Maria Kalafati

Exploration of the association between professional interactions and emotional distress of intensive care unit nursing personnel

&NA;Several studies provide evidence for the association between the quality of collaboration among intensive care unit (ICU) professionals and patients’ outcomes, as well as nurses’ moral distress and professional satisfaction. However, potential associations between collaboration and nurses’ mental health indices have not been explored. The aim of this descriptive correlational study was to investigate the degree of satisfaction from interaction among ICU nursing personnel, as well as between ICU nursing personnel and physicians, and potential associations with ICU nursing personnel’s anxiety symptoms. The sample consisted of ICU nursing personnel from 11 adult general hospitals in Greece (n = 229). Hamilton’s Anxiety scale was applied for the quantitative assessment of anxiety symptoms and Stamps’ Index of Work Satisfaction for the appraisal of nursing personnel’s satisfaction from professional interactions. Demographic, vocational, and educational data were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were explored, and group comparisons, correlation, and regression analysis were used. The average satisfaction score from interaction among nursing personnel was moderate to high (5.3 [SD, 1.0]) and from nurse-to-physician interaction was moderate (4.0 [SD, 1.4]) (scale range, 1-7). The score of satisfaction from nurse-to-physician interaction was negatively mildly correlated with participants’ (a) total anxiety score (&tgr; = −0.160, P = .001), (b) tension (&tgr; = −0.125, P = .015), and (c) depressive symptoms (&tgr; = −0.148, P = .005). Weak negative correlations were detected between satisfaction from interaction among nursing personnel and participants’ (a) total anxiety state (&tgr; = −0.139, P = .003), (b) tension (&tgr; = −0.137, P = .008), and (c) sleep disturbances (&tgr; = −0.150, P = .003). Overall, female respondents had higher levels of anxiety symptoms than male respondents (Mann-Whitney U, P = .007). Satisfaction from professional interaction was not a strong predictor of anxiety symptoms among ICU nursing personnel (R2 = 0.046, &bgr; < −0.15). Nursing personnel in Greek ICUs seem to be satisfied with the quality of relationships among them, as well as with physicians. Despite that anxiety symptoms associate with the degree of satisfaction from professional interaction, the latter may not be a significant indicator of ICU nurses’ well-being. Further qualitative research is needed to identify mediating factors.

Comparison of two teaching methods for cardiac arrhythmia interpretation among nursing students

AIM The aim of this study was to compare the six-stage method (SSM) for instructing primary cardiac arrhythmias interpretation to students without basic electrocardiogram (ECG) knowledge with a descriptive teaching method in a single educational intervention. METHODS This is a randomized trial. Following a brief instructional session, undergraduate nursing students, assigned to group A (SSM) and group B (descriptive teaching method), undertook a written test in cardiac rhythm recognition, immediately after the educational intervention (initial exam). Participants were also examined with an unannounced retention test (final exam), one month after instruction. Altogether 134 students completed the study. Interpretation accuracy for each cardiac arrhythmia was assessed. RESULTS Mean score at the initial exam was 8.71±1.285 for group A and 8.74±1.303 for group B. Mean score at the final exam was 8.25±1.46 for group A vs 7.84±1.44 for group B. Overall results showed that the SSM was equally effective with the descriptive teaching method. The study showed that in each group bradyarrhythmias were identified correctly by more students than tachyarrhythmias. No significant difference between the two teaching methods was seen for any specific cardiac arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS The SSM effectively develops staff competency for interpreting common cardiac arrhythmias in students without ECG knowledge. More research is needed to support this conclusion and the methods effectiveness must be evaluated if being implemented to trainee groups with preexisting basic ECG interpretation knowledge.

A comparison between the two methods of chest compression in infant and neonatal resuscitation. A review according to 2010 CPR guidelines

Abstract Aim: The quality of chest compression (CC) delivered during neonatal and infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is identified as the most important factor to achieve the increase of survival rate without major neurological deficit to the patients. The objective of the study was to systematically review all the available studies that have compared the two different techniques of hand placement on infants and neonatal resuscitation, from 2010 to 2015 and to highlight which method is more effective. Methods: A review of the literature using a variety of medical databases, including Cochrane, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS electronic databases. The following MeSH terms were used in the search: infant, neonatal, CPR, CC, two-thumb (TT) technique/method, two-finger (TF) technique/method, rescuer fatigue, thumb/finger position/placement, as well as combinations of these. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria; nine observational studies and a randomized controlled trial. All providers performed either continuous TF or TT technique CCs and the majority of CPR performance was taken place in infant trainer manikin. Conclusions: The majority of the studies suggest the TT method as the more useful for infants and neonatal resuscitation than the TF.

