Conceptual Model for Predicting Academic Success in Prelicensure Nursing Programs Through Expanded Cognitive Aptitude Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Attrition from prelicensure nursing programs is a serious issue with implications for students, nursing programs, and the nursing workforce. Academic failure due to insufficient cognitive aptitude often contributes to this problematic attrition rate. Thus, cognitive aptitude could be included in admission criteria, as a predictor of academic success and a strategy to minimize attrition. PROBLEM: Currently, admissions practices are often incomplete and lack standardization for measuring cognitive aptitude. APPROACH: The Nursing Cognitive Aptitude Model (NCAM) presented in this article is an innovative conceptual model to guide educators in expanding current admissions processes. CONCLUSION: The NCAM model depicts the cognitive domains involved in student academic success including current scholastic knowledge, previous academic performance, and critical-thinking ability. Together, these three domains predict student academic success and are a useful reference for the admissions process.

A comparison of medication management between older and younger adults living with HIV.

The aims of this study were to examine differences in medication management between older and younger adults living with HIV and to examine the relationship between age and cognitive ability, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy on medication management. This research utilized a descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional design to compare medication management between older and younger adults living with HIV and to describe differences in predictive factors of cognition, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy on medication management. Results indicated that both older and younger adults had poor medication management skills and high rates of mild cognitive impairment. While older adults performed worse on the medication management test than younger adults, the results were not statistically significant. In both older and younger adults, cognitive ability and depressive symptoms were predictors of medication management, with cognitive ability being the strongest predictor for both groups. Cognitive ability was a stronger predictor for older adults than for younger adults.

Mechanisms through which reciprocal filial values protect wellbeing of Chinese adult-child caregivers in the US.

In this study, we explored the role of reciprocal filial values in protecting the wellbeing of Chinese adult-child caregivers in the US. Using survey data obtained from 137 Chinese adult-child caregivers living in seven US cities, we tested a latent variable model using structural equation modeling. In this model, informed by role theory, social exchange theory and stress-coping theory, reciprocal filial values affect caregiver wellbeing in the face of caregiver role strain, both directly and indirectly through protective effects of role rewards and coping. In the final model, reciprocal filial values had both direct and indirect protective effects on caregivers' wellbeing, offering evidence to address culturally sensitive issues in family caregivers with similar filial values.

Construct validity of four exercise stage of change measures in adults.

Measuring readiness to exercise, or exercise stage of change (ESOC), is an important first step when counseling adults about exercise. However, minimal construct validity testing of ESOC measures has been reported. With a sample of 95 adults, we estimated the construct validity of four ESOC measures with commonly used response formats (true/false, ladder, 5 choice, interview). Participants completed all four ESOC measures in random order as well as six validation measures: physical activity performed, exercise self-efficacy, decisional balance pros and cons, and behavioral and experiential processes of change. Few participants were in the earliest stage of change. The true/false measure demonstrated the strongest validity. Further studies are needed in diverse samples with more representation across the stages of change.

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the SF-36 in older adults with diabetes in Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the psychometric properties of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (China version) in older Chinese with diabetes living in Beijing, China. METHODS: The SF-36 was administered to community-based sample of 182 older adults with diabetes living in Beijing. Data collection was conducted in face-to-face interviews. Reliability and validity were assessed using internal consistency, convergent and discriminant analyses. Exploratory principal components analyses (PCA) were conducted to compare the sample's response patterns with the hypothesized scale constructs. RESULTS: Item level validation of the scale supported the assumptions of the hypothesized structure. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha >.70) of the subscales were acceptable except for the General Health subscale (.67). PCA confirmed general support of the two hypothesized dimensional factors and eight concepts (factors). The physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) explained 62.26% of the variance and the eight factors components explained 67.39% of the variance. Known-group comparisons of scale scores indicated significantly higher levels of functionality for respondents with no blood pressure, heart, or depressive symptomatology problems. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the SF-36 showed good reliability and validity and was culturally equivalent. The scale is appropriate for use with older Chinese adults with diabetes.

Evaluation of online education about diabetes management in the school setting.

There are a variety of initiatives to provide education to improve the quality of care for children with diabetes in the school setting. This study piloted and evaluated an online continuing education program for school nurses about diabetes management for children in schools using current practice principles. The evaluation determined if objectives of the program were met, if participants believed the education provided would enhance their ability to manage children with diabetes, and participants' opinions about the online delivery method. Nineteen participants were recruited from among school nurses unable to attend statewide face-to-face diabetes workshops. The majority reported that the objectives were met, and 91% reported the education would enhance their ability to manage students with diabetes. Whereas 33% preferred online continuing education, 17% preferred face-to-face education, and 50% were unsure. Because of the increasing prevalence of diabetes in children, it is important that school nurses have access to continuing education that provides current principles for diabetes management for children. The method of delivery should be determined by the learner's learning style preferences.

Acculturation in filial practices among U.S. Chinese caregivers.

In this article, we explore the phenomenon of acculturation in filial practices among 21 Chinese immigrants in a suburban city in the Midwestern United States using focus groups and individual interviews. All participants were situational-reciprocal-filial caregivers who had acculturated into mainstream filial practices while preserving their heritage to deal with the challenges of parental care. Factors that influenced participants' acceptance of new filial practices included comfort in accepting new practices, financial status, and past relationship with the care receiver. Their motivations to acculturate included being overwhelmed, a multitude of situational constraints from being an immigrant, access to and utilization of resources, and the need for a coordinated approach to filial responsibilities. Their filial motivations included love, honoring traditions, meeting personal values, and meeting social expectations. These findings provide insight for designing culturally competent training and immigrant caregiver education.

Assessing cross-cultural equivalence through confirmatory factor analysis.

This article presents a study in which Picot's caregiver rewards scale (PCRS), originally developed in English, was cross-culturally validated with 137 Chinese adult children family caregivers in the United States using confirmatory factor analysis. A one-factor structure of the 21-item revised Chinese PCRS was supported as indicated by goodness-of-fit index = .94, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = .93, standardized root mean square residual = .09, and chi-square to df ratio = 2.7. Chi-square for this model was (chi(2) [189, n = 137] = 514, p < .05). The standardized alpha was .90. All factor loadings were significant (p < .00) and above .30. Construct validity was supported by significant associations with caregivers' filial beliefs (r = .32, p < .01) and caregivers' filial affection toward parents (r = .23, p < .05). Results suggest that the Chinese PCRS is a summative measure of perceived caregiver rewards with potential for evaluating interventions to reduce perceived burden among adult children family caregivers.