General Comfort Questionnaire Research Articles

Application of Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory in healthcare promoting adults’ comfort: a scoping review

BackgroundComfort is a primary goal of healthcare. Theory-informed interventions and measurement are essential for comfort enhancement.ObjectivesTo categorise and synthesise the international literature on the application of Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory in...

Puerperium Software for Adolescent Care

This study describes the creation and development of the PUERPERIUM software, which utilizes the General Comfort Questionnaire translated into Brazilian Portuguese and adapted for postpartum adolescents. The software development process followed five steps: (1) requirements elicitation, involving the extraction of functionalities and identification of quality attributes such as usability, reliability, security, and availability; (2) definition of the software project and architecture, including the selection of technologies such as programming languages and services; (3) software implementation; (4) validation, verification, and testing; and (5) deployment. The software development began with identifying the necessary requirements, followed by designing the architecture consisting of the server layer and visualization layer. During implementation, the integration of the General Comfort Questionnaire and the selected technology was achieved. Key features such as authentication screens, a patient grid, instrument completion forms, and reporting tools were developed. The software's logo and overall layout were also designed. Subsequent phases involved validating the software’s appearance, usability, and functionality. The complete implementation will include making server layer elements available online and providing a beta version of the visualization layer on a public platform. The software aids nurses in efficiently and systematically assessing the comfort levels of postpartum adolescents, thereby facilitating care aimed at promoting comfort.

The effect of itching on sleep quality and comfort in patients with hemodialysis and renal transplantation: A multi-center cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of itching on sleep quality and comfort in hemodialysis (HD) and renal transplant (Tx) patients with itching. MethodsThis descriptive, correlational seeking and cross-sectional study was conducted in four hospitals affiliated with a private health group in Istanbul between April and June 2021. The sample of the study consisted of 42 patients receiving HD treatment and 49 patients with renal transplantation. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, 5-D Itch Scale, Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire and General Comfort Questionnaire. ResultsThere was a significant difference between the HD and renal transplantation groups in the Direction (p = 0.01) and Disability dimension (p = 0.002) of the 5- D Itch scale in favor of the renal transplant group. The mean sleep quality and comfort scores of the groups were similar and moderate. Itching negatively affects sleep quality in patients receiving HD treatment, and 22 % of the change in sleep quality is explained by disability of itching (R2 = 0.22; p = 0.002). Itching negatively affects comfort in both groups. Itching explains 27 % of the change in comfort level in the HD group (R2 = 0.27; p = 0.002) and 25 % of the change in comfort level in the renal transplantation group (R2 = 0.25; p = 0.001). ConclusionsAccording the study results during the hemodialysis treatment process, itching is more intense in terms of distribution and disability and affects the quality of sleep of patients. Itching has a significant impact on patients' perception of comfort. Patients experience itching both during HD treatment and after renal transplantation, which significantly impairs their comfort. Therefore, itching should be carefully monitored during renal replacement therapy and its effects on patients should be evaluated.

A study on the related influencing factors of the quality of bowel preparation and the compliance of middle-aged and elderly patients for colonoscopy

