Insights for enhancing resilience in prolonged crises: impact of COVID-19 pandemic on nurses' quality of life.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on nurses, impacting them physically, mentally and psychosocially. These effects stem from heightened workloads, fears of contracting a life-threatening illness due to inadequate protective equipment and concerns about transmitting the disease to their families. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of nurses working on the frontlines, aiming to provide insights for future crisis responses. METHODS: A descriptive-analytic study included 288 nurses from hospitals affiliated with Çukurova University, Southern Turkey using a stratified sampling method. Data on quality of life and demographics were collected using the WHO Quality of Life-BREF scale and a questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS V.25, employing descriptive and analytic measures at a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: Overall perceived quality of life was moderate (mean score: 3.31; SD: 0.56), with the highest scores in social relationships, psychological well-being and environmental factors. Positive correlations were found with gender, education, salary, vaccination status and living alone. Negative correlations were observed with alcohol consumption and longer working hours. CONCLUSIONS: To strengthen future crisis responses, health authorities should prioritise workload reduction, gender diversity promotion, support for nurses residing with family, better income opportunities, alcohol abstinence encouragement and ensuring vaccination for frontline nurses.

Factors influencing cardiovascular patients' knowledge of CVD risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Considering the morbidity, mortality, and financial burden of cardiovascular diseases(CVDs), investigating measures to prevent these disorders is highly prioritized. In this regard, improving the patients' knowledge level is essential. This study aimed to determine influencing factors on knowledge level regarding cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: This research is a descriptive-analytic study in which 351 hospitalized patients were selected as participants. The study was conducted in the cardiovascular services of a state hospital in Northern Nicosia, Cyprus, between 2019 and 2020. Data were gathered using a questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire was composed of two sections: the Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Factors Knowledge Level (CARRIF-KL) and a researchers-designed tool for demographic and influencing factors. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics 25. The Mann-Whitney U, Pearson chi-square, Spearman correlation, Kruskal Wallis, and Linear Regression were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The highest proportion of participants were aged 55-69 years (N = 154; 44%), male (N = 245; 70%), and married (N = 320; 91%). The most common reported chronic conditions were hypertension (N = 66; 44%) followed by obesity (N = 48; 32%). Also, 63.53% (N = 222) of the participants reported smoking, and 71% (N = 249) reported alcohol consumption. The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of the participants was calculated as 30.37 (5.92) for women and 31.30 (4.75) for men. There was a statistically significant difference in the quantity of CARRIF-KL between age groups, educational level, job, personality type, housing, number of daily meals, and being on a diet. The Linear Regression confirmed two predictors for CARRIF-KL, including education level and personality trait. CONCLUSION: Despite the common belief that people of the Mediterranean region practice a healthy lifestyle, results showed that obesity, smoking, sedentary life, and alcohol consumption are significant problems in Northern Cyprus. Considering the influencing factors and the predictors of the CARRIF-KL, we may recommend focusing on education at younger ages, increasing awareness about the importance of CVD risk factors, and keeping a normal body weight by reducing the number of daily meals and diet.

Predictors and priority of caring behaviours in intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing number of studies addressing nurses' perception of caring behaviours; however, on the issue of quality of care, it is important to understand why nurses focus more on certain elements of caring than others, and this needs to investigate influencing factors on, priorities, and predictors of caring behaviours. AIMS: The main goal of this study was to determine the predictors and priorities of nurses' caring behaviours in intensive care units to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional survey of nurses working in adult and pediatric ICUs in Iran. The participants were 470 ICU nurses from eight hospitals in Iran. Data were collected over 6 months in 2018 using the Persian version of "Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q-Care"; "Determinants of Nurse Caring Behaviors"; and a demographic data form. RESULTS: By broad descriptive and analytical analysis, thirteen items were recognized as predictors of caring behaviours. The most important individual predictors reported as "interest in the nursing profession," "moral obligation," and "job experience," respectively. The most important perceived nursing behaviours were, respectively, subscales of "accessible," "monitors/follow-through" and "explains/facilitates." CONCLUSION: The results provide insight into new and context-specific predictors of nurses' caring behaviours. These findings suggest that nursing managers, besides selecting skilful staff for ICUs, may consider employing those of higher "interest in the nursing profession"; "moral obligation"; and "job experience." They, also, need to be aware that organizational culture, climate, and values have a great impact on the caring behaviours of nurses. This could help them to handle the complex issue of improving the quality of care more efficiently.

