing and mental functioning, are effective in managing dyspnoea. It is crucial to use both subjective and physical assessment methods to accurately measure the outcomes of these interventions. CONCLUSION: These interventions have been proven to be effective, with outcomes centred on changes in physiological measurements and patients' subjective expressions.