Exploring the sources of cervical cancer screening self-efficacy among rural females: A qualitative study.

AIM: Evidence showed self-efficacy was relevant to rural females' cervical cancer screening behaviour. However, little is known about sources of self-efficacy in cervical cancer screening among rural females. This study aimed to explore sources of self-efficacy in cervical cancer screening among rural females. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Both users and providers of cervical cancer screening services in rural areas of China were recruited through maximum variation sampling. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews through telephone calls were conducted. Data were analysed via six main stages of the framework method, with the social cognitive theory as a reference. RESULTS: Four main sources were identified, including personal screening experience, hearing about other women's screening experiences, professional health education and consultation, and emotional status. Personal screening experience included enactive mastery of completing the screening behaviour and cognitive mastery of internalisation of the screening. Only the experience of completing cervical cancer screening behaviour was not strong enough to improve self-efficacy. Cognitive mastery showed more critical influence. CONCLUSION: These four sources of rural females' cervical cancer screening self-efficacy matched with the major sources of self-efficacy of the social cognitive theory. Cognition was critical to influencing the screening self-efficacy. Intervention strategies aimed at enhancing rural females' cervical cancer screening self-efficacy can be developed from these four major sources. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: A registered nurse with rich experience in cervical cancer-related research and qualitative study was the interviewer of this study. Rural females and cervical cancer screening services providers (healthcare professionals and village staff) were recruited as interviewees. The interview guides were developed by the research team and evaluated by an expert panel including two nurse leaders of gynaecological cancer, one doctor specialised in cervical cancer, and one medical director in a local rural hospital.

Measuring poststroke fatigue: The psychometric properties of the Chinese version of multidimensional fatigue inventory.

OBJECTIVE: Poststroke fatigue (PSF) is a common and debilitating problem among stroke patients. Multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI) has been recommended to assess fatigue related to acquired brain injury. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of MFI among stroke patients. METHODS: The study recruited 252 stroke patients in China. The internal consistency of the Chinese-version MFI was evaluated using Cronbach's α coefficients. The test-retest reliability was measured over a 5-day interval with intraclass correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to analyze the construct validity. The concurrent validity of MFI was examined by calculating the Pearson's correlation coefficient between the scores of MFI and the fatigue assessment scale (FAS). RESULTS: The exploratory factor analysis of the Chinese-version of MFI showed that it captured three dimensions of PSF, namely, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and level of activity. The Chinese-version MFI demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency with Cronbach's α ranging from 0.83 (mental fatigue) to 0.91 (total scale). The Chinese-version MFI showed adequate test-retest reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.70 for the total scale, 0.69 for physical fatigue, 0.66 for mental fatigue, and 0.62 for level of activity. The concurrent validity of the Chinese-version MFI was demonstrated by a significant positive correlation (r=0.49, p <0.001) with FAS. CONCLUSION: This study findings showed that Chinese-version MFI has adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and demonstrated its concurrent validity with FAS. The findings provide preliminary evidence of the three-factor structure of Chinese-version MFI by exploratory factor analysis.

A theory-driven, culture-tailored educational intervention for cervical cancer screening among rural Chinese females: A feasibility and pilot study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminarily estimate the effects of a theory-driven, culture-tailored, community-based educational intervention promoting cervical cancer screening among rural females. Methods: An experimental study with the two-arm parallel, nonrandomized control trial design was implemented, followed by individual semi-structured interviews. Thirty rural females between 26 and 64 were recruited, with 15 in each group. Both groups were exposed to the usual care about cervical cancer screening promotion from the local clinics, while participants in the intervention group additionally received five educational sessions in 5 weeks. Data were collected at baseline and immediately postintervention. Results: All participants completed the study, and the retention rate was 100%. Participants in the intervention group had more significant increments in cervical cancer screening-related self-efficacy (P â€‹< â€‹0.001), knowledge (P â€‹< â€‹0.001), and intention levels (P â€‹= â€‹0.003) than those in the control group. Most participants showed acceptance and satisfaction with this educational intervention. Conclusions: This study revealed that the theory-driven, culture-tailored, community-based educational intervention was feasible among the rural populations to promote cervical cancer screening. A large-scale interventional study with a prolonged follow-up duration is warranted to explore this educational intervention's effectiveness further.

