Volume 9 (2022): Issue 4 (December 2022)

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of combined diaphragmatic breathing and therapeutic walking exercise on peak expiratory flow in asthma patients.

Methods: The research design used a quasi-experiment nonequivalent pretest and posttest design. The research sample contained 38 respondents divided into intervention and control groups, selected by simple random sampling. The control group received standard drug therapy, while the intervention group received standard drug therapy and a combination of diaphragmatic breathing and therapeutic walking exercise for 2 weeks. This exercise was carried out in the morning, 6 times a week, with 5 diaphragmatic breathing and exhalations per exercise. After that, a 1-min break was followed by a therapeutic walking exercise of 5–15 min, with an increased duration. Both groups measured the peak expiratory flow before and after the intervention using a peak flow meter. The data analysis used central tendency and t-test.

Results: The results showed that the mean peak expiratory flow in the intervention group was 306.84, while in the control group, it was 232.63, with the value of the t-test being −14.17 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Diaphragmatic breathing and therapeutic walking exercise significantly increased the peak expiratory flow in asthma patients.

Objective: To evaluate errors in the use of inhalation techniques in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to provide evidence for improving the effectiveness of drugs.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed after searching for literature at PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang, VIP, and SionMed databases which were published from January 2011 to October 2020, addressing errors in the use of inhalation technologies for the treatment of COPD. After reviewing the literature, extracting pertinent information, and evaluating the risk of bias for the included studies, statistical analysis was performed using Stata 15.1.

Results: Thirteen papers (12 in English and 1 in Chinese), representing 2527 patients, met the search criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The results showed that the combined effect size of COPD patients making at least one operational error was 76% (95% CI: 0.69–0.83). The error rate varied with inhaler type; the combined effect size error for powered inhalers was 66% (95% CI: 0.57, 0.74), 67% (95% CI. 0.57, 0.77) for metered-dose inhalers (MDI), and 51% (95% CI: 0.38, 0.64) for soft mist inhalers (SMI).

Conclusions: More than 75% of patients with COPD were unable to consistently use inhalers correctly, with the highest error rate for MDI. Therefore, health care providers must continue to educate patients on proper use of inhaler, ensuring their correct use and reducing the risk of acute COPD exacerbations.

Objective: Depression appears to be common among the patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Therefore, how to comprehensively analyze the changes in depression and its impact on patient outcomes is an important research direction. The objectives of this study were to assess changes in depression and whether depression can be used to predict outcomes in patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods: In a longitudinal study, 317 patients receiving hemodialysis from two hospitals were investigated. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMDS) at baseline. Outcomes data (survival and mortality) were collected from baseline to the end of follow-up 2 years later. Mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazards analysis.

Results: The HAMDS score and percentage of high scores increased at three time points. Moreover, the changes were statistically significant. Surviving patients had significantly lower HAMDS scores. Through multivariate Cox regression analysis, age and depression can be used to predict mortality (P < 0.05), and the relative risks (RRs) were 1.032 and 1.069, respectively.

Conclusions: Depression in patients receiving hemodialysis is worse. Moreover, baseline depression is an independent predictor of outcomes. Patients receiving hemodialysis should be focused on improving their psychological complications. A systematic and individual psychological health promotion plan must also be incorporated into the health education plan for patients receiving hemodialysis.

Objective: Family plays an important role in taking care of children with intellectual disabilities (IDs). Resilience supports coping strategies for caregivers with their children caring. However, factors influencing the resilience of caregivers with ID in Thailand are yet to be identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the predictors of resilience in caregivers of children with moderate to severe ID.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was implemented in caregivers of children with ID aged 18 years and older who had children diagnosed with ID aged 6–18 years and classified as moderate to severe ID. Descriptive statistic and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis.

Results: The study sample consisted of 85 caregivers who took care of their children older than 5 years (95.30%). Depression, social support, cognitive function, and stigma could predict the resilience (F [4, 80] = 26.79, P < 0.001) and explain the variability of resilience by 57.3%.

Conclusions: Caregivers have to take care of their children for a long period, which could develop a burden to the caregivers. The resilience and influencing factors should be monitored and managed by developing a campaign to promote caregivers’ health and well-being.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a clinical nursing pathway and visual health education on patients with perianal abscesses was the objective of this study.

Methods: Eighty patients with perianal abscesses undergoing in-patient surgical treatment (blinded for review) between December 2019 and November 2020 were divided randomly and evenly into a control group and an experimental group. The control group received routine nursing care, and the experimental group received visual health education nursing care. Digital pain scores, patient satisfaction scores, nursing quality scores, and scores measuring knowledge of perianal abscess disease for the two groups before and after nursing care were compared and analyzed.

