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In people with bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, do feedback-guided exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen hasten return to work, reduce healthcare usage and improve clinical recovery more than a home exercise program prescribed on paper? Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis. Seventy-four workers with limited functional ability due to bone and soft tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers. Participants in the experimental and control groups received the same in-patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Participants in the experimental group received a home exercise program using the ReHand tablet application, which guides exercises performed on a tablet touchscreen with feedback, monitoring and progression. Participants in the control group were prescribed an evidence-based home exercise program on paper. The primary outcome was the time taken to return to work. Secondary outcomes included: healthcare usage (number of clinical appointments); and functional ability, pain intensity, and grip and pinch strength 2 and 4 weeks after randomisation. Compared with the control group, the experimental group: returned to work sooner (MD –18 days, 95% CI –33 to –3); required fewer physiotherapy sessions (MD –7.4, 95% CI –13.1 to –1.6), rehabilitation consultations (MD –1.9, 95% CI –3.6 to 0.3) and plastic surgery consultations (MD –3.6, 95% CI –6.3 to –0.9); and had better short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength. In people with bone and soft-tissue injuries of the wrist, hand and/or fingers, prescribing a feedback-guided home exercise program using a tablet-based application instead of a conventional program on paper hastened return to work and improved the short-term recovery of functional ability and pinch strength, while reducing the number of required healthcare appointments. ACTRN12619000344190 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the barriers associated with the adoption of the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines for Children and Youth in schools according to characteristics of the innovation (guidelines) and the organization (schools). Design: Cross-sectional telephone survey. Setting and Participants: Schools in Alberta, Canada. Principals from 357 schools. Main Outcome Measure: Barriers to adopting the nutrition guidelines. Analysis: A 19-question telephone survey, including open- and closed-ended questions, was used to obtain information regarding schools' characteristics and barriers to adopting the guidelines. Qualitative data were coded according to common themes a priori, based on constructs from the Diffusion of Innovations framework. Results: Schools reported many barriers related to the relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity of adopting the guidelines. Parents' resistance to change and cost were the key reported barriers. Lack of knowledge, student preferences, the physical location of the school, and barriers related to the provision of healthful food were also reported. Conclusions and Implications: Disseminating guidelines without providing adequate support for their implementation may not promote change within the school setting. School nutrition initiatives need to involve the parents and have access to sufficient financial and human resource support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper was to understand associations between low sleep duration (< 8 hours) and positive mental health screens among adolescents (ages 13-18) seen for preventive visits in primary care. METHODS: Data were from two randomized controlled trials testing the efficacy of an electronic health risk behavior screening and feedback tool for adolescent preventive visits. Participants (n = 601) completed screeners at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months which included sleep duration in hours and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 screeners for depression and anxiety, respectively. Main analyses included adjusted logistic regressions testing associations between low sleep duration and positive mental health screens. RESULTS: Adjusted models showed that low sleep duration was associated with significantly greater odds of a positive depression screen (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.06-2.37) but not with a positive anxiety screen or co-occurring positive depression and anxiety screens. However, follow-up analyses indicated an interaction between sleep duration and anxiety in the association with a positive depression screen, such that the association between low sleep and a positive depression screen was driven by those who did not screen positive for anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: As pediatric primary care guidelines for sleep continue to evolve, further research, training, and support for sleep screening are warranted to ensure effective early intervention for sleep and mental health problems during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) promotes and supports breastfeeding for low-income women and children. A prior review reported negative associations of WIC with breastfeeding outcomes. WIC food package changes in 2009 increased breastfeeding support. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this systematic review were to 1) evaluate evidence on WIC participation and breastfeeding outcomes and 2) evaluate breastfeeding outcomes of WIC participants before versus after the 2009 food package. