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Journal of Forensic Sciences Nov 2023Misdiagnosis of child abuse and neglect can delay early treatment. Some authors have pointed out that nurses can miss child abuse and neglect diagnoses due to a lack of...
Misdiagnosis of child abuse and neglect can delay early treatment. Some authors have pointed out that nurses can miss child abuse and neglect diagnoses due to a lack of knowledge. It is unclear whether the lack of knowledge is due to students' insufficient preparation in nursing school and/or a deficiency in continuing education. An 18-item questionnaire was administered to final-year nursing students to assess their degree of knowledge on child abuse and neglect and to evaluate if the lack of knowledge was due to insufficient teaching/training during nursing school. The students were also asked to evaluate themselves by assigning a score to their knowledge. A statistical comparison was performed to define whether sufficient/insufficient results were associated with the following variables: sex, pediatric or general nursing student, attending pediatric lectures, training in pediatric wards/ambulatories, and attending specific lectures on child abuse and neglect. The study population comprised 175 students (154 females, 20 males, 1 unknown). Exactly 66.3% of the participants had ≤9/18 correct answers. Of all students, 77.7% self-evaluated their level of knowledge as ≤5/10. The comparisons yielded statistically significant differences between the groups with sufficient objective knowledge and those unrelated to training in pediatric wards/ambulatories or pediatric nursing students. Overall, there was little objective knowledge on the subject, which may be related to insufficient teaching/training in nursing schools. Useful corrective strategies include further teaching on child abuse and neglect, preferably using a practical approach. Further, common teaching/training programs should be conducted by both pediatric and general nursing schools.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Child; Students, Nursing; Child Abuse; Surveys and Questionnaires; Clinical Competence; Schools
PubMed: 37602568
DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15361 -
Cureus Dec 2023Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, offering potential benefits and challenges. In healthcare, AI enhances efficiency, streamlines processes, and... (Review)
Review
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, offering potential benefits and challenges. In healthcare, AI enhances efficiency, streamlines processes, and supports decision-making. However, challenges include potential errors and biases in algorithms, data privacy concerns, legal and ethical issues, and resistance to change. In nursing, a delicate balance emerges between AI and human touch. While AI aids in data-driven decision-making and administrative tasks, it lacks the emotional intelligence, empathy, and nuanced understanding crucial to nursing care. Nurses excel in critical thinking, adaptability to dynamic situations, patient advocacy, collaboration, and establishing human connections. AI supports these functions by automating routine tasks and offering decision support tools, yet its rigidity in dynamic situations and lack of human touch pose limitations. This review underscores the necessity of careful AI integration in healthcare, acknowledging its advantages while mitigating drawbacks. In nursing, the symbiosis between AI and human qualities is vital. The role of AI should be to complement, not replace, the unique skills and empathetic aspects of nursing care. Addressing concerns related to bias, transparency, data privacy, and professional training is essential for maximizing the benefits of AI in healthcare while preserving the human touch in patient care. This article explores whether AI can replace unique nursing roles.
PubMed: 38283483
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51150 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2023Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a major and widespread public health concern throughout the world. The prevalence of T2DM in the elderly has risen to the top of...
OBJECTIVE
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains a major and widespread public health concern throughout the world. The prevalence of T2DM in the elderly has risen to the top of the list of public health concerns. In this study, obesity- and lipid-related indices were used to predict T2DM in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults.
METHODS
The data came from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), including 7902 middle-aged and elderly participants aged 45 years or above. The study assessed the association of obesity- and lipid-related indices and T2DM by measuring 13 indicators, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference(WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), conicity index(CI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), triglyceride glucose index (TyG-index) and its correlation index (TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR). The association of 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices with T2DM was investigated by binary logistic regression. Additionally, the predictive anthropometric index was evaluated, and the ideal cut-off value was established using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC).
