Hasil untuk "Nursing"

Ida Røed Flyum, Edith Roth Gjevjon, Anna Josse Eklund et al.

Abstract Background Nursing practice in long-term care, must support the delivery of safe and evidence-based care, especially for older people with functional ability limitations and frailty, with the competency, knowledge and structured working modes such practice requires. Understanding, detecting and preventing these conditions is important in a context where care is given to a significant number of older people with complex care needs. Our aim was to map published literature on how functional ability limitations and frailty among older people (65 and above) in home-and facility-based care (i.e. long-term care) were described by key stakeholders, and to identify models of care (MoCs) targeting these conditions. Methods We followed Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological steps and the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. The PubMed, CINAHL and PsycInfo databases were used to identify papers published between June 2002 and June 2022. The search was updated in May 2024. A descriptive analysis was conducted where the identified patterns were organised and categorised with the support of the Pattern, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and research Recommendations framework (PAGER). Results A total of 18,875 unique records were identified. Of these, 26 papers were included. The findings implied a discrepancy between the older people’s subjective- and the nurses’ more objective, ‘matter-of-fact’ perspective. The older people described both conditions in terms of identity loss and an emotional struggle to remain independent. They also highlighted the importance of positive connotations in relation to their efforts to adapt and accommodate the situation to the conditions. Nursing practice targeting the conditions were predominantly described as being reactive, based on their experiences and guided by ‘intuition’. The identified MoCs mainly targeted functional ability limitations while focusing on educating nurses. Conclusion A point of saturation seems to have been reached regarding research focusing on older people’s descriptions of frailty in home-based care. The same cannot be said about older people’s or nurses’ descriptions concerning functional ability limitations or MoCs. Intervention studies focusing on nursing practice and the development of MoCs that target these conditions preferably in a home-based care context could substantially benefit the development of knowledge within nursing and nursing practice. Trial registration: Open Science Framework https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/FNHSA .

Samuel Antwi-Baffour, Benjamin Tetteh Mensah, Simon Aglona Ahiakonu et al.

Abstract Background Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease typically transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. There is ample evidence showing the potential of malaria infection to affect the counts of lymphocyte subpopulations in the peripheral blood, but the extent of alteration might not be consistent in all geographical locations, due to several local factors. Although Ghana is among the malaria-endemic countries, there is currently no available data on the level of alterations that occur in the counts of lymphocyte subpopulations during P. falciparum malaria infection among adults. Aim The study was to determine the immunophenotypic alterations in the level of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subsets in adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria infection and apparently healthy participants. Methods The study was a cross-sectional comparative study conducted in two municipalities of the Volta region of Ghana. Blood samples were collected from study participants and taken through serology (P. falciparum/Pan Rapid Diagnostic Kits), microscopy (Thick and thin blood films) and Haematological (Flow cytometric and Full blood count) analysis. Results A total of 414 participants, comprising 214 patients with malaria and 200 apparently healthy individuals (controls) were recruited into this study. Parasite density of the malaria patients ranged from 75/µL to 84,364/µL, with a mean of 3,520/µL. It was also observed that the total lymphocytes slightly decreased in the P. falciparum-infected individuals (Mean ± SD: 2.08 ± 4.93 × 109/L) compared to the control group (Mean ± SD: 2.47 ± 0.80 × 109/L). Again, there was a significant moderate positive correlation between parasite density and haematocrit levels (r = 0.321, p < 0.001). Apart from CD45 + T-cells, more people in the control group had normal values for the lymphocyte subsets measured compared to the malaria patients. Conclusions From the results obtained, there was high parasite density among the malaria patients suggestive of high intensity of infection in the case group. The malaria patients again showed considerable haematological alterations in lymphocyte sub-sets and the parasite density appeared to be strongly associated with CD4 + T-cell reduction. Also, the parasite density significantly associated with decreasing haematocrit levels. This indicates that lymphocyte subset enumeration can be used to effectively support malaria diagnosis.

Se Young Kim, Dae Ho Kim, Min Ji Kim et al.

