Thai Red Cross Nursing Journal

A Study of Health Literacy, Exercise, and Energy Intake of Pregnant Women with Diabetes Mellitus

2023-11-22T13:02:27+07:00

This survey research aimed to study the health literacy, exercise, and energy intake of 100 pregnant women with pre-gestational and gestational diabetes mellitus in four secondary hospitals in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. The instruments consisted of a personal information record, a health literacy questionnaire related to diabetes during pregnancy, an exercise interview form, and an energy intake interview form. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for frequency and percentage.

The results showed health literacy in the dimension of self-management was categorized as being at a good level. Meanwhile, the dimensions of access, communication skill, media literacy, cognition, and decision-making skill were categorized as being at a moderate level. In terms of exercise, 28.00% (n = 28) of samples exercised, and 5.00% (n = 5) of those exercised at least 150 minutes/week. Regarding energy intake, the mean energy intake was 1986.23 kcal/day (SD = 228.54), with mean energy intake scores during the first, second, and third trimesters of 1702.43, 1965.69, and 2006.65 kcal/day (SD = 110.39, 217.81, and 232.23), respectively. 79.00% (n = 79) of the respondents had an appropriate energy intake, and 21.00% (n = 21) had an inappropriate energy intake.

In conclusion, the study presented basic information on the health literacy, exercise, and energy intake of diabetic pregnant women; this study could help in planning care, screening, assessing, following up, and making recommendations for diabetic pregnant women to maintain an appropriate food intake to obtain sufficient energy for their needs and stage of trimester.

Comparative Spirituality between Registered Nurses from Different Generations, McCormick Hospital, Chiang Mai Province

2024-06-03T15:43:11+07:00

This comparative descriptive study aimed to investigate spirituality at work and compare the levels of spirituality among nurses from different generations working at McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The sample consisted of 168 nurses selected through multi-stage random sampling. Data were collected using a work spirituality questionnaire. The instrument was quality-checked with an item objective congruence (IOC) of 1 and a Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.95. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis Test, and the Mann-Whitney U Test.

The research found that: 1) The majority of the sample was female (97.02%) and belonged to either Generation Y (29-46 years) at 57.74%, Generation X (47-57 years) at 26.19%, and Generation Z (25-28 years) at 16.07%. 2) The overall level of work spirituality among nurses was high (mean= 4.30, SD= 0.44), with one aspect, inner life perception, rated very high (mean= 4.51, SD= 0.45). 3) There were differences in the overall levels of work spirituality among nurses from different generations. Generation X and Generation Y nurses had higher work spirituality levels than Generation Z nurses.

The findings of this study should be presented to management as a guideline for developing nursing human resources to cultivate appropriate work spirituality for registered nurses from each generation, especially Generation Z.

Factors Predicting the Performing Roles of Care for Persons with Dependency among Care Assistants, Chachoengsao Province

2024-05-22T13:53:30+07:00

A care assistant is an important member of the community network regarding long-term care for dependent persons. This predictive correlational research aimed to describe the performing roles of caring for persons with dependency among care assistants and to determine factors predicting their roles. Multi-stage random sampling was used to recruit 292 care assistants who met the specified criteria in Chonburi province, Thailand. Data were collected between January and November 2022 using a self-reported questionnaire including performing roles of caring, access to information, motivation to perform the role, knowledge about care, and resources to perform the role (reliability coefficients 0.96, 0,897, 0.89, 0.70, and 0.80, respectively). Descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression statistics were performed to analyze the data.

The study revealed that the overall performing role of caring for persons with dependency among care assistants was rated high (M=15.45, SD=3.66, M_adj=3.07). The access to information (β=0.359, p<.001), knowledge about care (β=0.267, p<.01), and motivation to perform the role (β=0.265, p<.001) could predict 41.7 % of the variance accounted (R²_adj=.410, F=68.541, p<.05). As for the resource factors in practice, it was found that they could not predict the performance of the care assistant's role in caring for dependent people. These findings suggest that nurses and other health personnel who work in communities should develop programs that combine information access and support with improved knowledge about care and motivation in order to perform the role effectively.

Effectiveness of Self-Care Program using Mobile Health Devices on Clinical Outcomes among Heart Failure Patients: A Systematic Review

2023-10-28T22:20:58+07:00

This systematic review aims to synthesize knowledge about the characteristics and clinical outcomes of self-care programs utilizing mobile health. Databases from 2014 to 2024 were searched using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) systematic review guidelines. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which were randomized controlled trials. Tools used for data collection included research screening forms, critical appraisal forms, and data extraction forms. Content analyses and clinical outcomes were analyzed using content analysis with frequency and percentage.

The results showed the program’s characteristics involved three processes, including (1) installing the program on the patient's mobile device, (2) teaching and demonstrating to patients how to use the program through the application, and (3) monitoring patient use of the program and integrating it with three main components, including education on heart failure and self-care, symptom monitoring, and reminders. Clinical outcomes included primary outcomes: (1) Hospital readmission: four studies (100%) found no significant difference between the experimental and control groups, and (2) knowledge about heart failure: three out of six studies (50%) found statistically significant differences between the experimental and the control groups. For secondary outcomes, there were statistically significant differences between the experimental and control groups as follows: (1) self-care in nine out of 15 studies (60%), (2) quality of life in six out of 12 studies (50%), and (3) self-efficacy in two out of 3 studies (66.67%). Therefore, a self-care program using mobile health devices should be utilized to help promote better knowledge, self-care, quality of life, and self-efficacy for heart failure patients. The research results may be applied to help develop clinical nursing practice guidelines to promote good clinical outcomes among heart failure patients.

