Barreras para la utilización de la investigación: estudio descriptivo en profesionales de Enfermería en un hospital del sudoeste de Madrid

Objetivos. Identificar las situaciones, circunstancias o barreras que dificultan a la enfermería utilizar los resultados de las investigaciones en el Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (HUFA), así como sus facilitadores. Objetivos específicos. Evaluar si existen diferencias en la puntuación de la escala THE BARRIERS en función de las distintas variables estudiadas. Métodos. Estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal durante mayo 2014. La población de estudio fueron todas las enfermeras que trabajan en el HUFA. El cuestionario que incluye la escala THE BARRIERS de S.Funk et al. se facilitó mediante una encuesta on-line distribuida a través del correo corporativo del hospital. Resultados. Respondieron 69 enfermeras (16%), fueron válidas 67 encuestas. Las barreras identificadas con mayor puntuación fueron: "La enfermera desconoce las investigaciones" media=3.33 (DE=0.89); y "Los médicos no colaboran en la implementación" media=3.26 (DE=0.86). Se encuentran diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la suma de la escala THE BARRIERS en función de la experiencia como enfermera, la formación post-grado, y haber realizado investigaciones previas. No se encuentran diferencias significativas en función del resto de variables. Conclusiones. Aunque la falta de tiempo se identifica como la principal barrera para la investigación en la mayoría de los estudios, aquí aparece por detrás de otras como el desconocimiento de las investigaciones, la falta de colaboración, o que la información no está recogida en un solo lugar. Sin embargo el tiempo aparece como una de las principales barreras en las respuestas de texto libre.

El estrés laboral del personal de sala de operaciones del Hospital Nacional General "Dr. Jorge Arturo Mena" Santiago de María, Usulután, año 2015

El estrés laboral se presenta como una serie de reacciones físicas y emocionales que ocurren cuando las exigencias del trabajo no igualan las capacidades, los recursos o necesidades del profesional en anestesia y enfermería. Cuando éste se torna excesivo superando la tolerancia del organismo llevando consigo graves consecuencias como desgaste en la salud, actuación profesionalmente pobre, repercusión en la seguridad del paciente, en la vida familiar, deterioro psíquico-emocional. El objetivo es identificar el nivel estrés que presenta el personal de sala de operaciones que labora en el Hospital Nacional General "Dr. Jorge Arturo Mena" Santiago de María, y así conocer sintomatología psicosomática y nivel de estrés. La metodología utilizada en el estudio fue la hipotética deductiva. Para la recolección de la información se hizo uso de un cuestionario integrado inicialmente por datos generales y además un test psicológico dirigido al estrés laboral en profesionales de anestesiología y enfermería el cual consta: el cuestionario EAE está formado por 50 preguntas el cual midió el nivel de estrés laboral en el que se encontró el personal de anestesia y enfermería. La población fue constituida por 15 profesionales en anestesiología y 15 profesionales de enfermería que trabajan en el Hospital Nacional general "Dr. Jorge Arturo Mena" Santiago de María, Usulután, y tomando en cuenta es una población pequeña se incluyeron a todos los sujetos en el estudio. Los resultados fueron procesados mediante el Programa Estadístico Para las Ciencias Sociales (SPSS) versión 19, con el que se realizaron tablas de frecuencia y la prueba U de Mann Whitney, obteniendo que la mayoría de anestesistas tienen nivel de estrés bajo y en el personal de enfermería prevalece el nivel de estrés medio.

Efectividad del sulfato de magnesio como coadyuvante de la anestesia general, en pacientes de cirugía atendidos en el Hospital Nacional "San Juan de Dios" de la ciudad de San Miguel de julio a noviembre del 2014

