Aims
To evaluate the effect of earplugs and eye masks on the sleep quality of patients in intensive care unit (ICU).
Design
Systematic review and meta‐analysis.
Data Sources
Randomized controlled ...trial studies conducted before May 5, 2020 were searched for in Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Index to Taiwan Periodical Literature System databases.
Review Methods
Analyses in this study were according to the PRISMA statement. The heterogeneity of the data was investigated through sub‐group analysis while a meta‐analysis was performed using the Review Manager 5.3 software.
Results
A total of 797 patients from 13 studies were included in this study. Without considering alone or combined use of earplugs and eye masks, the meta‐analysis supported that there was a significant effect on self‐reported sleep quality. The overall standardized mean difference of the effect size was 1.44 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.80, 2.09). Sub‐group analysis indicated that the use of earplugs alone had no significant effect on sleep quality (effect size: 0.07, 95% CI: −0.50, 0.64). The use of eye masks alone had a significant effect on sleep quality (effect size: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.05). The use of both earplugs and eye masks proved to have the largest effect size on sleep quality (effect size: 2.08, 95% CI: 0.95, 3.21).
Conclusion
The combined use of earplugs and eye masks or the standalone use of eye masks is a non‐invasive, economical and effective way to promote sleep quality in adult ICU patients.
Impact
Clinical nurses could use this meta‐analysis as it recommends that nurses provide adult ICU patients with either one or both earplugs and eye masks to improve the patients’ sleep quality.
Study Registration
The review protocol was registered a priori and published online in the PROSPERO database of systematic reviews (www.crd.York.ac.uk/Prospero with the registration number # CRD42021221185).
Aims and objectives
This study explored the physical and psychological effects of scar massage on burn patients.
Background
Hypertrophic scar development is highly prevalent following burn injuries. ...Scar massage may have physical and psychological effects, although evidence of its effectiveness for burn scar improvement remains inconsistent.
Design
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials and quasi‐experimental trials.
Methods
This study was conducted following the Centre of Reviews and Dissemination guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, EMBASE, and Chinese Electronic Periodical Services were searched for studies published between January 1990 and February 2022. Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Appraisal Checklist. The final recommendation strength was assessed according to the JBI recommendation rating. A meta‐analysis was performed using Review Manager Version 5.4 software with a random‐effect model.
Results
Seven studies (420 participants) investigating scar massage for burn patients were included. The scar massage sessions lasted 5–30 min and were delivered by massage therapists 1–3 times a week for 12 weeks. Overall, scar massage decreased pain levels (standardised mean difference SMD: −2.39; 95% confidence interval CI: −3.96 to −0.83), improved scar thickness (mean difference: ‐0.05; 95% CI: −0.1 to −0.0), reduced pruritus (SMD: ‐1.89; 95% CI: −2.95 to −0.82) and reduced anxiety (SMD: ‐1.52; 95% CI: −2.73 to −0.32), but no significant effect on depression(SMD: ‐0.92; 95% CI:‐2.28 to 0.44).
Conclusions
The meta‐effects of scar massage among burn patients are significantly improved scar formation and reduced pruritus and anxiety. Providing scar massage is feasible and effective for burn patients. Future research should evaluate its long‐term effects.
Relevance to clinical practice
Scar massage is relatively convenient and effective in preventing and alleviating hypertrophic burn scarring. Further research can provide detailed suggestions for effective scar massage implementation.
Gaps between theory and clinical practice represent challenges for nursing students during their learning processes. Providing simulation technology-based learning for nursing students is essential ...for modern nurse education, but evidence of efficacy remains scarce.
To determine the effects of simulation technology-based learning for nursing students.
A systematic review and meta-analysis.
This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Five databases (CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Web of Science) were electronically searched through May 30, 2021. Eligibility criteria included nursing students, simulated technology-based learning as the primary intervention, and randomised controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies published in English. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated by the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.0 was used to conduct a meta-analysis using the random-effects model. Begg's and Egger's tests were performed to assess publication bias, and sensitivity analysis performed using a remove one study method.
A total of 17 studies were included in this study. Simulated technology–based learning significantly increased nursing student knowledge acquisition (standard mean difference SMD: 0.72, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.25–1.18, p < 0.001), enhanced student's confidence (SMD: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.02–0.99, p = 0.043), and increased student's satisfaction in learning (SMD: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.61–1.00, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed that receiving simulation by manikins simulator had a greater effect on knowledge acquisition (SMD: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.27–1.74, p = 0.007).
