Does self-care agency change between hospital admission and discharge? An Orem-based investigation

Carbon nanotubes: An effective platform for biomedical electronics

Cylindrical fullerenes (or carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) have been extensively investigated as potential sensor platforms due to effective and practical manipulation of their physical and chemical properties by functionalization/doping with chemical groups suitable for novel nanocarrier systems. CNTs play a significant role in biomedical applications due to rapid development of synthetic methods, structural integration, surface area-controlled heteroatom doping, and electrical conductivity. This review article comprehensively summarized recent trends in biomedical science and technologies utilizing a promising nanomaterial of CNTs in disease diagnosis and therapeutics, based on their biocompatibility and significance in drug delivery, implants, and bio imaging. Biocompatibility of CNTs is essential for designing effective and practical electronic applications in the biomedical field particularly due to their growing potential in the delivery of anticancer agents. Furthermore, functionalized CNTs have been shown to exhibit advanced electrochemical properties, responsible for functioning of numerous oxidase and dehydrogenase based amperometric biosensors. Finally, faster signal transduction by CNTs allows charge transfer between underlying electrode and redox centres of biomolecules (enzymes).

Patients' perceptions of the meaning of good care in surgical care: a grounded theory study

Background

Patients in surgical care have reported a fear of being discharged prior to sufficient recovery and a lack of control of their situation. Establishing the patient-nurse relationship is essential in the context of the care. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare has established indicators for good care for comparison, evaluation and improvement of the quality of the health care system. These indicators are knowledge-based, appropriate, safe, effective and equal health care, as well as care within a reasonable time and patient-centred care. Current core competence in nursing education include quality improvement, patient-centred care, teamwork and collaboration, using evidence-based practice, safety and informatics. This study investigates patients’ perceptions of the meaning of good care in inpatient surgical care.

Methods

Grounded theory according to Charmaz was chosen as the study design. Interviews were conducted with 13 patients from six surgical wards in the south of Sweden in 2014–2015.

Results

The results showed that patients in surgical care perceived good care as being safe, as they were vulnerable and anxious. This could be achieved through accessible care, reliable care, caring attitudes and participating in one’s own care. Patient participation was achieved by information and education and the possibility to affect their care.

Conclusion

Patients need safety to experience good care. Caring attitudes and patient participation can be attained through patient-centred care. Bedside handover can improve patients’ perceptions of accessible care and reliable care and can increase patient participation. Continuously maintaining competence and using evidence-based practice are needed to achieve reliable care.

Development and validation of the dietary sodium reduction self-care agency scale

A scale did not exist for measuring the capability or self-care agency of lowering salt consumption in older adults with hypertension. Therefore, our objectives were to develop and validate the Dietary Sodium Reduction Self-Care Agency Scale (DSR-SCA Scale). A 24-item scale was developed and tested in 242 older adults with hypertension. Exploratory factor analysis using principal components extraction, Rasch analysis, and internal consistency reliability were used to evaluate the DSR-SCA Scale. Principal components extraction with Promax rotation was used. An 11-item DSR-SCA Scale with three factor loadings, which measure proficiency, persuasiveness, and resourcefulness, was finalized after it was found to meet the criteria of a minimal factor loading of 0.40, with eigenvalues of 2.20, 1.73, and 1.64, respectively. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin was 0.80, and Bartlett's test was significant, χ(2) (df = 55) 403.71, p < 0.0001. The measures accounted for 51% of the total variance. Item infit and outfit mean square ranged from 0.88 to 1.18 and the infit and outfit standardized mean square was -1.8 to 1.7. The 11-item scale demonstrated internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.73 for the total scale. The results showed that the DSR-SCA Scale consisted of three factors that have adequate construct validity and reliability to measure power components and enabling capability related to Orem's self-care theory. This scale is brief, easy-to-complete, and useful for measuring salt reduction self-care agency in older adults with hypertension