Attitudes of nurses toward baccalaureate education

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University, 1963

Contribuições da pesquisa qualitativa para a prática de enfermagem baseada em evidências

AIM: This article aims to identify the contributions of qualitative research to evidence-based practice in nursing. BACKGROUND: Qualitative research dates back to the 1920s and 1930s, when anthropologists and sociologists used qualitative research methods to study human phenomena in naturalistic settings and from a holistic viewpoint. Afterwards, other subject matters, including nursing, adopted qualitative methods to answer their research questions. The restructuring of health care over the past decade has brought about increased accountability in nursing research. One method for increasing this accountability is evidence-based practice. METHOD: The method used was a search in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature database from 1999-present. The search resulted in 61 citations for evidence-based practice in nursing research; however, only 5 citations focused on evidence-based practice and qualitative research. FINDINGS: The authors' findings revealed six contributions of qualitative research to evidence-based practice: generation of hypotheses; development and validation of instruments; provision of context for evaluation; development of nursing interventions; development of new research questions; and application of Qualitative Outcome Analysis. CONCLUSION: Qualitative research makes important contributions to the quality of evidence-based practice.OBJETIVO: Este artículo tiene como objetivo identificar las contribuciones de la investigación cualitativa para la práctica de la enfermería basada en evidencias. La investigación cualitativa fue estimulada especialmente a partir de los años 20 y 30 del siglo 20, cuando antropólogos y sociólogos empezaron a usar métodos cualitativos para estudiar el fenómeno humano en ambientes naturales y a partir de un punto de vista holístico. Con el tiempo, otras ciencias, como la enfermería, adoptaron métodos cualitativos para responder a sus preguntas de investigación. La reestructuración de la atención a la salud en la última década trajo consigo mayor confiabilidad atribuida a la investigación en enfermería. La práctica basada en evidencias ha contribuido con ese proceso. El método utilizado fue la investigación en el banco de datos Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature entre 1999 y el presente. La investigación mostró 61 citaciones de la práctica basada en evidencias relacionada con la investigación en Enfermería. Sin embargo, solamente 5 estaban centradas en la práctica basada en evidencias y la investigación cualitativa Los resultados de la investigación mostraron seis contribuciones de la investigación cualitativa para la práctica basada en evidencias: generación de hipótesis, desarrollo y validación de instrumentos, posibilidad de un contexto para evaluación, desarrollo de las intervenciones de enfermería, desarrollo de nuevas preguntas de investigación y aplicación del análisis del resultado cualitativo. La investigación cualitativa da importantes contribuciones para la calidad de la práctica basada en evidencias.OBJETIVO: Este artigo objetiva identificar as contribuições da pesquisa qualitativa para a prática de enfermagem baseada em evidências. HISTÓRICO: A pesquisa qualitativa foi estimulada especialmente a partir dos anos 20 e 30 do século 20, quando antropólogos e sociológicos passaram a usar métodos qualitativos para estudar o fenômeno humano em ambientes naturais e a partir de ponto de vista holístico. Posteriormente, outras ciências, inclusive a enfermagem, adotaram métodos qualitativos para responder às suas perguntas de pesquisa. A reestruturação da atenção à saúde na última década resultou em uma maior confiabilidade atribuída à pesquisa em enfermagem. A prática baseada em evidências favoreceu este processo. MÉTODO: O método utilizado foi a pesquisa no banco de dados Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature de 1999 até o presente. A pesquisa resultou em 61 citações da prática baseada em evidências relacionada à pesquisa em Enfermagem. Todavia, apenas 5 delas focava a prática baseada em evidências e a pesquisa qualitativa. ACHADOS: Os achados revelarem seis contribuições da pesquisa qualitativa para a prática baseada em evidências: geração de hipóteses, desenvolvimento e validação de instrumentos, possibilidade de um contexto para availação, desenvolvimento das intervenções de enfermagem, desenvolvimento de novas perguntas de pesquisa e aplicação da análise do resultado qualitativo. CONCLUSÃO: A pesquisa qualitativa resulta em importanes contribuições para a qualidade da prática baseada em evidências

Pseudo-Journale in der Medizin: E-Mailanalyse von Zustellungszeitpunkt, Inhalt und dem Zusammenhang mit der Publikationsleistung des Empfängers

