Towards an integrated model of nursing competence: an overview of the literature reviews and concept analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Competence is considered a fundamental element when measuring a nurse's or student's ability to provide nursing care, but there is no consensus on what competence really is. This paper aims to review the existing meanings and models of nursing competence. METHOD: The overview of literature reviews and concept analysis was performed through a search on Pubmed, Cinahl and PsychINFO from January 2005 to September 2014. It included key words, such as: Competence Model; Professional Competence; Nursing Competence; Competency Model; Professional Competency; Nursing Competency. RESULT: A total of 14 papers were found, coming from educational or clinical nursing field. It was possible to identify some common themes: description of competence determinants; confu- sion around the competence concept; lack in competence evaluation; lack when competence have to be operationalized. CONCLUSION: The overview results, enriched by the literature coming out from the organiza- tional studies, build the conceptual basis of an integrated model of nursing competence. More empirical research is needed to test the theoretical assumptions.

Application of multivariate statistics to the Steroidal Module of the Athlete Biological Passport: A proof of concept study.

The Technical Document TD2014EAAS was drafted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in order to fight the spread of endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAAS) misuse in several sport disciplines. In particular, adoption of the so-called Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) - Steroidal Module allowed control laboratories to identify anomalous EAAS concentrations within the athletes' physiological urinary steroidal profile. Gas chromatography (GC) combined with mass spectrometry (MS), indicated by WADA as an appropriate technique to detect urinary EAAS, was utilized in the present study to develop and fully-validate an analytical method for the determination of all EAAS markers specified in TD2014EAAS, plus two further markers hypothetically useful to reveal microbial degradation of the sample. In particular, testosterone, epitestosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, 5α-androstane-3α,17ß-diol, 5ß-androstane-3α,17ß-diol, dehydroepiandrosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, were included in the analytical method. Afterwards, the multi-parametric feature of ABP profile was exploited to develop a robust approach for the detection of EAAS misuse, based on multivariate statistical analysis. In particular, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was combined with Hotelling T(2) tests to explore the EAAS data obtained from 60 sequential urine samples collected from six volunteers, in comparison with a reference population of single urine samples collected from 96 volunteers. The new approach proved capable of identifying anomalous results, including (i) the recognition of samples extraneous to each of the individual urine series and (ii) the discrimination of the urine samples collected from individuals to whom "endogenous" steroids had been administrated with respect to the rest of the samples population. The proof-of-concept results presented in this study will need further extension and validation on a population of sport professionals.

Peak oxygen consumption and prognosis in heart failure: 14 mL/kg/min is not a "gender-neutral" reference.

BACKGROUND: Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) predictive authority in heart failure (HF) has been established from male cohorts. We evaluated the gender impact on the prognostic meaning of low peak VO2. METHODS: We followed 529 HF patients (116 female), with peak VO2 ≤ 14 mL/kg/min, until cardiovascular death (CVD) and urgent heart transplantation. RESULTS: During follow up, 156 (29%) patients had cardiac events. Female gender, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, peak VO2, peak systolic blood pressure, and beta-blocker treatment all contributed to increase the risk ability of the hierarchical multivariate model. Two-year survival was higher in women: 85 vs 66%; χ(2)=15.7, p<0.0001. Peculiarly, outcome results were similar when only CVD was considered. Females showed a multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 0.46. Since a 1-mL/kg/min increment in peak VO2 was equated with a 12% improvement in prognosis, the same gender adjusted HR was achieved when mean peak VO2 was reduced by 5 units in women: thus, a HF woman with peak VO2 of 9 mL/kg/min has the same 2-year outcome as a HF man with peak VO2 of 14 mL/kg/min. CONCLUSIONS: Although HF women have a comparatively lower peak VO2 than men, they live longer. We discovered that the traditional cut point value for peak VO2, i.e. ≤ 14 mL/kg/min is not a "gender-neutral" reference since lumping HF men and women together with the same VO2 value is unlikely to describe the true risk. These preliminary findings do underline the need to assimilate gender-specific issues into clinical practice in HF, when appropriate.

A new cardiopulmonary exercise testing prognosticating algorithm for heart failure patients treated with beta-blockers.

