Framework of humanistic care for patients in the ICU: A preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Humanistic care involves caring, concern, paying attention to people's individuality, meeting their needs and respecting their rights, which is the core concept and central task of nursing. Effective care can enhance patients' ability to deal with stress and promote patient recovery. Implementing humanistic care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is particularly important for health care providers.

AIM

This study aims to develop a framework of the humanistic care in the ICU.

STUDY DESIGN

The qualitative research followed Strauss' procedural grounded theory approach. Purposive sampling and theoretical sampling were used to select 12 nurses in the Department of Critical Medicine, 16 patients, and eight family members for semi-structured interviews from October 2020 to April 2021. Results were summarized and analysed through three-level coding based on grounded principles.

RESULTS

Sixteen subcategories and six main categories were extracted after three-level coding, and the final ICU humanistic care framework was formed with home, activity, visit, environment, nursing and safety ("HAVENS") as the core.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides an explanatory theory of humanistic care in the ICU that can guide nurses' practice in ICU clinical work.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This theory provides guidance for nurses to implement humanistic care in critical care practice to improve the ICU stay experience of critically ill patients.

[Effect of Concept and Practice of Palliative Care on the Death Status of Patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital]

Objective To analyze the changes of death status of the inpatients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital before and after the development of palliative care.Methods All the death cases of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2013 (384 cases) and 2019 (244 cases) were included in this study,and the general information of the patients and the details of diagnosis and treatment before death were collected.Results The departments of intensive care,emergency,and respiratory diseases and the international medical services had highest number of deaths in both 2013 and 2019,with the cumulative constituent ratios of 67.7% and 62.7%,respectively.The number of clinical departments that involved or implemented palliative care increased from 7 in 2013 to 14 in 2019.The number of patients who died in 2019 and exposed to palliative care increased (P<0.001) compared with that in 2013,and increasing patients received humanistic care (P<0.001).Compared with 2013,2019 witnessed reducing patients receiving vasoactive drugs (P=0.006),cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P=0.002),endotracheal intubation (P=0.002),invasive mechanical ventilation (P<0.001),and invasive operation (P<0.001) before death in 2019.Conclusion The concept and practice of palliative care have significantly reduced the proportion of terminal patients receiving traumatic treatment.

Humanistic care relieves mental distress of inpatients in the shelter hospital during COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai: a cross-sectional observational study

Objective

The prevalence of mental distress has been noted in shelter hospitals set up for COVID-19. Potential risk demographic and hospitalization factors were screened. We also aimed to determine whether humanistic care established in the shelter hospital was effective in ameliorating mental distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational survey-based single-centered study was conducted from 28th April to 5th May 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai. Asymptomatic adult inpatients and those with mild symptoms were recruited for this study, and humanistic care measures were carried out by the administrative office according to the Work Program on Psychological Assistance and Social Work Services at the Shelter Hospital launched on 5th March 2020. Symptoms of mental distress, such as reported stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia were measured using the Chinese Stress Response Questionnaire-28, the Chinese version of Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Insomnia Severity Index-7, respectively.

Results

In total, 1,246 out of 9,519 inpatients, including 565 (45.35%) women and 681 (54.65%) men, with a median age of 36 years responded to the survey. The overall prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia in inpatients was 94 (7.54%), 109 (8.75%), 141 (11.32%), and 144 (11.56%), respectively. Mental distress was aggravated by COVID-19-related symptoms, comorbidities, and prolonged hospital stays. A stable internet connection was the most effective measure to reduce stress and depression. Offering inpatient with study or work facilitations, and mental health education help to ameliorate anxiety and depression. Organizing volunteering was a potential protective factor against stress.

Conclusion

Humanistic care is crucial and effective for protecting against mental distress, which should be emphasized in shelter hospitals.

A Qualitative Study on the Humanistic Care Needs of Patients with Stroke and Their Families

Background

International stroke care guidelines recommend the routine assessment and management of psychological and emotional problems in patients and their families after a stroke. This study aimed to explore the humanistic nursing needs of patients with stroke and their families and provide a basis for the construction of humanistic nursing practice guidelines for advanced stroke.