RESULTS
The study included 7902 participants, of whom 3638(46.04) and 4264(53.96) were male and female. The prevalence of T2DM in mid-aged and old adults in China was 9.02% in males and 9.15% in females. All the above 13 indicators show a modest predictive power (AUC>0.5), which was significant for predicting T2DM in adults (middle-aged and elderly people) in China (<0.05). The results revealed that TyG-WHtR [AUC =0.600, 95%CI: 0.566-0.634] in males and in females [AUC =0.664, 95%CI: 0.636-0.691] was the best predictor of T2DM (<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Most obesity- and lipid-related indices have important value in predicting T2DM. Our results can provide measures for the early identification of T2DM in mid-aged and elderly Chinese to reduce the prevalence of T2DM and improve health.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Middle Aged; Humans; Male; Female; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Risk Factors; Cohort Studies; Longitudinal Studies; Obesity; Triglycerides
PubMed: 38356678
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1331739 -
Nutrients Oct 2023The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome in children involves multiple factors. Thus, treatment options are variable, targeting both diet and the child's and... (Review)
Review
The pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome in children involves multiple factors. Thus, treatment options are variable, targeting both diet and the child's and parents' behavior via pharmacological and psychological interventions or neuromodulation. Parents are increasingly interested in complementary and alternative therapies for children with irritable bowel syndrome, especially when other treatments have been tried without relieving the child's symptoms. This paper examines current evidence for the benefits and side effects of herbal remedies and spices in pediatric patients with IBS. The benefits of peppermint oil, STW5, psyllium fiber, Curcuma, ginger, and other herbal medicines are discussed based on findings in the current literature.
Topics: Humans; Child; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Complementary Therapies; Plants, Medicinal; Plant Extracts; Psyllium
PubMed: 37892426
DOI: 10.3390/nu15204351 -
Cureus Sep 2023Triage is crucial in patient screening within emergency departments (EDs) worldwide. It is one of the essential and standard medical practices in many developed...
INTRODUCTION
Triage is crucial in patient screening within emergency departments (EDs) worldwide. It is one of the essential and standard medical practices in many developed countries. However, in India, there is a need for improvement in triage utilization, as it is predominantly performed by resident doctors or medical officers, leading to an uneven distribution of clinical skills among healthcare providers (HCPs). A comprehensive analysis incorporating literature review and data collection revealed that while mandatory screening is conducted in most Indian EDs, the formal implementation of standardized triage protocols remains limited. Like in developed countries, registered nurses or nursing officers (NOs) can be effectively trained and directed to play the role of dedicated triage personnel in EDs of most of the healthcare facilities in India.
METHOD AND MATERIALS
This study aimed to examine the current state of triage utilization and its impact on the distribution of responsibilities among HCPs in Indian EDs. Through this online survey, the investigators assessed the knowledge and practical understanding of clinical triaging among NOs, working at various hospitals nationwide.
RESULTS
The participants included 5,029 NOs working in various parts of India, predominantly nursing graduates (82.52%), the majority being employed in government healthcare settings (84.01%) and most having over five years of cumulative working experience in the ED (70.77%). Nurses showed inadequate knowledge and awareness about the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) used for quick initial evaluation (62.18% among all participants). Concerning the complete triage process applicable, especially in pediatric ED settings, they had even less satisfactory knowledge and understanding, e.g., identifying primary (28.27%) and secondary (22.69%) survey components via focused history and examination, properly using temperature assessment (23.32%) and instant blood glucose level assessment (22.95%) in triage, and knowing various types of internationally accepted triage systems for ED-based health facilities such as the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS), and Australasian Triage Scale (ATS) (15.87%). ANOVA and post hoc analysis revealed that the intergroup performance of the study participants with maximum correct responses to the knowledge-determining specified subset of the questionnaire depicts the significantly higher role of graduate nursing degree over diploma such as General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM)/Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery (ANM) qualification, working in government hospital versus private setup, and ED working experience of >5 years over that of <5 years.
CONCLUSIONS
Of the participants in the study, 50% were not evaluated for cognitive or psychomotor domains during their assessment examinations. The research illuminated a significant disparity in knowledge and proficiency levels among Indian nurses concerning pediatric triage, especially with the ability to effectively apply the PAT for initial patient evaluations, discern components of primary and secondary surveys, and comprehend various triage systems. This study underscores the importance of comprehensive reform in the Indian healthcare system and teaching curriculum by emphasizing clinical triage training and interprofessional collaboration, and establishing guidelines and regulations to ensure consistent and standardized triage practices across all EDs.
PubMed: 37900363
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46102 -
American Journal of Public Health May 2024We explored the role of school nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting interviews and focus groups with them in 2022 and 2023 in an urban public school...
We explored the role of school nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic by conducting interviews and focus groups with them in 2022 and 2023 in an urban public school district. Findings indicated that school nurses played an essential public health role in engaging the school community, overseeing COVID-19 testing, and enforcing risk mitigation strategies during the pandemic. Our results contribute to understanding school nurses' experiences during the pandemic and highlight the need for training and support for their vital role. (. 2024;114(S5):S402-S404. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307591).