Results: The experimental group had visual analog scale (VAS) scores significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). For total nursing satisfaction, the experimental group demonstrated a higher satisfaction rate (P < 0.05). Clinical nursing quality scores were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The perianal abscess disease-related knowledge scores after intervention were significantly higher in the experimental group than those in the control group (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Visual health education nursing can help patients better understand and deal with perianal abscess disease.

Objective: To determine the work engagement levels of hospital nurses and the predictive roles that nurses’ personal and organizational characteristics play.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed in this study, which included 549 nurses working in the Central Philippines. Nurses were selected through purposive sampling, and a self-report questionnaire outlining personal and organizational characteristics was employed. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) was applied to gather data about nurse engagement.

Results: The dedication score was the highest among the three dimensions of engagement while the vigor score was the lowest. Overall, Filipino nurses experienced an average level of work engagement. We observed significant relationships between a nurse’s age, years of experience in nursing, years in their present unit, and their position at work and their levels of engagement, vigor, sense of dedication, and absorption. Hospital capacity was a negative predictor of vigor, dedication, absorption, and overall work engagement. Further, the type of nursing contract was a negative predictor of vigor and dedication. The type of hospital and the nurse’s position were positive predictors of vigor, dedication, and absorption.

Conclusions: Filipino nurses were satisfactorily engaged at work. A number of nurses’ personal and organizational characteristics play a predictive role in their work engagement. Thus, nursing administrators must support, develop, and implement activities and measures that engage nurses at work.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Tian dan shu gan rehabilitation exercise in improving the short-term survival quality of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and explore whether patients’ symptoms, physical function, cognitive function, and psychosocial function are improved after this exercise.

Methods: Patients with acute myocardial infarction who underwent PCI in Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August to November 2020 were selected. A total of 110 patients were selected by the convenience sampling method. Patients in the control group were given routine nursing measures after PCI for coronary heart disease, and patients in the experimental group received Tian dan shu gan rehabilitation exercise in addition to routine nursing.

Results: After 3 wk, the quality of life in the experimental group was improved compared with that in the control group, and the differences in symptom scores, physical functions, cognitive functions, and psychosocial functions were statistically significant (P < 0.01). After 3 wk of Tian dan shu gan rehabilitation exercise, patients with body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 29.9 had the highest score of body function, which was statistically significantly better compared with that of other groups (P < 0.001). Patients who had remained bachelors for a long period of time had the highest score of symptoms, which was statistically significant compared with the other groups (P < 0.001). The nursing satisfaction of the experimental group was 96.3%.

Conclusions: Tian dan shu gan rehabilitation exercise was effective in improving the short-term quality of life of patients with acute myocardial infarction after PCI, and the nursing satisfaction rate was high, use of which should be further extended to more clinical patients.

Objective: To determine the risk factors for dehydration in elderly people in one of Elbehira Governorate’s villages.

Methods: A descriptive correlational design was utilized in this study. The study was conducted at Elnemaria village, Markaz Abo Elmatamir, Elbehira Governorate, Egypt. Data were collected using 3 tools: a structured interviewing questionnaire, a dehydration knowledge questionnaire, and a dehydration risk appraisal checklist.

Results: The study found that 29.5% of the participants were aged between 65 and 70. Males constituted 51% of the study participants. The majority of the study participants regularly took anti-acids, anti-inflammatory drugs, and diuretics. Among the elderlies comprising the respondents, 40% had a low level of knowledge regarding dehydration. More than half of the study subjects were at moderate risk for dehydration.

Conclusions: The study showed that half of the participants had diabetes and a medium level of information about dehydration. The study also showed in general that the elderly in the village are exposed to a moderate dehydration rate, and there is also a strong relationship between taking different types of medication and the occurrence of dehydration.

Objective: To explore experiences of Chinese nurses who study for Master of Science in Professional Practice (health care) in the United Kingdom.

Methods: A qualitative approach was applied, consisting of semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 8). The Colaizzi seven-step framework analysis method was used to extract themes.

Results: The themes that emerged are as follows: (1) gains from studying overseas, (2) difficulties during studying, and (3) impacts of learning experience on work. The gains for nurses studying overseas include the improvement of scientific research capabilities, reconstruction of critical thinking, and development of reflection ability. Difficulties while studying mainly include language barrier, strict assessment, and boring life.

