Selected methodological issues in creating the Information Literacy development strategies

Abstract Information Literacy (IL) is a key competence enabling individuals (human beings) to participate efficiently in the knowledge society, and constitutes the basis for effective learning and successful professional development. The information literate society essentially determines the development of regions and local communities, and contributes to the welfare of nations. Consequently, Information Literacy has to be a matter of an organized, planned and rational action on the European and national levels. The governments and other authorities need to formulate and apply informed IL development strategies to ensure acquisition and progress of information competences throughout people's lifetime. But, at the moment, there is no established or commonly agreed-on methodology for working out the Information Literacy strategies, nor are there ready tools or techniques to be used for that purpose. In this paper the selected research results of the EMPATIC project, connected with formulating strategies or strategic models for Information Literacy development, are described, with focus on the methodological aspects. When creating such a strategy its two main dimensions have to be considered, that is its formal structure, e.g. components, frame, length, appendices, and its subject content related to -inter alia -the level and context of Information Literacy, formal and informal learning environments, implications for teaching. During the designing process the crucial elements of strategic modeling: 1. context (meaning and dimensions of IL, role in the civic/knowledge society), 2. mission (mainstreaming of information literacy at the national and EU level), 3. vision (information literate citizens, business, government, society), 4. goals (raising society-wide IL awareness, institutionalization of IL, integrating IL in curricula in all levels and sectors of education system in Europe), 5. actions, 6. standards and performance indicators, and 7. stakeholders have to be taken into account. The analysis of 87 projects in the Information Literacy area from years 1994-2010, supported in most cases by the European Union, has been conducted. They are divided across four learning sectors (schools, higher education, vocational training and adult education). The findings of the investigation − the 20 most illustrative cases − are used as the basis for developing generic strategic models for Information Literacy as well as defining its implications for training of teachers, IL standards and associated performance indicators

Possibility of infecting a newborn baby by its HCV and HBV positive mother : nursing treatment

Parturient period is the time when a mother suffering from symptomless viral hepatitis of A and C type can easily infect her newborn baby with the virus. Pregnancy itself does not affect the clinical course of hepatitis, but the moment of infection has a big influence on the risk of the newborn baby getting infected with the disease. The risk is continuously increasing as the time of delivery is approaching and it is the highest in the parturient period because most cases of infection take place during the delivery rather than through the placenta (the risk of acute C-type infection increases rapidly in the last trimester of pregnancy). The importance of preventing parturient HBV and HCV infections is increased by over 90% likelihood that the babies infected with the virus during delivery will eventually become its carriers. Every child born by a woman suffering from acute and chronic HBV infections is given a special immunoglobulin and a vaccine against B-type hepatitis immediately after the birth. No vaccine against HCV infection has been discovered so far. As far as the problem of breastfeeding is concerned, existing data do not allow for determining an explicit attitude towards HBV and especially, HCV positive mothers. In the case of C-type infections, the virus is detected in colostrum and milk of 20% HCV infected mothers. No significant statistical differences have been found, however, between the frequency of infections among breastfed babies and those, who were fed artificially. There are also no clear guidelines on nursing care and proper education rules in this field

Factors affecting Polish nurses’ willingness to recommend the hospital as a place of care

Background: Nurses constitute the major professional group offering constant hospital patients’ care. Willingness to recommend their hospital reflects confidence in the offered care, satisfaction and identification with the work place. The aim of the present study has been to investigate which elements of hospital environment and nurse personal related factors predict recommendation of the hospital as a place of care by employed nurses. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional, correlation study was, based on 1723 self-reported, anonymous questionnaires of nurses working in 30 acute hospitals. Data was analyzed using the logistic regression model, with general estimation equations. Results: About 25% of nurses were unwilling to recommend their hospital as the place of care. The odds ratio (OR) of the lack of willingness to recommend the hospital was related to assessment of patients’ safety (OR = 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–0.46, p = 0.00), decrease in the quality of patient care during the preceding year (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41–0.93, p = 0.02), overall work conditions (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.22–0.57, p = 0.00), weak cooperation between nurses and physicians (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.25–0.54, p = 0.00), poor work schedule flexibility (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.55– 0.99, p = 0.04) and educational opportunities (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.95, p = 0.02) and the level of nurses depersonalization (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.18–1.68, p = 0.00). Conclusions: The hospital manager should consider strategies which improve patients’ safety and the staff working conditions. Thanks to that they will also achieve better and more competitive image of the hospital in the local community. Med Pr 2016;67(4):447–45

Factors affecting Polish nurses' willingness to recommend the hospital as a place of care

