Efficacy of the Buzzy System for pain relief during venipuncture in children: a randomized controlled trial

Background and aim of the work: procedural pain is a significant issue for paediatric patients. In particular, needle pain is amongst the most stressful for children. Studies revealed that a large number of children do not receive adequate pain prevention during the procedures. Neglecting the prevention of needle pain can cause several psychological effects such as anxiety and phobias, and increase perceptions of pain in the future. We aimed to verify the efficacy of Buzzy System in reducing pain during venipuncture. Methods: A randomized control trial was conducted among 72 children aged 3 to 10 years undergoing venipuncture. Children were randomly assigned to The Buzzy with distraction cards group (experimental group) or to “magic gloves” group (control group). Perception of pain was measured through the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the Wong-Baker Scale (WBS) and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Results: Sixty-four children participated in the study, 34 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. The experimental group showed significantly lower levels of pain (p=.039; 95% CI: -2,11; -0,06) in terms of the mean=3.65±2.011; median=3, compared to the control group (mean: 4.67±2.14, median=4). Caregivers were satisfied with the Buzzy System. Conclusion: The Buzzy System combined to distraction cards showed a greater reduction of perceived pain than “magic glove” technique. This study underlines the importance of active involvement of caregivers during procedural pain in children. Pediatric nurses have an important role in empowering children and caregivers to be interactive during venipunctures

Organisation des soins palliatifs intégrés en Belgique

peer reviewedIn the Declaration of Astana (2018), the World Health Organization underlines the emergency of strengthening our health systems and the relevance of the primary health care (PHC) model to achieve this, including regarding palliative care. In the light of the principles of PHC, this article presents and questions the current organization of palliative care in Belgium: do they meet their main criteria, which are comprehensiveness, accessibility, acceptability, permanence and continuity of care? As palliative support is provided at all levels of the health care pyramid, the base – the first line – supports a large part of it. This organization encourages practices where local health professionals – the general practitioner and the family nurse – are the main actors in the support. Specialists in the palliative sector only intervene to help front-line professionals in difficulty or to enable them to accompany particularly complex situations. The decompartmentalization of health specialties and the meeting of palliative care with PHC brings here a gain in quality and meaning. However, this perspective on our care model also reveals certain shortcomings – mostly financial – and certain inadequate practices that jeopardize an organization that is nevertheless sustainable, up to the challenges of today and tomorrow

New challenges to improve organic bread wheat production in Europe

The total organic area in the EU-27 had an annual average growth rate of nearly 15% from 1998 to 2006 with winter wheat being the most important cereal crop. Wheat yield in organic farming is around 30% to 70% of yield of conventional farming but higher premia for organic wheat may to some extent compensate for this. Bread wheat is grown in a variety of crop rotations and farming systems and four basic organic crop production systems have been defined. Nitrogen deficiency and weed infestation are considered to be the most serious threat in organic wheat production. Organic wheat producers will have to fulfil the technological needs of bakers although the requirements differ widely from small artisan bakers to large enterprises handling the organic bread processing. To maintain and expand organic wheat production, there is a need to control weed population, manage nitrogen nutrition and maintain crop diversity in the cropping system. In order to obtain a share in the premium price of organic wheat products, farmers may involve in further processing and marketing

Farm/IT - Mein Entscheidungshilfeassistent in der Fruchtfolgeplanung

Farm/IT ist ein Fruchtfolgeplanungstool. Es erstellt Fruchtfolgen unter Berücksichtigung der Nutzerpräferenzen und liefert ökonomische und agronomische Daten. Es eröffnet neue Denkansätze, um die eigenen Fruchtfolgen genauer unter die Lupe zu nehmen

The Quality of Life of Children Facing Life-Limiting Conditions and That of Their Parents in Belgium: A Cross-Sectional Study

Paediatric palliative care (PPC) aims to improve children’s quality of life, but this outcome is rarely measured in clinical care. PPC is provided in Belgium through six transmural paediatric liaison teams (PLTs) ensuring continuity of care for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions (LLC/LTC). This study aims to measure the quality of life (QoL) of children with LLC/LTC followed-up by PLTs and the QoL of their parents. Methods: During interviews, an original socio demographic questionnaire, the Children palliative outcome scale—version 2 (CPOS-2), the Fragebogen für Kinder und Jugendliche zur Erfassung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität (KINDL) and the Quality of life in life-threatening Illness-Family caregiver (QOLLTI-F) were filled in by PLT members. Statistics were used to investigate significant differences between scores. Results were discussed and interpreted with six PLTs. Results: 73 children aged 1–18 were included in the study. Especially for items focusing on emotional items, children reported their QoL as higher than their parents did. The QoL scores were not significantly associated with the child’s condition’s severity. Conclusions: This study provides, for the first time, an overview of the QoL of children and parents followed-up by PLTs in Belgium

Wie erhöhe ich das Bewusstsein für und den Stellenwert von Agrobiodiversitäts-fördernden Maßnahmen? - Projektvorstellung

"Um die Biodiversitätsziele zu erreichen, zielt das Projekt ""FRAMEwork"" darauf ab, das Wissen über die Biodiversität unter den Landwirten in den teilnehmenden europäischen Ländern zu verbessern und Methoden für eine biodiversitätsfördernde Landwirtschaft zu verbreiten.

Winter-Hardy Vs. Freeze-Killed Cover Crop Mixtures Before Maize On An Organic Farm With Reduced Soil Cultivation

The advantages and disadvantages of a winter-hardy vs. a freeze-killed cover crop (CC) mixture were studied on an organic farm in Lower Austria in two consecutive experiments. Effects on soil inorganic nitrogen contents, weed density and the yield of a following maize crop were assessed. The winter-hardy compared to freeze-killed CC mixture, both consisting of legumes and non-legumes, reduced soil nitrate contents over winter, leading to a reduced nitrate leaching risk, whereas the yield of a following grain maize crop was not significantly affected. Weed density was high in both CC treatments, presumably due to a reduced, non-inverting soil cultivation before maize, and higher in the winter-hardy CC treatment at one of the assessment dates. Combined with an adapted soil cultivation, both winter-hardy and freeze-killed CC mixtures were suitable CCs before grain maize

Access to paediatric palliative care in children and adolescents with complex chronic conditions: a retrospective hospital-based study in Brussels, Belgium

Background: Paediatric complex chronic conditions (CCCs) are life-limiting conditions requiring paediatric palliative care, which, in Belgium, is provided through paediatric liaison teams (PLTs). Like the number of children and adolescents with these conditions in Belgium, their referral to PLTs is unknown. Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify, over a 5-year period (2010-2014), the number of children and adolescents (0-19 years) living with a CCC, and also their referral to PLTs. Methods: International Classification of Disease codes (ICD-9) corresponding to a CCC, as described by Feudtner et al, and national registration numbers were extracted from the databases of all hospitals (n=8) and PLTs (n=2) based in the Brussels region. Aggregated data and pseudonymised national registration number were transmitted to the research team by a Trusted Third Party (eHealth). Ages and diagnostic categories were calculated using descriptive statistics. Results: Over 5 years (2010-2014) in the Brussels region, a total of 22 721 children/adolescents aged 0-19 years were diagnosed with a CCC. Of this number, 22 533 were identified through hospital registries and 572 through PLT registries. By comparing the registries, we found that of the 22 533 children/adolescents admitted to hospital, only 384 (1.7%) were also referred to a PLT. Conclusion: In Belgium, there may be too few referrals of children and adolescents with CCC to PLTs that ensure continuity of care