Esta investigación nace como respuesta a la necesidad de nuevas propuestas, que generen mayores beneficios a los pacientes, el personal médico, y paramédico de anestesiología en las instituciones hospitalarias. Se formuló el Tema: "Efectividad del sulfato de magnesio como coadyuvante de la anestesia general, en pacientes de cirugía atendidos en el hospital San Juan de Dios". A través de este estudio se pretende comprobar si el sulfato de magnesio es efectivo como coadyuvante durante la inducción de la anestesia general para verificar si existen mas ventajas, con el uso de este medicamento, por tal razón se tiene como Objetivos. Efectividad del sulfato de magnesio para, disminuir el uso de relajantes musculares, estabilidad del sistema cardiovascular, disminución del tiempo de inicio y aumento del tiempo de duración de los relajantes musculares y si este también disminuye la presencia de laringoespasmo y Broncoespasmo. La Metodología: fue construida en base a los tipos, de campo y ensayo clínico controlado. La población tomada para el estudio fue de 50 pacientes que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y se dividieron en dos grupos de 25 cada uno. Haciendo uso de una guía de observación se recolecto información acerca del comportamiento del uso del sulfato de magnesio Resultados: se procedió al análisis estadístico haciendo uso de pruebas estadísticas realizadas por el programa SPSS versión 19, determinando que: el sulfato de magnesio fue efectivo como coadyuvante durante la inducción de la anestesia general en pacientes sometidos a cirugía general en el Hospital Nacional San Juan de Dios, San Miguel.

Prevención de trombosis venosa en pacientes sometidos a cirugía general en el Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso durante el período de julio a septiembre del 2004

Se determina el porcentaje de trombosis venosa en pacientes sometidos a cirugía general del HVCM de la ciudad de Cuenca. Los datos biográficos indican, que la aparición de trombosis venosa sin profilaxis en pacientes sometidos a cirugía general, oscilan entre 25 y 30. En el medio no existen estudios relacionados con esta aplicación. Se trata de un ensayo clínico aleatorio abierto, entre dos grupos comparativos cada uno compuesto por 70 pacientes con riesgo moderado y alto de sufrir trombosis venosa, asignados mediante randomización. Se estableció, un margen de error alfa del 5, un intervalo de confianza del 95, y un error tipo II del 20para una potencia estadística del 80. El grupo uno recibió profilaxis para evitar trombosis venosa, siguiendo las normas internacionales establecidas por él

Determinación de la eficacia de la profilaxis antibiótica en pacientes con heridas limpias y limpias contaminadas, servicio de cirugía general. Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso, Cuenca-Ecuador 2007: estudio a realizarse en patología biliar, apendicular y herniaria

Se realizó un estudio transversal; en un universo de 385 pacientes. Los datos se obtuvieron por entrevista directa y se analizaron con el software Excel y Epi-Infor, Resultados: la prevalencia de infección del sistio de la herida quirúrgica fue del 10.6% (IC 95% 9.03-12.17). La mayoría fueron de sexo femenino; la edad varió entre los 16 y 87 años. La asociación entre infección del sitio de la herida quirúrgica con cirugía de emergencia proporcionó una p=0.0019 (IC 95% de la RP 1.10-3,99); con cirugía convencional p=0.778 (IC 95% de RP 0.61-1,95); con herida limpia p=0.238 (IC 95% de RP 0.10-1.55); con la utilización de cefazolina p=0.023 (IC 95% de la RP 0.09-0.94) y con el tiempo quirúrgico menos de una hora p=o.000 (IC 95% de RP 0.01-0.32). Conclusión: la prevalencia de ainfección del sitio de la herida quirúrgica fue del 10.6% (IC 95% 0.03-12,17). La cirugía de emergencia fue factor de riesgo para infección del sitio de la herida quirúrgica y la cefazolina, utilizado como antibiótico profiláctico, y el tiempo quirúrgico, menos de una hora, fueron factores de protección

Manejo de la vía aérea en anestesia general estudio comparativo del uso de máscara laríngea vs. tubo endotraqueal en pediatría, Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso, Cuenca 2001

