Nursing Science Journal of Thailand

Existing Situations of Long COVID in Older Adults with Chronic Illness:

2023-11-17T17:41:08+07:00

Purpose: To study the primary symptoms, factors associated with Long COVID, and experiences with Long COVID in older adults with chronic illnesses.

Design: A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design.

Methods: In a quantitative phase, 92 participants who lived in a province of Northern Thailand were selected by cluster sampling. A personal data form and a questionnaire focusing on Long-COVID symptoms were used. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression. In a qualitative phase, 30 informants were selected by purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted with a semi-structure interview protocol, and data were analyzed by using content analysis.

Main findings: Long COVID was found 70.7% and the most common reported Long-COVID symptoms were hair loss (49.2%), chronic cough (43.1%), and fatigue (30.7%). Women had a 4.9 times higher likelihood of experiencing Long COVID compared to men (OR = 4.89, 95%CI [1.68, 14.22], p-value = .004). Older adults with moderate COVID-19 symptoms were 5.3 times more likely to develop Long COVID than those with mild symptoms (OR = 5.31, 95%CI [1.88, 15.00], p-value = .002). The qualitative findings revealed three main aspects 1) consequences of Long COVID, 2) strategies to cope with Long COVID, and 3) requirements for assistance and support. The in-depth interviews complemented the quantitative data, shedding light on the physical, psychological, and social impacts of Long COVID on older adults with chronic illnesses. They employed coping strategies including self-care, seeking information, and acceptance. The support they required while experiencing Long COVID included access to healthcare services for consultation, information about Long COVID, as well as continuous monitoring.

Conclusion and recommendations: Elderly with chronic illnesses may experience lasting effects from COVID-19, including symptoms like hair loss, chronic cough, and fatigue. Women and those with moderate infection levels are more prone to developing Long COVID. Nurses should closely monitor these patients, assess their symptoms, and provide guidance to prevent Long COVID. They should also encourage self-care during symptom occurrence and offer reliable support resources.

Factors Predicting Self-Care in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

2023-11-17T17:44:33+07:00

Purpose: To explore the predictive correlation of eHealth literacy, trust in health care provider, self-efficacy, and perception of symptom severity on self-care in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Design: Predictive correlational research.

Methods: The study included 108 individuals who were followed up for diagnosis of atrial fibrillation at a tertiary hospital in the metropolitan region. Data were collected using a demographic data questionnaire, Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory, eHealth Literacy Questionnaire, Health Care Relationship Trust Scale, and Atrial Fibrillation Symptom and Burden. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.

Main findings: The overall self-care level was very good (73.2%). The results showed that eHealth literacy, trust in health care providers, self-efficacy, and perception of symptom severity could together explain 28.7% of the variance in self-care in patients with atrial fibrillation. The significant predicting factors on self-care in patients with atrial fibrillation were self-efficacy ( = .46, p < .001), and trust in health care provider ( = .21, p = .012).

Conclusion and recommendations: Self-efficacy and trust in health care provider can predict self-care in patients with atrial fibrillation. Health care providers should support patients to develop self-efficacy by reflecting on the outcomes of their self-care, providing positive reinforcement, and introducing a patient model of good self-care. In addition, health care providers should establish a trust between them and patients by actively listening to their problems and encouraging decision-making participation.

Factors Predicting Disease Control in Patients with Asthma, Banphaeo General Hospital, Samut Sakhon

2023-11-17T16:24:36+07:00

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the predictive power of body mass index (BMI), comorbidity (hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD), sleep quality, and trigger avoidance behavior on disease control in patients with asthma.

Design: Predictive correlational research.

Methods: The sample consisted of 139 patients with asthma, aged 20 years and older, who had been admitted to the lung clinic of Banphaeo General Hospital in Samut Sakhon Province. Convenience sampling was used to select those having normal cognition, no other type of lung disease, no psychiatric disorder, and no comorbidities with severe symptoms. Data were collected by using personal data questionnaire and an asthma control assessment form based on Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) criteria, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the GERD-Q Questionnaire, and a questionnaire on trigger avoidance behavior. The data were analyzed by employing descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Main findings: The results revealed that 74.8% of the respondents were female, with a mean age of 60.41 years (SD = 13.9), and 59% had good control of asthma. BMI, GERD, and sleep quality were associated with asthma control (² = 17.19, p < .01; ² = 9.09, p < .01; ² = 4.83, p = .028, respectively). The analysis of predictive power showed that BMI (OR = 9.98, 95%CI [2.76, 36.08], p < .001), GERD (OR = 2.78, 95%CI [1.25, 6.21], p = .012), and sleep quality (OR = 2.53, 95%CI [1.03, 6.18], p = .042) were able to significantly predict asthma control in patients.

Conclusion and recommendations: BMI, GERD, and sleep quality were predictors of asthma control. The findings recommend that nurses should promote the control of body weight and GERD and improve sleep quality for better asthma control.

The Influences of Sleep Quality, Hemoglobin, Length of Hospital Stay and Cognitive Function on Health-Related Quality of Life in Sepsis Survivors at a Non-University Teaching Hospital

2024-03-05T15:20:48+07:00

Purpose: To study the influences of sleep quality, hemoglobin, length of hospital stay and cognitive function on health-related quality of life in sepsis survivors.

Design: predictive correlational research design.

Methods: The sample consisted of 102 post-sepsis patients aged 18 years old and above admitted to the internal medicine ward of a non-university teaching hospital. Data were collected by using 1) the records form of personal information and history of illness of sepsis survivors, 2) the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level for the assessment of quality of life, 3) the Veran & Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale and 4) the Thai Mental State Examination. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics & multiple regression analysis.

