The mediating role of perceived stress on the relationship between perceived social support and self-care ability among Chinese enterostomy patients.

PURPOSE: Enterostomy patients were exposed to various stressors, and self-care ability played an important role in their daily lives. This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived social support and self-care ability among Chinese enterostomy patients and to explore whether perceived stress mediated this relationship. METHODS: A sample of 410 enterostomy patients aged 59.68 ± 12.95 years old were recruited in the study. Participants completed a set of questionnaires including demographics, perceived stress scale, perceived social support scale, and ostomy self-care ability scale. RESULTS: A total of 392 valid questionnaires were finally used in the data analyses among 410 questionnaires; the effective response rate was 95.6%. Results demonstrated that the scores of perceived social support were positively correlated with scores of self-care ability scores and negatively with perceived stress scores. And the effect of perceived social support on self-care ability was partially mediated by perceived stress (51.53%). CONCLUSIONS: This study explained the mediating model that connects perceived social support with self-care ability through perceived stress, which enhances our understanding about the mediating role of perceived stress. Thus, when focusing on the self-care ability of enterostomy patients, perceived stress was as important as perceived social support.

Factor Analysis and Psychometric Properties Adaption of Chinese Version of the Decisional Engagement Scale (DES-10).

OBJECTIVE: To translate and validate the DES-10 into Chinese and adapt the DES-10 among Chinese prostate cancer patients. To explore the impact of demographic data on the SDM of Chinese prostate cancer patients. METHODS: Data were collected from December 2019 to January 2020 from four hospitals among prostatic cancer patients in Henan Province, by convenience sampling method. A demographic questionnaire, DES-10, and 9-item Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (SDM-Q-9) were administered. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to test the content, construct, reliability, and concurrent validity of the translated DES-10. Then, Pearson's correlation, t-test, and analysis of variance were used to test the demographic difference of DES-10. RESULTS: A total of 380 prostatic cancer patients completed the survey (96% response rate). The total score of DES-10 was 71.16±17.14. The Cronbach's ɑ coefficient was 0.87. Single factor structure was confirmed by exploratory factor analysis (explaining 50.14% of the variance). Model fitting indexes (RMSEA=0.07, CMIN/DF=2.92) were acceptable. The DES-10 scale showed good validity with the SDM-Q-9 as the criterion. Age, marital status, homeplace, and household monthly income could affect the shared decision-making of prostatic cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The DES-10 was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable scale to assess the prostatic cancer patient's engagement in health care decision-making. And it is culturally appropriate for use in China. The influence of age, marital status, homeplace, and household monthly income should be considered in promoting patients' participation in shared decision-making.

Influence of mimic cardiac rate on hydrodynamics of different mechanical prosthetic cardiac valves in vitro.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of mimic cardiac rate on hydrodynamics of different mechanical prosthetic cardiac valves. METHODS: US-made CarboMedics bileaflet valve, China-made Jiuling bileaflet valve and C-L tilting disc valve were tested via a pulsatile flow simulator in the aortic position. Testing conditions were set at mimic cardiac rates of 55 bpm, 75 bpm, 100 bpm with a constant mimic cardiac output of 4 L/min. The mean pressure differences (deltaP), leakage volumes (L(E)V) and closing volumes (C(L)V) across each valve, and effective orifice areas (EOA) were analyzed. RESULTS: Within physiological range, deltaP, L(E)V, and C(L)V decreased as mimic cardiac rate increased, with a large extent of variance. EOA increased along with an increase in mimic cardiac rate. It was a different response in terms of cardiac rate alteration for different types of mechanical prosthetic cardiac valves. CONCLUSION: Mimic cardiac rate change affects hydrodynamics of mechanical prosthetic cardiac valves. Within physiological range, the hydrodynamic of prosthetic bileaflet valve is better than that of tilting disc valve.