The effects of a smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention for Chinese hypertensive patients: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: For hypertensive patients, self-care is of the utmost importance in disease management and health maintenance. However, due to inadequate motivation and self-efficacy in performing self-care behaviours, satisfactory self-care is difficult to initiate and maintain. Smartphone-based interventions with support from nurses may be an alternative way to improve self-care behaviours and blood pressure control. Therefore, a randomised controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of a smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention for hypertensive people. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention on improving blood pressure control, anthropometric parameters, and self-care amongst Chinese hypertensive patients from two community health service centres. DESIGN: This study was a single-blinded, two-arm randomised controlled trial with a repeated-measures design. SETTINGS: Participants were recruited from two community health service centres in China from March 2018 to June 2018. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 210 patients with hypertension were randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group (n = 105 per group). METHODS: Participants in the intervention group received six individual weekly education and consultation sessions provided by a nurse in the first 6 weeks and a researcher-developed smartphone application for 12 weeks. The sessions consisted of health education, individual self-care planning, daily records of physical health status and lifestyle behaviour, and an automated weekly health report. Data on systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body weight, waist circumference, and self-care (behaviour, motivation, and self-efficacy) were collected at baseline, the 6th week, and 12th week after joining the study. A generalised estimating equation model was used to analyse the outcome. RESULTS: A total of 191 patients (91%) completed outcome measurements at the three time points. Compared with the control group at the 6th and 12th week follow-ups, the intervention group exhibited significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (T1: ß = -7.29, T2: ß = -11.07), diastolic blood pressure (T1: ß = -4.80, T2: ß = -7.50), body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference, and a significant improvement in self-care (behaviour, motivation, and self-efficacy). At the 12th week follow-up, the proportion of participants with BP < 140/90 mmHg in the intervention group (31%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (9%, p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention could improve blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, and self-care amongst Chinese hypertensive people in two communities. Its long-term effects amongst diverse hypertensive patient populations can be examined in a future study. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: The smartphone-enhanced nurse-facilitated self-care intervention improved BP control and self-care, which is an effective alternative to hypertension management. REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17014227).

Educational Interventions to Promote Cervical Cancer Screening among Rural Populations: A Systematic Review.

The urban-rural gap in cervical cancer screening uptake is a significant public health consideration. Educational interventions are commonly adopted to promote cervical cancer screening among females in rural areas; however, the characteristics and effectiveness of these educational interventions remain unclear. In this review, we aimed to identify the characteristics of educational interventions used in rural populations and to evaluate the effects of these interventions on cervical cancer screening-related outcomes. Seven English databases were searched in January 2022. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials and the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Quasi-Experimental Studies were used for quality appraisal. RevMan 5.4 software was used for the meta-analysis. A narrative synthesis was conducted in instances where a meta-analysis was inappropriate. Three RCTs and seven quasi-experimental studies conducted in six countries were included. A social cognitive theory-based framework, the community setting, group sessions, healthcare professional-led approaches, and culture-tailored materials were implemented in the educational interventions for cervical cancer screening. The educational content mainly included basic information on cervical cancer screening, psychological issues, barriers and strategies to overcome them, and locally available resources. Educational interventions increased the knowledge and uptake of cervical cancer screening in the rural population. However, the studies only evaluated the short-term effects of these educational interventions, with the cervical screening behavior only being assessed in one instance for each participant. Educational interventions promote cervical cancer screening among females in rural areas. Theory-driven, community-involved, group-based, and healthcare professional-led approaches should be prioritized in the application of educational interventions in rural populations. Both the short- and long-term, influences of educational interventions on the cervical cancer screening behavior of females in rural areas need to be recognized.

Sarcopenia risk and associated factors among Chinese community-dwelling older adults living alone.

