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Abstract Introduction Cervical cancer is one of the causes of female deaths worldwide. Cervical cancer incidence is rising with almost three thousand (2797) women in Ghana being diagnosed with the condition each year, with almost two thousand (1,699) of them dying from its complications Nurses caring for cervical cancer patients are exposed to emotional and psychological distress due to late presentation, the burden of care, patients’ suffering and the alarming number of deaths associated with it. Improving positive patient outcomes require identifying the challenges and support systems available to nursing staff so as to harness these support systems for improving care outcomes. Aim This study explored the challenges and support systems of nurses caring for women with advanced cervical cancer in Accra, Ghana. Method In this study, we adopted an exploratory qualitative design. The study was conducted among eleven (11) nurses and nine (9) midwives engaged at the national referral hospital in Ghana who were providing care for patients with advanced cervical cancer for over a year who were purposively sampled. The data was collected using in-depth interviews with a pre-tested semi-structure interview guide from the twenty participants. We recorded the interviews using an audio-tape. The audio files were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was undertaken with the aid of Nvivo 10.0. Results The challenges when rendering nursing care faced by participants of this study were exposure to frequent deaths, inadequate resources, and workload. Most participants lamented that they received absolutely no support from their workplace, hence their only form of support was from their family and friends. They also added that most of them were general nurses and midwives with no special training in oncology nursing or palliative nursing. Conclusion Nurses and midwives experience resource, knowledge and skill challenges when caring for patients with advanced cervical cancer. However, the nurses and midwives had emotional attachment to their jobs and their patients and were not distracted by their bad experiences. We recommend improving resource allocation for cervical cancer care through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ghana and increased training of nurses in oncology and palliative nursing by the Ministry of Health, Ghana to improve knowledge and skills of the nurses and midwives caring for women with advanced cervical cancer to improve their quality of care. Further, hospitals must make it a priority to have more nurses and midwives trained in oncology and end of life care to improve the knowledge and skills of nurses and midwives caring for advanced cervical cancer patients. Also, these findings should trigger policy-level discussions at the Ministry of Health, Ghana on the training of specialized nurses and midwives in cancer and end of life care to help Ghana meet the sustainable development goal targets related to health.

Abstract Aim The aim of this study is to gather evidence on talent management practices for nurses and midwives in an Irish hospital group, to identify any shortcomings in the current practices and to develop an evidence‐based talent management framework for the hospital group. Design This paper details a protocol for a mixed methods research study that will be used to (1) identify, critically evaluate and summarize academic scholarship on talent management strategies for both domestically and internationally trained nurses and midwives, leading to the development of a model of talent management for this study, (2) gather evidence from both domestic and internationally trained nurses and midwives, via questionnaires and focus groups within the hospital group on current talent management practices and (3) use the model previously developed to organize our findings and develop a talent management framework for the hospital group. Methods The study will adapt a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data will be analysed using SPSS, and qualitative data will be analysed using NVivo. Results Our findings will support a stakeholder approach to the development of talent management practices for both domestic and internationally trained nurses and midwives in healthcare organizations. Doing so should improve the pipeline of suitably qualified nurses and midwives for future roles, by assisting nurses and midwives to identify career paths and future educational opportunities. From an organizational perspective, this research will allow healthcare organizations to adapt their current workforce planning strategies, tailoring them to the needs of the current workforce, which should reduce turnover, ensuring a highly skilled workforce, with the appropriate numbers to provide the care required within that healthcare setting. No Patient of Public Contribution Contributions will be sought from nursing and midwifery staff and management within the hospital group.

Abstract Aims To measure the effectiveness of educational programmes for nurses regarding knowledge and practice of advanced resuscitation for newborn infants. Design This is a quasi‐experimental study in (Sudan, White Nile state), to evaluate the effectiveness of designed guidelines regarding advanced neonatal resuscitation for midwives during the period November 2020–January 2021. Methods Data were collected using two tools: semi‐structured questionnaire and checklist. The number of the respondents to the questionnaire is 75 nurses. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS (version 22). Data were expressed as percentages. The results show that the level of knowledge is improved significantly after training programme interventions, with safe practice reaching (98.70%) compared with a pre‐test percentage of (11.5%). This indicates a steep rise in safe practice after the simulation section, a sharp decrease in unsafe practice after the practical section, followed by subsequent decrease in neonatal mortality rate. This paper has been guided by (STROBE, cohort study) checklist. Results The study concluded that the majority of nurses and midwives have some knowledge regarding advanced neonatal resuscitation but still, there is a practice gap because of a shortage of facilities and lack of training, However, training programmes do add value on knowledge and practice for nurses and eventually decrease neonatal mortality rate.

