Efficacy of Chinese auriculotherapy for stress in nursing staff: a randomized clinical trial

Objective

this randomized single blind clinical study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of auriculotherapy with and without a protocol for reducing stress levels among nursing staff.

Method

a total of 175 nursing professionals with medium and high scores according to Vasconcelos'' Stress Symptoms List were divided into 3 groups: Control (58), Group with protocol (58), Group with no protocol (59). They were assessed at the baseline, after 12 sessions, and at the follow-up (30 days).

Results

in the analysis of variance, statistically significant differences between the Control and Intervention groups were found in the two evaluations (p<0.05) with greater size of effect indices (Cohen) for the No protocol group. The Yang Liver 1 and 2, Kidney, Brain Stem and Shen Men were the points most used.

Conclusion

individualized auriculotherapy, with no protocol, could expand the scope of the technique for stress reduction compared with auriculotherapy with a protocol. NCT: 01420835     

Long-term effects of a tailored mindfulness-based program for Chinese intensive care unit nurses: A randomized parallel-group trial

AimThis study investigated the direct and long-term improvements that mindfulness-based interventions exert on intensive care unit nurses. We assessed an abbreviated four-week, twice-weekly mindfulness-based intervention program’s effect on work-related mental health variables and examined whether the intervention impact was maintained at two- and six-month follow-up assessments. We also examined the training program’s effects on work and life.BackgroundPrevious research has shown that mindfulness interventions exert positive effects immediately after treatment. However, few studies have examined whether treatment effects are maintained over time or under different circumstances. Moreover, treatment effects among Chinese intensive care unit nurses have rarely been examined.DesignWe conducted a randomized, non-blinded, parallel-group trial.MethodsParticipants included 90 intensive care unit nurses, divided into two cohorts, who participated in the program in October 2016 and April 2017. They completed validated measures of mindfulness, burnout syndromes, anxiety and depressive symptoms and well-being at baseline (T₁), immediately after intervention (T₂), two months after (T₃) and six months after (T₄) the intervention.ResultsWe observed a significant group effect (1) immediately post-intervention and two months after intervention for mindfulness; (2) at two months after intervention for anxiety, depression and subjective well-being and (3) at post-intervention, two months after and six months after for emotional exhaustion.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the tailored four-week mindfulness-based intervention program improved intensive care unit nurses’ mental health, although further research is needed to verify its feasibility in a clinical working environment.     

职业延迟满足与工作满意度对军队医院护士离职意愿的影响

目的 调查军队医院护士职业延迟满足与工作满意度对离职意愿的影响.方法 应用护士一般资料调查表、职业延迟满足量表、工作满意度量表和离职倾向量表对93名军队医院在职护士进行问卷调查.结果 军队医院护士职业延迟满足、职业延迟满足特质、职业延迟满足过程为得分分别为（17.32±4.23）,（7.62±2.51）,（9.70±2.49）分,处于中等偏上水平;工作满意度总分、内在满意度、外在满意度得分分别为（72.02±10.96）,（41.53±7.15）,（30.48±4.41）分,处于低水平;离职意愿得分为（9.30±2.64）分,处于高水平.护士职业延迟满足与离职意愿呈负相关（r =-0.220,P＜0.05）,与工作满意度呈正相关（r=0.207,P＜0.05）,与外在满意度呈正相关（r=0.208,P＜0.05）;职业延迟满足能力与工作满意、内在满意度、外在满意度呈正相关（r分别为0.234,0.219,0.227;P＜0.05）;离职意愿与工作满意度、内在满意度、外在满意度呈负相关（r分别为-0.522,-0.490,-0.505;P＜0.01）.结论 军队医院护士职业延迟满足水平较高,工作满意度较低,离职意愿水平较高.军队医院护士职业延迟满足水平影响工作满意度及离职意愿.     

Evidence-Based vs Informal Suicide Training: Nurse Confidence and Comfort With Suicidal Patient Care

IntroductionEmergency nurses are on the front line of patient care for suicidal persons, yet many nurses report feeling unprepared to effectively manage suicidal patients owing to a lack of suicide-specific training. The purpose of this study was to examine the suicide-specific training experiences of emergency nurses and evaluate how training relates to burnout, confidence, and comfort working with suicidal patients.MethodsEmergency nurses at critical access and community hospitals completed an anonymous online survey during work hours. The survey included questions about training experiences, burnout, confidence, and comfort working with suicidal patients, perceptions of the quality and interactive nature of training, and desires for future suicide-specific intervention training.ResultsGroup comparisons among the 117 emergency nurses revealed that those who received evidence-based/expert-delivered training reported greater confidence, comfort, and perceived ability to treat suicidal patients and lower burnout than those who received informal or no training. Those with informal training reported greater confidence and ability to treat suicidal patients, but similar levels of comfort and burnout as those with no training. Mediation analyses showed that training was associated with greater comfort working with suicidal patients through its effect on increased confidence. A majority desired additional suicide-specific training.DiscussionEvidence-based/expert-delivered professional training in suicide intervention is associated with improved confidence, comfort, and perceived ability to care for suicidal patients and lower burnout. Providing evidence-based suicide intervention training may improve quality of care for suicidal patients by improving emergency nurse confidence and comfort for treating these high-risk patients.     

Work-Related Psychosocial Hazards Among Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) in Mansoura City

Purpose:

This research was done to assess levels of psychosocial stress and related hazards [(burnout, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)] among emergency medical responders (EMRs).

Materials and Methods:

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted upon (140) EMRs and a comparative group composed of (140) nonemergency workers. The groups studied were subjected to semistructured questionnaire including demographic data, survey for job stressors, Maslach burn out inventory (MBI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and Davidson Trauma scale for PTSD.

Results:

The most severe acute stressors among EMRs were dealing with traumatic events (88.57%), followed by dealing with serious accidents (87.8%) and young victims (87.14%). Chronic stressors were more commonly reported among EMRs with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) except for social support with colleagues and supervisors. EMRs had statistically significant higher levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) (20%) and depersonalization (DP) (9.3%) compared with comparative group (4.3%, 1.4% respectively). Also, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups as regards lower personal achievement or depression symptoms (P > 0.05). There was increased risk of PTSD for those who had higher stress levels from death of colleagues [odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] = 2.2 (0.7-7.6), exposure to verbal or physical assault OR (95% CI) = 1.6 (0.5-4.4) and dealing with psychiatric OR (95% CI) 1.4 (0.53.7) (P > 0.05)

Conclusion:

EMRs group had more frequent exposure to both acute and chronic work-related stressors than comparative group. Also, EMRs had higher levels of EE, DP, and PTSD compared with comparative group. EMRs are in need for stress management program for prevention these of stress related hazards on health and work performance.     

¿Han llegado los millennials a la Facultad de Medicina? Perfil de personalidad de estudiantes de Medicina 1999-2014

ObjectiveMedical training not only requires the acquisition of knowledge and clinical skills, but also the development of attitudes and values, characteristics related to the personality profile. The present study focuses on assessing the personality profile of medical students, in relation to sociodemographic variables and generational change.Material and methodsCross-sectional observational study performed on 675 medical students,from 1999 to 2014. A sociodemographic questionnaire and the NEO-PI-R questionnaireto assess the personality profile was administrated.ResultsIn the present study, the highest mean scores were in the responsibility dimension, followed by kindness and openness to the experience. The lowest was neuroticism. As regards gender, women had higher scores in neuroticism, extraversion, kindness, and responsibility. The millennial students obtained significantly higher scores in the dimension of extraversion, kindness, and responsibility. These students are more assertive, sociable, compassionate, and more likely to fulfil their duty, organisation, order, and self-discipline. But this group also has a higher score in anxiety and obsessive traits, assuming an increased risk of stress and burn-out.ConclusionsSignificant differences have been found in the personality profiles between gender and among the millennial medical students, consistent with the personality profiles described in the literature on the millennium generation.