Objective Quality of bowel preparation and patient compliance are among the most important indicators to assess the quality of colonoscopy. To investigate the independent factors associated with the quality of bowel preparation in subjects undergoing colonoscopy and its impact on compliance. Methods A total of 329 patient records were collected and were divided into an adequate bowel preparation group (272 cases) and an inadequate bowel preparation group (57 cases), or a compliant group (260 cases) and a non-compliant group (69 cases), based on bowel preparation quality or compliance. The quality of bowel preparation is evaluated using the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale. The comfort level of subjects during bowel preparation is assessed using the Kolcaba General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). Subjects’ compliance was assessed according to a self-developed compliance questionnaire. Prediction analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with the quality of bowel preparation and compliance. Results Age, bowel preparation duration, history of bowel inadequacy, and laxative dosage showed statistical differences between the adequate and inadequate bowel preparation groups (p < 0.05). Age, bowel preparation duration, and laxative dosage were independent influencing factors of bowel preparation quality. Correlation analysis showed that GCQ scores were significantly negatively correlated with age, bowel preparation duration, laxative dose, defecation frequency, and colonoscopy duration (r < 0, p < 0.05), and positively correlated with sleep duration (r > 0, p < 0.05). In addition, age, gender, bowel preparation duration, and laxative dosage showed statistical differences between the compliant and non-compliant groups (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, bowel preparation duration, and laxative dosage were independent influencing factors of bowel preparation compliance. Age and bowel preparation duration were independent influencing factors for bowel preparation adequacy and compliance. Conclusions Age, bowel preparation duration, and laxative dosage are independent influencing factors for bowel preparation adequacy and compliance among patients undergoing colonoscopy at the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. It is recommended that a one-day low-residue diet combined with a 2000 mL laxative dosage be used as the bowel preparation protocol for the general colonoscopy population.

The Effects of Preoperative Video-Assisted Education on Anxiety and Comfort After Breast Cancer Surgery: Nonrandomized Controlled Study

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the effects of video-assisted education given before breast cancer surgery on patients' anxiety and comfort. DesignA non-randomized, controlled, quasi-experimental model was designed. MethodsThe study was conducted in the general surgery clinic of a public hospital. Seventy patients voluntarily participated in the study, 35 of them were in the Control (CG) and 35 of them were in the Experimental Group (EG). While routine treatment and care were given to CG, besides this a video-assisted education was provided to EG. The data was collected using the Personal Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). The patients in both groups filled in the STAI and GCQ on the first day preoperatively, STAI-S and GCS on the second postoperative day and STAI-S on the tenth day after surgery. P<0.05 was accepted as a statistical significance value. FindingsThe groups were similar in terms of descriptive features and preoperative anxiety scores (p>0.05). Postoperative second and tenth day anxiety scores were significantly higher in CG (43.97±9.42 and 39.45±3.88) compared to EG (33.29±4.94 and 33.31±3.01) (p<0.05). In terms of the mean scores of the GCQ and its subscales of comfort, preoperative comfort was found to be lower than postoperative comfort level (p<0.05). ConclusionIt was determined that the preoperative video-assisted education decreased the anxiety level and increased the comfort level in EG. It was concluded that the use of video-assisted education in reducing anxiety and increasing the perception of comfort in breast cancer surgery patients would be beneficial.

Analysis of Anxiety Status and Corresponding Nursing Measures in Long-term Hemodialysis Patients

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the anxiety of patients with long-term hemodialysis and its corresponding nursing measures. Methods: This study employed a prospective observational design. The present study performed an anxiety questionnaire investigation among 150 patients who underwent long-term hemodialysis in our hospital between March 2020 and January 2022. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and Emotional Behavioral Dimensions section of the Body Quality Management Scale. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square tests were employed for data analysis. Statistical significance was indicated by P&lt;0.05. Results: The results of this study revealed that out of 150 patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis, 58 patients (38.66%) exhibited anxiety. The study group, receiving individualized care, showed significantly higher GCQ scores (82.64±5.65) compared to the control group (routine care) with scores of 71.89±5.25 (P&lt;0.05). Furthermore, the study group demonstrated improved sleep quality, as indicated by lower PSQI scores (8.25±1.98) compared to the control group (12.88±2.94) (P&lt;0.05). The study group also exhibited higher scores in emotional processing (11.89±1.39), partnership (15.14±1.94), and mental activity management (20.88±2.17) compared to the control group (9.12±1.21, 11.73±1.58, and 16.98±2.08, respectively) (P&lt;0.05). Notably, the study group displayed lower levels of anxiety and depression, as evidenced by lower SAS scores (39.56±5.14) and SDS scores (31.71±3.89) compared to the control group (42.62±5.98 and 38.56±6.75, respectively) (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, individualized care interventions were found to enhance the comfort, sleep quality, and emotional management ability of patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis, while reducing anxiety and depression levels. Conclusion: Anxiety is highly prevalent in patients with long-term hemodialysis. Targeted intervention care and the establishment of a positive environment can effectively promote patients’ physical and mental health, enhance their comfort and sleep quality, and effectively strengthen the management of negative emotions, demonstrating a promising potential for clinical promotion.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between family caregivers and professional caregivers in in-hospital patients with acute ischaemic stroke: A prospective cohort study.

