Showing papers by "Ercole Vellone published in 2010"

Quality of life in stroke survivors: first results from the reliability and validity of the Italian version of the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of the Italian version of the Stroke Impact Scale 30 (SIS 30), a specific and multidimensional instrument that assesses quality of life (QOL) in stroke survivors Forty-five patients treated in three Rehabilitation Hospitals of the Lazio Region were included in the study Patients were assessed using the SIS 30, the SF-36, the Barthel Index, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the NIH Stroke Scale, the Modified Rankin Scale, and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Results showed good internal consistency of the SIS 30 (Cronbach's alpha 086-098), and a good test-retest reliability (r > 070, p < 0000) except for the Emotion and Social Participation subscales At the re-test, 15 days after the first administration, SIS 30 showed a good responsiveness to change, documenting clinical improvement in stroke survivors Significant correlations between the other instruments and the SIS 30 allowed to establish the concurrent validity of the SIS 30 Although the small sample size the Italian version of the SIS 30 showed good internal consistency and test retest reliability, as well as validity and responsiveness to changes Since the SIS 30 is a specific tool to measure QOL in stroke survivors, its Italian version could be successfully used also in Italian population to better identify predictors of QOL and evaluate the effectiveness of health interventions

Epidemiological aspects of urinary incontinence in a female population of an Italian region.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence of female urinary incontinence (UI), risk factors, severity, and functional limitation using a cross-sectional survey in an Italian region. The method employed in this study was a questionnaire-based interview on non-institutionalized women. Outcomes were the UI prevalence, severity, associated factors, and functional limitation (ICIQ score). From October 2008 to February 2009, 1,346 women were interviewed and 15.3% were affected by UI. Univariate analysis found different risk factors, but multivariate analysis revealed only pelvic floor surgery, diabetes, vaginal deliveries, age, and educational level as significant. The involuntary loss of stools was more common in incontinent patients compared with healthy participants. The ICIQ values were significantly different between healthy and incontinent participants and a positive correlation existed with the estimated daily urine loss (r = 0.885, p < 0.001). Symptoms of UI affected a substantial proportion of the population investigated. Pelvic floor surgery, diabetes, and vaginal deliveries are the most significant risk factors implicated.

Validità e affidabilità del questionario infermieristico sulla salute organizzativa

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Instruments that measure job well-being have the aim to evaluate consequences as individual health due to job unsatisfaction but not nurse perception about organizational health. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric characteristics of the Nursing Organizational Health Questionnaire (MOHQ), an instrument derived from the Multidimensional Organizational Health Questionnaire (MOHQ) that measures nursing organizational health. METHODS The MOHQ underwent to content validity by a group of experts that modified and added new items of the MHQ. Afterward the MOHQ was administered to a sample of 1279 nurses working in several contexts in Lazio and Umbria regions. Dimensionality of each scale of MOHQ, and concurrent validity of the new items were investigated using Exploratory Factor Analysis approach. Therefore Cronbach's alpha was computed for each dimensions of each scale to examine internal consistency. RESULTS Statistical analysis confirmed the factor structure of each scale and the reliability of the emerged dimensions. Moreover analyses have shown the importance of the new items to investigate specific dimension related to the nurse organizational context. DISCUSSION The present study showed that the MOHQ has good psychometric properties of validity and reliability and can be used to study organizational health in nursing population.

Gli outcomes del nursing: strumenti per rendere visibile l'efficacia dell'assistenza infermieristica

Abstract: Literature reports several definitions of outcomes sensitive to nursing care. Van Der Bruggen and Groen defined nursing outcomes as observable and measurable aspects in individuals, groups and population that should be objective for clinicians and researchers and subjective for patients and families. Johnson and Maas defined nursing outcomes as variable behaviors or perceptions of family or caregiver after the caring intervention. According to the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP), nursing outcomes are the status of a nursing diagnosis after the intervention. In the IowaOutcome Project, where Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) system has been elaborated, nursing outcome is a measurable condition, behavior or perception of the person or family conceptualized as sensitive variable to nursing care. Outcomes of NOC system are focused on individuals, families and community and refers to status, behavior or perceptions. Elements to be considered in nursing outcome definition are four: specific aspects of nursing care, the illness, general aspects of care, patient typology. It is important to identify which system for nursing evaluation outcomes are more suitable for Italy, where the field of action of nurses has faded edge with functions that mix and confuse with other professionals. Studies on the application of NOC taxonomy in Italy could be a starting point for defining and adapting an outcome evaluation system that will allow the objective visibility that nursing care gives to the global improvement of the cared person.

Infermieri di camera operatoria e infermieri di medicina generale: La diversa percezione della propria salute organizzativa

Abstract: E stato ampiamente riconosciuto che l’ambiente di lavoro risulta fondamentale nella genesi di stress e nell’insorgere di sindromi e disturbi di vario genere, che possono influenzare la salute lavorativa degli infermieri. Partendo dal presupposto che lo specifico contesto lavorativo nonche le diverse funzioni svolte dal personale infermieristico nei diversi ambiti clinici di afferenza, possano essere considerati predittori positivi o negativi di salute organizzativa, gli autori della presente ricerca hanno valuto studiare il fenomeno in due gruppi di infermieri che prestano servizio in due contesti lavorativi diversi per tipologia del lavoro svolto e per ambiente: le Camere Operatorie e le Unita Operative di Medicina. Per il presente studio e stata chiesta la partecipazione a 670 infermieri di sei Policlinici Universitari italiani ed hanno costituito il campione oggetto di indagine 542 lavoratori. Lo strumento di rilevazione e stato il Questionario Infermieristico sulla Salute Organizzativa (QISO), somministrato dal mese di gennaio al mese di marzo 2010, e per la conduzione della ricerca e stato utilizzato un disegno descrittivo e comparativo. I risultati hanno dimostrato che gli infermieri delle Unita Operative di Medicina percepiscono il loro ambiente di lavoro piu in salute e sono significativamente piu soddisfatti e con meno disturbi psicosomatici rispetto ai loro colleghi che lavorano nelle Camere Operatorie. Operating theatre and medical ward nurses: two different ways of perceiving one’s organizational health Background: It is widely recognized that the working environment is crucial in the genesis of stress and other disorders that may affect nurses’ health. The specific job context and the tasks performed by nurses in different clinical settings can be positive or negative predictors of organizational health. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe and compare organizational health among nurses working in operating theaters and medical wards. Methods: For the study 670 nurses from six university hospitals in Italy were asked to participate and a total of 542 nurses constituted the final sample. The Nursing Organizational Health Questionnaire was used to collect the data and was administered from January to March 2010. A descriptive/comparative design was used. Conclusions: The results showed that nurses assigned to medical wards perceived their working environment as healthy and were significantly more satisfied and had less psychosomatic complaints than their colleagues working in operating theaters.