Abstract Aim This study examined the challenges and coping strategies adopted by nurses and midwives after child birth when they return to work. Design A cross‐sectional design was used. Method Two hundred nurses and midwives with history of maternity leave were recruited from the Korle‐Bu Teaching Hospital to take part in this study. Data were collected using a pre‐tested self‐administered questionnaire. The data were analysed with the aid of Stata 13.0. Results Most of the respondents claimed that they received support from relatives, day care centres and paid house helps while they resumed work. Seventy percent of the respondents indicated that they were given off day when they needed to send their child for postnatal care. Nurses and midwives depend on family members, paid house helps and day care centres to help them cater for their babies. It is recommended that hospitals set‐up day care centres and breastfeeding bays attached to the institutions.

Abstract Background Innovative use of mobile health (mHealth) technology in timely management of childbirth complications is a promising strategy, but its evidence base is limited. The Safe Delivery mHealth Application (SDA) is one of the recent mhealth applications (loaded in smartphones) which is a clinical decision support and training tool for basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC). This paper describes, the health providers’ experiences, perceptions, and acceptability of using the SDA, as well as the perceptions of key stakeholders. Methods A mixed-methods approach was utilized. Quantitative methods consisted of a self-reported acceptability survey, administered to 54 nurses and midwives, including questions on their usage and perceptions of the SDA. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the survey data. Qualitative methods included two focus group discussions with 24 nurses and midwives, and six key informant interviews with stakeholders (maternity matrons, responsible for maternal and child health, and district hospital managers). Thematic analysis was performed and selected quotations used to illustrate themes. The study took place in two district hospitals in Rwanda. Results Quantitative results found that 31 (57.4%) participants used the SDA four to six times per week. Many participants felt more confident (53.7%) and better at their job (40.7%) since having the SDA. Likert scale survey responses (1–5, 1 = Strongly Disagree, 5 = Strongly Agree) indicated general agreement that SDA is easy to use (Mean = 4.46), is an effective decision support tool (4.63), and training tool (4.65). Qualitative results included themes on perceived usefulness; professional growth acquired through the use of the SDA; SDA, an empowering, intuitive, and user-friendly technology; desired SDA features and functions; benefits of SDA as perceived by key informants, and future use of the SDA. Conclusions The nurses and midwives perceive the SDA as having improved their ability to manage childbirth complications. Key stakeholders also perceive the SDA as a useful tool with a reasonable cost and recommend its implementation in routine practices. This study deepens the understanding of the potential benefits of mHealth such as the SDA in low-income settings, like Rwanda. It also provides more evidence on the impact of mHealth in assuring quality BEmONC.

Abstract Background Body image concerns have been widely documented in the literature as one reason why most women shorten the breastfeeding duration of their infants. Negative body image concerns among breastfeeding mothers may lead to depressive symptoms. There is a paucity of literature on how body image affects the breastfeeding practices of nurses and midwives. Therefore, this study explored the perspectives of breastfeeding nurses and midwives on how their body image affected their breastfeeding practices. Methods A qualitative design was used in this study. Five focus group discussions were conducted with each group having five members. The study was conducted in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana between November and December of 2020. Participants were recruited into the study using a purposive sampling method. Focus group sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using a content analysis. Results Three main themes emerged from the data analysis: body image concerns and breastfeeding, sociocultural pressures and breastfeeding and coping strategies. Participants had concerns regarding weight gain due to the need to eat adequately while breastfeeding. Body image concerns included increase in abdominal size, sagging breasts and generalized weight gain. These concerns and pressures negatively affected the breastfeeding practices of participants. Body image concerns reflected sociocultural pressures such as negative comments from loved ones and in the social media. The coping strategies adopted by the mothers were self-motivation and the love they had for their children. Conclusions The perspectives of breastfeeding nurses and midwives on the ways their body image affected their breastfeeding practices identified the need for support in order to successfully breastfeed.

Abstract Background Nurses and midwives play important roles in educating the public on cervical cancer prevention strategies. Aim This study sought to assess nurses’ and midwives’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, and acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in relation to their background characteristics. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study using questionnaires was conducted with a convenience sample of 318 female nurses and midwives, ages 20 to 59, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The data were summarised using frequencies, percentages, chi-square tests, and Fisher’s exact tests. Results The results indicated that 41.5% (n = 132) of the participants had high levels of knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, and 17.6% (n = 56) of the respondents had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. Reasons for receiving the HPV vaccination included advice from a colleague (12.9%, n = 41) and perceived threat of cervical cancer (11.7%, n = 37). Of the 262 respondents who had not been vaccinated, 24.45% (n = 78) strongly agreed and 28.0% (n = 89) agreed with the statement that there was limited information on HPV vaccination. Also, there were statistically significant associations between age (X2 = 23.746, p = 0.001), marital status (X2 = 14.758, p = 0.005), completed level of education (X2 = 21.692, p = 0.001), and duration of working at the hospital (X2 = 8.424, p = 0.038) and acceptance of HPV vaccination. Conclusions This study demonstrated gaps in knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors and attitudes towards HPV vaccination, indicating the need for targeted measures to improve knowledge and attitudes. Also, measures to increase acceptance of HPV vaccination among nurses and midwives should consider their sociodemographic characteristics.

