Post-intervention Evaluation Research Articles

An action research to overcome reading difficulties encountered after the Covid-19 pandemic

This study aimed to overcome the reading problems of a student who had reading difficulties due to the effect of distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic with reading fluency strategies. For this purpose, the study was conducted with a 5th grade student studying in Turkey. The study was conducted with action research, one of the qualitative research patterns. Texts appropriate to the student's age and reading level, as well as researcher and student diaries were used as data collection tools. The student's reading errors were determined and presented with descriptive data, and a reading action plan was prepared for the low-performing student. Over 18 lesson hours, a reading program incorporating strategies such as repetitive reading, paired reading, guided reading, word repetition, and word box techniques was implemented. Post-intervention evaluation revealed that the student’s reading level improved from the concern level to the instructional level, with notable progress in reading deficiencies. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that students with reading difficulties can enhance their reading skills through appropriate methods and techniques, mitigating the adverse effects of the pandemic period.

Enhancing Resurrection Practices for Unusable General Inventory Items in Hospital Settings

Background: Effective patient care in hospitals relies on the proper functioning of medical equipment. Malfunctioning general inventory items, such as patient beds, wheelchairs, and saline stands, pose significant challenges to hospital operations and patient care. D.G.H. Negombo needs help maintaining these items due to limited financial resources and inadequate technical expertise.Objective: To improve the resurrection practices of selected unusable general inventory items at D.G.H. Negombo.Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from August 1, 2022, to November 15, 2023, and involved three phases: pre-intervention (assessment), intervention (implementation), and post-intervention (evaluation). Data collection methods included key informant interviews (K.I.I.), self-administered questionnaires (S.A.Q.), and desk reviews. The study targeted general inventory items marked for condemnation and included unit heads and maintenance technicians in its scope.Results: Pre-intervention assessments identified key issues such as inadequate technical skills, poor coordination, and insufficient infrastructure. Interventions implemented included skill development workshops, improved documentation practices, and enhanced communication strategies. Post-intervention evaluations demonstrated significant improvements in repair times, resource availability, and satisfaction among unit heads. Notably, 78% of wheelchairs, 79% of patient trolleys, and 76% of patient beds were successfully resurrected.Conclusions: The interventions enhanced the resurrection of unusable general inventory items, extended equipment lifespans, and achieved substantial cost savings.

Promoting the Leadership of Team Captains in Sports Contexts: The Pro●Captains Program

Athlete leadership is crucial for optimizing the functioning of sports teams. In order to do so, athletes need to be provided with opportunities to develop their leadership skills, particularly team captains. This paper proposes the Pro•Captains Program based on the Leadership Efficacy Model (Gomes, 2020). The program includes six stages: (1) pre-intervention evaluation; (2) selecting team captains; (3) challenges of team captains; (4) behaviors of team captains; (5) leadership plan of team captains; and (6) post-intervention evaluation. The Pro•Captains Program can be tested in terms of efficacy and offers a practical framework for stakeholders interested in developing the leadership of team captains.

Program evaluation and healthcare process improvement focused on complex wheelchair procurement

ABSTRACT The operations of a specialty wheelchair (WC) seating center can influence the evaluation to delivery timeframe in days for a complex rehab technology (CRT) WC. Operations at one facility improved due to departmental process improvement (PI) project with evaluation of the delivery workflow and implementation of changes. A retrospective chart audit gathered baseline data on the evaluation to delivery timeframe in days of a CRT WC for 50 individuals prior to PI changes. Standard departmental workflow collected 745 individuals’ post-PI changes. The interventions took place from March 25, 2017, to April 5, 2018, and included defining and educating stakeholders on their roles and expectations, revisions of the electronic medical record, weekly and quarterly meetings with supplier leadership, paperwork completion goals, and follow-up paperwork centralization. Mean pre- and post-intervention evaluation to delivery timeframes in days was significantly different (162.2 versus 127.4 days, p < 0.0001). Overall, a reduction in the mean evaluation to delivery timeframe in days of CRT WC by 21.5% or 34.8 days occurred. Systematic change takes time as well as the commitment of all key players. PI changes resulted in evaluation to delivery timeframe reduction for patients to receive their CRT WCs.

Smartphone-Based Digital Peer Support for a Walking Intervention Among Public Officers in Kanagawa Prefecture: Single-Arm Pre- and Postintervention Evaluation.

