Self-care Knowledge Research Articles

Penggunaan buklet dalam meningkatkan literasi perilaku hidup bersih dan sehat kader posyandu

This study was conducted to determine the effective booklet design and its use in enhancing the literacy of PHBS cadres at Posyandu in Jatinangor Sub-district. The method used is qualitative with an action research approach. The booklet creation followed four stages based on the action research theory: planning, implementing, observing, and reflecting. The informants in this study consisted of eight cadres from two community health posts in Jatinangor Sub-district. These eight cadres are from Posyandu Nuri 3 (Cikeruh Village, RW 03) and Posyandu Nuri 4 (Cikeruh Village, RW 04). Data were collected through interviews, observations, FGDs, and literature studies. The results of this study indicated that the criteria for an effective booklet include being user-oriented, credible, easily understandable, and visually appealing. The information sources used in the booklet come from trusted sources such as the Jatinangor Health Center, the Indonesian Ministry of Health, and health journals. The language used in the booklet is clear, straightforward, and simple in Indonesian, making it easily understandable for the cadres. The booklet has a colorful design and supporting images to make it more appealing. The booklet aims to enhance the cadres' knowledge of self-care, caring for others, preventing diseases, and persuading the community to apply these principles in daily activities. In conclusion, the booklet can be used to improve the PHBS literacy of Posyandu cadres.

Effect of Maternal and Newborn Care Intervention on Maternal Functioning of Primiparous Mothers

Primiparous mother is confronted with many physical and psychosocial changes during the postpartum period which consequently affect her maternal functioning. To deal with these changes positively, the maternal functioning of postpartum mothers should be enhanced by the provision of maternal and newborn care intervention (MNCI). A quasi-experimental research pretest post-test comparison group design was used to study the effect of MNCI on the maternal functioning of primiparous mothers. This study was conducted in Mandalay Central Women’s Hospital, Myanmar. A total of 72 primiparous mothers (control group=36, intervention group=36) were recruited by consecutive sampling. The MNCI was given to the intervention group in the form of direct nursing care, individual and group teaching and demonstration using audio-visual materials and an educational booklet, discussion in “Peer Viber Support Group” and follow-up telephone calls. Baseline assessment was done at antenatal 32nd to 36th weeks to assess postpartum self-care knowledge, maternal newborn care knowledge, and social support. At six weeks postpartum, self-efficacy and maternal functioning of participants were assessed in addition to baseline assessment. Descriptive statistics, paired t-test, independent t-test, and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. The results showed that maternal functioning was significantly improved in the intervention group than the control group at postpartum six weeks (p < 0.05). The improvement was also found in postpartum self-care knowledge, maternal newborn care knowledge, social support, and postpartum self-efficacy of primiparous mothers at postpartum six weeks (p < 0.001). This study highlighted that the MNCI was effective in enhancing the maternal functioning of the primiparous mothers. Further studies are recommended to determine the effectiveness of the MNCI upon health outcomes of postpartum mothers and babies in hospitals and community settings.

Foot self-care practices among diabetic patients attending a teaching hospital in Tamil Nadu, India.

Diabetes is a common non-communicable disease in the world. Diabetic foot ulcer is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Awareness and practice of foot self-care play a major role in the prevention of complications due to diabetic neuropathy. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetic patients from Sep 2022 to Feb 2023. A semi-structured questionnaire containing four parts including socio-demographic including clinical details, questions related to knowledge and practice of foot self-care, and clinical examination was used. Ten grams monofilament and 128 Hz tuning fork were used to assess the sensation of the foot. A total of 211 patients were included. The average age was found to be 58.4 ± 10.0 years and the majority were females (64.0%). The mean percentage score of knowledge on diabetes and foot self-care was found to be 59.6 ± 27.5 and 55.1 ± 11.9, respectively. Participants with low knowledge scores and those who do not engage in regular physical activity had significant poor foot care practices. The majority (54.5%) of the participants had at least one of the clinical problems related to diabetic foot. The most common problem was found to be heel fissures (29.4%), followed by deformed nails (15.2%), callus (5.2%), toe web infection (3.3%), and ulcer (2.8%). Monofilament test and vibration was not detectable in 12.3% and 15.2%, respectively. More than half of the participants were found to have good diabetic foot self-care practices. Diabetics having good knowledge on foot care and involving in regular physical activity showed good foot self-care practices.