This study explored the impact of different care modes on the outcome of hospitalized patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) during hospitalization and 3 months after discharge. This was a prospective cohort study comparing the outcomes at hospitalization, at discharge, and at 3 months post discharge among AIS patients with different caregiving arrangements from 9, December 2022 to 20, August 2023. The general information questionnaire, Modified Barthel Index, Shortened General Comfort Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support scale, Herth Hope Index, modified Rankin scale and EQ-5D-5L were utilized for the investigation. The psychological evaluation scores during hospitalization, including comfort, perceived social support, and hope, did not significantly differ between the two groups of AIS patients (p > .05). Moreover, there were no significant impacts observed in terms of length of stay (LOS) at the hospital or hospitalization expense (p > .05). The proportion of patients with intact functionality was greater in the family caregiver group 3 months after discharge (16.5%). However, when stratified based on prognosis, the difference in outcomes between the two groups of patients did not reach statistical significance (p > .05). The analysis of ADL, quality of life and stroke recurrence in 276 surviving ischaemic stroke patients 3 months post discharge indicated no differences between the two groups across all three aspects (p > .05). Older and divorced or widowed AIS patients tend to prefer professional caregivers. The psychological state during hospitalization, length of hospital stay and hospitalization expenses are not influenced by the caregiving model. Three months post discharge, a greater proportion of patients in the family caregiving group had intact mRS functionality, but this choice did not impact patient prognosis, stroke recurrence, quality of life or independence in ADL.

The effect of preoperative training provided to patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery on postoperative comfort

Background/Aim: The most popular surgical procedure for treating coronary artery diseases is coronary artery bypass graft surgery. However, the comfort that patients experience after coronary artery bypass graft surgery varies considerably. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the impact of preoperative training on postoperative comfort in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods: This study was conducted as a quasi-experimental research investigation the cardiovascular surgery clinic of Edirne Sultan Murat I State Hospital from December 2019 through December 2020. It included 46 patients aged 18–65 who were undergoing their first coronary artery bypass graft surgery and volunteered to participate. The patients in the experimental group (23 individuals), were provided preoperative training; no interventions were made with the patients in the control group. The General Comfort Questionnaire was administered to all of the patients prior to discharge. The necessary ethical and institutional approvals were obtained before the study. Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non-randomized Designs was used as the research reporting guideline. Results: The postoperative General Comfort Questionnaire total score (P&lt;0.001), mean scores of all sub-dimensions (P&lt;0.001) and comfort levels of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group (P&lt;0.001). Preoperative training therefore had a positive impact on postoperative comfort level. Conclusion: Preoperative training provided to patients improved their postoperative comfort. It is recommended that surgical nurses increase patient comfort by providing patient training before coronary artery bypass graft surgery and that nurses should be supported in administering patient training.

Effects of the supportive care needs of patients with cancer on their comfort levels.

Providing supportive care to patients with cancer and improving their comfort levels can promote their adjustment to the disease, compliance with treatment and improve their quality of life. The aim of this cross-sectional, descriptive study was to identify the effects of the supportive care needs of cancer patients on their comfort levels. The study was performed in the oncology department of a university hospital. A total of 153 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy constituted the sample. The data collection procedure included the Supportive Care Needs Survey (SCNS) and the General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). The SCNS scores of the patients were low (Mean±SD: 75.13±27.93). The socio-cultural dimension of the GCQ was the most adversely influenced area of comfort. There was a negative relationship between needs and comfort levels (rs=-0.69, p<0.01). Lower scores of comfort were associated with higher scores of SCNS (ß=-0.487; ß=-0.316; ß=-0.958, respectively). Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were supported in meeting their physical and psychological needs and performing their activities of daily living and care during their hospital stay. Patients with higher support needs had lower comfort levels.

