Effects of Nursing Care Based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring on Anxiety, Distress, And Coping, When Infertility Treatment Fails: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The effects of nursing care based on Levine's Conservation Model on fatigue, depression, perceived social support, and sleep quality in infertile women: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model on depression caused by infertility, fatigue, perceived social support, and sleep quality levels.

METHODS

This study includes randomized controlled trial that was conducted from July 2019 to April 2020, with 65 Turkish women with infertility (experimental group: 34, control group: 31). We collected data using the Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Beck's Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. The experimental group received nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model. Data were analyzed using t-tests and χ2 tests analyses.

FINDINGS

As a result of the measurements made, it was found that the experimental group had a lower fatigue level than the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). It was also found that the experimental group had higher energy and perceived social support scores than the control group after the practice, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). As a result of the measurements made after the practice, it was found that the experimental group had a lower depression level than the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model decreased fatigue and depression in women receiving infertility treatment and increased perceived social support and sleep.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This research provides important findings about nursing care based on Levine's Conservation Model for women receiving infertility treatment. It decreased depression and fatigue and increased perceived social support and sleep quality.

Ethical challenges in caring for healthy older adults: Qualitative perspectives

BACKGROUND

Healthy aging is one of the essential aspects of a health promotion program in the elderly.

AIM

Exploring ethical challenges in healthy elderly care from the perspective of nurses, older adults, and families in the Iranian context.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This qualitative study was conducted using a content analysis approach in 4 health centers in northeastern Iran from 2017 to 2019. Semi-structured interviews, observation, review of elderly files, and focus groups were used to collect data.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The ethics committee of the university approved this study in Iran. This study adhered to the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. Ethical principles autonomy, confidentiality, and anonymity were considered for the participants. Participants were informed about the purpose of the study and submitted written informed consent regarding their participation.

FINDINGS

The central theme was: An unfair approach to caring for healthy older adults. The three categories were as follows: Forgotten human care, disrespect, and lack of a meaningful and trustworthy relationship. The 14 subcategories highlighted the ethical challenges of healthy aging care in health centers.

DISCUSSION

The findings showed that due to nurses' unfamiliarity with the concept of healthy aging, older adults are discriminated against in care centers. Creating a standard care program for healthy older adults ensures that ethical principles are followed for these clients.

CONCLUSION

Various individual and organizational factors lead to an unfair approach to caring for healthy elderly in health centers. The following factors can help improve the care of healthy aging and reduce ethical challenges in this area: Introducing nurses to the concept of healthy old age and its dimensions, creating a community-based approach in health centers, prioritizing health issues over health issues, Involvement of families and older adults in needs assessment-goal setting-implementation and evaluation of health services, and design of home visit programs to provide services to healthy elderly.

Differences in Fertility-Related Quality of Life and Emotional Status Among Women Undergoing Different IVF Treatment Cycles

Objective

The present study aimed to provide more insight into the possible differences in the fertility-related quality of life (FertiQoL) and emotional status of women undergoing different cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed, and a total of 432 women undergoing IVF treatment were recruited. FertiQoL scale, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), and perceived social support scale (PSSS) were used to analyze fertility-related QoL and emotional status. Data were analyzed comparing women undergoing different cycles of IVF treatments.

Results

A significant decrease in FertiQoL scores occurred in women with increased cycles of IVF treatment. Both anxiety and depression scores significantly increased with increased cycles of attempting IVF treatment. There was no significant difference detected in perceived social support among groups.

Conclusion

With the increase in the number of IVF treatment cycles, women's FertiQoL gradually decreased, while the risk of anxiety and depression gradually increased.

Effects of care given in line with Levine's Conservation Model on the quality of life of women receiving infertility treatment: A single blind randomized controlled trial

Although infertility is not a life-threatening condition, it decreases the quality of life of people. This single blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 80 women who received infertility treatment in an IVF Center located in a city center in the west of Turkey between May 2020 and February 2021. It was determined that thanks to the holistic care given in line with Levine's Conservation Model (LCM), fatigue levels of the women in the experimental group decreased, their energy levels increased, their structural, personal and social integrity was conserved and thus their quality of life improved compared to the women in the control group (all p < 0.001).