Einleitung und Fragestellung: Die Methode des Open Access Publishing wird in den letzten Jahren zunehmend von sogenannten Pseudo-Journalen (Predatory Journals) als Geschäftsmodell missbraucht (Shen und Björk 2015). Pseudo-Journale erheben Veröffentlichungsgebühren, aber halten die versprochenen wissenschaftliche Standards im Publikationsprozess nicht ein (Cobey et al. 2018; Bohannon 2013). Pseudo-Journale kontaktieren Autoren, die als Kunden gewonnen werden sollen, meist per E-Mail (Laine und Winker 2017). In dieser Studie wurden E-Mails von Pseudo-Journalen analysiert, um die Akquise der publizierenden Wissenschaftler durch Pseudo-Journale besser zu verstehen und die Identifizierung von Pseudo-Journalen zukünftig zu erleichtern. Material und Methoden: Fünf wissenschaftlich tätige Ärzte der Universität zu Köln sammelten über einen dreimonatigen Zeitraum n=1643 E-Mails von möglichen Pseudo-Journalen. Es wurde die Frequenz sowie der Zustellungszeitpunkt der E-Mails untersucht. Außerdem wurden inhaltliche Aspekte, wie das gestellte Angebot und die Anforderungen an die Wissenschaftler erfasst. Qualitätsmerkmale des Peer Reviews und des Einreichungsprozesses wurden ebenfalls berücksichtigt. Die Anzahl der E-Mails jedes Teilnehmers wurde mit verschiedenen Parametern seiner wissenschaftlichen Aktivität verglichen. Ergebnis: Von den n=1643 E-Mails wurde der Großteil (57,7%) während üblicher Arbeitszeiten versendet (8 Uhr bis 16 Uhr). Aufforderungen zur Einreichung einer Publikation waren mit 68,8% am häufigsten. Die angegebene Dauer des Peer Reviews war mit einem Median von 21 Tagen sehr kurz. Die meisten Journale (83,0%) passten hinsichtlich ihrer Fachrichtung nicht zur Fachrichtung des Adressaten. Erhobene Publikationsgebühren waren meist rabattiert (81,2%). Es zeigte sich eine signifikante positive Korrelation (r=0,93; p=0,011) zwischen der Anzahl der erhaltenen E-Mails und dem Publikationsaktiviätsindex, der als Anzahl an Publikationen pro Monat definiert wurde. Schlussfolgerung: In dieser Studie konnte gezeigt werden, dass E-Mails möglicher Pseudo-Journale gemeinsame Merkmale aufweisen, die zur Verbesserung von Spamfiltern eingesetzt werden könnten. Außerdem stützt diese Studie die Vermutung, dass mit der Publikationsleistung eines Wissenschaftlers die Kontaktierungsfrequenz durch Pseudo-Journale steigt. Quellen: Bohannon J. Who’s afraid of peer review? Science 2013; 342: 60–65. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.342.6154.60. Cobey KD, Lalu MM, Skidmore B, Ahmadzai N, Grudniewicz A, Moher D. What is a predatory journal? A scoping review [version 2; referees: 3 approved]. F1000Research 2018; 7: 1001. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.15256.1. Laine C, Winker MA. Identifying predatory or pseudo-journals. Biochem Med (Zagreb) 2017; 27: 285–91. https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2017.031. Shen C, Björk B-C. ‘Predatory’ open access: a longitudinal study of article volumes and market characteristics. BioMed Central Medicine 2015; 13: 230. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-015-0469-2

