Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Heart Failure Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 lockdown has been associated with reduced levels of physical activity, quality of life, and sleep quality, but limited evidence exists for its impact on heart failure patients. This study examined the influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on these aspects in heart failure patients, with specific comparisons by age and sex.

METHODS

A quasi-experimental cross-sectional study of patients with heart failure was conducted. The assessment involved two time points: during the COVID-19 lockdown (March to June 2020) and post-lockdown (July to October 2020). A total of 107 HF patients participated, with assessments of overall PA (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire), QoL (employing the Cantril Ladder of Life), and sleep quality (utilizing the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale) conducted during and after the COVID-19 lockdown.

RESULTS

HF patients reported lower levels of total PA (p = 0.001) and walking PA (p < 0.0001) during lockdown than after lockdown, whilst no differences were observed in QoL nor sleep quality. In addition, both younger and older patients reported lower walking PA and total PA during lockdown than after lockdown, while older patients reported lower QoL during lockdown than after lockdown. Moreover, both men and women reported lower walking PA and total PA during lockdown than after lockdown, whilst women reported lower QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

HF patients need improved PA programs during lockdowns, as these programs can elevate PA levels and enhance QoL, especially when faced with the risk of decompensation during health crises.

Analysis of the work environment and intention of perioperative nurses to quit work

OBJECTIVE

to investigate how the perioperative work environment affects work dissatisfaction, professional exhaustion and the perception of the quality of care about the intention of abandoning the work of perioperative nurses.

METHOD

cross-sectional study with 130 nurses working in the surgical area of a high-tech Spanish public university hospital. The scale of the nursing practice environment, Maslach's exhaustion inventory, the questions about job satisfaction, the perception of the care quality and intention to abandon work to collect data were used. Descriptive, inferential and logistic regression statistics were made.

RESULTS

in general, 20% of perioperative nurses would want to quit their work. The dimension of the work environment of staff and resources, dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion in nurses were factors that indicated the intention of perioperative nurses to abandon work.

CONCLUSION

the implementation of strategies for the retention of perioperative nurses should be considered, improving the factors that indicate how the work environment, especially the allocation of personnel and resources, dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion. Creating positive work environments based on magnetic values can be a key strategy.

Safety and satisfaction of patients with nurse's care in the perioperative

Objective:

to investigate the safety and satisfaction of patients and their relationship with nurse's care in the perioperative period.

Method:

cross-sectional, multi-level, correlational study with 105 nurses in the surgical area and 150 patients operated in a Spanish tertiary hospital. For the nurses the sociodemographic variables, the perception of the work environment, the professional burnout and the satisfaction in the work were collected. For patients, the safety of adverse events and level of satisfaction, through the application of questionnaires. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used.

Results:

job satisfaction, professional commitment, and participation in hospital issues were negative predictors for adverse events related to the patient, while postoperative nurse care was a positive predictor.

Conclusion:

there is an increase in adverse events when nurses are dissatisfied at work, less professional commitment and low availability to participate in the subjects of their unit. On the other hand, adverse events decrease when nurses perform the care in the postoperative period. Satisfaction was good and there was no association with the characteristics of nurses’ attention. It is recommended to improve these predictors to increase the safety of surgical patients.

Influence of preoperative emotional state on postoperative pain following orthopedic and trauma surgery

OBJECTIVES:

to analyze the relationship between preoperative emotional state and the prevalence and intensity of postoperative pain and to explore predictors of postoperative pain.

METHOD:

observational retrospective study undertaken among 127 adult patients of orthopedic and trauma surgery. Postoperative pain was assessed with the verbal numeric scale and with five variables of emotional state: anxiety, sweating, stress, fear, and crying. The Chi-squared test, Student's t test or ANOVA and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS:

the prevalence of immediate postoperative pain was 28%. Anxiety was the most common emotional factor (72%) and a predictive risk factor for moderate to severe postoperative pain (OR: 4.60, 95% CI 1.38 to 15.3, p<0.05, AUC: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.83). Age exerted a protective effect (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION:

preoperative anxiety and age are predictors of postoperative pain in patients undergoing orthopedic and trauma surgery.