Introduction. Parents play a pivotal role in shaping children’s health behaviors, preventive practices, and adherence to medical recommendations. The Parental Health Locus of Control (PHLOC) scale measures parental beliefs about the sources of control over child health outcomes. Although an Italian version exists, its psychometric properties had not yet been comprehensively evaluated. This study aimed to validate the Italian version of the PHLOC by assessing its factorial structure, internal consistency reliability, convergent validity with health literacy and vaccine hesitancy measures, and measurement invariance across healthcare professionals and non-healthcare professionals. Methods. A cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted among 308 Italian parents of children aged 0–18 years using EUSurvey®. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the six-factor structure of the PHLOC (Parent, Child, Professionals, Media, Divine, Fate), and internal consistency was assessed with McDonald’s omega. Convergent validity was examined through correlations with health literacy (HLS-EU-Q6) and vaccine hesitancy (PACV-5). Measurement invariance by professional status was evaluated using a Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model. Results. CFA supported the six-factor model with good fit indices (CFI=0.954; TLI=0.949; RMSEA=0.068; SRMR=0.070). Internal consistency was satisfactory across subscales (ω=0.67-0.95). Correlations were consistent with theoretical expectations: higher health literacy and lower vaccine hesitancy were associated with lower endorsement of external attributions (Divine, Fate). The hierarchical second-order model (Internal, External-Powerful Others, External-Chance) yielded inadmissible solutions. Discussion. The Italian PHLOC demonstrated sound psychometric properties, supporting its validity, reliability, and measurement invariance. Future studies should further investigate higher-order structures and temporal stability to strengthen the scale’s theoretical and practical applications in research and clinical contexts.

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Objectives. A diagnosis of hematologic malignancy represents a major biographical disruption, affecting emotional, relational, and existential dimensions of patients’ lives. While biomedical care predominates, patients’ lived experiences during the early diagnostic phase remain insufficiently explored. This study protocol aims to investigate whether nurse-led narrative interviews conducted within the first month after diagnosis can strengthen the therapeutic relationship, enhance trust, support emotional expression, and sustain patients’ sense of identity and agency. Trial Design. This study adopts a qualitative, holistic single-case study design, grounded in a constructivist–existentialist epistemological framework. An exploratory approach is used to generate in-depth, context-sensitive insights and inform future larger-scale qualitative research. Participants and Settings. The study will be conducted in the onco-hematology department of a tertiary hospital in Northern Italy. One adult patient (≥18 years) with a first diagnosis of hematologic malignancy within the previous 30 days will be recruited through purposive sampling. A primary caregiver will also be involved to provide a complementary perspective. Inclusion criteria include linguistic competence in Italian and clinical stability to provide informed consent. Interventions. The intervention consists of two nurse-led narrative interviews conducted approximately 15 days apart. Interviews will be guided by open-ended questions and conducted by a trained nurse using attentive, empathetic listening. Additional data sources include reflective writing by both the patient and the nurse following each interview, and a semi-structured interview with the caregiver after the second narrative interview. Primary and Secondary Outcomes. Primary outcomes focus on qualitative indicators of meaning-making, emotional expression, therapeutic alliance, and perceived support as expressed through narratives and reflections. Secondary outcomes include triangulated insights from nurse, caregiver, and researcher perspectives. Data will be analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, with methodological triangulation to enhance rigor and credibility. Conclusions. This protocol will describe a holistic qualitative single-case study exploring the impact of nurse-led narrative interventions on relational and meaning-making processes in patients newly diagnosed with hematologic malignancies, providing a foundation for future person-centered research and clinical integration.

Introduction. Medication adherence plays a critical role in the clinical management of chronic conditions and may significantly influence patients' quality of life (QoL). Understanding this relationship is particularly important in populations with multimorbidity. Focusing on the problem of chronic conditions and multimorbidity in young adults is crucial because they represent the active part of society and chronicity is now public health concern due to the high number of incidence and mortality among this group population. Methods. An extensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for the period 2014–2024. The search strategy used both Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords related to medication adherence, quality of life, chronic conditions, and adult populations. Original, full-text articles published in English between 2014 and 2024 were included if they involved adults aged 18–65 with one or more chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, COPD), living in community settings. Eligible studies employed RCTs, cohort, cross-sectional, case-control, qualitative, or mixed-methods designs and reported on both medication adherence and quality of life. Studies were excluded if they focused on psychiatric, oncologic, surgical, transplant, or dialysis populations, hospital-based settings, or lacked relevant adherence and quality of life outcomes. This review is in PROSPERO with code CRD42025641905 Results. Eleven studies were included, cross-sectional, randomized control trial, mixed methods, semi directive interview. Most studies demonstrated a positive association between medication adherence and quality of life, with higher adherence linked to better physical, psychological, and social well-being. Pharmacist-led interventions and digital tools emerged as effective strategies for improving adherence. However, heterogeneity in measurement tools and study populations limited comparability. Discussion. Medication adherence is a key modifiable factor influencing quality of life among individuals with chronic conditions and multimorbidity. Multidimensional adherence-enhancing strategies—including education, patient empowerment, and system-level changes—are essential. Future research should adopt robust methodologies and standardized outcome measures to better inform clinical practice and policy.

Introduction. Central vascular access devices are widely used in oncology settings due to the significant side effects of chemotherapy on blood vessels. Despite the methodological robustness of the literature, the enhanced integration of patients’ perspectives would enrich the evidence on this topic. This study explores oncology patients' experiences with cVADs (PICC and TIVAD), from insertion to daily life management. Methods. We conducted a generic qualitative interview study with thematic analysis. Adult patients with a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter or a Totally Implantable Venous Access Device receiving oncological treatment at the Oncology Department of the Azienda USL – IRCCS of Reggio Emilia were included, as also those who completed the treatment plan. Results. The emerging themes were categorized into three main areas: (1) catheter implantation, (2) catheter maintenance, and (3) “daily life” with the catheter. Patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the information and the education received by healthcare professionals: this appeared crucial in reducing anxiety and fear during the device placement and its daily management. However, patient engagement in the device selection appeared less consistent. The devices were well tolerated and had a low impact on their daily activities. All participants perceived the devices as helpful and safe during their care pathway. Discussion. The study confirmed the importance of central venous access devices to minimize patient discomfort during chemotherapy treatment. The competence and empathy of healthcare professionals, along with adequate information and education, contribute to reducing patient’s anxiety. Improving patients’ engagement in the device choice is necessary. Patients reported a positive experience, enabling them to cope with the device, even at home.

Introduction. In the Emergency Department, it is increasingly necessary to be able to find stable venous access when managing acute patients. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided nursing compared to the standard “blind” technique. Methods. A comprehensive literature search was undertaken using PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE. The results were then evaluated according to the JBI checklists. Results. 9 studies are considered for this review. This review showed the effectiveness of the ultrasound-guided cannulation procedure (53-91.75%) compared to the standard blind technique. It also indicated a reduction in adverse events, a decrease in the number of attempts needed for successful cannulation (1-2.2 punctures), an increase in success on the first attempt (78.9-83%), greater user satisfaction with the ultrasound-guided technique, and reduced pain perception. Discussions. The effectiveness of the ultrasound-guided cannulation procedure compared to the standard blind technique is aligned with the literature. The innovation of this review is the evaluation of nurse execution, time analysis, user satisfaction, reported pain, and the technique's success.

Introduction. Gastrointestinal dysmotility frequently occurs in critically ill patients, who often experience symptoms such as constipation and diarrhea. Within the high-tech environment of modern intensive care units (ICUs), bowel care is often overlooked and sometimes regarded as a secondary concern. Limited guidelines and low-quality evidence hinder the management of constipation and diarrhea. The aim of this study is to review and analyze the literature on bowel management in ICUs. Method. This is a cultural paper. All articles were sourced from indexed databases and nursing journals. Results. Constipation is defined by NANDA-I as “a decrease in the normal frequency of defecation.” In the ICU, the incidence of constipation ranges from 45% to 83%. The most commonly used laxatives are osmotic, bulk-forming, and stimulant laxatives. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines diarrhea as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day. Diarrhea is common in ICUs, and its complications can prolong the length of stay in the intensive care unit. The incidence of diarrhea ranges from 29.5% to 95%. In the ICU, acute fecal incontinence and diarrhea can be managed with a bowel management system (BMS). The implementation of bowel management protocols can improve bowel care in the ICU. Discussion and Conclusion. Studies agree that the incidence of constipation and diarrhea is high in the ICU. The use of BMS is controversial. The use of a bowel protocol allowed standardization and improving bowel care in ICU. Further studies are necessary to find robust evidence for orientating healthcare staff in bowel management in ICU.

Introduction. In several countries, the desire among nurses to leave their profession is a significant concern. Recent studies highlight a relationship between the nursing working context and the intention to leave the profession, indicating that suboptimal working conditions significantly influence the willingness to remain a nurse. This literature review aims to define the relationship between nurses' organizational well-being and intention to leave the profession, analyzing which organizational well-being variables influence this decision. Materials and methods. A scoping review was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines have been followed. Critical appraisal and data extraction were conducted using the JBI tools. Data were extracted and analyzed according to narrative synthesis. Results. The search yielded 3,224 references. Following the review process, twelve articles were included in the review. Four main categories of variables were identified: job satisfaction, working conditions, physical-psychosocial health, and economic and professional recognition. Balanced workloads and organizational demands, adequate resources, and positive relationships between colleagues and patients characterized a supportive work environment where nurses lived in a condition of well-being and their intention to leave the profession decreased. In contrast, high workloads, overtime, insufficient resources, and lack of managerial support increased the intention to leave the profession. Discussion. The relationship between nurses' well-being and their intention to leave the profession has been identified. Healthcare organizations should improve the individual and organizational well-being of nurses as strategies to promote their retention. Understanding turnover drivers enabled healthcare managers to address critical issues that promoted retention by fostering sustainable work environments. Future multicenter studies should implement interventions to promote organizational well-being and evaluate the nurses' turnover intentions.