The Relationship Between Cognitive Intrusion of Pain, Fear of Surgery, and Comfort

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between cognitive intrusion of pain, fear of surgery, and comfort in the perioperative period. This was a descriptive study conducted with 180 patients hospitalized for surgery in a training and research hospital. A sociodemographic questionnaire, Surgical Fear Questionnaire, General Comfort Questionnaire, and Experience of Cognitive Intrusion of Pain Scale were administered to the participants prior to surgery, while General Comfort Questionnaire and Experience of Cognitive Intrusion of Pain Scale were administered after surgery. Of the participants with a mean age of 49.94 ± 17.26 years, 62.2% were male and 31.1% had at least one chronic disease. The mean preoperative and postoperative pain scores were 2.65 and 3.47, respectively. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between perioperative experience of cognitive intrusion of pain and perioperative comfort and a positive correlation between perioperative experience of cognitive intrusion of pain and preoperative fear of surgery (p < .05). Cognitive intrusion of pain does not change in the perioperative period. As the cognitive intrusion of pain increases, patient comfort decreases and surgical fear increases. Our study contributes to the literature since it is the first study evaluating the cognitive intrusion of pain in the perioperative period.

Predictive Care Improves Recovery Status and Complications after Ureteral Calculi Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

Predictive care in patients undergoing ureteroscopic stone surgery has emerged as a promising approach. Thus, this study aims to enhance personalised nursing plans and reduce the risk of complications by conducting predictive analysis of possible risks early in the treatment and nursing process. Clinical data were collected from 108 patients who underwent ureteroscopic stone surgery and were admitted to our hospital between January 2020 and January 2023. Patients were divided into a control group (conventional nursing, n = 53) and an observation group (predictive care, n = 55) based on the nursing method, and various clinical indicators were compared between the two groups of surgical patients. No significant difference in general data was found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the first time to exhaust gas (p < 0.05), the first time to get out of bed (p < 0.05), the time to exhaust stone (p < 0.05), the first time to defecate (p < 0.05) and the length of hospital stay (p < 0.05) in the observation group were shorter; 1 day after surgery, no significant differences in all dimensions of the general comfort questionnaire (GCQ) score were found; 2 days after surgery, the GCQ score in all dimensions of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Predictive nursing can effectively improve the patients with ureteral calculi, accelerate the process of postoperative recovery and reduce the occurrence of complications; Thus, this process is worthy of widespread clinical promotion.

Percepción del confort en el paciente crítico desde el modelo teórico de Kolcaba

BackgroundThe stay in a critical care unit (CCU) has a serious impact on physical condition causing numerous discomfort factors such as pain or difficulty in communicating. All of these are associated with possible sequelae following discharge from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) named post-ICU syndrome. The Kolcaba Comfort Theory allows, from a holistic approach, to identify care needs from the patient's perspective using instruments such as the General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). ObjectivesTo determine the comfort level of patients admitted to the CCU using the GCQ of Kolcaba and to identify the discomfort factors. MethodsCross-sectional descriptive observational prospective study. Population: 580 patients admitted to adult CCU of two high complexity hospitals from June 2015 to March 2020 with stay ≥24h were interviewed. Descriptive analysis, Student's t-test and ANOVA and multivariate analysis were performed using SPSS v26 and STATA v16. ResultsThe mean age was 52.62 (16.21), 357 (61.6%) were male and 434 (74.8%) were believers. The type of admission was planned in 322 (55.5%) and the most prevalent reason for admission was surgical 486 (83.8%). The median pain score (NRS) was 3.00 [0-4] and severity score (APACHE II) was 13.26 (5.89), the median length of stay was 4.00 [2-7] days. The mean comfort level was 3.02 (0.31) showing the highest value for the Reanimation Unit 3.02 (0.30) and the lowest fort the Emergency and Trauma Unit 2.95 (0.38). Statistically significant differences were found between the units in the comfort level of patients >65 years of age (P=.029). The Relief comfort type obtained the lowest mean 2.81 (0.33) and the physical context 2.75 (0.41) in the three units. In the multivariate analysis, statistically significant differences were found between the comfort level and the pain level: no pain (P=.000) OR: 4.361; IC: 2.184-8.707, mild pain (P=.000) OR: 4.007; IC: 2.068-7.763, moderate pain (P=.007) OR: 2.803; IC: 1.328-5.913, and the APACHE II score equal to or greater than 10 (P=.000) OR: 0.472; IC: 0.316-0.705. ConclusionsThe comfort level showed high scores in all three units. The physical and environmental contexts and the relief comfort type negatively affected the perception of comfort. The variables that explained comfort were pain and severity of illness. The evaluation of comfort from the patient's perspective through the GCQ could be considered an indicator of quality of nursing interventions.

