Intervention Planning Research Articles

Examining a Short Form of the Positive Family Support Strengths and Needs Assessment

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the parent-report Short Form Positive Family Support Strengths and Needs Assessment (PFS-SaNA). The PFS-SaNA is designed to reduce the time and burden of collaborative mental health screening. Parents of 245 students in the Northwest completed the screener at third, fourth, fifth, and seventh grade. The screener includes four items rated on a 4-point Likert-type scale. The screener demonstrated internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.677 to 0.740 across waves. Furthermore, the screener demonstrated adequate concurrent and predictive validity with standard parent- and teacher-report mental health measurements. Lastly, receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to find optimal cut-off points for the screener at each grade. The screener shows adequate diagnostic accuracy against the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The use of the PFS-SaNA Short Form may help improve family-school collaboration in assessment and intervention planning in schools.

A Rare Case of Dual Lad Type 4 in Inferior Myocardial Infarction Patient, a Case Report

Abstract Background This case highlights a type 4 dual left anterior descending coronary artery anomaly, identified incidentally during coronary angiography. Case summary A 51-year-old male patient presented with acute myocardial infarction, which was successfully treated with thrombolysis and percutaneous coronary intervention. Angiography revealed an anomalous origin of the left anterior descending artery from the right coronary artery. Stenting was performed on the right coronary artery and the right posterior descending artery branch. Discussion Type 4 I dual left anterior descending artery is a rare coronary anomaly with potential clinical risks, including sudden cardiac death due to its course between major arteries. Variations in the structure of coronary arteries can present challenges for interventional cardiologists when conducting percutaneous coronary interventions. Accurate coronary anatomy assessment via angiography and computed tomography coronary angiography is crucial for successful percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical planning. Although uncommon, The dual left anterior descending artery type 4 anomaly is a significant coronary artery variation that interventional cardiologists must consider due to its impact on prognosis and long-term treatment strategies.

The Effect of Chess Training and Well-Being Workshops on Vulnerable Children: A Dual Assessment of Cognitive and Emotional Growth

<span id="docs-internal-guid-17d0fbf9-7fff-d749-a0c0-9b30e86c8cad"><span>This study followed the evolution of the cognitive and psychological performance of a group of 45 subjects from three localities (Romanesti, Dranceni, and Târgu Frumos) during an intervention program carried out for six months. The programme included chess activities and workshops to improve well-being, with the aim of analysing significant changes at the level of five parameters: chess test, chess rating, chess relative value, self-esteem, and perceived stress. The results obtained highlight statistically significant improvements in all five variables studied, indicating an increase in cognitive performance and chess skills, as well as a decrease in the level of perceived stress, along with a strengthening of self-esteem. The comparative analysis between the initial and final values suggests the effectiveness of the activities implemented within this intervention plan, highlighting the positive impact of chess and well-being-centered approaches on the cognitive and psychological development of the participants. These results support the integration of chess and wellness-oriented workshops into educational and personal development programs, with the potential to improve cognitive performance and reduce stress among young people.</span></span>

A PA-led telemedicine advance care planning intervention in a life-limiting illness.

To explore if a physician associate/assistant (PA)-led advance care planning (ACP) intervention would be successful and if patients and caregivers are comfortable having these discussions with PAs. We conducted a randomized controlled trial with optional open-label crossover to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effect on ACP engagement of a PA-led telemedicine-facilitated ACP (tele-ACP) intervention in a Huntington disease (HD) clinic. All participants felt they could effectively express themselves to the PA during the tele-ACP visit, and 95.8% felt comfortable communicating with the PA about ACP. The PA-led tele-ACP intervention significantly increased ACP engagement. Our PA-led tele-ACP intervention was feasible, acceptable, and it increased ACP engagement.