Factors affecting shift work sleep disorder in female shift work nurses: Integrating shift workers' coping with stress and transactional stress coping theory

Background

Nurses have to work different and often irregular shifts to provide care. This puts nurses at health risks, such as sleep impairment.

Design and methods

The aim of this study was to test the comprehensive conceptual framework for predicting shift work sleep disorder of female nurses, we used a structural equation model analysis based on shift worker's coping and transactional stress coping theory. This study used a cross-sectional design. We collected the data from three public hospitals and three private hospitals in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, with a total sample of 201 female shift work nurses. Data were collected from February to April 2020. We were also granted permission by the director and the head nurse of these hospitals. After obtaining the informed consent forms, we distributed the online self-report questionnaire using Google Forms. Demographic data were evaluated using descriptive statistical analysis. We used a structural equation model analysis to test the comprehensive conceptual framework for predicting shift work sleep disorder of female shift work nurses.

Results

The model's effectiveness in predicting factors contributing to shift work sleep disorder was confirmed by the good statistical fit indicated by the comparative fit index, root-mean-square error of approximation, incremental fit index, and Tucker Lewis Index.

Conclusions

This study provides evidences that workload and interpersonal conflict contribute to occupational stress. Workload, interpersonal conflict, and the biological sleep clock influences shift work sleep disorder through mediators of coping strategies and stress.

Correlation between self-awareness, communication ability and caring ability of undergraduate nursing students/A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Caring ability is the core ability of nursing. Here we explored the factors affecting the caring ability of undergraduate nursing students. Self-awareness and communication ability are potential variables to improve caring ability.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between self-awareness, communication ability and caring ability of domestic undergraduate nursing students and to explore whether communication ability has an intermediary effect between self-awareness and caring ability.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Undergraduate nursing students (n = 1411) who attended Dalian Medical University, Liaoning, China. Participants were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods using online platforms.

METHODS

The questionnaire used the Self-Consciousness Scale, Clinical Communication Competence Evaluation Scale and Caring Ability Inventory. The data were processed and analyzed by SPSS 24.0 and Amos 23.0. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were performed for data analysis.

RESULTS

There was a significant positive correlation between undergraduate nursing students' caring ability and their self-awareness and communication ability (p < 0.001). Communication ability played a partial mediating role between self-awareness and caring ability (p < 0.001), and the mediating effect was 34.2 %.

CONCLUSIONS

The self-awareness of undergraduate nursing students directly affects their caring ability and can also indirectly affect their caring ability through their communication ability. Educators can guide and cultivate student self-awareness and communication ability and promote self-regulation, so as to improve students' caring ability and improve clinical development.

A concept analysis of Watson's nursing Caritas process

AIM

The main objective of this analysis is to give an understanding of Watson's nursing Caritas as a concept.

DESIGN

Watson's nursing Caritas is an abstract concept, and difficult to define and operationalize because of its philosophical nature. Watson's nursing Caritas develops a clear relationship between care, caring factors, and the processes of human life.

METHODS

We used Walker and Avant's method. PubMed, Scopus, Ovid, EBSCO, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ProQuest were searched. "Caritas process" and "Watson's caring theory" were searched. In the primary search, 883 articles were found, but eventually, 25 articles were included in the study.

RESULTS

We define Watson's nursing Caritas as the process based on caring consciousness, engaging in reliable human caring relationships for healing support, integrity, and development of humanity that alters the concept of caring into a higher ethical commitment inspired by responsibility for others, and different meanings, including kindness, compassion, joyfulness, and peacefulness and leads to the establishment of caring behavior in clinical Watson's nursing Caritas, thus leading to improving performance.

CONCLUSION

Clinical nursing Caritas enables nurses to develop an effective human being relationship between nurse-client-family, and ultimately achieve a common experience and perception of caring.