Foot Care among Diabetes Patients: A Concept Analysis

Background: The concept analysis of “foot care” is essential for expanding the nursing knowledge base, synthesizing a broader theoretical concept, and guiding more effective care for diabetes patients with and without diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Foot care in nursing has not yet been comprehensively defined for nurses and other healthcare professionals.Purpose: This concept analysis aimed to elucidate the nursing practice concept of foot care. The study identified surrogate terms associated with the concepts, attributes, antecedents, and consequences by employing Rodger’s evolutionary method in a critical analysis of the relevant literature.Methods: This research used Rodger’s evolutionary analysis. The databases were PubMed (n=188), ProQuest (n=4,790), ScienceDirect (n=292), and Google Scholar (n=7,810) with a total of 13,080 articles identified in this study. The screening process involved evaluating titles and abstracts, followed by a thorough analysis of inclusion criteria, which included full-text articles and the presence of keywords: foot care, diabetes, diabetic foot ulcer. Articles that did not provide a clear definition of foot care were excluded. A total of 45 articles were included. Rodger’s evolutionary analysis stressed inductive investigation and careful analysis of the concept.Results: The results of the foot care concept analysis were: (1) among people with diabetes without DFU, the attributes were foot screening and foot examination, while the antecedents were high glycemic levels, inability of the pancreas to produce insulin, abnormal foot skin condition, and foot-related behaviors; (2) among patients with DFU, the attributes were foot intervention and education, while the antecedents included foot self-care knowledge, motivation, and family and social support. The consequences associated with the concept of foot care included improvement in self-efficacy, quality of life, and self-care behavior.Conclusion: Nurses can use the findings of this foot care analysis in their clinical work by promoting and practicing foot care as a preventative measure that shields patients from ulcers. Additionally, nurses can intervene when patients already have ulcers and provide appropriate wound care. Foot examinations become more manageable when specific practice guidelines are available for diabetes patients.

The Effect of Self-Care Education on Heart Failure Patients : Literature Review

Heart failure is a heart disease which has an escalating prevalence. Disease conditions that can cause a deterioration in quality of life and even death require further treatment through self-care. Knowledge about self-care can be provided by nurses while the patient is in the hospital even when going home. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the application of self-care education in heart failure patients to improve self-care knowledge and compliance. The research method used a systematic review design using data bases from ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Science Direct with several keywords used. The results obtained 7 articles that were reviewed after adjusting the inclusion criteria. The results of the study found that the provision of self-care education was able to improve self-care compliance in heart failure patients. The conclusion of this study is that education that is more applicable, interactive and sustainable can improve knowledge and compliance with self-care in heart failure patients.

Self-care knowledge in patients with intestinal stomas in a selected hospital in the south of Viet Nam: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Intestinal stomas are surgical interventions that have an impact on both physical and psychological health, necessitating patient self-care. Insufficient knowledge regarding peristomal skin care, prevention, and treatment of potential problems can lead to an increase in stoma-related complications. This study aimed to assess patients' knowledge of self-care for intestinal stomas and examine the relationship between background information and self-care knowledge. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2021 to December 2022 at the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Vietnam, involving 74 participants with intestinal stomas. A questionnaire consisting of 24 closed-ended questions was used to evaluate participants' knowledge of self-care for intestinal stomas. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that 54.1% of participants had good knowledge of general self-care for intestinal stomas. The distribution of good knowledge among participants was as follows: basic knowledge (66.2%), self-care practice (56.8%), recognizing and managing complications (31.1%), and dietary knowledge (64.8%). Significant relationships were observed between participants' self-care knowledge and their education level (p = 0.002), marital status (p = 0.017), nurses' education (p = 0.021), and hospitalization (p = 0.001). The proportion of participants with good knowledge of self-care for intestinal stomas was relatively low, and it was associated with individuals' education level, marital status, nurses' education, and hospitalization. This study highlights the need for ongoing development of educational programs on self-care for intestinal stomas. These programs should be tailored to address the specific needs of each patient and aim to improve their self-care knowledge in a meaningful and sustainable manner. By investing in patient education, healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, can assist individuals with intestinal stomas in achieving better outcomes and preventing potential complications.