Sarcopenia, defined as a progressive loss of muscle mass and reduced muscle strength and functional capacity, is common among older adults. This study aimed to assess the proportion of people at risk of sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia among Chinese community-dwelling older adults living alone and to identify the associated factors. A total of 390 older adults were included in this study. Sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia were defined according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, health status, health behaviours and lifestyle characteristics, nutritional status, physical activity level, and depressive symptoms were collected. The association between these characteristics and sarcopenia risk was analysed using a multivariate ordinal logistic regression. The proportion of subjects at risk of sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia was found to be 57.7% and 30%, respectively. Older age, being malnourished and being at risk of malnutrition were significantly associated with sarcopenia risk. Being educated to secondary level or above, being overweight or obese and higher physical activity level were associated with decreased sarcopenia risk. Our results showed that older adults living alone were at high risk of developing sarcopenia and probable sarcopenia. These results emphasise the urgent need to initiate aggressive screening and holistic lifestyle therapeutic intervention strategies for this high-risk population.

The effects of an empowerment-based self-management intervention on empowerment level, psychological distress, and quality of life in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: There is considerable interest in advocating empowerment in diabetes care. Health professionals, however, often fail to realize empowerment in clinical practice, especially in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an empowerment-based intervention on empowerment level, psychological distress, and quality of life among patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: An analysis of secondary outcomes of a prospective multi-center, randomized, parallel, investigator-blinded controlled trial. METHODS: A total of 242 adult patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes [Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)≥ 58 mmol/mol in the recent six months] were randomly allocated to either intervention (n = 121) or attentional control (n = 121) groups. The design of the intervention was based on the Empowerment Process Model. The intervention group received a 6-week empowerment-based transitional care program, with significant emphasis on establishing personally meaningful goals, facilitating collaborative partnership and shared decision-making, resolving life-disease conflicts via situational reflection. Participants in the attentional control group received two general health education classes and post-discharge social calls on top of routine care. Outcomes of interest include empowerment level, diabetes distress, and quality of life. Participants were invited to complete a set of questionnaires before randomization, one-week, and three-month post-intervention. Statistical analyses were performed using the generalized estimating equations based on the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Comparing with the attention control group, participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements on empowerment level [(ß= 0.163; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.011 to 0.316, p = 0.036) at one-week post-intervention and (ß= 0.176; 95% CI: 0.020 to 0.331, p = 0.027) at three-month post-intervention, respectively]. This group of patients also displayed significant reduction in terms of emotional-distress (ß= -0.424, 95% CI: -0.798 to -0.049, p = 0.027) and regimen-distress (ß= -0.397, 95% CI: -0.702 to -0.091, p = 0.011) at three-month post-intervention and physician-related distress (ß= -0.236, 95% CI: -0.466 to -0.006, p = 0.044) at one-week post-intervention. Significant improvement in quality of life (ß= 4.151, 95% CI: 1.291, 7.012, p = 0.004) at three-month post-intervention was also observed in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide empirical evidence for the values of an empowerment-based intervention program for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes in increasing the empowerment level and perceived quality of life and reducing diabetes distress. Long-term effects of the intervention and its underlying mechanisms need further investigation.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of Hypertension Self-care Profile.

BACKGROUND: Valid and reliable assessment of the multidimensional self-care of patients with hypertension is important to tailor individualized care. The Hypertension Self-care Profile (HBP SCP), which comprises behavior, motivation, and self-efficacy scales, has been widely tested in various settings. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to translate the HBP SCP into a Chinese version (HBP SCP-C) and evaluate its psychometric properties among Chinese adults with hypertension. METHODS: The HBP SCP was translated to Chinese using Cha's combined translation technique, and its content validity was examined by a panel of 7 experts. The psychometric properties of HBP SCP-C were tested in 200 Chinese patients with hypertension. Reliability tests included internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to explore the structure of HBP SCP-C. Discriminative validity was examined by the known-group approach. RESULTS: The HBP SCP-C demonstrated satisfactory content validity. The 2-factor structures of the behavior ("health promotion" and "habit modification") and self-efficacy ("intake management" and "health maintenance") scales and 1-factor structure of the motivation scale were determined. The behavior, motivation, and self-efficacy scales had Cronbach α coefficients of 0.86, 0.94, and 0.93, respectively, and test-retest reliabilities were 0.82 to 0.98, 0.90 to 0.98, and 0.81 to 0.95, respectively. Significant differences between patients with or without comorbidities in behavior (t = 2.55, P = .011), motivation (t = 3.25, P = .001), and self-efficacy (t = 3.02, P = .003) supported the discriminative validity of HBP SCP-C. CONCLUSIONS: The HBP SCP-C could be a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating hypertension self-care in Chinese patients.