Transpersonal care through Reiki: Experiences of family members of children with sickle cell disease

Objective: To understand the experiences of family members of children with sickle cell disease during transpersonal nursing care meetings mediated by Reiki. Materials and methods: Convergent care research, underpinned by Watson's Theory on Human Care, developed in a health facility for people with sickle cell disease in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The study was carried out from August to October 2016. Interviews with participants took place before and after six sessions of transpersonal care mediated by Reiki with seven family members. Thematic content analysis was applied to the data collected. Results: Participants realized the importance of cultivating self-recognition, identifying their fears and feelings, valuing self-care, reflecting on their health priorities and needs, and recognizing their potential for transforming their practices. After the meetings, feelings emerged towards valuing the self as a person to be cared for, reducing anxiety and stress, reconnecting with beliefs and deities, acceptance of the disease, the role of caregiver and the future, as well as better interaction with family members in order to manage conflicts harmonically. Conclusions: Transpersonal care favors nursing professionals’ autonomy to create their own way of thinking and practicing longitudinal care, which can be applied throughout the process of prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation of the disease to achieve healing. It is up to these professionals to deepen theoretically on this approach and use the Clinical Caritas Process in the systematization of nursing care.

Reliability and validity evaluation of the chinese version of the ethical sensitivity questionnaire for nursing students

BACKGROUND

Advances in technology and the expansion of nursing roles have led to complex ethical issues in nursing. Nursing students are the future clinical nursing workers and practitioners. The ethical sensitivity of nursing students is very important to the professional development of nursing students, which can strengthen the ethical cognition of nursing students, improve the ethical decision-making ability of nursing students, and is beneficial to the development of nursing students in the process of clinical practice and nursing education. However, there are no instruments to evaluate the ethical sensitivity of nursing students in China. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students (ESQ-NS).

METHODS

After obtaining the authorization of the author of the original scale, the study used the Brislin back-translation method for translation. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to examine the underlying factor structure of the translated questionnaire. The Cronbach alpha coefficient, the test-retest reliability, and the corrected item-total correlation were calculated to verify the internal consistency of the scale.

RESULTS

The Chinese version of ESQ-NS retained 13 items. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracts four common factors, and the cumulative variance contribution rate is 62.479%. The CFA reached the adaptive standard, and the discriminant validity of the scale was good. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of this scale was 0.821, and 4 dimensions were between 0.708 and 0.738. The results of the test-retest showed that Pearson's correlation coefficient of the overall ESQ-NS was 0.814. Corrected item-total correlation ranged from 0.337 to 0.542.

CONCLUSIONS

The Chinese version of the ESQ-NS has good reliability and validity, which can be used to evaluate the level of ethical sensitivity of nursing students in China.

A feasibility study of a psychoeducation intervention based on Human Caring Theory in nulliparous women with fear of childbirth

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of psychoeducation program based on the Human Caring Theory on the level of fear of childbirth (FOC) by comparing the antenatal education classes.

METHODS

This feasibility study was conducted in a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial on 24 nulliparous women with FOC between July and October 2018. The women received five sessions of psychoeducation and four sessions of antenatal education. The primary outcome was the level of FOC in prenatal period, and the secondary outcomes were the rate of preference for vaginal birth (VB) in prenatal period, the rate of VB, and the level of FOC in postnatal period. The level of the FOC was assessed using Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire A and B.

RESULTS

Although the levels of FOC of the women decreased in both groups for post-treatment, the decrease in the psychoeducation group was significantly higher compared to the antenatal education group (p = 0.022). In the postnatal period, the level of FOC of psychoeducation group was statistically lower than that of the antenatal education group (p = 0.000). Furthermore, all the women in the psychoeducation group and 58.33% of the women in the antenatal education group wanted to have a VB at the end of the program (p = 0.012). However, there was statistically no difference between the groups in terms of the birth type (p = 0.342).

CONCLUSIONS

There seems to be an indication that the psychoeducation program based on Human Caring Theory might have a benefit to reduce the level of FOC of women compared to the antenatal education classes.

Analysis of the levels of hope and influencing factors in infertile women with first-time and repeated IVF-ET cycles

Purpose

To explore the hope levels and influencing factors in infertile women undergoing first-time and repeated in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional and convenient sampling study conducted among patients undergoing IVF-ET from January to June 2019. Patients were divided into first-time and repeated groups by the number of IVF-ET cycles, and then a questionnaire survey was administered. The questionnaire included demographic information, Herth hope index (HHI) scale, Locke-Wallace short marital-adjustment test scale and social support rating scale. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse the influencing factors associated with hope levels.

