A Review of the Effect of Nurses’ Use of Smartphone to Improve Patient Care

Introduction: Nurses in the acute-care setting use touchscreen smartphones (eg. iPhones) to facilitate patient care. However, on duty nurses also use smartphones to access social media, text, and shop online. The overall benefit of nurses’ use of smartphones to patient care is unclear. We conducted a systematic review to examine the use of smartphones by acute-care nurses and how that influences patient care.Methods: We searched Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed databases using the key words “smartphone,” “nurse,” “patient care” and “quality of care” to identify articles focusing on smartphone use by nurses in acute care setting. Only 274 articles were initially identified. Fourteen articles remained after applying inclusion criteria such as nurses in acute care setting, written in English, and excluding those addressing the use of smartphones by non-nurses.Results: We identified six themes encompassing advantages and disadvantages of smartphone use by nurses in the acute care setting. Theme 1: enhanced interprofessional communication. Theme 2: easy and quick access to clinical information (eg. medications). Theme 3: improved time-management. Theme 4: reduction of work stress. Disadvantages were: Theme 5: distraction from work, and Theme 6: the appearance of unprofessionalism.Conclusions: Smartphone use by nurses in the acute care setting impacts how they provide daily care to their patients. Benefits of smartphone use include: improved patient safety, more effective communication between healthcare providers, and better time-management. Disadvantages found included distraction of nurses at work, and the perceived appearance of unprofessionalism. We believe there is an unmeasured risk of smartphones as potential vectors of infection. We support the use of smartphones to aid in patient care but recommend that education is necessary on the appropriate use of smartphones to mitigate risks such as infection, distraction, and accountability of personal use

Factors that Influence South Asian Cardiac Patients’ Medication Adherence

South Asians experience high rates of cardiovascular disease. Medications are a major component of chronic disease management. A systematic literature review revealed factors that contributed to medication non-adherence with South Asians. Content analysis strategies were used for the synthesis. Thirteen papers were in the final set with medication side-effects, cost, forgetfulness and language barriers contributing to non-adherence. Inconsistent methodologies and scant information on immigrant factors within the Canadian context led to further exploration. An ethnographic study was conducted between January to September 2012. Observations and interviews were conducted with South Asian cardiac patients, as well as physicians, pharmacists and staff. Fieldnote and interview data were transcribed and analyzed using ethnographic domains and cultural themes. South Asian cardiac patients relied on family members for instrumental support. Medication adherence was enhanced when relationships with healthcare professionals demonstrated clear communication and cultural awareness. Memory mechanisms need to be individualized and were generally ‘low technology’

Questioning the Use of Bedrails to Prevent Falls of Adults in Long Term Care

● Bedrails are commonly used to prevent falls (Healey, Oliver, Milne, & Connelly, 2008) ● Bed related falls à hospitalization, increase healthcare costs, and death (Bradley, 2011) ● Fall survivors may be left with permanent disabilities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015) ● 29-55% residents in long term care have fallen, 25% bed related (Healey, Oliver, Milne, & Connelly, 2008; Currie, 2008) ● Factors = environmental hazards, medications, vision problems, and impairments in strength or balance can increase the risk of falling (Bradley, 2011).Ye

South Asians' cardiac medication adherence

Aim This paper is a report of a narrative review examining the current state of knowledge regarding adherence with cardiac medication among South Asian cardiac patients. Background South Asians experience higher rates of cardiovascular disease than any other ethnic group. South Asians may be less adherent with a cardiac medication regimen than Caucasians. The factors contributing to adherence are important to discover to assist South Asians to optimize their cardiac health. Data sources CINAHL, Medline (Ovid), PsychINFO, EMB Reviews-(Cochrane), and EMBASE were accessed using the key words: 'South Asian', 'Asia', 'East India', 'India', 'Pakistan', 'Bangladesh', 'Sri Lanka', 'medication compliance', 'medication noncompliance' and 'medication adherence'. English language papers published from January 1980 to January 2013 were eligible for inclusion. Review methods Abstracts were reviewed for redundancy and eligibility by the primary author. Manuscripts were then retrieved and reviewed for eligibility and validity by the first and last authors. Content analysis strategies were used for the synthesis. Results Thirteen papers were in the final data set; most were conducted in India and Pakistan. Medication side-effects, cost, forgetfulness and higher frequency of dosing contributed to non-adherence. South Asian immigrants also faced language barriers, which contributed to non-adherence. Knowledge regarding the medications prescribed was a factor that increased adherence. Conclusion South Asians' non-adherence to cardiac medications is multifaceted. How South Asians who newly immigrate to Western countries make decisions regarding their cardiac medication adherence ought to be explored in greater detail

Strategies for Addressing Needle Debris: Scoping Review Protocol

Protocol for scoping reviewObjective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore the literature about needle debris associated with drug use in a community setting. Introduction: Needle debris in the community poses a public health concern. Needle debris and discarded drug paraphernalia could contribute to perceived social disorder associated with harm reduction services, like supervised consumption sites. Discarded needles represent a public safety risk for both people who use drugs and other community members. Currently, the existing research on this topic is scattered and has yet to be consolidated and reviewed. Addressing needle debris may decrease perceived community impact from harm reduction services, and increase support for these services among area residents, business owners, and others. This scoping review will be undertaken to inform a program of research around needle debris, to review available literature on the topic. Inclusion criteria: Studies that focus on strategies to address needle debris will be included, when referring to discarded needles and drug paraphernalia in the community. Exclusion criteria include strategies for people who use needles, who may generate needle waste inside homes and private property. Needle exchange programs and supervised consumption sites will be excluded when their primary purpose is to provide sterile supplies to prevent HIV/Hepatitis C transmission, and prevent and manage drug poisonings and overdoses, rather than prevent needles being discarded in the community. Methods: This scoping review protocol was established following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for developing a protocol (Peters et al., 2022). The databases that will be searched are MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process, In-Data-Review & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Daily (Ovid), CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO), APA PsycInfo (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), and Social Services Abstracts (ProQuest). The search will be conducted using subject headings and relevant keywords identified from analyzing seed articles. Studies will be limited to the English language. Data extraction will be completed using articles identified from the search that have substantial discussion on needle debris and the concept of disposal, retrieval, collection, prevention, and/or education. For a more comprehensive search, hand searching of reference lists and citation tracing will also be included. The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews (Peters et al., 2020)