Con el objetivo de comparar las variaciones de frecuencia cardíaca, tensión arterial, oximetría de pulso, consumo de halotano y complicaciones en dos grupos de niïños de hasta 20 kg de pso a los que administró anestesia general ya sea con intubación endotraqueal o con mascarilla laríngea, se realizó un estudio clínico controlado aleatorizado. Se asignaron aleatoriamente dos grupos iguales de 50 niños en el Hospital VCM, desde enero del 200 a junio del 2001, sometidos a procedimientos quirúrgicos bajo anestesia general inhalatoria con halotano. En el grupo TES se utilizó intubación endotraqueal y en el grupo LMA únicamente mascarilla laríngea. Se midió hemodinamia, oximetría de pulso y consumo de halotano. Resultados:Los grupos fueron comparables en las variables demográficas a excepción del sexo, variable sin repercusión en la prueba de hipótesis. Las diferencias de frecuencia cardíaca y tensión arterial, entre los grupos, no fueron estadísticamente significativas, pero si lo fue la oximetría de pulso con valores más altos en el grupo LMA (p<0.05). El consumo de halotano fue similar. La depresión respiratoria fue más frecuente en el grupo TET (18vs 8). En ambos grupos hubo espasmo de glotis (4) y un caso (2) de vómito en el grupo TET. Ninguna de las diferencias fueron estadísticamente significativas. Conclusiones: el manejo de la vía aérea con LMZ es una alternativa de utilidad comparable a la intubación endotraqueal atendiendo a las indicaciones precisas de su uso. La LMA es un dispositivo idóneo, no invasivo, versátil, de gran ayuda en pacientes con y sin ventilación aérea difícil que debe ser incluido en el arsenal del anestesiólogo

Alteraciones de la glucemia en anestesia general con halotano vs. fentanyl. Hospital José Carrasco Arteaga (IESS).1997

Se realiza un estudio clínico cuasi experimental, de valoración comparativa entre dos métodos anestésicos: Halotano vs. Fentanyl, en pacientes sometidos a cirugía, en el hospital José Carrasco Arteaga [IESS] de la ciudad de Cuenca, durante el año 1997. Se conformaron dos grupos de 50 pacientes, de 15 a 64 años de edad. El primer grupo recibió dosis respuesta de halotano y el segundo grupo que recibió fentanyl fue a dosis de 5 mcg/kg para la inducción y bolos de 50 al 100 mcg cada 15 a 30 minutos para mantenimiento. Se hicieron determinaciones de glucemia durante el pre, trans y posoperatorio, utilizando el glucotest [tiras reactivas]. Se concluye que cuando el anestésico utilizado es el fentanyl los niveles de glucosa difieren significativamente en el trans y posoperatorio, en comparación con el grupo de pacientes a los que se les administró halotana. [p<0.001] se sugiere el uso de TIVA: fentanyl por la analgesia y protección neurovegetativa, dando seguridad y eficiencia al paciente y al anestesiólogo. Además recomendamos realizar estudios en pacientes diabéticos o sometidos a alto estrés quirúrgico. Se acompaña bibliografía actualizada sobre el tema

Respuesta cardiovascular a la intubación endotraqueal con remifentanil vs. fentanil, en pacientes programados para cirugía general, Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso, Cuenca, 2002-2003

Ensayo clínico, controlado, aleatorizado y simple ciego, que compara la efectividad de los opioides remifentanil vs. fentanil en la laringoscopía e intubación endotraqueal; en 139 pacientes programados para cirugía, bajo anestesia general, en el Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso de la ciudad de Cuenca, los que fueron asignados aleatoriamente en 2 grupos de 68 pacientes cada uno, siguiendo criterios de inclusión y exclusión, previo contentimiento informado. Se procedió a la inducción anestésica, siguiendo normas preestablecidas, el grupo control recibió 5 ug/Kg de fentanyl y el grupo de estudio recibió 1 ug/Kg en bolo, para la inducción, proporcionó mejor estabilidad durante el primer y segundo minuto postintubación a diferencia del fentanyl. La seguridad sobre la protección neurovegetativa proporcionada por los opioides ha sido ampliamente demostrada y el remifentanyl como una de las substancias de más reciente uso y de mayor potenticia que sus predecesores, confirma estas propiedades. Las complicaciones estuvieron dentro de lo esperado y fueron resueltas adecuadamente. La mortalidad fue nula

Pretreatment malnutrition and quality of life - association with prolonged length of hospital stay among patients with gynecological cancer: A cohort study