Digital peer support, defined as peer support delivered through technology such as smartphone apps, may be promising to promote activity in the form of step counts. Interactions among users have a positive impact on retention rates, and apps with social elements show significant improvements in daily step count. However, the feasibility of digital peer support in promoting physical activity (PA) is unknown; therefore, its effectiveness on step count and the clinical implications remain unconfirmed. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of digital peer support over a 3-month intervention period using the retention rate as the outcome. Moreover, changes in daily step count and physical measurements were compared between pre- and postintervention. The study design was a 3-month 1-arm intervention with participants from local government offices in Kanagawa, Japan. We used an available smartphone app, Minchalle, as the tool for the group intervention. Participants were required to report their daily step count to a maximum of 5 members composed exclusively of study participants. The primary outcome was the retention rate. Secondary outcomes included daily step count, the rate of achieving daily step goals, physical measurements, and lifestyle characteristics. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson coefficient were used to examine the relationship between goal achievement and step count, as well as changes in step count and various variables including physical measurements. Of the 63 participants, 62 completed the intervention. The retention rate was 98% (62/63). The average daily step count during the intervention was 6993 (SD 2328) steps, an 1182-step increase compared with the count observed 1 week before the intervention began. The rate of achieving the daily step count during the intervention was 53.5% (SD 26.2%). There was a significant correlation (r=0.27, P=.05) between achieving daily step goals and increasing daily step count. Comparative analyses showed that changes in weight (68.56, SD 16.97 kg vs 67.30, SD 16.86 kg; P<.001), BMI (24.82, SD 4.80 kg/m2 vs 24.35, SD 4.73 kg/m2; P<.001), somatic fat rate (28.50%, SD 7.44% vs 26.58%, SD 7.90%; P=.005), systolic blood pressure (130.42, SD 17.92 mm Hg vs 122.00, SD 15.06 mm Hg; P<.001), and diastolic blood pressure (83.24, SD 13.27 mm Hg vs 77.92, SD 11.71 mm Hg; P=.002) were significantly different before and after the intervention. Similarly, the daily amount of PA significantly improved from 5.77 (SD 3.81) metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours per day to 9.85 (SD 7.84) MET-hours per day (P<.001). This study demonstrated that digital peer support is feasible for maintaining a high retention rate and can, therefore, effectively promote PA. It can be a promising tool to improve daily step count, subjective PA, and clinical outcomes, such as weight and somatic fat rate. UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000042520; https://tinyurl.com/46c4nm8z.

What could improve surgical data system at health facilities with high surgical volume in Ethiopia?

BackgroundThe effective management of surgical and anesthesia care relies on quality data and its readily availability for both patient-centered decision-making and facility-level improvement efforts. Recognizing this critical need, the Strengthening Systems for Improved Surgical Outcomes (SSISO) project addressed surgical care data management and information use practices across 23 health facilities from October 2019 to September 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SSISO interventions in enhancing practices related to surgical data capture, reporting, analysis, and visualization.MethodsThis study employed a mixed method, pre- post intervention evaluation design to assess changes in data management and utilization practices at intervention facilities. The intervention packages included capacity building trainings, monthly mentorship visits facilitated by a hub-and-spoke approach, provision of data capture tools, and reinforcement of performance review teams. Data collection occurred at baseline (February – April 2020) and endline (April – June 2022). The evaluation focused on the availability and appropriate use of data capture tools, as well as changes in performance review practices. Appropriate use of registers was defined as filling all the necessary data onto the registers, and this was verified by completeness of selected key data elements in the registers.ResultsThe proportion of health facilities with Operation Room (OR) scheduling, referral, and surgical site infection registers significantly increased by 34.8%, 56.5% and 87%, respectively, at project endline compared to baseline. Availability of OR and Anesthesia registers remained high throughout the project, at 91.3% and 95.6%, respectively. Furthermore, the appropriate use of these registers improved, with statistically significant increases observed for OR scheduling registers (34.8% increase). Increases were also noted for OR register (9.5% increase) and anesthesia register (4.5% increase), although not statistically significant. Assessing the prior three months reports, the report submissions to the Ministry of Health/Regional Health Bureau (MOH/RHB) rose from 85 to 100%, reflecting complete reporting at endline period. Additionally, the proportion of surgical teams analyzing and displaying data for informed decision-making significantly increased from 30.4% at baseline to 60.8% at endline period.ConclusionThe implemented interventions positively impacted surgical data management and utilization practice at intervention facilities. These positive changes were likely attributable to capacity building trainings and regular mentorship visits via hub-and-spoke approach. Hence, we recommend further investigation into the effectiveness of similar intervention packages in improving surgical data management, data analysis and visualization practices in low- and middle-income country settings.

