Thai Red Cross Nursing Journal

Nursing Care for Cancer Patients with Venous Thromboembolism Receiving Anticoagulant Drugs

2022-01-26T10:04:49+07:00

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in cancer patients. It includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, which are major causes of mortality and disability in cancer patients. Anticoagulant drugs are commonly used to treat cancer patients with VTE; however, the main complications of anticoagulant drugs are major organ bleeding and thrombocytopenia. As such, nurses and other health personnel play a major role in caring for cancer patients with VTE in dispensing anticoagulant drugs correctly and safely to help patients avoid severe complications.

Promoting Healthy Behaviors Among Adolescent Mothers during the Postpartum Period for a New Normal Way of Life

2022-02-25T13:36:24+07:00

Promoting healthy behaviors among postpartum adolescent mothers for a new normal lifestyle involves adjusting the behavior of these mothers to realize the importance of appropriate self - care, including 1) taking responsibility for their health during the postpartum period, as they need to understand and adapt to self - care behaviors in accordance with a new way of life that prioritizes safety for themselves; 2) proper physical movement after childbirth; 3) nutrition, including a complete, healthy food intake from all five food groups for postpartum mothers who are breastfeeding. 4) interpersonal relationships, as it is important to show concern for family members, including husbands, and for the mothers of teenage mothers to refrain from touching and interacting with unknown or familiar people; 5) spiritual development; and 6) managing the stress experienced by postpartum adolescent mothers from anxiety or parenting fatigue, in which family members play an important role in helping to reduce the teenage mothers’ stress.

Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation: Nursing Care

2022-06-30T20:55:28+07:00

Post-surgery cardiac arrhythmias are a common complication after surgery; they can be found in 2 - 10% of general surgery patients. Thoracic resection was found in 15 - 30% of cases after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), 30 - 50% of cases after Isolate value surgery, and 40 - 60% of cases of combined CABG with valve surgery. In 17% of cases of thoracic aortic surgery, the arrhythmia occurred due to injury to the heart muscle wall, causing a risk of unstable circulatory problems (hemodynamic unstable), reduced efficiency of cardiac contraction, and risk of neurological complications. Risks such as acute ischemic stroke from thromboembolism (stroke) are factors associated with the occurrence of trembling-type arrhythmias. These factors include both patient factors and factors related to treatment and surgery. As a result, patients are required to stay in the hospital longer. Since this condition leads to a greater incidence of stroke and a higher death rate, nurses play a vital role in surveillance by assessing and preventing future complications; therefore, nurses should possess the requisite knowledge and nursing skill for patients with postoperative ventricular arrhythmias to plan the nursing process for caring for this group of patients so that they can experience a good quality of life after surgery.

The Role of Midwives in Surveilling Violence that Pregnant Women may Face from their Partner when Disclosing HIV-Infection

2022-04-11T12:55:39+07:00

Pregnant women with HIV are at risk of violence from their intimate partner. This is because disclosure of their HIV status may evoke controversial issues that can damage them both physically and mentally. These HIV-infected women hence feel apprehensive about informing their partners; thus, this hinders access to support them. Today, although there are guidelines for the care of pregnant women with HIV, few healthcare staff have actual experience or are aware of their entire nursing roles because patients in this group are both physically and mentally vulnerable. Also, these people are prone to stigmatization and discrimination from society. Therefore, midwives need to be conscious about the possibility of violence from their intimate partner vi ol ence when disclosing their HIV status. They need to consider their main responsibilities including direct care, education, counselling, empowerment, providing reasoning and ethical decision-making, and collaboration to support healthy pregnancies.

Factors Predicting Unwanted Pregnancy Prevention Behavior Among Female Adolescent Students

2021-10-25T12:34:38+07:00

This predictive study aimed to explore the factors predicting unwanted pregnancy prevention behaviors among female adolescents. The research subjects consisted of 374 female students studying in the first academic year 2020 in Northern University, Thailand. A simple random sampling technique was used to collect the data. The self-administered online questionnaires used for the study included a demographic questionnaire, a risk actions of social hazards questionnaire, a health literacy questionnaire related to preventing pregnancy, and an unwanted pregnancy prevention behaviors questionnaire for teenage Thai women. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis.

The results revealed that overall sexual health literacy factors were positively correlated with unwanted pregnancy prevention behavior among female adolescent students (rs = .245, p < .01). Factors significantly predicting unwanted pregnancy prevention behaviors were risk actions of social hazards (β = -.446, p < .01), making the right decisions to prevent unwanted pregnancy (β = .144, p < .01), and health comprehension (β = .091, p < .05). Interestingly, all these factors accounted for 38.5 percent of the prediction value of unwanted pregnancy prevention behaviors (R2 = .385, p < .01)

In conclusion, the factors preventing unwanted pregnancies among female adolescent students include reducing the risk actions of social hazards, promoting the right decisions for preventing unwanted pregnancy, and enhancing overall knowledge and health comprehension.