Methods

From September to October 2019, using the descriptive phenomenological research method, a semi-structured interview outline was formed based on a literature review and subject group discussions. A targeted sampling method was used to investigate 21 patients with stroke and 21 family members, respectively, and their care needs were investigated in depth. Colaizzi's thematic cluster analysis was used to analyse the data, and a total of 6 themes and 14 sub-themes were summarised.

Results

The 6 themes and 14 sub-themes were as follows: ① psychological care, ② security concerns (professional personal integrity, timely response), ③ emotional care (service consciousness, positive incentives, empathy, effective communication, provision of a communication platform, personalised care), ④ respect for rights, ⑤ rehabilitation care (rehabilitation programme, professional guidance, rehabilitation configuration, continuation of services) and ⑥ family care (physical and psychological support, care guidance).

Conclusion

Among the humanistic care needs of patients with stroke and their families, the most basic physiological care accounts for the largest proportion of emotional and rehabilitation care, followed by safety care, respect for rights and family care. Based on the actual humanistic care needs of patients with stroke and their families, the practical effect of humanistic care in stroke wards can be improved. This study provides a reference for the construction of humanistic nursing practice guidelines for late stroke.

A Large-Scale Survey on Perceived Risk, Risk Emotions and Humanistic Care Needs Among Nurses During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the risk perception, risk emotions and humanistic care needs of nursing staff during the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on the perceived risk, risk emotions and humanistic care needs of 35,068 nurses in 18 cities of the Henan Province, China.We collected a total of 35,188 questionnaires, of which 35,068 were effectively returned, with an effective return rate of 99.7%. The collected data were summarized and statistically analyzed using Excel 97 2003 and IBM SPSS software.

Results

Nurses' risk perceptions and emotions vary during the covid-19 pandemic. In order to provide nurses with targeted psychological intervention to prevent nurses from suffering from unhealthy mental states.The results show that the total score of the nurses' risk perceptions of Covid-19 was 3.66 ± 0.39, the highest score of nurses' risk perception part is 5 points, and ≥3 points represent high risk and 88.3% of nurses believed that the Covid-19 risk was high. There were significant differences in the nurses' total perceived risk scores for Covid-19 based on gender, age, prior contact with patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 and previous participation in other similar public health emergencies (P < 0.050). Of the nurses included in the study, 44.8% had some level of fear relating to Covid-19 and 35.7% were able to remain calm and objective. There were significant differences in the total scores for risk emotions relating to Covid-19 based on gender, age and prior contact with patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 (P < 0.050). Of the nurses included in the study, 84.8% were willing to receive humanistic care and 77.6% of these expected to be provided with humanistic care by institutions in the healthcare sector.

Conclusion

Nurses with different basic data have different risk cognition and risk emotions. Different psychological needs should be considered, and targeted multi-sectoral psychological intervention services should be provided to help prevent nurses from developing unhealthy psychological states.

Moderating effects of humanistic care and socioeconomic status on the relationship among pain intensity, psychological factors, and psychological function in adults with cancer pain from a province of China: A cross-sectional study

Objective

The objective of this study is to explore whether humanistic care practiced by clinical pharmacists and socioeconomic status moderate the associations among pain intensity, psychological factors (catastrophizing and resilience), and psychological function (depression and anxiety) in cancer patients with low levels of education and income in the Shanxi province in the Northwest of China.

Methods

Our sample comprised 123 adult inpatients with cancer pain. Demographic variables were obtained from the Hospital Information System of The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Pain intensity, psychological factors, and psychological functions were evaluated with four scales, and humanistic care was practiced with a part of the patients by clinical pharmacists. First, univariate analyses were conducted, followed by moderating effect models.

Results

The incidence of depression and anxiety in patients with cancer pain in our sample were 48.78 and 41.46%, respectively. Low levels of psychological resilience (63.37, SD 21.74) were in this study. Pain intensity was significantly associated with humanistic care and anxiety. Humanistic care practiced by clinical pharmacists moderated not only the association between resilience and pain intensity but also the association between pain intensity and anxiety. Education levels moderated the relationship between pain intensity and the psychological factors of catastrophizing and resilience. Income levels moderated the association between resilience and anxiety.

