Información a familiares de pacientes en proceso final de vida en unidades de cuidados intensivos. Evaluación por parte de las enfermeras

IntroductionInforming is a process that includes many aspects and when it involves a family member at the end of life it becomes a complicated matter, not only for giving the information, but also for the mood of family members. Thus, the information should be adapted to the language and education of the patient and family. That information must be proper and suitable to the moment.ObjectiveTo describe the aspects of information offered to relatives of patients in the end of life process in Intensive Care Units (ICU), and to determine the nursing evaluation in this process. To evaluate the professionals’ attitude on this subject.Material and methodAn observational study conducted on nurses in pediatric and adult ICU nurses of a large public health hospital complexes in the city of Madrid. The data was collected using a questionnaire on the evaluation of care of children who died in pediatric ICU.ResultsThe majority of the nurses, 71% (159), said that the information was given in a place alone with the doctor. More than half (52.4%, 118) considered that the information was sufficient/insufficient depending on the day. Significant differences were found as regards the behavior of the staff at the time of a death in (P < .01), with pediatric ICU professionals being more empathetic.ConclusionsICU nurses believe that the information is appropriate for the prognosis and adapted to the patient situation. They also consider the place where the information is given and the attitude of the professionals in the end of life process are adequate.     

Cuidados enfermeros en el varón con lesión medular y disfunción sexual

The impact of spinal cord injury and its sequels requires important efforts of adaptation. In several studies, people with spinal cord injury claim to have covered most of their needs at physical, emotional and social level, but they are not yet fully satisfied with their sexual life. Sexual function is usually impaired in men with spinal cord injuries, and is sometimes related to problems of erection, ejaculation and/or orgasm. This issue is not a priority in the first phase, but it appears over the subsequent periods when patients often ask for a solution to this problem.A case-study is presented of a 25 year old male with chronic complete spinal cord injury (ASIA A), L4-L5 level, who reported sexual dysfunction and attended an annual review in the National Hospital for Paraplegics. After performing a nursing assessment using the functional health patterns of Gordon, the team proposed a nursing care plan according to the taxonomy of NANDA (North American Nursing Association), NOC (Nursing Outcome Classification) and NIC (Nursing Intervention Classification).Nurses are the healthcare professionals who have more direct and continuous contact with these patients. Specific programs need to be designed to provide them with the sexual education, which should contain adequate emotional and sexual information.We believe that an appropriate and systematic assessment of patient's sexuality, as well as the application of the (NANDA, NOC, NIC) nurse methodology, may be very helpful in improving the outcomes of these specific interventions.     

Valoración en la variación de la composición corporal del enfermo crítico

Critically ill patients are especially prone to malnutrition because their hypermetabolic state produces an increase in nutritional requirements that often are not covered with the formulae supplied. Evaluation of the body composition (BC) makes it possible to quantify the main structural components of the body: muscle, bone and fat. An anthropometry study was made for the assessment of these elements to obtain information on the protein-calorie nutritional status of critically ill patients. We have aimed to describe the variations in the BC of the critical ill patient during the first seven days after ICU admission. The observational study included 50 critically ill patients, of whom 78% were male and 22% women with a mean age of 56 years.Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), bone diameters, muscle perimeters and skinfolds of patients were recorded. The body composition (BC) calculations were performed using the Faulkner, Rocha, Wurch and Matiegka formulae. We obtained the baseline energy expenditure of each patient with the Harris-Benedict formula. After analyzing the data, a decrease was found in the percentage of muscle mass (mean ± SD: 3 ± 0.76), an increase in the percentage of body fat (2 ± 0.76) and an increase in BMI at the expense of an augment of weight. We have concluded that during the first week of ICU admission patients lose critical muscle mass and have an increase in fat mass. Awareness of these changes in the BC of patients may be useful to determine the appropriate nutrition for critically ill patients.     

Evaluación del efecto de la terapia de relajación en pacientes con hipertensión arterial

ObjectivesTo evaluate whether the application of a relaxation therapy reduces the blood pressure in hypertensive patients and whether there is improvement in several parameters which can influence blood pressure such as anxiety, quality of life and sleep.MethodsA quasi-experimental study (measures before-after) was performed in 25 Primary Care patients with hypertension poorly controlled by pharmacological treatment. The intervention consisted of relaxation therapy composed of 3 techniques: passive relaxation of Schwartz-Haynes, diaphragmatic breathing and imaginary visualization. A total of 14 group sessions of 30 min each (2/week) were conducted. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were taken at the beginning and end of the relaxation programme implemented and after each of the programme sessions. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality, Quality of Life Hypertension, State-Trait Anxiety and Perceived Stress questionnaires were used to measure psychosocial parameters.ResultsAfter intervention, a reduction in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg (p < .001) and of 8 mmHg (p < .001) in diastolic blood pressure was observed. Regarding other factors, sleep quality (p < .001), quality of life (p< .001) and state anxiety (p = .004) were significantly improved.ConclusionsRelaxation therapy had positive effects in improving blood pressure parameters, as well as the other factors evaluated. In our opinion, such strategies should be evaluated more thoroughly to consider their inclusion in Primary Care.