A pesquisa em enfermagem na América Latina: 1988-1998

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of nursing research in Latin America during the decade from 1988 to 1998. Data from the bi-annual Pan American Colloquia in Nursing Research from 1988 to 1998 were subject to secondary analysis. Findings indicate that most of the research emanated from Brazil, the only country with a doctoral program in nursing in the 1990's. Research topics included: public health issues, clinical studies (usually of adults), nursing care studies of process, therapeutic communication, and administrative issues such as standards of care and quality. The most common design was descriptive quantitative, although there were several qualitative studies. The analysis provides directions for future research and indicates areas of concern, especially the need for theory based nursing research.El propósito de este artículo es ofrecer un panorama sobre la investigación en enfermería en América Latina durante la década de 1988 a 1998. La información reunida en los Coloquios Panamericanos de Investigación en Enfermería, que se celebran cada dos años, fue sometida a análisis secundario. Descubrimos que la mayor parte de las investigaciones emana del Brasil, el único país con un programa de doctorado en enfermería en los años noventa. Los tópicos de investigación incluyen asuntos de salud pública, estudios clínicos (normalmente de adultos), estudios del proceso de atención de enfermería, comunicación terapéutica y asuntos administrativos tales como normas de atención y calidad. El diseño más común fue el estudio cuantitativo descriptivo, aunque también encontramos varios estudios cualitativos. El análisis ofrece direcciones para futuras investigaciones e indica áreas de preocupación, especialmente la necesidad de una investigación en enfermería con base teórica.O objetivo do presente artigo é oferecer um panorama da pesquisa em enfermagem na América Latina realizada durante a década de 1988 a 1998. A informação reunida nos Colóquios Pan-Americanos de Pesquisa em Enfermagem, organizados a cada dois anos, foi submetida à análise secundária. Descobrimos que a maior parte das pesquisas foi produzida no Brasil, o único país com um programa de doutorado em enfermagem nos anos noventa. Os temas de pesquisa incluem tópicos de saúde pública, estudos clínicos (normalmente de adultos), estudos do processo de assistência de enfermagem, comunicação terapêutica e assuntos administrativos, tais como normas de cuidado e qualidade. O desenho mais comum foi o estudo quantitativo descritivo, mas também encontramos vários estudos qualitativos. A análise oferece direções para futuras pesquisas e indica áreas de preocupação, especialmente a necessidade de pesquisas de enfermagem com fundamentação teórica

Conceitos de anemia entre mulheres nicaragüenses de baixa renda

Anemia is a common health problem among women throughout the world, however, there has been minimal research on women's concepts of anemia. The purpose of this study was to examine concepts of anemia in low income Nicaraguan women. A qualitative design was used. Audio-taped open-ended interviews in Spanish with 14 women were used to obtain data. Tapes were transcribed and content analyzed. The findings indicate that few of the women had biomedically accurate concepts of anemia, such as that it was due to lack of iron from poor eating. Others held folk medical beliefs including home remedies, for example drinking the milk of a mare or beet juice and eating certain foods such as bean soup. Most of the women did not know any symptoms of anemia and a few reported that it can develop into leukemia. These concepts of anemia are instructive for nurses working with patients from Nicaragua and will be useful in developing nursing interventions to alleviate this public health problem.La anemia es un problema de salud común entre las mujeres alrededor del mundo, sin embargo, se han realizado pocas investigaciones sobre los conceptos de anemia entre las mujeres. El propósito de este estudio fue examinar los conceptos de anemia en mujeres Nicaragüenses de bajos ingresos económicos. La investigación fue de orden cualitativa. Para la recolección de datos, se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas, grabadas en castellano, con 14 mujeres. Las cintas grabadas fueron transcritas y se realizó un análisis de contenido. Los resultados indican que pocas mujeres poseen conocimientos biomédicos sobre anemia, por ejemplo, la ingestión de alimentos pobres en hierro. Otras expresaron creencias populares, como remedios caseros, ingestión de leche de yegua o jugo de remolacha y ciertos alimentos como sopa de judías. La mayoría de las mujeres no conocía ningún síntoma de anemia y pocas relataron que creían que esta enfermedad podría transformarse en leucemia. Estos conceptos de anemia son instructivos para las enfermeras que trabajan con pacientes en Nicaragua y será de mucha utilidad para desarrollar intervenciones de enfermería para aliviar este problema de salud pública.A anemia e um problema de saúde comum entre as mulheres de todo a mundo inteiro, mas tem havido um mínimo de investigação sobre os conceitos de anemia entre as mulheres. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de analisar os conceitos de anemia em mulheres nicaragüenses com baixos rendimentos. Foi utilizado um desenho qualitativo. Para a coleta de dados, entrevistas semi-estruturadas foram conduzidas, áudio gravadas em espanhol para 14 mulheres. As fitas foram transcritas e tornou-se uma análise conteúdo. Os resultados indicam que poucas mulheres possuem conhecimento biomédico preciso sobre anemia, tal como ingestão de alimentos pobre em ferro. Outras mantiveram outras crenças populares incluindo remédios caseiros, ingestão de leite de égua ou suco de beterraba e certos alimentos como sopa de feijão. A maioria das mulheres não conhecia nenhum sintoma de anemia e poucas relataram que pode progredir para leucemia. Estes conceitos de anemia são esclarecedores para os enfermeiros que trabalham com doentes na Nicarágua e que será muito útil para desenvolver intervenções de enfermagem para minorar o problema de saúde pública