Effectiveness of Self Care Education on Knowledge and Behavior Among Android-based Hypertension Patients at Yogyakarta Health Center

Introduction: Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that evolves worldwide. Hypertension prevalence increased by 7.61% over five years, from 26,5% in 2013 to 34,11% in 2018 in Indonesia. Then in Yogyakarta, the prevalence of hypertension is 8.8% higher than the national average. It has become the leading cause of non-communicable diseases. The problem has focused on the issue of hypertension management and has not been effective. According to various sources, hypertension self-care education via smartphone applications is one of the interventions used to improve self-care behaviour in hypertensive patients. Thus, it is important to study the effectiveness of these interventions on hypertensive patients. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of android-based hypertension self-care education on knowledge and behavior among hypertensive patients. Methods: A quantitative descriptive-analytic study was conducted. One hundred and eight hypertensive patients were selected in Yogyakarta randomly. The patients followed an android-based hypertension self-care education programme for three months. Results: Statistical analysis with paired and independent t-tests showed a significant difference in self-care knowledge and behavior before and after intervention in the intervention group (p=0.000 <0.05; p=0.000<0.05, respectively). There was a significant difference in self-care knowledge and behavior between the intervention group and the control group (p=0.000<0.05; p=0.003<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: A minimal, three-month android-based hypertension self-care education programme enhanced self-care knowledge and behavior among hypertensive patients. It was suggested that the nurses educate hypertensive patients about hypertensionself-care more intensively.

Lifestyle behaviors that reduce food and fat intake in patients with type 2 diabetes within 3months of diagnosis lead to a reduction in the HbA1c level after 12months.

It is important to provide "Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support," the ongoing process of facilitating the knowledge, skills, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care, immediately after diagnosis. In this 12-month (12M) longitudinal observational study, outpatients within 3months of their first diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were surveyed at baseline (BL) and 12M using a self-administered questionnaire used in the "Lifestyle Intervention Support Software for Diabetes Prevention" and medical record survey. To explore factors associated with the change extent in HbA1c level during the 12M post-diagnosis, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed with sex, age, HbA1c level at BL, medication in the first 12M post-diagnosis, and lifestyle behaviors related to diet and exercise therapy as independent variables. The HbA1c level of the 89 participants was 8.4% ± 2.2% at BL and 6.7% ± 1.0% at 12M. "ND06 I add milk to coffee or tea (reverse item)" (β = -0.110, p = 0.015), "RD15 I eat vegetable dishes such as a vegetable side dish and/or a vinegar or pickle dish" (β = 0.151, p = 0.003), "ND02 I eat until I feel full (reverse item)" (β = -0.115, p = 0.024), and "RD14 I select udon or soba instead of Chinese noodles in soups" (β = -0.113, p = 0.007) were associated with the change extent in the HbA1c level during the 12M post-diagnosis. Overall, it may be useful to support patients with T2DM early post-diagnosis to improve lifestyle behaviors associated with the extent of change in HbA1c level during the 12M post-diagnosis.

Factors Related to Self-Care Knowledge of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Thai Nguyen Province

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes millitus causes a heavy burden on individuals, their families and the community because it affects quality of life and requires long-term and comprehensive health care. Self-care knowledge is an important factor influencing patients' self-care behavior to reduce the impact and progression of the diabetes mellitus. Objectives: The study was conducted to find out some factors related to self-care knowledge of patients with type 2 diabetes in Thai Nguyen province tool such as the 30-item Diabetes Self-care Knowledge (DSCK-30). Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study, using the toolkit to assess the 30-item Diabetes Self-care Knowledge (DSCK-30) of patients with diabetes mellitus, was conducted on 408 2TDM patients at Thai Nguyen National Hospital. Results: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had good self-care knowledge; the mean total score of knowledge was 21.20 ± 5.25 out of 30 scores. Self-care knowledge scores ranged from 7 to 30. The percentage of patients with self-care knowledge was still low, accounting for 53.9%. Educational qualification (t-test = -6,522; p = 0.000) and income (t-test = -2.32; p = 0.009) were related to self-care knowledge of patients with diabetes mellitus Conclusion: It is necessary to have a program of counseling and education on self-care knowledge for people with diabetes mellitus (drug compliance, diet, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, prevention of complications and other essential self-care knowledge) for patients to raise awareness, thereby changing self-care behaviors to help patients control blood glucose level well, prevent complications and improve quality of life.