Conclusions: The education of nursing postgraduate attaches importance to the cultivation of thinking. Nurses are very interested in nursing research including qualitative and quantitative methods. Nurses encountered language barriers in their study and life even though they knew a certain level of English.

Objective: Reproductive health (RH) rights are the rights of all persons, regardless of age, sex, or other traits, and they have the freedom to make decisions about their sexuality and RH. However, there is limited information about Ethiopians’ understanding of RH rights. Because little is known about the degree of knowledge and relevant predictors in the study area, this study was carried out to fill in the gaps.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 3 January to 25 January 2021 G.C to determine the knowledge level of RH rights and its associated factors among Wolkite University undergraduate medical students. The minimum estimated sample size was computed by using the simple population proportion formula of 95% confidence interval (CI), with 5% of marginal error, which was 318 students. The students were stratified based on their academic year and department. Each student was selected from each department by using the simple random sampling method based on their ID numbers. Data were collected by using a pre-tested, structured self-administered questionnaire. Epi Info version 3.5.1 was used for data coding, entering, and cleaning, and then the data were exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 for advanced analysis. The associated factors were identified by performing analysis for bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results: More than half (56.33%) of the participants were knowledgeable about reproductive and sexual rights and participated in RH clubs (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.46, 5.91). The paternal educational level (AOR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.34, 5.65) had an association with the knowledge of reproductive health rights.

Conclusions: The students’ knowledge regarding reproductive and sexual rights was found to be little. The Ethiopia Ministry of Education has to include reproductive and sexual rights in the curriculum of high school and higher institution studies.

Objective: To explore the current status and development of long-term care (LTC) research in terms of publications in China and Australia, to identify the major contributing authors and institutions, and to compare the research hotspots and trends between China and Australia in order to encourage informed collaborations and work in future.

Methods: We collected bibliometric data on the LTC of the elderly in China and Australia from 2009 to 2020 using Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS). CiteSpace software was used to analyze co-authorships, co-institutions, and co-keywords.

Results: A total of 826 articles in Chinese and 393 in English were included for analysis. The total number of publications showed an upward trend in both countries. The top 10 productive researchers and institutions in China and Australia were identified, and their collaboration network was revealed. Then, the knowledge maps of cooccurring keywords, respectively, showed the hotspots of “LTC insurance, disabled elderly, combination of medical and health care, nursing home” and “nursing home, dementia, quality of life, intervention” in China and Australia. Strong citation burst keywords illustrated the emerging trends of “combination of medical and health care, healthy aging” in China and “polypharmacy, prevention” in Australia.

Conclusions: This article provided an insight into LTC of the elderly in China and Australia, and research in this field is developing rapidly and is being increasingly valued. The findings will be useful for future researchers to facilitate collaboration, identify new topics, and support urgently needed research of LTC in China.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the predictive ability of instructors’ online caring behaviors, online learning burnout, and satisfaction with online learning on nursing students’ academic performance.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study employing the administration of online self-report measures among 606 undergraduate students in one large nursing school in the Philippines. Statistical analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics, Pearson’s r, and linear regression.

Results: The mean scores in the instructors’ online caring behaviors scale, online learning burnout scale, online learning satisfaction scale, and self-reported academic performance were 3.88 ± 0.70, 4.00 ± 0.84, 2.51 ± 0.96, and 3.25 ± 0.79 respectively. Satisfaction (β = 0.216, P = 0.000), burnout (β = 0.-098, P = 0.019), and instructors’ caring behaviors (β = 0.096, P = 0.030) explained 11.7% of the variability in the students’ academic performance.

Conclusions: Instructors’ caring behavior and levels of burnout and satisfaction are linked to students’ academic success in the virtual learning environment. This study calls for nursing instructors to be mindful of signs of burnout, employ proactive measures that promote satisfactory learning, and foster more caring behaviors in this time of global health crisis.

Objective: To explore the perioperative nursing of a newborn with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome.

Methods: We observed the blood glucose of the child and prevent infection of omphalocele before transportation and before the operation; after the operation, we performed airway nursing, blood glucose monitoring, urination observation, and tumor marker monitoring; finally, at the time of discharge from the hospital, we provided health education.

Results: After a series of perioperative nursing measures, the child was discharged smoothly from hospital 34 d after operation.

Conclusions: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is a rare congenital malformation. Timely and accurate observation and evaluation of the child during perioperative period and targeted nursing measures can effectively reduce or avoid the occurrence of postoperative complications.