Osteoporosis-related life habits and knowledge about osteoporosis among women in El Salvador: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder, characterized by reduced bone mass, deterioration of bone structure, increased bone fragility, and increased fracture risk. It is more frequent to find among women than men at a 4:1 ratio. Evidence suggests that to adopt changes on some life habits can prevent or delay development of osteoporosis. Several osteoporosis-risk factors have been confirmed in the US and western Europe, but in El Salvador there are neither reliable epidemiological statistics about this skeletal disorder nor studies addressing osteoporosis-risk factors in women. The aim of this study was to determinate the extent of osteoporosis knowledge, the levels of both daily calcium intake and weight-bearing physical activity, and the influence of several osteoporosis-risk factors on these variables in three age groups of Salvadorean women. METHODS: In this exploratory cross-sectional study, an osteoporosis knowledge assessment questionnaire incluiding a food frequency and a physical activity record section were used to collect data and it was delivered through a face-to-face interview. A convenience sample (n = 197) comprised of three groups of women aged 25–35 years, 36–49 years, and over 49 years was taken. Among-group comparisons of means were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. To determinate the overall influence of osteoporosis-risk factors, the multivariate analysis was used. RESULTS: Study results indicated that better educated women had more knowledge about osteoporosis than women with a low education level, regardless of age, even though this knowledge was rather fair. Older women got more weight-bearing physical activity at home and less at place of employment than reported by the younger women; however, neither group performed sufficient high-intensity WBPA to improve bone mass. Regardless of age, the most women consumed 60% or less than the Dietary Reference Intake of calcium and depend on household income, lactose intolerance and coffee rather than milk consumption. CONCLUSION: In summary, the majority of women in this study have modest knowledge on osteoporosis. The knowledge base is not linked to preventive health habits, including sufficient calcium intake and performance of weight-bearing physical activities. They are thus at increased risk for low bone mass

Patient Disclosure about Herb and Supplement Use among Adults in the US

Analyses of 2002 National Health Interview supplement on complementary and alternative medicine (NHI%AM) indicate that approximately 38 million adults in the US (18.9% of the population) used natural herbs or supplements in the preceding 12 months, but only one-third told their physician about this use. The objectives of this study are: (i) to determine subpopulation rates of patient–physician communication about herbal product and natural supplement use and (ii) to identify the relative influence of patient factors and interaction factors associated with patient-physician communication about herb and supplement use. Logistic secondary analysis was done by using the complementary and alternative medicine supplement of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Subjects were a random stratified sample of US adults who used herbs in the past 12 months (n = 5 196) and self-reported rates of disclosure to physicians about herb and supplement use. Results show that disclosure rates were significantly lower for males, younger adults, racial and ethnic minorities and less intensive users of medical care. Across subpopulations, disclosure was the exception rather than the norm. Given the potential risks of delayed or inappropriate treatment and adverse drug reactions and interactions, physicians should be aware of herb and supplement use and counsel patients on the potential risks and benefits of these treatments

Screening for latent tuberculosis infection among undocumented immigrants in Swiss healthcare centres; a descriptive exploratory study

BACKGROUND: Migration is one of the major causes of tuberculosis in developed countries. Undocumented patients are usually not screened at the border and are not covered by a health insurance increasing their risk of developing the disease unnoticed. Urban health centres could help identify this population at risk. The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and adherence to preventive treatment in a population of undocumented immigrant patients. METHODS: All consecutive undocumented patients that visited two urban healthcare centres for vulnerable populations in Lausanne, Switzerland for the first time were offered tuberculosis screening with an interferon-gamma assay. Preventive treatment was offered if indicated. Adherence to treatment was evaluated monthly over a nine month period. RESULTS: Of the 161 participants, 131 (81.4%) agreed to screening and 125 had complete examinations. Twenty-four of the 125 patients (19.2%; CI95% 12.7;27.2) had positive interferon-gamma assay results, two of which had active tuberculosis. Only five patients with LTBI completed full preventive treatments. Five others initiated the treatment but did not follow through. CONCLUSION: Screening for tuberculosis infection in this hard-to-reach population is feasible in dedicated urban clinics, and the prevalence of LTBI is high in this vulnerable population. However, the low adherence to treatment is an important public health concern, and new strategies are needed to address this problem