Effects of a Web-Based Educational Support Intervention on Total Exercise and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Adults With Coronary Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: eHealth educational programs have proven to be an effective means for health promotion, yet limited studies have been conducted for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients to improve their total physical exercise, self-efficacy for exercise, and cardiovascular risk factor profile. METHOD: A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in two cardiac clinics in Hong Kong. Four hundred thirty-eight eligible CHD clients were randomly assigned to either the control or the intervention group. All of the participants received standard care, which consisted of regular medical and nursing care in the cardiac clinic. The intervention group received an additional web-based educational support intervention (eHES), which consisted of a 20-minute individual educational session on the use of the eHES web link. The eHES web link contains a health information platform related to CHD care and an individual member area with records of health measures and physical exercise data for six months. Data were collected at baseline, at three-month and six-month intervals at the cardiac clinic. The primary outcome was the total amount of physical exercise, measured by the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were self-efficacy for exercise and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers (body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile). The data were analyzed using a generalized estimating equations model. RESULTS: The intervention group reported a statistically higher amount of physical exercise and a higher HDL-C at 3 and 6 months, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the groups in self-efficacy for exercise and other CVD risk markers. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the eHES in meeting the challenge of boosting the amount of physical exercise and increase HDL-C among CHD patients who engaged for over three months. The results provide insight for eHealth development to support and promote exercise among CHD patients in the community.

Health Behaviors of Chinese Childhood Cancer Survivors: A Comparison Study with Their Siblings.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare health behaviors between the childhood cancer survivors (CCS) and their sibling controls and to examine the pattern of health behaviors of the Hong Kong Chinese CCS and its associations with their health-related quality of life and psychological distress. Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted. A total of 614 CCS and 208 sibling controls participated in this study. Patterns of health behaviors including lifestyle behaviors, cancer screening practices, and insurance coverage were compared. Multivariate regression analyses were performed for examining factors associated with health behaviors in CCS. Results: CCS had less alcohol consumption when compared with their sibling controls (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.65, p = 0.035). The sibling controls were more likely to have cancer screening practices (AOR = 0.38, p = 0.005) and health (AOR = 0.27, p < 0.001) and life insurance coverage (AOR = 0.38, p < 0.001). Among the CCS, those who were male, having a job or higher education, shorter time since diagnosis, and type of cancer suffered were significantly associated with alcohol consumption. Those CCS who were drinkers indicated poorer mental health (p = 0.004) and more psychological distress. Female CCS undertaking cancer screening were more likely to be employed, married/cohabiting, and have received intensive cancer treatment. Conclusion: This study reveals that Chinese childhood cancer survivors are less likely to engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, insurance coverage and cancer screening, when compared with their siblings. Implications for Cancer Survivors: It is crucial for healthcare professionals to identify strategies or target interventions for raising CCS's awareness of their cancer risks and healthy lifestyle throughout their life.

Prospective Validation of the Chinese Version of the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale Among Middle-Aged Patients With Coronary Heart Disease.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to further evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale (SEE-C) among middle-aged outpatients with coronary heart disease (CHD). DESIGN: Psychometric evaluation design. METHODS: A convenience sample of 355 CHD patients was recruited and followed up at 3 and 6 months. Cronbach's alpha, construct validity (exploratory factor analysis), and concurrent and predictive validity were examined. FINDINGS: The SEE-C had a single-factor structure that was stable over time and had high internal consistency. Baseline SEE-C scores were significantly and positively associated with quality of life and total exercise time per week and significantly and negatively associated with anxiety and depression. They also significantly predicted total exercise per week at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. CONCLUSIONS: The SEE-C is a robust, reliable, and valid measure of exercise self-efficacy for middle-aged Chinese CHD outpatients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The SEE-C can assess patients' exercise self-efficacy, so that appropriate interventions to improve exercise self-efficacy can be provided.

Malnutrition risks and their associated factors among home-living older Chinese adults in Hong Kong: hidden problems in an affluent Chinese community.