In 2004, a cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) prognosticating algorithm for heart failure (HF) patients was proposed. The algorithm employed a stepwise assessment of peak oxygen consumption (VO2), slope of regression relating minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2) and peak respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and was proposed as an alternative to the traditional strategy of using a single CPET parameter to describe prognosis. Since its initial proposal, the prognosticating algorithm has not been reassessed, although a re-evaluation is in order given the fact that new HF therapies, such as beta-blocker therapy, have significantly improved survival in HF. The present review, based on a critical examination of CPET outcome studies in HF patients regularly treated with beta-blockers, suggests a new prognosticating algorithm. The algorithm comprises four CPET parameters: peak RER, exertional oscillatory ventilation (EOV), peak VO2 and peak systolic blood pressure (SBP). Compared to previous proposals, the present preliminary attempt includes EOV instead of VE/VCO2 slope as ventilatory CPET parameter, and peak SBP as hemodynamic-derived index.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and prognosis in heart failure due to systolic left ventricular dysfunction: a validation study of the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines and Recommendations (2008) and further developments.

AIMS: The study aims were to validate the cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters recommended by the European Society of Cardiology 2008 Guidelines for risk assessment in heart failure (HF) (ESC-predictors) and to verify the predictive role of 11 supplementary CPET (S-predictors) parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: We followed 749 HF patients for cardiovascular death and urgent heart transplantation for 3 years: 139 (19%) patients had cardiac events. ESC-predictors - peak oxygen consumption (VO(2)), slope of minute ventilation vs carbon dioxide production (VE/VCO(2)) and exertional oscillatory ventilation - were all related to outcome at univariate and multivariable analysis. The ESC/2008 prototype based on ESC-predictors presented a Harrell's C concordance index of 0.725, with a likely χ2 of 98.31. S-predictors - predicted peak VO(2), peak oxygen pulse, peak respiratory exchange ratio, peak circulatory power, peak VE/VCO(2), VE/VCO(2) slope normalized by peak VO(2), VO(2) efficiency slope, ventilatory anaerobic threshold detection, peak end-tidal CO(2) partial pressure, peak heart rate, and peak systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) - were all linked to outcome at univariate analysis. When individually added to the ESC/2008 prototype, only peak SBP and peak O(2) pulse significantly improved the model discrimination ability: the ESC + peak SBP prototype had a Harrell's C index 0.750 and reached the highest likely χ2 (127.16, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated the longest list of CPET prognostic parameters yet studied in HF: ESC-predictors were independent predictors of cardiovascular events, and the ESC prototype showed a convincing predictive capacity, whereas none of 11 S-predictors enhanced the prognostic performance, except peak SBP.

Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation for patients with ventricular assist device from exercise therapy to long-term therapy. Part I: Exercise therapy.

In the present context of an aging population, limited donor heart availability, improved reliability of mechanical cardiac support and improved patient outcomes, ventricular assist device (VAD) options to support end-stage heart failure patients are rapidly expanding. In addition, both the smaller size and lighter weight of the pumps now produced and early evidence that these third generation devices may be associated with lower risk of infection and right ventricular failure will probably lead to greater physician and patient acceptability. This is the first of a two-part review on the role of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation in patients with VAD. In this first part, we will discuss the role of exercise therapy in VAD patients, while the second will focus on long-term management. One of the prerequisites for use of a VAD--whether permanent (as destination therapy) or semi-permanent (as an alternative to heart transplantation)--is that exercise capacity, although not normal, must be adequate for daily life activities. An intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation program has the potential to increase exercise performance and improve the quality of life of VAD patients. Both early progressive mobilization and exercise training may improve the overall condition of VAD patients, and favorably impact their clinical course.

Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation for patients with ventricular assist device from exercise therapy to long-term therapy. Part II: long-term therapy.

Over the years left ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become more durable and reliable, smaller, simpler, easier to implant and more comfortable. The extensive experience now acquired shows successful hospital discharge with VAD use. We are entering an era in which long-term mechanical circulatory support will play an increasing role in the approach to end-stage heart failure (HF); at the same time, the extension of VADs into destination therapy has revealed the limitations of our understanding of these populations. This second paper on cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation for patients with left VADs will deal with the management of patients outside the highly specialized HF centers and surgical setting, with particular focus on postoperative patient management. Outpatient management of VAD patients is time-intensive, and a multidisciplinary approach is ideal in long-term care. Although the new devices have definite advantages over the older pumps, some challenges still remain, i.e. infection, stroke, device thrombosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, recurrent HF symptomatology with or without multisystem organ failure, and occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias.