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Aims: To assess the effects of COVID‐19 pandemic on clinical variables as part of the routine clinical monitoring of patients with chronic diseases in primary care. Design: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in primary care centres of the Andalusian Health Service. Methods: Data were recorded before the pandemic (T1), during the declaration of the state of emergency (T2) and in the transition phase (T3). The Barthel index and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) were used to analyse functional and cognitive changes at the three time points. HbA1c, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and lipid levels were assessed as clinical variables. Descriptive statistics and non‐parametric chi‐square test were used for analysis. STROBE checklist was used for the preparation of this paper. Results: A total fo148 patients with chronic conditions were included in the analysis. Data analysis revealed in T2 only significant reductions in BMI, total levels of cholesterol and HDL during the onset of the pandemic. Barthel Index, SPMSQ, blood pressure and triglycerides and LDL levels worsened in T2, and the negative effects were maintained in T3. Compared to pre‐pandemic values, HbA1c levels improved in T3, but HDL levels worsened. Conclusions: COVID‐19 has drastically disrupted several functional, cognitive and biological variables. These results may be useful in identifying clinical parameters that deserve closer attention in the case of a new health crisis. Further studies are needed to assess the potential impacts of each specific chronic condition. Impact: Cognitive and functional status, blood pressure and triglycerides and LDL levels worsen in short term, maintaining the negative effects in medium‐term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Games are increasingly being used as a means of alleviating pain and anxiety in paediatric patients, in the view that this form of distraction is effective, non‐invasive and non‐pharmacological. Aims: To determine whether a game‐based intervention (via gamification or virtual reality) during the induction of anaesthesia reduces preoperative pain and anxiety in paediatric patients. Methods: A systematic review with meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials was performed in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) guidelines and using RevMan software. The review was based on a search of the EMBASE, CINAHL, Medline, SciELO and Scopus databases, conducted in July 2021. No restriction was placed on the year of publication. Results: 26 studies were found, with a total study population of 2525 children. Regarding pain reduction, no significant differences were reported. For anxiety during anaesthesia induction, however, a mean difference of −10.62 (95% CI −13.85, −7.39) on the Modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale, in favour of game‐based intervention, was recorded. Conclusions: Game‐based interventions alleviate preoperative anxiety during the induction of anaesthesia in children. This innovative and pleasurable approach can be helpful in the care of paediatric surgical patients. Relevance to clinical practice: In children, preoperative management is a challenging task for healthcare professionals, and game‐based strategies could enhance results, improving patients' emotional health and boosting post‐surgery recovery. Distractive games‐based procedures should be considered for incorporation in the pre‐surgery clinical workflow in order to optimise healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse the effects of active video games on physical function in independent community‐dwelling older adults. Design: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Data sources: The CINAHL, LILACS, Medline, Proquest and Scopus databases were consulted, with no restriction by year of publication. Review methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The meta‐analysis was performed using RevMan software. Results: The analysis included 22 randomized controlled trials with a total of 1208 participants (all ≥55 years old). In our meta‐analyses, the effects produced by playing the active video games (mean differences) were statistically significant for the variables Gait speed and Timed up‐and‐go. The differences between the control and experimental groups were not significant in the following tests: 6‐minute walk, 30‐second chair stand, balance (measured with the Berg Balance Scale), cadence, grip strength, knee extension strength, 8‐Foot Up‐and‐Go or velocity. Conclusions: Physical exercise from participation in active video games has beneficial effects on two clinical parameters (Gait speed and Timed up‐and‐go) in independent community‐dwelling older adults. However, the effects on other parameters do not differ from those obtained with conventional exercise training. Therefore, the clinical significance of these benefits is limited. Impact: Older adults usually perform little physical activity. In consequence, researchers have increasingly considered alternatives to traditional forms of exercise. One such is that provided by active video games, which can be a source of stimulation, encouraging adherence and motivation in exercise programmes. Our review shows that active video games can improve gait speed and mobility, but in other respects obtain no differences from conventional exercises. Further tailored randomized clinical trials should be undertaken with diverse populations of older