This article resulted from a bibliographical review concerning meta-synthesis, considered to be a novel methodology in health science research. Meta-synthesis' importance lies in evaluating high complex scientific evidence from qualitative research and strengthening a discipline's body of knowledge when constructing, describing or explaining related theories. Several authors' definitions of meta-synthesis are presented. They coincide in stating that its purpose is to enhance interpreting an outcome by integrating the findings from qualitative research and thus have an impact on support, research and proposals in resolving problems regarding nursing practice. Some criteria to be born in mind when applying this methodology are also mentioned.

Introduction: Caregiving competencies for cancer patients under treatment are fundamental to achieve an adequate hospital-home transition and health self-management behaviors. Objective: To validate the hypothetical factor structure of the competency scale for in-home care of cancer patients who are undergoing active cancer treatment. Methodology: A crosssectional study instrument validation was conducted with 250 cancer patients under treatment. Theconfirmatoryfactoranalysistechniquewas used to determine reliability by using the principal component analysis method, varimax rotation and Cronbach's alpha. Results: A version of the Competency Scale for Cancer Patient In-Home Care was administered containing 17 items and 5 approaches: learning, anticipating, self-regulating, harmonizing, and supporting. Cronbach's alpha of the scale was 0.764. Conclusions: The 5-A Competency Scale for Cancer Patient In Home Care takes up the approaches of the individual and family self-management theory and comprehensively assesses the skills required by cancer patients to facilitate the transition to caregiving self-management at home.

Este artículo presenta el producto de la revisión bibliográfica acerca de las metodologías utilizadas para desarrollar la metasíntesis. Autores como Jensen y Alien (1994, 1996), Noblit (1984), Kearney (1998), Thorne (1991, 1994) y Sandeloswki (1995a, 1997) coinciden en afirmar que este método constituye un ejercicio riguroso de análisis, interpretación e integración de los resultados de estudios cualitativos que buscan dar mayor validez a las investigaciones primarias y el fortalecimiento del cuerpo de conocimientos de una disciplina al documentar las evidencias científicas que orientan la práctica. Se concluye que aunque son diversas las formas de realizar la metasíntesis, es importante definir el alcance y la meta del análisis que se quiere obtener, resaltando que sea cual fuere el método o técnica seleccionado, la esencia de la metasíntesis incluye la comparación constante, la interpretación y la integración de los hallazgos.

Cancer patients experience several symptoms throughout their illness and the treatments they receive. While this pathology represents a worldwide health problem, knowing the symptom prevalence in oncology patients remains a challenge; validated tools to obtain this information are essential. Furthermore, this prevalence information would help health professionals to establish appropriate treatments. The objective of this study was to ascertain the symptom prevalence in cancer patients from Spain and Colombia to improve future approaches. The frequency, severity, and distress of 32 symptoms from a validated scale experienced by cancer patients from Spain and Colombia were measured. Two hundred and forty-six patients (49.7%) who attended the Day University Hospital of Salamanca (Spain) and two hundred and forty-nine outpatients (50.3%) of the San Diego Cancer Center (Colombia) between 2016 and 2019 participated in the study. All patients filled in the Assessment Scale only once. Four hundred and ninety-five patients (333 women (67.3%) and 162 men (32.7%)) completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (Spanish version). The most frequent symptom for both samples (Spanish and Colombian) was “lack of energy” (38.4% and 13.7%, respectively). The most severe symptoms for the Spanish and Colombian samples were “problems with sexual interest or activity” (38.4%) and “dry mouth” (13.7%), respectively, and both samples agreed on the most distressing symptom: “hair loss” (Spanish, 38%; Colombian, 10.1%). The Spanish version of the MSAS has proven to be a valid and reliable tool in Spanish-speaking countries to obtain the most prevalent, severe, and distressing symptoms in Spanish and Colombian oncology patients. The prevalence of symptoms was demonstrated to be similar across both countries, and the results will help to design and adapt treatments for cancer patients, targeting these symptoms to reduce or avoid them and thus improving their quality of life.

Objetivos: describir, comparar y relacionar la percepción de las condiciones de seguridad del entorno hospitalario de pacientes con enfermedad crónica en Colombia y sus cinco macrorregiones geográficas (Amazonía, Andina, Caribe, Orinoquía y Pacífico). Materiales y método: estudio descriptivo, comparativo y de relación, cuya muestra fue de 484 personas con enfermedad crónica. Se emplearon los instrumentos: Encuesta de Caracterización para el Cuidado de la Persona con Enfermedad Crónica y Encuesta Percepción de Condiciones de Seguridad del Entorno Hospitalario, versión paciente. Resultados: frente a las categorías de percepción de riesgo, solamente la mitad de ellos conoce los riesgos a los que está expuesto y la forma de actuar para prevenirlos, y solo la mitad reportó conocer sus deberes y derechos durante la hospitalización. Los riesgos que reflejan mayor materialización son las caídas y las flebitis. Conclusiones: hay poca apropiación sobre el cuidado y la prevención del riesgo; en consecuencia, es alto el grado de vulnerabilidad frente a las condiciones del entorno hospitalario en las cinco macrorregiones geográficas de Colombia.