Effect of Counseling on Quality of Life and Self-Care Agency for Patients Who are Scheduled for Total Knee Replacement

This study aims to determine the effect of counseling on quality of life and self-care agency for patients who are scheduled for total knee replacement (TKR). The study has a quantitative and quasi-experimental design with a control group. The patients in the control group ( n = 40) received routine care. Face-to-face and telephone counseling was offered to individuals in the intervention group ( n = 39). The data was collected at face-to-face interviews by using a patient characteristics form, Quality of Life Scale, and Self-Care Agency Scale. The scores for quality of life and self-care agency in the 6th to 8th and 14th to 16th weeks after surgery were very significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group ( p < .001). This study shows that counseling given by the nurse increases the quality of life and self-care agency of patients undergoing TKR.

Application Effect of Meticulous Nursing on Community Elderly Patients with Coronary Heart Disease under the Background of Medical Treatment Partnerships

Objective. To explore the application effect of meticulous nursing on community elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) under the background of medical treatment partnerships. Methods. A total of 96 elderly CHD patients treated in the community from July 2019 to July 2020 were selected as the research objects and divided into the experimental group (n = 48) and control group (n = 48) by the medical personnel according to their admission order. Clinical routine nursing was performed to the patients in the control group, and meticulous nursing under the background of medical treatment partnerships was conducted to the patients in the experimental group, so as to evaluate their quality of life (QOL) and self-care agency after intervention by the Chinese Questionnaire on Quality of Life in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease (CQQC) and Exercise of Self-Care Agency (ESCA) scale. Results. Compared with the control group after intervention, the patients in the experimental group presented significantly higher ESCA scores, HHI scores, and CQQC scores and longer 6 min walking distance ( P < 0.001 ) and remarkably lower POMS scores ( P < 0.001 ) and had obviously higher numbers of cases with various health-related actions ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Meticulous nursing under the background of medical treatment partnerships is a reliable method for improving the QOL and mood state of community elderly CHD patients, which greatly promotes patients’ self-care agency and expectation. Further research will be conducive to establishing a better solution for patients.

Effect of WeChat-Based Health Education Combined with Satir Model on Self-Management Behaviors and Social Adaptation in Colorectal Cancer Patients during the Perioperative Period

Objective. To explore the effect of WeChat-based health education combined with the Satir model on self-management behaviors and social adaptation in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients during the perioperative period. Methods. A total of 100 CRC patients treated in our hospital from April 2018 to April 2020 were selected as the objects for the retrospective study and divided into the observation group and the reference group according to their admission order, with 50 cases each. The patients in both groups accepted health education based on the WeChat platform, and additionally, those in the observation group received the Satir group intervention on self-approval for 3 months to compare the patients’ scores on self-management behaviors, social adaptation, and self-care agency before and after the intervention between the two groups. Results. Between the observation group and the reference group, the patients’ general information, including age, gender ratio, and course of the disease, was not statistically different ( P > 0.05 ). After nursing intervention, the scores on patients’ self-management behaviors, social adaptation, and self-care agency were significantly higher in the observation group than in the reference group ( P < 0.001 ). Conclusion. Combining the WeChat-based health education with the Satir model can improve the self-management awareness in the CRC patients during the perioperative period, enhance their self-care agency and self-management behaviors, and promote their social adaptation, demonstrating that such a nursing intervention model is worthy of clinical promotion.

Gender-Specific Differences in Self-Care, Treatment-Related Symptoms, and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients

Gender and sex differences affect women with kidney failure (KF) negatively at all stages of the disease. This study assessed gender differences in self-care, hemodialysis symptoms, and quality of life in a sample of 102 adult KF patients treated with hemodialysis, from two clinical centers in Mexico. Self-care agency, quality of life, and the symptoms related to hemodialysis were evaluated through questionnaires, and sociodemographic and laboratory variables were obtained from the clinical records. Compared to male patients, female patients reported similar self-care, lower quality of life subscales (symptoms, physical functioning, pain, and overall health), and higher prevalence and intensity of hemodialysis symptoms. There were gender differences regarding the correlation between self-care and quality of life, symptoms intensity, and symptoms prevalence. In conclusion, women with KF treated with hemodialysis perceived a higher impact of hemodialysis and reported a lower quality of life than men. Despite having a similar self-care agency, the self-care correlations with quality of life and hemodialysis symptoms appeared different between men and women treated with chronic hemodialysis. Such differences may be important in future nursing interventions to improve self-care and quality of life among KF patients.

