Dominika Vrbnjak

Psychometric testing of the Slovenian Person-centred Climate Questionnaire - staff version

AIM To test the psychometric properties of the Slovenian version of the Person-centred Climate Questionnaire - staff version. BACKGROUND Person-centredness can be a quality care indicator, but there are no valid and reliable instruments in the Slovene language aimed at exploring the person-centred care climate from a nursing staff perspective. METHODS Content validity based on expert agreement was evaluated by calculating content validity indices. A cross-sectional survey design using a convenience sample of 790 nurses and nursing assistants from medical and surgical wards in 11 hospitals was used to test the construct validity and internal consistency reliability. RESULTS The average content validity index for the scale was 0.97, all items had content validity indices higher than 0.78, showing satisfactory content validity. Three components, climate of safety, community and everydayness explained 71.22% of the variance in the data and thus confirmed scale dimensionality. Cronbachs α was acceptable for whole scale (0.90) and for subscales (0.89, 0.89 and 0.86). CONCLUSION The Slovene version of the Person-centred Climate Questionnaire - staff version is valid and reliable and can be further used in surgical and medical wards in hospital settings. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT The instrument enables further exploration of the relationships between perceived person-centredness and organisational outcomes.

The concept of Watson's carative factors in nursing and their (dis)harmony with patient satisfaction

Background Constant reviews of the caring behavior of nurses and patient satisfaction help to improve the quality of nursing. The aim of our research was to explore relationships between the level of nursing education, the perception of nurses and nursing assistants of Watson’s carative factors, and patient satisfaction. Methods A questionnaire survey using a convenience sample of 1,098 members of nursing teams and a purposive sample of 1,123 patients in four health care institutions in Slovenia was conducted in August 2012. A demographic questionnaire and the Caring Nurse-Patient Interactions Scale (nurse version) were delivered to the nurses. A Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey was delivered to discharged patients. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Carative factor sensibility was related to the level of nursing education. Patients were satisfied with the care received from nurses, nursing assistants and hospitals, although we found differences between the perceptions of nurses and nursing assistants of carative factors and patient satisfaction. By comparing only the perceptions of nurses and nursing assistants of carative factors in health care institutions, differences were found for seven out of ten carative factors. Discussion We did not find major significant differences between carative factors and level of nurse education, except in one carative factor. Differences in perceptions of carative factors between health care institutions are probably the result of different institutional factors. The results can be of great benefit to nurse administrators and educators, indicating the factors that must be taken into account for enhancing patient satisfaction. Emphasis on caring theories should be placed in nursing education and their application in nursing practice.

Fit for Practice: Analysis and Evaluation of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring:

The aim of the authors of this paper is to analyze Watson’s theory of human caring for its usefulness and worth in education, practice, and research. The reason for undertaking this analysis is to evaluate if Watson’s theory would be useful for nursing in those countries where such theories were not an established part of the nursing curriculum. Furthermore, in some European countries, their political past or cultural influences led to an unquestioned adoption of the biomedical model. As their political culture changes, many social structures have had to be revisited, and for nursing, this has meant the introduction of theoretical reasoning, teaching, and practice.

Perceptions of Caring Between Slovene and Russian Members of Nursing Teams

Purpose: To measure the perceptions of caring between Slovene and Russian members of nursing teams and compare the results with earlier findings in other European Union countries. Method: A cross-sectional study that included nurses and nursing assistants in Slovenia (n = 294) and Russia (n = 531). Data were collected using the 25-item Caring Dimensions Inventory. Results: The most endorsed item for Slovene and Russian members of nursing teams was an item related to medication administration. All items that were endorsed by Russian participants were also endorsed by Slovenian participants; however, they ascribed a different level of importance to individual aspects of caring. Discussion: Compared with other European Union countries, such as the United Kingdom and Spain, Slovenian and Russian members of nursing teams endorsed more technical aspects of nursing duties as caring, suggesting cultural differences and previous influences of the biomedical model on nursing education and practice.