Background Length of hospital stay (LOS) is a surrogate marker for patients' well-being during hospital treatment and is associated with health care costs. Identifying pretreatment factors associated with LOS in surgical patients may enable early intervention in order to reduce postoperative LOS. Methods This cohort study enrolled 157 patients with suspected or proven gynecological cancer at a tertiary cancer centre (2004-2006). Before commencing treatment, the scored Patient Generated - Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) measuring nutritional status and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) scale measuring quality of life (QOL) were completed. Clinical and demographic patient characteristics were prospectively obtained. Patients were grouped into those with prolonged LOS if their hospital stay was greater than the median LOS and those with average or below average LOS. Results Patients' mean age was 58 years (SD 14 years). Preoperatively, 81 (52%) patients presented with suspected benign disease/pelvic mass, 23 (15%) with suspected advanced ovarian cancer, 36 (23%) patients with suspected endometrial and 17 (11%) with cervical cancer, respectively. In univariate models prolonged LOS was associated with low serum albumin or hemoglobin, malnutrition (PG-SGA score and PG-SGA group B or C), low pretreatment FACT-G score, and suspected diagnosis of cancer. In multivariable models, PG-SGA group B or C, FACT-G score and suspected diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer independently predicted LOS. Conclusions Malnutrition, low quality of life scores and being diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer are the major determinants of prolonged LOS amongst gynecological cancer patients. Interventions addressing malnutrition and poor QOL may decrease LOS in gynecological cancer patients.

Evaluation of financial incentives as a quality improvement strategy in the public hospital context : clinician attitudes, design variables, and economic costs

In 2008, a three-year pilot ‘pay for performance’ (P4P) program, known as ‘Clinical Practice Improvement Payment’ (CPIP) was introduced into Queensland Health (QHealth). QHealth is a large public health sector provider of acute, community, and public health services in Queensland, Australia. The organisation has recently embarked on a significant reform agenda including a review of existing funding arrangements (Duckett et al., 2008). Partly in response to this reform agenda, a casemix funding model has been implemented to reconnect health care funding with outcomes. CPIP was conceptualised as a performance-based scheme that rewarded quality with financial incentives. This is the first time such a scheme has been implemented into the public health sector in Australia with a focus on rewarding quality, and it is unique in that it has a large state-wide focus and includes 15 Districts. CPIP initially targeted five acute and community clinical areas including Mental Health, Discharge Medication, Emergency Department, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Stroke. The CPIP scheme was designed around key concepts including the identification of clinical indicators that met the set criteria of: high disease burden, a well defined single diagnostic group or intervention, significant variations in clinical outcomes and/or practices, a good evidence, and clinician control and support (Ward, Daniels, Walker & Duckett, 2007). This evaluative research targeted Phase One of implementation of the CPIP scheme from January 2008 to March 2009. A formative evaluation utilising a mixed methodology and complementarity analysis was undertaken. The research involved three research questions and aimed to determine the knowledge, understanding, and attitudes of clinicians; identify improvements to the design, administration, and monitoring of CPIP; and determine the financial and economic costs of the scheme. Three key studies were undertaken to ascertain responses to the key research questions. Firstly, a survey of clinicians was undertaken to examine levels of knowledge and understanding and their attitudes to the scheme. Secondly, the study sought to apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) to the process indicators to assess if this enhanced the scheme and a third study examined a simple economic cost analysis. The CPIP Survey of clinicians elicited 192 clinician respondents. Over 70% of these respondents were supportive of the continuation of the CPIP scheme. This finding was also supported by the results of a quantitative altitude survey that identified positive attitudes in 6 of the 7 domains-including impact, awareness and understanding and clinical relevance, all being scored positive across the combined respondent group. SPC as a trending tool may play an important role in the early identification of indicator weakness for the CPIP scheme. This evaluative research study supports a previously identified need in the literature for a phased introduction of Pay for Performance (P4P) type programs. It further highlights the value of undertaking a formal risk assessment of clinician, management, and systemic levels of literacy and competency with measurement and monitoring of quality prior to a phased implementation. This phasing can then be guided by a P4P Design Variable Matrix which provides a selection of program design options such as indicator target and payment mechanisms. It became evident that a clear process is required to standardise how clinical indicators evolve over time and direct movement towards more rigorous ‘pay for performance’ targets and the development of an optimal funding model. Use of this matrix will enable the scheme to mature and build the literacy and competency of clinicians and the organisation as implementation progresses. Furthermore, the research identified that CPIP created a spotlight on clinical indicators and incentive payments of over five million from a potential ten million was secured across the five clinical areas in the first 15 months of the scheme. This indicates that quality was rewarded in the new QHealth funding model, and despite issues being identified with the payment mechanism, funding was distributed. The economic model used identified a relative low cost of reporting (under $8,000) as opposed to funds secured of over $300,000 for mental health as an example. Movement to a full cost effectiveness study of CPIP is supported. Overall the introduction of the CPIP scheme into QHealth has been a positive and effective strategy for engaging clinicians in quality and has been the catalyst for the identification and monitoring of valuable clinical process indicators. This research has highlighted that clinicians are supportive of the scheme in general; however, there are some significant risks that include the functioning of the CPIP payment mechanism. Given clinician support for the use of a pay–for-performance methodology in QHealth, the CPIP scheme has the potential to be a powerful addition to a multi-faceted suite of quality improvement initiatives within QHealth.

