Exploring self-care practices and health beliefs among men in the context of emerging infectious diseases: Lessons from the Mpox pandemic in Brazil.

Our goal was to explore self-care practices among men who have sex with men in the context of Mpox in Brazil. This study used qualitative research methods, including interviews and thematic analysis, to collect and analyze data from male participants across the Brazilian territory. The narratives unveil men's perspectives on self-care, risk reduction, and health beliefs during the Mpox pandemic. Our findings highlight a multifaceted approach to self-care among men, encompassing hygiene, physical contact management, mask usage, skin lesion vigilance, and adherence to official guidelines. Men's attitudes toward sexual behaviors emphasize the importance of reducing sexual partners, practicing safe sex, and combating misinformation through accurate information dissemination. The development of these behaviors and self-care practices can be facilitated by nurses guided by Dorothea Orem's Self-Care Theory, supported by patient-centered care, with strategies to address and confront the stigma associated with the disease and provide emotional support. Thus, the study underscores the pivotal role of self-care in mitigating infection risks, especially in the context of emerging infectious diseases. It acknowledges the impact of socio-cultural factors and healthcare policies on men's preventive measures. However, it also recognizes limitations, such as potential bias due to stigma concerns and a nonrepresentative sample. Ultimately, the research advocates for tailored education, promotion of gender equity, and healthcare empowerment to effectively manage health risks in such contexts.

Outcomes of nurse (RN) refresher courses in a midwestern city.

Graduates of RN refresher courses offered by three hospitals in a midwestern city from 1981 to 1991 were surveyed (N = 179) to compare the nurses who returned to work (n = 148, 82.7%) with those who did not return to work (n = 26, 14.5%) on demographic and career characteristics, personal responsibilities, and attitudes toward professional nursing (5 nurses [2.8%] did not respond to this item). The non-returning group had fewer mean years of experience prior to leaving nursing, more mean years since last nursing position, and lower mean scores on the Professional Attitude scale used in this study, but the differences were not statistically significant.