The Apraissal of Self-care Agency Scale and its relation to health behaviors and conditions in older adults

The objective of this work was to contribute to the study of the validity of the “Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale” (ASA scale) in older adults and to analyze its association with health-related behaviors and conditions. A questionnaire was constructed and applied to 165 elderly residents of Michoacán, Mexico. A confirmatory factor analysis of the scale's one-dimensional model was carried out, and also an analysis of internal consistency, as well as an analysis of the relationship with other variables based on group comparisons, exploring the effect of the elimination of inverse items. Overall, the reduced scale performed better although the one-dimensional model maintained a limited fit in the confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency was satisfactory in both scales (α coefficient= .806 and .826, respectively). In addition, some important group comparisons were identified with anthropometric measurements. In conclusion, tests were found supporting the validity of the ASA scale in older adults, although more evidence is still needed regarding its construct and criterion validity.

Rethinking Employer Communication and Support for Home Care Aides: A Case Study of Pandemic Group Support Calls

This case study explores an employer-initiated biweekly group support call for home care aides implemented by a large New York City-based home care agency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we investigate how agency staff used information gathered through these calls to intervene into existing agency communication and support systems for aides. Our single-site case study analyzes detailed notes from almost 100 support calls that took place between April 2020 and March 2021, as well as interviews with agency staff from communications, human resources, nursing, and other departments that support aides. We compare and contrast new communication and support mechanisms advanced in conjunction with these calls with agency systems pre-pandemic. Our findings suggest that while calls were initially targeted toward providing emotional and operational support, staff also advocated for more systemic supports. We discuss the sustainability of these new efforts, as well as ongoing barriers and gaps.

O autocuidado de mulheres transexuais à Luz da Teoria do Déficit de Autocuidado de Orem

Objetivo: Conhecer o autocuidado de mulheres transexuais à Luz da Teoria do Déficit do Autocuidado de Orem. Método: Estudo com 12 mulheres transexuais do Ambulatório de Sexualidade de um Hospital Universitário do Maranhão, Brasil. Foi utilizada a Escala Appraisal of Self-care Agency (ASA-A) para avaliar a capacidade de autocuidado das participantes. Resultados: Mais da metade das entrevistadas fazem ajustes para manutenção da saúde mediante às mudanças situacionais (58,3%), certificam se as ações habituais praticadas para manter-se saudável são boas (66,7%), relatam estímulo para realizarem seu autocuidado (66,7%) e procuram alternativas mais atuais para se cuidarem (83,3%). A maioria das mulheres apresenta boa capacidade de autocuidado (66,7%). Conclusão: Conhecer os significados que mulheres transexuais atribuem ao autocuidado constitui-se relevante pela singularidade na saúde e educação que emergem ao contato com a diversidade e identidade.

The Effect of Depression in High-Risk Pregnant Women On Self-Care Agency: The Mediating Role of Resourcefulness

Background Mental problems such as anxiety and depression are prominent among high-risk pregnant women, and their self-care agency is poor. As an effective cognitive-behavioral self-control technique, resourcefulness 's mechanism in the effect of depression on self-care agency is still unclear. Therefore, this article aims to construct and test a hypothetical model linking the resourcefulness of high-risk pregnant women with depression and prenatal self-care agency. Methods 500 high-risk pregnant women from three tertiary hospitals in Gansu, North-west of China, were recruited. Chinese Resourcefulness Scale, the Reliability and Validity of Patient Health Questionnaire Module (PHQ-9), and Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale were used. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the path relationships and mutual effects between resourcefulness, depression and self-care agency. Results Self-care agency is a protective factor for depression in high-risk pregnant women(OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.32 ~ 0.75). The level of resourcefulness is negatively correlated with depression(r=-0.34, P < 0.01). Resourcefulness has a direct positive predictive effect on the self-care agency of high-risk pregnant women(r = 0.52, P < 0.01). The resourcefulness is a mediating variable between depression and self-care agency, and the mediating effect accounts for 65.99% of the total effect. Conclusion Resourcefulness is a mediating variable between depression and self-care agency in high-risk pregnant women. Nurses should pay attention to the level of resourcefulness of high-risk pregnant women and conduct positive assessments, so as to take intervention to reduce the level of depression and increase self-care agency.