https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/120232 Sat, 02 May 2026 03:09:51 GMT 2026-05-02T03:09:51Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126695 Title: Barriers and facilitators in reporting medication errors among nurses in a long-term facility in Malta Abstract: Background: Medication errors are preventable occurrences arising from inappropriate medication utilization, causing harm to patients. According to Bayazidi et al. (2012), a mistake can be attributed to human weakness and a poor healthcare system model that permits errors. A study by Zakharov et al. (2012) showed that the high-risk categories of medication error victims are elderly persons. Reporting medication errors is critical for prevention and reducing the likelihood of future occurrences. Study Aim: The study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators in reporting medication errors among nurses in a Long-Term Care Facility in Malta. The objectives of the study are to explore: The barriers which stop nurses from reporting medication errors. What facilitates or increases the chances of reporting medication errors. What are the reporting rates of medication error in a long-term care facility? Design and Participants: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used for this study. Participants were recruited from a long-term care facility which employs 300 Registered Nurses. The data was collected from all the registered nurses via a pre-tested questionnaire. Results: Calculating drug doses and nurses' knowledge of medications were primary contributing factors to medical errors. Computerised physician order entry (CPOE), automated medication dispensing, and smart infusion pumps are generally perceived as helpful or very helpful by the majority of nurses. Conclusion and Implications: This study indicates various shortages identified within the local setting including lack of feedback and awareness of the system. Therefore, it is suggested that medication error reporting should be given a higher profile on the organization’s agenda in the long-term care facility for the elderly. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126695 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126694 Title: An exploration of nurses’ perceptions on disaster risk awareness and disaster nursing preparedness and management in a long-term care facility Abstract: Background. In Malta, over a thousand elderly individuals reside in long-term care facilities (Formosa, 2019). Given the unpredictability of disasters, their preparedness is of paramount importance. However, the perspectives of nurses in Malta on disaster risk awareness and disaster nursing preparedness are largely unexplored. Aim. This study aims to explore long-term care nurses' perceptions in Malta on disaster risk awareness and their roles in disaster nursing preparedness and management. Method. An exploratory-descriptive qualitative (EDQ) approach was adopted for this study, involving face-to-face interviews with eight experienced charge nurses from a major state-owned long-term care facility in Malta. Thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s inductive method, was used to analyse the data, allowing themes to emerge naturally from the interviews. Findings. Analysis revealed three key themes: Disaster Risk Awareness, Disaster Nursing Strategies, and Strengthening Resilience. The findings underscore the crucial role of nurses in crises, highlighting a significant need for specialised training to enhance adaptability and preparedness. Despite observed improvements in resilience, challenges in ensuring comprehensive disaster protection remain. Recommendations. The study recommends integrating comprehensive disaster awareness training into nursing education, emphasising Malta's unique cultural context. It also advocates for regular policy reviews, the establishment of clear disaster preparedness protocols, specialised response teams, and the development of multidisciplinary collaborations and tiered evacuation plans in care facilities. Future Research. Future research should include perspectives from a broader range of healthcare stakeholders and examine new facility extensions to gain a more holistic understanding of disaster preparedness in Malta. Conclusion. The study concludes that nurses are central to effective disaster management in long-term care settings in Malta. Their insights offer valuable guidance for enhancing policies and practices, emphasizing the necessity of continuous training, policy revisions, and collaborative strategies for effective disaster management. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126694 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126692 Title: The lived experiences of parents of individuals admitted to a psychiatric hospital Abstract: Background: The onset of mental illness is an event that is likely to instil a variety of emotions in both the individual and their parents, affecting their quality of life. Despite this, healthcare professions may focus more on the patient whilst neglecting the parents. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the meaning that parents attribute to the experiences of caring for an individual admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Moreover, the objectives of this study were to explore the impact on the parent of an individual admitted to a psychiatric hospital, to explore if healthcare professionals and the healthcare system were of assistance during this experience, and to explore any support strategies that these parents required. Design: A qualitative approach following the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Setting: The study was conducted in a time and place where participants felt comfortable and ensure at ease to open up about their experiences. Participants: There were four mothers and two fathers in the study and their ages ranged between forty-two to sixty-nine years old, with a mean average age of fifty-six. A purposeful sampling strategy was employed to find participants. Verbatim transcriptions of semistructured interviews were made using audio recording. Data analysis was done using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Three main themes were formed including ‘Shouldering responsibilities’, ‘Attempts at maintaining balance’ and ‘Support systems’. These themes were supported by subthemes. The first theme emerged subthemes including ‘Dealing with the decisions’ and Participation in the care’ whilst the second theme emerged subthemes including the ‘Burden of the care’, ‘Living in fear’ and ‘Not all is lost’. In the last theme, three subthemes emerged including ‘Professional support’, ‘Family and friends’ and ‘Training’. Conclusion: Psychological illness does not only affect the patient but also their main caregivers, in this case, parents. This study highlighted that healthcare professionals should be aware of the essence of communication and involvement of parents and caregivers of individuals admitted to a psychiatric hospital. It was found that these experiences had impacted parents physically, emotionally, psychologically, and socially. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126692 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126691 Title: The lived experience of adults who received mechanical ventilation Abstract: Background: Exploring the lived experience of patients on mechanical ventilation (MV) can provide valuable insights into their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being during their stay in Intensive Care unit (ICU). The quality of care provided to satisfy participants; requirements during ventilation can be improved by learning how participants interpret their experiences during mechanical ventilation. While a number of studies on this topic have been published internationally, there are no local studies that sheds a light on the MV experience. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of adult patients who had received Mechanical Ventilation. Research design: This qualitative study was based on Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) Setting: Participants were patients who had received mechanical ventilation in a general adult critical unit setting in Malta Participants: A purposive sample of seven participants who had been mechanically ventilated in ICU in Malta were recruited in this study. Method: In depth semi-structured one-to-one interviews using open ended questions were used. Interviews were conducted face to face or remotely and took approximately 1 hour. The data analysis was performed by a single researcher who read the transcripts several times and took notations as advised by Smith et al. (2022). This process required a search for connections and clustering of themes and emerging ideas that were linked, and grouped together based on conceptual similarity to give descriptive labels for each cluster. Results: Four personal experiential themes emerged. These include: ‘Delivered into the hands of others’, ‘Living in a disconnected world’, ‘Agony’ and ‘Supportive encounters’. Conclusion: Participants reported feeling alone, voiceless, powerless, without control, detached from their loved ones, and disconnected from reality while experiencing amnesia, hallucinations, and nightmares in an unfamiliar environment. Even though surviving mechanical ventilation was described as terrifying and painful, support and strength was found in family members, health care workers, religious rituals, and prayers.To reduce the intensity of MV patients' pain and discomfort, health care workers played a crucial role in supporting, and encouraging ventilated patients to endure painful situations. It is recommended that individualised care and the establishment of a post-ICU clinic after being discharged home from the hospital will be beneficial. It is suggested to conduct further research, particularly locally, to better understand the experiences of MV patients and patient- centred care. It is also advised to conduct more research on the perspective of nurses who care for MV patients. Studies on factors impacting the quality of sleep in the local context are advised. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/126691 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z