70 research outputs found
International study on nurses' views and experiences of compassion
BACKGROUND:
Compassion is considered the cornerstone of nursing practice. However, the recent failures in delivering high-quality compassionate nursing care in the UK's National Health Service have brought the topic of compassion to the attention of the public, service providers, policy makers and academics.
AIM:
The aim of this study was to explore the nurses' views and experiences of a number of compassion-related issues in nursing and describe similarities and differences at an international level as well as from the different nursing roles of the participating nurses.
METHODS:
An exploratory, cross-sectional descriptive study, using the International Online Compassion Questionnaire. A total of 1323 nurses from 15 countries completed the questionnaire.
RESULTS:
The majority of participants (59.5%) defined compassion as "Deep awareness of the suffering of others and wish to alleviate it" but definitions of compassion varied by country. Of participants, 69.6% thought compassion was very important in nursing and more than half (59.6%) of them argued that compassion could be taught. However, only 26.8% reported that the correct amount and level of teaching is provided. The majority of the participants (82.6%) stated that their patients prefer knowledgeable nurses with good interpersonal skills. Only 4.3% noted that they are receiving compassion from their managers. A significant relationship was found between nurses' experiences of compassion and their views about teaching of compassion.
CONCLUSION:
Our study is unique in identifying the views and experiences of nurses from 15 different countries worldwide. The findings reveal that compassion is neither addressed adequately in nursing education nor supported in the practice environment by managers.
LIMITATIONS:
Self-report bias was inherent to our survey study design. Furthermore, the individual cultural differences and similarities in the findings are difficult to extrapolate owing to the fact that our analysis was at country level, as well as at the level of the participating nurses.
IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING POLICY:
Understanding the influence of culture on nurses' views about compassion is critical in the current multicultural healthcare environment and merits further research. This will potentially drive changes in nursing education (ensuring that compassion is taught to nurses) and in the way healthcare leaders and managers foster a compassionate culture within their organizations (e.g. by leading by example and compassionate to their staff).
© 2016 International Council of Nurses
Obstacles to compassion-giving among nursing and midwifery managers: an international study
Aim: To explore nursing and midwifery managersâ views regarding obstacles to compassion-giving across country cultures.
Background: The benefit of compassionate leadership is being advocated, but despite the fact that healthcare is invariably conducted within culturally diverse workplaces, the interconnection of culture, compassion and leadership is rarely addressed. Furthermore, evidence on how cultural factors hinder the expression of compassion among nursing and midwifery managers is lacking.
Methods: Cross-sectional, exploratory, international online survey involving 1 217 participants from 17 countries. Managersâ responses on open-ended questions related to barriers for providing compassion were entered and thematically analysed through NVivo.
Results: Three key themes related to compassion-giving obstacles emerged across countries: 1. related to the managersâ personal characteristics and experiences; 2. system-related; 3. staff-related.
Conclusions: Obstacles to compassion-giving among managers vary across countries. An understanding of the variations across countries and cultures of what impedes compassion to flourish in healthcare is important.
Implications for nursing practice and policy: Nursing mangers should wisely use their power by adopting leadership styles that promote culturally competent and compassionate workplaces with respect for human rights. Policymakers should identify training and mentoring needs to enable the development of managersâ practical wisdom. Appropriate national and international policies should facilitate the establishment of standards and guidelines for compassionate leadership, in the face of distorted organisational cultures and system-related obstacles to compassion-giving
Enactment of compassionate leadership by nursing and midwifery managers: results from an international online survey
Aim
To explore the views of an international sample of nursing and midwifery managers concerning attributes that they associate with compassionate management.
Method
A cross- sectional online survey. Using a snowballing sampling method, 1217 responses were collected from nursing and midwifery managers in 17 countries. A total of complete 933 responses to a question related to which actions and behaviours indicated that a manager was exercising compassionate leadership were analysed for this paper. First, content analysis of the responses was conducted, and second, a relative distribution of the identified themes for the overall sample and for each participating country was calculated.
Results
Six main themes were identified describing the attributes of a compassionate leader: (1) Virtuous support, (2) Communication, (3) Personal virtues of the manager, (4) Participatory communication, (5) Growth/flourishing/ nurturing and (6) Team cohesion. The first three themes mentioned above collectively accounted for 63% of the responses, and can therefore be considered to be the most important characteristics of compassionate management behaviour.
Conclusion
The key indicators of compassionate management in nursing and midwifery which were identified emphasise approachability, active and sensitive listening, sympathetic responses to staff membersâ difficulties (especially concerning child and other caring responsibilities), active support of and advocacy for the staff team and active problem solving and conflict resolution. While there were differences between the countriesâ views on compassionate healthcare management, some themes were widely represented among different countriesâ responses, which suggest key indicators of compassionate management that apply across culture
The importance of being a compassionate leader: the views of nursing and midwifery managers from around the world
Introduction: Despite the importance of compassionate leadership in health care, many of the existing publications do not account for the effect of culture. The aim of this study is to explore the views of nursing and midwifery managers from different countries in relation to the definition, advantages, and importance of compassion.
Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory online survey was conducted across 17 countries, containing both closed and open-ended questions. Data from N = 1,217 respondents were analyzed using a directed hybrid approach focusing only on qualitative questions related to compassion-giving.
Results: Four overarching themes capture the studyâs results: (1) definition of compassion, (2) advantages and importance of compassion for managers, (3) advantages and importance of compassion for staff and the workplace, and (4) culturally competent and compassionate leadership.
Discussion: Innovative research agendas should pursue further local qualitative empirical research to inform models of culturally competent and compassionate leadership helping mangers navigate multiple pressures and be able to transculturally resonate with their staff and patients
Isokinetic evaluation of knee muscles in soccer players: discriminant analysis [Avaliação isocinĂ©tica dos mĂșsculos do joelho em jogadores de futebol: anĂĄlise discriminante]; [EvaluaciĂłn isocinĂ©tica de los mĂșsculos de la rodilla en jugadores de fĂștbol: anĂĄlisis discriminante]
Introduction:
Muscle activity in soccer players can be measured by isokinetic dynamometer, which is a reliable tool for assessing human performance.
Objectives:
To perform isokinetic analyses and to determine which variables differentiate the under-17 (U17) soccer category from the professional (PRO).
Methods:
Thirty four players were assessed (n=17 for each category). The isokinetic variables used for the knee extension-flexion analysis were: peak torque (Nm), total work (J), average power (W), angle of peak torque (deg.), agonist/ antagonist ratio (%), measured for three velocities (60°/s, 120°/s and 300°/s), with each series containing five repetitions. Three Wilks' Lambda discriminant analyses were performed, to identify which variables were more significant for the definition of each of the categories.
Results:
The discriminative variables at 60°/s in the PRO category were: extension peak torque, flexion total work, extension average power and agonist/antagonist ratio; and for the U17s were: extension total work, flexion peak torque and flexion average power. At 120°/s for the PRO category the discriminant variables were: flexion peak torque and extension average power; for the U17s they were: extension total work and flexion average power. Finally at 300°/s, the variables found in the PRO and U17 categories respectively were: extension average power and extension total work.
Conclusion:
Isokinetic variables for flexion and extension knee muscles were able to significantly discriminate between PRO and U17 soccer players.
RESUMO
Introdução:
A atividade muscular em jogadores de futebol pode ser medida por meio do dinamÎmetro isocinético, que é um instrumento confiåvel para avaliação do desempenho humano.
Objetivos:
Conduzir anålises isocinéticas e discriminar quais variåveis diferenciam a categoria sub-17 (S17) da profissional (PRO).
MĂ©todos:
Trinta e quatro jogadores de futebol (n=17 para cada categoria) foram avaliados. As variĂĄveis isocinĂ©ticas utilizadas para a anĂĄlise de extensĂŁo-flexĂŁo do joelho foram: pico de torque (Nm), trabalho total (J), potĂȘncia mĂ©dia (W), Ăąngulo de pico de torque (graus), razĂŁo agonista/antagonista (%), testadas em trĂȘs velocidades (60°/s, 120°/s e 300°/s), com cada sĂ©rie contendo cinco repetiçÔes. TrĂȘs anĂĄlises discriminantes foram feitas usando o mĂ©todo Wilk's Lambda para identificar quais variĂĄveis fariam uma discriminação significativa entre as duas categorias.
Resultados:
As variĂĄveis discriminantes a 60°/s na categoria PRO foram: pico de torque extensores, trabalho total flexores, potĂȘncia mĂ©dia de extensores e razĂŁo agonista/antagonista; e para os S17 foram: trabalho total de extensores, pico de torque de flexores e potĂȘncia mĂ©dia de flexores. A 120°/s para a categoria PRO as variĂĄveis discriminantes foram: pico de torque de flexores e potĂȘncia mĂ©dia de extensores; para os S17 foram: trabalho total de extensores e potĂȘncia mĂ©dia de flexores. A 300°/s, as variĂĄveis encontradas para as categorias PRO e S17 foram, respectivamente: potĂȘncia mĂ©dia de extensores e trabalho total de extensores.
ConclusĂŁo:
As variĂĄveis isocinĂ©ticas para os mĂșsculos do joelho flexores e extensores foram capazes de fazer uma discriminação significativa entre jogadores de futebol PRO e S17.
RESUMEN
IntroducciĂłn:
La actividad muscular en jugadores de fĂștbol puede ser medida por medio del dinamĂłmetro isocinĂ©tico, que es un instrumento confiable para evaluaciĂłn del desempeño humano.
Objetivos:
Conducir anĂĄlisis isocinĂ©ticos y discriminar quĂ© variables diferencian la categorĂa sub-17 (S17) de la profesional (PRO).
MĂ©todos:
Fueron evaluados treinta y cuatro jugadores de fĂștbol (n=17 para cada categorĂa). Las variables isocinĂ©ticas utilizadas para el anĂĄlisis de extensiĂłn-flexiĂłn de la rodilla fueron: pico de torque (Nm), trabajo total (J), potencia media (W), ĂĄngulo de pico de torque (grados), razĂłn agonista/antagonista (%), probadas en tres velocidades (60°/s, 120°/s y 300°/s), con cada serie conteniendo cinco repeticiones. Fueron realizados tres anĂĄlisis discriminantes usando el mĂ©todo Wilk's Lambda para identificar quĂ© variables harĂan una discriminaciĂłn significativa entre las dos categorĂas.