Components of peritonitis preventive self-care education programs associated with self-care knowledge and behavior among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis in Japan: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPreventing peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis remains a major concern in continuing safe treatment and improving patient quality of life. This study aimed to determine the self-care education and quality care initiatives performed for patients undergoing PD and explored their association with patient self-care knowledge and behavior regarding peritonitis prevention.MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted with PD patients and their nurses in Japanese hospitals as respondents. Nurses provided the regular practice of self-care education and quality care initiatives for PD patients within the hospital while patients answered questions on their self-care knowledge and behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the factors of patients’ self-care knowledge and behaviors.ResultsWe analyzed data on 170 patients (mean age: 65.1 years old) matched with those of 58 nurses from 58 hospitals. Although most educational contents were taught, teaching methods varied; evaluating patients’ learning levels and re-educating during follow-up periods were less frequently performed. As for quality care initiatives, 60% of hospital nurses monitored peritonitis rates, 33% shared peritonitis-associated information with relevant departments, and 47% had performed home visits before PD patients' discharge in the past. The factors of patients’ self-care knowledge include nurses’ re-educating during follow-ups (odds ratio (OR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01–1.22, p = 0.025), sharing information with relevant departments (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.01–2.74, p = 0.047), and patients’ younger age (OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96–1.00, p = 0.019). Hospitals performing home visits and patients’ perceived social support were associated with both self-care knowledge (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.01–1.34, p = 0.038 and OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.10–1.61, p = 0.003, respectively) and behavior (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.02–1.64, p = 0.031 and OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.14–2.28, p = 0.007, respectively).ConclusionsRe-education during follow-up visits, sharing information, and home visits before discharge may benefit patients in promoting peritonitis preventive self-care.

Benefits of a Single-Session, In-Hospital Preoperative Education Program for Patients Undergoing Ostomy Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 45-minute session of video-based preoperative ostomy education on self-care knowledge, self-care proficiency, anxiety, depression, length of hospital stay, and ostomy-related complications to a control group who received 3 postoperative educational sessions. This was a randomized controlled trial. The sample comprised 47 patients scheduled to undergo ostomy surgery for colon or rectal cancer surgery at a tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, South Korea, from November 2018 to May 2019. However, 2 participants in the intervention group and 4 in the control group withdrew from the study and data analysis is based on 41 participants who completed study procedures. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 21) or a control group (n = 20). The intervention group received a single 45-minute session of video-based preoperative ostomy education along with stoma site marking and postoperative education. The control group underwent stoma site marking and 3 postoperative education sessions Self-care knowledge, anxiety, and depression were assessed by validated instruments. Self-care proficiency was assessed via direct observation using a checklist. Ostomy-related complications were evaluated by a WOC nurse. Length of hospital stay and disease-related characteristics were collected from medical records. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvements in self-care knowledge (P = .001) and self-care proficiency scores (P = .001). Intervention group participants also had lower anxiety scores (P = .025), depression scores (P = .014), shorter hospital stays (P = .008), and fewer ostomy-related complications (P = .001). In patients undergoing ostomy surgery, a single 45-minute session of preoperative video-based ostomy education improved self-care knowledge and proficiency. This intervention also reduced depression, anxiety, and ostomy-related complications.

E-Discharge Planning Berbasis Teknologi Informasi untuk Meningkatkan Kualitas Hidup Pasien Tuberkulosis Paru

This study aims to determine the impact of using an electronic debit scheme. The method used is systematic data analysis by reviewing the results of the literature on the use of electronic release regimens to improve the quality of life in pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. The study results show that a literature review of 10 selected journals, electronic discharge planning can improve the quality of life of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients. In conclusion, an electronic patient plan can increase self-care knowledge, adopt a healthy lifestyle, and improve quality of life.
 