adults to evaluate different physical function variables to determine the most appropriate training approach and its optimal design and duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this review and meta-analysis is to analyse the effectiveness of nursing interventions for the management of preoperative anxiety in adults. Background: The perioperative process is a stressful situation for many people who are going to be operated and it can generate feelings of anxiety. Also, preoperative anxiety can appear in the perioperative period. Nursing management of preoperative anxiety through individualized interventions can be effective for reducing anxiety. Design: A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. Data sources: CINAHL, CUIDEN, Pubmed, ProQuest and Scopus databases were consulted without restriction per year of publication. The search was conducted in February 2020. Review methods: Experimental studies on nursing management in preoperative anxiety with adults sample (>18 years) published in English and/or Spanish were included. All types of surgery were included in the review. A random effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the effect size for preoperative anxiety measured with STAI. Results: After the selection process n = 9 quantitative studies with nursing interventions for preoperative anxiety were included. A preoperative educational and informative interview was used in six studies, one study used empathic interview, one used motivational interview and one used hand massage. The meta-analysis, including four studies using nursing interviews, had a sample of n = 419 in the intervention group and n = 445 in the control group. The mean difference in preoperative state anxiety measured with the STAI was in favour of the nursing intervention. Conclusion: Nursing interventions for patients who are going to be operated seems to have a positive impact in their preoperative anxiety. However, due to the low number of studies and the heterogeneity of the sample, more research is needed about the topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To analyse the prevalence, levels and phases of burnout syndrome in midwives and obstetrics and gynaecology nurses, and to evaluate the relationship between burnout and sociodemographic, occupational and psychological factors. Background: Burnout syndrome is a major problem in occupational health, characterised by feelings of exhaustion, depersonalisation and a low sense of personal achievement that appears after long‐term occupational stress. Recent research has found that burnout harms the physical and mental well‐being of workers, and jeopardises the quality of care provided. The association between burnout and a risk profile in maternity wards has not previously been investigated but it deserves special attention since it is a highly stressful area to work in. Design: A cross‐sectional survey design was selected. Methods: A total of 150 nurses and midwives at 18 hospitals participated in this study. The data were collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory, NEO Personality Inventory and the Educational‐Clinical Questionnaire: Anxiety and Depression. This study adhered to the STROBE guideline. Results: 17% of participants presented high levels of emotional exhaustion, 16.6% high depersonalisation and 55.1% a sense of low personal accomplishment. The sociodemographic and occupational variables related to burnout were gender, marital status and work shift. The three dimensions of the syndrome, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment were predicted by depression, neuroticism, agreeableness and openness. Conclusions: One third of the sample presented high levels of burnout, which was most strongly experienced as feelings of low personal accomplishment. Furthermore, personality factors play an important role in the development of burnout syndrome. Relevance to clinical practice: Managers and policy makers should promote strategies to reduce burnout. To prevent the syndrome, personality factors should be taken into account, for the early identification of a profile of professionals most at risk of developing burnout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse the effect of mindfulness training on levels of burnout among nurses. Background: Burnout syndrome is a common occupational hazard for nursing staff. Mindfulness training has been proposed as a valid intervention for burnout. Design: Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Data sources: The CINAHL, LILACS, Medline, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Scielo and Scopus databases were consulted, using the search equation 'Nurs * AND burnout AND mindfulness'. There was no restriction on the year of publication. Review methods: Papers were selected for analysis in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The meta‐analysis was carried out using Review Manager 5.3 software. Results: The sample was of 17 articles including 632 nurses. Mindfulness training reduces levels of burnout, producing lower scores for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and higher for personal accomplishment. The differences in the means were 1.32 (95% CI: −9.41–6.78), 1.91 (95% CI: −4.50–0.68) and 2.12 (95% CI: −9.91–14.14), respectively, between the intervention and control groups. Conclusion: Mindfulness training reduces the emotional burden and hence levels of burnout, among nurses. However, further randomized clinical trials are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]