Dr Michelle Guilhermino

Aims and objectives: To evaluate: (a) the effectiveness of an infographic poster compared with an e-learning program on general practice nurses' knowledge about chronic kidney disease risk factors and best practice screening procedures and (b) the effectiveness of an infographic poster compared with an e-learning program on general practice nurses' learning time and learning efficiency. Background: The screening and early detection of chronic kidney disease is essential in reducing its burden on the health system and those affected by it. General practice nurses are well-positioned to assist in its early detection. Design: Parallel-group, single-blinded, pre-post interventional randomised control design. Method: This study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT). Participants were registered or enrolled nurses working in general practice settings across Australia. The intervention group (n = 173) received an infographic poster about chronic kidney disease risk factors and best practice screening procedures, whereas the control group (n = 170) received an interactive e-learning program. Data were collected using an 8-item pre-post knowledge evaluation instrument. Time spent learning were collected through a self-reported log and a login/logout method. Results: The overall intervention effect demonstrated no statistical significance in knowledge scores from the baseline scores between the intervention and control group. The intervention group demonstrated higher learning efficiency in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: The study demonstrated an infographic poster is as effective as an e-learning program on improving knowledge scores. However, in comparison to an e-learning program, an infographic poster is a more efficient way of learning. Relevance to clinical practice: Infographic posters can be an efficient educational modality to enhance healthcare professionals' knowledge and could be used as public health campaigns in clinical settings to educate the community.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pre-operative anxiety in elective surgical patients at a major metropolitan hospital in Australia. Background: Globally, 310 million people are admitted for surgery every year. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of these patients experience clinically relevant anxiety in the pre-operative period. Pre-operative anxiety can result in post-operative complications such as pain, delayed wound healing, surgical site infection, prolonged recovery and extended hospital stays. While preoperative anxiety has many negative consequences, this anxiety has often been overlooked in clinical practice. Methods: A prospective study was conducted between November 2021 and June 2022, involving 308 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery. Preoperative anxiety levels were measured using the Amsterdam pre-operative anxiety and information scale (APAIS), and age, sex and surgery type were collected. Results: In total, 308 patients were enrolled, more than half (58%, n=279) were women. The mean (± SD) APAIS score out of 20 was 8.69 (± 4.08). Almost one-third (32.4%, n=100) of patients had significant pre-operative anxiety (APAIS score > 11/20). Women were three times more likely to experience anxiety than men (OR=3.39, 95% CI 1.97¿5.82). Conversely, older patients were less likely to experience anxiety, with a reduction in anxiety of two per cent for each year above 18 years (OR=0.98, 95%CI 0.97¿0.99). Patients reported higher anxiety levels related to the surgery itself compared to the anaesthesia, with mean scores of 5.04 (± 2.48) and 3.65 (± 2.07) out of 10, respectively. More than half the patients (54.9%, n=169) reported needing more information about anaesthesia and surgery. Conclusions: Findings suggest that clinically relevant anxiety is common yet underdiagnosed. A higher prevalence is observed among females and those under the age of 30. The surgical procedure more than the anaesthesia was reported to cause higher anxiety. Relevance to clinical practice: Identifying the prevalence of high preoperative anxiety highlights the importance of routine screening and the use of a standardised assessment tool for accurate evaluation in clinical practice. Prioritising interventions for at-risk groups, such as women and younger patients, is imperative to mitigate the risks of post-operative pain, delayed wound healing, surgical site infection, prolonged recovery and extended hospital stays.

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) encompass advanced clinical management and technology, mandating continuing education for nurses to maintain competency. This study examined nurses' perceptions of current education on invasive mechanical ventilation in an Australian ICU. Methods: Qualitative data were obtained from fi ve optional open-ended questions as part of a larger 30- item cross-sectional survey of 160 ICU nurses. Content analysis was used to code the data, developing concepts and themes. Results: Fifty nurses (31%) completed at least one open-ended question. Content analysis identifi ed fi ve major themes: advanced knowledge, in-service education, practical structured education, interactive bedside teaching, and practicing safe care. Respondents' perceived continuing education on invasive mechanical ventilation to be more focused on novice than experienced ICU nurses and recommended practical, structured bedside teaching as the preferred method of education. Conclusion: Respondents recognized the need for interactive, practical, bedside education sessions to transfer learning into the everyday work environment. © SLACK Incorporated.

Background: Continuing education for intensive care unit nurses on invasive mechanical ventilation is fundamental to the acquisition and maintenance of knowledge and skills to optimise patient outcomes. Purpose: We aimed to determine how intensive care unit nurses perceived current education provided on mechanical ventilation, including a self-directed learning package and a competency programme; identify other important topics and forms of education; and determine factors associated with the completion of educational programmes on invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods: A cross-sectional, 30-item, self-administered and semi-structured survey on invasive mechanical ventilation education was distributed to 160 intensive care nurses. Analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with current education completion, reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Findings: Eighty three intensive care unit nurses responded and the majority (63%) reported not receiving education about mechanical ventilation prior to working in intensive care. Using a Likert rating scale the self-directed learning package and competency programme were perceived as valuable and beneficial. Hands-on-practice was perceived as the most important form of education and ventilator settings as the most important topic. Multivariate analysis determined that older age was independently associated with not completing the self-directed learning package (AOR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04, 0.93). For the competency programme, 4-6 years intensive care experience was independently associated with completion (AOR 17, 95% CI 1.7, 165) and part-time employment was associated with non-completion (AOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08, 0.68). Conclusion: Registered nurses are commencing their ICU experience with limited knowledge of invasive MV therefore the education provided within the ICU workplace becomes fundamental to safe and effective practice. The perception of continuing education by ICU nurses from this research is positive regardless of level of ICU experience and may influence the type of continuing education on invasive MV provided to ICU nurses in the future, not only in the ICU involved in this study, but other units throughout Australia.