Factors Influencing Reproductive Coercion Among Women Seeking Care at Family Planning Clinics

2021-12-23T13:43:42+07:00

This predictive research aimed to investigate the influence of age, education level, couples’ relationship status, primary source of income, contraceptive self - efficacy, attitudes toward gender roles, and age difference between couple on reproductive coercion. The sample consisted of 250 women aged 18 years and over who attended a family planning and reproductive health services clinic in a tertiary hospital in Bangkok. The data were collected using demographic questionnaires, contraceptive self - efficacy questionnaires, attitudes toward gender roles questionnaires, and reproductive coercion questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis.

The results indicated that 40.40% of the participants had experienced reproductive coercion. The results showed that only three significant predictors, including education level (aOR 2.93; 95% CI = 1.31 - 6.56, p = .009), contraceptive self - efficacy (aOR = .92; 95% CI = .86 - .99, p = .041), and attitudes toward gender roles (aOR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.07, p = .009). For the other variables, age, couples’ relationship status, primary source of incomes, and age difference between couple, showed no significant effects on reproductive coercion. Therefore, it is recommended that nurses should be aware that women may experience reproductive coercion. As such, there should be screening for the risk of reproductive coercion and a program to prevent reproductive coercion through the promotion of contraceptive self - efficacy and through fostering gender equality attitudes.

The Development of a Mobile Application for Assessing Dementia and Educating Village Health Volunteers on the Prevention and Caring for Dementia Patients

2021-12-23T13:46:52+07:00

This research aimed 1) to develop a mobile application for assessing dementia and educating its users on how to prevent dementia and care for dementia patients, and 2) to examine the effect of this mobile application on the knowledge and skill of volunteer health villagers in screening for dementia and caring for dementia patients. The study was conducted between March 2020 and July 2021 in Pathum Thani province, Thailand. The study employed four stages: 1) a situational analysis and needs assessment of the village health volunteers, 2) the design of the content platform and development of the mobile application, 3) trials and a feasibility test of the content of the mobile application, and 4) evaluation of the mobile application. From 78 village health volunteers (39 participants in each group) selected via random sampling. A focus group discussion guideline, the mobile application, a dementia knowledge questionnaire, a dementia assessment skills assessment form, a mobile application satisfaction questionnaire, and a questionnaire on the possibility of using mobile applications were used to collect data. The experimental group received training on the use of mobile applications and practiced dementia screening tests, while the comparison group received routine care. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. To analyze the mobile application’s effectiveness, a paired t - test and an independent t - test were performed. Based on the results of the content from the situation analysis and needs assessment of the village health volunteers, a content platform was designed, and a mobile application was developed for use on the Android operating system; this application could be installed via QR code and the code for the registration could be changed via mobile phone. The suggestions from the trials and feasibility test of the content of mobile application were 1) the date, month, and year were specific auto-answers when an answer was correct, and 2) the font size was increased. The results from the evaluation of the mobile application revealed that 1) the experimental group had a high average satisfaction in using mobile applications (80.15%); and 2) the experimental group had higher knowledge (t = 7.538, p < .001) and skill in screening dementia patients (t = 13.209, p < .001) at the .05 level of significance. This result demonstrated that the villager health volunteers were satisfied in using the mobile application and increased their knowledge and skills in dementia assessment.

Factors Affecting Family Functioning on Home Care for Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Receiving Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

2021-11-30T02:18:50+07:00

Families play an important role in caring for chronic kidney disease patients requiring peritoneal dialysis. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting family functioning on home care for chronic kidney disease patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) by applying the McMaster Model of Family Functioning (MMFF), which is a conceptual research framework. The research sample consisted of 224 families of CAPD patients who received treatment at Ban Phaeo- Charoen Krung Hospital. They were selected by simple random sampling. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection and were composed of five parts related to the general information of the family and patient, family relationship, knowledge of family, social support, and family functioning. Their reliability scores of the questionnaires were found to be .78, .70, .87 and .81, respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and enter multiple regression analysis.