Results

A total of 298 IVF-ET patients were recruited for the study, including 150 (50.3%) in the first-time cycle group and 148 (49.7%) in the repeated cycle group. The HHI score of the repeated cycle group was significantly lower than that of the first-time cycle group (34.4 ± 3.5 vs. 37.5 ± 3.7, P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that repeated IVF-ET and age were independently negatively correlated with HHI, with standardized coefficient β values of − 0.895 and − 0.223, respectively (both P < 0.001). High education level (P = 0.002), high monthly income (P = 0.020), high degree of short marital-adjustment test (P < 0.001) and social support rating (P < 0.001) were independently positively correlated with HHI.

Conclusion

Infertile women undergoing repeated IVF-ET have low hope levels. Maintaining a good marriage adjustment and establishing a good social support and relationship network could effectively improve their hope levels.

Hope level is closely related to patients' mental health and emotional state. Therefore, improving the hope level of infertile women with IVF-ET could contribute to relieving the psychological pressure of patients and improving the success rate of pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate the hope level of infertile women with different IVF-ET cycles and analyse its influencing factors to provide guidance for clinical nurses to clarify the intervention objects, select reasonable intervention measures and improve the hope levels of patients. A total of 298 IVF-ET patients were recruited in the study, including 150 in the first-time cycle group and 148 in the repeated cycle group. The results showed that the hope level of patients with repeated IVF-ET cycles was significantly lower than that of patients undergoing first-time treatment. We also analysed its influencing factors and found that repeated IVF-ET cycles and age were independent negative correlation factors in hope levels. High monthly income, living in the city, high marital adjustment and social support score were independent positive correlation factors in hope levels. Therefore, maintaining a good marriage adjustment and establishing a good social support and relationship network could effectively improve their hope levels.

One couple's experience with infertility: Nursing theory-based practice case study

Infertility can be devastating for some couples. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate a translation of knowledge and nursing theory-based practice regarding nursing care of couples experiencing infertility through a case study approach. It is important to consider the translation of knowledge to probable scenarios so that we may have opportunities to be better prepared when addressing such situations in actual nursing practice. Data sources include current literature, theoretical perspectives on power as knowing participation in change and nursing classifications. Data synthesis is illustrated within the context of a simulated case study of a couple experiencing unexplained secondary infertility through the application of a theory-based practice methodology, health patterning. The authors conclude that the theoretical perspectives of unitary science and the theory of power as knowing participation in change can be applied in practice. Theory-based practice methodologies such as health patterning offer an opportunity to provide holistic care to couples experiencing infertility. Using these theoretical perspectives, nurses can engage with couples expressing a readiness for enhanced power for a desired change. Nursing implications include the value of theory-based practice and the essential view of couples as unique human beings. In addition, it demonstrates the ongoing usefulness of case study approaches for nursing education as vehicles to enhance awareness of unitary experiences, updates to clinical care, and demonstration of the application of theory to practice.

Effects of a nursing care program based on the theory of human caring on women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer: a pilot study from Turkey

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

This pilot study aimed to determine the effects of a nursing care program based on the Theory of Human Caring (THC) on chemotherapy symptoms, hope, and meaning in life in women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer.

DESIGN/METHODS

This pilot study was conducted in a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial on 52 women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer in Turkey. In the present study, the experimental group was given a nursing care program based on the THC alongside routine nursing care for five sessions, while the control group received solely routine nursing care. Data were collected using the Chemotherapy Symptom Assessment Scale, the Herth Hope Scale, and the Life Attitude Profile.

FINDINGS

There was a statistically significant decrease in the frequency, severity, and degree of discomfort of some chemotherapy symptoms in the experimental group. In addition, the mean scores of hope and meaning in life were significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS

This study revealed that a nursing care program based on the Theory of Human Caring might be of benefit for decreasing the frequency, intensity, and discomfort level of some chemotherapy symptoms, and also for improving the level of hope and meaning in life in women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer.

The Effect of Counseling on Stress in Infertile Women Admitted to an Infertility Center in Hamadan City, Iran

Background:

Infertility can result in many problems for couples. In most cases, the stress and anxiety of treating infertility can reduce fertility and affect marital disputes. The provision of counseling and informing can reduce stress and improve couples’ relationships and positively influence infertility treatment in many cases. The present study, therefore, was conducted to evaluate the effect of counseling on the stress of infertile women admitted to an infertility center in Hamadan City, Iran.