Conclusion

Humanistic care is essential in moderating the association among pain intensity, psychological factors, and psychological functions in Chinese cancer patients, especially those from lower-level counties and rural areas. Furthermore, socioeconomic statuses, such as education level and income, cannot easily change quickly. Still, proper humanistic care can relieve pain more effectively, reminding us that medical staff should implement effective personalized interventions to reduce patients' pain intensity.

The effectiveness of daily humanistic care in pharmaceutical care of patients with type 2 diabetes

Although the current methods of pharmaceutical care have demonstrably improved pathogenic condition and humanistic health outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes, lacking humanistic care limits its reach and effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of daily humanistic care reminders in pharmaceutical care of patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 1200 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited. The control group received only pharmaceutical care, whereas the intervention group received extra humanistic care from clinical pharmacists. Biochemical data, levels of quality of life, satisfaction, and self-care behavior and relationships between humanistic care and glycemic control were collected before and after 12-month intervention. Humanistic care increased levels of quality of life, satisfaction, self-efficacy and self-care behavior score, decreased blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), blood lipid, fasting blood glucose, postprandial 2-h blood glucose (PPG), inflammation, and insulin resistance after 12-month follow up. Humanistic care showed a positive correlation with glycemic control and negative relationship with HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes. There was a positive correlation between humanistic care and glycemic control (R = 0.641, P < .01) and a negative relationship between humanistic care and HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes (r = -0.482, P < .01). In conclusion, humanistic care could improve the control of overall clinical outcomes and enhanced medication adherences, which play an important role in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Humanistic Nursing Care for Patients in Low-Resourced Clinical Settings from Students' Perspectives: A Participatory Qualitative Study

INTRODUCTION

It is of utmost importance to understand how we can better prepare students to value humanistic spirits and provide humanistic care, a core element of quality care for patients/family characterized by empathy and holistic care, from school to clinical settings (practicum) in low-resourced healthcare environments with seriously low nursing staffing levels. The current study explored participants' experiences of learning and delivering humanistic care for patients.

METHODOLOGY

This is a participatory qualitative study. Eligible participants are undergraduate students who completed all the core curricula and are ready to start their one-year clinical practicum/internships. A total of 120 eligible undergraduate students were included in the study. Participants were encouraged to share their own thoughts, questions, and perspectives on learning and providing humanistic care in clinical settings during their one-year practicum from 2020 to 2021.

RESULTS

Three major themes emerged: 1. From Textbook to Providing Humanistic Care in low-resourced work contexts; 2. Ethical Considerations; and 3. Implications for Humanistic Nursing Care Education.

DISCUSSION

Systematic reforms are needed to make clinical settings more humanistic care-friendly for nurses and nursing students. It is significant to help students internalize the essence of humanistic care in low-resource settings.

Paradoxical perception of humanistic care in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of nurses, patients and attendants of humanistic care in the intensive care unit.

DESIGN

The present study was a qualitative conventional content analysis conducted in the intensive care unit in a hospital in Iran, in 2019.

METHODS

Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and field notes through purposive sampling with 17 nurses who worked in an adult ICU in a teaching hospital, 4 attendants and 4 alert patients, and then analysed using the Elo-Kyngäs method in 2008.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data led to the extraction of Four main themes as follows: (1) Insufficient understanding of nurses and patients' families of each other's roles, needs and expectations; (2) The use of personal and situational reasoning rather than ethical principles; (3) Caring stagnation; and (4) Satisfaction with care.

Influence of seamless nursing model of humanistic care on nursing quality and blood infection risk of neurosurgical ICU patients and its correlation with APACHE II score

This research aims to explore the influence of seamless nursing mode of humanistic care on nursing quality and blood infection risk of ICU patients in neurosurgery, and the model of correlation with APACHE II score. 110 ICU patients are grouped into control set and study set, which are, respectively, given the previous routine nursing and the seamless management based on humanistic care to compare the two sets in the following aspects: nursing quality, blood infection rate, anxiety and depression extension before and after nursing, nursing satisfaction and APACHE II score, and to figure out the correlation between patient nursing quality score, and to compare blood infection and APACHE II score. Comparison and statistical analysis are used to disclose the influence and the correlation. The results show that there is not only a large negative correlation between nursing quality scores and APACHE II scores, but also a large negative correlation between the risk of blood infection and APACHE II score.