Timeliness and Clinical Impact of Hospital-Initiated Medication Reviews

Background: Medication-related problems often occur in the immediate post-discharge period. To reduce medication misadventure the Commonwealth Government funds home medicines reviews (HMRs). HMRs are initiated when general practitioners refer consenting patients to their community pharmacists, who then engage accredited pharmacists to review patients' medicines in their homes. Aim: To determine if hospital-initiated medication reviews (HIMRs) can be implemented in a more timely manner than HMRs; and to assess the impact of a bespoke referral form with comorbidity-specific questions on the quality of reports. Method: Eligible medical inpatients at risk of medication misadventure were referred by the hospital liaison pharmacist to participating accredited pharmacists post-discharge from hospital. Social, demographic and laboratory data were collected from medical records and during interviews with consenting patients. Issues raised in the HIMR reports were categorised: intervention/action, information given or recommendation, and assigned a rank of clinical significance. Results: HIMRs were conducted within 11.6 6.6 days postdischarge. 36 HIMR reports were evaluated and 1442 issues identified - information given (n = 1204), recommendations made (n = 88) and actions taken (n = 150). The majority of issues raised (89%) had a minor clinical impact. The bespoke referral form prompted approximately half of the issues raised. Conclusion: HIMRs can be facilitated in a more timely manner than post-discharge HMRs. There was an associated positive clinical impact of issues raised in the HIMR reports.

Demand for public hospital emergency department services in Australia : 2000–2001 to 2009–2010

Objective: Hospital EDs are a significant and high-profile component of Australia’s health-care system, which in recent years have experienced considerable crowding. This crowding is caused by the combination of increasing demand, throughput and output factors. The aim of the present article is to clarify trends in the use of public ED services across Australia with a view to providing an evidence basis for future policy analysis and discussion. Methods: The data for the present article have been extracted, compiled and analysed from publicly available sources for a 10 year period between 2000–2001 and 2009–2010. Results: Demand for public ED care increased by 37% over the decade, an average annual increase of 1.8% in the utilization rate per 1000 persons. There were significant differences in utilization rates and in trends in growth among states and territories that do not easily relate to general population trends alone. Conclusions: This growth in demand exceeds general population growth, and the variability between states both in utilization rates and overall trends defies immediate explanation. The growth in demand for ED services is a partial contributor to the crowding being experienced in EDs across Australia. There is a need for more detailed study, including qualitative analysis of patient motivations in order to identify the factors driving this growth in demand.