Methods:

The present study was performed as a two-group randomized clinical trial with two pretest and posttest stages on 104 eligible women admitted to Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan during 2017-18. Members of the intervention group received group counseling with a cognitive-behavioral approach to stress reduction in four 1-h sessions during the 4 weeks. Data were obtained using demographic characteristics and Harry’s Stress Assessment questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software, paired and independent t-test, and analysis of covariance at a significance level of < 0.05.

Results:

Mean stress scores were 181.82 ± 15.9 and 189.11 ± 2.1 in the pre-intervention stage, and 174.6 ± 29.6 and in the test group 78.10 ± 1.3 in the post-intervention phase in the test and control groups, respectively. High-stress levels were observed in both groups before the intervention. Independent t-test revealed that mean stress scores were significantly different in the two groups at both pre- and post-intervention stages (P < 0.05). The paired t-test indicated a significantly reduced stress score in the intervention group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Stress management counseling in infertile women can play a positive and effective role in stress mitigation and promotion of their mental health. Therefore, the effect of this counseling can be more reliably emphasized on improving the effectiveness of infertility treatment.

Women and Infertility in a Pronatalist Culture: Mental Health in the Slums of Mumbai

Background

Infertility is a global problem, with high prevalence in India. As a pronatalist society, infertility is particularly problematic in India, causing stigma, shame, and blame especially for women. Infertility consequences for women include discrimination, social exclusion, and abandonment, putting them at high risk for mental health distress. Furthermore, mental health is highly stigmatized and specialized care is largely unavailable. Despite the cultural importance of childbearing, research on infertility distress and resulting mental health sequelae is lacking, particularly among low-income women. The purpose of this study is to assess mental health, using validated scales, among Mumbai slum-dwelling women with a history of infertility.

Methods

We conducted a mixed-method, cross-sectional study. A focus group discussion with community health workers (n = 7) informed the development of a comprehensive survey. The survey consisted of validated scales whenever possible, in addition to questions pertaining to women’s sociodemographic and reproductive history. After rigorous forward and back translation, the surveys were conducted as face-to-face structured interviews due to low literacy levels and the research naiveté of our respondents. Interviews were conducted by culturally, linguistically, gender-matched, trained research assistants.

Results

Mumbai slum-dwelling women of reproductive age suffering from infertility (N = 74) participated. Most (85%) women and their husbands (66%) reported previous infertility testing. Participants had elevated mental health distress (anxiety and depression symptomology) largely explained by general health, length of marriage, and coping strategy employed.

Conclusion

Women facing the double stigma of mental health and infertility need innovative programs to address their challenges.

Effect of infertility causes related to gender differences on Women's distress levels among patients utilizing a Turkish university hospital

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the effect of causes of infertility related to gender differences on the distress level of women who were treated for infertility.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The sample consisted of 314 women who were treated for infertility between September 2016 and June 2017. Data were collected as “Sociodemographic Characteristics Form” and “Infertility Distress Scale.”

Findings

A statistically significant difference was found between the mean distress scores of the women for whom the reason for infertility was related to a female factor, and of the women for whom this reason was related to a male factor.

Research limitations/implications

The situation should be determined with quantitative studies, and the reason for the differences should be determined with qualitative studies.

Practical implications

Infertility nurses should develop a care plan that ensures that couples understand their feelings, and which enhances their mutual respect and partnership.

Social implications

The study highlights the importance of cultural awareness in the care of infertile couples.

Originality/value

The authors highlight some important aspects about the gender difference on women's distress level.