The results showed that family functioning in caring for chronic kidney disease patients undergoing continuous peritoneal dialysis was at the highest level (M = 3.27, SD = 1.01). Knowledge about caring for CAPD (β = .342 p < .05), family relationship (β = .316 p < .001), social support (β = .245, p < .001), dialysis period (β = -. 165 p < .05) and number of family members (β = .148, p < .05) could jointly explain 25.1% of the variance in family functioning (F = 12.130, p - value < .001). The results of this research are available to nurses and health care teams. The functioning of the family should be promoted by educating and counseling families, promoting the relationship of the number of family members, and social support by the family in follow-up care throughout the dialysis period, especially for the group of patients who started dialysis in the early stages.

Attitudes and Nursing Practices Regarding Postoperative Delirium Assessment and Prevention in Older Patients by Non-Intensive Care Unit Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital, Khon Kaen Province

2022-02-01T14:37:59+07:00

This survey research aimed to explore the levels and relationships between the attitudes and practices nurses use when caring for elderly patients with postoperative delirium (POD). The population comprised 83 registered nurses working in the general wards of a tertiary hospital in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The Attitude Questionnaire and the Behavioral Nursing Practice Questionnaire on Postoperative Delirium in Elderly Patients were distributed, and there were 80 respondents (96.38%). Then, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product-moment correlation.

The results revealed that most participants demonstrated a moderate level of the requisite attitudes and nursing practices in caring for patients with postoperative delirium (57.5 and 56.3%, respectively). Attitudes toward postoperative delirium were related to delirium-related practice (r = .309, p = .005). The total attitude score for POD was related to pre-operative nursing practice (r = .402, p < .001). However, there was no correlation between the total score of attitudes and post-operative nursing practice for POD (r = .181, p > .05). The results suggest that attitudes toward postoperative delirium should be considered when promoting and improving nursing practices for older patients with postoperative delirium.

Effects of a Participatory Learning Program on the Knowledge and Skills of Practical Roles Among Village Health Volunteers in Pratupa Subdistrict, Muang, Lamphun

2022-02-14T00:30:55+07:00

The purpose of this quasi - experimental research, with one group pretest - posttest design, was to examine the effects of a participatory learning program on the knowledge and skills of practical roles among village health volunteers in Pratupa sub - district, Muang, Lamphun. Thirty samples were purposively selected to participate in the learning program. The participatory learning program consisted of a pretest (week 1), attending three learning sessions, including Session 1 (sharing experiences and reflecting on the roles of village health volunteers), Session 2 (teaching with demonstration by learning step - by - step with practice following each step), and Session 3 (the conclusion session). The instruments included the participatory learning program and evaluation forms of the village health volunteers’ knowledge and skills of practical roles. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, McNemar’s test, Chi - squared test, and one - way repeated measures ANOVA.

The results showed that after implementing the program (in weeks 3 and 8), the levels of knowledge were not significantly different, whereas the levels of skills of practical roles were significantly different from those before participating in the program at p < .05. Moreover, the scores of knowledge and skills of practical roles were statistically different from those before participating in the program at p < .001.

Therefore, stakeholders should apply the participatory learning program for village health volunteers in order to improve their knowledge and skills of practical roles to increase effectiveness in developing village health volunteers’ capacity to solve the health problems facing communities.

The Relationship between Organizational Climate and Organizational Commitment Among Nurses from Different Generations at Queen Savang Vadhana Memorial Hospital

2022-03-03T21:58:46+07:00

The objectives of this study were to study 1) the levels of organizational climate and organizational commitment among the different generations of nurses, and 2) the relationship between organizational climate and organizational commitment among the different generations of nurses. The sample consisted of 226 registered nurses who were randomly selected through four levels of stratified random sampling among each generation, grouped into four generations: the baby boomers, generation X, generation Y, and generation Z, using a questionnaire; the reliability of the questionnaires using Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient were found to be .88 and .81 for organizational climate and organizational commitment, respectively. Data were collected and analyzed to determine the mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

The results showed that 1) the organizational climate of nurses was at a high level ( = 3.76, SD = .41); Generation X had the greatest mean score of organizational climate ( = 3.81, SD = .46), followed by Generation Y ( = 3.73, SD = .38) and Generation Z ( = 3.72, SD = .45); 2) the organizational commitment of nurses was at a moderate level ( = 3.11, SD = .27); Generation X had the greatest mean score of organizational commitment ( = 3.13, SD = .24), followed by Generation Y ( = 3.11, SD = .29), and Generation Z ( = 3.07, SD = .32); and 3) the relationship between organizational climate and the commitment of nurses was significantly positively correlated (rs = .440, p < .001). The baby boomer generation showed the highest correlation (rs = .776, p < .05), followed by Generation Z (r = .579, p < .01) and Generation Y (rs = .419, p < .001).

These results can be applied when planning to improve the organizational climate and strengthen the organizational commitment for each generation of nurses to meet the required standards.

