Health care workers' knowledge and perceptions on WHO hand hygiene guidelines, and the perceived barriers to compliance with hand hygiene in Cyprus.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is recognized as an important measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs, and assists significantly in preventing healthcare-associated infections. HH compliance among health care workers (HCWs) is a result of their knowledge and perceptions.

Aim: To investigate the knowledge and perceptions of WHO hand hygiene guidelines among HCWs, and the perceived barriers to compliance with hand hygiene in a major public hospital in Cyprus.

The effectiveness of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to iron supplementation in patients with a low hemoglobin profile: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Patients with a low serum blood hemoglobin concentration suffer from a pathologic state that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality figures worldwide. Oral iron supplementation, the most common method of treatment, is reported to have poor patient adherence, due to its unwanted side effects. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein of the transferrin family that has shown promising results in patients with a low hemoglobin profile.

Leadership and Intention to Leave Among Public Health Sector Physicians in Cyprus: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

Physician shortage is a major concern in many health care systems globally, while healthcare leadership constitutes one of the most vital factors within human resource management. Our study examined the relationship between managers' leadership styles and physicians' intent to leave their current position. In this cross-sectional national survey, questionnaires were distributed to all physicians working in the public health sector of Cyprus.

Organisational commitment, job satisfaction and intention to leave among physicians in the public health sector of Cyprus: a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives: Organisational commitment, job satisfaction and intention to leave constitute important characteristics of health professionals' employment status. Our study aimed at investigating the level of organisational commitment, job satisfaction in association with intention to leave among physicians.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Investigating nurses' knowledge and attitudes about delirium in older persons: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Delirium is the most common emergency for older hospitalized patients that demands urgent treatment, otherwise it can lead to more severe health conditions. Nurses play a crucial part in diagnosing delirium and their competencies facilitate the appropriate treatment and management of the condition.

Aim: This study aims to enhance the understanding of delirium care by exploring both knowledge and attitudes of nurses toward patients in acute care hospital wards and the possible association between these two variables.

A pilot randomized controlled study of the effects of an educational training program on skin reactions induced by chemotherapy, Epidermal Growth Factor Inhibitor (EGFRI) treatments, and immunotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program for cancer patients who developed pruritus, rash or photosensitivity induced by chemotherapy, epidermal growth factor inhibitor (EGFRI) treatments, or immunotherapy.

Method: This study is a pilot randomized controlled study. The patients in the experimental pool were assigned to attend the educational program once weekly, for 4 weeks.

Exploring Nurses' Perceptions of Medication Error Risk Factors: Findings From a Sequential Qualitative Study.

A focus group study was conducted to explore nurses' perceptions of medication administration error associated factors in two medical wards of a tertiary hospital. Nurses were invited to participate in focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was employed and identified four themes: professional practice environment related factors, person-related factors, drug-related factors, and processes and procedures.

Observational Evidence of the Prevalence and Association of Polypharmacy and Drug Administration Errors in Hospitalized Adult Patients.

To describe the prevalence of polypharmacy and medication administration errors (MAEs) in adult inpatients and explore the association between polypharmacy and MAEs. Polypharmacy and MAEs are common phenomena in hospital settings. Different MAE contributing factors have been suggested by previous studies.

Empowerment and turnover of nurse managers before and after a major health care reform in Cyprus: A cross sectional study.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the perceived empowerment and turnover intention of middle nurse managers before and after the implementation of a major reform of the health care system in Cyprus, which also includes the transition of public hospitals towards administrative and financial autonomy.

Background: The empowerment of nurse managers is important since previous studies have shown that it is associated with performance at work and may have an impact on their turnover intention.

Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2019 (first phase) and was repeated in March 2020 (second phase), after the introduction of major changes.

Correlation Between Teamwork and Patient Safety in a Tertiary Hospital in Cyprus.

Background Over time, the multidimensional nature of the safety culture in the healthcare field has led to great efforts to improve quality and create tools aiming at enhancing safety. In particular, emphasis has been placed on teamwork and the safety climate. There is a strong relationship between these two complex elements, which interact to improve the safety climate and reduce patient-safety issues.

Omissions and Deviations From Safe Drug Administration Guidelines in 2 Medical Wards and Risk Factors: Findings From an Observational Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to record the type and frequency of errors, with an emphasis on omissions, during administration of medicines to inpatients and to investigate associated factors.

Methods: This was a descriptive observational study. The medication process in 2 medical wards was observed by 2 observers using a structured observation form.

A pretest-posttest pilot study for the development and preliminary validation of a tool for the clinical assessment of radioiodine induced sialadenitis.

Objectives: The clinical assessment of radioiodine-induced sialadenitis is relied on the observer-defined toxicity grading model. However, this model has significant limitations, the major one being the lack of systematic assessment based on objective criteria. The main aim of this study was the development and testing of an assessment tool which could examine the severity of post-irradiation sialadenitis.