Comparative Analysis of the Perception of Family Functioning by Heads of Families with and without Cancer Members During Illness.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major health problem due to the aging population with increasing deaths. Family functioning is affected by cancer diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to comparative analysis of the perception of family functioning by heads of families with and without cancer members during illness, focusing on changes or probable changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This comparative study was conducted on two groups (families with a member of the cancer and controls without a family member with cancer). The families were of patients referred to the clinics and hospitals of Imam Khomeini, Taleghani and Omid of Urmia city, the number of samples being 148 for cases and 176for the control group. To collect the data, valid and reliable family functioning (FAD) was applied, a 60-item questionnaire with seven dimensions, with heads of families. To analyze the data SPSS- 23 Software was used for descriptive and analytical statistics. Significance level was defined p<0.05. RESULTS: Among the seven items : problem solving, communication, roles, emotional response, emotional involvement, behavior control and overall functioning, only differences for average scores of problem-solving were statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Contrary to common perception of severe damage for family functioning in families with cancer members, results of this study indicate that functioning in terms of family caregivers is more or less similar to that of the families with other diseases. Only in problem-solving item do these families experience more difficulty. CONCLUSION: According to the research findings, in nursing from families with cancer patient, it is recommended to focus more on the problem-solving item of the families.

Psychometric properties of Persian version of the Caring Dimension Inventory (PCDI-25).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of Persian version of the 25-item Caring Dimension Inventory (CDI-25). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A psychometric instrument validation study was designed. Content validity, internal consistency, and stability were confirmed. A total of 288 participants (143 nurses and 145 nursing students) were selected based on quota sampling approach. RESULTS: The PCDI-23 showed good test-retest (Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.89 for nursing students and 0.91 for nurses), internal consistency reliability (0.86), and acceptable face and construct validity. However, considering the results of analyses, excluding items 4 and 16 from the Persian version of the CDI is suggested. CONCLUSION: This instrument can be used to determine caring behaviors and nurses' perceptions of the importance of caring behaviors among Persian language nurses.

Effect of self-efficacy enhancement program on self-care behaviors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and role of different factors in self-care behaviors of COPD patients, this study was conducted to determine the effect of self-efficacy program on self-care behaviors of COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this semi-experimental study, 62 COPD patients were recruited in which 31 subjects were in control group and 31 were in experimental group. Subjects were selected based on purposive sampling from Imam Hospital affiliated to the Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2011. Two valid and reliable questionnaires were filled after completing informed consent form. A month later, and after implementing the planned intervention, the questionnaires were completed by the subjects again. RESULTS: The mean standard deviation of age were 64.1 (9.1) years in the control group and 65.2 (8.0) years in the experimental group. There was a statistically significant difference between self-efficacy state before and after intervention. Self-care scores in the experimental group were significantly higher after intervention (t = 25.18, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high potency of self-efficacy factors on self-care behaviors of the COPD patients, enhancement of self-efficacy in these patients can be very effective in disease control, prevention of complications, reduction of hospitalization costs, and improve their quality of life. Hence, it is suggested that in empowerment programs of these patients, special emphasis will put on the strengthening of their self-efficacy.

Determinants of Nurses' Caring Behaviors (DNCB): Preliminary Validation of a Scale.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses' Caring behaviors might be affected by many variables. The aim of this study was to develop and test a valid and reliable questionnaire to specify these determinants. METHODS: Both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied to develop the questionnaire. The development process of the instrument was conducted in three phases. The first phase consisted of four steps: in-depth interviews, development of the preliminary version of the 38-item DNCB, expert panel review, and language revision. The second phase involved examining 143 qualified nurses for psychometric properties of the DNCB. The participants were selected, based on quota sampling approach, from four educational hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The final phase involved testing of the revised instrument using exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: The results showed good CVI (0.89), test-retest correlation coefficient (0.91), internal consistency reliability (0.93), and acceptable face and construct validity. RESULTS of the factor analysis revealed a 6-factor solution, determined by Eigen values greater than 1, accounted for 77.736 of the total variance. CONCLUSION: This instrument is a simple scale with a good reliability and validity that can provide comprehensive information about the determinants of caring behaviors in a short time.