The Effects of an Informational Program on Communication Skills of Professional Nurses at Phayao Hospital

2022-04-29T15:31:15+07:00

This research was a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design intended to: 1) compare the mean scores of communication skills before and after participating in the program for professional nurses, and 2) compare the mean scores of communication skills before and after participating in the program between the control and experimental group at Phayao Hospital, Thailand. Participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 23) and a control group (n = 23). The control group operated normally. The experimental group participated in an informational program on communication skills developed from the SMCR and effective communication concepts, including keynote, effective speaking, and communicative touch. Data were collected using questionnaires regarding the communication skills of professional nurses and were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test.

The results showed that 1) an informational program can improve the communication skills of professional nurses, and 2) the mean score for communication skills after completing the program was statistically significantly higher than before participating in the program (p < .01).

Therefore, this study suggests that administrators should continuously develop communication skills for nurses to enhance effective communication among the health team. Also, such communication skills should be developed in other similar organizations where high-quality nursing services are needed.

Development of Social Media on Promoting Breastfeeding Intension Among Mothers of Preterm Infants

2022-03-26T16:48:11+07:00

This research aimed to develop effective social media in promoting breastfeeding intension among mothers of preterm infants and to evaluate this media both by comparing the intention to breastfeed of preterm infants before and after using the media, and by studying the mothers’ satisfaction with the developed media. The sample included 30 mothers of preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care and sick newborn care units. Purposive sampling and random sampling were used to recruit the sample. Data were collected from January 2020 to May 2021. The research instruments consisted of an experimental instrument, which was a form of social media that was developed, and the data collection instruments consisted of a general information questionnaire, the maternal intention to breastfeeding in preterm infants questionnaire, and the maternal satisfaction with the social media questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

From the results, a short film titled “The miracle of breastfeeding for preterm infants” was developed. The length of this film is 30.11 minutes, and it was published on the YouTube website. This quality scores of this short film were determined by experts to be at the highest level ( = 4.61, SD = .50). The mean scores for maternal intention to exclusively breastfeed among preterm infants after media use were significantly higher than before (p < .001), and the mean score of the maternal satisfaction with the developed media was determined to be at the highest level ( = 4. 65, SD = .34).

These findings indicated that the social media developed to promote the intention to breastfeed among mothers of preterm infants was of good quality, and this media can be used to increase the intention to breastfeed among mothers of preterm infants.

The Association between Health Literacy and Self-Care Behavior in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Living in the Mueang District of Mahasarakham Province, Thailand

2022-04-20T14:31:08+07:00

This descriptive correlational research aimed to examine the level of health literacy and the level of self-care behavior to examine the association between health literacy and self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The samples consisted of 146 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in the Mueang district of Mahasarakham province in Thailand. The sample were recruited according to the inclusion criteria and simple random sampling. Data were collected between February to and March 2022. The research instruments included a health literacy questionnaire and a self-care behavior questionnaire. The reliability of the instruments tested by Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was measured to be .79 and .82, respectively. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.

The results revealed that the sample possessed health literacy in all aspects at the moderate level with a value of 58.20% (Mean = 59.03, SD = 6.93) and for self-care behavior in all aspects at the moderate level with a value of 71.90% (Mean = 42.69, SD = 5.14). Overall, health literacy showed a statistically significant positive correlation with self-care behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at the high level (r = .72**, p-value < .001).

Therefore, nurses or healthcare providers should play a role in organizing activities to increase health literacy to encourage diabetes patients to possess the knowledge, positive attitudes, and skills to take care of themselves and appropriately modify self-care behaviors.

The Effect of a Reminiscence Program on the Cognitive Function of Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2022-08-31T13:19:22+07:00

The purpose of this quasi-experimental research was to investigate the effect of a reminiscence program on the cognitive function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The subjects were older adults in the club of one in Bangkok, Thailand. The purposive sampling then assigned a matched pair group of 20 samples each to an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in the group - implemented reminiscence program once a week for six weeks, while the control group received standard care. Data were collected at the pre - experimental phase, during the four weeks of the experimental period, immediately post - experiment, two weeks after the experiment, and four weeks after the experiment through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The data were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test, the Wilcoxon signed - rank test, the Mann - Whitney U test, and the Friedman test.

The results showed that the reminiscence program increased cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment both during and after the program (p < .05). At both the 2 - week and 4 - week follow-up intervals, it was found that the cognitive functions of the older adults were higher than before the program at a statistically significant level (p < .05). When comparing the experimental group with the control group, it was found that the experimental group showed greater cognitive function during the program, immediately post - experiment, and at the 2 - and 4 - week follow-up intervals at a statistically significant level (p < .05).