Olga Paloma-Castro

Human chorionic gonadotropin and vascular endothelial growth factor in normal and complicated pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE To study the relationships between maternal serum concentrations of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in both normal pregnant women during late pregnancy and women with pregnancy complications. METHODS Sixty-six women in three groups were prospectively studied: 1) women diagnosed with fetal growth restriction (n = 22), 2) women with preeclampsia (n = 22), and 3) healthy pregnant women (controls) frequency matched for age, parity, and gestational age (n = 22). Primary outcomes were maternal serum concentrations of both β-hCG and VEGF. Placental insufficiency was defined by a pulsatility index in umbilical artery greater than the 99th percentile for gestation. RESULTS Maternal serum concentrations of β-hCG and VEGF were greater in women with preeclampsia than in controls (P = .001 and P = .002, respectively) and women with fetal growth restriction (P = .002 and P = .002, respectively). Concentrations did not differ between women with fetal growth restricted fetuses and controls. Correlation between β-hCG and VEGF was not significant in any of the studied groups. Serum VEGF concentrations were significantly increased in a subgroup of 12 women with placental insufficiency (P = .04) and correlated with β-hCG concentrations (r = .63, P = .02). CONCLUSION Both VEGF and β-hCG maternal serum concentrations were increased in women with preeclampsia but normal in women with fetal growth restriction, although VEGF concentrations were increased in those cases with placental insufficiency. Maternal serum β-hCG and VEGF concentrations did not correlate except in women with placental insufficiency.

Health literacy interventions for immigrant populations: a systematic review

BACKGROUND Health literacy is considered a social health determinant that influences improvement in health, patient empowerment and reduction in inequalities. There is a lack of health literacy interventions for vulnerable social groups (i.e. immigrants), and nurses have shown little familiarity with the concept. AIM This study aimed to identify and analyse whether interventions directed at immigrant populations improve the functional (basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills), interactive (social and cognitive skills) and critical (advanced cognitive and social skills in critically analyzing information and making informed decisions) dimensions of health literacy, taking into account the role played by nursing in these interventions. METHODS A systematic review of four databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library and ERIC was conducted to identify relevant articles published between 2000 and 2015. Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria, and nine articles used a validated instrument. RESULTS Few specific health literacy interventions for immigrant populations were found. The main findings of the studies showed positive changes in functional health literacy. However, the interventions were less effective in improving interactive and critical health literacy. LIMITATIONS Several of the findings of this review were based on studies that had their own limitations. The assessment of the articles was not blinded, and the review was restricted to articles written in Spanish and English. CONCLUSIONS The interventions studied were reported as being effective in improving health literacy in immigrants, particularly the functional aspects. Regarding the role played by nursing, this review observed little involvement. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY It is important for educational strategies to include health literacy dimensions. The concept of health literacy should be included as a Nursing Outcomes Classification and in its subsequent validation taxonomy. To promote community health, health literacy must be a prioritized objective of health management and policies.

Blogged nursing: analysis of the phenomenon and contextualization in the Spanish setting.

Blogging within the health profession has grown in the recent past. This article aims to perform an analysis of the theoretical aspects of blogging, the use by professional nurses and students, benefits for patients, and, finally, an approach to the activities of Spanish nursing blogs. Blogs have great advantages as social communication tools. Immediacy in content update, closeness to information consumers, and compatibility with other Web 2.0 tools are points to be highlighted. Nurses use blogs for education and communication with other health professionals, students, and patients. For patients, therapeutic effects have been demonstrated in using blogging to share their health problems and express their experiential viewpoints. There are about 80 blogs written by Spanish nurses; most of them originated in the period between 2010 and 2012. These blogs are targeted to professionals (59%), patients (20%), or mixed (13%). There is a great heterogeneity in content: informative style (20%), opinion (28%), narrative (9%), experiential (2%), or humorous (2%). Nursing language is present in 15%, research and evidence-based practice in 13%, and protocols, guidelines, and procedures in 11% of them. We propose the need to plan institutional strategies for effective use of Web 2.0 resources as well as the need to unify criteria to provide quality content.

The relationship between characteristics of nurses and their attitude towards nursing diagnosis: a cluster analysis

The Social Policy Statement by the American Nurses Association (2003) defined nursing as the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to health and illness. This definition underlines the importance of nurses’ accountability of the identification of patient problems as the basis for planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care (Axelsson et al. 2006). Lately, the consideration of ND as a standard of practise has supported and encouraged its use. However, underuse has been described in many countries. This makes further research necessary to provide new data on factors that may influence its utilisation and to help explain the irregular dissemination and consolidation of nursing diagnostic activity worldwide. People’s attitudes about concepts have an important role in the implementation of behaviours related to them. Therefore, the nurses’ attitude towards ND is an important consideration in its utilisation. However, there are few studies aimed at its assessment (Junttila et al. 2005). The evaluation of differential characteristics between nurses who have different attitude profiles would be useful to determine whether a relationship is established between them, raising the possibility to analyse how to change the attitudes to achieve a greater use of nursing diagnostic activity.

Tackling perinatal loss, a participatory action research approach: research protocol

AIM   The aim of this study was to promote changes to improve the care provided to parents who have experienced a perinatal loss through participatory action research. BACKGROUND   The birth of a child is a joyful event for most families, however, unfortunately some pregnancies end in loss. Perinatal loss creates a heavy emotional impact not only on parents but also on health professionals, where in most cases there is an evident lack of skills, strategies and resources to cope with these kinds of situations. DESIGN   Participatory action research is the methodology proposed to achieve the purpose of this study. METHODS   Participatory action research consists of five stages: outreach and awareness, induction, interaction, implementation and systematization. The working group will include professionals from the Mother and Child Unit for patients at a tertiary level public hospital in Spain. The duration of the study will be 3 years since the approval of the protocol in January 2011. The qualitative techniques used will include group dynamics such as the SWOT analysis the nominal group technique, focus groups and brainstorming, among others that will be recorded and transcribed, generating reports throughout the evolution of the group sessions and about the consensus reached. Content analysis will be conducted on the field diaries kept by the participants and researchers. This project has been funded by the Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health. DISCUSSION   Participatory action research is a methodological strategy that allows changes in clinical practice to conduct a comprehensive transformative action in the care process for perinatal loss.