With increasing electronic medical data and the development of artificial intelligence, clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) assist clinicians in diagnosis and prescription. Traditional knowledge-based CDSSs follow an accumulated medical knowledgebase and a predefined rule system, which clarifies the decision-making process; however, maintenance cost issues exist in the medical data quality control and standardization processes. Non-knowledge-based CDSSs utilize vast amounts of data and algorithms to effectively make decisions; however, the deep learning black-box problem causes unreliable results. EXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)-based CDSSs provide valid rationales and explainable results. These systems ensure trustworthiness and transparency by showing the recommendation and prediction result process using explainable techniques. However, existing systems have limitations, such as the scope of data utilization and the lack of explanatory power of AI models. This study proposes a new XAI-based CDSS framework to address these issues; introduces resources, datasets, and models that can be utilized; and provides a foundation model to support decision-making in various disease domains. Finally, we propose future directions for CDSS technology and highlight societal issues that need to be addressed to emphasize the potential of CDSSs in the future.

Kelly Counts, Sue Lasiter

Introduction: Healthcare advances have contributed to patients living longer with chronic illnesses and diseases with uncertain trajectories impacting quality of life (QOL). Palliative care (PC) is no longer only for dying oncology patients as many healthcare practitioners have adopted the PC concept in diverse care settings and the timing of PC implementation remains ambiguous. There is a need to develop an operational definition of early palliative care (EPC) by clarifying the phenomenon and bridging concepts with empirical data to develop and test possible interventions before integrating EPC into emergency care (EC). Methods: Norris’ concept clarification method was used as the philosophical framework to define, analyze, and clarify EPC. An electronic search of literature from 2000-2024, using CINAHL, PubMed, APA PsychINFO, and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection databases and search terms "early palliative care" AND "emergency care" NOT "animals", and NOT "pediatrics" were screened for eligible articles. Results: Of the 826 articles identified; 22 articles were retained for review. Attributes included timing, palliative, and EC; antecedents included symptom burden, access to care, and cognitive awareness; consequences included QOL and resource utilization; an empirical referent used to screen patients is the highly accurate surprise question "Would I be surprised if this patient died within a year?" Conclusion: Clarifying the concept of EPC leading to an operational definition will advance the development of interventions that support the implementation of EPC in ED clinical practice.

Jian Cao, Kai Liao, Ze-xi Li et al.

BackgroundWhether cementless fixation on femoral and tibial components increases blood loss during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is unclear. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to compare blood loss and early functional recovery between patients who underwent cementless or cemented TKA.MethodsBetween November 2021 and April 2022, sixty-one eligible patients at our medical center were randomized to cementless and cemented group. The primary outcome was total blood loss (TBL). Secondary outcomes were drainage, knee swelling, anemia, transfusion, hematological indicators, early functional recovery, and postoperative complications. The early functional recovery included range of motion (ROM), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, walking distance.ResultsA total of 61 patients were analyzed, of whom 30 underwent cementless fixation. On postoperative day 1, the mean TBL was 394.39 ml (SD 182.97 ml) in the cementless group and 382.41 ml (SD 208.67 ml) in the cemented group (P = 0.863). By postoperative day 3, the corresponding mean TBL was higher at 593.48 ml (SD 230.04 ml) and 603.80 ml (SD 213.16 ml) (P = 0.751). The two groups did not differ significantly in drainage, knee swelling, anemia, levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit or platelets, ROM, HSS score, walking distance, or rates of transfusion or postoperative complications.ConclusionsCementless fixation on femoral and tibial components during TKA does not increase blood loss or impede early functional recovery, which suggests that clinicians need not worry about blood loss and early functional recovery when deciding what type of fixation to perform during TKA.Trial registrationNumber: ChiCTR2100052857; Date: November 6, 2021.

Olga Canet-Vélez, Olga Canet-Vélez, Lilian Solis-Navarro et al.

