Telehealth Simulation of Psychiatric and Chronic Disease Comorbidity: Response to the COVID-19 National Epidemic

The Effect of Education and Follow-up Provided via Tele-nursing on the Quality of Life of Patients With COVID-19

Background Patient education and follow-up can be accomplished without time or space constraints via tele-nursing. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of education and follow-up provided via tele-nursing on the quality of life of individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Method This semi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest design in a single group. It was conducted between April 1, 2021, and October 1, 2021, with 63 patients who presented to a state hospital. The Patient Information Form and the Duke Health Profile were administered to the patients prior to the education. Then, the patients completed the COVID-19 education program. Next, follow-up and counseling occurred via tele-nursing every other day for 14 days. At the end of the 14th day, the Duke Health Profile was once again administered to the patients. Results The patients had decreased physical, mental, and social health scores after the intervention. In addition, their pain, anxiety, and depression scores decreased. Conclusion Nurses should assume a more active role in patient education and include tele-nursing in nursing care. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(8):365-371.].

Development and implementation of virtual clinical skills experiences for psychiatric nurse practitioner students

ABSTRACT

The educational preparation of nurse practitioner (NP) students includes didactic content and clinical experiences. These clinical experiences can be via clinical rotations or simulation. Although there is no specific list of clinical skills to prepare NP students for professional practice, the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculties identifies core competencies for the basic education of NP students. These core competencies can be fulfilled through simulated clinical experiences. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions had to develop alternate methods of facilitating simulated clinical experiences for their NP students. Because of national, state, and university guidelines to transition all face-to-face educational activities to a virtual format, a Southeastern university simulation program developed and implemented virtual clinical skills experiences for psychiatric mental health NP students. Based on student survey results, the utilization of standardized patients in this virtual clinical skills experience proved beneficial and improved NP students' interviewing and communication skills via a telehealth format.

Analysis of Factors Influencing Telemedicine-Based Psychiatric Extended Care and Care of Psychiatric Patients

The aim of this paper is to understand the current situation of the care burden of patients with mental illness in remission and the factors affecting it in order to provide a scientific basis for targeted interventions. This paper reviews the concept of telemedicine, the application of telemedicine in home hospice care, and the remaining problems and improvement strategies of telemedicine in home hospice care, with the aim of providing a reference for the application of telemedicine in home hospice care in China. The Zarit Burden Scale, Family Care Scale, and Social Functioning Scale were used to conduct one-to-one interviews with 201 schizophrenic patients in remission and their primary caregivers in Hubei Province. Among them, 66, 72, and 25 cases (32.8%, 35.9%, and 12.4%) had mild, moderate, and severe burdens, respectively. Caregivers' family care and patients' social functioning were generally poor. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that caregiver age, caregiver education, caregiver family care, patient medical costs, and patient social functioning were factors influencing the burden of care for patients with schizophrenia in remission (P < 0.05). The government, mental health centers, and families should understand the level of caregiving burden of patients with schizophrenia in remission and the factors influencing it and provide targeted measures to reduce the caregiving burden.