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase®, CINAHL, ERIC, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for papers published January 2009 to April 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Included studies compared breastfeeding outcomes (initiation, duration, exclusivity, early introduction of solid foods) of WIC participants with WIC-eligible nonparticipants, or among WIC participants before versus after the 2009 package change. STUDY APPRAISAL METHODS: Two independent reviewers evaluated each study and assessed risk of bias using EHPHP assessment. RESULTS: From 13 observational studies we found: 1) moderate strength of evidence (SOE) of no difference in initiation associated with WIC participation; 2) insufficient evidence regarding WIC participation and breastfeeding duration or exclusivity; 3) low SOE that the 2009 food package change is associated with greater breastfeeding exclusivity; 4) low SOE that WIC breastfeeding support services are positively associated with initiation and duration. LIMITATIONS: Only observational studies, with substantial risk of bias and heterogeneity in outcomes and exposures. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS: WIC participation is not associated with a difference in breastfeeding initiation compared to WIC-eligible nonparticipants, but the 2009 food package change may have improved breastfeeding exclusivity among WIC participants and receipt of breastfeeding support services may have improved breastfeeding initiation and duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We will monitor compliance with the intervention and adverse events. • Data will be analyzed following intention-to-treat principles. • A cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed. This a priori statistical analysis plan describes the methods of analysis for the Trial Of Prevention Strategies for low back pain (TOPS). TOPS aimed to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise and education classes compared with a minimal intervention control in preventing recurrence of low back pain (LBP) in people who have recently recovered from an episode of LBP. TOPS is a superiority, pragmatic, parallel-group randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment, blinded outcome assessors, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants were randomized to a physical therapist-led exercise and education program for 12 weeks or minimal intervention. The primary outcome was days to recurrence of an episode of LBP. The three key secondary outcomes were days to recurrence of an episode of LBP resulting in (1) activity limitation, (2) care seeking for LBP; and (3) work absence of at least 1 day. Differences in survival curves for the primary (days to recurrence) and secondary outcome (days to LBP with activity limitation, days to care seeking due to LBP, and days to work absence due to LBP) will be compared using Cox regression. Hazard ratios (HRs) and median survival times with 95% confidence intervals (CI) will be calculated. The number of adverse events, including serious adverse events will be reported and the proportion of adverse events between groups will be compared using a Chi-squared test. This paper will provide a detailed description of the planned analyses for the TOPS trial. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615000939594). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The dynamics of childhood vaccination uptake in developing countries are unclear. Numerous studies document the relationship between vaccination coverage and access, socio economic and demographic factors. However, there is less knowledge about the relationship between vaccination coverage and carers'' motivation and willingness to seek childhood vaccinations. The aim of this paper is to introduce a framework for studying demand for childhood vaccination and to examine the coherence between theoretical predictions and empirical findings in a rural area in Malawi. We interviewed 635 carers with children aged 18–59 months. About 96 percent of the respondents reported to have fully vaccinated their youngest eligible child for all routine vaccinations scheduled in the Expanded Program on Immunization. This paper concludes that easy access to vaccination services cannot explain why demand is high. Many carers had to travel long distances to reach vaccination delivery points and a considerable share of the respondents scored waiting and travelling time as long. Results from the present study, in combination with theoretical predictions, suggest that a high level of trust in distributors of information and vaccines may be an essential explanatory factor for why carers seek immunization for their children, even in the presence of considerable costs. Trust may be an important explanatory factor as it can be seen to generate positive perceived benefits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Medical end-of-life decisions, defined as end-of-life practices with a potential or certain life-shortening effect, precede almost 50% of deaths in Western countries, and receive ample medical-ethical attention. This systematic review aims to detect whether there are differences in the prevalence of medical end-of-life decisions in ‘vulnerable’ patient groups. In 2009, five major databases were scrutinized for publications containing original data on the prevalence of euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide, life-ending without explicit patient request, intensified symptom alleviation, non-treatment decisions and palliative sedation by social factors (eg age, gender and SES). Heterogeneous findings were pooled using a random effects model. We identified 6377 papers of which 51 papers were selected, involving over 1.09 million patients. Most publications reported the prevalence of non-treatment decisions. The most studied social factors were age and gender. Among patients older than eighty years, non-treatment decisions occurred more frequently compared with younger patients, while intensified symptom alleviation, palliative sedation, euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide and life-ending without explicit request were practiced less often. Similar patterns of association, although less strong, were found for female patients compared with males and those with lower levels of education versus more highly-educated patients. We conclude that the administration of medication with a potential or certain life-shortening effect seemed generally to be practiced less often among the elderly, females and less well-educated patients compared with younger, male or more educated patients, while decisions that include