Psychosocial Consequences of Female Infertility in Iran: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Although not a life-threatening condition, infertility does influence various aspects of life. Based on a meta-analysis of the relevant literature, the aim of this study is to identify the psychosocial consequences of infertility in Iranian women. Methods: Comprehensive Portal of Human Sciences, Magiran, Scientific Information Database, Noormags, MEDLIB, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Medline, and ProQuest were the databases searched from inception (1999) to 2018. To maximize the comprehensiveness of the search, the reference lists of all the relevant papers identified were manually examined. The evaluation of the content was based on PRISMA guidelines, and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software was used for data analysis. Results: Based on the analysis of 124 quantitative papers, the psychosocial consequences of infertility in women in Iran can be classified into 14 categories: psychological well-being (effect size = 3.10), adaptation to infertility (effect size = 2.71), quality of life (effect size = 1.83), depression (effect size = 1.80), anxiety (effect size = 1.72), marital relationships (effect size = 1.37), personality disorders (effect size = 1.37), violence (effect size = 1.31), social support (effect size = 0.90), self-efficacy (effect size = 0.90), coping strategies (effect size = 0.84), irrational thoughts (effect size = 0.77), somatization disorders (effect size = 0.65), and sexual dysfunction (effect size = 0.55). Conclusion: Considering the wide-ranging psychosocial consequences of infertility in women, it is necessary for treatment to account for psychological factors.

Infertility and Psychological and Social Health of Iranian Infertile Women: A Systematic Review

Objective: Infertility influences various emotional, psychological, social, and relational aspects of women's lives. By employing a systematic review on the papers published in this field, this study aimed to identify the consequences of infertility on psychological and social health of women in Iran. Method : This was a descriptive study, conducted through a systematic review according to the directions denoted by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) in 2018. To investigate the entirety of the published studies on the sociopsychological consequences of women's infertility in Iran, various databases, including Comprehensive Human Science Portal, Scientific Information Databases (SID), Magiran, National Library and Archives of I. R. IRAN, Noormags, MEDLIB, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Medline, and ProQuest, were explored for the studies published between 1991 and 2018. The selected papers were evaluated according to the content analysis method. Results: Out of the 53 papers investigated, 27 were published in domestic journals (51%), while the remaining 26 papers were published in international journals and were in English (49%). The results revealed that sociopsychological consequences of women's infertility are categorized in 6 main categories: (1) quality of life, (2) depression, (3) anxiety, (4) social support, (5) violence, and (6) sexual function. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used to design psychocognitive interventions and assist women in decreasing the emerging psychological pain and pressure.

The Effect of Watson's Human Caring Model on Meaning of Life and Symptom Management in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Watson's Human Caring Model on the meaning of life and symptom management in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

DESIGN

The study was conducted using a real test model featuring a pretest and posttest and a control group.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 158 adult cancer patients (79 in both the experimental and control groups). The sample size was determined and the participants were allocated to groups using power analysis and a random sampling method. For the pretest, both groups completed an introductory questionnaire, the Life Attitude Profile, and the General Symptom Inventory. Then, the experimenter visited the experimental group patients' homes three times, at 2-week intervals, to provide nursing care based on Watson's model. Finally, after 8 weeks, a posttest was conducted by having both groups complete the Life Attitude Profile and General Symptom Inventory once again.

RESULTS

In the experimental group, the mean total posttest score for the Life Attitude Profile was determined to be 164.21 ± 36.5, and the mean total General Symptom Inventory score was 55.06 ± 13.19; however, in the control group, the mean total Life Attitude Profile score was 127.31 ± 10.61 and the mean total General Symptom Inventory score was 136.91 ± 16.20. The mean differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < .001).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Care based on Watson's model increases the sense of meaning in life and decreases symptom levels for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Perinatal women's satisfaction with nurses caring behaviours in teaching hospitals in China

BACKGROUND

Adequate caring behaviours provided by nurses can increase patients' satisfaction of care. Yet few researchers have examined women's satisfaction in nurses' caring behaviours in China and then published the study in English.

AIM

The aim of this study was to identify the level of women's satisfaction with nurses' caring behaviours during the antenatal, childbirth and postnatal periods.

METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed using a sample of 422 postpartum women of two teaching hospitals in Wuhan, China. A structured questionnaire on socio-demographic information was completed, and a satisfaction scale of 60 items concerning nurses' caring behaviours was measured.