Determinants of outcomes for patients with chronic low back pain and fear-avoidance beliefs following treatment with specific stabilisation exercises.

Specific stabilisation exercises (SSE) can combat the debilitating effects of chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP), improve disability, pain and fear-avoidance beliefs (FAB). To elicit the determinants of outcome in patients with CLBP with associated FABs after treatment with SSE. Twenty-nine patients (20 females) with CLBP were classified using FAB questionnaire into high or low Work and Physical Activity (PA) subscales. After 4-week treatment, evaluations were done for pain, disability and lumbar spine active range of motion (AROM). Data was analysed exploratory-descriptively with a significance level set at p< 0.05. Participants were aged 55.24 ± 11.91 years. They scored 19 (65.5%) and 5 (17.2%) respectively on Work and PA subscales. The post-intervention evaluation showed significant differences in all outcomes, but no significant difference between patients with high or low FAB scores for both subscales. PA scores correlated significantly with pain while work scores correlated significantly with disability. Participants' gender predicted disability, pain and AROM with moderate to large effect sizes. SSE can potentially improve disability, pain and range of motion for patients with chronic low back pain regardless of FABQ status. Gender and baseline patient status are potential determinants of outcome of treatment using SSE.

Impact of Trunk Stabilization Training on Cricketers with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Background: The endeavour of this study was to check the impact of trunk stabilization training on cricketers suffering from chronic non-specific low back pain. Objectives: The objectives of the study was to examine the effects of trunk stabilizing exercises in cricketers with chronic low back pain for the change in level of pain, disability and improvement of endurance of trunk muscles. Methods: The related literature was searched and reviewed for the efficacy of interventions, reliability and validity of outcome measures. Quasi-experimental approach was chosen for conducting the study with pre-intervention and post-intervention evaluation of the outcomes. Convenient sampling and random allocation in to groups were used to select and assign the sample that comprised of 15 subjects in each groups out of total sample size of 30. Standardized tools such as VAS for evaluating the pain, modified Oswestry LBP disability questionnaire for evaluating disability trunk stabilization exercises to check improvement of endurance of trunk muscles were utilized. Trunk stabilization exercises with warm up, stretching and cool down were given to group A (experimental group). Hitting pads and back care advice was given in the form of a leaflet to the group B (control group). Results: The data were analysed with help of SPSS version 21. Paired t-test was done for intra group analysis and un-paired t-test for intergroup analysis. The results of the study suggested that there was significant difference between the difference in mean values of pain, disability and endurance between the group-A&amp;B. The findings also suggested that there was significant difference within group-A and group-B for pain, disability and endurance. Conclusion: This study concluded that on both groups, the significant reductions were seen in pain, disability and endurance of subjects after 8 weeks of intervention. However, there was more reduction in pain, disability and endurance in group-A (experimental group)

Referral Efficiency for Veterans with Osteoarthritis: A Quality Improvement Project.

Management of osteoarthritis, a common disease among veterans, includes referrals to orthopedic specialists. This requires an effective referral system. The aim of this study was to evaluate a quality improvement project addressing inefficiencies in the osteoarthritis referral process between primary care providers and orthopedic specialists. A pre- and post-intervention evaluation using medical record review and provider surveys was conducted to measure the process improvement of a primary care to orthopedic referral template. There was a 3.5% increase in the referral acceptance rate following the intervention. In addition, primary care providers perceived that role clarity and perception on making referrals had significantly improved. The largest perceived improved change among orthopedic specialists was in communication. A simple process change, such as improving the referral template, can help with communication, data transfer, and referral acceptance rates between primary care providers and orthopedic specialists. This in turn will benefit the large population of veterans needing orthopedic referrals for management of osteoarthritis.

Effectiveness of Rapid Response Team implementation in a tertiary hospital in Egypt: an interventional study

BackgroundRapid response teams (RRTs) help in the early recognition of deteriorating patients in hospital wards and provide the needed management at the bedside by a qualified team. RRT implementation is...

Indocyanine green fluorescence quantification during normothermic ex situ perfusion for the assessment of porcine liver grafts after circulatory death.

