Nursing Science Journal of Thailand

Symptom Experience and Management of Long COVID in Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses

2025-04-23T01:10:34+07:00

Purpose: To identify and synthesize the symptom experiences and symptom management strategies among older adults with chronic conditions living with long COVID.

Design: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Methods: This study follows the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted across six databased including PubMed, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ThaiJO to identify quantitative and qualitative studies published in English or Thai between December 2019 and April 2024. Eight relevant studies were selected and analyzed through thematic analysis.

Main findings: The findings indicate that older adults with chronic conditions experienced an unexpected symptom burden resulting from long COVID, which disrupted their daily lives by impacting their health and triggering negative emotions. Common physical symptoms included fatigue and shortness of breath, while psychological symptoms were memory loss and anxiety. Several self-directed management strategies were used, including addressing both visible and invisible symptoms, seeking support, and accepting the situation. They also suggested the need for continued monitoring, provision of information about long COVID, and improved access to healthcare services.

Conclusion and recommendations: Experiencing the physical and psychological symptoms of long COVID impacts the daily lives and mental health of older adults with chronic illnesses, leading them to adopt symptom management strategies to regain a sense of normalcy. This suggests that healthcare providers should integrate personalized symptom monitoring, the use of digital health tools (e.g., mobile applications for symptom tracking and self-care support), and structured nurse-led coaching programs into care plans. Such interventions can empower them to better recognize, interpret, and manage their symptoms more effectively.

A Comparative Study of 25% Zinc Oxide Ointment and Zinc Paste for the Prevention and Treatment of Incontinence-Associated Dermatitis (IAD) at Perianal Skin in Pediatric Patients

2025-05-22T23:09:15+07:00

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of 25% zinc oxide ointment and zinc paste in preventing and treating incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) in pediatric patients, and to evaluate the ease of cleansing after product application.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Methods: The study included 110 pediatric patients aged 0–7 years with grade 1 perianal dermatitis who were admitted to the Department of Pediatric Surgery at a university hospital in Bangkok. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either zinc paste (control group) or 25% zinc oxide ointment (intervention group). The data were analyzed using a non-inferiority test for the proportions of the two independent groups.

Main finding: The proportion of patients whose skin condition improved or remained stable was 71.7% in the control group and 86% in the intervention group. Regarding cleansing ease, the average number of cotton balls used per cleaning session was 3.8 in the control group and 2.3 in the intervention group, which was statistically significant. The average amount of petrolatum used per session was 2 grams in the control group and 1 gram in the intervention group, with no significant difference.

Conclusion and Recommendations: The 25% zinc oxide ointment was found to be non-inferior to zinc paste in the prevention and treatment of IAD in pediatric patients and also demonstrated greater ease of cleansing. Therefore, it can be considered an alternative option for managing pediatric patients with this condition. However, other contextual factors such as diaper change frequency, skin cleansing techniques, and stool characteristics should also be considered, as they may influence the clinical effectiveness of skin care.

Factors Predicting Perception of Insufficient Milk Supply in First-time Postpartum Mothers

2025-09-14T18:45:07+07:00

Purpose: To study predictive factors for the perception of insufficient milk supply in first-time postpartum mothers.

Design: Predictive research design.

Methods: The sample consisted of 135 first-time postpartum mothers who received postnatal check-ups 4-6 weeks after delivery at the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital, affiliated with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Data was collected using a questionnaire on perceived insufficient breast milk, a questionnaire on family support for breastfeeding, an infant temperament questionnaire for infants aged 1-3 months, a breastfeeding knowledge questionnaire, and a breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and enter multiple regression analysis.

Main findings: First-time postpartum mothers had perceived insufficient milk supply ( = 48.05, SD = 15.60) at a low level. The factors that could significantly predict the perceived insufficient milk supply among first-time postpartum mothers at significance level .05 were: breastfeeding self-efficacy ( = - .32), breastfeeding knowledge ( = - .23), supplementing feeding ( = - .22), family support for breastfeeding ( = - .17), education level ( = - .15), and infant temperament ( = - .11). All of the study factors could account for 75% of the variance explained in perceived insufficient milk supply among first-time postpartum mothers (R² = .75).

Conclusion and recommendations: Nurses should assess these predicting factors and operate them as nursing interventions to promote the perception of adequate milk production among first-time postpartum mothers.

Factors Predicting Preventive Behaviors among Household Contacts of Patients with Tuberculosis

2025-05-01T15:04:32+07:00

Purpose: To study the predictability of gender, caregiver burdens, perceived stigma, and motivation on preventive behaviors among household contacts of patients with tuberculosis.

Design: Predictive correlational research.

Methods: The participants consisted of 132 caregivers aged 18 years and older who were household contacts and primary caregivers of patients with tuberculosis and provided close care for more than 120 hours per month. Data were collected at the outpatient tuberculosis clinic of one secondary hospital using a demographic questionnaire, the Caregiver Burdens Assessment Form, the Emic Stigma Score, the Tuberculosis Prevention Motivation Questionnaire, and the Tuberculosis Prevention Behavior for Household Contacts. Multiple linear regression was used for the data analysis.

