An instrument to measure nurses' knowledge in palliative care: Validation of the Spanish version of Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses

Background Palliative care is nowadays essential in nursing care, due to the increasing number of patients who require attention in final stages of their life. Nurses need to acquire specific knowledge and abilities to provide quality palliative care. Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses is a questionnaire that evaluates their basic knowledge about palliative care. The Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN) is useful to evaluate basic knowledge about palliative care, but its adaptation into the Spanish language and the analysis of its effectiveness and utility for Spanish culture is lacking. Purpose To report the adaptation into the Spanish language and the psychometric analysis of the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses. Method The Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses-Spanish Version (PCQN-SV) was obtained from a process including translation, back-translation, comparison with versions in other languages, revision by experts, and pilot study. Content validity and reliability of questionnaire were analyzed. Difficulty and discrimination indexes of each item were also calculated according to Item Response Theory (IRT). Findings Adequate internal consistency was found (S-CVI = 0.83); Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.67 and KR-20 test result of 0,72 reflected the reliability of PCQN-SV. The questionnaire had a global difficulty index of 0,55, with six items which could be considered as difficult or very difficult, and five items with could be considered easy or very easy. The discrimination indexes of the 20 items, show us that eight items are good or very good while six items are bad to discriminate between good and bad respondents. Discussion Although in shows internal consistency, reliability and difficulty indexes similar to those obtained by versions of PCQN in other languages, a reformulation of the items with lowest content validity or discrimination indexes and those showing difficulties with their comprehension is an aspect to take into account in order to improve the PCQN-SV. Conclusion The PCQN-SV is a useful Spanish language instrument for measuring Spanish nurses' knowledge in palliative care and it is adequate to establish international comparisons

As relações interpessoais dos enfermeiros na assistência hospitalar e o uso das capacidades comunicativas

A qualitative exploratory and descriptive study investigating how the work relationships of nursing professionals are affected by the organizational problems experienced in hospital units and their management. Participants consisted of 21 nurses who worked in a general hospital in the north of Spain, during the period between 2010 and 2012. The study was approved by an ethics research committee and participants signed an informed consent form. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and field records. Using thematic analysis, the results displayed that work disorganization affects interpersonal relationships, generating feelings of impotence and demotivation among participants. Thus, they considered it necessary for a work plan to be established, clearly defining the activities of each professional role and developing the necessary communication skills for expressing problems to managers and coworkers. We believe it would be of great benefit for managers to take into consideration the suggestions for improvement presented in this study.Estudio exploratorio-descriptivo, cualitativo, para conocer cómo afectan a las relaciones laborales de los profesionales de enfermería los problemas organizativos vividos en las unidades hospitalarias y la forma de gestionarlos. Los participantes fueron 21 enfermeros que trabajaban en un hospital general del norte de España, en el periodo de 2010-2012, con la aprobación del comité ético y de investigación y la firma del consentimiento informado. Los datos se recolectaron mediante entrevistas en profundidad y diario de campo. A partir del análisis temático, los resultados mostraron que la desorganización del trabajo afecta a las relaciones interpersonales, generando en los participantes sentimientos de impotencia y desmotivación. Por ello, consideran necesario realizar una planificación del trabajo, clarificar las actividades de cada rol profesional y desarrollar las habilidades comunicativas necesarias para transmitir los problemas a gestores y compañeros. Se estima conveniente que los gestores tuvieran en consideración las propuestas de mejora señaladas en el estudio.Estudo exploratório-descritivo, qualitativo, para conhecer os problemas organizativos que ocorreram nas unidades hospitalares e a maneira de os gerir nas relações laborais dos profissionais da enfermagem. Os participantes foram 21 enfermeiros que trabalhavam num hospital geral do Norte da Espanha, entre os anos 2010 e 2012. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas em profundidade e de diário de campo. A partir da análise temática, os resultados mostraram que a desorganização no trabalho afeta as relações interpessoais, criando nos participantes sentimento de impotência e desmotivação. Por este motivo, consideram necessário realizar uma planificação do trabalho, esclarecer as atividades de cada profissional e desenvolver as capacidades comunicativas necessárias para transmitir os problemas aos gestores e aos colegas de trabalho