Development of humanistic nursing practice guidelines for stroke patients

Purpose

To construct humanistic nursing practice guidelines suitable for stroke patients.

Design

This study was a development and validation study of guidelines using multiple methods, including literature review, qualitative research, questionnaire survey, thematic discussion, and Delphi expert consultation.

Methods

Twenty-five experts from seven provinces and municipalities in China were interviewed over two rounds from December 2020 to February 2021. The first-level index was scored for importance and rationality, while the second-level index was scored for importance and feasibility using a five-point Likert scale. Delphi data was collected via a paper version of the questionnaire. The coefficients of variation and coordination were used to represent the degree of dispersion of expert opinions.

Findings

In the two rounds of letter consultation, the questionnaire's recovery and effective rates were both 100%, while the opinion submission rates of the two rounds were 84 and 52%, respectively. Moreover, the expert authority coefficient was 0.91, and the coordination coefficients of expert opinions in the first round were as follows: importance of 0.03 and rationality of 0.07 for the first-level index; importance of 0.09 and feasibility of 0.11 for the secondary index. In round two, the coordination coefficients of expert opinions were as follows: importance of 0.04 and rationality of 0.05 for the first-level indicators; importance of 0.12 and feasibility of 0.10 for the secondary index. The results for the secondary index were P < 0.001 for the two rounds. The humanistic nursing practice guidelines for stroke patients that were ultimately formed included five first-level indicators (physiological care, safety care, emotional care, dignity care, and rehabilitation needs) and 46 s-level indicators.

Conclusion

Our results show that the "Practice Guidelines for Humanistic Nursing for Stroke" established by experts adopts Maslow's hierarchy of needs as its structural framework. It meets people's basic needs and can provide a reference for the construction of a humanistic nursing specialty practice for stroke patients.

Clinical relevance

Humanistic nursing guidelines for stroke could provide a reference for the construction of humanistic nursing practice in the stroke specialty.

Clinical resources

Copeptin and long-term risk of recurrent vascular events after transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke: population-based study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26451023/. Effectiveness and usage of a decision support system to improve stroke prevention in general practice: a cluster randomized controlled trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28245247/. Guidelines for adult stroke rehabilitation and recovery: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27145936/.

The status and associated factors of junior nurses' transition shock: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To analyse junior nurses^' transition shock status and its associated factors.

BACKGROUND

When nurses experience transition shock, turnover intentions followed by turnover behaviour are likely, which is unfavourable for the stable development of nursing teams.

METHODS

Using convenience sampling, 1,148 Chinese junior nurses were recruited. Those recruited completed a demographic questionnaire and the head nurses' humanistic care behaviour for nurses, feedback-seeking behaviour and transition shock of nurses scales. Data and associated factors of transition shock were analysed using SPSS and univariate and multivariate analyses, respectively.

RESULTS

Head nurses' humanistic care behaviour and nurses^' feedback-seeking behaviour were significantly and negatively correlated with junior nurses' transition shock (mean score: 2.87 ± 0.85). Income satisfaction, head nurses' humanistic care behaviour, night shift frequency and educational background entered the regression equation.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition shock exists not only in new nurses but also in junior nurses with ≤5-year service. Those dissatisfied with their income have frequent night shifts, and higher education backgrounds have higher levels of transition shock.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Head nurses need to reduce transition shock of nurses with ≤5-year service by integrating humanistic care into nursing management and creating a friendly environment to stimulate feedback-seeking behaviour.

Psychological Experience of Humanistic Care Among Medical Staff in Stroke Wards: A Qualitative Research Study Conducted in China

BACKGROUND

As a special patient group, stroke patients have a significant attachment to humanistic care. However, multiple problems remain in clinical practice. Medical staff in stroke wards are the primary providers of humanistic care. Finding out the opinions of the staff that provide these medical services is vitally important for stroke patients that need access to curative and humanistic care.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to explore the psychological experiences of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists during the implementation of humanistic care in stroke wards.