Physical activity among nursing students

Abstract Introduction. Nurses need to encourage patients to lead a healthy lifestyle, hence it is important that as nursing students they are already aware of the importance of physical activity. The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical activities of nursing students. Aim. The aim of the study was to find out in what state physical activity of nursing students is and to find out what are their main reasons for lack of physical activity. Material and methods. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study using a mixed methods design. The quantitative data was collected using the survey method with a convenience sample of 123 students and used descriptive and inferential statistics for the analysis. For the qualitative data we used a Grounded Theory Method with semi-structured interviews on purposive samples of four students. Results and conclusions. In the quantitative part of this study we found a significantly higher proportion of outdoor physical activity in comparison to indoor physical activity (p < 0.001). The qualitative part contains the main categories of physical activity implementation, as well as three sub-categories: attitude to physical activity, barriers and incentives. Nursing students do not do physical activities regularly due to lack of time, obligations at the university, time of the year and finances.

Assessment of Clinical Nursing Competencies: Literature Review

Introduction: In Slovene nursing higher education, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support the choice of tolls for assessment of clinical skills and competencies. This literature review aims to critically discuss identified methods of clinical nursing skills assessment and competencies currently used in nursing higher education in other countries. Methods: An electronic data base search was conducted using Medline, CINAHL, and PubMed. The search was limited to empirical research published within the previous 5 years. Full-text available articles published in peer-reviewed journals and written in English were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to appraise and describe the methodological quality. The synthesis of the results was reported narratively. Results: From 160 identified records, 12 studies were retained based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A number of approaches are currently being used and include a variety of assessment tools, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), and complex assessment approaches. Discussion and conclusion: Results present an overview of current clinical assessment in the clinical environment and in the clinical skills laboratories (CSLs). There is a need to develop a holistic approach to clinical skills competency assessment with a reasonable level of validity and reliability.

Impact of Education, Working Conditions, and Interpersonal Relationships on Caregivers’ Job Satisfaction

Aim: To explore relationships between caregivers’ education, healthcare working conditions, interpersonal relationships, and caregivers’ general job satisfaction. Background: Caregivers job satisfaction is related to several organizational work environment factors, interpersonal relationships, and personal variables such as education and work experience. Research is needed to understand these variables in different countries due to cultural differences, educational background, and different labor markets. Design: Cross-sectional multicentre survey. Methods: Survey data were collected from a convenience sample of 1098 caregivers in five Slovene health care institutions in 2012. Statistical analyzes were undertaken using a descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: No statistically significant differences were found regarding caregivers’ education, average lengths of service, and number of working hours on caregivers’ job satisfaction. Job rewards and opportunities predicted higher job satisfaction in nurses with diploma degree. Professional empowerment, supervisor and interpersonal relationships with physicians predicted nursing assistants’ higher job satisfaction. Job demands were associated with lower job satisfaction in nursing assistants.

Uporabnost maščobnih kislin omega-3 pri obravnavi ran na koži

Introduction: The purpose of this article is to analyse the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on wound healing and to demonstrate their usefulness in the wound treatment. Methods: Databases PubMed, CINAHL, Medline and ScienceDirect were searched for the literature review and analysis. A search was performed with keywords in English: omega-3 fish oil, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), wound, wound healing, and Boolean operator AND. Experimental or randomized clinical studies published in English from 1993 to January 2014, which included the prevention or treatment of acute skin wounds or chronic wounds by using omega-3 fatty acids, were included in analysis. Exclusion criterion was the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of burn wounds. From a total of 1151 retrieved studies, 15 were included in a detailed analysis. Results: The results showed that omega-3 fatty acids are ineffective in the treatment of traumatic and surgical skin wounds, potentially effective in the treatment of diabetic wounds and effective in the treatment of pressure ulcers. Discussion and conclusion: Anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 interferes and slows down acute skin wound healing, but promotes the reepitalization of chronic wounds. Further research is required to establish exact wound care use guidelines.