One-hand chest compression and hands-off time in single-lay rescuer CPR—a manikin study

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of one-hand chest compression while continuously maintaining an open airway (OCOA) on rescue breath-associated hands-off time (RAHO) during single-lay rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS In this study, 193 CPR/automated external defibrillator certified lay rescuers were randomly allocated into 2 groups and were tested in a standard scenario using a mannequin. In control group (group A), the participants provided standard CPR. In group B, OCOA was performed by placing the heel of the strong hand in the center of the mannequins chest while maintaining an open airway using the other hand. RESULTS Mean RAHO was statistically significantly different between the two groups (group A: 8.38 ± 1.97 vs group B: 7.71 ± 2.43, P = .008). Only 13 (13.5%) group A and 25 (25.8%) group B providers ventilated the manikin with tidal volumes of 500 to 600 mL, while most participants caused hyperventilation. Although there were no significant differences in mean tidal volume between the groups, stomach inflation was greater in group A (< .001). Chest compressions were deeper in group A (P < .001), while chest recoil was significantly better in group B. In group B, there was a positive correlation between body mass index and compression depth (group A, P = .423; group B, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS In our study, OCOA resulted in shorter RAHO and less stomach inflation. Our results indicate that the airway should be maintained open during chest compressions, regardless of the technique. Larger studies are needed for the full clarification of OCOA.

Validation of the nursing workload scoring systems “Nursing Activities Score” (NAS), and “Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System For Critically Ill Children” (TISS-C) in a Greek Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVES To assess the reliability and validity of the Greek version of Nursing Activities Score (NAS), and Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System for Critically Ill Children (TISS-C) in a Greek Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). RESEARCH METHODOLOGY A methodological study was performed in one PICU of the largest Paediatric Hospital in Athens-Greece. The culturally adapted and validated Greek NAS version, enriched according to the Norwegian paediatric one (P-NAS), was used. TISS-C and Norwegian paediatric interventions were translated to Greek language and backwards. Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28) was used as a gold standard. Two independent observers simultaneously recorded 30 daily P-NAS and TISS-C records. Totally, 188 daily P-NAS, TISS-C and TISS-28 reports in a sample of 29 patients have been obtained during five weeks. Descriptive statistics, reliability and validity measures were applied using SPSS (ver 22.0) (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS Kappa was 0.963 for P-NAS and 0.9895 for TISS-C (p < 0.001) and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for all scale items of TISS-C was 1.00 (p < 0.001). P-NAS, TISS-28 and TISS-C measurements were significantly correlated (0.680 ≤ rho ≤ 0.743, p < 0.001). The mean score(±SD) for TISS-28, P-NAS and TISS-C was 23.05(±5.72), 58.14(±13.98) and 20.21(±9.66) respectively. CONCLUSION These results support the validity of P-NAS and TISS-C scales to be used in greek PICUs.

Psychometric Assessment: A Case Study of Greek Merchant Marine Officers Using the MMPI-2

Psychometric assessment and personality assessment in particular entered the realm of the maritime industry relatively recently. This is odd considering the high-risk responsibilities of the merchant mariners. In this case study we present the personality profile of Greek merchant marine officers from a major Greek shipping company, using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI-2), an instrument which has been widely used in many high-risk industries. The results present a group of officers who are generally free from psychological problems and quite well adjusted, conventional, sociable, with behavioural and emotional control and also characterized by cynicism and alienation. The potential impact of these results to various occupational and organizational factors is noted.

Observational study of healthcare associated infections and mortality caused by carbapenem resistant Gram-negative bacteria in a Greek ICU

Maria Gamvrouli RN; BSN, MSc, Staf Nurse, General Hospital of Nikaias, Piraeus, Greece Ioanna Pavlopoulou MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Paediatrics-Infection, P & A Kyriakou Children’s Hospital; Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece Maria Kapritsou RN; BSN, MSc, PhD, Staf Nurse, Hellenic Anticancer Institute, Saint Savvas Hospital, Athens, Greece; Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece *Margarita Giannakopoulou RN, BSc, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece Maria Kalafati RN; BSN, MSc, PhD, Laboratory Teaching Staf, Clinical Instructor, Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece Evangelos A Konstantinou RN; BSN, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor of Nursing Anesthesiology, Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece Eleni Apostolopoulou RN; BSc, PhD, Professor, Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece