Aim To analyse graduating nursing students’ self‐assessed competence level in Europe at graduation, at the beginning of nursing career. Design An international cross‐sectional evaluative design. Methods Data were collected in February 2018–July 2019 from graduating nursing students in 10 European countries. Competence was assessed with a validated instrument, the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS). The sample comprised 3,490 students (response rate 45%), and data were analysed statistically. Results In all countries, graduating nursing students assessed their competence as good (range 50.0–69.1; VAS 0–100), albeit with statistically significant differences between countries. The assessments were highest in Iceland and lowest in Lithuania. Older students, those with working experience in health care, satisfied with their current degree programme, with excellent or good study achievements, graduating to 1st study choice and having a nursing career plan for future assessed their competence higher.

Aim: To describe nursing students' level of self-directed learning abilities and identify possible factors related to it at graduation in six European countries. Design:A cross-sectional comparative design across the countries. Methods:The study was conducted from February 2018 to September 2019. Nursing students (N = 4,135) from the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain were invited to respond to the research instruments (the Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning and the Nurse Competence Scale) at graduation. The data were analysed using the chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient and the linear model. Results:The nursing students' (N = 1,746) overall self-directed learning abilities were at high level in all countries. Statistically significant differences occurred between countries. Spanish nursing students reported the highest level of self-directed learning abilities while students from the Czech Republic reported the lowest. Higher level of self-directed learning abilities was related to several factors, particularly with the self-assessed level of competence and country.

Objetivo: compreender as condições e contexto que levam os familiares de doentes com doença mental grave a participarem no grupo de suporte num Hospital Psiquiátrico. Método: Estudo qualitativo, segundo Grounded Theory. Participantes- familiares de doentes que frequentam o Hospital de dia. Procedimentos: sessões de grupo áudio-gravadas, entrevistas a membros da equipa de saúde, questionário aos familiares, notas de campo de incidentes críticos. Resultados: as condições e contexto que fazem com que os familiares se reúnam no grupo de suporte é a aliança na adversidade devido ao estigma da doença mental que devasta a vida das pessoas doentes e suas famílias em todas as dimensões do seu quotidiano pelo que o grupo de suporte constitui um porto de abrigo. Conclusão: no grupo os familiares partilham aprendizagens, estratégias e aprendem a gerir o quotidiano incerto. Esta é uma estratégia relevante para melhorar o cuidado profissional que é dado as pessoas com doença mental grave e seus familiares em casa.

Resumo. Introdução Desenhar e realizar entrevista é um quase imperativo para quem se propõe investigar em paradigma interpretativo. Para que exista consistência e rigor metodológico num estudo, importa saber alinhar a técnica de recolha de dados com o método em uso, no caso a entrevista com a Grounded Theory (GT); Objetivos Justificar as características da entrevista em GT; realçar aspetos a preservar e erros a evitar nesta entrevista; dar contributos práticos para o desenho e realização de entrevista; Métodos Artigo metodológico que analisa e critica, fundamentadamente, um guião de entrevista e a forma como a mesma foi conduzida; Resultados Usar um guião de entrevista, mesmo que bem construído, pode ser difícil. O entrevistador, ao realizar a entrevistar, pode afastar-se dele e colocar outras questões que pela forma ou pelo conteúdo prejudicam a obtenção de dados relevantes em GT; Conclusões A técnica de recolha de dados precisa ajustar-se ao método de investigação adotado. Investigadores iniciados podem ter dificuldade em construir questões que: reflitam a influência do interacionismo simbólico; que suscitem as perspetivas e o sentido atribuído pelos participantes; que evidenciem as ações socialmente empreendidas e consequências percebida.

The aging trend in the population, the high rate of hospitalization, the affliction by multiple chronic illnesses, and the increased vulnerability of older people when hospitalized undoubtedly require a person-centered approach to healthcare—an approach that values a person’s participation in the healthcare relationship, supports shared decision making and mutual understanding, and respects a person’s values, preferences, and beliefs. However, despite widespread recognition that the adoption of such a clinical practice paradigm is paramount, its implementation and development are still challenging for various health systems and professionals worldwide. The implementation strategy for such a healthcare paradigm must be based on each country’s health system organization and practice contexts, as well as the professionals involved. The present work aims to provide guidelines for the understanding of the state of development of person-centered practice in the daily care of hospitalized older adults with chronic illnesses within the internal medicine department of a secondary hospital in an urban area of Portugal. We focus on the characterization of (i) the perceptions of a multidisciplinary team working at an inpatient hospital department of person-centered practice, (ii) the perceptions of hospitalized older adults with chronic illnesses about person-centered practice, (iii) the work culture of an inpatient hospital department with a high prevalence of older adults with chronic illnesses, (iv) the Person-Centred Practice Framework at the organizational and structural levels of the healthcare system, and (v) the elements that influence the implementation of person-centered practice at the individual, organizational, and structural levels in this specific hospital context. To this end, a mixed-methods analysis with a convergent design was planned to use questionnaire instruments to collect data in parallel and independently from distinct samples of health professionals and older inpatient adults within this department. Furthermore, health policies and strategic plans will be analyzed to identify and evaluate references and guidelines for the practice of person-centered care. Studying the dimensions of clinical practice in this specific healthcare context following the Person-Centred Practice Framework can allow us to understand the extent of its development in terms of prerequisites, care environment, care processes, and the macro-context of the healthcare system. Therefore, it is possible to identify and characterize the dimensions achieved and those that need to be improved and, thus, establish a starting point for the definition of new strategies to advance practice towards person-centeredness and monitor changes in healthcare practice.