Possible influence of spiritual and religious beliefs on hypertension

Assisting individuals with diabetes in the COVID-19 pandemic period: Examining the role of religious factors and faith communities

With the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, diabetes management has become more challenging than it has ever been. Studies on the management of diabetes during this time are required. Unfortunately, the lack of information on the potential role of religious factors and faith communities in diabetes management during the COVID-19 era prevents us from fully understanding the issue of diabetes management during the COVID-19 pandemic period. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes may benefit from some form of religious support from faith communities and their ability to cope could be fostered by some religious factors. It is unclear how religious factors and faith communities contribute to diabetes management. In this article, the authors examine how people with diabetes can be aided in the COVID-19 pandemic period from the perspective of religious factors and faith communities. Based on the studies identified, it appears that religious factors and faith communities play an important role in managing diabetes among patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of Islam-based religious program on spiritual wellbeing in elderly with hypertension

Background:

Lack of spiritual health in patients with hypertension leads to many mental, social, and physical effects, On the other hand, considering the prevalence of hypertension among the elderly, interventions to enhance their spiritual wellbeing is essential. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of religious programs based on Islam on spiritual wellbeing in elderly patients with hypertension who referred to the health centers of Isfahan in 2014.

Materials and Methods:

This study was a randomized clinical trial. The participants (52 elderly patients with hypertension) were randomly divided in to experimental and control groups. Religious program was implemented for the experimental group in eight sessions in two Isfahan health centers. Spirituality wellbeing survey (SWB) questionnaire was completed in three steps, namely, pretest, posttest and follow-up (1 month) in two groups. In the study, Chi-square test, independent t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variance were performed for analyzing the data.

Results:

Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the mean scores of spiritual wellbeing, the religious dimension, and the existential aspect of spiritual wellbeing of the two groups. However in the posttest step and follow-up stage, the mean scores of spiritual wellbeing, the religious dimension, and the existential aspect of spiritual wellbeing in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The religious program based on Islam promoted the SWB of elderly patients with hypertension; further, nurses can use these programs to promote the SWB of elderly patients with hypertension.

Spiritual and religious beliefs and practices and social support's relationship to diabetes self-care activities in African Americans

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship among spiritual and religious beliefs and practices, social support, and diabetes self-care activities in African Americans with type 2 diabetes, hypothesizing that there would be a positive association.

METHOD

This cohort study used a cross-sectional design that focused on baseline data from a larger randomized control trial. Diabetes self-care activities (summary of diabetes self-care activities) and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed, in addition to spiritual and religious beliefs and practices and social support based on the systems of belief inventory subscales I (beliefs and practices) and II (social support).

RESULTS

There were 132 participants: most were women, middle-aged, obese, single, high school educated, and not employed. Based on Pearson correlation matrices, there were significant relationships between spiritual and religious beliefs and practices and general diet. Additional significant relationships were found for social support with general diet, specific diet, and foot care. Based on multiple linear regression, social support was a significant predictor for general diet, specific diet, and foot care. Sex was a significant predictor for specific diet, and income was a significant predictor for blood glucose testing.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study highlight the importance of spiritual and religious beliefs and practices and social support in diabetes self-care activities. Future research should focus on determining how providers integrate patients' beliefs and practices and social support into clinical practice and include those in behavior change interventions.

Hypertension among the uninsured: tensions and challenges

PURPOSE

To explore the experience of living with hypertension (HTN) in uninsured Southern, Appalachian adults who receive care in a nurse practitioner-run clinic.

DATA SOURCES

Focus groups with 16 clients.

CONCLUSIONS

Living with hypertension encompassed living with many tensions and challenges. It was described by five organizing themes, each of which involved two basic themes held in tension. The organizing themes were: (a) centrality of HTN; (b) controllability of HTN; (c) visibility of HTN, (d) accessibility and quality of health care; and (e) existential reality.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Interventions are needed to help clients deal with the tensions and challenges; these include a greater focus on partnering with clients, individual and group educational activities, and developing community partnerships.

Religious and spiritual beliefs in stroke rehabilitation

Faith could dampen Post-Stroke Depression (PSD), which may negatively influence recovery. The present pilot study is an initial examination of the role of religion and spirituality on the functional recovery after a recent stroke. Data were analyzed from 112 consecutive stroke inpatients, who underwent a 2-month standard rehabilitation program. All participants received the Royal Free Interview (RFI), a semi-structured interview for religious and spiritual beliefs, and were assessed on their mood with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Functional status was measured by means of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The relationship between religious beliefs, mood improvements, and functional recovery was explored by means of a multiple linear regression. No association between faith and recovery of functional independence could be verified, neither religiousness as a "coping strategy" was associated with functional recovery in this study. An explorative study of a larger size, which also takes into consideration the cultural background and religious beliefs of all patients, is warranted in the longterm.

Piloting tailored teaching on nonpharmacologic enhancements for postoperative pain management in older adults

Despite many advances in the pharmacologic treatment of pain, the issue of unresolved postoperative pain continues to plague patients and health care professionals. Little seems to be known about the reasons why nonpharmacologic methods are not more widely used, particularly as they are commonly low in cost, easy to use, and largely free of adverse side effects. A central question has to do with what patients are taught about nonpharmacologic methods and how a novel mode of teaching can be embedded in practice. A seven-step pre-posttest teaching intervention pilot study was deployed with older joint replacement patients within the context of a translational research model. Results of the teaching pilot showed significant post-teaching changes in subjects' knowledge and attitudes about nonpharmacologic methods for pain management, high satisfaction with the nonpharmacologic methods they chose, and incrementally greater use of the nonpharmacologic methods over the course of the hospital stay. A randomized controlled trial of the study is now in the early planning stages in an effort to obtain generalizable results that will help solidify evidence of the impact of music, imagery, and slow-stroke massage on pain management and confirm the value of patient teaching as an important means of offering patients more options for managing their own pain.

Relationship between depression and specific health indicators among hypertensive African American parents and grandparents

African Americans are at greater risk for hypertension than are other ethnic groups. This study examined relationships among hypertension, stress, and depression among 120 urban African American parents and grandparents. This study is a secondary analysis of a larger nurse-managed randomized clinical trial testing the effectiveness of a telemonitoring intervention. Baseline data used in analyses, with the exception of medication compliance, were collected at 3 months' follow-up. Health indicators, perceived stress, and social support were examined to determine their relationship with depressive symptoms. A total of 48% of the variance in depressive symptomology was explained by perceived stress and support. Health indicators including average systolic blood pressure explained 21% of the variance in depressive symptomology The regression analysis using average diastolic blood pressure explained 26% of the variance in depressive symptomology Based on study results, African Americans should be assessed for perceived stress and social support to alleviate depressive symptomology.