Main findings: The results revealed that preventive behaviors of tuberculosis were at a high level ( = 83.80, SD = 5.02). Females had better behaviors than males. Overall, caregiver burden was at low level ( = 17.53 SD = 7.91); perceived stigma was indicated as high level ( = 18.35, SD = 3.38) and motivation for preventing tuberculosis was at high level ( = 17.16, SD = 1.66). All study factors together explained 25% of the variance in the preventive tuberculosis behaviors (R² = .25); and each factor was significant predictor. Motivation for preventing tuberculosis had the highest predictability on the preventive behavior of tuberculosis (β = .39, p = .001).

Conclusion and recommendations: The study results could be applied as baseline information for healthcare providers to develop practice guidelines and programs for promoting preventive behaviors among household contacts of patients with tuberculosis.

Factors Predicting Parental Self-Efficacy in Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2025-05-01T13:57:31+07:00

Purpose: To study factors that could predict parental self-efficacy in raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including parents' perceptions of their child's behavioral problems, vicarious learning, social support, and parenting stress, under the conceptual framework of Self-Efficacy Theory.

Design: Predictive correlational research.

Methods: The sample consisted of 206 parents of children with autism spectrum disorder aged 3 years to 6 years 9 months, who received treatment at Rajanukul Institute between December 2023 and April 2024. Questionnaires were used for data collection, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis.

Main findings: It was found that parents' perceptions of their child's behavioral problems, vicarious learning, social support, and parenting stress could jointly and significantly predict parental self-efficacy in raising children with ASD (R² = .24). Vicarious learning had the highest significant predictive power (β = .30, p < .05), while social support could not predict parental self-efficacy in raising children with ASD.

Conclusion and recommendations: The findings indicate the importance of vicarious learning, parents' perceptions of their child's behavioral problems, and stress management towards parental self-efficacy. Therefore, self-efficacy promotion programs should emphasize creating opportunities for learning from appropriate role models and developing stress management strategies. This will strengthen parents' potential in childcare, support the development of children with ASD, and reduce the long-term mental health risks for parents.

Factors Predicting Sarcopenia in Thai Older Adults at a Super Tertiary Care Hospital

2025-05-02T16:36:40+07:00

Purpose: To determine predictability of nutrition status, cognitive impairment, depression, and polypharmacy on sarcopenia in Thai older adults.

Design: Predictive correlational research.

Methods: The sample consisted of 220 older adults aged 60 years and over, both male and female, who had received geriatric medicine services at a geriatric clinic in a super tertiary care hospital in Bangkok. Data were collected using the personal and clinical data record form, the Mini Assessment Nutrition Short Form, the Thai mental state examination, and the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale. The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria were implemented to measure muscle mass, physical performance, and muscle strength. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed to analyze data.

Main findings: Average age of the sample was 76.49 years (SD = 7.89) with 72.7% of females and 30.5% of sarcopenia. Nutritional status, cognitive impairment, depression, and polypharmacy could account for 38.3% of the variance explained in sarcopenia (Nagelkerke R²= .38). Older adults with abnormal nutritional status (at risk or malnourished), cognitive impairment, and recent polypharmacy (use of more than five medications) were respectively 5.32, 3.26, and 7.29 times more likely to develop sarcopenia compared to their counterparts. Depression was unable to predict sarcopenia.

Conclusion and recommendations: At risk of malnutrition, cognitive impairment, polypharmacy could significantly increase older adults’ chance of having sarcopenia. The research findings can be utilized as clinical data to assess geriatric syndrome in older adults and to plan for the prevention of sarcopenia among older adults who are at risk of malnutrition, having cognitive impairment, and using more than five medications (polypharmacy).

Determinants of Anemia Severity among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Myanmar

2025-04-22T11:15:57+07:00

Purpose: To examine the prevalence of anemia severity and the predictability of child sex, wealth index, iron-rich foods consumption, consumption of dark green leafy vegetables, maternal anemia, and fever in last 2 weeks on the severity of anemia among children aged 6-23 months in Myanmar.

Design: A predictive correlational study.

Methods: Data record forms were used to collect the required information with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria from the original data source, the Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey 2015-2016. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and binary logistic regression.

Main findings: Among the 846 children assessed, 57.3% had moderate to severe anemia and 42.7% had mild anemia. The chi-square test indicated significant associations between anemia severity and factors including the child’s sex, consumption of dark green leafy vegetables, and maternal anemia (p < .05). Binary logistic regression identified the male sex (OR = 2.14, p < .001), consumption of dark green leafy vegetables (OR = 0.65, p = .010), and maternal anemia (OR = 1.37, p = .029) as significant predictors of moderate to severe anemia.

Conclusion and recommendations: These results emphasize the necessity for nutritional interventions for both mothers and children. The prevention of maternal anemia should be urgently considered and prioritized as an essential component of antenatal care programs in Myanmar.