We aimed to know the prevalence of post-stroke depression (PSD) in our context, identify the variables that could predict post-stroke depression, by using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, occurring within six months after stroke, and identify patients at high risk for PSD. Methods: descriptive, cross-sectional and observational study. We included 173 patients with stroke (transient ischemic attack (TIA) included) and collected sociodemographic and clinical variables. We used the Hamilton Depression Scale (HDS) for depression assessment and Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) for functional assessment. The neurological severity was evaluated by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: 35.5% were women, aged 71.16 (±12.3). Depression was present in 42.2% patients (n = 73) at six months after stroke. The following variables were significantly associated with PSD: diagnosis of previous depression (p = 0.005), the modified Rankin Scale at discharge (p = 0.032) and length of hospital stay (p = 0.012). Conclusion: PSD is highly prevalent after stroke and is associated with the severity, left location of the stroke, and the degree of disability at discharge. Its impact justifies the evaluation and early treatment that still continues to be a challenge today.

Empathy, defined as an emotional ability to put oneself in the place of others, read their state of mind, and think how they are feeling, is an essential pillar of nursing care. On the other hand, anxiety is a frequent emotion that can be generated in stressful work environments, like nurses developing their activity. The aim of the present study is to explore the value of empathy and anxiety personal traits in staff nurses. The sample was comprised of 197 staff nurses from tertiary level hospitals from Madrid, Spain, where 79.2% were women and 20.8% were men in the present study. The instrument used for analysis was the Spanish adaptation of the 16PF5 questionnaire. The results showed the following measurements to warmth (5.58), lively (5.25), socially bold (5.6), privacy (5.82), open to change (5.62), self-reliance (6.12), and anxiety (6.38). Furthermore, anxiety affects positively to warmth (t: 2.66; p > 0.0001) and lively (t = 2.36; p < 0.05), but in a negative way to social bold (t = −3.17; p < 0.001) or open to change (t = −5.81; p < 0.0001). However, it was not seen to have any effect over privacy (t = 1.96; p = 0.052) and self-reliance (t = 1.19; p = 0.234). Finally, it is recommended that healthcare professionals reinforce their personal competencies to strengthen their skills to manage anxiety and improve their empathy competencies.

Background: Over the last few years, the presence of physiotherapists in Palliative Care Units (PCU) has considerably grown based on evidence from studies supporting the use of non-pharmacological measures as part of Palliative Care (PC) treatments. However, more accumulated data are needed to definitively establish its added value. The present study describes the type of patients receiving physiotherapy in a PCU and the benefits obtained in relation to their degree of functional dependence. Methods: An observational, prospective, descriptive, practice-based study was undertaken involving patients admitted to the PCU of Fundación Instituto San José (Madrid, Spain), who according to the PCU´s clinical practice, met the criteria for physiotherapy intervention. Daily clinical practice was unchanged for study reasons. Participants were assessed prior to initiating and at the end of the physiotherapy program using the following standard scales: the Barthel Index, the Functional Ambulation Categories scale, the Palliative Performance Scale, and the Braden scale. A descriptive analysis was performed and scale scores prior to and after treatment were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 63 patients were included (mean age 71.98 ± 12.72; 61.9% males). Fifty-eight patients (92.1%) were oncological patients; of them, 35 (60.3%) had metastases. Prior to treatment, 28 (44.4%) participants had total dependence according to the Barthel index, and 37 (58.7%) were non-functional ambulator according to the FAC scale. At the end of treatment, the number of patients with total dependence decreased to 15 (23.8%) and those non-functional ambulator to 12 (19.0%). Conclusions: Patients who benefited from physical therapy during their admission to our PCU were predominantly males with oncological processes, mainly lung cancer. PC including physiotherapy improved their functionality, independence and skills for activities of daily living in this sample of PCU patients.

Background: In the different published studies, there is no consensus on the efficacy of virtual reality as an adjuvant treatment of mood states. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of no immersive virtual reality with the Nintendo Switch device in rehabilitation treatment on mood, anxiety and depression in stroke patients admitted to neurorehabilitation units. Methods: Fifty-eight patients admitted to neurorehabilitation units underwent a 1:3 multicentre randomised clinical trial. The intervention group consisted of 17 patients and the control group of 41 patients. The intervention group performed 6 virtual reality sessions together with the conventional treatment, and the control group performed only the conventional rehabilitation sessions. Primary and secondary clinical outcomes were measured before and six weeks after the intervention. Results: Comparing the intervention group and control group, the anxiety levels of the intervention group decreased compared to the results observed in the control group (p = 0.01), as did the dependence of the intervention group (0.015). On the other hand, the results obtained after the intervention by the control group for anxiety (0.479) and depression (0.292) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Rehabilitation VR used as an adjuvant treatment to conventional treatment has a beneficial impact on the neurological status and state of anxiety of stroke patients admitted to neurorehabilitation units. Trial registration: Registered in the https://clinicaltrials.gov/ repository (NTC NCT05143385). Protocol registration date 7 October 2021, retrospectively registered.

Communication represents an essential skill in nurse managers’ performance of everyday activities to ensure a good coordination of the team, since it focuses on the transmission of information in an understandable way. At the same time, anxiety is an emotion that can be caused by demanding and stressful work environments, such as those of nurse managers. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of anxiety management on nurse managers’ communication skills. The sample comprised 90 nursing supervisors from hospitals in Madrid, Spain; 77.8% were women, and 22.2% were men, with an average of 10.9 years of experience as nursing supervisors. The instruments used for analysis were the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire: version five (16PF5) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires, validated for the Spanish population. The results showed that emotional stability was negatively affected by anxiety (r = −0.43; p = 0.001), while apprehension was positively affected (r = 0.382; p = 0.000). Nursing supervisors, as managers, were found to possess a series of personality factors and skills to manage stress and communication situations that prevent them from being influenced by social pressure and the opinion of others.

Background: Post‐stroke depression is the most common neuropsychiatric consequence and reduces rehabilitation effectiveness. However, the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) on mental health treatment for patients after a stroke is uncertain.Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of VR as a co‐adjuvant form of treatment to reduce depression in stroke patients admitted to neurorehabilitation units.Methods: We systematically searched medical databases including PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to November 16, 2023. Clinical trials comparing the use of VR as an adjuvant form of treatment in stroke patients' rehabilitation with the usual treatment were included. Pooled standardized mean differences were calculated using a random‐effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed according to type of stroke, VR characteristics, and the scale used to measure depression. Meta‐regression analysis was performed for intervention duration and to determine the mean age of the participants.Results: Eight studies and 388 stroke patients were included. The VR interventions were associated with a lower risk of depression in patients (ES = −0.69; 95% CI [−1.05, −0.33]; I² = 57.6%; p ≤ .02). The estimates were not affected by the type of stroke, the type of VR used, the blinding process, the type of scale used to detect depression, the duration of the intervention (weeks and minutes), and the total number of sessions. Meta‐regression shows that younger samples (p = .00; 95% CI [0.01, 0.08) and longer interventions (p = < .05; 95% CI [−0.00, −0.00) lead to a greater reduction in depression.Linking Evidence to Action: This review provides an important basis for treating depression in patients after a stroke. Professionals working in stroke neurorehabilitation units should consider VR as a form of co‐adjuvant treatment for depression in patients.Systematic Review Registration: CRD42022303968.