Hospital outpatient responses to potential driving impairment due to prescribed medications

Driving and using prescription medicines that have the potential to impair driving is an emerging research area. To date it is characterised by a limited (although growing) number of studies and methodological complexities that make generalisations about impairment due to medications difficult. Consistent evidence has been found for the impairing effects of hypnotics, sedative antidepressants and antihistamines, and narcotic analgesics, although it has been estimated that as many as nine medication classes have the potential to impair driving (Alvarez & del Rio, 2000; Walsh, de Gier, Christopherson, & Verstraete, 2004). There is also evidence for increased negative effects related to concomitant use of other medications and alcohol (Movig et al., 2004; Pringle, Ahern, Heller, Gold, & Brown, 2005). Statistics on the high levels of Australian prescription medication use suggest that consumer awareness of driving impairment due to medicines should be examined. One web-based study has found a low level of awareness, knowledge and risk perceptions among Australian drivers about the impairing effects of various medications on driving (Mallick, Johnston, Goren, & Kennedy, 2007). The lack of awareness and knowledge brings into question the effectiveness of the existing countermeasures. In Australia these consist of the use of ancillary warning labels administered under mandatory regulation and professional guidelines, advice to patients, and the use of Consumer Medicines Information (CMI) with medications that are known to cause impairment. The responsibility for the use of the warnings and related counsel to patients primarily lies with the pharmacist when dispensing relevant medication. A review by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) noted that in practice, advice to patients may not occur and that CMI is not always available (TGA, 2002). Researchers have also found that patients' recall of verbal counsel is very low (Houts, Bachrach, Witmer, Tringali, Bucher, & Localio, 1998). With healthcare observed as increasingly being provided in outpatient conditions (Davis et al., 2006; Vingilis & MacDonald, 2000), establishing the effectiveness of the warning labels as a countermeasure is especially important. There have been recent international developments in medication categorisation systems and associated medication warning labels. In 2005, France implemented a four-tier medication categorisation and warning system to improve patients' and health professionals' awareness and knowledge of related road safety issues (AFSSAPS, 2005). This warning system uses a pictogram and indicates the level of potential impairment in relation to driving performance through the use of colour and advice on the recommended behaviour to adopt towards driving. The comparable Australian system does not indicate the severity level of potential effects, and does not provide specific guidelines on the attitude or actions that the individual should adopt towards driving. It is reliant upon the patient to be vigilant in self-monitoring effects, to understand the potential ways in which they may be affected and how serious these effects may be, and to adopt the appropriate protective actions. This thesis investigates the responses of a sample of Australian hospital outpatients who receive appropriate labelling and counselling advice about potential driving impairment due to prescribed medicines. It aims to provide baseline data on the understanding and use of relevant medications by a Queensland public hospital outpatient sample recruited through the hospital pharmacy. It includes an exploration and comparison of the effect of the Australian and French medication warning systems on medication user knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviour, and explores whether there are areas in which the Australian system may be improved by including any beneficial elements of the French system. A total of 358 outpatients were surveyed, and a follow-up telephone survey was conducted with a subgroup of consenting participants who were taking at least one medication that required an ancillary warning label about driving impairment. A complementary study of 75 French hospital outpatients was also conducted to further investigate the performance of the warnings. Not surprisingly, medication use among the Australian outpatient sample was high. The ancillary warning labels required to appear on medications that can impair driving were prevalent. A subgroup of participants was identified as being potentially at-risk of driving impaired, based on their reported recent use of medications requiring an ancillary warning label and level of driving activity. The sample reported previous behaviour and held future intentions that were consistent with warning label advice and health protective action. Participants did not express a particular need for being advised by a health professional regarding fitness to drive in relation to their medication. However, it was also apparent from the analysis that the participants would be significantly more likely to follow advice from a doctor than a pharmacist. High levels of knowledge in terms of general principles about effects of alcohol, illicit drugs and combinations of substances, and related health and crash risks were revealed. This may reflect a sample specific effect. Emphasis is placed in the professional guidelines for hospital pharmacists that make it essential that advisory labels are applied to medicines where applicable and that warning advice is given to all patients on medication which may affect driving (SHPA, 2006, p. 221). The research program applied selected theoretical constructs from Schwarzer's (1992) Health Action Process Approach, which has extended constructs from existing health theories such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) to better account for the intention-behaviour gap often observed when predicting behaviour. This was undertaken to explore the utility of the constructs in understanding and predicting compliance intentions and behaviour with the mandatory medication warning about driving impairment. This investigation