IntroductionThe +AGIL Barcelona programme is a multicomponent care intervention for frail older adults (FOAs) living in the community. To improve the programme, it is essential to investigate the experience of all participants. Our objective was to explore the perspective of FOA and professionals about the barriers, facilitators, and improvement elements of the development of the +AGIL Barcelona programme. Qualitative descriptive approach. Were included FOA and professionals who participated in the +AGIL Barcelona programme.MethodsThree focus groups and four interviews were conducted. These were analyzed following the qualitative method of content analysis. The criteria of scientific rigor of credibility, dependence, and transferability were ensured throughout the study.ResultsThree themes and seven sub-themes were developed: facilitators (positive experience and perceived benefits), barriers (self-perceived health status, digital divide, and continuity of the programme at home), and improvements elements (programme continuity and adaptation of technology). All the participants felt satisfied, highlighting aspects such as interpersonal relationships and social contact, face-to-face sessions guided by a physiotherapist, and the functional improvement achieved. Some of the difficulties were the self-perception of frailty, the need for technological support, and continuing the exercise programme at home.ConclusionThe FOA who participated in the +AGIL Barcelona programme perceived direct benefits for their health and physical condition due to the development of self-confidence by being able to perform physical exercise despite their baseline condition, and the professionals experienced an improvement in the quality of care due to work in a multidisciplinary team.

George Sarin Zacharia, Sreekanth K Menon, Anu Jacob et al.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by the trematodes of the Schistosoma genus. It is one of the neglected tropical diseases, contributing significantly to health-care costs, morbidity, and mortality in the developing world. The resultant disease is broadly classified as urogenital and gastrointestinal schistosomiasis. Intestinal schistosomiasis manifests as altered bowel habits, tenesmus, rectal bleeding, and or abdominal pain. Mucosal lesions include erythema, nodularity, and inflammatory polyps of the colon. Colonic polyps are mucosal lesions, benign or malignant, sporadic or inherited, and have been in the limelight for many years owing to their malignant potential. Inflammatory lesions in schistosomiasis can morphologically resemble neoplastic polyps and pose a diagnostic dilemma. We here report a rare case of intestinal schistosomiasis masquerading as colonic polyps, diagnosed on biopsy and effectively treated with praziquantel.

Fei Zhu, Chunlei Liu, Wan Zhang et al.

Abstract Background Young breast cancer survivors with body image disturbance have poor quality of life. Self-compassion and different coping styles can influence their body image. The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between self-compassion, coping styles, and body image disturbance, and examined the mediation role of coping styles between self-compassion and body image disturbance among young breast cancer survivors in China. Methods In the cross-sectional study, a total of 310 young women with breast cancer were assessed on self-compassion, coping styles, and body image disturbance by self-reported questionnaires in China. Spearman’s correlation was used to test the links between variables and to verify the indirect effects between variables by constructing a structural equation model. Results There were correlations between self-compassion, different coping styles, and body image disturbance. Confrontation, avoidance, and acceptance-resignation coping had significant mediation effects on the association between self-compassion and body image disturbance. The mediation effects of confrontation coping were greater than avoidance, and acceptance-resignation coping. Conclusions In this study, different coping styles acted as mediators between self-compassion and body image disturbance, providing support for further understanding the mechanism between self-compassion and body image disturbance, and developing comprehensive interventions for body image disturbance. Oncology nurses should pay attention to the breast cancer survivors’ self-compassion and coping styles and encourage them to adopt adaptive coping strategies, which can reduce body image disturbance.

TANG Han, SHANG Lei

Sara Yang, William Adams, Carol Bier‐Laning

Abstract Objective Unplanned 30‐day readmissions result in increased costs and decreased patient satisfaction. The objective of this study was to compare readmission rates before and after a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative that focuses on patient and staff education, use of targeted skilled nursing facilities, and appropriate use of patient observation status. Methods This was a quality improvement study of all unplanned admissions to the Head and Neck Oncology service at a tertiary care facility during a 3‐year period between October 2015 and September 2018. In October 2016, when the Head and Neck Oncology service revised its discharge practices for patients undergoing extirpative and/or reconstructive surgery. These changes included enhancing patient education, increasing the use of a skilled nursing facility with directed staff education and patient handoffs by advanced practice nurses, and appropriate utilization of 23‐h observation status for returning patients. The readmission rate from the pre‐intervention era (October 2015 through September 2016) was compared to the readmission rate from the post‐intervention era (October 2016 through September 2018). Secondary outcomes were the rates of 23‐h observation within 30 days of the discharge as well as emergency room visits within 30 days of discharge. Results In this sample of 449 patients, 161 (35.9%) were observed before the change‐in‐practice (before October 2016), and 288 (64.1%) were observed following the change‐in‐practice (after September 2016). On univariable analysis, the risk of readmission declined by approximately 41.4% from the pre‐intervention era, though this conclusion was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). On multivariable analysis, patients at moderate or high risk of death were 2.31 times more likely than those at minor risk of death to readmit within 30 days (P = 0.03). Similarly, those with recurrent or persistent cancer were 3.33 times more likely than those undergoing initial curative surgical management of cancer to readmit within 30 days (P = 0.001). No patient characteristics were associated with a 23‐h observation following discharge (all P > 0.05). Conclusions were similar for emergency room visits following discharge. Conclusions A three‐part quality improvement strategy resulted in a clinically important decrease in 30‐day readmissions, though the decline was not statistically significant. There were no significant changes in 23‐h observation within 30 days of discharge or emergency room visits within 30 days of discharge.

