Accessible Summary: What is Known on the subject?: Working on the frontline during the pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental health of health professionals. A significant proportion experienced anxiety, insomnia, posttraumatic stress or depression. What the paper adds to existing knowledge?: Analysis and synthesis of the evidence of the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses based on their work context. There exists a gap in the literature as no studies were found that analysed the effects on nurses' mental health according to the level of care they worked in (hospital–primary care–nursing home). What are the implications for practice?: There is an urgent need to assess and respond to the impact of COVID‐19 on the physical and mental well‐being of nurses, and to monitor international policies for the improvement of nurses' working conditions. Introduction: Health professionals have suffered negative consequences during the COVID‐19 pandemic. No review has specifically addressed the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of nurses exclusively according to the work context.Aim: To analyse the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of nurses who have worked in hospitals, primary care centres and social health centres.Method: PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO and Cochrane databases were searched (Prospero number: CRD42021249513). Out of 706 papers, 31 studies (2020–2021) were included in the systematic review. A qualitative synthesis method was used to analyse the data.Results: Most studies were conducted in hospitals or frontline settings. The prevalence of moderate‐to‐severe symptoms was for anxiety 29.55%, depression 38.79%, posttraumatic stress disorder 29.8%, and insomnia 40.66%.Discussion: This review highlights the mental health effects among nurses working in acute hospital settings. It also evidences a data gap on mental health effects among nurses working in primary health care and in nursing homes.Implications for practice: In the post phase of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to assess and respond to the impact on the mental well‐being of nurses, and to monitor international policies for the improvement of nurses’ working conditions.
Invasive techniques such as venipuncture are painful procedures causing stress and anxiety, both in pediatric patients and in their carers. For this reason, efforts are being made to develop mitigating strategies for the patient’s pain and anxiety during the performance. To analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the use of Virtual Reality distraction techniques as a measure of pain and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients and their parents. In addition, the effects of two modes of Virtual Reality (passive vs. interactive) were compared. A quasi-experimental study was carried out in the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary referral hospital in north Spain. The participants were children who underwent venipuncture for blood extraction and vascular cannulation. From the 124 patients, 51.6% (n = 64) were girls and 48.4% (n = 60) were boys (p = 0.574). The mean age was 8.4 years (SD: 4.1). The mean level of pain experienced was 2.33 (SD: 0.76) in the interactive VR group (n = 88) versus 2.67 (SD: 1.35) in patients with passive VR (n = 36) (p = 0.008); being the presence of anxiety in 27.3% (n = 24) of the cases treated with interactive Virtual Reality and in 88.9% (n = 32) of the patients with passive Virtual Reality (p = 0.000). The virtual reality is an effective method to reduce pain and anxiety levels in pediatric patients, with the effectiveness of interactive virtual reality and its use in the population aged 7–15 years being greater.
1 August 2019 in International Journal of Medical Informatics
To identify, critically appraise, and synthesize the available evidence on the effectiveness of digital health interventions to improve the quality of life or any of its four dimensions (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual) in women survivors of breast cancer who are in the extended or permanent survival stage. Systematic review-Four databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. The clinical evidence shows a positive relationship or association between eHealth use and improved quality of life in breast cancer survivors at extended or permanent survival stage. However, the findings point to a deficit in the assessment of the social and spiritual domains that play a fundamental role in the quality of life of survivors. The findings found reflect implications of great value for nursing practice because these professionals are the main users of digital health tools to provide them to patients. Using these digital tools contributes to improving evidence-based practice and providing greater efficiency and effectiveness in the care of long-term cancer survivors.
22 May 2024 in European Journal of Oncology Nursing
To identify, analyze and describe the available scientific evidence about the influence of social determinants of health on cancer survivors. A scoping review was outlined according to the steps described by the Joanna Brigs Institute Reviewer's Manual: selection of studies, data mapping, and results grouping, synthesis and report, was conducted. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and LILACS databases were searched from 2011 to 2023. Out of a total of 1783 papers initially screened, only 19 studies met the inclusion criteria for the scoping review, focusing on the primary social determinants impacting the health of cancer survivors. These studies were categorized into six main themes: a) employment (challenges in work reintegration and work-place difficulties); b) variations among different ethnic groups; c) disparities based on sex; d) barriers and facilitators in accessing health and social security services; e) the role of support networks and social environments; and f) socioeconomic lever (influence of income and socioeconomic status). Understanding the impact of social determinants on the post-treatment quality of life for cancer survivors is crucial. Comprehensive survivorship care should address not just medical needs but also holistic aspects like social support, education, overall well-being, and improvements in physical and social environments. This multifaceted approach ensures the well-rounded support needed for optimal survivorship outcomes.