Hábitos dietéticos, obesidad y vida universitaria para estudiantes de enfermería

Health behavior of nursing students is often inadequate in terms of dietary, physical activity, smoking and alcohol drinking habits. The main aim of this position paper is to explore dietary habits, obesity and university life on nurse undergraduates. This critical review covers three distinct dimensions of student life as related to nursing studies, i.e. the eating and lifestyle behaviors of nursing students; the transitional period and risk of gain weight; students’ national origin and eating behaviors.Obesity is increasing not only in the western world but in developing countries as well. University life is a transitional period where risk of weight gain is increased. Often, stress may lead students to ‘binge’ eating and weight problems. In terms of students’ national origin and eating behavior, dietary choices for nurse students are multifaceted, as their cultural backgrounds may be. Nurses, amongst other healthcare professionals, encounter barriers to positive lifestyles and healthy eating just as many of their patients do. Moreover, as healthcare professionals are regarded as potential health promoters, their own health behavior represents an important key clinical and educational function.Yet, nutritional knowledge is not easy to apply as there is so much misinformation readily available both online and elsewhere.Given the highly stressful conditions associated with their profession, nurses also need to care for their own health. Thus there is a need for designing educational programs for current nursing curricula to encourage healthy lifestyles which include coping with stress, increased physical activity, healthy food and drink choices.El comportamiento de salud de los estudiantes de enfermería a menudo es inadecuado en términos de hábitos alimenticios, actividad física, tabaquismo y consumo de alcohol. El objetivo principal de este documento de posición es explorar los hábitos alimentarios, la obesidad y la vida universitaria en estudiantes de enfermería. Esta revisión crítica cubre tres dimensiones distintas de la vida estudiantil relacionadas con los estudios de enfermería, es decir, las conductas de alimentación y estilo de vida de los estudiantes de enfermería; el período de transición y el riesgo de ganar peso; el origen nacional de los estudiantes y las conductas alimentarias.La obesidad está aumentando no solo en el mundo occidental, sino también en los países en desarrollo. La vida universitaria es un período de transición donde aumenta el riesgo de aumento de peso. A menudo, el estrés puede llevar a los estudiantes a “atracones” de problemas de alimentación y peso. En términos de origen nacional y comportamiento alimentario de los estudiantes, las elecciones dietéticas para las estudiantes de enfermería son multifacéticas, como pueden ser sus antecedentes culturales. Las enfermeras, entre otros profesionales de la salud, encuentran barreras para estilos de vida positivos y una alimentación saludable, al igual que muchos de sus pacientes. Además, como los profesionales de la salud son considerados como posibles promotores de salud, su propio comportamiento de salud representa una importante función clínica y educativa. Sin embargo, el conocimiento nutricional no es fácil de aplicar ya que hay mucha desinformación disponible tanto en línea como en otros lugares.Dadas las condiciones altamente estresantes asociadas con su profesión, las enfermeras también deben cuidar su propia salud. Por lo tanto, existe la necesidad de diseñar programas educativos para los currículos de enfermería actuales para alentar estilos de vida saludables que incluyen lidiar con el estrés, el aumento de la actividad física, alimentos saludables y opciones de bebidas

Depression in the Elderly: Limits and Challenges - A Nursing Perspective

Introduction: There are many difficulties encountered when diagnosing depression in its early stages in the elderly. The role ofthe GP is vital for prompt diagnosis.Aim: The aim of this paper is to provide a critical citation and discussion of the issues involved when diagnosing depression ofthe elderly in the community.Method: For this purpose, a systematic literature review of Greek and international databases were performed seeking referenceson the obstacles encountered when diagnosing depression.Results: Analysis revealed four major themes under which the papers fell: i) General difficulties in diagnosing depression, ii) Thelimitations GPs have when they diagnose depression, iii) The limits patients place on GPs during the diagnostic procedure and iv)The limits GPs and patients set on each other when depression is being consideredConclusions: The findings show that GPs are confronted with numerous detractors which may lead to misdiagnosis especiallywhen depression is mild or moderate. Yet, early recognition can lead to effective treatment. It is suggested that nurses treatinghospitalised patients be alerted to the early warning signs of depression in their patients. In order to support GPs and to make thingseasier for the patient, nurses should be encouraged to use their observation skills during their greater exposure time with thepatient and to advise the patient to discuss these with their GP once discharged so that effective treatment can be initiated ifnecessary

Quality Of Life and Nursing: a Position Paper

Introduction: This paper presents a historical review of quality assurance in nursing with terminologicaldefinitions. General issues involving the evaluation of quality of care are discussed and key questions tackled.Aims: The aims of this paper were to critically discuss and analyze the essence of quality as a construct with highrelevance to nursing practice. Also, to look at quality through a series of important benchmark questions such aswho evaluates, who is the evaluated, what is evaluated, whose interests are involved.Methods: An online search in Medline, CINHAL, PsycINFO, ELIN, Embase, and the Cochrane Database ofSystematic Reviews was conducted. Retrieved studies were screened to meet certain inclusion criteria, i.e.relevance, significant meanings in correspondence with this paper’s aims and of interest to an international nursingreadership.Results: Data were abstracted from each paper and tabulated for further discussion and data synthesis. Nurses havebeen fervent supporters of quality assurance as it provides feedback to the profession about its practices andeffectiveness of care. The hospital, as an independent organization in the health care industry, sees nursing as theprovider closest to the consumer so is very concerned with the quality of nursing care. Nurses see through the lensof the customer and understand his or her wants and needs and therefore understand business better than otherproviders.Conclusions: The main conclusion of this position paper is that a major underlying reason for quality of careevaluation is the measurement of costs. As the goal for every successful manager is to minimise costs whilemaintaining quality. This equates nursing evaluation to the evaluation of a business model- a parallel which doesnot appeal to the caring profession of nursing

The Nurse Consultant: an Innovative Role in the Greek Health Care System?

