Open Access
Impact of individual and job characteristics on nurses' scope of practice in spanish hospital units
(Wiley, 2024) Saralegui Gainza, Amaia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; García Vivar, Cristina; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Background. Nurses are one of the largest and costliest groups in healthcare organizations; therefore, it is important to comprehend their scope of practice. Aim. To contribute to the improvement of nursing resource management in medical-surgical and Intensive Care Units by identifying factors that influence the scope of nursing practice. The hypothesis was that the activities carried out by nurses in medical-surgical units and intensive care units are influenced by individual and job-related factors, with job characteristics having an additive and moderating effect on individual characteristics. Materials and Methods. Cross-sectional correlational design to test the relationship between the individual and job characteristics on the nursing scope of practice measured by the Actual Scope of Nursing Practice (ASCOP) questionnaire. The sample consisted of 270 nurses. Linear mixed effects models analysis (LME) was used with the aleatory effect of the intensive care unit (ICU). Results. Belonging to the ICU decreased the scope of practice of nurses. We found a statistically significant effect of psychological demand, practice environment, role ambiguity, and growth need strength on the scope of nursing practice. The models explained a variance up to 24%. Conclusions. Although the survey results revealed the existence of broader scope of practice levels in Spanish hospital units than in the original Canadian study, the use of scope of nursing practice remains suboptimal. Higher levels on the psychological demand, the practice environment and in the individual growth need strength were related with a broader scope of practice. Otherwise, role ambiguity negatively affected the scope of practice. Implications for Nursing Management. This article provides an analysis of the impact of individual and job-related characteristics on the nursing scope of practice. It serves as a valuable resource for both managers and nurses, offering insights to improve nurses' working conditions and obtain more efficient workforces.
Open Access
A themed game to learn about nursing theories and models: a descriptive study
(Elsevier, 2020) San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
One of the most demanding challenges for teachers in undergraduate nursing programmes is teaching the intangible aspects of the discipline, such as its conceptual and theoretical bases. This study aimed to evaluate nursing students' satisfaction and knowledge acquisition after taking part in a specific themed game to learn about nursing theories and models. A descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative, interventional study was undertaken involving 105 nursing degree students. After taking part in a themed game called 'The Nurse Theorist game', the knowledge acquired by the students was assessed plus their satisfaction with the game. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated that the average score for knowledge was 8.28 points (on a scale of 0–10); the overall average score for satisfaction was 7.60 points out of 10. The scores obtained for satisfaction with each aspect of the game ranged from 2.90 to 3.90 out of 5. All the students recommended using this game for this subject in the years to come. To conclude, the proposal for a themed game specifically for learning nursing theories and models has been revealed to be effective in terms of knowledge acquisition and student satisfaction.
Open Access
Analysis of mental health effects among nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review
(Wiley, 2022) García Vivar, Cristina; Rodríguez Matesanz, Irati; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Ferraz Torres, Marta; Escalada Hernández, Paula; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Introduction: Health professionals have suffered negative consequences during the COVID-19 pandemic. No review has specifically addressed the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of nurses exclusively according to the work context. Aim: To analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses who have worked in hospitals, primary care centres and social health centres. Method: PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Cochrane databases were searched (Prospero number: CRD42021249513). Out of 706 papers, 31 studies (2020–2021) were included in the systematic review. A qualitative synthesis method was used to analyse the data. Results: Most studies were conducted in hospitals or frontline settings. The prevalence of moderate-to-severe symptoms was for anxiety 29.55%, depression 38.79%, posttraumatic stress disorder 29.8%, and insomnia 40.66%. Discussion: This review highlights the mental health effects among nurses working in acute hospital settings. It also evidences a data gap on mental health effects among nurses working in primary health care and in nursing homes. Implications for practice: In the post phase of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to assess and respond to the impact on the mental well-being of nurses, and to monitor international policies for the improvement of nurses’ working conditions.