Current graft evaluation during normothermic ex situ liver perfusion lacks real-time parameters for predicting posttransplant hepatocyte and biliary function. Indocyanine green (ICG) imaging has been widely used in liver surgery, enabling the visualization of hepatic uptake and excretion through bile using near-infrared light. In this research, porcine livers under various ischemic conditions were examined during a 5-hour normothermic ex situ liver perfusion procedure, introducing ICG at 1 hour through the hepatic artery. These conditions included livers from heart-beating donors, donation after circulatory death (DCD) with warm ischemic durations of 60 minutes (DCD60) and 120 minutes (DCD120), as well as interventions utilizing tissue plasminogen activator in DCD120 cases (each n = 5). Distinct hepatic fluorescence patterns correlated with different degrees of ischemic injury ( p = 0.01). Low ICG uptake in the parenchyma (less than 40% of maximum intensity) was more prevalent in DCD120 (21.4%) compared to heart-beating donors (6.2%, p = 0.06) and DCD60 (3.0%, p = 0.02). Moreover, ICG clearance from 60 minutes to 240 minutes was significantly higher in heart-beating donors (69.3%) than in DCD60 (17.5%, p < 0.001) and DCD120 (32.1%, p = 0.01). Furthermore, thrombolytic intervention using tissue plasminogen activator in DCD120 resulted in noteworthy outcomes, including significantly reduced ALP levels ( p = 0.04) and improved ICG clearance ( p = 0.02) with a trend toward mitigating fibrin deposition similar to DCD60, as well as enhancements in bile production ( p = 0.09). In conclusion, ICG fluorescence imaging during normothermic ex situ liver perfusion provides real-time classification of hepatic vascular and biliary injuries, offering valuable insights for the more accurate selection and postintervention evaluation of marginal livers in transplantation.

Does virtual reality reduce anxiety and pain in patients undergoing third molar surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to systematically review the literature to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality in reducing anxiety and pain in patients undergoing third molar surgeries. Clinical trials evaluating patients who used virtual reality (VR) compared with no VR in the management of pain or anxiety after third molar extractions were included. A literature search was conducted in five electronic databases to identify relevant articles: Medline (PubMed interface), Web of Science, Virtual Health Library, Embase, and Scopus. There were no restrictions on the time or language of publication. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomised Trials (RoB 2.0). A total of six studies were included in the qualitative analysis and three in the quantitative analysis. The results of the meta-analyses on anxiety revealed that patients in the intervention group before VR already showed less anxiety compared to those in the control group (-0.28 [-0.44 to -0.13, 95%CI] I²=24.51%. In the post-intervention evaluation, the group that received VR remained with a lower level of anxiety and a slight reduction compared to the pre-intervention. (-0.34 [-0.49 to -0.19, 95%CI] I²=36.61%. Virtual reality can be a clinical resource in dental care because it seems to cause a small reduction in anxiety, and with still uncertain results in the reduction of postoperative pain in extractions of third molars.

Microdosing Plyometric Training Enhances Jumping Performance, Reactive Strength Index, and Acceleration among Youth Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Study Design.

Microdosing can facilitate better accommodation to the training stimulus while aligning with the scheduling needs of teams. In this study, the effectiveness of microdosing exposure was investigated by comparing the effects of microdosing plyometric jump training (microPJT) with those of regular plyometric jump training (regPJT) and a control group not exposed to plyometric training. The comparison focused on the effects on jumping performance, reactive strength index (RSI), and acceleration over a 10-meter distance. Fifty-two male youth soccer players (16.3 ± 0.6 years old) from under-17 teams participated in a randomized controlled study, with interventions lasting 8 weeks. Assessments were conducted twice, before and after the intervention, measuring squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), RSI during drop jumps, and acceleration in a 10-meter sprint test. The regPJT group completed 34 bilateral jumps and 48 unilateral jumps per week over two weekly sessions, totaling 82 jumps. Conversely, the microPJT group performed 17 bilateral jumps and 24 unilateral jumps weekly over 4 sessions week, totaling 41 jumps. Significant interactions between groups and time were observed concerning SJ (p < 0.001; η2= 0.282), CMJ (p < 0.001; η2= 0.368), RSI (p < 0.001; η2= 0.400) and 10-m sprint time (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.317). Between-group analysis indicated that both the microPJT (p < 0.001) and regPJT (p < 0.001) groups exhibited significant better results compared to the control group in post-intervention evaluation of SJ, CMJ, RSI and 10-m sprint time, while no significant differences were found between experimental groups (p > 0.050). In conclusion, this study has revealed that both microPJT and regPJT are equally effective in enhancing jumping performance and acceleration time in soccer players. This suggests that a smaller training volume, distributed more frequently across the week, can effectively induce improvements in soccer players.