Simulation technology use may meet the expectations of undergraduate nursing students and prepare them for clinical practice, representing an opportunity to fill gaps between theory and clinical practice while simultaneously developing new teaching scenarios.
To develop and psychometrically test Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale in people with type 2 diabetes.
Cross-sectional design.
Based on literature reviews and examination by ...experts, a 20-item scale was developed and administered to 350 participants with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled from two endocrine clinics by convenience sampling in Taiwan. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), concurrent and predictive validity as well as reliability were used to examine the psychometric characteristics of the scale. Data were collected from November 2021 to March 2022.
EFA and CFA supported a 12-item scale with three factors, namely learning proactively, taking on challenges and thinking positively, fit the data well. The total score of the 12-item scale significantly and positively correlated with diabetes-specific quality of life, and significantly and negatively correlated with baseline and 9-month haemoglobin A1c levels. Cronbach's α for overall scale and subscales ranged between .78 and .91.
The 12-item Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability in people with type 2 diabetes.
Nurses could apply this new scale to identify the degree of using character strengths in self-management in people with type 2 diabetes; accordingly, character strength-based interventions could be provided to improve self-management in such patients with diabetes. Furthermore, the 12-item Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale has the potential to be used to measure the effectiveness of strength-based interventions in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Five patients with type 2 diabetes were invited to take the original 20-item scale to evaluate the clarity, readability and comprehensiveness of the 20 items.
Objective
To examine the role of protective factors and risk factors in suicidal ideation among adolescents in Taiwan based on a resilience protective model.
Design and Sample
A cross‐sectional ...design was employed. A total of 390 adolescents aged 15–19 years were recruited from four high schools in Taiwan by stratified random sampling.
Methods
An anonymous self‐report questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics, suicidal ideation, depressive symptoms, life stress, emotion‐focused coping, self‐esteem, and problem‐focused coping. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the hypotheses.
Results
Depressive symptoms were significantly and positively correlated with suicidal ideation. The interaction between depressive symptoms and self‐esteem as well as between emotion‐focused coping and problem‐focused coping were significantly and negatively correlated with suicidal ideation.
Conclusions
Depressive symptoms were a risk factor of suicidal ideation. Self‐esteem can moderate the negative effect of depressive symptoms on suicidal ideation. Problem‐focused coping can moderate the negative effects of emotion‐focused coping on suicidal ideation. Public health nurses could cooperate with school nurses to periodically screen depressive symptoms and provide early interventions. Teaching parents and teachers methods for improving self‐esteem of adolescents and enhancing adolescents to apply problem‐focused coping strategies could be useful to reduce suicidal ideation of adolescents.
Highlights • Health literacy indirectly affected self-care behaviors through the mediation of self-efficacy. • Enhancing health literacy can be a potential strategy for improving self-efficacy. • ...Empowerment approach can be a potential strategy for improving health literacy.
Aims and objectives
To investigate the relationships of sociodemographic factors, self‐stigma, glycaemic control (measured by glycated haemoglobin (A1C)) and self‐care behaviours in young adults with ...type 2 diabetes.
Background
Young adults aged 25–44 years are in their most productive period. Once diagnosed with diabetes, this population tends to experience poor glycaemic control and perform poorly in self‐care activities. Such patterns may raise perceptions of self‐stigma and further decrease motivations to engage in self‐care behaviours in patients with diabetes.
Design
A cross‐sectional, correlational research design.
Methods
The STROBE guidelines for cross‐sectional studies were followed. A convenience sample of 115 participants was recruited from a medical centre in southern Taiwan. Instruments included the Self‐Stigma Scale–Chinese version and the Diabetes Self‐Care Behaviours Scale. Data were analysed using a three‐step hierarchical regression analysis and the Sobel test.
Results
The average age of the participants was 36.7 years. Marital status, employment status, self‐stigma and A1C were significantly associated with self‐care behaviours, and these four variables explained 43.6% of the variance in self‐care behaviours. However, A1C (β = −.58, p < .001) was found to be the only determinant of self‐care behaviours in the last regression model. The Sobel test showed that A1C had mediating effects on self‐stigma and self‐care behaviours as well as employment status and self‐care behaviours.
Conclusion
This study supports the interactive relationship among self‐stigma, employment status, glycaemic control and self‐care behaviours in young adults with type 2 diabetes. Strategies aimed at optimising glycaemic control can help reduce the effects of self‐stigma perceptions and employment status on the self‐care behaviours of such patients.
