Strategies implemented by informal caregivers to facilitate self-care in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a scoping review protocol

Background and aim: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation. COPD is a significant social and economic burden, and hospital admissions contribute to increased costs. Informal caregivers play a crucial role in supporting COPD patients in their self-care efforts. Therefore, understanding informal caregiver interventions to improve self-care may be helpful in reducing hospitalizations. This is the protocol for a scoping review that aims to map the literature on informal caregiver interventions to facilitate self-care in COPD patients. Research question: What are the strategies implemented by informal caregivers to facilitate self-care for patients with COPD? Methods: The review will adhere to the methodology outlined by the JBI. A comprehensive search strategy will be executed in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and PsycINFO. Additionally, grey literature and relevant unpublished documents will be searched to minimize publication bias. Studies describing strategies/actions implemented by informal caregivers to promote self-care in COPD patients from all countries will be included. We will exclude abstracts, editorials, articles on paid caregivers and social and healthcare workers. Two independent reviewers will screen titles, abstracts, and full-text articles based on inclusion criteria. Key data from the selected studies will be extracted using a predefined data extraction table. The results will be aggregated into themes and described qualitatively, figures and graphs may also be presented. The results will be presented according to the PRISMA-ScR. Review registration: Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/4TWRM

Validation of the Italian version of Behavioral Pain Scale in sedated, intubated, and mechanically ventilated pediatric patients

Background and aim: Pain assessment in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a demanding challenge. The COMFORT-B scale is recognized as the gold standard in such patients. However, the use of this instrument in PICU setting is disputed. The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS), instead, is considered to be the gold standard for pain assessment in deeply sedated, mechanically ventilated adult patients. The BPS has been validated in Italian, requires a short observation time compared to the COMFORT-B and does not increase workloads. A first evaluation of BPS was made in PICU with good results regarding face validity and content validity, however suggesting further studies given the small sample on which it was tested. The aim of this study was the validation of the BPS in sedated, intubated, and mechanically ventilated pediatric patients. Methods: A descriptive, comparative design was used. A convenience sample of 84 non-verbal, sedated and mechanically ventilated critical care pediatric patients was included. Patient pain was assessed concurrently with three observational scales (BPS, COMFORT-B, NRS) before, during and after routine procedures that are considered painful and non-painful. Results: Internal consistency was α = .86. Correlations between BPS and the other instruments were high, demonstrating a good concurrent validity of the BPS. T test and assessment of ROC curves demonstrated a good discriminant validity of the BPS. Conclusions: The BPS proved to be valid and reliable for the assessment of pain also in the use with pediatric patients

Evaluation of pain in the paediatric patient admitted to sub-intensive care: a scoping review protocol

Background and aim: pain is considered as the 5th vital sign thus it's paramount that healthcare professionals are equipped with validated tools for his correct assessment. There are different paediatric pain assessment scales that take into account patients' age. Actually, the "Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability" (FLACC), Wong-Baker and NRS scales are regarded as the gold standard in low intensity clinical areas, while the COMFORT-Behavior (COMFORT-B) and Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) ones are used for high intensity clinical areas where paediatric patients are sedated/intubated. It's unclear which pain assessment scale should be used in sub-intensive areas such as Sub-Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (Sub-PICU) e Sub-Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Sub-NICU). The aim of this protocol is to map the literature in order to identify what evidences are available regarding the assessment of pain in the paediatric sub-intensive clinical areas. Research question: "What is the literature available on pain assessment in paediatric patients in sub-intensive clinical areas such as Sub-PICU and sub-NICU?". Source of evidence: literature search will be performed through the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Open Dissertations (EBSCO) and DOAJ. Furthermore, Cochrane CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov will also be included. Methods: this scoping review will be conducted in accordance to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the results presented through a PRISMA flowchart

Online access and motivation of tutors of health professions higher education

The case study of PUNTOZERO as an open web lab for activities, research and support to 5 Master's courses for the health professions is described. A virtual learning environment integrated in a much wider network including social networks and open resources was experimented on for five Master's Courses for the health professions at the University of Parma. A social learning approach might be applied by the engagement of motivated and skilled tutors. This is not only needed for the improvement and integration of the digital and collaborative dimension in higher education, but it aims to introduce issues and biases of emerging e-health and online networking dimensions for future healthcare professionals. Elements of e-readiness to train tutors and improve their digital skills and e-moderation approaches are evident. This emerged during an online and asynchronous interview with two tutors out of the four that were involved, by the use of a wiki where interviewer and informants could both read and add contents and comments

Interprofessional education for critical care professionals: a scoping review protocol

Research protocol for a scoping review which aims to describe what is present in the literature regarding interprofessional education and training in the context of critical area in terms of improving interprofessional collaboration, satisfaction of patients and operators and identification of the best educational strategies to adopt

Extrafine triple therapy in patients with symptomatic COPD and history of one moderate exacerbation

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exacerbation history is the strongest predictor of future exacerbation risk. Large cohort studies have shown that patients with one exacerbation in the previous year have an approximately two-fold increased future exacerbation risk compared to patients with no exacerbations, the risk increasing to five-fold in those with two or more exacerbations. Most clinical trials of pharmacological treatments designed to prevent exacerbations have therefore used the inclusion criterion of at least one exacerbation in the previous year, with a minority requiring at least two exacerbation