the withdrawal or withholding of treatments seem to be more common in these groups. Further studies should focus on investigating whether these differences reflect less than optimal end-of-life care for specific patient groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Physical exercise has been used to mitigate the metabolic effects of diabetes mellitus. Objective: To evaluate the effect of resistance exercise when compared to aerobic exercise without insulin therapy on metabolic and clinical outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Papers were searched on the databases MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, and SCIELO, without language or date of publication limits. Clinical trials that compared resistance exercise to aerobic exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus who did not use insulin therapy were included. The quality of evidence and risk of bias were assessed using the GRADE system and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, respectively. Meta-analysis was also used, whenever possible. Two reviewers extracted the data independently. Eight eligible articles were included in this study, with a total of 336 individuals, with a mean age of 48-58 years. The protocols of aerobic and resistance exercise varied in duration from eight to 22 weeks, 30-60 min/day, three to five times/week. Results: Overall the available evidence came from a very low quality of evidence and there was an increase in Maximal oxygen consumption (mean difference: -2.86; 95% CI: -3.90 to -1.81; random effect) for the resistance exercise and no difference was found in Glycated hemoglobin, Body mass index, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Conclusions: Resistance exercise appears to be more effective in promoting an increase in Maximal oxygen consumption in protocols longer than 12 weeks and there is no difference in the control of glycemic and lipid levels between the two types of exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a paper that studies association between incarceration and inpatient resource use and death rates using a U.S. veteran sample. It informs that the U.S. Justice Department numbers show that more than 131,000 U.S. veterans are incarcerated in U.S. prisons and more than 50 percent reported mental health problems. It informs that Recently Incarcerated Veterans (RIVs)showed higher rates of mental illnesses.

Background: As yet there is no firm evidence about the types of intervention that can reduce emergency room revisits. However, the literature on emergency room revisits suggests patient difficulties with managing their health problems and treatments after discharge may play a role. Objectives: We carried out a randomized trial of an emergency department-based nursing intervention, but results showed no reduction in revisits (primary outcome). This paper describes the secondary outcomes of the trial: patient perceptions of continuity of care, illness perceptions, self-care capacities, psychological symptoms and medication adherence 30 days after emergency room discharge. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Settings: The trial was conducted in the emergency department of a tertiary cardiac hospital in Montreal, Canada between November 2007 and March 2010. Participants: The study involved 203 patients, including 108 in the experimental group and 95 in the control group. Methods: The intervention included one nurse patient encounter before discharge and two phone calls in the 10 days after discharge. Participants provided data 30 days post-discharge on secondary outcomes potentially related to emergency department revisits. Results: Although, as previously reported, the intervention had no impact on the primary outcome of emergency department revisits, the present study demonstrated a significant positive effect on patients’ perceived continuity of care (p = .033), self-care capacities (p = .037), anxiety (p = .007) and depressive symptoms (p = .043), and the illness perceptions treatment control subscale (p = .037). No differences were found for other illness perception subscales or medication adherence (all p’s > .05). Conclusion: Although the intervention did not influence emergency department revisits it did improve secondary outcomes, suggesting pathways for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine variability across England in certification rates for age related macular degeneration (AMD) between 1st April 2011 and 31st March 2012. Study design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An electronic version of the CVI, the ECVI, was used at the Certifications Office, London, to transfer information from paper based certificates into a database. The electronic certifications data set was queried for all certificates completed in England between April 1st 2011 and March 31st 2012 with the main cause of certifiable visual loss being AMD or with the main cause of certifiable visual loss being multiple pathology but a contributory cause being AMD. Data were explored by type of AMD, visual status, age and sex and then directly standardized rates were computed by English region. Results: The Certifications Office received 23,616 CVIs for England between April 2011 and March 2012, of which 10,481 (44%) were people certified severely sight-impaired (blind) (SSI) and 12,689 (54%) were certified as sight-impaired (partial sight) (SI). The remainder did not have visual status classified. AMD contributed to 11546 causes of certification on the CVI forms during this period, 53% of forms being for geographic atrophy (GA)/dry AMD which is currently mostly untreatable. The median (interquartile) age at certification for AMD was 86 (81, 90) years and women were more commonly certified than men (66%). Considerable variability was seen across English regions, although there was consistency in that GA was the more common form in all areas. Conclusions: There is considerable regional variability in CVI rates in England, which are not attributable to differences in age or sex. Reasons for such variability need examination yet this should not undermine the value of these data in terms of describing those newly registered with sight impairment due to AMD who are predominantly female and over 85 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for low back pain (LBP) in teachers and to evaluate the association of individual and occupational characteristics with the prevalence of LBP. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 586 asymptomatic teachers were randomly selected from 22 primary and high schools in Semnan city of Iran. Data on the personal, occupational characteristics, pain intensity, and functional disability as well as the prevalence and risk factors of LBP were collected using different questionnaires. Results: Point, last month, last 6 months, annual, and lifetime prevalence rates of LBP were 21.8%, 26.3%, 29.6%, 31.1 %, and 36.5%, respectively. The highest prevalence was obtained for the high school teachers. The prevalence of LBP was significantly associated with age, body mass index, job satisfaction, and length of employment (P < .05 in all instances). Prolonged sitting and standing, working hours with computer, and correcting examination papers were the most aggravating factors, respectively. Rest and participation in physical activity were found to be the most relieving factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP in teachers appears to be high. High school teachers were more likely to experience LBP than primary school teachers. Factors such as age, body mass index, length of employment, job satisfaction, and work-related activities were significant factors associated with LBP in this teacher population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2008, we conducted a systematic review on the effects of nurse prescribing using studies with a comparative design. In view of the growing number of countries that are introducing nurse prescribing and the fact that several studies into nurse prescribing have been conducted recently, there is a need for an updated review to reassess the available information on the effects of nurse prescribing when compared to physician prescribing. Objective: To identify, appraise and synthesise the evidence on the effects of nurse prescribing when compared to physician prescribing on the quantity and types of medication prescribed and on patient outcomes. Design: A systematic review. Data sources: In addition to the previous review, which covered the literature up to 2005, 11 literature databases and four websites were searched for relevant studies from January 2006 up to January 2012 without limitations as to language or country. Moreover, full-text copies of all studies included in the previous review were reviewed. Review methods: A three-stage inclusion process, consisting of an initial sifting, checking full-text papers for inclusion criteria and methodological assessment, was performed independently by two reviewers. Data on effects were synthesised using narrative and tabular methods. Results: Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. All but five studies had a high risk of bias. Nurses prescribe in comparable ways to physicians. They prescribe for equal numbers of patients and prescribe comparable types and doses of medicines. Studies comparing the total amount of medication prescribed by nurses and doctors show mixed results. There appear to be few differences between nurses and physicians in patient health outcomes: clinical parameters were the same or better for treatment by nurses, perceived quality of care was similar or better and patients treated by nurses were just as satisfied or more satisfied. Conclusions: The effects of nurse prescribing on medication and patient outcomes seem positive when compared to physician prescribing. However, conclusions must remain tentative due to methodological weaknesses in this body of research. More randomised controlled designs in the field of nurse prescribing are required for definitive conclusions about the effects of nurse prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergence agitation (EA) after emer-gence from sevoflurane anesthesia is a common phenomenon in children. The efficacy of prophylactic midazolam or clonidine in preventing EA is controversial. Objective: We performed a meta-analysis of clinical trials of the 2 drugs to evaluate their ability to prevent EA in pediatric patients after emergence from sevo-flurane anesthesia. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify clinical trials that observed the effect of midazolam and clonidine on preventing EA in children after their emergence from sevoflurane anesthe-sia. All data were examined using the Mantel-Haenszel model to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. 1² was used to assess heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was used to assess the effects of preoperative analgesics, routes of administration, and dose, and funnel plots were used to check publication bias. Results: After a comprehensive literature search, we found 12 papers that met the criteria for inclusion in this analysis, with a total of 447 children in the midazolam group and 767 children in the clonidine group. We found that both midazolam and clonidine decreased the incidence of EA (OR = 0.45 [95% CI, 0.29-0.70], P = 0.0004, 1² = 46%; and OR = 0.24 [95% CI, 0.13-0.43], P < 0.00001, 1² = 48%, respectively). Subgroup analysis indicated that preop-erative analgesia may decrease the effect of midazolam against EA, whereas for clonidine, neither the route of administration (intravenous or caudal) nor the dose affected the results. Funnel plots did not detect publication bias in the midazolam group, but a bias was detected in the clonidine group. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that prophylactic administration of midazolam or cloni-dine could significantly decrease the incidence of sevoflurane-induced EA in pediatric patients. (Clin Ther. 2013;35:1622-1631) © 2013 Elsevier HS Jour-nals, Inc. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: The aim of this paper is to explore the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in different immigrant groups in Spain. In keeping with prior studies carried out in Europe, it is expected that the immigrant population will have elevated levels of psychopathology, with some variation across immigrant groups. Method: Design: Multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary care settings of two Spanish regions. Sample: N=1.503 immigrants paired with the same number of Spanish controls, adjusted by gender and age. Variables: Demographic variables, MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview and Standardized Polyvalent Psychiatric Interview, somatic symptoms section. Student''s t tests, ORs and logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: No differences in psychiatric morbidity were found (native born 30.9%, population vs. immigrants 29.6%, OR=.942, CI=.806–1.100) when comparing immigrants to native born Spaniards. Relative to Spaniards (30.9%), Latin American immigrants had significantly higher levels of psychopathology (36.8%), Sub-Saharan Africans (24.4%) and Asians (16%) had significantly lower levels, and Eastern Europeans (31.4%) and North Africans (26.8%) showed no significant difference. Conclusions: The hypotheses were only partially supported. Although overall immigrants did not differ from the native born population, when analyzed by geographic origin, only Latin Americans had higher levels of psychopathology. It is concluded that multiple factors need to be taken into consideration when studying the mental health of immigrants given that different immigrant groups have different levels of psychopathology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using data from 89 American Indian adolescents and guided by the Network Episode Model, this paper analyses pathways to residential substance abuse treatment and their correlates. These adolescents were recruited at admission to a tribally-operated substance abuse treatment program in the southern United States from October 1998 to May 2001. Results from the qualitative analyses of these adolescent''s pathways to care narratives indicated that 35% ultimately agreed with the decision for their entry into treatment; 41% were Compelled to enter treatment by others, usually by their parents, parole officers, and judges; and 24% did not describe a clear pathway to care. In the multinomial logistic regression model examining correlates of these pathways to care classifications, adolescents who described pathways indicative of agreement also reported greater readiness for treatment than the adolescents who described compelled or no clear pathways to care. Adolescents who described a Compelled pathway were less likely to meet diagnostic criteria for Conduct Disorder and described fewer social network ties. We were unable to find a relationship between pathways classifications and referral source, suggesting these narratives were subjective constructions of pathways to care rather than a factual representation of this process. In the final logistic regression model examining correlates of treatment completion, articulating a pathway to care, whether it was one of agreement or of being compelled into treatment, predicted a greater likelihood of completing treatment. Overall, these narratives and their correlates are highly consistent with the Network-Episode Model''s emphasis on the interaction of self, situation, and social network in shaping the treatment seeking process, demonstrating the applicability of this model to understanding the treatment seeking process in this special population and suggests important considerations for understanding the dynamics of service utilization across diverse communities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Achieving asthma control is central to optimising patient quality of life and clinical outcome. Contemporary models of chronic disease management across a variety of countries point to the importance of micro, meso and macro level influences on patient care and outcome. However, asthma outcomes research has almost invariably concentrated on identifying and addressing patient predictors. Little is known about higher level organisational influences. Objective: This paper explores the contribution of organisational factors on poor asthma control, allowing for patient factors, at three organisational levels: the individual patient, local service deliverers, and strategic regional providers. Design, setting and participants: Prospective cross-sectional observational cohort study of 64,929 people with asthma from 1205 primary care practices spread throughout the United Kingdom (UK). Patient clinical data were recorded during a routine asthma review. Method: Data were analysed using simple descriptive, multiple regression and complex multi-level modelling techniques, accounting for practice clustering of patients. Results: Poor asthma control was associated with areas of higher deprivation [regression coefficient 0.026 (95% confidence intervals 0.006; 0.046)] and urban practice [−0.155 (−0.275; −0.035)] but not all local and regional variation was explained by the data. In contrast, patient level predictors of poor control were: short acting bronchodilator overuse [2.129 (2.091; 2.164)], days-off due to asthma [1.203 (1.148; 1.258)], PEFR<80 [0.76 (0.666; 0.854)], non-use of a self-management plan (SMP) [0.554 (0.515; 0.593)], poor inhaler technique [0.53 (0.475; 0.585)], poor medication compliance [0.385 (−0.007; 0.777)], and gender [0.314 (0.281; 0.347)]. Pattern of medication use, smoking history, age, body mass index (BMI), and health service resource use were also significant factors for predicting control. Conclusions: Targeting of health service resource requires knowledge of the factors associated with poor control of asthma symptoms. In the UK the contribution of local and regional structures appears minimal in explaining variation in asthma outcomes. However, unexplained variation in the data suggests other unrecorded factors may play a part. While patient personal characteristics (including self-management plan use, inhaler technique, medication compliance) appear to be the predominant influence the complex nature of the disease means