Open Access
Reducción del miedo al entorno sanitario en niños usando espacios simulados: un ensayo controlado aleatorizado
(Elsevier, 2024-04-10) Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; García Vivar, Cristina; Ferraz Torres, Marta; Saralegui Gainza, Amaia; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la efectividad de una intervención que implicó interacciones dentro de un espacio de atención sanitaria simulado para reducir el miedo al entorno sanitario entre los niños de educación infantil. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio experimental en el que participaron a 86 niños, divididos en los grupos intervención (GI) y control (GC), con medidas antes y después de la intervención. Esta última, denominada Programa Health-Friendly, consistió en enseñar a los niños diversos escenarios que simularon diferentes contextos sanitarios, para que pudieran interactuar en ellos, experimentar con los materiales y realizar preguntas. El miedo al entorno sanitario fue evaluado mediante la versión en español revisada de Child Medical Fear Scale (CMFS-R), que proporciona una puntuación al nivel de miedo al entorno sanitario que fluctúa de 0 a 34 puntos. Los niveles de miedo al entorno sanitario antes y después de la prueba en los grupos intervención y control fueron comparados mediante la prueba t de Student. Resultados: Los niños del GI experimentaron una reducción significativa del miedo de 3,21 puntos (desviación estándar [DE]: 6,50) en comparación con los niños del GC. Dicha reducción del miedo se reflejó en las cuatro dimensiones de la escala: miedos intrapersonales, miedos procedimentales, miedos ambientales y miedos interpersonales. Conclusión: El Programa Health-Friendly proporciona una intervención innovadora para reducir el miedo al entorno sanitario entre los niños, basada en información, estrategias de confrontación y escenarios de simulación. Este estudio sugiere el beneficio potencial de incorporar intervenciones educativas en las escuelas, en colaboración con los centros universitarios y los centros de simulación de la atención sanitaria.
Open Access
Use of online communities among people with type 2 diabetes: a scoping review
(Springer, 2024) Bujanda Sainz de Murieta, Arantxa; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; García Vivar, Cristina; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
Purpose of Review. People with diabetes require continuous self-monitoring and face numerous decisions in their day-today lives. Therefore, on many occasions, they need more support than that provided by health professionals. In this context, peer support in online diabetes communities could be a useful tool. The purpose of the review is to describe, analyze and synthesize the available evidence on the use and health out-comes of online communities for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Searches were performed PubMed, Web of Science, CINHAL, Scopus and Cochrane databases. Recent Findings. From 1821 identifed documents, 6 articles were included. These studies explored the characteristics of diabetes online communities and the population features. Besides, the results were classifed according to whether they were clinical, psychosocial, or addressed people's experiences with the online community. The analysis underscores their value in facilitating communication, improving diabetes management, and enhancing psychosocial well-being. Future investigations should prioritize longitudinal assessments to elucidate the sustained impact of community engagement and optimize user participation for enhanced patient outcomes. Summary. The growing relevance of new technologies has led to a signifcant number of individuals with chronic illnesses seeking peer support. Online health communities have emerged as virtual spaces where individuals with shared health interests interact and form relationships. Within these digital spaces, individuals can engage in peer interaction, observe behaviors, and mutually beneft, potentially leading to improved attitudes toward the disease.
Open Access
Las enfermeras tras la pandemia por Covid-19: ¿y ahora qué?
(Elsevier, 2022) San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; García Vivar, Cristina; Escalada Hernández, Paula; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
La pandemia ha revelado la necesidad de proteger a los profesionales de la salud, y en especial, a las enfermeras. Son necesarias medidas políticas y económicas que permitan mejorar las condiciones de trabajo de este colectivo y potenciar su figura dentro y fuera de las organizaciones sanitarias. Avances que redundarán en una mejora de la calidad de los cuidados y, en definitiva, de los resultados de salud de la población.
Open Access
Passive or interactive virtual reality? The effectiveness for pain and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients
(Springer, 2022) Ferraz Torres, Marta; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; García Vivar, Cristina; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Invasive techniques such as venipuncture are painful procedures causing stress and anxiety, both in pediatric patients and in their carers. For this reason, efforts are being made to develop mitigating strategies for the patient's pain and anxiety during the performance. To analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the use of Virtual Reality distraction techniques as a measure of pain and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients and their parents. In addition, the effects of two modes of Virtual Reality (passive vs. interactive) were compared. A quasi-experimental study was carried out in the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary referral hospital in north Spain. The participants were children who underwent venipuncture for blood extraction and vascular cannulation. From the 124 patients, 51.6% (n = 64) were girls and 48.4% (n = 60) were boys (p = 0.574). The mean age was 8.4 years (SD: 4.1). The mean level of pain experienced was 2.33 (SD: 0.76) in the interactive VR group (n = 88) versus 2.67 (SD: 1.35) in patients with passive VR (n = 36) (p = 0.008); being the presence of anxiety in 27.3% (n = 24) of the cases treated with interactive Virtual Reality and in 88.9% (n = 32) of the patients with passive Virtual Reality (p = 0.000). The virtual reality is an effective method to reduce pain and anxiety levels in pediatric patients, with the effectiveness of interactive virtual reality and its use in the population aged 7-15 years being greater.