 Keywords: Quality of Life, Patient Discharge Plan, Information Technology, Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Time for Me: Development and results of an RCT of a kinship navigator self-compassion and care toolkit for caregivers by caregivers

BackgroundKinship navigator programs were developed to help connect kinship families to needed resources and services. Peer to Peer Kinship Navigation (P2PKN) is one type of kinship navigation in which someone with lived kinship caregiving experience is employed to provide support to other caregivers experiencing similar challenges. Few tools have been developed and tested to support P2PKN. ObjectiveThis study adapted user-centric design principles to engage kinship caregivers in research design and implementation to explore self-compassion and self-care for kinship caregivers. Additionally, this study will examine the effect of a Time For Me (TM) Toolkit developed for and by peer navigators on self-care knowledge and practice.Participants and Setting: 60 kinship caregivers from a P2PKN Program were randomly assigned to a P2PKN Program (usual care, n = 30) and P2PKN Program with TM Toolkit (TM, n = 30). MethodsFrequencies showed how kinship caregivers rated culturally tailored self-compassion and care behaviors of health. Repeated Measures ANOVAS were used to test mean differences between groups on knowledge and practices of healthy behaviors. ResultsParticipants rated their knowledge of culturally tailored healthy behaviors better than their current practice. Participants in the TM group improved or stayed the same on their knowledge and practice of self-compassion and -care. Healthy sleep and coping showed the most improvement in practice. ConclusionsResearch suggests that TM Toolkit could improve self-compassion and care knowledge and practices for caregivers within a P2PKN program. Larger samples could scale up to build more robust evidence to show the utility of a TM Toolkit to support P2PKN.

Effects of Telephone-based Self-care Intervention for Gynecologic Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate whether a telephone-based self-care intervention improved self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care performance of gynecologic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants included 38 gynecologic cancer patients who were admitted to Seoul National University Hospital and received chemotherapy. To reduce the spread of the experimental treatment, the control group was recruited prior to the experimental group, with matching inclusion criteria for age, diagnosis, and chemotherapeutic agent. The experimental group received education on managing chemotherapy side effects in the form of a booklet prior to chemotherapy and four telephone-based self-care interventions after discharge. The control group received only education on managing chemotherapy side effects in the form of a booklet prior to chemotherapy. Data were collected prior to the intervention and 3 weeks after the first-line chemotherapy cycle ended. Outcomes were measured using a self-care knowledge measurement tool, the New General Self-Efficacy Scale and a self-care performance assessment scale. The statistical analysis was performed using the <i>x</i><sup>2</sup> test, Fisher's exact test, Shapiro-Wilk normality test, paired t-test and independent t-test.Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in scores for self-care knowledge (t=-2.64, <i>p</i>=.012), self-efficacy (t=-4.32, <i>p</i><.001), and self-care performance (t=-2.53, <i>p</i>=.016) after the telephone-based self-care intervention.Conclusion: This telephone-based self-care intervention was effective for improving self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care performance.

Veteran perspectives of epilepsy care: Impact of Veteran satisfaction, knowledge, and proactivity

ObjectiveVeterans are at elevated risk of epilepsy due to higher rates of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, little work has examined the extent to which quality of care is associated with key outcomes for Veterans with epilepsy (VWE). This study aimed to examine the impact of quality of care on three outcomes: patients’ knowledge of epilepsy self-care, proactive epilepsy self-management, and satisfaction with care. MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional study of Post-9/11 Veterans with validated active epilepsy who received VA care (n = 441). Veterans were surveyed on care processes using American Academy of Neurology epilepsy quality measures, and a patient-generated measure related to the use of emergency care. Outcome measures included epilepsy self-care knowledge, proactive epilepsy self-management, and satisfaction with epilepsy care. Covariates included sociodemographic and health status variables and a measure of patient-provider communication. An ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression model was used to determine if the quality of care was associated with the outcomes adjusting for multiple comparisons. ResultsSelf-reported measures of quality of care were broadly associated with satisfaction with care and epilepsy knowledge. OLS modeling indicated that healthcare provider guidance on when to seek emergency care was significantly associated with higher Veteran satisfaction with care (p < 0.01). Veterans who were asked about seizure frequency at every visit by their provider also reported higher satisfaction with care (p < 0.01) and increased epilepsy knowledge (p < 0.01). Veteran-provider communication was positively associated with epilepsy knowledge and proactive epilepsy self-management. Veterans with epilepsy with drug resistance epilepsy were significantly less satisfied with their care and reported lower proactivity compared to epilepsy controlled with medications. Further analysis indicated Black VWEs reported lower scores on epilepsy self-care knowledge compared to Whites (p < 0.001). ConclusionsThis study found that quality measures were associated with satisfaction and epilepsy knowledge but not associated with proactive self-management in multivariable models. The finding that better communication between providers and Veterans suggests that in addition to technical quality, interpersonal quality is important for patient outcomes. The secondary analysis identified racial disparities in epilepsy knowledge. This work offers opportunities to improve the quality of epilepsy care through the practice of patient-centered care models that reflect Veteran priorities and perceptions.

