@article {10529, title = {Levels of anxiety in parents in the 24~hr before and after their child{\textquoteright}s surgery: A descriptive study.}, journal = {J Clin Nurs}, volume = {27}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Jan}, pages = {278-287}, abstract = {

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To (i) investigate pre- and postoperative anxiety levels in parents of surgical patients; (ii) identify factors that affect parental anxiety; and (iii) analyse assistance provided and overall parental satisfaction to assess whether and how this aspect can impact their anxiety level.

BACKGROUND: Surgery as an event generates anxiety in children and their parents. Children who are anxious before surgery are likely to develop more postoperative psychological and physiological complications than those who are not. The role parents play in influencing emotional states of their children has been well demonstrated. However, specific national programmes aimed at helping parents develop new models for coping are relatively inexistent in Italy.

STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal study.

METHODS: One hundred and one parents of children undergoing surgery at a healthcare facility in Padua, Italy, completed the Italian version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y questionnaire. They also answered questions about their parents{\textquoteright} socio-demographic situation, the amount and quality of preoperative information received, assistance provided and their overall satisfaction with this information.

RESULTS: The preoperative level of anxiety in parents who were interviewed was higher than Italian normative data, especially in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Pediatric Urology departments. Mothers had a significantly higher level of anxiety than fathers. Communicating possible complications of surgical procedures increased anxiety, while providing information about pre- and postsurgery nutrition and pain management and providing local anaesthetic on children decreased parental anxiety. Parents expressed a sufficiently high level of satisfaction although they defined the hospital environment as uncomfortable.

CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of care that can make hospitalisation less traumatic for parents are as follows: greater support, involving them in the treatment process, improving hospital department admission procedures and providing thorough preoperative information.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Healthcare professionals are encouraged to pay attention to communication modalities providing detailed information to parents.

}, keywords = {Adaptation, Psychological, Anxiety, Child, Female, Humans, Italy, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Parents, Perioperative Period, Surgical Procedures, Operative, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1365-2702}, doi = {10.1111/jocn.13895}, author = {Pomicino, Laura and Maccacari, Elena and Buchini, Sara} } @article {3615, title = {Management of central venous catheters in pediatric onco-hematology using 0.9\% sodium chloride and positive-pressure-valve needleless connector.}, journal = {Eur J Oncol Nurs}, volume = {18}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Aug}, pages = {393-6}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To describe, in a sample of pediatric onco-hematological patients, the rate of occlusions in unused central venous catheters (CVC) flushed once a week with a 0.9\% sodium chloride solution through a positive-pressure-valve needleless connector.

METHOD: Retrospective cohort study. Subjects aged 0-17 years were identified through a manual search in medical and nursing records and were observed for two years or until the occurrence of one of the following events: start or resume of continuous infusion; CVC removal; death. The primary study outcome was the frequency of CVC occlusion (partial or complete).

RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were identified (median age 6 years). The median duration of follow-up was 169 days (IQR 111-305). During the follow up period, 14 patients (27\%) had one CVC occlusion, in 2 cases (4\%) the occlusion was complete, in 12 (23\%) partial. All the occlusions were solved without the need for catheter removal. The lumen diameter <= 4.2 vs > 4.2 French showed a statistically significant association with occlusion at multivariate analysis (OR 4.0; 95\% CI 1.1-14.7).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are reassuring with respect to the management of the CVC using the adopted protocol. The study provides useful information for patient care, by verifying the performance of the adopted CVC management protocol and by identifying critical areas for nursing care.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Catheter Obstruction, Catheterization, Central Venous, Central Venous Catheters, Child, Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, Equipment Design, Female, Hematology, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Italy, Male, Oncology Nursing, Pediatric Nursing, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Retrospective Studies, Sodium Chloride}, issn = {1532-2122}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejon.2014.03.010}, author = {Buchini, Sara and Scarsini, Sara and Montico, Marcella and Buzzetti, Roberto and Ronfani, Luca and Decorti, Cinzia} } @article {1896, title = {Avoidable interruptions during drug administration in an intensive rehabilitation ward: improvement project.}, journal = {J Nurs Manag}, volume = {20}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr}, pages = {326-34}, abstract = {

AIMS: To record the frequency of interruptions and their causes, to identify {\textquoteright}avoidable{\textquoteright} interruptions and to build an improvement project to reduce {\textquoteright}avoidable{\textquoteright} interruptions.

BACKGROUND: In Italy each year 30,000-35,000 deaths per year are attributed to health-care system errors, of which 19\% are caused by medication errors. The factors that contribute to drug management error also include interruptions and carelessness during treatment administration.

METHODS: A descriptive study design was used to record the frequency of interruptions and their causes and to identify {\textquoteright}avoidable{\textquoteright} interruptions in an intensive rehabilitation ward in Northern Italy. A data collection grid was used to record the data over a 6-month period.

RESULTS: A total of 3000 work hours were observed. During the study period 1170 interruptions were observed. The study identified 14 causes of interruption.

CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that of the 14 cases of interruptions at least nine can be defined as {\textquoteright}avoidable{\textquoteright}. An improvement project has been proposed to reduce unnecessary interruptions and distractions to avoid making errors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: An additional useful step to reduce the incidence of treatment errors would be to implement the use of a single patient medication sheet for the recording of drug prescription, preparation and administration and also the incident reporting.

}, keywords = {Attention, Drug Therapy, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Italy, Medication Errors, Nursing Administration Research, Nursing Evaluation Research, Nursing Staff, Hospital, Patient Safety, Quality Assurance, Health Care, Rehabilitation Nursing, Safety Management, Time Factors}, issn = {1365-2834}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2834.2011.01323.x}, author = {Buchini, Sara and Quattrin, Rosanna} }