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Objectives: To analyse the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of anxiety in nursing students and the factors involved. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Data source: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science. Background: Nursing students are at an increased risk of developing mental overload, due to the presence of many sources of stress during their academic training. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of the general population, especially on healthcare workers and consequently on students undertaking placements in healthcare settings. Methods: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science databases. A total of 24 articles were included in the review, and 20 articles were selected for the meta-analysis. Results: We found that the anxiety scores of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic were slightly higher (50%) than before the pandemic. The most influential risk factors for developing anxiety were academics, age, gender, having children, living in urban areas or with family, having an addiction to social networks, and having a fear of becoming infected with COVID-19. Resilience, spiritual support and feelings of happiness protected students against the risk of developing high levels of anxiety. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased levels of anxiety in nursing students. Thirty-five percent of the meta-analytically analysed sample had elevated levels of anxiety. [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]

Burnout can affect nurses' sleep quality. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between burnout syndrome and sleep problems in nurses. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed. PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus databases were used. Some of the inclusion criteria were quantitative studies, in which the levels of burnout and sleep disorders were investigated in a sample of nurses using validated scales. A total of 12 studies were included. Sociodemographic variables did not influence the relation between burnout and sleep problems, except for being female. The environment and workplace violence, together with psychological traits and shifts, affect the probability of developing burnout and insomnia. The meta-analysis sample was n = 1127 nurses. The effect size of the correlation between burnout and sleep disorders was r = 0.39 (95% CI 0.29–0.48) with p < 0.001, indicating that the higher the level of burnout in nurses, the greater the presence of sleep disorders. The positive correlation between burnout and sleep disorders is a problem that must be addressed to improve the health of nurses. Developing turnicity strategies, using warmer lights in hospital units during night shifts and eliminating the fixed night shift could improve nurses' working conditions. [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]

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]