Increasing positive attitudes towards organ donation and improving the competence of coping with death through organ transplant nursing course: A two-group quasi-experimental study

AimThe aim of the study was to determine the effect of an organ transplant nursing course offered to nursing students on increasing positive attitudes towards organ donation and developing competence in coping with death. BackgroundIncorporating organ donation education into undergraduate nursing curricula and promoting of coping mechanisms for coping with death, has been emphasized as a critical foundation for the preparating of the next generation of nurses. DesignTwo-groups pre- and post-intervention evaluation quasi-experimental design study. MethodsThis study was conducted between February and July 2023 with a total of 237 nursing students studying at two different universities, 116 of whom took the organ transplant course and 121 of whom did not take the course. Sociodemographic Characteristics Form, Coping with Death Scale-Short Form and Organ Donation Attitudes Scale were used for data collection. Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-Square, t-test, Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the data. ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference between the students who took organ transplant nursing courses and those who did not in terms of the mean scores of coping with death competence and positive and negative attitudes toward organ donation (p<0.05). It was found that taking an organ transplant nursing course affected nursing students' coping with death competence and their positive and negative attitudes toward organ donation (p <0.01). ConclusionTaking the organ transplant nursing course was associated with improved competence in coping with death a increased positive and decreased negative attitudes.

Outpatient treatment of children and adolescents using emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) caregiver workshops: A pre- to postintervention evaluation.

Outpatient treatment of children and adolescents using emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT) caregiver workshops: A pre- to postintervention evaluation.

A pre-post study of pharmacist-led medication reviews within a hospital-based residential aged care support service.

Hospital-based residential aged-care support service teams typically consist of doctors and nurses who provide hospital substitutive care to aged-care residents. There is limited literature evaluating the pharmacist's role in such aged-care support teams. To analyse the effect of residential aged-care support service pharmacist-led medication reviews on polypharmacy, drug burden index, potentially inappropriate medications, and potential prescribing omissions for aged-care residents. Residents referred to a residential aged-care support service pharmacist for medication review over a 12-month period were included. The pharmacist communicated medication-related problems and recommendations to the resident's general practitioner and residential aged-care support service medical practitioner. Residents' medication histories were obtained at baseline and one-month postintervention. The number of medications and their associated drug burden indices were compared using paired t-tests; potentially inappropriate medications and potential prescribing omissions were compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. Of 175 residents (mean age 84 years) referred for pharmacist-led medication review, 146 had postintervention evaluation after one-month (median 29 days). Mean number of medications reduced from 12.47 at baseline to 11.84 postintervention (mean difference (95% CI): 0.63(0.33-0.93), P < .001). Mean drug burden index score reduced from 1.54 at baseline to 1.37 postintervention (mean difference (95% CI): 0.17(0.10-0.24), P < .001). More residents experienced a decrease in inappropriate medications (median (IQR) pre: 2(1-3), post: 1(0-2), P < .001) and prescribing omissions (median (IQR) pre: 0(0-1), post: 0(0-0), P = .003) compared with those that had an increase. Medication reviews performed by pharmacists embedded in hospital-based residential aged-care support services may improve medication prescribing. Further research into such preventative health service models is required.

Improvement in community wound management: why simple changes in clinical practice matter

Background/Aims Wounds continue to be an increasing burden to society, healthcare systems and patients. Wound care is an urgent challenge that requires new management strategies to help facilitate wound healing. This study aimed to evaluate an early intervention wound project facilitated by the COMPASS programme in a Swedish community setting in terms of treatment outcomes and health economic benefits. Methods An evaluation of wound care practice was completed using data collected on all wounds treated in 1 week in March 2021 (n=97). Single-use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) was then introduced, alongside specialist education for all nurses. A post-intervention evaluation was carried out the following year with data on all wounds treated in 1 week in October 2022 (n=36). The samples were compared in terms of proportion of static and deteriorating wounds, wound characteristics, average number of dressing changes per wound and proportion of wounds requiring the patient to be admitted to hospital or referred to a specialist. Costs of care were calculated and compared for the two samples. Results Wounds in the post-intervention dataset were in a better overall condition (size and depth), with a lower proportion being classified as static or deteriorating (58.8% vs 44.4%). There was a non-significant difference in the average number of dressing changes required per week, with post-intervention wounds requiring fewer changes. A significantly lower proportion of patients required a referral to a specialist in the post-intervention sample compared to the pre-intervention sample (43.3% vs 16.7%; P&lt;0.01). Conclusions Implementing a sNPWT pathway, alongside nurse education and increased involvement of nurses with specialist knowledge, can help to improve wound care outcomes and reduce the burden of wounds on nursing time and healthcare resources.

