Journal of clinical nursing
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This study will describe the oral health status of critically ill children over time spent in the paediatric intensive care unit, examine influences on the development of poor oral health and explore the relationship between dysfunctional oral health and healthcare-associated infections. ⋯ Given the frequency of poor oral health during childhood critical illness in this study and the subsequent potential systemic consequences, evidence based oral hygiene practices should be developed and validated to guide clinicians when nursing critically ill children.
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To compare the psychometric properties of the original dichotomously scored Nurses' Knowledge of Heart Failure Self-Management Education Principles Survey with a Likert scored version. ⋯ Teaching HF self-management skills to patients is challenging and it is important to identify nurses' gaps in knowledge of self-management principles. The psychometrically sound Likert scored version of the survey potentially may be used to identify nurses' knowledge gaps and inform staff development in-services.
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The aim of this study was to develop a potential scoring algorithm for interventions in a chronic heart failure management programme--the Heart Failure Intervention Score--to facilitate quality improvement and programme auditing. ⋯ The Heart Failure Intervention Score is an evidence-based tool that can be easily used by heart failure programme coordinators to ensure that their programme is evidence-based, which will improve the quality of their programme and potentially programme outcomes.
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This study investigated intensive care unit nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices of oral care for intubated patients together with the associated factors of the same. ⋯ Encouraging nurses to learn more about oral care using diverse educational resources will enhance their knowledge and improve their practice. Nursing administrators are encouraged to establish policies and procedures for oral care of intubated patients based on the type of patients cared for, in addition to holding in-service training, with a view to enhancing the quality of oral care for critically ill patients.
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To explore depressive symptoms among nursing home residents without cognitive impairment and the relationship between their depressive symptoms and dependence on activities of daily living, comorbidity and sociodemographic variables. ⋯ Nursing home staff should communicate with and observe residents closely for signs of depression, especially younger residents with high dependence on activities of daily living. In addition, formal screening of all residents for depression using an instrument that is sensitive to older people is recommended.