Knowledge and Self-Care Practices on Diabetic Foot among Diabetic Patients in Public Hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan - A Descriptive Study

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the degree of knowledge and practise of diabetic foot self-care among people with diabetes mellitus, as well as to determine the variables that influence the level of knowledge and practise in a public hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. It is also beneficial for raising awareness about foot-care in diabetic patients. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional research was done in outpatient diabetes clinics on 153 adult patients with diabetes. Participants were given self-administered questionnaires about their knowledge and practise of diabetic foot self-care. Their responses were used to determine their scores. A total score of &gt;60% was assessed as good and &lt;40% as poor. SPSS was used for analyzing data frequency and percentages. Results: Amongst 153 patients majority of patients 85(55.5%) had poor knowledge about diabetic foot care, 48(31.3%) had average knowledge, and 20(13.2%) had good knowledge about foot care. About 79(51.6%) participants had poor practices regarding diabetic foot care, 49(32%) had satisfactory practices, and 25(16.4%) had good practices of diabetic foot care. Patients with college level education had good level of knowledge about foot care. Knowledge of participants and self-care practices is significantly associated with age and education of participants. Practical Implication: Knowledge and self-care practices of foot care were associated with age and education level of participants. Health-care professionals should concentrate on filling knowledge gaps in foot care, promoting good foot hygiene habits, and enticing patients to take part in diabetes education initiatives. Conclusion: The results of study concluded that majority of participants had poor knowledge and self-care practices about foot care. Keywords: Knowledge; Diabetic Foot; Diabetes Mellitus; Self-Care Practices

A Faith Community Nursing Intervention for Informal Caregiver-Older Adult Dyads.

The purpose of this study was to test the impact of embedding trained Faith Community Nurse (FCN) interventionists in a Catholic Health System affiliated primary care practice as liaisons of care in the homes of older adult clients (OACs) and their informal caregiver (IC). Specific aims were to examine if a FCN intervention improved IC and OAC health, well-being, knowledge and understanding of chronic disease management, self-advocacy, and self-care. A non-random quasi-experimental design was used. Most ICs were spouses or adult children (M age = 66) who lived with the older adult (M age = 79). The ICs' scores significantly increased after the intervention on the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (p = .002), Spirituality as Life, Meaning, and purpose (p = .026), and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (p = .005). Future research is needed examining the FCN intervention with larger sample sizes in more diverse communities and acute care settings.

The Impact of Stoma Management Education on the Self-care Abilities of Individuals with an Intestinal Stoma

An intestinal stoma is a surgically formed exteriorisation of the large or small bowel on to the anterior abdomen wall, to enable faeces to be excreted from the body. Patients living with a stoma may encounter physical, psychological, and social barriers and challenges. Stoma self-management education is essential to improving self-care competence, and patients who perceive the benefits of self-management education show a better adjustment to living with a stoma. This literature review explored the effectiveness of patient education interventions in improving the self-care knowledge and skills of patients living with an ostomy. The findings from the nine studies reviewed showed that self-management education approaches are effective in improving patients’ self-care. The application of different approaches to ostomy self-management education, such as a transtheoretical model, chronic care model, telehealth and multimediabased programmes – helped improve patients’ self-care ability. The review also found that patients needed at least 3 months to develop the skills and maintain their ability to self-care. In addition, two education sessions provided to patients in hospital pre-discharge appeared sufficient for improving and maintaining self-care abilities. Where patients received education in hospital post-surgery, 2 or 3 sessions over 7 days were found to be sufficient to provide them with stoma care skills. Education sessions based on the transtheoretical model and chronic care model or telehealth helped maintain and reinforce self-care behaviours following discharge.