Background: Nurses constitute the major professional group offering constant hospital patients’ care. Willingness to recommend their hospital reflects confidence in the offered care, satisfaction and identification with the work place. The aim of the present study has been to investigate which elements of hospital environment and nurse personal related factors predict recommendation of the hospital as a place of care by employed nurses. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional, correlation study was, based on 1723 self-reported, anonymous questionnaires of nurses working in 30 acute hospitals. Data was analyzed using the logistic regression model, with general estimation equations. Results: About 25% of nurses were unwilling to recommend their hospital as the place of care. The odds ratio (OR) of the lack of willingness to recommend the hospital was related to assessment of patients’ safety (OR = 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–0.46, p = 0.00), decrease in the quality of patient care during the preceding year (OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41–0.93, p = 0.02), overall work conditions (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.22–0.57, p = 0.00), weak cooperation between nurses and physicians (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.25–0.54, p = 0.00), poor work schedule flexibility (OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.55– 0.99, p = 0.04) and educational opportunities (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.95, p = 0.02) and the level of nurses depersonalization (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.18–1.68, p = 0.00). Conclusions: The hospital manager should consider strategies which improve patients’ safety and the staff working conditions. Thanks to that they will also achieve better and more competitive image of the hospital in the local community. Med Pr 2016;67(4):447–45

Organizacja i zakres badań RN4CAST (Registered Nurse Forecasting) dotyczących planowania zatrudnienia w pielęgniarstwie w Polsce

Forecasting nursing. Planning human resources in nursing, organisation and scope of the RN4CAST study in Poland The study was conducted as part of European RN4CAST project, with participation of 16 countries, including 12 from Europe. Aim: To develop universal and modern assumptions for the policy of effective nurse employment and management in hospital. Material and method: The study was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 30 hospitals, selected through multi-stage group sampling. Professional satisfactions of nurses working at internal and surgical wards, as well as satisfaction of patients of these wards were tested in a questionnaire study. Data on patient treatment outcomes, and hospital organisation and operation were also collected. Hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) and generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used for statistical analysis. Conclusion: RN4CAST is the first project focused on the hospital and contextual determinants of its operation, which compares Polish results with those from other European states, thanks to a single international study procedure

Organization and the scope of the RN4CAST (Registered Nurse Forecasting) study concerning planning of nursing workforce in Poland

The study was conducted as part of European RN4CAST project, with participation of 16 countries, including 12 from Europe. Aim: To develop universal and modern assumptions for the policy of effective nurse employment and management in hospital. Material and method: The study was conducted on a nationally representative sample of 30 hospitals, selected through multi-stage group sampling. Professional satisfactions of nurses working at internal and surgical wards, as well as satisfaction of patients of these wards were tested in a questionnaire study. Data on patient treatment outcomes, and hospital organisation and operation were also collected. Hierarchical linear modelling (HLM) and generalised estimating equations (GEE) were used for statistical analysis. Conclusion: RN4CAST is the first project focused on the hospital and contextual determinants of its operation, which compares Polish results with those from other European states, thanks to a single international study procedure

Selected factors determining assessment of nursing care quality in acute hospitals : results of RN4CAST project

Introduction. The essence of nursing care is to improve treatment results, patient satisfaction, and decrease treatment costs. Aim. Presenting the factors determining the assessment of nursing care quality in acute hospitals. Material and method. The study included 2605 nurses working in 30 hospitals in Poland. The Work Environment Scale and an opinion questionnaire were used to collect the data. The analysis based on logistic regression model, generalised estimating equations, χ² test, and Mann-Whitney test. Results. Three in every four respondents evaluated the quality of nursing care as good. The assessment depended on the conditions of work, autonomy in providing care, patient information flow, patient safety, occurrence of adverse events, discussion of mistakes, nurse workload, potential for education, and flexible working time. Conclusion. The factors significantly influencing the assessment of nursing care quality are the working environment, care monitoring and management

Influence of hospital staffing and selected organisational circumstances on the death rate of patients treated in Polish hospitals participating in the RN4CAST project

Introduction. Adequate hospital staff employment and assorted organisational circumstances influence outcomes of hospitalised patients. Aim. To analyse influence of hospital staff employment structure and selected organisational circumstances on the death rate of patients hospitalised in acute hospitals. Material and method. Anonymous data of hospitalised patients (fragment of the NHF* report) and of hospital organisational questionnaire were used. The hospital death rate (proportion of hospital deaths to patient admissions) was defined as the dependent variable. The study included 25 hospitals, which provided all the required data. Statistical analysis was conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics 20, using rho Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for quantitative variables and eta correlation ratio for qualitative variables. Results. The death rate value was adversely correlated with the number of employed physicians, nurses and other not-nursing staff who provided direct patient care. The global number of hospital intensive care units and allocation of separate medical and surgical intensive care units positively influenced the hospital death rate. Conclusions. The number of employed personnel (physician, nurses, and other staff) involved in direct patient care and organization of intensive care in a hospital structure influence the death rate of patients treated in Polish acute hospitals