Conocimientos en cuidados paliativos de los profesionales de enfermería de un hospital español

Objetivo: determinar o nível de conhecimento em cuidados paliativos do pessoal de Enfermagem de um hospital espanhol de terceiro nível. Método: estudo transversal descritivo. Foram coletados dados sobre resultados na versão espanhola do questionário Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN), aspectos sociodemográficos, nível de formação e experiência dos participantes em cuidados paliativos. Foi realizada análise descritiva univariada e bivariada, considerando-se estatisticamente significativo um valor de p < 0,05 em todos os casos. Resultados: participaram 159 profissionais, (idade média 39,51 anos ± 10,25, com 13,96 anos ± 10,79 de experiência profissional) 54,7% possuíam experiência em cuidados paliativos e 64,2%, formação (majoritariamente básica). A média de acertos no questionário foi de 54%, com diferenças estatisticamente significativas em função da formação e experiência no âmbito dos cuidados paliativos dos participantes. Conclusões: embora os participantes mostrem um conhecimento suficiente sobre cuidados paliativos, eles se beneficiariam de um programa de formação específico, orientado em função das concepções errôneas identificadas mediante o questionário, que tem mostrado ser um instrumento útil no diagnóstico de necessidades formativas dos profissionais no âmbito dos cuidados paliativos.Objetivo: determinar el nivel de conocimientos en cuidados paliativos del personal de Enfermería de un hospital español de tercer nivel. Método: estudio transversal descriptivo. Los siguientes datos fueron recolectados junto con los resultados de la versión española del cuestionario Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN): aspectos sociodemográficos, nivel de formación y experiencia de los participantes en cuidados paliativos. Se realizó análisis descriptivo univariado y bivariado, considerándose estadísticamente significativo un valor de p < 0,05 en todos los casos. Resultados: participaron 159 profesionales, (edad media 39,51 años ± 10,25; experiencia profesional 13,96 años ± 10,79), 54,7% tenían experiencia en cuidados paliativos y 64,2%, formación (la mayoría con formación básica). La media de aciertos en el cuestionario fue de 54%, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas derivadas de la formación y experiencia de los participantes en el ámbito de los cuidados paliativos. Conclusiones: aunque los participantes mostraron un conocimiento suficiente sobre cuidados paliativos, se beneficiarían con un programa de formación específico, orientado en función de las concepciones erróneas identificadas mediante el cuestionario, que ha mostrado ser un instrumento útil en el diagnóstico de necesidades formativas de los profesionales en el ámbito de los cuidados paliativos.Objective: to determine the level of knowledge in palliative care of nursing staff at a Spanish tertiary care hospital. Method: descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data were collected about the results of the Spanish version of the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN), sociodemographic aspects, education level and experience in the field of palliative care. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analysis was applied. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 in all cases. Results: 159 professionals participated (mean age 39.51 years ± 10.25, with 13.96 years ± 10.79 of professional experience) 54.7% possessed experience in palliative care and 64.2% educational background (mainly basic education). The mean percentage of hits on the quiz was 54%, with statistically significant differences in function of the participants’ education and experience in palliative care. Conclusions: although the participants show sufficient knowledge on palliative care, they would benefit from a specific training program, in function of the mistaken concepts identified through the quiz, which showed to be a useful tool to diagnose professionals’ educational needs in palliative care

The information systems integration for a better caring and chronic patients´ empowerment

The technology innovation (TI) in the health system has been confirmed as the best format to share information and to facilitate the communication between all the actors involved in the chronic patients´ care

A experiência das enfermeiras de turno num hospital espanhol: estudo qualitativo-fenomenológico

