Helmet-Noninvasive Ventilation for Hospitalized Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: Has Vaccination and the New Variants Changed Evidence?

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a technique for breathing support that significantly improves gas exchange and vital signs, reducing intubation and mortality rates. Helmets, unlike facemasks, allow for longer-term treatment and better ventilation, also being more cost-effective. As of today, we have found no reviews addressing this topic. This review aims to identify, map, and describe the characteristics of the use of noninvasive ventilation through helmet interface in critically ill COVID-19 adult patients hospitalized in acute care settings throughout the multiple moments that defined the COVID-19 pandemic. This scoping review will follow the methodology for scoping reviews proposed by JBI. A set of relevant electronic databases will be searched using terms such as COVID-19, helmet, and noninvasive ventilation. Two reviewers will independently perform the study selection regarding their eligibility. Data extraction will be accomplished using a researcher’s developed tool considering the review questions. Findings will be presented in tables and a narrative description that aligns with the review’s objective. This scoping review will consider any quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods studies and systematic review designs for inclusion, focusing on the use of helmet on critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in acute care settings.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Usefulness of Inflammatory Biomarkers to Predict Anastomotic Leakage after Colorectal Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a severe postoperative complication in colorectal surgery, but its preclinical diagnosis may improve outcomes and increase anastomotic salvage. This study aimed to assess the added value of serum biomarkers for early detection of colorectal AL. Method: We performed a comprehensive literature review, and a qualitative and quantitative analysis of papers retrieved from MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library. We included all studies published before September 2021 assessing the serum biomarkers white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and calprotectin (CLP) for the early diagnosis of AL. Results: Fifteen studies that evaluated three different systemic biomarkers in the context of AL were identified, including 5150 patients. Diagnostic test accuracy was estimated for CRP and PCT. On postoperative day (POD) 5, the highest AUC (87.1%) and specificity (80.2%) values were estimated for CRP. Random-effects meta-analysis and total effect sizes estimation for the biomarkers CRP, PCT and WBC were performed according to POD. The concentration of serum biomarkers is significantly higher in patients presenting AL. Regarding the qualitative analysis, there was significant heterogeneity in the inclusion of different subcategories of the consensus definition of colorectal AL in each paper’s definition. Conclusion: The serum biomarkers CRP and PCT are moderate predictors for AL, showing a high heterogeneity among the studies. Combinations of these biomarkers might improve predictive accuracy, but more studies will be necessary to conduct a quality metaregression.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An interregional, transdisciplinary and good practice-based approach for frailty: the mind&gait project

Social facilities such residential structures and day-centres increasingly seek integrated, structured, adapted, creative, dynamic and economic strategies to prevent frailty. The arising need of an aged and frail population requires innovative interventions and products to prevent cognitive and physical decline. The interregional MIND&GAIT project aims to promote independent living in frail older adults by improving cognition and gait ability by using assistive products. This transdisciplinary strategy within a 24-months period expects as project’ deliverables: i) a structured and good practice-based combined intervention (CI) consisting of a cognitive stimulation programme and a physical exercise programme; ii) an auto-blocking mechanism for rolling walkers with biofeedback acquisition (ABMRW); iii) a randomized clinical trial to assess CI’ effectiveness; and iv) a web-platform to be used as a repository that will support and disseminate the intervention materials, covering the action-line of translational research. Positive benefits are expected in prevention and maintenance of frail older adults’ capacities. Preliminary results showed positive effects on the improvement of cognitive and physical functions, functionality and depressive symptomatology. The interregional geographical coverage induced by MIND&GAIT underlines the potential replicability of the project extension to the community in the Centro and Alentejo regions of Portugal. MIND&GAIT network supports actions and provides learning opportunities and emergence of locally-embedded support systems towards social innovation for older adults

Knowledge of the Portuguese population on Basic Life Support and availability to attend training

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the level of knowledge and the availability of the Portuguese population to attend training in Basic Life Support (BLS) and identify factors related to their level of knowledge about BLS.METHODObservational study including 1,700 people who responded to a questionnaire containing data on demography, profession, training, interest in training and knowledge about BLS.RESULTSAmong 754 men and 943 women, only 17.8% (303) attended a course on BLS, but 95.6% expressed willingness to carry out the training. On average, they did not show good levels of knowledge on basic life support (correct answers in 25.9 ± 11.5 of the 64 indicators). Male, older respondents who had the training and those who performed BLS gave more correct answers, on average (p<0.01).CONCLUSIONThe skill levels of the Portuguese population are low, but people are available for training, hence it is important to develop training courses and practice to improve their knowledge

Coaching as a model for facilitating the performance, learning, and development of palliative care nurses

