Factors influencing fatigue among mothers with hospitalized children: A structural equation model

The effect of nurse support and social support on fatigue experienced by mothers whose children are hospitalized

The authors' aim in this study was carried out to determine the effect of social support and nurse support on fatigue experienced by mothers whose children were hospitalized. This is a descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional research study. Our study population consisted of all the mothers (n = 198) who had children hospitalized in the pediatric services of the public and training and research hospitals. Data were collected using a questionnaire, Nurse Parent Support Tool, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Brief Fatigue Inventory. Our finding the mothers accompanying their hospitalized children who received adequate nurse support were found to have less maternal fatigue.

Relationship between oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, practice, self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life among Chinese college students: a structural equation modeling approach

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the associations among oral health-related knowledge, attitudes, practice (KAP), self-rated oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among Chinese college students.

Methods

Of the 2000 participants, 1751 (87.55%) students answered an online questionnaire between October 2019 and January 2020. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to oral health, self-rated oral health, and OHRQoL. Structural equation modelling was applied to assess the associations among study variables.

Results

Among the total students, oral health-related knowledge and attitudes were satisfactory, while the oral health practice was not optimistic. The final model showed satisfactory fitness to the data. Oral health knowledge was associated with attitudes directly and positively. Attitudes toward oral health had a direct and positive effect on practice. Oral health knowledge had an indirect effect on practice through attitudes. Oral health practice was directly associated with self-rated oral health. Oral health knowledge, practice, and self-rated oral health all affected OHRQoL directly and positively, while attitudes had a direct negative impact on OHRQoL.

Conclusions

OHRQoL was influenced by oral health knowledge, attitudes, practice, and self-rated oral health. Our findings support the KAP theory. Limitations of the KAP model were also found.

Paediatric nurses' general self-efficacy, perceived organizational support and perceived professional benefits from Class A tertiary hospitals in Jilin province of China: the mediating effect of nursing practice environment

Background

General self-efficacy is considered one of the most influential parameters affecting the quality of clinical practice and nurses’ perceived professional benefits (NPPB). Perceived organizational support (POS) is regarded as being central in understanding job-related attitudes, and it is important to enhance POS for nurses to maintain their current employment. NPPB can further reduce nurses’ job burnout and turn-over intention. Many studies have explored the relationships among general self-efficacy, POS, nursing practice environment (NPE) and NPPB. However, a moderating effect of NPE has not been fully explored in nurses, especially among paediatric nurses.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October 2018 with 300 paediatric nurses from 3 Class A tertiary hospitals in Jilin Province. The respondents completed the General Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Organizational Support Scale, Practice Environment Scale and Nurses’ Perceived Professional Benefits Scale. The data were analyzed using path analysis and SPSS (version 23.0, IBM).

Results

General self-efficacy and POS were significantly positively associated with NPPB, which showed that the model had a good fit to the data. NPE was found to play a partial mediating role between POS and NPPB and also had a complete mediating role between general self-efficacy and NPPB.

Conclusions

The results suggest that general self-efficacy indirectly influences NPPB, and POS directly and indirectly influences NPPB by NPE. Effective measures should be taken to improve nurses’ practice environment in hospitals to raise nurses’ enthusiasm and confidence in their work.

A systematic integrative review of parents' experience and perception of sleep when they stay overnight in the hospital together with their sick children

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To elucidate knowledge available on parents' experience and perception of sleep when they stay overnight in hospital together with their sick children.

BACKGROUND

In Nordic countries, children are entitled to have at least one parent with them during hospitalisation. Parents' sleep, when accommodated at the hospital during the child's admission, may be a challenge.

DESIGN

A systematic literature search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO; period is restricted from 1 January 2007 to 1 April 2019. Studies included were those in which parents were accommodated in hospital with their child, 0-18 years of age, for at least one night. Original peer-reviewed scientific research papers conducting qualitative, quantitative or mixed designs were included. Systematic reviews were not included. This systematic integrative review was registered in PROSPERO and performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. All authors participated in study selection, data extraction and quality assessment of the literature.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included, and they varied in terms of origin, aims, design, methods used and sample size. Three overall main themes appeared: sleep quality, factors affecting sleep and consequences of sleep loss. Combined psychological factors were found to affect parents' sleep, as well as isolated psychological factors, for example, stress, anxiety, worries and difficult thoughts. Environmental and social factors were also identified, for example, privacy and caring for family.

CONCLUSION

Study of this subject is still in its exploratory phase. There is a need for the development of theory of substance in the clarification of the meaning of sleep among parents during difficult times such as children's hospitalisation.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Understanding risk factors associated with sleep and sleep deprivation in parents staying overnight in the hospital with their sick child is important, since lack of sleep may lead to serious stress-related outcomes for the parents.

Factors associated with health literacy in rural areas of Central China: structural equation model

Background

Health literacy is a strong predictor of health status. This study develops and tests a structural equation model to explore the factors that are associated with the health literacy level of rural residents in Central China.

Methods

The participants were recruited from a county-level city in Central China (N = 1164). Face-to-face interviews were conducted to complete the self-designed questionnaire of each participant. The questionnaire included items for the (1) demographic information, (2) socioeconomic status, and (3) health literacy of the participants. Mplus analyses were performed to evaluate the proposed model.

Results

The final model showed good fit for the data, and both demographic characteristics (i.e., age, BMI, and residence) and socioeconomic status (i.e., monthly income, occupation, and education level) were significantly associated with health literacy level. The effects of these two variables were − 0.277 (P < 0.05) and 0.615 (P < 0.001), respectively, and the model explained 70.2% of the variance in health literacy.

Conclusions

Health literacy was significantly associated with age, BMI, distance between residence and nearest medical institution, monthly income, occupation, and education level, whereas socioeconomic status was a dominant predictor of health literacy level. Targeting these factors might be helpful in allocating health resources rationally when performing health promotion work.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-019-4094-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An integrative review of the theory of unpleasant symptoms

AIMS

The aim of this study was to explore how the theory of unpleasant symptoms (TOUS) has been used in the methodological design and analysis of symptom research.

DESIGN

An integrative review, using Whittemore and Knafl's approach.

DATA SOURCES

Searches were conducted between 26 January-10 February 2018. Databases included CINAHL Complete, PubMed, Proquest Nursing and Allied Health Source, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Academic Search Complete and Google Scholar.

REVIEW METHODS

A systematic approach to searching, screening and analysing the literature was applied. The matrix method, content analysis, constant comparison, counting and clustering were used.

RESULTS

Sixty-four records were included. Most studies were quantitative, cross-sectional, instrument-based and conducted in the USA. Various symptoms and patient populations were represented and each of the TOUS concepts were explored.

CONCLUSION

Although the theory has a role to play in furthering symptom science, attention should be paid to the areas of the model and of symptom research that have received less attention. More complex statistical approaches and big data will help to illuminate symptom experiences. Additional focus on intervention studies and all symptom dimensions will help to advance symptom science research.

IMPACT

This review is the first to provide a comprehensive, systematic summary of the uses of the TOUS across the research literature to date. This theory is a diverse, holistic middle-range theory capable of being applied to multiple symptoms and populations. Researchers should consider using the theory as a conceptual framework for studies to advance symptom science and explore symptoms holistically.