Measuring self-directed learning readiness in health science undergraduates: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The European Higher Education Area places students at the centre of the teacher-guided learning process and requires them to participate more in their education and to be responsible for acquiring the professional competences relevant to their career. Self-directed learning is a key means for developing the skills necessary for professional careers. OBJECTIVE: To measure self-directed learning readiness in health science undergraduates. METHOD: Observational descriptive cross-sectional study of a convenience sample drawn from the total health science (medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and psychology) undergraduate population (n = 1699) at the University of Girona (Spain). The data collection instrument was a self-directed learning readiness scale with 38 items administered to the 1134 undergraduates who agreed to participate. RESULTS: Just over three quarters of the sample (n = 865; 76.27%) completed the full questionnaire. Self-directed learning readiness was indicated by an overall mean (standard deviation) score of 143.65 (11.76) points. Nursing undergraduates obtained the highest mean (SD) score - 145.08 (14.13) - in the overall scale. Associations were observed between degree course and self-directed learning readiness in the learning planning, desire for learning, self-confidence, self-management and self-evaluation subscales. Women scored better than men (p < 0.13) and scores progressively improved with each additional academic year. CONCLUSION: The sampled students exhibited good self-directed learning readiness. Training students in self-directed learning skills is a necessary part of the teaching-learning process. This kind of training in universities needs to be reinforced to develop learning autonomy, promote lifelong learning and prepare competent future health professionals.

[Less pain during puncture by a peripheral venous catheter; a bibliographical review on adults]. / Menos dolor en la punción de un catéter venoso periférico. Una revisión bibliográfica en población adulta.

Canalizing veins is a habitual technique carried out by nurses. Inserting a catheter in a peripheral vein causes pain. The importance of fine quality in nursing treatment implicitly bears on a person's well-being. In daily practice, health professionals do not use any method to reduce pain when inserting a catheter. The authors observations led them to believe in the need to carry out a bibliographical review whose objective was to discover all the methods used to reduce pain caused by puncturing a peripheral vein. Six randomly assigned clinical tests and a meta-analysis evaluate the effectiveness of: The use of Valsalva, an analgesic cream which contains two local amino-amide anesthetics; lidocaine and prylocaine (EMLA) compared to another analgesic cream, Myolaxin; a meta-analysis of twenty studies evaluates the degree by which pain is diminished by one such method: an EMLA cream; an anti-inflammatory skin dressing (diclofenaco), a diclofenaco dressing versus an EMLA anesthetic dressing, 0.25 ml subcutaneous injection of 1% mepivaína, an amida type local anesthetic; and direct photography moments before puncture occurs to use the effects of a flash of light. All these methods studied proved effective in reducing pain. Creams and dressing prove to be unaggressive methods but require some time for application prior to puncture. Using a camera flash, subcutaneous injection of mepivacaine and the application of Valsalva can be effective alternatives to reduce pain when puncturing veins in patients who require emergency care.

Menos dolor en la punción de un catéter venoso periférico Una revisión bibliográfica en población adulta / Less pain during puncture by a peripheral venous catheter; a bibliographical review adults

La canalización de vías venosas es una técnica habitual entre los profesionales de enfermería. La inserción de una cánula venosa periférica origina dolor. La importancia de una buena calidad en los cuidados de enfermería lleva implícito el bienestar de la persona. En la práctica diaria, no se utiliza ninguna intervención dirigida a disminuir el dolor de la inserción de una vía venosa periférica. Se observa la necesidad de efectuar una revisión bibliográfica con la finalidad de conocer todos los métodos utilizados para disminuir el dolor ocasionado por ello. Seis ensayos clínicos con asignación aleatoria y un metaanálisis evalúan la efectividad de: maniobra de Valsalva, pomada anestésica que contiene dos anestésicos locales de tipo amino-amida, la lidocaína y la prilocaína (EMLA®) en comparación con otra pomada anestésica (Myolaxin®); un metaanálisis de veinte estudios evalúa la magnitud de la disminución del dolor de uno de los métodos: pomada EMLA®, apósito cutáneo antiinflamatorio (diclofenaco), apósito de diclofencaco versus pomada anestésica EMLA®, inyección subcutánea de 0,25 ml mepivacaína 1% (anestésico local tipo amida) y fotografía directa justo antes de la punción (efecto de la luz del flash). Todos los métodos estudiados son efectivos para reducirlo. Las pomadas y apósitos resultan poco agresivos pero necesitan tiempo previo de aplicación. La luz del flash, la inyección subcutánea de mepivacaína y la maniobra de Valsalva pueden ser alternativas eficaces para la disminución del dolor en la punción del paciente que requiere atención urgente(AU)

Canalizing veins is a habitual technique carried out by nurses. Inserting a catheter in a peripheral vein causes pain. The importance of fine quality in nursing treatment implicitly bears on a person’s well-being. In daily practice, health professionals do not use any method to reduce pain when inserting a catheter. The authors observations led them to believe in the need to carry out a bibliographical review whose objective was to discover all the methods used to reduce pain caused by puncturing a peripheral vein.Six randomly assigned clinical tests and a meta-analyisis evaluate the effectiveness of: The use of Valsalva , an analgesic cream which contains two local amino-amide anesthetics ; lidocaine and prylocaine (EMLA®) compared to another analgesic cream, Myolaxin®;a meta-analyisis of twenty studies evaluates the degree by which pain is diminished by one such method: an EMLA® cream; an anti-inflammatory skin dressing (diclofenaco), a diclofenaco dressing versus an EMLA® anesthetic dressing, 0.25 ml subcutaneous injection of 1% mepivaína, an amida type local anesthetic; and direct photography moments before puncture occurs to use the effects of a flash of light. All these methods studied proved effective in reducing pain. Creams and dressing prove to be unaggressive methods but require some time for application prior to puncture. Using a camera flash, subcutaneous injection of mepivacaine and the application of Valsalva can be effective alternatives to reduce pain when puncturing veins in patients who require emergency care(AU)