Main findings: The sepsis survivors had moderate health-related quality of life at = .55 (SD = 0.39). Multiple regression analysis revealed that all of the independent variables could account for 50% of the variance explained in health-related quality of life in sepsis survivors (adjusted R² = .50), whereby sleep quality was the factor best able to predict health-related quality of life in sepsis survivors ( = .49, p < .001), followed by cognitive function at ( = .31, p < .001).

Conclusion and recommendations: Sleep quality and cognitive function have been found as significant predictors of health-related quality of life in sepsis survivors. This study supports the significance of the assessment of sleep quality and cognitive function in sepsis survivors which leads to develop nursing programs for recovery and promotion of quality of life among sepsis survivors.

Factors Influencing Antenatal Care Service Utilization among Migrant Women in Bangkok Metropolitan Area

2023-10-31T08:52:07+07:00

Purpose: To investigate the factors that influence antenatal care services utilization among migrant women in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

Design: Predictive study design.

Methods: The sample was 180 Myanmar migrant women who gave birth at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital and Lerdsin Hospital during February - July 2022. The data were collected by using 6 questionnaires including personal and pregnancy data, knowledge about antenatal care, attitude toward antenatal care, social support, health service resources, and risk of pregnancy questionnaires. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis.

Main findings: The results revealed that the migrant women with good social support were 4.44 times more likely to receive adequate antenatal care services than those with moderate and low social support (AOR = 4.44; 95%CI = 1.25, 15.80; p < .05). The migrant women with social security scheme were 2.94 times more likely to receive adequate antenatal care services than uninsured ones (AOR = 2.94; 95%CI = 1.41, 6.13; p < .05). Significant difference was not found between the group with health insurance card and the uninsured group. Knowledge about antenatal care, attitude toward antenatal care, perceived convenience of visiting health service resources, and risk of pregnancy could not influence adequate antenatal care utilization.

Conclusion and recommendations: Only social support and health insurance factors significantly influence adequate antenatal care services utilization. Services should be promoted among migrant pregnant women by informing them about the benefits of having insurance for health. Social support should be assessed during prenatal care so that a necessary support from significant others to receive prenatal care as required would be planned and implemented.

Effect of the Promoting Program for Prenatal Diagnosis Understanding via Social Media on Anxiety and Knowledge among Risk Couples for Severe Fetal Thalassemia

2023-07-05T08:35:23+07:00

Purpose: o study the effect of the promoting program for prenatal diagnosis understanding via social media on anxiety and knowledge among risk couples for severe fetal thalassemia.

Design: Experimental study.

Methods: The subjects were pregnant women and their husbands, who were diagnosed as couples at risk of having a baby with severe thalassemia. There were 61 couples who received antenatal care services at two university hospitals (31 pairs of experimental group and 30 pairs of control group). The instruments used for data collection included the State Anxiety Inventory Form X-1, and the Knowledge of Thalassemia and Preparation before the Prenatal Diagnosis. ata were analyzed by independent t-test, paired sample t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Main findings: The promoting program for prenatal diagnosis understanding via social media could significantly reduce anxiety among pregnant women and their husbands (p < .05) and significantly increase knowledge in pregnant women (p = .001).

Conclusion and recommendations: The promoting program for prenatal diagnosis understanding via social media can be used to reduce anxiety and increase knowledge among pregnant women and husbands who are at risk of having severe fetal thalassemia. The study findings suggest that nurses and midwives should apply this program as a practice guideline to care for couples at risk of having fetal thalassemia with closely monitoring via assessment forms and online applications.

Factors Predicting Quality of Life among Early Surgical Menopausal Women

2024-01-28T22:22:57+07:00

Purpose: To study the predicting factors on quality of life among early surgical menopausal women including education, occupation, income, perceive general self-efficacy, self-care, and social support.

Design: Predictive correlational study design.

Methods: The participants consisted of 113 early surgical menopausal women who came to follow-up after surgery at the obstetric-gynecological clinic at a university hospital in Bangkok during March 2022 until May 2023. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Menopausal Self-Care Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were applied to the data analysis.

Main findings: The results revealed that all factors could explain 39.2 % of the variance in quality of life (R²= .154). The factors that significantly predicted quality of life among early surgical menopausal women were surgical menopausal symptoms ( = .275, p < .003) and perceived social support ( = - .256, p < .024).

Conclusion and recommendations: Healthcare team should promote family, friends and significant persons to support the women in early surgical menopausal period and try to promote them how to reduce surgical menopausal symptoms for increasing their quality of life.

Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Cardiovascular Risk among Patients with Schizophrenia in Mandalay, Myanmar

2023-11-28T15:52:56+07:00

Purpose: To examine the influence of Social Determinants of Health (SDH) on cardiovascular (CV) risk among patients with schizophrenia.

Design: Predictive correlational research.

Methods: One hundred and forty-five patients with schizophrenia who were attending the Outpatient Department at Psychiatric Hospital in Mandalay, Myanmar were recruited by convenience sampling. Data were collected using demographic and SDH information, and CV RISK tool. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used for data analysis.

Main findings: The findings revealed that 6.3% of the sample were at risk of cardiovascular disease. Education, income, employment, marital status, family support, antipsychotic drugs, duration of illness, and residence jointly accounted for 18% of the variance explained in CV risk (R² = .18, F _{(8, 136)} = 3.82, p < .001). Among these factors, residence, duration of illness, and employment were significant predictors of CV risk ( = .31, p < .001; = .22, p = .007; = .16, p = .050, respectively).

Conclusion and recommendations: This study showed that SDH including residence, illness, and employment were significant predictors of CV risk among patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurses should conduct screening for CV risk at the time of diagnosis of schizophrenia. Supported employment, and behavioral interventions to promote physical activity should be implemented to prevent cardiovascular diseases particularly in patients who were unemployed, had long duration of illness and living in rural areas.