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; School Nursing; Nurse's Role; Focus Groups; SARS-CoV-2; Schools; Female; Male
PubMed: 38547464
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2024.307591 -
Medical Science Monitor : International... Dec 2023A growing number of pediatric Emergency Department (ED) patients has become increasingly common in recent years, but only a small number of them are in true emergencies.... (Review)
Review
A growing number of pediatric Emergency Department (ED) patients has become increasingly common in recent years, but only a small number of them are in true emergencies. It is particularly important to use pediatric triage systems to quickly assess the patients' conditions and determine the patients' priority in emergency treatment, ensuring timely treatment to critically ill patients and efficient utilization of medical resources. The Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale Paediatric Guidelines (PaedCTAS), Australasian Triage Scale (ATS), Emergency Severity Index (ESI), and Manchester Triage System (MTS) are internationally recognized pediatric triage systems. Some countries, such as China, Thailand, Singapore, Norway, South Africa, and South Korea, have created their own pediatric emergency triage systems in line with the situation of their respective countries. Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) and Pediatric Early Warning Signs (PEWS) are usually used with triage systems for quick initial assessment of pediatric ED patients. The pediatric emergency triage systems developed in different countries have good reliability and are suitable for pediatric emergency triage. Because different triage systems had different performances, it is advisable to research the factors influencing the performance of pediatric triage systems. This was a narrative review. This article aims to review the roles and implementation of pediatric emergency triage systems in China and other countries.
Topics: Humans; Child; Triage; Reproducibility of Results; Canada; Emergency Service, Hospital; China
PubMed: 38050350
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.941582 -
Journal of Pediatric Nursing 2023Quality of care and the mental and physical health of nurses are interlinked. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an extremely high burden on health care. This study aimed...
PURPOSE
Quality of care and the mental and physical health of nurses are interlinked. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an extremely high burden on health care. This study aimed to: 1) describe professional quality of life of registered nurses (RN) working in the pediatric and neonatal care units during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden, 2) compare professional quality of life between RNs with and without a Master's degree in specialist nursing pediatric care (MSc), and 3) compare differences in professional quality of life associated with the nursing experience (years).
DESIGN AND METHODS
This study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. The PROQoL®-5-questionnaire was administered as a web survey to 160 RNs at four pediatric wards and two neonatal units of two hospitals in Sweden.
RESULTS
Seventy-one RNs responded to the survey. Overall, they reported a sufficient professional quality of life. RNs with an MSc suffered significantly lower secondary traumatic stress levels. Experienced RNs reported significantly higher compassion satisfaction and lower occupational burnout.
CONCLUSION
Higher education and longer experience are beneficial for nurses' professional quality of life when working in pediatric care units.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
Results from this study highlights the importance of offering RN education in pediatric care at master level and supporting novice nurses, to prevent negative professional well-being outcomes in pediatric care, because the health of nurses is of utterly importance when crisis such as a pandemic hits the world. The findings also suggest that the conditions for professional quality of life could improve through activities such as self-care, time for reflection, better working hours, competence-adjusted salary, and educational opportunities.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Humans; Child; Compassion Fatigue; Pandemics; Empathy; Quality of Life; Cross-Sectional Studies; Sweden; COVID-19; Burnout, Professional; Surveys and Questionnaires; Personal Satisfaction; Job Satisfaction; Nurses
PubMed: 37977972
DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.11.013 -
BMC Nursing Aug 2023This systematic literature review explored the general characteristics, validation, and reliability of pediatric simulation-based education (P-SBE).
BACKGROUND
This systematic literature review explored the general characteristics, validation, and reliability of pediatric simulation-based education (P-SBE).
METHODS
A literature search was conducted between May 23 and 28 using the PRISMA guidelines, which covered databases such as MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library. In the third selection process, the original texts of 142 studies were selected, and 98 documents were included in the final content analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 109 papers have been published in the ten years since 2011. Most of the study designs were experimental studies, including RCT with 76 articles. Among the typologies of simulation, advanced patient simulation was the most common (92), and high-fidelity simulation was the second most common (75). There were 29 compatibility levels and professional levels, with 59 scenarios related to emergency interventions and 19 scenarios related to communication feasibility and decision making. Regarding the effect variable, 65 studies confirmed that skills were the most common. However, validity of the scenarios and effect variables was not verified in 56.1% and 67.3% of studies, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Based on these findings, simulation based-education (SBE) is an effective educational method that can improve the proficiency and competence of medical professionals dealing with child. Learning through simulation provides an immersive environment in which learners interact with the presented patient scenario and make decisions, actively learning the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary for medical providers. In the future, it is expected that such research on SBE will be actively followed up and verified for its validity and reliability.
PubMed: 37641090
DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01458-8