Nursing Theory Makes a Practice Turn in the 21st Century

The author assumes that practice became prominent in nursing theory in the first two decades of the 21st century. The end of the last century saw a burgeoning of literature on what is known as grand theories, their implementation, and evaluation. The era of healthcare quality research began when the Institute of Medicine issued a report on building a safer health system. At this time, the 21st-century literature in nursing took a distinct turn toward practice, influencing nursing theory. The movement to individualize care acted to further this influence. The nurse and patient relationship is the source of data for knowledge development. Established research approaches such as grounded theory and new approaches such as story theory were being used to create nursing theory from practice. Grand theory work moved to the development of instruments to measure the effects of theory in practice, such as that of Watson and Roy. The middle-range theories were developed and seen as closer to and easier to use in practice. The evidence-based practice movement also contributed to the role of theory in practice. These knowledge developments led to nurses having expanded roles in nursing.

Research in the Nursing Care Group - UniSabana and Aquichan: Track Record and Challenges

The Nursing Care Group - UniSabana seeks to produce scientific knowledge that, aligned with national and global care and research priorities, favors the understanding of the conditions that adversely affect the population’s health and the development of simple and complex nursing interventions. In the framework of interdisciplinary, international, and intersectoral endeavors, the group aims to transfer this knowledge to base professional practice in multiple settings and transform people’s health care experience for their well-being and quality of life. Aquichan Journal, as a scientific publication, guarantees the quality of its editorial processes to contribute to the visibility of nursing knowledge in the hope that it will be replicated to promote the discipline’s theoretical and research evolution.

Empirical Indicators: Conceptual and Theoretical Origins

This paper discusses the connections between nursing conceptual model concepts, middle-range theory, and situation-specific theory concepts, as well as between the theory concepts and how they are measured, that is, empirical indicators. Three types of empirical indicators are described—instruments, assessment tools, and interventions—and an example of each type is given. The paper’s central thesis is that a conceptual model concept is —or should be— the starting point for selecting or constructing an empirical indicator.

Effects of a Healthy Habit Promotion Strategy on Colombian Schoolchildren

Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) show an increasing tendency, especially in low- and medium-income countries. It is necessary to develop and evaluate strategies to strengthen healthy habits at an early age in these countries. Objective: To determine the effect of the health promotion strategy “United for Healthier Kids” (U4HK) on health lifestyle habits of a group of Colombian schoolchildren for the 2018-2020 period. Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study features treatment and control groups and pre- and post-intervention measurements. The study involved 1,011 schoolchildren between six and twelve years old from seven rural and urban schools of the Sabana Centro region of Colombia. We used the Healthy Habits Measurement Tool, previously validated in Colombia. Results: When comparing within and between groups, the UHK strategy showed statistically significant differences in healthy habits (p < 0.05) related to nutrition and physical activity in schoolchildren. Conclusions: The U4HK strategy had a positive effect and impact on the schoolchildren’ healthy habits, especially in the ‘chooses to drink water’ and ‘moves more’ components. There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) between groups in four out of the five categories: drinks more water, chooses nutritios and varied options, eats and cooks as a family, and moves more. The U4HK strategy responds to current and future health problems in schoolchildren and helps prevent chronic diseases. It could be replicated in similar populations.

Systematic Reviews to Strengthen Evidence-based Nursing Practice

Systematic reviews are essential to developing evidence-based nursing practice. The JBI, formerly known as the Joanna Briggs Institute, has contributed significantly to research through technical training on reviews. Cochrane Living Systematic Reviews and Systematic Reviews of Measurement Instruments have been approaches recently used by the scientific community. The purpose of Living Systematic Reviews is to continuously update priority issues, while Systematic Reviews of Measurement Instruments condense evidence on the validity of measurement instruments. This article overviews the JBI Systematic Review approaches and provides critical information about Cochrane Living Systematic Reviews and Systematic Reviews of Measurement Instruments. The use of these new approaches is necessary to maintain the evidence-based nursing practice and advance nursing knowledge.