Preoperative Temporary Fixation for Fractures around the Ankle Using a Simple Extensible External Fixator Significantly Improves Patient Comfort

BackgroundThe authors developed a simple extensible external fixator, which has the advantages of easy application and inexpensiveness. The present study aimed to make a comparison between this external fixator and calcaneal traction in preoperative temporary fixation for malaligned ankle fractures and pilon fractures. MethodsFrom May 2020 to February 2022, patients with malaligned ankle fractures or Rüedi-Allgöwer type 2 or 3 pilon fractures with obvious soft tissue swelling were retrospectively reviewed and divided into the calcaneal traction group and the external fixation group. The two groups of patients were matched 1:1 before making comparisons. ResultsA total of 38 patients were included. Higher General Comfort Questionnaire score and lower visual analog scale score were noticed in the external fixation group during hospitalization (p<0.05), while the operation latency time, total cost, patient satisfaction, and functional outcomes one year after surgery were not significantly different between the two groups. No wound complications were observed. ConclusionPreoperative temporary fixation for fractures around the ankle using this simple extensible external fixator significantly improves patient comfort when compared to calcaneal traction. Level of EvidenceIII, retrospective comparative study.

Penehyclidine for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Undergoing Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery Under Combined Intravenous and Inhalation Anesthesia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

We designed this study to investigate the effect of intravenous use of penehyclidine on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after gynecological laparoscopic surgery. Ninety-two Women Patients (Aged ≥ 18) Scheduled for Elective Gynecologic Laparoscopy Were Enrolled in the Current Study. Patients Were Equally Randomized Assigned Into Penehyclidine group (PHC group: received a bolus of penehyclidine 10 μg/kg during the induction of anesthesia, then followed by a continuous infusion of 10 μg/kg penehyclidine at a fixed rate of 2.0 mL/h in postoperative intravenous analgesia pump over 48h, 0.5 mg upper limit respectively) or Control group (received 0.9% saline in replace of penehyclidine at the same time points). The primary outcome measure was the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in the postanesthesia care unit and ward area. Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) scores and general comfort questionnaire (GCQ) scores were assessed on postoperative day (POD) 1, 2. Patients between two groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Compared with the Control group, the incidence and severity of PONV, postoperative nausea (PON), and postoperative vomiting (POV) were significantly lower in the PHC group at 2h (PONV: P = 0.002, P = 0.004, respectively; PON: P = 0.018, P = 0.038, respectively; POV: P = 0.011, P = 0.072, respectively), 24h (PONV: P = 0.003, P = 0.001, respectively; PON: P = 0.010, P = 0.032, respectively; POV: P = 0.006, P = 0.044, respectively), and 48h (PONV: P = 0.003, P = 0.002, respectively; PON: P = 0.007, P = 0.019, respectively; POV: P = 0.002, P = 0.013, respectively) after surgery. The QoR-15 and GCQ scores of the PHC group were significantly higher than those of the Control group at POD 1, 2 (P < 0.001; P < 0.001, respectively). Our findings suggest that perioperative intravenous application of penehyclidine can effectively prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynecological laparoscopic surgery patients and improve postoperative recovery.