Introduction: Nursing has gone through phases of being a static profession in many countries withdifficulty in breaking this mold in order to escalate its full potential. In countries where innovative rolesand new posts for nursing flourish i.e. nurse consultant, clinical nurse specialist and others, nursesenjoy advanced professional independence, greater respect from other health care professionals andhold higher prestige within the extended society. The nursing profession in Greece requires innovativeways to raise the expertise and profile of its members.Aim: This paper presents the merits of introducing a consultant nurse training programme and postsinto the Greek National Health Care System in order actively to address the many problems facing theprofession.Discussion and Conclusions: The introduction of the nurse consultant post in Greece would provideaccess for continual professional development of the nursing staff, open specialist career opportunitiesand would raise the morale and standing of nurses. As this requires change, a brief overview of thetheory of change is also presented

R E V I E W P A P E R Quality Of Life and Nursing: a Position Paper

ABSTRACT Introduction: This paper presents a historical review of quality assurance in nursing with terminological definitions. General issues involving the evaluation of quality of care are discussed and key questions tackled. Aims: The aims of this paper were to critically discuss and analyze the essence of quality as a construct with high relevance to nursing practice. Also, to look at quality through a series of important benchmark questions such as who evaluates, who is the evaluated, what is evaluated, whose interests are involved. Methods: An online search in Medline, CINHAL, PsycINFO, ELIN, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was conducted. Retrieved studies were screened to meet certain inclusion criteria, i.e. relevance, significant meanings in correspondence with this paper's aims and of interest to an international nursing readership. Results: Data were abstracted from each paper and tabulated for further discussion and data synthesis. Nurses have been fervent supporters of quality assurance as it provides feedback to the profession about its practices and effectiveness of care. The hospital, as an independent organization in the health care industry, sees nursing as the provider closest to the consumer so is very concerned with the quality of nursing care. Nurses see through the lens of the customer and understand his or her wants and needs and therefore understand business better than other providers. Conclusions: The main conclusion of this position paper is that a major underlying reason for quality of care evaluation is the measurement of costs. As the goal for every successful manager is to minimise costs while maintaining quality. This equates nursing evaluation to the evaluation of a business model-a parallel which does not appeal to the caring profession of nursing

R E V I E W A R T I C L E Depression in the Elderly: Limits and Challenges -a Nursing Perspective

ABSTRACT Introduction: There are many difficulties encountered when diagnosing depression in its early stages in the elderly. The role of the GP is vital for prompt diagnosis. Aim: The aim of this paper is to provide a critical citation and discussion of the issues involved when diagnosing depression of the elderly in the community. Method: For this purpose, a systematic literature review of Greek and international databases were performed seeking references on the obstacles encountered when diagnosing depression. Results: Analysis revealed four major themes under which the papers fell: i) General difficulties in diagnosing depression, ii) The limitations GPs have when they diagnose depression, iii) The limits patients place on GPs during the diagnostic procedure and iv) The limits GPs and patients set on each other when depression is being considered Conclusions: The findings show that GPs are confronted with numerous detractors which may lead to misdiagnosis especially when depression is mild or moderate. Yet, early recognition can lead to effective treatment. It is suggested that nurses treating hospitalised patients be alerted to the early warning signs of depression in their patients. In order to support GPs and to make things easier for the patient, nurses should be encouraged to use their observation skills during their greater exposure time with the patient and to advise the patient to discuss these with their GP once discharged so that effective treatment can be initiated if necessary

COVID-19 Vaccination Intention Associated with Behaviors towards Protection and Perceptions Regarding the Pandemic

Background: The impressively rapid availability of different types of COVID-19 vaccines and, on the other hand, the degree of their effectiveness as opposed to the likelihood of serious or non-serious side effects place a fairly large percentage of the population at a crossroads regarding the choice to get vaccinated or not, hence threatening achievement of total immunization coverage and full immunity. This study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccination intention in Greece regarding protection behaviors and perceptions of the pandemic. Methods: A total of 3753 participants completed a specially designed electronic questionnaire anonymously and voluntarily. The study population consisted of healthcare workers, students, members of professional societies, teachers, and professors. The questionnaire was composed of four parts pertaining to demographic data and possible changes in hygiene attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: In total, 43.3% of the participants stated that SARS-CoV-2 poses a significant risk. The most widespread protection practice was avoiding crowded places (90.1%), followed by reducing the use of public transport (86.1%) and washing their hands with soap and water more often than usual (84.2%). Women undertook significantly more behavioral changes than men and participants of other nationalities. About half of the participants (44%) implemented seven behavioral changes. Lower personal and general perceived risk due to COVID-19 was significantly associated with lower intention to get vaccinated. Conclusion: Strong hesitancy was observed towards COVID-19 vaccination. There is a need for further studies to be conducted to investigate the benefits and safety of vaccines for the purpose of better informing the public. Healthcare personnel can and should play a key role in this process