Psychological Distress and Health-related Quality of Life in Relocated and Nonrelocated Older Survivors after the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

PURPOSE: The purposes of the study were to examine psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in relocated and nonrelocated survivors aged 60 years and older, and to analyze predictors for psychological distress and HRQoL in older survivors 5 years after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study with 112 relocated older survivors and 156 nonrelocated older survivors. Our study used a multistage sampling method. The measurements used in the study included self-reporting questionnaire-20, medical outcomes study 36-item short form health survey, and an instrument measuring demographic and disaster-related characteristics. Descriptive and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to determine factors that contributed to psychological distress and HRQoL. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychological distress in relocated group (20.5%) was significantly higher compared to those in nonrelocated group (4.8%). Scores for HRQoL in relocated older survivors was significantly lower than those in nonrelocated older survivors. Relocation from preearthquake residence was the most significant predictor for psychological distress and HRQoL in the total sample. Other predictors were advanced age, lower educational level, the loss of family members during the earthquake, and the presence of chronic illnesses as well as the death of a spouse after the earthquake. CONCLUSIONS: Strategies can be designed in postdisaster recovery program, particularly for older survivors at high risk for psychological distress and poor HRQoL.

Study on current staffmg of nurses and need of hospital nursing human resources in China / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To investigate the current staffing of nurses and need of hospital nursing human resources in China.Methods Data were collected from 181 secondary and tertiary hospitals and 9774 nurses in mainland China by questionnaires.Results The average doctor-nurse ratio was 1 ∶ 1.39 in tertiary hospitals and 1 ∶ 1.31 in secondary hospitals.The doctor-nurse ratios in 164 hospitals (97.6％) and the proportion of nurses in health care staff in 105 hospitals (61.8％) had not reached the standard set by the Ministry of Health of China.62.3％ nurses held secondary diploma for their initial nursing education.The constituent ratio of nurses held secondary diploma decreased,while the ratio of nurses held advanced diploma and bachelor degree increased in the last 5 years from 2003 to 2007.Sixty percent of newly employed nurses were contract nurses in 2003.The proportion increased to 78％ in 2007,and in some regions it accounted for more than 90％ of new nurses.The needs and constituent ratio of nurses with.secondary diploma and advanced diploma would decrease while nurses with bachelor degree and master degree would increase in the next 5 years (from 2009 to 2013).Conclusions The nursing shortage is still severe in China,and nursing staff mainly held secondary diploma for their initial nursing education.Most of new nurses were employed as conwact nurses.The need of hospitals for nurses has increased,especially for nurses with higher educational level such as bachelor degree and master degree,while the need for secondary diploma hold ers have decreased.The need for advanced diploma holders has increased in the last 5 years and would decrease in the next 5 years,but they would still be the majority of employed nurses.The authors suggested that the staffing of nursing manpower,the work environments and career development of contract nurses should be improved,and the initial nursing education should be upgraded to meet the needs of hospitals.

Investigation about ability of clinical decision-making among nursing undergraduates / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To explore the present state of clinical decision-making ability of nursing students in Sichuan Province. Methods The instrument for measuring the clinical decision-making ability of nursing students was adopted te investigate baccalaureate nursing students from four colleges and uni-versifies in Sichuan Province who had completed 10-12-month clinical practice. Results The overall mean score of clinical decision-making ability of baccalaureate nursing students in Sichuan Province was (72.86± 4.53). Among the dimensions, the scoring rate of Goal-setting Ability Dimension was the highest and that of evaluation-feedback ability dimension the lowest. In terms of the qualification rate of clinical decision-making ability, 99.52% of the students were qualified (4.82% good and 94.7% passed) and 0.48% was unqualified. Conclusions Baccalaureate nursing students in Sichuan Province have not showed a high level in clinical nursing decision-making ability and most of them are just qualified. No students have reached the level of excellence.