Contributions of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses to Nursing Education, Research, and Practice

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are helpful methodological alternatives that combine, discuss, and assess the quality of the best available evidence through adequate and exhaustive searches of the literature. In the last decade, there has been an increase in systematic reviews and meta-analyses in nursing research. This article intends to reflect on the contributions of systematic reviews and meta-analyses to nursing education, research, and practice. Synthesizing the evidence through high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses adds to the disciplinary development of nursing; therefore, students and professionals in the field should be encouraged to employ these methodological tools in education and research and implement the results of these methods in clinical practice for making better decisions regarding the individual needs of patients.

Developing Mid-Range Theories for the Maturation of Nursing Care in Colombia

Nursing theory has evolved since the 1960s, from conceptual models to concept analysis to mid-range theories. Mid-range theories are developed primarily for qualitative research, to target patient problems, to respond to patient needs, to identify interventions and the changing patterns of patient care. These mid-range theories cluster in various patterns to provide valid, coherent, and significant interventions. Examples of programs that have dramatically impacted our understanding of nursing and patient care are presented. Thus, by developing and implementing the findings of mid-range theories, nursing care matures, and the standards advance.

Factors Related to Depressive Symptoms in University Students

Objective: To identify and discuss the frequency of depressive symptoms and their associated factors in university students. Materials and method: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study with a quantitative approach, conducted in a Higher Education Institution. The study was developed with a convenience sample consisting of 571 undergraduate students from different areas. A questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic/academic data, as well as depressive symptoms and their associations, life habits, emotional aspects, and possible eating disorders. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test were used for associations, with a significance level of 5 % (p-value ≤ 0.05). Results: The university students presented depressive symptoms such as sleep disorders (61.1 %) and reduced self-confidence (50.9 %). There was an association of depressive symptoms with the course, satisfaction with academic performance, obesity, consumption of sugars and sweets, and practice and frequency of physical activity. Conclusions: It is expected that the results of this research contribute to the population’s critical and reflective thinking to expand visibility and scientific studies referring to the theme, as well as to increase resources for the management of mental health and reduce the stigmas generated.

Nursing Care for Kidney Transplant Patients: A Scoping Review

Objectives: Mapping nursing care in kidney transplant patients. Materials and method: A scoping review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual. Data were collected through 13 national and international databases from December 2020 to January 2021, following scientific rigor in the selection of the material. The pre-selection was made by reading the title, abstract and introductory text in advance; the materials included in this stage were read in full to define the content for the study. Results: Fifteen studies were included. Of these, 60% are articles; dissertations, manuals, protocols, guidelines and bulletins totaled 40% of the material studied. 86.6% of the material has a quantitative approach. Regarding the methodological design, 73.3% were descriptive/transversal character studies. Regarding the mapping of nursing care, it was possible to divide them into two categories: nursing care after kidney transplantation (immediate, mediated and late) and nursing care after kidney transplantation in primary health/extra-hospital care. Conclusions: It is concluded that the study allowed mapping nursing care to kidney transplant patients in the immediate, late and primary health care periods.

Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy Pain in Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To evaluate neuropathic pain (NP), its intensity, and complications in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a city of eastern São Paulo. Method: Cross-sectional study conducted with 96 individuals with T2DM served by primary health units in São João da Boa Vista-SP. The following instruments were used to screen NP: Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument, Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs, Douleur Neuropathique 4, and Brief Pain Inventory. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with a 5 % significance level. Results: Of the 96 people with T2DM for longer than five years, 22.9 % had pain. NP was related to high levels of fasting blood glucose (mean = 214 ± 65.58 mg/dl; p = 0.0002), glycated hemoglobin (mean = 8.8 ± 0.11 %; p < 0.001), absence of a balanced diet (p = 0.0066), obesity (p = 0.023), and high blood pressure (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher values ​​of glycated hemoglobin rates increased three times the chance of NP. The screening and management of painful diabetic neuropathy is a challenge but adopting a screening protocol supports the secondary prevention of this manifestation.