The Negative Emotions Due to Chronic Illness Screening Test (NECIS): Construct Validity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease in Mainland China.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) are susceptible to the negative emotion and its adverse influence on the disease prognosis. It is of great necessity to have a simple measurement to timely assess negative emotions in patients with CAD. The Negative Emotions due to Chronic Illness Screening Test (NECIS) is a newly developed tool to measure negative emotions. However, the construct validity has not been established yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the construct validity of the NECIS in individuals with CAD in mainland China. METHODS: The tool was administered in a convenience sample of 376 patients with CAD hospitalized in three general hospitals in Wuhan City, China. Construct validity was evaluated through factorial validity, convergent validity and discriminant validity. Additionally, the assumed relationship between negative emotions with other associated variables (perceived control and perceived social support) was tested to provide additional evidence of the construct validity of the NECIS. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis established and confirmed a two-factorial structure of the NECIS. Convergent validity and discriminant validity of the NECIS were proven to be adequate. Two hypotheses regarding the relationship between negative emotions and associated variables (perceived control and perceived social support) were confirmed, which supported the satisfactory construct validity of the NECIS. CONCLUSION: The NECIS had sound construct validity when applied to patients with CAD in mainland China. This study added new knowledge regarding the construct validity of the NECIS, which supported its psychometric properties for future use.

The HRQoL of Chinese patients undergoing haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: With the transition from infectious disease and acute illness to chronic disease and degenerative illness as leading causes of death, health-related quality of life has become an important aspect in assessing the burden of chronic disease. The quality of life of haemodialysis patients has been studied extensively; however, very limited research using exploratory descriptive design has been carried out in this area in China. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore health-related quality of life of end-stage renal disease patients undergoing haemodialysis in China. DESIGN: This study used the qualitative research design approach. METHOD: A semi-structured, in-depth interview was conducted with 16 haemodialysis patients in two hospitals using Colaizzi's phenomenological method to transcribe and analyse the data. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that dialysis patients show improvement in physical competence, but they also experienced emotional instability and psychological distress, financial burdens, inadequate disease knowledge and less social support which influenced their quality of life. CONCLUSION: To optimise the patients undergoing dialysis health-related quality of life, support of psycho-social-economical aspects should be enhanced. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Health care providers should give haemodialysis patients thorough health education, individualised psychological and emotional intervention and adequate social support to optimise health-related quality of life.

A survey of Chinese nurses' current knowledge of pain in older people.

AIM: To investigate the current level of Chinese nurses' knowledge of pain and pain management in older people. BACKGROUND: Most research about nurses' knowledge regarding pain has taken place in developed countries; however, limited research in this area has taken place in developing countries and particularly in China. METHODS: Registered Nurses (n = 621) in three different hospitals were surveyed with the questionnaire about pain and pain management with respect to older people. RESULTS: The finding showed that a significant knowledge deficit in this area exists. There were no significant differences among nurses in terms of education background, position and whether or not there was attendance in an educational session on pain management. However, there were statistically significant differences based on age; hospital of employment and clinical area in which employed. CONCLUSION: This survey suggested that nurses' knowledge of pain in older people should be improved. Basic and continuing education of nurses in this area should be enhanced and their active participation in pain management should be encouraged. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings in this survey highlight a significant pain management knowledge deficit among the nurses in the clinical practice. The findings may help the nurses realize their knowledge deficit in this area and may also suggest curriculum changes for the nurses to improve pain management knowledge.