The objective of this study was to describe the Supplemental Nursing Staff´s experiences at different hospital units. A qualitative phenomenological approach was conducted; a purposeful and theoretical sampling was implemented with supplemental nursing staff at Santa Barbara Hospital of Soria (Spain), to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Supplemental Nursing Staff ´s experience. Data were collected by in-depth interviews and through a field notebook. Data were analyzed using the Giorgi proposal. Twenty-one nurses with a mean age of 46 years were included. Three main topics emerged from the data analysis: building the first contact, carving out a niche and establishing interprofessional/interpersonal relationships. We conclude that the experience of hosting the supplemental nursing staff in changing clinical environments is conditioned by various factors. It is necessary for nurses and hospital managers to establish clear objectives with regard to the supplemental nursing staff´s role in the units.El propósito de este estudio es describir la experiencia de las enfermeras “de apoyo” en las diferentes unidades de hospitalización. Seguimos un enfoque fenomenológico cualitativo. Realizamos un muestreo por propósito y teórico de dicho personal del Hospital Santa Bárbara de Soria (España), con el fin de obtener una comprensión más profunda del fenómeno. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas en profundidad y diario de campo. Los datos fueron analizados usando la propuesta de Giorgi. Veintiuna enfermeras “de apoyo” con una media de edad de 46 años fueron incluidos. Tres temas principales que describen la experiencia de los enfermeros emergieron de los datos: construyendo el primer contacto, buscando un hueco y estableciendo relaciones interprofesionales/interpersonales. Concluimos que la experiencia de acoger dichas enfermeras en entornos clínicos cambiantes está condicionada por diferentes factores. Es preciso establecer objetivos claros respecto al rol de las mismas en las unidades por enfermeras y gestores

A experiencia das enfermeiras que trabalham com estudantes de enfermagem em um hospital: uma investigação fenomenológica

Objective: this paper explores the experiences of registered nurses working with Spanish nursing students within the hospital. Methods: a qualitative phenomenological approach was followed. Purposeful sampling was employed. Twenty-one registered nurses, from a public hospital located in Spain, were included in the study. Data were collected by means of unstructured and semi-structured interviews and were analysed using Giorgi’s proposal. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research were followed. Results: three main themes described the experience of registered nurses: “The nurse’s relationship with nursing students”; most nurses emphasized the importance of the first contact with students and they considered students’ attitude to be key. “Defining the role of the student in clinical practice”; it is necessary to unify the nurse’s role and interventions to avoid misleading students and establish priorities in clinical practice. “Building bridges between clinical settings and the University”; the need to establish a common ground and connection between the university and hospital clinical settings was emphasized. Nurses felt that the training program should also be designed by the clinical settings themselves. Conclusions: understanding the meaning of nursing students with registered nurses might gain a deeper insight into their expectations.Objetivo: este artículo explora las experiencias de las enfermeras que trabajan con estudiantes de enfermería españolas en un hospital. Métodos: se utilizó un abordaje fenomenológico cualitativo y una muestra de conveniencia. Se incluyeron en el estudio veintidós enfermeras pertenecientes a un hospital público de España. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de entrevistas no estructuradas y semi-estructuradas, y analizadas usando la propuesta de Giorgi. Se siguieron los Criterios Consolidados para Relatos de Investigación Cualitativa. Resultados: tres temas principales describen la experiencia de las enfermeras: “La relación de la enfermera con las estudiantes de enfermería” la mayoría de las enfermeras dan énfasis a la importancia del primer contacto con las estudiantes y consideran que la actitud de las estudiantes es esencial. “La definición del rol de la estudiante en la práctica clínica”; es necesaria para unificar el rol y las intervenciones de la enfermera para evitar guiar en forma errónea a las estudiantes y establecer prioridades en la práctica clínica. “Construir puentes entre los ambientes clínicos y la Universidad”; se enfatizó la necesidad de establecer un terreno común y conexiones entre la universidad y los servicios clínicos del hospital. Las enfermeras piensan que el programa educativo debe ser también diseñado por los servicios clínicos. Conclusiones: comprender los significados de las estudiantes de enfermería con las enfermeras puede proveer una introspección más profunda de sus expectativas.Objetivo: este artigo explora as vivencias das enfermeiras que trabalham com estudantes de enfermagem espanholas em um hospital. Método: foi utilizada uma abordagem fenomenológica qualitativa e uma amostra por conveniência. Vinte e uma enfermeiras pertencentes a um hospital público na Espanha foram incluídos no estudo. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas não-estruturadas e semiestruturadas e analisadas usando a proposta de Giorgi. Foram observados os Critérios Consolidados para Relatos de Pesquisa Qualitativa. Resultados: três temas principais descrevem a experiência das enfermeiras: “A relação da enfermeira com as estudantes de enfermagem”; a maioria das enfermeiras enfatizam a importância do primeiro contato com estudantes e consideram central a atitude dos estudantes. “A definição do papel da estudante na prática clínica”; é necessária para unificar o papel e as intervenções da enfermeira para evitar guiar erroneamente ao estudante e estabelecer prioridades na prática clínica. “Construir pontes entre os serviços clínicos e a Universidade”; enfatizou-se a necessidade de estabelecer um terreno comum e conexões entre a universidade e os serviços clínicos do hospital. As enfermeiras pensam que o programa educacional deve também ser desenhado pelos serviços clínicos. Conclusões: compreender os significados das estudantes de enfermagem com as enfermeiras graduadas pode permitir uma introspecção mais aprofundada nas suas expectativas