Suicidal Ideation and Resilience Among Orphan and Non-orphan Adolescents in the Indian City of Pune

Background Fostering a healthy upbringing is of utmost importance to an individual and a supportive family system helps them grow holistically. Adolescence is an important stage for an individual to grow and form strong bonds with their peers. Purpose The objective of the current study was to ascertain the level of self-esteem, resilience and suicidal ideation among orphan and non-orphan adolescents. Gender differences in self-esteem, resilience and suicidal ideation were also studied. Method A sample of 160 adolescents (80 orphan and 80 non-orphan adolescents) comprising of equal number of male and female participants in the age group of 15–18 years were included in the study. Data was collected from adolescent orphans and non-orphans going to government schools in the urban sector in Pune, Maharashtra. Results Means, S. Ds, Pearson’s correlation and t-test were calculated: Mean resilience score was found to be significantly ( P = .048) higher among orphans (129.73 + 29.53) as compared to non-orphans (120.39 + 29.70). Mean self-esteem and suicidal ideation did not vary significantly among orphans and non-orphans. The mean self-esteem score was significantly higher ( P = .048) among females (27.61 + 4.09) as compared to males (26.43 + 3.41). There was no significant gender difference in resilience and suicidal ideation scores. The high resilience scores emphasise the need to study ways to enhance well-being among both orphans and non-orphan adolescents to foster a healthy fulfilling upbringing. Conclusion The study goes on to show that a similar upbringing would foster similar results in individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds. Since self-esteem and suicidal ideation are similar among orphans and non-orphans, further research would help identify the various factors that foster self-esteem and resilience among these adolescents and likewise plan interventions in the future.

Construction and application of a stratified nursing intervention program for postoperative delirium after Stanford type A aortic dissection: a quasi-experimental trial

BackgroundPostoperative delirium is a common and significant consequence in patients with type A aortic dissection following surgery; however, there is currently no effective postoperative care plan.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the practical implementation of a stratified nursing intervention program for postoperative delirium in patients undergoing surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection.MethodsA stratified nursing intervention program for postoperative delirium was created using a literature review, group discussions, and the Delphi method via expert mail inquiry. A quasi-experimental design was used, with patients admitted to the general ward of a tertiary hospital in Wenzhou, China, functioning as subjects. From September to December 2022, 43 patients were included in the control group and given standard treatment. From January to June 2023, 37 patients were recruited in the intervention group, receiving both routine care and the intervention plan. The intervention’s effects were compared in the two groups.ResultsThe intervention group had considerably shorter delirium and hospital stays than the control group (P < 0.05), as well as higher patient satisfaction levels. There were no inadvertent extubations in the intervention group. When the incidence and beginning time of delirium in the general ward were compared, there were no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05).ConclusionImplementing this nurse intervention in the ward context can shorten postoperative delirium and hospital stays, increase patient satisfaction with care, and improve patient prognosis and quality of life. This intervention will also serve as a great resource for future clinical management of postoperative delirium.Trial registrationThe National Health Security Information Platform’s Medical Research Registration Information System has registered this study under the registration number MR-33–22-022978.

Exploring under-five child malnutrition in Bangladesh: Analysis using the Extended Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (ECIEF).

The current study is an attempt to explore under-five child malnutrition in a low-income population setting using the Extended Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (ECIAF). Data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18 were analyzed. Malnutrition using ECIAF was estimated using stunting, wasting underweight and overweight. Multilevel logistic regression models identified factors associated with malnutrition. Geospatial analysis was conducted using R programming. Bangladesh. Children under five years of age. In Bangladesh, as indicated by the ECIAF, approximately 40.8% (95% Confidence interval (CI): 39.7, 41.9) of children under-five experience malnutrition where about 3.3% (95% CI: 2.9, 3.7) were overweight. Children of parents with no formal education (56.3%, 95% CI: 50.8, 61.8), underweight mothers (53.4%, 95% CI: 50.4, 56.3), belonging to the lowest socio-economic strata (50.6%, 95% CI: 48.3, 53.0), residing in rural areas (43.3%, 95% CI: 41.9, 44.6), and aged below three years (47.7%, 95% CI: 45.2, 50.2) demonstrated a greater age and sex adjusted prevalence of malnutrition. The Sylhet division (Eastern region) exhibited a higher prevalence of malnutrition (>55.0%). Mothers with no formal education (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.51, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.10), underweight mother (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.83), poorest socio-economic status (AOR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.64, 2.81), children age 24-35 months of age (AOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.97, 2.85), and fourth and above birth order children (AOR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.72) were identified key factors associated with childhood malnutrition while adjusting community and household level variations. In Bangladesh, two out of five children were malnourished and one in 35 children was overweight. Continuous monitoring of the ECIAF over time would facilitate tracking changes in the prevalence of different forms of malnutrition, helping to plan interventions and assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing both undernutrition and overweight.

Development of Children's Perceived Nursing Image Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study.

Professional knowledge and awareness of children begins to create at the age of 3-5, and the professional knowledge have acquired at this age was effective in their future career decision-making. This study aimed to develop the Children's Perceived Nursing Image Scale (CPNIS) and evaluate its psychometric properties. The methodological study was carried out in a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational design. This study was conducted with 614 children aged 8-11 between 21 January-April 2022. The data were collected using a Child Information Form and the CPNIS. The CPNIS is a scale compatible with the deductive approach. The data were analysed using various statistical methods including descriptive statistics (numbers and percentages), t-tests, factor analysis, and correlation analysis. Item-total score analysis, the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and the internal consistency were employed to evaluate the reliability of the measurements. Three-stage cross-sectional study, which followed the STROBE checklist was conducted: (1) development of items, (2) assessing content validity and (3) validity and reliability of the scale. The CPNIS is a valid scale consisting of four factors as subdimensions. The total Cronbach's alpha of the scale is 0.93. The scale explained 46.4% of the total variance. The scale Test-Retest analysis, the total ICC value of the scale was found to be 0.84 and p = 0.001. Evaluation of the children's perceived nursing image can contribute to the identification of children with negative perceptions in clinics and the planning of interventions that will lead to positive perceptions.

Enhanced Advance care planning and life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI): Protocol for a cluster randomized controlled cross-over trial of life story work and facilitated advance care planning among older Australian adults in community settings.

Advance care planning (ACP) is potentially helpful for older adults, however, the rate of uptake in community aged care settings is low. Previous pilot studies suggest that holistic, person-centered ACP approaches may be effective for older adults who experience functional impairment but do not necessarily have life-limiting conditions with clear prognoses. This paper describes the protocol of a randomized trial to test the effectiveness of combined life story work and facilitated ACP in promoting ACP engagement among older adults receiving community aged care services. The Enhanced Advance care planning and life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI) trial is an open-label, cross-over, cluster randomized controlled trial with 12 participating aged care organizations in New South Wales and Western Australia. Participants are aged 65 years or older, receiving home care services and capable of providing informed consent at initial recruitment. Recruitment occurs across a two-year period, with study sites randomized to receive the four-session intervention in the first or second year (or a single session 'active control' condition). Primary outcomes are participant-reported ACP engagement and ACP documentation in the aged care client record 12 weeks post-recruitment. Secondary outcomes include measures of decisional conflict, anxiety and depression, meaning-based coping and relationship quality. Analysis will take an intention-to-treat approach. This trial tests a novel method of reaching older adults using a holistic, person-centered approach to promoting ACP engagement. Enhancing ACP engagement may reduce decisional conflict, minimize hospital admissions and improve outcomes for people and their families. ANZCTR Trial Registration ID: ACTRN12622001399785.

Prevalence and determinants of unintentional injuries and violence among high school students in Turkey: A cross-sectional study.

Injuries and violence are among the most prominent public health problems in the world. As well as being a leading cause of mortality - particularly among children and young adults - many of the millions of non-fatal injuries result in life-long disabilities and health consequences. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of unintentional injuries and violence, and their associated factors among high school students. This cross-sectional study included a total of 1218 high-school students in Turkey. Data were collected through a facilitated self-administered questionnaire with questions adapted from the Global School-based Student Health Survey instrument. Data were analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0 using chi-square test to find statistical significance if any. The significant variables from the chi-square test were selected for multiple logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of physical attack, physical fighting, and serious injuries were 8.3 %, 14.8 %, and 11.7 %, respectively. In a multiple regression analysis, student truancy and lateness, worry, suicide attempts, and not having close friends were found to be associated with physically attacked, physical fight, and serious injuries. This study demonstrated that the prevalence of unintentional injuries and violence among high school students is a major public health problem in Turkey. This study results can have important implications for school administration, parents, and policymakers alike to plan appropriate anti-violence strategies and interventions.

Navigating the Future of Pediatric Cardiovascular surgery: Insights and Innovation powered by ChatGPT.

Interdisciplinary consultations are essential to decision-making for patients with congenital heart disease. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) into medical practice is rapidly accelerating, opening new avenues to diagnosis and treatment. The main objective of this study was to consult the AI trained model Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT) regarding cases discussed during a cardiovascular surgery conference (CSC) at a single tertiary center and compare the ChatGPT suggestions with CSC expert consensus results. 37 cases discussed at a single CSC were retrospectively identified. Clinical information comprised of de-identified data from the last ECG, echocardiogram, ICU progress note (or cardiology clinic note if outpatient) as well as a patient summary. Diagnosis was removed from the summary and possible treatment options were deleted from all notes. ChatGPT (v.4.0) was asked to summarize the case, identify diagnoses, and recommend surgical procedures and timing of surgery. The responses of ChatGPT were compared with the results of the CSC. Of the 37 cases uploaded to ChatGPT, 45.9% (n=17) were considered to be less complex cases with only 1 treatment option, and 54.1% (n=20) were considered more complex with several treatment options. ChatGPT correctly provided a detailed and systematically written summary for each case within 10-15 seconds. ChatGPT correctly identified diagnoses for about 94.5% (n=35) cases. The surgical intervention plan matched the group decision for about 40.5% (n=15) cases; however, it differed in 27% cases. In 23 out of 37 cases, timing of surgery was the same between CSC group and ChatGPT. Overall, the match between ChatGPT responses and CSC decisions for diagnosis was 94.5%, surgical intervention was 40.5%, and timing of surgery was 62.2%. However, within complex cases, we have 25% agreement for surgical intervention and 67% for timing of surgery. ChatGPT can be used as an augmentative tool for surgical conferences to systematically summarize large amounts of patient data from electronic health records and clinical notes in seconds. In addition, our study points out the potential of ChatGPT as an AI-based decision support tool in surgery, particularly for less-complex cases. The discrepancy, particularly in complex cases, emphasizes on the need for caution when using ChatGPT in decision-making for the complex cases in pediatric cardiovascular surgery. There is little doubt that the public will soon use this comparative tool.

Danish parents' vaccination readiness is associated with their children's officially registered vaccination history.

Previous research has shown that parents' vaccination readiness, as measured by the 7C vaccination readiness scale, helps to understand whether and why parents are (not) willing to vaccinate their children. However, there is a lack of research investigating the association between parents' vaccination readiness and their children's actual vaccine uptake. Addressing this gap, we examined how Danish parents' level of vaccination readiness is associated with their child's vaccination status combining survey with official registry data. Specifically, parents residing in Denmark (N=2941, 64% female) completed a survey assessing their level of vaccination readiness with the 7C vaccination readiness scale for parents, trust in different sources of information on vaccination, and certainty about vaccinating their child with the next vaccine in the program. Additionally, official vaccination registry data on various recommended child vaccinations was obtained and matched to the survey data of their parents. Results from logistic regression analyses indicate that parents' readiness to vaccinate their children was substantially associated with completion of children's vaccination doses. More precisely, a one-point increase in parents' vaccination readiness score was associated with a two-fold increase in the likelihood of the child being vaccinated with the three main vaccines in the program. The results also show associations between each of the 7C factors, trust items, and demographic variables with real behavior as well as parents' certainty to vaccinate their children in the future. The findings further substantiate the usefulness of assessing parental vaccination readiness, with potential implications for intervention planning by researchers and policymakers.

Dual sensory loss and cognitive impairment: A study in elderly users of gerontological centers in a Galician urban area.

Several studies indicate that dual sensory loss (DSL) is related to cognitive impairment. However, there are still no conclusive data on the role of each individual deficit on cognitive performance when both co-occur in the same person. This study aimed to analyze the possible association between sensory deficit and cognitive impairment in a sample of older adults and whether this association differs in subjects with DSL compared with those with single or no sensory impairment. Participants of this study were older adult users of gerontological centers in an urban area of Galicia (Spain). All subjects underwent visual and auditory screening tests to detect the presence of DSL. The Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination test was used to identify cognitive impairment. Hearing loss was defined according to Ventry and Weinstein's criteria. Visual impairment was defined as a binocular presenting visual acuity <0.5 (20/40). The presence of DSL was established on the basis of the definitions of the single deficits. A total of 534 subjects were examined. Older adults with DSL had the worst results in the Mini-Mental test, and those without sensory impairment had the best. The likelihood of cognitive impairment was greater in older adults with DSL than in those without sensory impairment (odds ratio, 6.06 [3.14 to 11.65]). When only visual impairment was present, the likelihood of cognitive impairment was 3.73 times higher (0.95 to 3.09) than that of subjects with no sensory impairment. Hearing loss alone seems not to be significantly associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment. The results of this study highlight the importance of continuing research in DSL for the prevention of cognitive impairment, the design of intervention plans, and the optimization of health resources.