Relevance to clinical practice
More effective educational programmes should be designed to improve glycaemic control, lower the effects of employment and decrease perceptions of self‐stigma to further motivate young adults to engage in better diabetes self‐care behaviours.
Purpose
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of current studies to determine whether exercise affects chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms in cancer patients.
Design
...The Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and National Central Library databases, and the reference lists of the included studies were surveyed. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) extension checklist for non-pharmacologic treatment was used to evaluate the literature.
Setting and participants
Exercise interventions offered in hospitals or at home. A total of 178 participants from 5 studies were assessed in the meta-analysis, with their mean age ranging from 48.56 to 71.82 years.
Methods
The randomized control trials were summarized in a systematic review. The effects of the exercise interventions were compiled for meta-analysis. A forest plot was constructed using a fixed effect model to obtain a pooled mean difference.
Results
The pooled results indicated that exercise interventions significantly improved the CIPN symptoms of the participants (mean difference: 0.5319; 95% confidence interval: 0.2295 to 0.8344;
Z
= 3.45;
P
= 0.0006). A combination of exercise protocols including a nerve gliding exercise intervention was found to have improved CIPN symptoms. In addition, a sensorimotor-based exercise intervention was found to have reduced CIPN-induced loss of postural stability.
Conclusions and implications
The findings indicated that the effects of exercise could improve CIPN symptoms in cancer patients. Nevertheless, further investigations of different exercise protocols and intensity of intervention utilizing larger sample sizes and more specific outcome measures will further inform the best practices for cancer patients.
Aims and Objectives
To construct a path model addressing influences of diabetes distress, self‐efficacy of injecting insulin, resilience and decisional balance of injecting insulin to quality of life ...(QoL) in insulin‐treated patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
Background
Insulin regimens more negatively impact QoL than oral medication treatments in patients with T2DM. Understanding the factors and influencing pathways associated with subsequent QoL will help nurses design timely interventions to improve QoL of insulin‐treated T2DM patients.
Design
A 9‐month prospective design was employed in this study.
Methods
Self‐reported questionnaires were used to collect data from 185 insulin‐treated T2DM patients. At baseline, diabetes distress and self‐efficacy of injecting insulin were collected, while QoL, resilience and decisional balance of injecting insulin were collected 9 months later. Data were collected from February 2017 to February 2018. Structural equation modelling was used for analysis. This study was conducted based on the STROBE.
Results
Low baseline diabetes distress and high 9‐month decisional balance of injecting insulin directly associated with high 9‐month QoL. High baseline self‐efficacy of injecting insulin and high 9‐month resilience directly associated with high 9‐month decisional balance of insulin injection and indirectly associated with high 9‐month QoL. High baseline diabetes distress directly and indirectly associated with poor 9‐month QoL.
Conclusions
Diabetes distress, self‐efficacy of injecting insulin, resilience and decisional balance of injecting insulin play different roles in associating with QoL in insulin‐treated T2DM patients.
Relevance to clinical practice
Nurses could provide educational programs focusing on enhancing decisional balance of injecting insulin to improve QoL in insulin‐treated patients. Improving self‐efficacy of injecting insulin and resilience could be promising strategies to improve the decisional balance of injecting insulin. More timely assessment of diabetes distress and intervention might be powerful strategies to improve subsequent QoL in these patients.
Aim
To explore the associations of the professional quality of life and social support with health in nurses.
Background
Physical and mental health may be associated with absence from work among ...nurses. Few studies have explored the associations of professional quality of life and social support on the physical and mental health of nurses.
Methods
This was a cross‐sectional study. In total, 294 nurses were recruited from a hospital in Southern Taiwan. A self‐report questionnaire was used to collect data.
Results
Burnout, secondary traumatic stress and social support from relatives or friends were important factors of physical and mental health. Interactions between support from relatives or friends and secondary traumatic stress are important factors in physical health.
Conclusion
Reducing burnout and secondary traumatic stress is important for physical and mental health of nurses. Increasing social support from relatives or friends may be useful to reduce the negative effects of secondary traumatic stress on the physical health of nurses.
Implications for Nursing Management
Nurse managers could design interventions to reduce and prevent nurses from being influenced by burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Educating nurses to build effective social networks with relatives or friends and to seek support when experiencing secondary traumatic stress may also be needed.