BACKGROUND: Although China is undergoing rapid economic development, it is facing an ageing population. No data exists on malnutrition risks of older adults in an affluent Chinese society. The aim of this study is to examine these risks and identify their associated factors among home-living older Chinese adults in Hong Kong. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, to which home-living subjects aged 60 or above were recruited, between May and September 2017, from a non-governmental community organisation located in three different districts of Hong Kong. Nutritional status was assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and its associated factors examined included socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, health status and diet. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with malnutrition risks (MNA < 24). RESULTS: Six hundred thirteen subjects (mean age: 78.5 ± 7.4; 54.0% females) completed the survey. Nearly 30% (n = 179) were at risk of malnutrition. By multivariable logistic regression, subjects (1) whose vision was only fair or unclear, (2) with poor usual appetite and (3) with main meal skipping behaviour had significantly higher malnutrition risk (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this affluent Chinese society, the malnutrition risk in older adults is close to the global average, which is a matter for much concern. Interventions are therefore warranted that target vulnerable groups with poor vision, appetite, and meal skipping behaviour. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

The effectiveness of electronic health interventions on blood pressure control, self-care behavioural outcomes and psychosocial well-being in patients with hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is a global health issue. Electronic health (eHealth) is a potential alternative for managing hypertension and modifying hypertension-related self-care set of behaviour. This review aims to identify the delivery mode and strategies used by current eHealth interventions and examine the effectiveness of eHealth on blood pressure control, self-care behavioural outcomes and psychosocial well-being. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCE: Ten English databases (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science and INSPEC) and two Chinese databases (China Journal Net and WanFang Data) were searched from January 2000 to November 2017. REVIEW METHODS: This review was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Statement. Two reviewers independently selected potential articles and extracted the details of each eligible article. The Randomized Controlled Trial Checklist of Joanna Briggs Institute was used to assess the methodological quality of the included articles. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 for at least two studies reporting the same outcome. Otherwise, narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Fifteen articles from fourteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. The pooled result of 13 studies reported that eHealth intervention significantly affected the reduction of systolic blood pressure (mean difference [MD]: -5.96 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -9.21 to -2.70, p < .001) and diastolic blood pressure (MD: -3.35 mmHg, 95% CI: -6.36 to -0.35, p < .05). eHealth interventions significantly decreased the proportion of patients with inadequate blood pressure control (risk ratio: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.57-0.84, p < .001) and their body weight (MD: -1.08 kg, 95% CI: -2.04 to -0.13, p < .05). Regarding self-care behavioural outcomes, the pooled results show that eHealth interventions significantly reduced the sodium intake. CONCLUSIONS: This study reported that eHealth interventions positively affect blood pressure control and thus could be a promising alternative in the management of hypertension. However, their effectiveness on self-care behavioural change and psychosocial well-being is insufficient. Therefore, additional eHealth interventions with rigorous experimental design on hypertension self-care are needed to provide a robust evidence for a wide population and to address the increasing health care needs of patients with hypertension.

A Theory-Based and Culturally Aligned Training Program on Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention for South Asian Community Health Workers: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer screening uptake among South Asian ethnic minorities is reported to be relatively low. An outreach program, led by community health workers (CHWs), may increase the minority group's awareness of the importance of cancer screening. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a theory-based, culturally sensitive program to train South Asian women in Hong Kong as CHWs. METHODS: A CHW training program, guided by the Empowerment Model and the Health Belief Model, was developed and implemented. Its feasibility was evaluated through the recruitment of South Asian women to the program and their satisfaction with it. Its effectiveness was assessed by a test of knowledge, the participants' self-efficacy and competence, and their readiness to work as CHWs. RESULTS: Five South Asian women were recruited to the training program. Outcomes included increased participants' knowledge of cancer and improved self-efficacy and competence in working as CHWs. All participants were highly satisfied with the program, although the addition of practical sessions in the South Asian community was suggested as a further improvement. CONCLUSION: It seems to be feasible to train South Asian CHWs to deliver interventions to promote their peers' awareness of breast and cervical cancer prevention, although challenges exist in recruitment of trainees. More hands-on practical opportunities as CHWs would likely increase their effectiveness. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The theoretical framework of our CHW training program and the incorporated cultural components could be useful for the development of future programs for training South Asian CHWs in delivering interventions on cancer prevention.