METHOD

This is a qualitative phenomenological study. Medical staff (i.e., doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists) were selected from stroke wards in general hospitals (minimum level two) from 13 cities within six provinces in China. A purposive sampling method was used until saturation (n = 18). Face-to-face or video call semi-structured interviews were conducted by using a phenomenological research method. The average interview length was 60 min (range 30-90 min). The Colaizzi seven-step method was used for analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes and 12 sub-themes were extracted from the qualitative interviews of the medicine, nursing and technology staff, as follows. ➀ The ward staff reported that the behaviors of the stroke patients gradually improved when they assisted with stroke treatment idea changes, when they paid attention to solving the patients' existing problems, and when they took the initiative to create a caring atmosphere; ➁ when humanistic care in the stroke wards was carried out with consciousness and ability improvement (including proactive caring behaviors in which vocational value was not strong and in which the whole-person rehabilitation was given attention, not just implementation), the patients' behaviors improved; ➂ the stroke wards themselves were improved (the gap between the current management and the needs of medical institutions and the gap between the rehabilitation conditions and the patients' needs were addressed); and ➃ the urgent needs of the staff in the implementation of humanistic care in stroke wards were considered (the addition of full-time posts, the effective training of humanistic care, and the construction of a more harmonious doctor-patient relationship).

CONCLUSION

In implementing humanistic care in stroke wards, the consciousness and ability of the medical staff need to be improved. In addition, the practical problems and contradictions affecting the development of humanistic care must be addressed. To improve the level of humanistic care in stroke wards, attention should be paid to the overall improvement of the personal qualities of the medical staff and the integration of a humanistic management mode.

The Implementation of Patient-Centered Humanistic Care for COVID-19 Closely Contacted Hemodialysis Patients Under the Hospital-Based Group Medical Quarantine: A Brief Research Report

In February 2020, an inpatient in Peking University People's Hospital (PKUPH), China, was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus. In this case, 143 hemodialysis patients were labeled as close contacts and required to be placed under the hospital-based group medical quarantine (HB-GMQ) for 2 weeks by the authorities. After the case was reported, false or misleading information about the case flourished on social media platforms, which led to infodemic. Under this context, PKUPH adopted patient-centered humanistic care to implement the HB-GMQ, through the synergy of administrative, healthcare, logistical, and other measures under the model of patient-centered care of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS). As a result, all the patients tided over the HB-GMQ with no COVID-19 infection and no unanticipated adverse events, and all met the criteria for lifting the HB-GMQ. According to the questionnaires taken during the HB-GMQ, a high level of satisfaction was found among the quarantined and no symptomatic increase of anxiety and depression in the patients before and during the HB-GMQ, by comparing the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) conducted in December 2019 and on the 12th day of the HB-GMQ. This article is to brief on PKUPH's experience in implementing patient-centered humanistic care tailored to hemodialysis patients under the HB-GMQ, and to validate the hypothesis that patient-centered humanistic care is effective and helpful to help them tide over the HB-GMQ, so as to shed light on how to implement the HB-GMQ and cope with the HB-GMQ-induced problems in other hospitals.

Design and Initial Validation of a Humanistic Care Evaluation Tool

Objective

This study aimed at developing and validating a humanistic care tool in Anhui province that could be used across Chinese public hospitals, and to reflect the humanistic care from patients’ perspective.

Participants

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three public hospitals of Anhui Province, China by adopting simple random sampling, which included 312 outpatients and 323 inpatients.

Methods

The dimensions of the tool were set according to “Further Improve Medical Service Action Plan” in China and Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha values were calculated and used to evaluate the reliability of this tool. Construct validity was tested by the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The associations between characteristics and humanistic care were analyzed by binary logistic regression.

Results

These initial findings showed that about two-thirds of the respondents experienced humanistic care. Both the reliability and construct validity of the humanistic care evaluation tool were suitable Social aspects (location and yearly income), treatment style and having a regular doctor were significantly associated with better humanistic care (all P<0.05).

Conclusion

The humanistic care tool can directly reflect the humanistic care from patients’ perspective, and can be popularized and applied across Chinese public hospitals. These findings have important implications to further improve medical service in Chinese public hospitals.

Influence of humanistic care based on Carolina care model for ovarian cancer patients on postoperative recovery and quality of life

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to explore the influence of humanistic care based on Carolina care model on postoperative recovery and quality of life in patients with ovarian cancer (OC).