Interpersonal relations and nurses' job satisfaction through knowledge and usage of relational skills

Background/rationale: Many interpersonal labor disputes stem from the lack of communication skills and the relational problems in the interactions between health professionals. Aims/methods: A qualitative study was conducted in a Spanish hospital in order to get to know how the communicative interaction between hospital nurses is like in relation to the nurses' interpersonal interaction and communication skills developed in their working relationships. Twenty-one hospital nurses between 29 and 55 years old, working in different wards, were interviewed. Open-ended interview discourses were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The following four key themes were analyzed: communication and sender; communication and awareness of who has the problem; non-verbal communication; communication and recipient. Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the need to broaden nurses' relational–communication skills in order to increase job satisfaction

A experiência das enfermeiras de turno num hospital espanhol: estudo qualitativo-fenomenológico.

O propósito deste estudo é descrever a experiência das enfermeiras de turno nas diferentes unidades hospitalares. Seguiu-se um enfoque fenomenológico e qualitativo. Realizamos uma amostragem teórica com o pessoal de enfermagem de turno do Hospital Santa Bárbara de Soria (Espanha), com a finalidade de obter uma compreensão mais profunda do fenômeno. Os dados foram coletados a través de entrevistas e de diário de campo. Os dados foram analisados usando a proposta de Giorgi. 21 enfermeiros de turno com uma média de idade de 46 anos foram incluídos. Três temas principais, que descrevem a experiência das enfermeiras, emergiram dos dados: construindo o primeiro contato, buscando um espaço e estabelecendo relações interprofissionais/interpressoais. Concluimos que a experiência de acolher as enfermeiras de turno em ambientes clínicos mutáveis está condicionada por diferentes fatores. É preciso estabelecer objetivos claros a respeito do papel das enfermeiras de turno nas unidades por parte de enfermeiras e gestores.El propósito de este estudio es describir la experiencia de las enfermeras “de apoyo” en las diferentes unidades de hospitalización. Seguimos un enfoque fenomenológico cualitativo. Realizamos un muestreo por propósito y teórico de dicho personal del Hospital Santa Bárbara de Soria (España), con el fin de obtener una comprensión más profunda del fenómeno. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas en profundidad y diario de campo. Los datos fueron analizados usando la propuesta de Giorgi. Veintiuna enfermeras “de apoyo” con una media de edad de 46 años fueron incluidos. Tres temas principales que describen la experiencia de los enfermeros emergieron de los datos: construyendo el primer contacto, buscando un hueco y estableciendo relaciones interprofesionales/interpersonales. Concluimos que la experiencia de acoger dichas enfermeras en entornos clínicos cambiantes esta condicionada por diferentes factores. Es preciso establecer objetivos claros respecto al rol de las mismas en las unidades por enfermeras y gestores.The objective of this study was to describe the Supplemental Nursing Staff´s experiences at different hospital units. A qualitative phenomenological approach was conducted; a purposeful and theoretical sampling was implemented with supplemental nursing staff at Santa Barbara Hospital of Soria (Spain), to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Supplemental Nursing Staff ´s experience. Data were collected by in-depth interviews and through a field notebook. Data were analyzed using the Giorgi proposal. Twenty-one nurses with a mean age of 46 years were included. Three main topics emerged from the data analysis: building the first contact, carving out a niche and establishing interprofessional/interpersonal relationships. We conclude that the experience of hosting the supplemental nursing staff in changing clinical environments is conditioned by various factors. It is necessary for nurses and hospital managers to establish clear objectives with regard to the supplemental nursing staff´s role in the units