Influence of Early Nutritional Nursing on Gastrointestinal Function and Stress Responses in Patients After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

This study investigated the influence of early nutritional nursing on gastrointestinal function and stress responses in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A total of 84 patients at Ankang Central Hospital from March 2019 to March 2020 were divided into the control group and treatment group using the numerical table method. The control group received routine nursing after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the treatment group received early nutritional nursing. The visual analogue scale and general comfort questionnaire scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the control group at 1, 3, and 5 days after surgery. The time to first feed, the time to first passage of gas, and the recovery time of intestinal sounds were significantly shorter in the treatment group compared to the control group. Abdominal distension and gastrointestinal reaction scores were significantly lower, while generic quality of life inventory-74 scores, Newcastle satisfaction with nursing scale scores, and Chinese version of the Conor–Davidson resilience scale scores were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group. The levels of inflammatory factors and stress hormones were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, while arm muscle circumference, body weight, and transferrin, hemoglobin, albumin, and prealbumin levels were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05). Overall, early nutritional nursing can effectively relieve postoperative pain and improve gastrointestinal function, quality of life, nutritional status, and nursing satisfaction in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Local injection of a freshly manufactured 35 kDa hyaluronan fragment reduces neuropathic and inflammatory pain: A clinical study

To investigate the ability of the 35 kDa low-molecular-weight hyaluronan fragment (HA35) to relieve neuropathic and inflammatory pain, including postherpetic neuralgia and shoulder, neck, back and temporomandibular pain. Ten patients with postherpetic neuralgia and 26 patients with shoulder, neck, back or temporomandibular pain were studied and assessed. The 35 kDa hyaluronan fragment (HA35) was prepared by mixing hyaluronidase and 100 mg of high-molecular-weight HA at room temperature for 20 mins. This mixture was locally injected once at the pain point or where the nerve trunk innervated the pain point. Patients scored their pain and comfort on the numerical pain rating scale (NPRS) and the General Comfort Questionnaire (GCQ). After treatment, the NPRS scores and GCQ scores improved. Patients with postherpetic neuralgia and shoulder, neck, back or temporomandibular pain had significantly lower NPRS scores at 30 min to 180 min after injection, especially at 180 min ( p &lt; .001). The GCQ scores after treatment for 24 h was significantly greater than that before treatment ( p &lt; .01). No adverse reactions occurred. The 35 kDa hyaluronan fragment (HA35) effectively relieved postherpetic neuralgia-induced neuropathic pain and shoulder, neck, back and temporomandibular inflammatory pain. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05809700 at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov .

Influence of humanistic care on negative emotions, nursing quality, and patient satisfaction in outpatient gynecological surgery.

To explore the impact of humanistic care on negative emotions, nursing quality and patient satisfaction among women undergoing outpatient gynecological surgery. This retrospective study involved 108 patients who underwent outpatient gynecological surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine between August 2022 and August 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: 51 patients received routine care (control group) and 57 received humanistic care (experimental group). Data collected included vital signs (heart rate [HR] and systolic/diastolic blood pressure [SBP/DBP]), pain levels (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores at 12 and 24 hours postoperative), negative emotions (Self-rating Anxiety/Depression Scale [SAS/SDS]), comfort (Kolcaba's General Comfort Questionnaire [GCQ]), sexual functioning (Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women), nursing quality (errors, defects, and complaints) and patient satisfaction. Intraoperative SBP, DBP, along with HR, were significantly lower in the experimental group compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Postoperative pain levels at both 12 and 24 hours were also significantly reduced in the experimental group (both P<0.01). Furthermore, the experimental group demonstrated significant reductions in SAS and SDS scores and higher GCQ scores across physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction (all P>0.05). Nursing quality was significantly better (P=0.029) and patient satisfaction with nursing care was higher (P=0.015) in the experimental group. Humanistic care significantly reduces negative emotions and enhances comfort, nursing quality, and patient satisfaction in women undergoing outpatient gynecological surgery. This approach does not affect sexual functioning indicators but offers substantial improvements in overall patient care and outcomes. Its high value for clinical promotion underscores its potential as a transformative approach in outpatient gynecological settings.