revealed that the theoretical constructs related to intention and planning to avoid driving if an effect from the medication was noticed were useful. Not all the theoretical model constructs that had been demonstrated to be significant predictors in previous research on different health behaviours were significant in the present analyses. Positive outcome expectancies from avoiding driving were found to be important influences on forming the intention to avoid driving if an effect due to medication was noticed. In turn, intention was found to be a significant predictor of planning. Other selected theoretical constructs failed to predict compliance with the Australian warning label advice. It is possible that the limited predictive power of a number of constructs including risk perceptions is due to the small sample size obtained at follow up on which the evaluation is based. Alternately, it is possible that the theoretical constructs failed to sufficiently account for issues of particular relevance to the driving situation. The responses of the Australian hospital outpatient sample towards the Australian and French medication warning labels, which differed according to visual characteristics and warning message, were examined. In addition, a complementary study with a sample of French hospital outpatients was undertaken in order to allow general comparisons concerning the performance of the warnings. While a large amount of research exists concerning warning effectiveness, there is little research that has specifically investigated medication warnings relating to driving impairment. General established principles concerning factors that have been demonstrated to enhance warning noticeability and behavioural compliance have been extrapolated and investigated in the present study. The extent to which there is a need for education and improved health messages on this issue was a core issue of investigation in this thesis. Among the Australian sample, the size of the warning label and text, and red colour were the most visually important characteristics. The pictogram used in the French labels was also rated highly, and was salient for a large proportion of the sample. According to the study of French hospital outpatients, the pictogram was perceived to be the most important visual characteristic. Overall, the findings suggest that the Australian approach of using a combination of visual characteristics was important for the majority of the sample but that the use of a pictogram could enhance effects. A high rate of warning recall was found overall and a further important finding was that higher warning label recall was associated with increased number of medication classes taken. These results suggest that increased vigilance and care are associated with the number of medications taken and the associated repetition of the warning message. Significantly higher levels of risk perception were found for the French Level 3 (highest severity) label compared with the comparable mandatory Australian ancillary Label 1 warning. Participants' intentions related to the warning labels indicated that they would be more cautious while taking potentially impairing medication displaying the French Level 3 label compared with the Australian Label 1. These are potentially important findings for the Australian context regarding the current driving impairment warnings about displayed on medication. The findings raise other important implications for the Australian labelling context. An underlying factor may be the differences in the wording of the warning messages that appear on the Australian and French labels. The French label explicitly states "do not drive" while the Australian label states "if affected, do not drive", and the difference in responses may reflect that less severity is perceived where the situation involves the consumer's self-assessment of their impairment. The differences in the assignment of responsibility by the Australian (the consumer assesses and decides) and French (the doctor assesses and decides) approaches for the decision to drive while taking medication raises the core question of who is most able to assess driving impairment due to medication: the consumer, or the health professional? There are pros and cons related to knowledge, expertise and practicalities with either option. However, if the safety of the consumer is the primary aim, then the trend towards stronger risk perceptions and more consistent and cautious behavioural intentions in relation to the French label suggests that this approach may be more beneficial for consumer safety. The observations from the follow-up survey, although based on a small sample size and descriptive in nature, revealed that just over half of the sample recalled seeing a warning label about driving impairment on at least one of their medications. The majority of these respondents reported compliance with the warning advice. However, the results indicated variation in responses concerning alcohol intake and modifying the dose of medication or driving habits so that they could continue to drive, which suggests that the warning advice may not be having the desired impact. The findings of this research have implications for current countermeasures in this area. These have included enhancing the role that prescribing doctors have in providing warnings and advice to patients about the impact that their medication can have on driving, increasing consumer perceptions of the authority of pharmacists on this issue, and the reinforcement of the warning message. More broadly, it is suggested that there would be benefit in a wider dissemination of research-based information on increased crash risk and systematic monitoring and publicity about the representation of medications in crashes resulting in injuries and fatalities. Suggestions for future research concern the continued investigation of the effects of medications and interactions with existing medical conditions and other substances on driving skills, effects of variations in warning label design, individual behaviours and characteristics (particularly among those groups who are dependent upon prescription medication) and validation of consumer self-assessment of impairment.

