Family Strength in Caring for a Stroke Survivor at Home

This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the meaning of family strength when caring for a stroke member at home. Family strength is considered to be the competency of a family when faced with a stressful life event that can be viewed through a continuous man-environmental interaction process. Six family units were purposively recruited and screened using the Family Hardiness Index (four with high-level of hardiness, and two with moderate-level of hardiness). Data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations and field notes, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. Findings revealed families with high-hardiness continuously strove to overcome caregiving hardships and had hope for the stroke member’s long existence, while families with moderate-hardiness demonstrated less effort to overcome caregiving hardships and held no hope for the stroke member’s long existence. Primary caregivers among families with high-hardiness revealed more self-development incarer role than did those of families with moderate-hardiness. Families with high-hardiness shared caregiving and family task responsibilities, while families with moderate-hardiness lacked collaboration regarding caregiving and family tasks. In addition, family strength emerged from families overcoming caregiving hardships through: hope for the stroke member’s long existence; development, accumulated experiences of “can do” family members; and, establishment of shared caregiving and family task responsibilities. Consideration of views and abilities of the family unit to provide homecare for a stroke member can enhance nurses’ understanding of different developmental experiences of home caregiving families. In addition, such knowledge can facilitate adoption of meaningful nursing interventions to support the families.

Occupational Accidents and Risk Behavior Among Wooden Game Workers

The main purpose of this descriptive study was to examine occupational accidents, risk behavior and the relationship between occupational accidents and risk behavior among wooden game workers in Chiang Mai province during December, 2007 to January, 2008. The 160 study samples were chosen through a purposive sampling of collected data. The main results demonstrated that the prevalence rate of occupational accidents during the last three months was 90.0%. Further, the prevalence rate of near miss incidents during the last three months was 41.2%. Concerning risk behavior, it was found that the study sample had total risk behaviors at a high level (14.3%) and at a moderate level (71.2%). Considering each aspect of risk behavior of the sample, not using personal protective equipment, using inappropriate machine/equipment and not following work safety rules had risk behaviors at a high level (17.5%, 14.3 % and 17.5% respectively). In addition, it was found that occupational accidents had a significant relationship with total risk behaviors (p-value \< 0.05) and only not using personal protective equipment was found to have a significant relationship with occupational accidents (p-value \< 0.05). The findings of this study indicate that occupational health nurses and related occupational and environmental health and safety organizations should recognize the significance of occupational accidents and continuously conduct systematic surveillance for occupational accidents. In addition, occupational accident prevention should be planned as well as supporting safe behavior or reducing high risk behavior of the workers in the workplace, focusing on not using personal protective equipment. It is anticipated that this will improve safety in the workplace.

Perspectives on Wisdom-Health of Thai Buddhist Nurses through Meditation

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore Thai nurses’ perspectives regarding the meaning of wisdom-health, the characteristics of persons who have wisdom-health, and the importance of wisdom-health to Thai people’s overall general health. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit twelve Thai registered nurses who regularly practice meditation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews along with observation and ethnographic records. Data were analyzed using Spradley’s method of content analysis. The main findings illustrated that the meaning of wisdom-health based on the perspective of Thai nurses is defined as having mindfulness (satti) and clear comprehension (sampajanna). Mindfulness focuses on being aware of, and reminding oneself to know and concentrate on the present moment, while clear comprehension means thinking reflectively on cause and effect. Both mindfulness and clear comprehension enable one to understand the nature of truth or “wisdom” so as to live with happiness. The characteristics of persons who have wisdom-health include 1) using wisdom to live their lives, 2) applying morality and ethical behavior to their lives, and 3) having inner peacefulness. Further, wisdom-health is crucial to the overall general health of Thai people because it helps them attain well-being by way of choosing the right means to solve their health problems both physically and mentally. Realizing the nature of truth leads people to be compassionate toward themselves, their fellow human beings and the environment, which, in turn, can contribute to a peaceful society.  The results of this study provide an understanding of wisdom-health from the perspectives of Thai nurses who practice meditation. Also, these findings could provide a foundation for developing guidelines, regarding assessment and nursing care related to wisdom-health, that lead to holistic care of clients.

Health Meanings and Practices among Midlife Professional Thai Women

Midlife professional women face many challenges including changes in physical functions, chronic illness and increasing demands from both professional and family roles. Understanding women’s health meanings and health care practices within their sociocultural context is important. A qualitative research design, informed by general principles of feminist inquiry, was used to explore the experiences of professional women regarding their health meanings and health care practices. Twenty midlife professional Thai women, working as teachers and nurses in northern Thailand, were recruited purposively between May 2005 and February 2006. In-depth individual interviews were conducted and data were processed based on Morse and Richards’ analysis guide. Results included the themes: “being able to maintain normality,” as the meaning of health; and, “rearranging my way of life,” as the health care practices. “Being able to maintain normality” was found to be the women’s ability to manage multiple roles productively and capability of having a normal state of physical functioning and emotional stability. “Rearranging my way of life” was evidenced through the women’s readjustment of their eating styles, initiation of consumption of nutrients and vitamin supplements, effort to have more exercise, precautionary accident risk activities and modification of known ways of reducing stress. Findings have significant implications for policy-makers and health care professionals to provide health promotion programs which consider the meaning of health and health care practices for women.

Experiences of Caregivers of Spouses With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Spousal caregiving is an important aspect of traditional Thai caregiving ideology. Evidence suggests that such continuous caregiving may affect the caregivers’ well-being. Presently, the knowledge of experiences of Thai spouses who are caregivers of persons with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of spouses who care for persons with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Fifteen spousal caregivers, consisting of 12 wife caregivers and 3 husband caregivers, were recruited from the Radiation Therapy Unit at the University Hospital in Songkhla province from May 2005 to December 2005. In-depth interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using the hermeneutic phenomenological research approach described by Cohen, Kahn and Steeves. Six major themes emerged: (1) “Being committed for life to spouses” was rooted in the powers of love, intimacy, and trust, and led to repayment with gratitude, (2) “Enhancing the spouses’ comfort” was accomplished by strengthening their physical health and relieving symptoms and by giving them encouragement, intimacy and compassionate love , (3) “Being a co-sufferer” was due to the uncertainty of their future lives, the caregiving strain, and the difficulties with new living arrangements, (4) “Readjusting themselves” was through rearranging the caregivers’ life and holding onto hope for a cure and a longer life for their ill spouse, (5) “Appreciating peoples’ support”, and (6) “Being gratified with self-development and marital life growth” was derived from being successful caregivers, gaining a better marital relationship and developing insight into the truth of life. These findings can both help health professionals recognize spousal caregivers as a vulnerable group and care for them, and also pave the way for future Thai spousal caregiving research.