David Brücken, Jenny Unterkofler, Sophie Pauge et al.

Abstract Background Increasing life expectancy is associated with a growing number of people living in nursing homes, while the availability of outpatient medical care, especially from family doctors, is stagnating in this sector. Consequently, numerous and often avoidable, low-threshold hospitalizations of nursing home residents are observed. This results in unnecessary use of resources such as emergency services and emergency rooms as well as in potential health risks to the nursing home residents related to hospitalization. This study aims to improve this healthcare gap by implementing an intersectoral telemedicine approach. Methods Twenty-five nursing homes are participating and provided with telemedical equipment to perform teleconsultations. Additionally, an early warning system and a digital patient record system are implemented. Telephysicians based at RWTH Aachen University Hospital are ready to support the nursing homes around the clock if the family doctor or an emergency service practice is not available in time. Mobile non-physician practice assistants from the telemedicine centre can be dispatched to perform delegable medical activities. General practitioners and the medical emergency practices also have access to the telemedical infrastructure and the non-physician practice assistants. Discussion Optimal@NRW adds a telemedicine component to standard care — combining elements of outpatient and inpatient health care as well as emergency service practices — to enable timely medical consultation for nursing home residents in case of the development of an acute medical condition. In addition to optimized medical care, the goal is to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. The intersectoral approach allows for the appropriate use of resources to match the individually needed medical treatment. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04879537 . Registered on May 10, 2021

YE Yuquan (叶玉泉)

Objective To observe the effect of external application with Traditional Chinese Medicine in prevention of postoperative fever (＞38 ℃) in patient undergoing surgery for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. Methods Totally 118 patients undergoing bilateral tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy were randomly divided into the study group and the control group, with 59 cases in each group. All patients received routine care after surgery, and those in the study group were given external application with Traditional Chinese Medicine. The incidence of postoperative fever (＞38 ℃) was compared between two groups. Results The incidence of postoperative fever (＞38 ℃) in the study group was 28. 81%(17/59), lower than 35. 59%(21/59) in the control group, with no significant difference (P＞0. 05). Conclusion External application with Traditional Chinese Medicine is potentially effective to reduce the risk of postoperative fever in patient undergoing surgery for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. (目的 观察中药敷贴预防阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)术后发热(术后体温＞38 ℃)的效果。方法 选取行双侧扁桃体切除术/腺样体切除治疗的OSAHS患者118例为研究对象, 术后将患者随机分为研究组和对照组, 各59例。对照组采用常规护理干预, 研究组在对照组基础上增加中药敷贴。对比2组患者临床发热(术后体温＞38 ℃)发生率。结果 研究组术后发热(体温＞38 ℃)的发生率为28. 81%(17/59), 低于对照组的35. 59%(21/59), 但差异无统计学意义(P＞0. 05)。结论 采用中药敷贴对降低OSAHS患者术后发热(体温＞38℃)发生风险具有积极意义, 有利于促进术后康复进程。)

Feng-Tzu Huang

Implementing health information systems for enhancing patient care and management occurs worldwide. Discovering how nurses, as important system end-users, experience technology-reliant clinical practice involved focus groups (<i>n</i> = 25) and in-depth individual interviews with nurses (<i>n</i> = 4) and informatics staff (<i>n</i> = 3) in a major Taiwanese medical center. This qualitative study explores the unintended effects of these systems on nurses’ role and clinical practice. First, nurses’ additional role caring for computer devices supporting patient care involves highly-demanding invisible effort, especially when tackling system malfunctions affecting patients with urgent conditions. Second, nurses are resourceful in developing solutions to protect patients during unexpected technical malfunctions. Third, troubleshooting using telephone technical support as the first resort is problematic. It is argued that computerization requires nurses to care for co-clients: patients and computers. Managing technical malfunctions is an unintended consequence for nurses, reflecting the hidden work required by new technology.

