Fall prevention education for people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Online spaced education (OSE) is a method recognized for promoting long-term knowledge retention, changing behaviors and improving outcomes for students and healthcare professionals. However, there is little evidence about its impacts on patient education. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to compare knowledge retention using educational brochure and OSE on individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to verify the impact of educational methods on fall outcome. METHODS: Individuals with MS (n = 230) were randomly assigned to two types of patient education-educational brochure (control) and OSE (intervention). During 12 weeks, the intervention group received multiple-choice tests on fall prevention. Knowledge retention, behavior change and fall incidence were assessed before intervention and after 3 and 6 months. The participants' satisfaction with the education method was also evaluated. RESULTS: Knowledge retention was similar between groups, and behavior change was observed in both groups. There was a significant reduction in fall rate in the intervention group, from 0.60 to 0.27 at 6 months (P < 0.001). Participants' satisfaction achieved an average of 8.75, with no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Individuals demonstrated significant improvement in fall rate outcome in both groups with no significant difference. In regard to test scores and satisfaction, results were similar between groups.

Antineoplastic agents extravasation from peripheral intravenous line in children: a simple strategy for a safer nursing care.

PURPOSE: The antineoplastic agents infusion through peripheral lines may lead to several adverse events such as extravasation that is one of the most severe acute reactions of this sort of treatment. The extravasation prevention and management must be part of a safe and evidence-based nursing care. Due to this fact, two algorithms were developed with the purpose of guiding nursing care to children who undergo chemotherapy through peripheral line. The objectives of this study were to determine the content validity of both algorithms with pediatric oncology nurses in Brazil and United States of America, and to verify the agreement between the evaluations of both groups. METHODS AND SAMPLE: A descriptive validation study was carried out through the Delphi Technique that has the following steps: development of the data collection instrument, application to the specialists, data analysis, algorithms' review, re-evaluation by the specialists, final data analysis and content validity determination. RESULTS: The data analysis was descriptive and based on the specialists agreement consensus equal or higher than 80% in every step of the algorithms. The process showed that the agreement with both instruments ranged from 92.8% to 99.0%. CONCLUSION: The algorithms are valid for application in nursing care with the main purpose of preventing and managing the antineoplastic agents' extravasation.

Segurança na administração de medicamentos em pediatria / Safety in medication administration in pediatrics

Erros ou falhas podem ocorrer em qualquer fase do sistema de medicação. Em crianças, fatores como idade, peso, estatura, condições clínicas, características do metabolismo e escassez de medicamentos direcionados para a população pediátrica contribuem para a ocorrência de erros de medicação. Este artigo teve como objetivos, apresentar aspectos relevantes do sistema de medicação e recomendações para a redução de erros de medicação em crianças, com fundamentação nos princípios da segurança do paciente em pediatria.

Errors or failures can occur at any phase of the medication administration system. In children, factors such as age, weight, height, medical conditions, metabolic characteristics and lack of targeted drugs for the pediatric population contribute to the occurrence of medication errors. This article presents relevant aspects of the medication system and recommendations for reducing medication errors in children, with a foundation in the principles of patient safety in pediatrics.

Errores o fallas pueden suceder en cualquier fase del sistema de medicación. Tratándose de niños, fatores como edad, peso, estatura, condiciones clínicas, características del metabolismo y escasez de medicamentos dirigidos a la población pediátrica contribuyen en la ocurrencia de errores de medicación. En este artículo se tuvo como objetivos, presentar aspectos relevantes del sistema de medicación y recomendaciones para la reducción de errores de medicación en niños, fundamentados en los principios de la seguridad del paciente en pediatría.

Adesão de mulheres mastectomizadas ao início precoce de um programa de reabilitação / Adherence to an early rehabilitation program among women who underwent mastectomy

OBJETIVOS: Verificar a adesão de mulheres mastectomizadas ao início precoce de um programa de reabilitação da amplitude de movimento do ombro homolateral à cirurgia e identificar as dificuldades na realização dos exercícios e das atividades de vida diária. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo desenvolvido no Ambulatório de Oncomastologia do Hospital São Paulo/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, no período de 2003 a 2004. A amostra constitui-se de 28 mulheres mastectomizadas que aceitaram participar do programa de reabilitação, desde a alta hospitalar até o primeiro retorno ambulatorial. RESULTADOS: Aderiram ao programa 64,2 por cento das pacientes e 82,1 por cento referiram dificuldade para execução dos exercícios, principalmente devido à dor. A maioria realizou as atividades de vida diária sem dificuldades. CONCLUSÃO: Faz-se necessário um melhor controle da dor pós-operatória e reforço das orientações para incrementar a adesão das pacientes ao programa de reabilitação.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective was to measure adherence to an early rehabilitation program among women who underwent mastectomy. Other specific objectives included the identification of women's difficulties to comply with the exercise prescription and to perform daily life activities, and whether women's adherence to the rehabilitation program was effective in regaining their shoulder's full range of motion on the side of the surgery. METHODS: A prospective study design was used. A sample of 28 women who underwent mastectomy and agreed to participate in an early rehabilitation program from discharge to the first outpatient clinic follow-up participated in the study. Data were collected from 2003 to 2004 in the oncomastology outpatient clinic of the Hospital São Paulo of the University Federal of São Paulo. RESULTS: The majority of women (63.2 percent) adhered to the early rehabilitation program. The majority of women (82.1 percent) also reported having difficulties to perform the prescribed exercise program due to pain but not with daily life activities. CONCLUSION: Pain management and patient education must be addressed to improve adherence to the early rehabilitation program.

OBJETIVOS: Verificar la adhesión de mujeres mastectomizadas al inicio de un programa de rehabilitación temprana de la amplitud de movimiento del hombro homolateral a la cirugía, e identificar las dificultades en la realización de los ejercicios y de las actividades de vida diaria. MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo desarrollado en consulta externa de Oncomastología del Hospital São Paulo/Universidade Federal de São Paulo, en el período 2003 al 2004. La muestra se constituyó de 28 mujeres mastectomizadas que aceptaron participar del programa de rehabilitación, desde el alta hospitalario hasta el primer retorno ambulatorio. RESULTADOS: La adhesion al programa fue del 64,2 por ciento de las pacientes y el 82,1 por ciento refirieron dificultad para la ejecución de los ejercicios, principalmente debido al dolor. La mayoría realizó las actividades de vida diaria sin dificultades. CONCLUSION: Se hace necesario un mejor control del dolor post operatorio y refuerzo de las orientaciones para incrementar la adhesión de las pacientes al programa de rehabilitación.