The influence of Chinese culture on family caregivers of stroke survivors: A qualitative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore and describe the caregiving experiences of Chinese stroke caregivers. BACKGROUND: Previous research has indicated that culture can have a significant impact on the stroke caregiving experience. Moreover, scant research exists on stroke caregivers' experience within the Chinese culture. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design was used. METHODS: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 family caregivers of stroke survivors. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed. Content analysis was also performed. FINDINGS: Twenty-five family caregivers of stroke survivors were recruited for the study. On average, respondents were 66 years old (range 45-82 years). Of 25 interviewees, 76% were female, 64% were spouse-caregivers and 36% were children-caregivers. Three themes reflecting the influence of Chinese culture on stroke caregiving emerged from the interviews. (i) Caregiving role perception. Informants accepted caregiving for the sick family member as an expected part of life, a culturally prescribed obligation and an expression of reciprocal love. (ii) Coping strategies. Connecting with family resources and connecting with inner strength were frequently reported coping strategies. (iii) Self-sacrifice. Informants identified self-reliance and feeling of restraint in their utilisation or access of formal caregiving service. Chinese caregivers sacrifice themselves for the care recipients regardless of the hardships and the neglect of their own health. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a comprehensive and culturally sensitive perspective in understanding the experience of stroke caregivers in Chinese communities. Cultural and religious backgrounds were found to influence Chinese stroke caregivers' experience, coping strategies and self-sacrifice behaviour in idiosyncratic ways. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Research on the practice of culture can serve as a basis for the formulation of specific policies and effective interventions for supporting stroke caregivers of different cultural backgrounds.

Effectiveness of a patient-centred, empowerment-based intervention programme among patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive efforts and advances in evidence-based diabetes management, poor glycaemic control still remains a challenge in many countries. There is a paucity of research addressing the needs of patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, or exploring the effectiveness of empowerment-based interventions in this vulnerable population. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of a patient-centred, empowerment-based programme on glycaemic control and self-management behaviours among patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: A prospective multi-centre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes [Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥7.5% in the recent six months] were recruited from two tertiary hospitals in Xi'an city, China. METHODS: A total of 242 eligible patients were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention or attentional control groups after baseline measurement. Participants in the intervention group received a 6-week patient-centred, empowerment-based self-management programme, which is theoretically grounded on the principles of the Empowerment Process Model-setting personally meaningful goals, taking action towards goals and reflecting on the impact of action plans. Those in the attentional control group received health education classes and post-discharge follow-up. Outcome measures included glycaemic control (measured by HbA1c) and self-management behaviours. Data were collected at baseline, and at 8th and 20th week after enrolment. Intervention effect were analysed using the generalised estimating equation model on the basis of the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Compared with the attention control group, the intervention group showed a non-significant HbA1c reduction of 0. 476% (Cohen's d effect size=0.31, p=0.162). The intervention group exhibited significant improvements in general diet management at the 8th-week (ß=0.740; p=0.013), specific diet management at 8th-week (ß=0.646; p=0.022) and 20th-week (ß=0.517; p=0.043), and blood glucose self-monitoring at both the 8th- (ß=0.793; p=0.009) and 20th-week (ß=0.739; p=0.017) follow-ups. No intervention-related adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that the patient-centred, empowerment-based self-management intervention program did not induce a significant HbA1c reduction. Whereas this intervention yields improvements in diet management and blood glucose self-monitoring among patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Psychometric Properties of the Modified Personal Diabetes Questionnaire Among Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Personal Diabetes Questionnaire (C-PDQ). The PDQ was translated into Chinese using a forward and backward translation approach. After being reviewed by an expert panel, the C-PDQ was administered to a convenience sample of 346 adults with Type 2 diabetes. The Chinese version of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (C-SDSCA) was also administered. The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed a one-factor structure for the Diet Knowledge, Decision-Making, and Eating Problems subscales and a two-factor structure for the barriers-related subscales. The criterion and convergent validity were supported by significant correlations of the subscales of the C-PDQ with the glycated hemoglobin values and the parallel subscales in the C-SDSCA, respectively. The C-PDQ subscales also showed acceptable internal consistency (α = .61-.89) and excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients: .73-.96). The results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the C-PDQ. This comprehensive, patient-centered instrument could be useful to identify the needs, concerns, and priorities of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.