Resultados:
Las variables discriminantes a 60°/s en la categorĂa PRO fueron: pico de torque extensores, trabajo total flexores, potencia media de extensores y razĂłn agonista/antagonista; y para los S17 fueron: trabajo total de extensores, pico de torque de flexores y potencia media de flexores. A 120°/s para la categorĂa PRO las variables discriminantes fueron: pico de torque de flexores y potencia media de extensores; para los S17 fueron: trabajo total de extensores y potencia media de flexores. A 300°/s, las variables encontradas para las categorĂas PRO y S17 fueron, respectivamente: potencia media de extensores y trabajo total de extensores.
ConclusiĂłn:
Las variables isocinĂ©ticas para los mĂșsculos de la rodilla flexores y extensores fueron capaces de hacer una discriminaciĂłn significativa entre jugadores de fĂștbol PRO y S17
Role of 4-1BB Receptor in the Control Played by CD8+ T Cells on IFN-Îł Production by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cells
BACKGROUND: Antigen-specific IFN-gamma producing CD4(+) T cells are the main mediators of protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection both under natural conditions and following vaccination. However these cells are responsible for lung damage and poor vaccine efficacy when not tightly controlled. Discovering new tools to control nonprotective antigen-specific IFN-gamma production without affecting protective IFN-gamma is a challenge in tuberculosis research. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Immunization with DNA encoding Ag85B, a candidate vaccine antigen of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, elicited in mice a low but protective CD4(+) T cell-mediated IFN-gamma response, while in mice primed with DNA and boosted with Ag85B protein a massive increase in IFN-gamma response was associated with loss of protection. Both protective and non-protective Ag85B-immunization generated antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells which suppressed IFN-gamma-secreting CD4(+) T cells. However, ex vivo ligation of 4-1BB, a member of TNF-receptor super-family, reduced the massive, non-protective IFN-gamma responses by CD4(+) T cells in protein-boosted mice without affecting the low protective IFN-gamma-secretion in mice immunized with DNA. This selective inhibition was due to the induction of 4-1BB exclusively on CD8(+) T cells of DNA-primed and protein-boosted mice following Ag85B protein stimulation. The 4-1BB-mediated IFN-gamma inhibition did not require soluble IL-10, TGF-beta, XCL-1 and MIP-1beta. In vivo Ag85B stimulation induced 4-1BB expression on CD8(+) T cells and in vivo 4-1BB ligation reduced the activation, IFN-gamma production and expansion of Ag85B-specific CD4(+) T cells of DNA-primed and protein-boosted mice. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Antigen-specific suppressor CD8(+) T cells are elicited through immunization with the mycobacterial antigen Ag85B. Ligation of 4-1BB receptor further enhanced their suppressive activity on IFN-gamma-secreting CD4(+) T cells. The selective expression of 4-1BB only on CD8(+) T cells in mice developing a massive, non-protective IFN-gamma response opens novel strategies for intervention in tuberculosis pathology and vaccination through T-cell co-stimulatory-based molecular targeting
Obstacles to compassion-giving among nursing and midwifery managers: an international study
Aim: To explore nursing and midwifery managersâ views regarding obstacles to compassion-giving across country cultures. Background: The benefit of compassionate leadership is being advocated, but despite the fact that health care is invariably conducted within culturally diverse workplaces, the interconnection of culture, compassion and leadership is rarely addressed. Furthermore, evidence on how cultural factors hinder the expression of compassion among nursing and midwifery managers is lacking. Methods: Cross-sectional, exploratory, international online survey involving 1 217 participants from 17 countries. Managersâ responses on open-ended questions related to barriers for providing compassion were entered and thematically analysed through NVivo. Results: Three key themes related to compassion-giving obstacles emerged across countries: 1. related to the managersâ personal characteristics and experiences; 2. system-related; and 3. staff-related. Conclusions: Obstacles to compassion-giving among managers vary across countries. An understanding of the variations across countries and cultures of what impedes compassion to flourish in health care is important. Implications for nursing practice and policy: Nursing mangers should wisely use their power by adopting leadership styles that promote culturally competent and compassionate workplaces with respect for human rights. Policymakers should identify training and mentoring needs to enable the development of managersâ practical wisdom. Appropriate national and international policies should facilitate the establishment of standards and guidelines for compassionate leadership, in the face of distorted organizational cultures and system-related obstacles to compassion-giving
Efeitos da suplementação de creatina sobre força e hipertrofia muscular: atualizaçÔes
Computer Readability Editing System
A computer readability system was developed to serve as an author\u27s aid in improving the ease of comprehending technical manuals and training materials. The system has features to (1) flag uncommon and misspelled words and long sentences, (2) suggest simple replacements for difficult words and phrases, and (3) calculate the readability grade level. Each feature was tested to verify that it provides useful feedback to editors and authors. The program is written in Wang BASIC-2 and can be run on computer equipment costing about $25000
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