Effects of a Motivational Interviewing Program on Stroke Prevention Behaviors in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

2024-06-04T11:36:22+07:00

This experimental study aimed to investigate the effects of a motivational interviewing program on stroke prevention behaviors in patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the stroke unit at Phon Thong Hospital, Roi Et Province, from November 2023 to January 2024. The study employed stratified randomization based on levels of stroke prevention behavior scores. Participants were randomly assigned using computer generation, assigning 10 participants to the experimental group and 10 participants to the control group. The research instruments included: 1) personal and health information record forms, 2) screening tools such as the 6-item Cognitive Impairment Test, ESRS, and ABCD2; 3) a stroke prevention behavior questionnaire; and 4) a motivational interviewing program for stroke prevention behaviors. The content validity of the stroke prevention behavior tool was examined by five experts, yielding a content validity index (CVI) of 0.90. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding alpha of 0.88. Data were analyzed using paired samples t-test and independent samples t-tests. The results showed that: 1) the mean scores of stroke prevention behaviors before and after receiving the program within the experimental group significantly differed (t = -42.84, 95% CI = -61.69 to -55.51, p-value < .001), and 2) the mean scores of stroke prevention behaviors after receiving the program between the control and experimental groups significantly differed (t = -52.62, 95% CI = -59.67 to -55.08, p-value < .001). It can be concluded that the motivational interviewing program developed by the researcher can improve stroke prevention behaviors among ischemic stroke patients. Recommendations for nursing practice and further study were made

Factors Related to Parental Perception of Electronic Media Usage Behaviors of Preschoolers at Public Child Development Centers, Bangkok Metropolitan Area

2023-12-21T01:59:47+07:00

The behavior of preschool children using electronic media, as perceived by parents, is a public health issue. This research aimed to study parental perception of preschool children’s behaviors using electronic media, along with the relationship between personal factors, parents' media usage behaviors, and parental participation while children use media, along with the actual behavior of preschool children using electronic media in daycare centers in Bangkok. The sample group consisted of 102 parents of preschool children, responsible for children aged 3-5 years, selected through multi-stage sampling. The research was conducted between April 2021 and March 2023. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included general information about the children and parents, parents' electronic media usage behaviors, parental participation while children use media, and children's electronic media usage behaviors as perceived by parents. The Content Validity Index (CVI) was 0.94, and the reliability was 0.90. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, with a significance level set at p-value < .05.

The study found that the average score of preschool children's electronic media usage behavior was 1.39 (SD = 0.75) and at a moderate level. Additionally, the child's age, average family income, and parents' media usage behaviors had statistically significant relationships with preschool children's electronic media usage behaviors (r_s= .39, p < .01; r_s = .20, p < .05; r_s= .57, p < .01). However, parental participation while children used media did not have a relationship with preschool children's electronic media usage behavior (r_s = -.06, p > .05). The results of this study can be used to screen preschool children's electronic media usage behavior and to plan the development of programs to address this behavior among preschool children.

The Experiences of Participating in an Online Buddhist Doctrine-Based Wisdom Enhancement Program at Home for Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

2024-04-10T16:04:07+07:00

Patients undergoing chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer usually suffer from illness during treatment. Utilizing an online Buddhist doctrine-based wisdom enhancement program is one method of enhancing awareness of suffering and improving well-being.

This interpretative phenomenological qualitative study aims to describe the experiences of advanced colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who participated in an online Buddhist doctrine-based wisdom enhancement program at home. Eleven key informants were selected via purposive sampling for the study. Data were collected using individual in-depth interviews and observations, and were analyzed using content analysis. The trustworthiness of the data was ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria.

The research identified three main themes. The first theme was experience in Vipassana meditation practice, in which the participants had specific goals, learned mindfulness, discovered the process of meditation, practicing with a middle path approach, and faced health conditions as obstacles. The second theme was the online program, as participants found the program convenient and valued the mentorship. The third theme was the effects of Vipassana meditation practice, which involved patients gaining an understanding of the way of life, having living guidance, and experienced holistic health.

The online home-based Vipassana meditation practice could enhance the well-being of advanced colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The study findings could serve as fundamental information for using an online Vipassana meditation program to improve the well-being of other cancer patients.

The Role of Nurse Practitioners in Primary Health Care Services for Homeless Persons: A Pilot Project of Thai Red Cross Health Station No. 2 (Sukumal Anamai) Bangkok

2024-06-29T02:14:10+07:00

Homeless persons are those without a permanent residence or sufficient income. They exist in a state of hardship, are unable to rely on others, and resort to a transient lifestyle or use public places as temporary sleeping accommodations. Homelessness is not only a personal problem for homeless persons but also impacts society, the economy, public health, and the mental state of people in the community. Bangkok is the province of Thailand with the largest number of homeless persons, and this number is likely to increase in the future.

Care for homeless persons in Bangkok is a collaborative effort between the government, private sector, foundations, and volunteers. The Thai Red Cross Health Station No. 2 (Sukumal Anamai) in Bangkok provides access to primary health care services for homeless persons. Nurses have a key role in this process, as they are responsible for exploring, collecting and organizing data, providing healthcare, offering health education, advocating for their rights, promoting social support, coordinating services, providing counseling, and contributing to academic research and systematic knowledge.

This article aims to provide knowledge about homeless persons and the role of nurse practitioners in primary health care services for homeless persons; this includes a pilot project being implemented as an example that could lead to the development of operational guidelines for those interested in solving problems and promoting the quality of life for homeless persons.