RESULTS

The findings showed that participants reported a good satisfaction score for nurses' caring behaviours during all three periods. Behaviours on the 'Monitor' subscale obtained the highest score (a mean score of 4.46 for the antenatal period, 4.64 for the childbirth period and 4.31 for the postnatal period). The subscale with the second highest score was 'Human respect' (4.53, 4.27 and 4.56, respectively), while the subscale with the lowest score was 'Trust' (3.78 and 3.98). The statistical significances of the demographics of the women were shown concerning their perceived satisfaction of five subscales of caring behaviours.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed no statistically significant differences in the perceived satisfaction in nurses' caring behaviours between the antenatal, childbirth and postnatal periods. However, nursing administration development projects that focus on caring are still needed. Additionally, more studies that reflect Watson's theory of human caring on the maternity population should be conducted with a larger sample size.

Are levels of coping with stress in pregnancy with gestational diabetes worse than in healthy pregnancy?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the levels of coping with stress in healthy pregnant women in comparison with the levels of coping with stress in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Materials and methods: In the study, the descriptive cross-sectional research design was used. The study was carried out with 218 pregnant women in total. Results: It was found that the healthy pregnant women had a higher total score for coping with stress and used the self-confident coping style, one of the effective coping styles, more frequently when compared to the pregnant women with GDM (p < .001). In addition, the pregnant women with GDM used the desperate coping style, one of the ineffective coping styles, more frequently than the healthy pregnant women (p < .001). Conclusions: Diabetes education that nurses give should allow not only the nurses to evaluate the coping levels of pregnant women with GDM, but also to teach these pregnant women how to use effective coping styles.

Cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Caring Efficacy scale in a sample of Italian nurses

Caring is the essence of nursing practice. Caring Efficacy scale was developed with the purpose of measuring nurses' perceived self-efficacy in orienting and maintaining caring relationships with patients. Since any instruments measuring caring self-efficacy have not been developed in Italy, the study aimed at culturally adapting and validating Caring Efficacy scale in a sample of Italian nurses. A total of 300 registered nurses were asked to fill a self-reported questionnaire; translation-back-translation procedure was carried out to maintain semantic, idiomatic and conceptual equivalence of the original scale. Then, factor analysis was performed in order to test appropriateness of the factor structure. Convergent and discriminant validity was also tested. A two-factor structure with 17 items was found. Results show that Cronbach's Alpha value was 0.84 for Confidence to Care, and 0.75 for Doubts and Concerns. Correlation analysis for convergent and discriminant validity showed that Confidence to Care was positively correlated with sense of coherence and no significant correlation with Doubts and Concerns was found. Caring efficacy scale can be used by nurse managers as a way of assessing nurses' self-efficacy and their caring orientation, thus improving quality of patient care.

The Current Intervention Studies Based on Watson's Theory of Human Caring: A Systematic Review

This article reviewed 19 intervention studies based on Watson's Human Caring Theory between January 2005 and February 2018. The studies reviewed targeted on promoting patients', nurses', and nursing students' psychological health and patient care experiences. Most (15/19; 78.95%) of the studies in this review indicated that Watson's caring science-based interventions could decrease patients' emotional strains, increase patients' self-management confidence and emotional well-being, increase nurses' job satisfaction and engagement, and improve nursing students' confidence in the clinical performance and the awareness of caring behaviors. Nursing is a discipline that requires both scientific knowledge and the art of human caring.

The Effect of Watson’s Care Model on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress in Turkish Women

This study was designed to determine the effect of the care, given according to Watson’s model, on depression, stress, and anxiety levels of women who underwent medical abortion. This study was conducted between 2016 and 2017 as a real test model with a pretest-posttest control group. The data were collected by the researcher in women’s homes. Watson’s model decreased DAS levels of the women in the experimental group after the medical abortion.

The Human Responses and Nursing Diagnoses of Those Living With Infertility: A Qualitative Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To systematically retrieve, critique, and synthesize patients' human responses about living with infertility and identify possible related nursing diagnoses according to NANDA-I.

METHODS

Systematic review of qualitative nursing studies.

FINDINGS

A total of 39 papers were included, 49 human responses, and 77 potential infertility-related nursing diagnoses were identified across three themes. Main foci matching nursing diagnosis were related to spiritual well-being, spiritual distress, and resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients respond to infertility in a variety of ways and this raises the need for a more effective, holistic, and accurate nursing diagnosis.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The accuracy of the nursing diagnosis is critical in raising the quality of the nursing process and in meeting infertile patients' circumstances and care expectations.