Effects of family dignity interventions combined with standard palliative care on family adaptability, cohesion, and anticipatory grief in adult advanced cancer survivors and their family caregivers: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundFamily involvement and comfort are equally important in palliative care. Dignity undertook a new meaning and novel challenges as a result of restrictions on visits and companionship during the pandemic. Family-centered family dignity interventions have been shown to be effective in increasing patients’ sense of dignity, increasing levels of hope, and reducing psychological distress; however, the effectiveness in enhancing family adaptability and intimacy in the survivor-caregiver binary and reducing expected grief have been inconclusive. ObjectivesThe primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of family dignity interventions on family adaptability and cohesion. The secondary objective was to explore the effects of the interventions on anticipatory grief and psychological distress, and the lasting effect 1 month after the intervention. DesignA single-blinded, two-arm parallel group, randomized controlled trial was conducted in China. Settingsand methods: Ninety-eight dyads who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the family dignity intervention (n = 51) or standard palliative care group (n = 47) between June and August 2022. Study outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at the 1-month follow-up post-intervention evaluation. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and generalized estimation equations. The Intention-To-Treat analysis was performed for all available data. ResultsIn comparison to the control group, significant improvements in family adaptability and cohesion and anticipatory grief over post-intervention and 1-month follow-up were demonstrated among the patients in the intervention group. The intervention group of caregivers had significant improvement in anticipatory grief at post-intervention and 1-month follow-up. The level of psychological distress was significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (p < 0.05) at 1-month follow-up but the differences were not statistically significant at post-intervention. All outcomes showed clear differences from baseline after the intervention and at the 1-month follow-up evaluation but not between post-intervention and at the 1-month follow-up evaluation. ConclusionThis study further verifies the actual effect of family dignity intervention program through randomized controlled trials, and provides a reference for improving the family relationship between advanced cancer patients and their family caregivers, and improving their mental health. The addition of family dignity intervention to standard palliative care greatly increased the adaptability and cohesion between survivors and their families, lessened the anticipatory grief of the survivor-caregiver pair, and relieved caregivers’ anxiety and despair. We did not detect a statistically significant difference between post-intervention and the 1-month follow-up evaluation, suggesting that the intervention may have a durable impact at least 1 month.

A couple-based dyadic coping intervention for colorectal cancer patient-spousal caregiver dyads: A randomized controlled study

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical effects of a couple-focused dyadic coping intervention in colorectal cancer (CRC) couples. MethodsThe study was a single-blinded randomized controlled study which 226 CRC couples were recruited and randomized to either the intervention (N = 113) or the control (N = 113) group. All couples received usual care while the six-week dyadic coping intervention was provided to the intervened couples in psycho-education and skill training methods through face-to-face combined with telephone formats. Measurement data, including dyadic coping, marital satisfaction, quality of life and psychological well-being were collected at pre- and post-intervention periods. And multilevel model (MLM) was applied to analyze the effects of the intervention and the role tendency. ResultsA total of 173 couples completed the program and post-intervention evaluation. The retention rate was 76.5%. Results from MLM showed that the dyadic coping intervention is effective in promoting levels of dyadic coping (P < 0.001), marital satisfaction (P = 0.042), mental health (P = 0.006), and positive psychological well-being (P < 0.001), and alleviating depression (P = 0.015) in CRC couples. For role tendency, the intervention found to be more effective in CRC spousal caregivers’ positive psychological well-being compared to the patients (P = 0.037). ConclusionThe couple-based dyadic coping intervention is effective in promoting dyadic coping and improving psychological adjustment in CRC couples. More studies were needed to further evaluate the program and its long-term efficacy in the future. In addition, given the positive effects of the intervention, clinical nursing stuffs may consider implementing such intervention in their routine work while caring for CRC couples.

Pain Neuroscience Education in elective surgery patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BackgroundPain Neuroscience Education (PNE) consists of an educational strategy that seeks to understand the biological processes of pain and how to control it. The main objective of this study will...