Causal machine learning for supply chain risk prediction and intervention planning

The ultimate goal for developing machine learning models in supply chain management is to make optimal interventions. However, most machine learning models identify correlations in data rather than inferring causation, making it difficult to systematically plan for better outcomes. In this article, we propose and evaluate the use of causal machine learning for developing supply chain risk intervention models, and demonstrate its use with a case study in supply chain risk management in the maritime engineering sector. Our findings highlight that causal machine learning enhances decision-making processes by identifying changes that can be achieved under different supply chain interventions, allowing ‘what-if’ scenario planning. We therefore propose different machine learning developmental pathways for predicting risk and planning for interventions to minimise risk and outline key steps for supply chain researchers to explore causal machine learning and harness its capabilities.

Assessing sign language comprehension in adults with intellectual disability and deafness.

Language comprehension is an essential component of human development that is associated not only with expressive language development and knowledge acquisition, but also with social inclusion, mental health, and quality of life. For deaf and hard-of-hearing adults with intellectual disability, there is a paucity of measures of receptive sign language skills, although these are a prerequisite for individualized planning and evaluation of intervention. Assessments require materials and procedures that are accurate, feasible, and suitable for low levels of functioning. We adapted measures of English-language comprehension in young children-a direct assessment and a caregiver questionnaire-into Austrian Sign Language and to the target group of adults with intellectual disability and used them with a non-preselected sample of 67 deaf and hard-of-hearing adults with intellectual disability living in therapeutic communities specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing people with multiple disabilities in Austria. Findings for both assessments demonstrate their construct validity, excellent internal consistency, and a large symmetrical distribution over the referential age range. Acceptance by the deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and the caregivers and time-efficient administration suggest high practicability. We recommend further implementation in clinical practice, albeit with cautious interpretation of the results, and the inclusion of the instruments in research on intellectual disability and deafness.

Optimal channel and feature selection for automatic prediction of functional brain age of preterm infant based on EEG

IntroductionApproximately 15 million premature infants are born each year, many of whom face risks of neurological impairments. Accurate assessment of brain maturity is crucial for timely intervention and treatment planning. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a noninvasive method commonly used for this purpose. However, using all channels and features for brain maturity assessment can lead to high computational burden and overfitting, which can decrease the performance of the prediction system.MethodsIn this study, we propose an automatic prediction framework based on EEG to predict functional brain age (FBA) for assessing brain maturity in preterm infants. To optimize channel selection, we combine Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO) with Forward Addition (FA) and Backward Elimination (BE) methods. For feature selection, we combine the Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), and Support Vector Regression (SVR) model.ResultsThe proposed framework achieved a prediction accuracy of 76.71% within ±1 week and 94.52% within ±2 weeks. Effective channel and feature selection significantly improved model performance while reducing computational costs.DiscussionThese results demonstrate that optimizing channel and feature selection can enhance the performance of FBA prediction in preterm infants, offering a more efficient and accurate tool for brain maturity assessment.

Optimizing Workplace Violence Reporting in a Multisite Hospital Setting: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Workplace violence (WPV) is a significant concern in healthcare settings and indicates the need for accurate reporting to plan and implement effective interventions. This article presents the results of a quality improvement (QI) initiative implemented at a large academic health sciences center to improve the reporting of WPV events. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was adopted to optimize the electronic reporting process, reduce inaccuracies of WPV reporting, and ensure appropriate follow-up from leadership and the Workplace Health, Safety, and Wellness (WHSW) team. Over two PDSA cycles, modifications of an electronic incident reporting form were made. The proportion of inaccurate reporting was significantly lower (χ2 (1, N = 1,219) = 111.86, p = .001), after the QI initiative. In addition, the revisions increased staff follow-up and support from WHSW. Our QI initiative demonstrated that simple adjustments to our WPV reporting, with the revision of an electronic reporting form, had a significant improvement on incident data accuracy and staff follow-up. These findings will contribute to our organization's staff and patient safety.