The knowledge about patient safety among undergraduate nurse students in Cyprus and Greece: a comparative study.

Background: The Patient safety movement contributed to the reduction of preventable adverse events associated with health care. Although patient safety issues have received the attention of educators in the health care studies, there is evidence that in nursing education and the associated curricula it is not well-incorporated. This may not allow students to acquire scientific knowledge and develop strong competencies to assure patient safety throughout their professional life.

Missed Nursing Care Among Patients With Dementia During Hospitalization: An Observation Study.

Patients with dementia (PwD) are characterized as a vulnerable group as they are unable to communicate their needs, putting them at risk for care omissions. The current study aimed to explore care toward PwD and detect if any aspects of care are omitted. An observation study was conducted in three medical-surgical adult wards of an acute general hospital.

Contribution of Healthcare Professionals in Issues that Relate to Quality Management.

Background: The health sector should adopt integrated quality systems because of the need to survive and develop in a highly competitive environment. Inefficiency of mechanistic procedures, along with inadequate administrative infrastructure, impose innovative appoaches to improve operations and increase revenues by reducing quality feilures.

Objective: A health system that relies on quality healthcare services can directly benefit the entire society, may reduce mortality, disease severity, and increase life expectancy.

The extent to which the last decade has yielded additional treatment options for EGFR-associated rash besides classic treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids - A systematic review.

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of different interventions for the prevention and treatment of EGFRI treatment-induced rash (EGFRIr) that appeared in the last decade, excluding antibiotics and steroids products alone.

Method: A systematic review was performed in 2019 and was updated in 2020. The search strategy was limited to studies published within the last 10 years on the Medline database accessed via Pubmed and the Cochrane database.

Medication adherence, self-efficacy and health literacy among patients with glaucoma: a mixed-methods study protocol.

Introduction: As the world population ages, glaucoma is becoming an increasingly significant cause of blindness. A key component in the management of glaucoma is the use of prescribed medications and the adherence to treatment. However, there is evidence of low adherence to prescribed medication in chronic diseases, such as glaucoma.

Self-efficacy, empowerment and power of middle nurse managers in Cyprus: A correlational study.

Aim: To investigate the perceived self-efficacy, structural empowerment and power of middle nurse managers before the implementation of a major reform of public hospitals in Cyprus.

Background: Nurse managers' self-efficacy is important as it makes a difference in nurses' motivation and the way they feel, think and behave. Empowerment promotes workers' engagement at work, leading to positive performance outcomes.

Nursing quality indicators for adult intensive care: A consensus study.

Background: The selection of quality indicators demonstrating the efficiency and relevance of nursing practice in patient outcomes in the intensive care unit remains a challenge.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a set of potential quality indicators to quantify nursing care provided to critically ill patients through a consensus method.

Design: This was a three-phase study including a European survey of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses (phase one) followed by a two-phase face-to-face consensus meeting of experts from Cyprus.

The effectiveness of systematic pain assessment on critically ill patient outcomes: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Evidence suggests that critically ill patients' pain may still be underestimated. Systematic approaches to pain assessment are of paramount importance for improving patients' outcomes.

Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness of a systematic approach to pain assessment on the incidence and intensity of pain and related clinical outcomes in critically ill patients.

Development of a Tool for the Assessment of Nurses' Attitudes Toward Delirium.

Background And Purpose: The prevalence of delirium during hospitalization is high in older patients and there is evidence of staff regarding them as unpopular or a burden. This study aims to develop an instrument examining nurses' attitudes toward patients with delirium.

Methods: Stages included (a) content identification, (b) content development, (c) content critique, (e) pilot study with a test-retest reliability, (f) field study consisting of psychometric testing of the internal consistency and construct validity.

Implementation of a training program to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and reduce nursing care omissions towards patients with dementia in hospital settings: a mixed-method study protocol.

Introduction: There is an evidence showing that when nurses have to allocate their time because of a lack of resources, older patients and especially those with dementia have a secondary care priority. The purpose of this study is to advance the level of knowledge, promote positive attitudes of nurses and reduce care deficits towards people with dementia through the implementation of a training programme. The programme will be enriched by an observational study of the care of patients with dementia to identify areas of missed care.

The experience of Greek-Cypriot individuals living with mental illness: preliminary results of a phenomenological study.

Background: Research evidence shows that healthcare professionals do not fully comprehend the difficulty involved in problems faced by people living with severe mental illness (SMI). As a result, mental health service consumers do not show confidence in the healthcare system and healthcare professionals, a problem related to the phenomenon of adherence to therapy. Moreover, the issue of unmet needs in treating individuals living with SMI is relared to their quality of life in a negative way.