Background and Purpose-The purpose of this study was to examine changes in stroke survivor and caregiver quality of life (QOL) and to determine whether changes in survivor physical functioning and caregiver burden (ie, the impact of the physical, psychological, and social demands of caregiving) influence changes in QOL. Methods-Longitudinal design with 226 stroke survivor-caregiver dyads enrolled at survivor discharge from rehabilitation hospitals. Data collection was performed over 12 months. We measured survivor physical functioning, caregiver burden, and QOL (physical, psychological, social, and environmental) in both survivor and caregiver. Multilevel modeling was used to control for the interdependence of the data. Results-Survivors (50% male sex) and caregivers (66% female sex) were 70.8 (SD=11.9) and 52.4 (SD=13.1) years old, respectively. Over the 12 months, stroke survivor's physical (γ=1.59; P<0.001) and psychological (γ=0.86; P<0.05) QOL significantly improved; social and environmental QOL did not P>0.05. Caregiver QOL, on average, did not significantly change over time P>0.05. Improvements in survivor physical functioning were associated with increases in survivor and caregiver physical and psychological QOL and survivor environmental QOL. Decreases in caregiver burden were significantly associated with improvements in caregiver physical, psychological, and environmental QOL but not with survivor QOL. Conclusions-QOL of stroke survivors and caregivers covaries and is greatly impacted by the physical function changes of the survivor. Dyadic approaches to stroke rehabilitation that acknowledge the interdependence of dyads are needed.

Aim and objectives To assess the prevalence of anxiety, sleep disorders and self‐efficacy and their predicting factors among nurses facing COVID‐19. Background The spread of COVID‐19 throughout the world determined a series of modifications of several National Health Service organisations, with a potential series of psychological consequences among nurses, who were particularly afflicted by this situation of changes and precariousness. Design A cross‐sectional study was carried out from February–April 2020. Methods A total of 1,005 nurses employed in different Italian hospital wards, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, were recruited. Analyses were based on descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. The STROBE checklist for cross‐sectional studies was used in this study. Results The prevalence of sleep disturbances, moderate anxiety and low self‐efficacy was 71.4%, 33.23% and 50.65%, respectively. We found a positive correlation between anxiety and sleep quality (0.408; p < .0001) and negative correlations between self‐efficacy and anxiety (−0.217; p < .0001) and sleep quality and self‐efficacy (−0.134; p < .0001). The factor independently associated with all variables was gender. Females were more prone to sleep disturbances, anxiety and low levels of self‐efficacy than males ( p < .05). Conclusions The prevalence of anxiety, sleep disorders and low self‐efficacy among Italian nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic was high. Healthcare managers should recognise and consider these results to reduce the risk of the onset of major mental problems that could result in post‐traumatic stress disorder. Relevance to clinical practice Nurses facing major incidents as COVID‐19 pandemic are among healthcare personnel exposed to a high risk to develop psychological disturbance that should be assessed and recognised, in order to find helpful coping strategies to inform support services and avoid to hesitate in post‐traumatic stress disorders.

a b s t r a c tObjective: To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS) in caregivers of stroke survivors. Background: Caregiver preparedness can have an important impact on both the caregiver and the stroke survivor. The validity and reliability of the CPS has not been tested for the stroke-caregiver population. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design to study a sample of 156 caregivers of stroke survivors. Construct validity of the CPS was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also evaluated. Results: Caregivers were, on average, 54 year old (SD ¼ 13.2) and most were women (64.7%). CFA supported the unidimensionality of the scale (comparative fit index ¼ 0.98). Reliability was also supported: item-reliability index and itemetotal correlations above 0.30; composite reliability index ¼ 0.93; Cronbach's alpha ¼ 0.94; factor score determinacy ¼ 0.97; and test-retest reliability ¼ 0.92. Conclusion: The CPS is valid and reliable in caregivers of stroke survivors. Scores on this scale may assist health-care providers in identifying caregivers with less preparedness to provide specific interventions.

Aim The aim of this study was to explore the experience of Italian nurses engaged in caring for patients with COVID‐19. Background COVID‐19 found the health care world unprepared to face an emergency of such magnitude. Italy was one of the most affected European countries, with more than 250,000 cases. Understanding the impact of events of this magnitude on nurses provides a framework of knowledge on which educational training could be based to face similar situations in the future to prevent further breakdown. Methods The hermeneutic approach by Cohen was used. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted using a voice‐over Internet protocol. Interviews were transcribed, read in depth and analysed. Results Twenty nurses were interviewed. Four themes were extracted: uncertainty and fear, alteration of perceptions of time and space, change in the meaning of ‘to care’ and changes in roles and relationships. Conclusions Psychological support in association with emergency training prevents stress and helps tackle compassion fatigue. Implications for nursing management Policies to improve nursing science should be developed to ensure better quality of care, a higher number of professionals and, consequently, an increase in the safety of patients.