Palliative care nurses experience huge pressures, which only increased with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A reflection on the new demands for nursing care should include an evaluation of which evidence-based practices should be implemented in clinical settings. This paper discusses the impacts and challenges of incorporating coaching strategies into palliative care nursing. Evidence suggests that coaching strategies can foster emotional self-management and self-adjustment to daily life among nurses. The current challenge is incorporating this expanded knowledge into nurses’ coping strategies. Coaching strategies can contribute to nurses’ well-being, empower them, and consequently bring clinical benefits to patients, through humanized care focused on the particularities of end-of-life patients and their families.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of an e-health platform for informal caregivers and health professionals: the case study of Help2Care

Acknowledgments: This study is on behalf of the research group of the project Help2Care project: Help2care – Apoiar no autocuidado de utentes e cuidadores (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-23762). This work was supported and co-funded by the FEDER (European Regional Development Fund), under the Portugal 2020 Program, through COMPETE 2020 (Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Program). We acknowledge the Polytechnic Institutes of Leiria, Santarém and Castelo Branco, the Hospital Center of Leiria, and all members, institutions and students involved in the project.Funding: This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia FCT - Portugal, under the scope of the Help2Care project: Help2care – Apoiar no autocuidado de utentes e cuidadores (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-3762);Fundação paraa Ciência e a Tecnologia [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-23762].The Help2Care e-Health platform was developed in order to capacitate infor-mal caregivers with digital, multimedia training materials. Health professionals select these materials according to the needs of the homebound patients under the supervision of these caregivers. In turn, caregiver can then use their smartphones to consult and apply the care procedures illustrated by these materials. In this paper, we present the results of performed usability tests for both web and mobile software applications of the Help2Care platform. These indicate an overall positive outcome, revealing less usable aspects such as the navigation flow in the web application and some design elements in the mobile application. Important written feedback was also collected, which we took into consideration to improve the software features of the platform.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Positive parenting by parents of children up to three years of age: development and validation of measurement scales Ejercicio parental positivo por los padres de niños hasta tres años: construcción y validación de escalas de medición Exercício da parentalidade positiva pelos pais de crianças até três anos: construção e validação de escalas de medida

This study aimed to describe the development and validation of three multidimensional scales in which the same 30 items, distributed among five dimensions, measure parents' self-perceived confidence, difficulties and knowledge needs in the exercise of positive parenting during the first three years of the child's life. The content of the scales resulted from the literature and exploratory studies and was validated by experts. The analysis of its reliability and validity, using Pearson's correlations and Cronbach's alpha, was based on data from a questionnaire administered to a non-probabilistic sample of 1011 parents. In the dimensions and items, &#945;-values ranged between 0.769 and 0.890 and r-coefficients were >0.37;p <0.01. It was concluded that the scales measure three variables that correspond to the practice of positive parenting and their use permits guiding nursing support.<br>Este estudio tuvo el objetivo de describir la construcción y validación de tres escalas multidimensionales en que los mismos 30 ítems, distribuidos en 5 dimensiones, miden la auto-percepción de la confianza, de las dificultades y de la necesidad de conocimientos de los padres en el ejercicio parental positivo en los primeros tres años del niño. El contenido de las escalas resultó de la literatura y de estudios de explotación y fue validado por expertos. El análisis de su fidelidad y validez partió de los resultados de un cuestionario aplicado la una muestra no probabilística de 1011 padres. En las dimensiones e ítems, los valores de Coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach se situaron entre 0,769 y 0,890 y los de fueron >0,37; p<0,01. Se concluyó que las escalas miden tres variables que hacen operacional el ejercicio parental positivo y su utilización permite direccionar el apoyo de enfermería.<br>Os objetivos deste estudo foram descrever a construção e obtenção de algumas evidências de validade de três escalas multidimensionais em que os mesmos 30 itens, distribuídos por cinco dimensões, medem a autoperceção da confiança, das dificuldades e da necessidade de conhecimentos dos pais no exercício da parentalidade positiva, nos primeiros três anos da criança. O conteúdo das escalas resultou da literatura e de estudos exploratórios e foi validado por peritos. A análise da sua fidedignidade e validade, por meio de correlações de Pearson e coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, partiu dos resultados de um questionário aplicado a uma amostra não probabilística de 1.011 pais. Nas dimensões e itens, os valores de &#945; situaram-se entre 0,769 e 0,890 e os de r foram >0,37; p<0,01. Concluiu-se que as escalas medem três variáveis que operacionalizam o exercício da parentalidade positiva, e a sua utilização permite direcionar o apoio de enfermagem

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved