María Jesús Hernández-López

Background/Objectives: Loneliness is a significant public health issue among older adults, especially in rural and socioeconomically vulnerable groups. Telephone-based interventions have become a scalable, cost-effective way to reduce social isolation, although evidence of their long-term effects on various health outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to assess how effective HELPeN, a structured telephone program delivered by trained nursing students, is in decreasing loneliness and enhancing psychosocial and cognitive health in community-living older adults. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 119 older adults (≥65 years) residing in the community. Participants were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 65), which received weekly structured telephone calls over 9 months, or a control group (n = 54), which received standard care. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline (M0), mid-intervention (M1–M3), and 3 months after the intervention (M4). The primary outcomes measured included loneliness and perceived social support. Secondary outcomes comprised functional status, comorbidities, depressive symptoms, quality of life, sleep quality, and cognitive function. The data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction. Results: Significant group interactions over time were identified for loneliness (F = 5.92, p = 0.001, η² = 0.067), social support (F = 3.39, p = 0.023, η² = 0.043), depressive symptoms (F = 3.87, p = 0.019, η² = 0.046), and cognitive status (F = 5.35, p = 0.002, η² = 0.063). No significant differences were found for functional status, comorbidity, sleep quality, or quality of life. Conclusions: The HELPeN program demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing loneliness and social isolation, and in improving emotional, cognitive, and sleep-related outcomes in older adults. As a low-cost and scalable model, this intervention strengthens the role of nursing students in addressing social determinants of health and may be integrated into community and public health strategies targeting vulnerable aging populations.

INTRODUCTION: Hand hygiene is crucial to prevent nosocomial infections, with the hands of professionals and patients being significant vectors of transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to hand hygiene at the Rafael Méndez General University Hospital between 2016 and 2022. METHODOLOGY: An observational and descriptive study was carried out in medical-surgical units, collecting annual data. The sample included 1097 professionals and 5416 observation opportunities. RESULTS: The results showed an improvement in hand hygiene until 2021, with a reduction in omission from 64% in 2016 to an overall compliance of 55% in 2020 and 2021. However, in 2022 a significant decline was observed with 79% of omission. The evolution varied depending on the moment and the category observed. CONCLUSION: Adherence to hand hygiene in the Rafael Méndez General University Hospital has shown a positive trend with a gradual annual increase until 2021, highlighting 2020 as a turning point. However, the relaxation of post-pandemic measures has decreased compliance. It is recommended to continue promoting training and evaluation actions to improve hand hygiene among health professionals. Keywords: hands hygiene, hands washing and friction. INTRODUCCIÓN: La higiene de manos es crucial para prevenir infecciones nosocomiales, siendo las manos de profesionales y pacientes vectores significativos de transmisión. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la adherencia a la higiene de manos en el Hospital General Universitario Rafael Méndez durante los años 2016 a 2022. METODOLOGÍA: Se realizó un estudio observacional y descriptivo en unidades de hospitalización médico-quirúrgicas, recolectando datos anuales utilizando el Formulario de observación de la técnica de higiene de manos que proporciona la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). La muestra estuvo constituida por 1097 profesionales. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron un total de 5416 oportunidades. Los resultados mostraron una mejora en la higiene de manos hasta 2021, con una reducción en la omisión del 64% en 2016 a un cumplimiento global del 55% en 2020 y 2021. Sin embargo, en 2022 se observó un retroceso significativo con un 79% de omisión. La evolución varió según el momento y la categoría observada. CONCLUSIÓN: La adhesión a la higiene de manos en el Hospital General Universitario Rafael Méndez ha mostrado una tendencia positiva con un incremento gradual anual hasta 2021, destacando el año 2020 como punto de inflexión. No obstante, la relajación de medidas postpandemia ha disminuido el cumplimiento. Se recomienda continuar promoviendo acciones de formación y evaluación para mejorar la higiene de manos entre los profesionales de salud.

Background/Objectives: Population aging poses many challenges to public health, highlighting loneliness and social isolation as severe problems that affect the physical and mental health of older adults. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these became aggravated. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of loneliness and its relationship with social isolation, depression, cognitive deterioration, sleep quality, and the level of physical mobility and functioning of older adults in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia. Methods: A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was performed. The inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65, living in Health Area 3 of the Region of Murcia, and not being institutionalized. The following variables were evaluated: sociodemographic variables, loneliness (UCLA scale), social isolation (DUFSS), depression (GDS), cognitive deterioration (Pfeiffer), sleep quality (PSQI), and mobility (Barthel index). A univariate and multivariate regression model was created to examine how the dependent variable was related to the independent variables. Results: A total of 102 older adults participated in the study. Of these, 31.4% perceived unwanted loneliness and 14.7% low social support. The multivariate regression analysis showed that social isolation, geriatric depression, and cognitive deterioration were significant predictors of loneliness. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of developing multifaceted interventions that address not only social isolation but also other interrelated factors such as depression, cognitive deterioration, and sleep quality. The strategies should be centered on community programs and support networks. It is fundamental to perform longitudinal studies to better understand the causal relationships between these variables.

Introduction: The population of older adults is rapidly increasing worldwide, presenting both prospects and complexities for society and healthcare professionals to maximize the functional capacity of this age group. Social isolation and loneliness significantly affect this population. The objective was to determine the effectiveness, satisfaction, and perceptions of the simulation-based education practices of a training program for nursing students, which was created to palliate the social isolation and loneliness of older adults. Method: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with nursing students who participated in an online training program using teleservice based on high-fidelity clinical simulation. The program included asynchronous theoretical training and synchronous practical training using an online platform. Five scenarios were designed using simulated phone calls to address the social isolation and loneliness of older adults. Results: Twenty-five nursing students participated in the program, and they had a mean age of 27.44, with 76% of them being women. After the training program, the participants showed statistically significant improvements (p < 0.05) with respect to their knowledge and attitudes towards older adults, and the program was adapted to the best educational practices in simulations. Conclusions: Simulation-based online training efficiently improved the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students towards older adults, improving their ability to address social isolation and loneliness. The high satisfaction and adhesion to the best educational practices underline the usefulness of high-fidelity online simulations, especially in situations in which face-to-face training is not feasible, and accessibility and equilibrium could be guaranteed between work and personal life.

Introduction (1): The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in healthcare during pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. The objective of this study was to know the impact of visit restrictions, PCR performance and use of masks on delivery and puerperium care. Methods (2): A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. A survey was used to assess the impact of COVID-19-related measures on women who had given birth in hospitals in the Region of Murcia, Spain, between March 2020 and February 2022. Results (3): The final sample size was 434 women. The average scores were 4.27 for dimension 1 (Visit restrictions), 4.15 for dimension 2 (PCR testing) and 3.98 for dimension 3 (Mask use). More specifically, we found that the restriction of visits was considered a positive measure for the establishment of the mother–newborn bond (mean score 4.37) and that the use of masks at the time of delivery should have been made more flexible (mean score 4.7). Conclusions (4): The policy of restricting hospital visits during the pandemic caused by COVID-19 has been considered beneficial by mothers, who expressed that they did not feel lonely during their hospital stay.