Exploring crowdsourced self-care techniques: A study on Parkinson’s disease

Living with Parkinson’s Disease introduces a range of significant challenges into one’s daily life. While medical interventions exist to overcome some of these challenges, patient self-care techniques often form an essential complement to the treatments recommended by medical doctors. Knowledge on these self-care techniques often originates from those living with Parkinson’s themselves or their close caregivers, as they have the knowledge and experience required to assess self-care techniques. This so-called ‘patient knowledge’ is usually exchanged in peer meetings or discussion forums. Although vital to the Parkinson’s Disease community, this information is often difficult to access due to its unstructured format and the difficulty of navigating through online forums. We present an online tool that allows for contributing, assessing, and finally discovering Parkinson’s Disease self-care techniques. The custom discovery tool was populated with self-care knowledge by over 300 people with Parkinson’s and dozens of their carers, spanning areas such as daily well-being and using assistive equipment. Then, we invited patients to explore the discover features in a smaller scale trial. While well-received, our deployment highlighted several challenges that we further discuss in this paper. Overall, our study contributes to crowdsourced digital health solutions and provides both design and research implications to this challenging domain with a vulnerable user group.

The effects of a family-focused dyadic psychoeducational intervention for stroke survivors and their family caregivers: A randomised controlled trial

BackgroundStroke can cause a variety of physical and psychosocial disturbances for both survivors and their family caregivers (i.e., stroke dyads). Dyadic psychoeducation appears to be a promising approach for providing knowledge of stroke and self-care or caregiving skills to improve stroke dyads' health outcomes. Therefore, a family-focused psychoeducation intervention was designed and tested to improve the health outcomes of stroke dyads. ObjectiveTo examine the effects of a family-focused dyadic psychoeducational intervention on the functional and psychosocial outcomes of stroke survivors and family caregivers. DesignA single-blinded, parallel-group randomised controlled trial with repeated-measures design. SettingsTwo general hospitals and one rehabilitation facility in Jinan, China. ParticipantsStroke survivors and family caregivers (N = 162 dyads). MethodsThe dyads were randomly allocated to either psychoeducation or control group with usual care only (N = 81 dyads per group). The intervention included three structured face-to-face education sessions (one hour per session) in hospital pre-discharge and four weekly telephone counselling calls post-discharge. Study outcomes included survivor functioning and caregiver burden (primary outcomes), and other secondary outcomes (i.e., caregiving competence, dyads' coping, depressive and anxiety symptoms, family functioning, and dyadic relationship, as well as survivor healthcare utilisation and caregiving-related injury). Data were collected at baseline (T0) and immediately (T1) and 3 months post-intervention (T2). The intervention effects were estimated using generalised estimating equation models. ResultsParticipants in the psychoeducation group revealed significantly greater reductions on caregiver burden than the control group at T1 (β = −6.01, p = 0.026) and T2 (β = −6.73, p = 0.039), but non-significant effects on survivor functioning, except in emotion domain at T1 (β = 7.22, p = 0.015). In addition, the intervention demonstrated significantly greater improvements on caregiving competence (β = 0.98, p = 0.013; β = 1.58, p < 0.001), survivors' depressive symptoms (β = −1.56, p = 0.007; β = −2.06, p = 0.005), and dyadic relationship (β = 0.26, p = 0.012; β = 0.27, p = 0.022) at T1 and T2, as well as on survivor coping at T2 (β = 6.73, p = 0.008). ConclusionsOur study added values on the benefits of family-focused dyadic psychoeducation to routine stroke rehabilitation and family care. Future research can evaluate its long-term effects for families of stroke survivors with diverse socio-demographic and stroke-related characteristics. RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100042684). Recruitment: March to June 2021.