Obciążenie pracą podczas ostatniego dyżuru w opiniach pielęgniarek pracujących w szpitalach objętych projektem RN4CAST

Workload during the last shift in the opinion of hospital nurses involved in RN4CAST projectBackground The issue of workload is one of the most important ones as far as the nurses’ profession is concerned. Numerous analyses prove the relationship between excessive workload and job dissatisfaction, which may lead to low morale, absenteeism, high rotation and low work efficiency and, consequently, result in deterioration of the care provided to the patient and even put the patient’s safety at risk. RN4CAST project is aimed at the evaluation of the workload which the nurses are exposed to during their shifts. Such a survey focuses on all structural determinants of hospital workload depending on: type of the ward, professional role, number of patients and their health condition as well as work conditions and organization: the number of working hours and shift staffing.Aim of the survey The survey is aimed at determining the factors responsible for the workload which the nurses are exposed to during their shifts in hospitals involved in RN4CAST project.Material and Methods The study included 2605 nurses working in 30 acute hospitals in Poland. The respondents were mainly women. Men made up only 0.4% of the population examined. The average age was 40.3 (SD = 7.8 years old). 23.5% of the respondents had the Bachelor’s degree in nursing. The average seniority was 18.6 years (SD = 8,6), and the seniority in the hospital involved in the survey – 15.6 years (SD = 9,2). The material was collected by means of a survey and a structurised questionnaire completed by the nurses on their own. A correlational model was used to evaluate the workload determinants.Results During their last shift 84% of the nurses worked, on average, 11.3 hours (SD = 2.4). The number of patients on the ward was 31.1, on average (SD = 12.6) it varied significantly (p = 0.000) depending on the ward type. The nursing care was provided by 3.4 qualified nurses on average (SD = 2.2). One nurse was responsible for 20.4 patients on average (SD = 11.1), [median = 18, first quartile (Q1) = 12, third quartile (Q3) = 29)]. It was proved that the increase in the total number of the patients on the ward was accompanied by the increase in the number of patients who required assistance with everyday routines (tau-b = 0.17; p = 0.000) and in the number of patients who required monitoring or hourly (or even more frequent) treatment (tau-b=0.37; p=0.000). Close examination of the variables responsible for individual workload showed that there is a little but noticeable correlation between the increase of the total number of patients on the ward (tau-b = 0.28; p = 0.000) and the increase in the number of patients each nurses was directly responsible for on her shift. There was a positive correlation (tau-b = 0.40; p = 0.000) between the total number of patients and the total number of qualified nurses providing direct care to these patients during their shifts. Also a slight negative correlation was observed (tau-b = –0.061; p = 0.000) between the total number of nurses and the number of patients each nurse was directly responsible for. There was also a slight positive correlation (tau-b = 0.18; p = 0.000) between the number of nurses and the number of helping staff who provided direct care to the patients during their shifts. And also a slight correlation was observed (tau-b = 0.061; p = 0.000) between the number of patients and the number of helping staff during the shifts. The analysis of the findings from both wards leads to the conclusion that the seven most frequent and common routines, which did not require nursing qualifications constituted a significant workload for nurses on all shifts (p = 0,000) and that the nurses who solely provided care to the patients were significantly more often responsible for routines which did not require any professional skills. The nurses examined, evaluated their hospital working conditions as poor – 28.9%; satisfactory – 46.8%; good – 23.2%; excellent – 1.1%. Majority of nurses (59.3%) claim that the number of hospital staff is definitely too low to work efficiently; 64.5% pointed out the lack of qualified nurses and 31.7% the lack of technical and helping staff. Vast majority of nurses (64%) claim that they can rely on the hospital management support only in some situations. Most nurses (77%) complained that their relations with the doctors were not always good, whereas 13.6% complained about lack of good professional relations between nurses and doctors.Conclusions 1. The analysis of the findings shows that structural factors (such as type of the ward, professional role, number and condition of patients) as well as organisational factors (such as number of shift hours, shift staffing and work environment) determined the nurses’ workload. 2. The shift survey as a device for evaluating nurses’ workload should be recommended to ward nurses and hospital management because of the simplicity with which particular elements can be observed. The observation can be carried out during a relatively short period of time (8–12-hour shift), which allows for a better and faster explanation of the reasons of excessive workload and consequently may lead to implementing solutions, which would eliminate this negative phenomeno