The effect of murottal auditory therapy on anxiety and comfort levels in patients with cardiovascular disease

Patients with cardiovascular disease often experience anxiety and discomfort, which can negatively affect their outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of murottal auditory therapy on anxiety and comfort levels in hospitalized patients with cardiovascular disease. This quasi-experimental study included 45 patients in both the intervention and control groups, selected through purposive sampling. Participants met criteria such as consciousness, effective communication skills, Muslim faith, and no hearing impairments. Anxiety was assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, while comfort was evaluated with the General Comfort Questionnaire. The Mc Nemar test was employed to determine the effect of the intervention. The findings indicate that a substantial number of patients in the intervention group reported mild anxiety (91.1%) and increased comfort (95.6%) following murottal therapy. Significant differences in anxiety and comfort levels were observed between the control and intervention groups, with p-values of 0.004 and 0.000, respectively. In conclusion, murottal auditory therapy, specifically Surah Ar-Rahman, effectively reduces anxiety and enhances comfort among patients with cardiovascular disease. These results underscore the potential of murottal auditory therapy as a complementary approach to expedite patients' recovery during treatment.

Application of arterial infusion ports in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and embolization for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

To investigate the safety and feasibility of subcutaneous implantable infusion ports in repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. A total of 237 patients who were clinically diagnosed with advanced HCC (CNLC III a/III b) in our hospitals from December 2020 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The approaches of HAIC were divided into 2 groups: arterial infusion port implantation (group A) and one-time femoral artery catheterization (group B) based on the physicians' suggestion and the patients' intention. The comfort level (evaluated with the General Comfort Questionnaire), complications and average inpatient expenditure were compared between the 2 groups. 116 patients were finally enrolled in the study (group A: 69; group B: 47) and completed HAIC (FOLFOX-4 regimen) according to the dosing schedules (mean: 6±1 cycles). The comfort level of group A was greater than that of group B (p<0.05). The average inpatient expenditure of group A was lower than that of group B (5.4±2.4 vs 10.4±1.9 thousand yuan RMB/cycle, p<0.05). No patients developed port incision infection, hematoma or catheter-related thrombosis in group A, whereas four patients had groin hematomas, one had femoral artery dissection and four had deep vein thrombosis in group B. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy via arterial infusion ports for advanced HCC decreased complications and medical expenditures and improved patient comfort levels compared with indwelling catheters.

Establishment and Clinical Application of the General Comfort Scale for Postoperative Lung Cancer Patients.

Background and purpose The concept of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) not only reflects rapid perioperative recovery but also focuses on the comfort experience of inpatients. This study intends to establish a clinically applicable general comfort questionnaire (GCQ) for patients with lung cancer after surgery and verify its clinical application effect. Methods The comfort index items for postoperative lung cancer were formed by combining previous research and literature, clinically applied comfort scales, and expert interviews. The Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of expert consultations to determine the final index and establish a postoperative comfort scale for lung cancer patients. This scale was used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 200 patients to test the reliability and validity of the scale. Results The comfort scale contains 3 dimensions and 10 items and is easy to operate and evaluate in clinical applications. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the comfort scale is 0.801, and the scale content validity index (SCVI/ave) is 0.97. The common factor 1 and 2 characteristic roots of scale structural validity evaluation are 3.257 and 1.352 respectively, both greater than 1, with cumulative variance contribution rates of 32.57% and 13.52%. Pain and getting out of bed are the main factors influencing patient comfort. Conclusion The postoperative comfort scale for lung cancer patients has high clinical application reliability and validity. This study identified pain and mobility (early ambulation or getting out of bed) as the primary factors influencing the postoperative comfort of lung cancer patients.