Evaluating handgrip strength and functional tests as indicators of gait speed in older females

IntroductionWith aging, females often experience greater declines in functional capacity [e.g., gait speed (GS)] compared to males, highlighting the need for sex-difference considered in screening and intervention planning. In certain contexts, assessing GS may not be feasible. Handgrip strength (HGS) commonly used as a surrogate measure for physical performance, also serves as an indirect indicator of muscle strength in the lower limbs. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the associations between HGS and common functional tests and to determine the optimal cut-off values for these tests in assessing GS.Methods142 community-dwelling older females aged 60–80 years old (mean age: 75 ± 6 years) were evaluated with HGS, the 30-second arm curl (30 s-AC), 30-second chair stand (30 s-CS), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the 8-foot Up &amp;amp; Go (8-UG) test. Pearson's correlation (r) was used to assess the strength of associations between HGS and functional variables, while multiple linear regression models identified determinants of GS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to evaluate the effectiveness of various tests in detecting slow GS (&amp;lt;1.0 m/s), by means of the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity.ResultsHGS showed positive significant (p &amp;lt; 0.001) associations with 30 s-AC (r = 0.499), SPPB (r = 0.447), and 30 s-CS (r = 0.329). Standardised coefficients of the linear models were: 30 s-AC (β=0.593), 30 s-CS (β=0.513), 5-CS (β=−0.431), and HGS (β=0.475) (all p &amp;lt; 0.001). ROC analysis revealed the following results: 30 s-AC (AUC = 0.80, cut-off=∼16 repetitions, sensitivity 83%, specificity 36%), 30 s-CS (AUC = 0.74; cut-off=∼13 repetitions, sensitivity 78%, specificity 64%), and 5-CS (AUC = 0.75, cut-off = 10.0 s, sensitivity 81%, specificity 57%), HGS (AUC = 0.73, cut-off=∼20 kg, sensitivity 79%, specificity 46%).DiscussionWe found that HGS was moderately-to-weakly associated with functional outcomes in older females, indicating that it may not reflect the overall body functional capacity. Despite similar AUCs across all tests, the 30 s-CS and 5-CS showed a better balance of sensitivity and specificity, making them potential indicators of slow GS compared to HGS and 30 s-AC.

ATUAÇÃO DO ENFERMEIRO NO CUIDADO AO PACIENTE DE TUBERCULOSE: REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

The National Program for Tuberculosis Control aims to promote, evaluate and carry out prevention, guaranteeing the treatment to the end. Nursing plays a fundamental role in promoting health, in prevention and early diagnosis and through health education that can make the person with tuberculosis aware of the disease and its treatment. It aims to gather and synthesize results of research related to tuberculosis and the role of nurses in the care of this patient. This is a descriptive study, with a qualitative approach such as bibliographic review. It was observed in the study the importance of nursing that plays a crucial role in tuberculosis control programs, being the protagonist in the prevention and control of tuberculosis, performing Or planning interventions in a comprehensive way.

A preliminary exvivo diffusion tensor imaging study of distinct aortic morphologies.

Changes in the microstructure of the aortic wall precede the progression of various aortic pathologies, including aneurysms and dissection. Current clinical decisions with regards to surgical planning and/or radiological intervention are guided by geometric features, such as aortic diameter, since clinical imaging lacks tissue microstructural information. The aim of this proof-of-concept work is to investigate a non-invasive imaging method, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), in exvivo aortic tissue to gain insights into the microstructure. This study examines healthy, aneurysm and a type B chronic dissection aortae, via DTI. DTI-derived metrics, such as the fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, helical angle and tractography, were examined in each morphology. The results from this work highlighted distinct differences in fractional anisotropy (healthy, 0.24 ± 0.008; aneurysmal, 0.19 ± 0.002; dissected, 0.13 ± 0.006) and a larger variation in the helical angle in the dissected aorta compared to healthy (39.28 ± 11.93° vs. 26.12 ± 4.60°, respectively). These differences were validated by histological characterisation. This study demonstrates the sensitivity of DTI to pathological changes in aortic tissue, highlighting the potential of this methodology to provide improved clinical insight.