Izabela Witczak,1 Izabella Uchmanowicz,2 Riccardo Tartaglia,3 Łukasz Rypicz1 1Department of Health Care Economics and Quality, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 3President of the Italian Network for Safety in Health Care, Florence, ItalyCorrespondence: Izabella UchmanowiczFaculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Nursing, Wroclaw Medical University, Bartla 5, Wroclaw 51-618, PolandTel +48 71 784 18 05Fax +48 71 345 93 24Email izabella.uchmanowicz@umed.wroc.plPurpose: Pharmacological errors are among the most common in the healthcare system. This study aimed to determine the level of safety of the pharmacotherapy process at the stage performed by nurses and midwives by indicating the key risk factors affecting patients’ safety.Methods: A group of 1276 nurses and 136 midwives in Poland participated in the study. The survey was conducted in the period from May 2019 to August 2019. The original Nursing Risk in Pharmacotherapy (NURIPH) tool was used.Results: The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.832. The low legibility of the medical orders (item 1) was indicated as the highest risk. A mean of 4.50 means that this factor’s significance is assessed between “very significant” and “significant.” The communication between physician, nurse and midwife, time pressure, and work organization were also rated high (Items 2, 3, and 4). The averages for these factors are higher than 4, so their evaluation is more than “significant.”.Conclusion: Nurses and midwives involved in the pharmacotherapy process are exposed to many ergonomic factors triggering risk. A huge problem is the lack of readability of medical orders, which may be a factor triggering a medical error.Keywords: patient safety, medication error, NURIPH tool, nurses and midwives, pharmacotherapy, risk management

Abstract Background Emotional regulation forms an integral part of healthcare delivery. In the performance of the core duties of nursing and midwifery, health professionals are expected to enhance occupationally/organisationally required emotions. The purpose of this study is to explore. The meaning nurses and midwives give to emotional labour as well as the coping resources employed by these professionals in order to manage the emotional demands of their profession. Method A qualitative study was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide with fifteen (15) purposively selected nurses and midwives. Interviews were recorded and simultaneously translated and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Our findings showed that participants conceptualized emotional labour as display of rules. Sadness, abuse and bullying, poor incentivisation, emotional exhaustion and emotional mix bag were reported by the participants as emotional demands and deficits. Nurses and midwives coped with emotional labour through the use of five (5) main resources: psychological capital, routinisation of emotions, religious resources, social support and job security. Conclusion Nursing and midwifery professional duties are accompanied with emotional regulations which tend to have consequential effects on a myriad of work-related issues. Clinical healthcare training needs to intensify and equip professionals with the skills of regulating and managing their emotions since managing emotional demands are central to effective healthcare delivery.

IntroductionUp to 30% of women view their childbirth as traumatic. This experience can lead to acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. The negative impact of maternal post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth reaches beyond the mother, potentially affecting her child's development and the couple's relationship. Research on paternal post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth is scarce. Acute stress disorder is suggested to be an important predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder in mothers, but little is known about paternal acute stress disorder following childbirth. Furthermore, there is limited information about the comparison or relation of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth between parents.Aim[1] To compare the prevalence rates and severity of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms between parents following childbirth by taking anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as obstetric variables and previous traumatic events into account and [2] To determine if acute stress disorder is a predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder.MethodA prospective population-based design was used. N = 647 participants were recruited from future parents who attended appointments at the Obstetrics and Gynecology unit at a Swiss university hospital. Self-report questionnaires were used: Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale in the third trimester of pregnancy (T1) and 1 month post-partum (T3), Acute Stress Disorder Scale at 1 week post-partum (T2), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at all time points. Obstetric and neonatal variables were retrieved from hospital records.ResultsAt T2, 8.9% of mothers and 4.4% of fathers presented symptoms of acute stress disorder. At T3, 20.7% of mothers and 7.2% of fathers had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Acute stress disorder was a predictor of post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder (Odds ratio: 8.6, IC 95% [1.85; 40.42]). Depression symptoms was a significant confounder in the prediction of post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth, but not anxiety or previous perinatal loss.ConclusionLittle is known about parental differences in acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following childbirth. Results indicate that both parents may suffer from acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after childbirth and that acute stress disorder is a predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth for both parents. Sensitization of maternity staff to these results may assist in earlier identification of and appropriate treatment for at-risk parents.