Open Access
Effectiveness of digital health on the quality of life of long-term breast cancer survivors: a systematic review
(Elsevier, 2023) Pimentel Parra, Gustavo Adolfo; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; García Vivar, Cristina; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Objectives: To identify, critically appraise, and synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of digital health interventions to improve the quality of life or any of its four dimensions (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual) in women survivors of breast cancer who are in the extended or permanent survival stage. Data Sources: Systematic review—Four databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Conclusion: The clinical evidence shows a positive relationship or association between eHealth use and improved quality of life in breast cancer survivors at extended or permanent survival stage. However, the findings point to a deficit in the assessment of the social and spiritual domains that play a fundamental role in the quality of life of survivors. Implication for Nursing Practice: The findings found reflect implications of great value for nursing practice because these professionals are the main users of digital health tools to provide them to patients. Using these digital tools contributes to improving evidence-based practice and providing greater efficiency and effectiveness in the care of long-term cancer survivors.
Open Access
Mental health of spanish nurses working during the covid-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
(Wiley, 2022) San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Escalada Hernández, Paula; Soto Ruiz, María Nelia; Ferraz Torres, Marta; Rodríguez Matesanz, Irati; García Vivar, Cristina; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak; Gobierno de Navarra / Nafarroako Gobernua
Aim. To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses working in primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare centers in Navarre (Spain). Background. Healthcare workers, especially nurses, are at high risk for developing mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduction. Spain ranks among the European countries with the highest incidence of and mortality from COVID-19 and has a 31% deficit in the number of nurses compared with the average for the European Union. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study involving 800 Registered Nurses in Navarre, Spain. Four standardized instruments, along with a self-administered online questionnaire, were used to measure the impact in terms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was used to report this study. Results. Of the 800 nurses, 68% had some level of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, and of these, 38% had moderate or severe symptoms. Those who worked in hospital COVID units and in nursing homes showed a higher impact on their mental health. Discussion. The sustained pressure that nurses have experienced in their work during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected their mental health. Conclusion. This study found that nurses who worked in hospital COVID units and in nursing homes during the pandemic had worse mental health outcomes. Implications for nursing/policy. Recommendations for nursing policy include the need to implement coaching and emotional programs to support nurses on the frontlines of the pandemic. There is also an urgent need for the implementation of national training programs to strengthen health emergency preparedness, improve response capacity, and increase the resilience of nurses to disasters.
Open Access
Infant mortality in the European Union: a time trend analysis of the 1994-2015 period
(Elsevier España, 2019) Onambele, Luc; San Martín Rodríguez, Leticia; Niu, Hao; Álvarez Álvarez, Ismael; Arnedo Pena, Alberto; Guillén Grima, Francisco; Aguinaga Ontoso, Inés; Ciencias de la Salud; Osasun Zientziak
Introducción: La mortalidad infantil es un indicador de la salud infantil y una variable explicativa del desarrollo socioeconómico. Nuestro objetivo fue examinar los cambios y tendencias de la mortalidad infantil en la Unión Europea (UE) y sus 28 países miembros en el período 1994-2015. Métodos: Se recopilaron datos de muertes de niños menores de un año entre 1994 y 2015 de la base de datos Eurostat. Estudiamos las tendencias en la UE, por países y regiones, utilizando elanálisis de regresión joinpoint. Se condujeron análisis adicionales para estudiar las tendencias de mortalidad neonatal y neonatal precoz. Resultados: La mortalidad infantil en la UE ha disminuido significativamente de 8.3 a 3.6 por 1.000 (porcentaje de cambio anual = −3.8%, intervalos de confianza del 95% −4.1; −3.6). Las tasas de mortalidad más altas se registraron en Rumanía y Bulgaria, y las tasas más bajas en países escandinavos (Finlandia, Suecia). Se encontraron tendencias descendentes significativas en los países de la UE, más pronunciadas en los países bálticos exsoviéticos y países de Europa oriental, mientras que los países de Europa occidental mostraron los descensos menos pronunciados. La mortalidad infantil ha aumentado significativamente en Grecia en los últimos años,mientras que en el Reino Unido e Irlanda las tasas se han estabilizado. Conclusiones: La mortalidad infantil ha disminuido en la UE y sus países en las últimas décadas, más pronunciadamente en los países de Europa oriental y los países bálticos exsoviéticos, mientras que en varios países de Europa occidental las tasas aumentaron o se han estabilizado enlos últimos años.