The impact of simulation-based learning on students' English for Nursing Purposes (ENP) reading proficiency: a quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This is a report of a study which evaluated simulation-based learning as a teaching strategy for improving participants' ENP reading proficiency in the senior college program of students whose first language is Chinese, not English. BACKGROUND: Simulation-based learning is known to be one of most effective teaching strategies in the healthcare professional curricula, which brings a clinical setting into the classroom. However, developing English reading skills for English written nursing journals through simulation-based learning in the nursing curricula, is largely unknown. METHOD: We used a quasi-experimental approach with nonequivalent control group design to collect the causal connections between intervention and outcomes. 101 students were enrolled in this study (response rate 92.6%) of these 48 students volunteered for the intervention group, and 53 students for the control group. RESULTS: The findings indicated that the intervention group had significantly higher mean scores in ENP reading proficiency with unknown words in the article (p=.004), vocabulary (p<.001), and comprehension (p<.001) compared to the control group. Also, the intervention students showed more improvement in their English reading, both from quantitative and qualitative findings. CONCLUSION: Simulation-based learning may have some advantages in improving the English reading ability on English written nursing journals among nursing students. However, the benefits to the students of this study is still to be determined, and further exploration is needed with well designed research and a universal method of outcome measurement.

Decision-making related to complementary and alternative medicine use by people with Type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore how complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) users make decisions about CAM use. Specifically, an exploration of the processes used by people with Type 2 diabetes, related to the assessment of information sources, factors influencing decision-making and the role of other key individuals, was undertaken. BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic illnesses increasingly seek to use CAM to improve their well-being. Currently, however, the decision-making processes related to CAM use among people with Type 2 diabetes are poorly understood. METHODS: An exploratory study using a naturalistic design, with in-depth semi-structured interviews, was undertaken. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants with Type 2 diabetes who used CAM alongside conventional medicine. The data were analysed in a three-step coding process. Ethical approval was gained from a human research ethics committee. RESULTS: Evidence about CAM use from interview data was consistent with a multi-dimensional decision-making processes used by participants. Four major categories emerged: recognising the need for using CAM; assessing the potential CAM before use; matching CAM use to personal philosophy; and ongoing evaluation of CAM. CONCLUSION: As diabetes affects the entirety of a person's being self-management, incorporating CAMs has become a way of controlling the condition and improving well-being. It is important for health professionals to consider clients' CAM use and to incorporate this information, where appropriate, into management plans. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Health care professionals should be aware of patients who use CAM while under conventional medical care and should discuss CAM use at various points in the client journey to facilitate better communication.

Predictors of complementary and alternative medicine use by people with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: This paper is a report of a study into factors predicting complementary and alternative medicine use in people with type 2 diabetes. BACKGROUND: The growing incidence of type 2 diabetes is emerging as a major health issue throughout the world. While the rate of complementary and alternative medicine use in this population is high, it is not clear what predicts its use, in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, using a structured interview, was undertaken among people with type 2 diabetes attending diabetic clinics in three census regions in Taiwan, between July 2006 and February 2007. The survey instrument, derived from a review of Taiwanese and international literature, was developed using the Health Belief Model. RESULTS: A total of 326 participants with type 2 diabetes were interviewed (87·4% response rate). In people with type 2 diabetes, complementary and alternative medicine use was associated with a history of its use, a positive attitude towards it, stronger health beliefs about diabetes and the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine in treating diabetes, a higher degree of self-care activities by the individual and a longer duration of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that complementary and alternative medicine use in people with type 2 diabetes is influenced by people's experience, beliefs, attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine, and their behaviour towards disease management rather than their demographic characteristics. Nurses and healthcare professionals should consider the patient's background, health history, health beliefs and cultural background when planning specific strategies designed to modify lifestyle.

Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine among People with Type 2 Diabetes in Taiwan: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Research into CAM use by people with diabetes is limited. This study explored CAM use among patients who attend diabetic clinics for followup treatment. Special attention was paid to patients' changing patterns of CAM use before and after diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes, their experience of CAM use, and their management of CAM use with conventional medicines. A retrospective cross-sectional survey (n = 326) was undertaken in three census regions in Taiwan, including metropolitan, urban, and rural areas in 2006-7 (87.4% response rate). Participants reported extensive use of CAM with conventional medicines. The prevalence of CAM use was 22.7% before and 61.0% after diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes with nutritional supplements being the most commonly used CAM before and after diagnosis. However, the disclosure rate of CAM use to healthcare professionals remained low (24.6%), and lack of knowledge about CAM ingredients was common (63.4%). Awareness of the widespread use of CAM by people with Type 2 diabetes is crucial for healthcare professionals. The self-administration of both conventional medicines and CAM without disclosure of CAM use to healthcare professionals may result in ineffective diabetes management and adverse effects. CAM information needs to be incorporated into clinical practice and patient and professional education.

Operating theatre nurses' perceptions of competence: a focus group study.

AIM: This paper is a report of a study exploring nurses' perceptions of the components of competence in the operating theatre. BACKGROUND: Competency Standards for operating theatre practice are used in some countries to guide clinical and professional behaviours. The need for competence assessment has been enshrined, but the conceptualization and agreement about what signifies competence in Operating Theatre has been lacking. METHODS: Three focus groups were conducted with 27 operating theatre nurses in three major metropolitan hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Interviews were audio taped and field notes were taken. Data were collected during 2008. Thematic analysis was performed. FINDINGS: From the analysis of the textual data, three themes were identified: 'coalescence of theoretical, practical, situational and aesthetic knowledge within a technocratic environment'; 'the importance of highly developed communication skills among teams of divergent personalities and situations'; and 'managing and coordinating the flow of the list'. CONCLUSION: These findings have identified that competence in respect to components of knowledge, teamwork and communication, and the ability to coordinate and manage are important and should be incorporated in operating theatre Competency Standards. Additionally, findings may assist in the development of an instrument to measure operating nurses' perceived competence.