A randomised controlled trial to prevent hospital readmissions and loss of functional ability in high risk older adults: a study protocol

Background Older people have higher rates of hospital admission than the general population and higher rates of readmission due to complications and falls. During hospitalisation, older people experience significant functional decline which impairs their future independence and quality of life. Acute hospital services comprise the largest section of health expenditure in Australia and prevention or delay of disease is known to produce more effective use of services. Current models of discharge planning and follow-up care, however, do not address the need to prevent deconditioning or functional decline. This paper describes the protocol of a randomised controlled trial which aims to evaluate innovative transitional care strategies to reduce unplanned readmissions and improve functional status, independence, and psycho-social well-being of community-based older people at risk of readmission. Methods/Design The study is a randomised controlled trial. Within 72 hours of hospital admission, a sample of older adults fitting the inclusion/exclusion criteria (aged 65 years and over, admitted with a medical diagnosis, able to walk independently for 3 meters, and at least one risk factor for readmission) are randomised into one of four groups: 1) the usual care control group, 2) the exercise and in-home/telephone follow-up intervention group, 3) the exercise only intervention group, or 4) the in-home/telephone follow-up only intervention group. The usual care control group receive usual discharge planning provided by the health service. In addition to usual care, the exercise and in-home/telephone follow-up intervention group receive an intervention consisting of a tailored exercise program, in-home visit and 24 week telephone follow-up by a gerontic nurse. The exercise only and in-home/telephone follow-up only intervention groups, in addition to usual care receive only the exercise or gerontic nurse components of the intervention respectively. Data collection is undertaken at baseline within 72 hours of hospital admission, 4 weeks following hospital discharge, 12 weeks following hospital discharge, and 24 weeks following hospital discharge. Outcome assessors are blinded to group allocation. Primary outcomes are emergency hospital readmissions and health service use, functional status, psychosocial well-being and cost effectiveness. Discussion The acute hospital sector comprises the largest component of health care system expenditure in developed countries, and older adults are the most frequent consumers. There are few trials to demonstrate effective models of transitional care to prevent emergency readmissions, loss of functional ability and independence in this population following an acute hospital admission. This study aims to address that gap and provide information for future health service planning which meets client needs and lowers the use of acute care services.

What relationships exist between general self efficacy, locus of control and the nursing practice environment and caring efficacy and job satisfaction?

Research Question: What relationships exist between general self efficacy, locus of control and the nursing practice environment and caring efficacy and job satisfaction? Background: Important characteristics of current nursing practice include nurses having the ability to develop and continue therapeutic relationships with patients, nurses having autonomy and control over the practice environment and nurses having more involvement in decision making. In addition, employee satisfaction is enhanced when organisations offer access to authority. Despite this, nurses continue to complain of feeling powerless in their ability to make decisions. Sample: The study population and criteria for selection included Registered Nurses in Australia who were at the time members of an Australian professional and industrial organisation. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and bivariate statistics, and structural equation modeling. Results: The model fit the data well (χ² = 2.3594, χ²/df = 2.3594 and CFI = 0.9987). Twenty four percent of variation in caring efficacy (CE) can be accounted for by general self-efficacy (GSE); work locus of control (WLC) and practice environment (PE) and 62% of the variation in job satisfaction (JS) can be accounted for by GSE, WLC and PE. All pathways were found to be significant except PE to CE. GSE positively explained CE (β = 0.38). WLC was negatively related to CE i.e., as CE scores increased WLC scores decreased (β = -0.23). Further testing of the model found CE was positively related to GSE (βZ = 0.38, p < 0.001) and negatively related to WLC (βZ = - 0.23, p = 0.001). PE was not significantly associated with CE (βZ = - 0.01, p = 0.85). JS was explained by PE, which was positively related (βZ = 0.69, p = < 0.001); GSE which was negatively related (βZ - 0 .09, p < 0.001) and WLC, which was also negatively related (βZ = - 0.20, p < 0.001). Implications for Practice Nursing and organisational leaders should ensure the development of strategies for professional development and orientation programmes which may enhance nurses’ ability to develop caring relationships and express caring behaviours to their patients and as a result improve organisational and patient outcomes. Nursing shortages and turnover rates are associated with job satisfaction and the nursing practice environment. Improving the nursing environment can produce benefits to the health system such as better job satisfaction, improved workforce retention and better patient outcomes.