METHODS

In this prospective study, we selected 85 OC patients and randomly divided them into the Carolina group (n = 43) given humanistic care based on Carolina care model and the control group (n = 42) given routine nursing intervention. The postoperative recovery and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovary Cancer (FACT-O) scores were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

After intervention, the time of first flatus and defecation after surgery, the time of first ambulation and the length of average postoperative hospital stay were much shorter, and the pain score, total complication rate, self-rating anxiety scale and self-rating depression scale scores as well as Cortisol, C-reactive protein and fasting blood glucose levels at 48 hours postoperatively were significantly lower in the Carolina group than in the control group. The nursing satisfaction in the Carolina group was markedly higher than that in the control group (97.67% vs. 78.57%, P<0.01). After 3 months of follow-up, the Carolina group showed higher dimension scores of FACT-O than the control group (all P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Humanistic nursing care based on Carolina care model can significantly ameliorate the recovery of OC patients, reduce the physical and psychologic stress response, and effectively enhance the nursing satisfaction and quality of life.

Humanistic care and psychological counseling on psychological disorders in medical students after COVID-19 outbreak: A protocol of systematic review

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of humanistic care and psychological counseling (HCPC) on psychological disorders (PD) in medical students after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

METHODS

We will search randomized controlled trials or case-controlled studies of HCPC on PD in medical students after COVID-19 outbreak in the following electronic databases: PUBMED/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, AMED, WANGFANG, and CNKI. The time is restricted from the construction of each database to the present. All process of study selection, data collection, and study quality evaluation will be carried out by two independent authors. Any different opinions will be solved by a third author through discussion. We will employ RevMan 5.3 software to conduct statistical analysis.

RESULTS

This study will provide a better understanding of HCPC on PD in medical students after COVID-19 outbreak.

CONCLUSIONS

This study may offer strong evidence for clinical practice to treat PD in medical students after COVID-19 outbreak.

STUDY REGISTRATION

CRD42020193199.

[Correspondence in Humanistic Care]

BACKGROUND

Intersubjectivity is a significant element of humanistic care. However, there is a lack of evidence related to the perceptions of nurses in clinical practice settings.

PURPOSE

To explore the evidence of correspondence in clinical intersubjective caring activities.

METHODS

The van Manen's thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the data, which was obtained from dialogues in small group learning settings. Six scenarios were identified to define the nature of correspondence in nursing care.

RESULTS

In terms of reason, ethical relation, and activity, the following three items of correspondence in humanistic care were identified: coexistence through reconciling relationships with the other, cooperation through bringing out (unfolding) and not through putting in (imposition), co-transcendence from actions and reflections.

CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

By adopting openness in correspondence, nurses may promote coexistence through being open-minded to their opposite, promote cooperation with their opposite, and promote co-transcendence through pursuing authentic existence. The findings show that correspondence that is grounded in coexistence, cooperation, and co-transcendence promotes creativity and diversity in caring actions.

How a creative storytelling intervention can improve medical student attitude towards persons with dementia: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

The creative arts can integrate humanistic experiences into geriatric education. This experiential learning case study evaluated whether medical student participation in TimeSlips, a creative storytelling program with persons affected by dementia, would improve attitudes towards this patient population.

METHODS

Twenty-two fourth-year medical students participated in TimeSlips for one month. The authors analyzed pre- and post-program scores of items, sub-domains for comfort and knowledge, and overall scale from the Dementia Attitudes Scale using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon Signed-rank tests to evaluate mean change in students' self-reported attitudes towards persons with dementia. A case study approach using student reflective writing and focus group data was used to explain quantitative results.

RESULTS

Twelve of the 20 items, the two sub-domains, and the overall Dementia Attitudes Scale showed significant improvement post-intervention. Qualitative analysis identified four themes that added insight to quantitative results: (a) expressions of fear and discomfort felt before storytelling, (b) comfort experienced during storytelling, (c) creativity and openness achieved through storytelling, and (d) humanistic perspectives developed during storytelling can influence future patient care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides preliminary evidence that participation in a creative storytelling program improves medical student attitudes towards persons with dementia, and suggests mechanisms for why attitudinal changes occurred.