Naimah Naimah, Wahyu Setyaningsih

Abstract   Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (CHLB) is an effort to improve health quality through clean and healthy daily life behaviors. The problem of health behavior in children is related to personal hygiene, the environment, and the emergence of various diseases that often attack children. One of the preventive measures is to teach CHLB to children as early as possible by using interesting and easy-to-understand media for children. This study aims to determine the effect of a combination of a pop-up book and poster media on the ability of CHLB children aged 6-12 years. This study used a cross-sectional approach with 90 respondents divided into 3 groups. Collecting data using a questionnaire and analyzed by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate. The results showed that 66.67% of respondents had knowledge in the sufficient category and 10% in the less category before being given a combination of the two methods. Each respondent experienced a significant change in their knowledge. Statistical testing with MANOVA analysis on the comparison between treatment groups on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior obtained a calculated F value of 172,000 with a significance of <0.001 indicating that there were significant differences between treatment groups on knowledge, attitudes, and behavior. The use of pop-up books and posters can be used in the learning process because they have a major impact on increasing children's knowledge, attitudes, and behavior in an effort to maintain health through clean and healthy living behaviors.

Reynold Culimay Padagas, John Vinnie Panuelos, Kim Franco Odoya et al.

Background & Aim: This study aimed to explore the transitional challenges of newly hired psychiatric nurses in the care of clients with schizophrenia and the coping mechanisms that they use to overcome their transitional challenges. Methods & Materials: This descriptive-qualitative study interviewed six purposively selected newly hired psychiatric nurses caring for patients with schizophrenia who work for about six months to two years in a Psychiatric Training Hospital in the Philippines.  An interview protocol was used to obtain data with strict observance of relevant ethical considerations. In determining the emerging themes and subthemes from the transcribed data with trustworthiness, thematic analysis was employed. Results: Two major prior codes were explored, namely, transitional challenges and coping mechanisms. On the one hand, five subthemes emerged under the transitional challenges that include emotional challenges, need for professional growth, nurses’ recognition of the inability to patient care management, need support from more experienced colleagues. Experience/feel the shock in the encounter of people with a mental health condition. On the other hand, four subthemes were unearthed under coping mechanisms that include emotional responses, professional coping strategies (i.e., reliance on the adequate support system, establishing the professional nurse-patient relationship, call to professional advancement, and commitment to evidence-based practice), and institutional coping strategies. Conclusion: While newly hired nurses experience tremendous transitional challenges, their coping mechanisms continuously emerge and develop. The nursing administration needs to foster sustainable mentoring and resilience programs essential in aiding newly hired nurses’ adaptation and adjustment to the professional work environment.

Duygu Vefikuluçay Yılmaz, Aysu Buldum

Hemşirelik biliminde bakım kuramlarının kullanım amacı, hemşirelik uygulamalarına rehberlik etmektir. Kuramların kullanılması ile hemşirelik uygulamalarında sistematik ve kapsamlı bakım, iş merkezli yaklaşımdan çok birey merkezli yaklaşımların yer alması ile mümkün olmaktadır. Watson’ın İnsan Bakım Kuramı bireye odaklanarak, insancıl, şefkatli, estetik ve etik çerçevede hemşirelik bakımını sunmaktadır. Literatürde kronik hastalıklar ve infertilite gibi olgularda bu kuramın kullanıldığı bilinmektedir. Postpartum annelere hemşirelik yaklaşımında bu kuramın kullanılması; anne bebek bağlanmasının gelişmesinde, annenin özgüveninin artmasında, kendisinin ve bebeğinin bakımında yeterli hissetmesinde önemli rol oynayacaktır. Annelerin postpartum dönemde taburculuk öncesi fiziksel bakımın yanı sıra mental ve psikolojik bakımlarının göz ardı edilmemesi oldukça önemlidir. Bu makalede de abortus öyküsü olan ve doğum şeklinden dolayı çevresinden baskı gören primipar bir anneye Watson İnsan Bakım Kuramı kapsamında bütüncül yaklaşım sunulmuştur. Ayrıca İnsan Bakım Kuramı’na göre uygulanan bu hemşirelik uygulamalarının diğer olgular için örnek olması amaçlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak anne, hemşirelik uygulamaları sonucunda verilen eğitim ve bakım uygulamalarının oldukça yararlı olduğunu ifade etmiştir.