that some, perhaps more subtle, influences are affecting the variability at all levels and this variance needs to be explored. Further research in other international contexts is required to identify the likely applicability of these findings to other health care systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: As cardiovascular diseases have become the leading cause of death in many countries including China, nurses are increasingly required to be abreast of technological advances and the skills necessary to manage this increasing health care problem. Chinese nurses are under pressure to provide skilled electrocardiography monitoring, and be sufficiently skilled to detect myocardial ischemia and infarction, in this large patient population. This presents a challenge for the nursing profession in China, particularly for nurses working in coronary care in a country where advancement has been so rapid, yet little research has been conducted or reported in the literature. Objectives: The two main objectives were: to explore the demographic and educational factors that affect the use of ST-segment monitoring and correct electrode placement by CCU/ICU nurses in China; and to explore the factors both individual and institutional that affect monitoring and lead placement. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to nurses in 126 randomly selected tertiary hospitals, which were stratified into three homogeneous regions across China. The instrument examined demographics, information about hospitals, electrocardiogram devices, current practice patterns and perceptions toward monitoring and lead placement. Data from 734 nurses and 59 nurse managers from 59 hospitals were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: Electrocardiogram monitoring was used to detect myocardial ischemia by 43.7% of respondents, and 35.1% selected leads according to electrocardiogram or angiography findings. Most (70%) agreed that monitoring for acute coronary syndrome was important, while 39.2% did so, and 15.7% were able to identify correct placement. Logistic regression revealed a significant relationship between the uses of ST-segment monitoring and number of hospital beds, continuing education and a belief in its use and ease of use. Correct electrode placement was significantly correlated with respondents from university hospitals, hospitals with more acute coronary syndrome admissions and more independent thinking nurses. Conclusions: Despite best practice evidence, less than half of the sample used electrocardiogram monitoring to detect myocardial ischemia and the majority could not identify correct electrode placement, while ST-segment monitoring was not used routinely. This paper highlights the need for improvements in education both in universities and hospitals and discussion addresses conventions in units, which inhibit development of nurses’ skills. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: This paper is aimed to develop and validate the hypertension scale of the system of Quality of Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases, QLICD-HY. Methods: The QLICD-HY instrument was developed based on programmed decision procedures with multiple nominal and focus group discussions and pilot testing. A total of 157 inpatients with hypertension were used to provide the data measuring QOL three times before and after treatment. The psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated with respect to validity, reliability and responsiveness employing correlation and factor analyses, and t-tests. Results: Correlation and factor analyses confirmed good construct validity and criterion-related validity when using Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) as a criterion. Test–retest reliability coefficients (Pearson r and intra-class correlation (ICC)) for the overall instrument score and all domains except for the hypertension-specific domain (SPD) (0.75) were higher than 0.80 with a range of 0.75–0.91; the internal consistency α for all domains except for the hypertension-specific domain (0.66) was higher than 0.70. The overall score and scores for most facets within each domain except for the social domain (SOD) had statistically significant changes (t-tests) after treatment with moderate effect sizes. Conclusion: QLICD-HY has good validity, reliability, responsiveness and can be used as the quality-of-life instrument for patients with hypertension. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is important to evaluate stakeholder feedback regarding any change to a clinical supervision model to maintain quality. The Quality Practical Experience (QPE) instruments offer both the nurse on the ward involved with supervising student learning and the student nurse the opportunity to evaluate their satisfaction with the supervision model. This paper reports on the evaluation of the construct validity and the reliability of the QPE instruments measuring nurse and nursing student satisfaction with the clinical supervision model. Methodological design for the reliability and validation of a measuring instrument. The nurse and the student QPE instruments were tested with convenience samples of 488 nurses and 1116 student nurses, respectively. Psychometric tests included internal reliability, test-retest reliability and factor analyses. Exploratory factor analysis for both QPEs supported a three-factor solution; the nurse QPE explained 48% and student nurse QPE 45% of variance. Internal reliability and test-retest reliability were stable over time (nurse QPE ICC = 0.82; student nurse QPE ICC = 0.71). Both QPE instruments were found to be valid and reliable. Feedback from all stakeholders involved with supporting student nurses during clinical placement is important. • It is important to have a variety of instruments that are valid and reliable to evaluate clinical supervision models. • The content of both the nurse and student nurse QPE was found to be both valid and reliable. • Both the nurse and student nurse QPE are useful to measure satisfaction of a clinical supervision model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]