Cerebrovascular accident is a serious public health problem and requires the attention of professionals who can detect, diagnose, and provide care in a timely fashion. A quantitative quasi-experimental study was conducted using a mobile app called mSmartAVC for clinical evaluation of nursing care at the bedside. The study aimed at measuring the knowledge of nurses and nursing students in the detection and care of cerebrovascular accident. In this study, a total of 115 nurses from health services in the South of Brazil and 35 nursing students of a community university participated. The stages focused on development, modeling of clinical cases, problem-based learning, pretest (before) app use, and posttest (after) use of the app. The results of the pretest and posttest corrections showed a substantial statistical difference (P < .001), indicating a significant knowledge gain after the use of the app, particularly in terms of the detection scales and interpretation of the imaging tests. The mSmartAVC app used at the bedside supported decision-making for detection and nursing care. It was possible to confirm that the use of mobile apps plays an essential role as a learning tool for nurses and nursing students.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Musculoskeletal disorder is characterized by changes in neuromuscular, tendinous and joint functions that impact the functionality of the affected areas, especially with pain. The intervention with reflexotherapy is a non-invasive alternative and allows instant control of acute occupational low back pain. The objective of this study was to describe the results of foot reflexology in the relief of acute low back pain related to the nursing staff job. METHODS: Double-blind controlled clinical trial. Thirty-six effective participants were randomly assigned to one experimental andone control group. Reflexotherapy was applied for low back pain in the sample groups in two sessions with a 72-hour interval. Data collection was performed with the visual analog scale to assess pain before and after the interventions, and a questionnaire for low back pain at the beginning and end of the study. The data were analyzed with the following tests: Shapiro Wilk, for sample normality; Chi-square or Fisher's Exact, for the associationbetween categorical variables and t-test. RESULTS: There was statistical significance with the foot reflexology in the relief of acute low back pain, with p=0.000 for the visual analog scale and the data of the questionnaire for low back pain p=0.0002. CONCLUSION: Reflexotherapy showed to be effective in reducing the intensity of acute pain among nursing professionals in this study. The Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials is RBR-5ndq22.

In this study, we examine and analyze the experiences of women and their perceptions on handling and managing their breast cancer. Seven women from Peshawar, Pakistan who had breast cancer and have been cured, were interviewed. Qualitative content analysis of their life stories was performed using a computerized software Atlas.ti. In the coding process, 128 codes were initially developed. These codes were then grouped into 12 categories, which were then further refined into 8 theoretically grounded categories: awareness and education about breast cancer, cultural barriers, early detection, quality of care and treatment, support, side effects, courage and learned to face challenges. The early views of participant’s feelings about breast cancer are mostly similar to the general population in Pakistan. Before starting treatment, all participant were unaware of the treatment process and had fear in their mind. They were hesitant in starting their treatment and were worried. However, when they were cured, their attitudes toward breast cancer and even to their whole lives were changed. Comprehensive awareness programs in a culturally acceptable language and facilities for routine breast examinations should be easily accessible to all women in Pakistan in order to promote early detection. In order to eradicate cultural barriers, female staff who are trained to perform routine breast examinations, should be available in all facilities and treatment centers.