Hyun-Suk AN, Young-Ran KWEON

No Abstract

Isabel Kazanga, Alister C. Munthali, Joanne McVeigh et al.

Background<br /> Despite numerous efforts to improve maternal and child health in Malawi, maternal and newborn mortality rates remain very high, with the country having one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally. The aim of this study was to identify which individual factors best predict utilisation of skilled maternal healthcare in a sample of women residing in Lilongwe district of Malawi. Identifying which of these factors play a significant role in determining utilisation of skilled maternal healthcare is required to inform policies and programming in the interest of achieving increased utilisation of skilled maternal healthcare in Malawi.<br />  <br /> Methods<br /> This study used secondary data from the Woman’s Questionnaire of the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). Data was analysed from 1126 women aged between 15 and 49 living in Lilongwe. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine significant predictors of maternal healthcare utilisation.<br />  <br /> Results<br /> Women’s residence (P = .006), education (P = .004), and wealth (P = .018) were significant predictors of utilisation of maternal healthcare provided by a skilled attendant. Urban women were less likely (odds ratio [OR] = 0.47, P = .006, 95% CI = 0.28–0.81) to utilise a continuum of maternal healthcare from a skilled health attendant compared to rural women. Similarly, women with less education (OR = 0.32, P = .001, 95% CI = 0.16–0.64), and poor women (OR = 0.50, P = .04, 95% CI = 0.26–0.97) were less likely to use a continuum of maternal healthcare from a skilled health attendant.<br />  <br /> Conclusion<br /> Policies and programmes should aim to increase utilisation of skilled maternal healthcare for women with less education and low-income status. Specifically, emphasis should be placed on promoting education and economic empowerment initiatives, and creating awareness about use of maternal healthcare services among girls, women and their respective communities.

Oona St-Amant, Catherine Ward-Griffin, Helene Berman et al.

As international volunteer health work increases globally, research pertaining to the social organizations that coordinate the volunteer experience in the Global South has severely lagged. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to critically examine the social organizations within Canadian NGOs in the provision of health work in Tanzania. Multiple, concurrent data collection methods, including text analysis, participant observation and in-depth interviews were utilized. Data collection occurred in Tanzania and Canada. Neoliberalism and neocolonialism were pervasive in international volunteer health work. In this study, the social relations—“volunteer as client,” “experience as commodity,” and “free market evaluation”—coordinated the volunteer experience, whereby the volunteers became “the client” over the local community and resulting in an asymmetrical relationship. These findings illuminate the need to generate additional awareness and response related to social inequities embedded in international volunteer health work.

Raquel Costa Souza, Enedina Soares Soares, Carlos Eduardo M. Cordeiro et al.

RESUMO Objetivos: Objetivou-se neste estudo conhecer as expectativas dos usuários quanto ao serviço de ouvidoria hospitalar; e discutir a importância da ouvidoria para a otimização do atendimento prestado e a interface com a enfermagem. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvido em uma instituição de referência para terapia em traumatologia e ortopedia. São sujeitos do estudo 155 usuários em tratamento e acompanhamento ambulatorial. Para coleta de dados utilizamos um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados coletados foram analisados e agrupados em categorias, à luz da análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: Ao utilizar o serviço de ouvidoria, os usuários sentem-se acolhidos, pois sabem que sua solicitação será analisada e reverterá em resposta para a sua necessidade apresentada. Apontam-se como funções da ouvidoria a sua capacidade resolutiva e de atuar como órgão para reivindicar os direitos dos usuários. Conclusão: foi possível constatar que a ouvidoria exerce um papel de grande importância na instituição de saúde. Contribui com a enfermagem proporcionando uma visão ampla e detalhada da realidade, de acordo com as demandas dos usuários, podendo servir de base para o planejamento de estratégias e o desenvolvimento de ações sustentáveis para a melhoria contínua da qualidade dos cuidados de enfermagem. Descritores: Ouvidoria, enfermagem, qualidade dos cuidados de saúde, serviço de saúde.