Supplemental nursing staff ́s experiences at a Spanish hospital: Qualitative phenomenology research

The objective of this study was to describe the Supplemental Nursing Staff ́s experiences at different hospital units. A qualitative phenomenological approach was conducted; a purposeful and theoretical sampling was implemented with supplemental nursing staff at Santa Barbara Hospital of Soria (Spain), to gain a more in-depth understanding of the Supplemental Nursing Staff ́s experience. Data were collected by in-depth interviews and through a field notebook. Data were analyzed using the Giorgi proposal. Twenty-one nurses with a mean age of 46 years were included. Three main topics emerged from the data analysis: building the first contact, carving out a niche and establishing interprofessional/interpersonal relationships. We conclude that the experience of hosting the supplemental nursing staff in changing clinical environments is conditioned by various factors. It is necessary for nurses and hospital managers to establish clear objectives with regard to the supplemental nursing staff ́s role in the units.El propósito de este estudio es describir la experiencia de las enfermeras “de apoyo” en las diferentes unidades de hospitalización. Seguimos un enfoque fenomenológico cualitativo. Realizamos un muestreo por propósito y teórico de dicho personal del Hospital Santa Bárbara de Soria (España), con el fin de obtener una comprensión más profunda del fenómeno. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas en profundidad y diario de campo. Los datosfueron analizados usando la propuesta de Giorgi. Veintiuna enfermeras “de apoyo” con una media de edad de 46 años fueron incluidos. Tres temas principales que describen la experiencia de los enfermeros emergieron de los datos: construyendo el primer contacto, buscando un hueco y estableciendo relaciones interprofesionales/interpersonales. Concluimos que la experiencia de acoger dichas enfermeras en entornos clínicos cambiantes esta condicionada por diferentes factores. Es preciso establecer objetivos claros respecto al rol de las mismas en las unidades por enfermeras y gestores.O propósito deste estudo é descrever a experiência das enfermeiras de turno nas diferentes unidades hospitalares. Seguiuse um enfoque fenomenológico e qualitativo. Realizamos uma amostragem teórica com o pessoal de enfermagem de turno do Hospital Santa Bárbara de Soria (Espanha), com a finalidade de obter uma compreensão mais profunda do fenômeno. Os dados foram coletados a través de entrevistas e de diário de campo. Os dados foram analisados usando a proposta de Giorgi. 21 enfermeiros de turno com uma média de idade de 46 anos foram incluídos. Três temas principais, que descrevem a experiência das enfermeiras, emergiram dos dados: construindo o primeiro contato, buscando um espaço e estabelecendo relações interprofissionais/interpressoais. Concluimos que a experiência de acolher as enfermeiras de turno em ambientes clínicos mutáveis está condicionada por diferentes fatores. É preciso estabelecer objetivos claros a respeito do papel das enfermeiras de turno nas unidades por parte de enfermeiras e gestores

Interpersonal relations and nurses ́ job satisfaction through knowledge and usage of relational skills

Background/rationale Many interpersonal labor disputes stem from the lack of communication skills and the relational problems in the interactions between health professionals. Aims/methods A qualitative study was conducted in a Spanish hospital in order to get to know how the communicative interaction between hospital nurses is like in relation to the nurses' interpersonal interaction and communication skills developed in their working relationships. Twenty-one hospital nurses between 29 and 55 years old, working in different wards, were interviewed. Open-ended interview discourses were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results The following four key themes were analyzed: communication and sender; communication and awareness of who has the problem; non-verbal communication; communication and recipient. Conclusion The results of this study highlight the need to broaden nurses' relational–communication skills in order to increase job satisfaction