Self-care Ability Research Articles

Effects of green tea based oral health strategies on disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

AimIn this study, we aimed to evaluate oral health strategies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with periodontitis.MethodsWe enrolled 110 RA patients with periodontitis who were diagnosed in a Grade A tertiary hospital into an oral health strategies program. The control and test groups comprised 55 cases each. The management effect was evaluated by self-care ability, oral health-related quality of life, RA-related clinical indicators, and the DAS28 score. The control group received routine nursing, whereas the test group was in a self-health management program for 3 months.ResultsAfter the intervention, compared to the control group, the test group showed better self-care ability, oral health-related quality of life score, RA-related clinical indicators, and DAS28 score (P < 0.05).ConclusionOur oral health strategies program slowed down the progression of the disease and can be popularized in patients.

Patient preferences for metastatic prostate cancer treatment: a discrete choice experiment

BackgroundTo examine the preference weightings for risk/benefit attributes of therapy in metastatic prostate cancer(mPC) patients, encompassing hormone-sensitive(mHSPC) and castration-resistant(mCRPC) settings. Patients and MethodsA non-interventional cross-sectional survey employing a discrete choice experiment was conducted, recruiting 200 mHSPC and 100 mCRPC patients within 5 years of diagnosis from the urology and oncology specialty clinics between Feb 2023 and Jul 2023. Patients were randomized into 2 blocks of 9 questions, choosing 1 out of 2 medication profiles consisting five attributes, each with 3 levels, determined from a group interview of 5 patients. A mixed logit model estimated attribute-level preference weightings, with tradeoff points calculated. ResultsMedian age was 75(IQR:71-81), 170(56.7%) had no income, 245(81.7%) cared for themselves, mean maximum out-of-pocket treatment cost was US$20,456(SD:43,568), and 160(53.3%) claimed not to consider further treatment when cost exceeding their affordability. Patients favoured self-care ability(4.37,P<.001) and life expectancy extension(2.83,P<.001), disfavoured adverse effects (-6.97,P<.001) and treatment cost(in HK$million or USD$128,205)(-3.14,P<.001). mCPRC patients was more sensitive to treatment cost(-3.61vs-2.97), life expectancy extension(3.47vs2.55) and adverse effects(-7.55vs-6.80) compared to mHSPC patients. Higher financial affordability patients exhibited higher sensitivity to self-care ability(4.89vs4.02) and adverse effects(-7.57vs-6.70). ConclusionThe chance of adverse effects was pivotal in treatment decisions, followed by self-care ability, with cost remaining a major access barrier. Micro AbstractExamining the preference weightings for risk/benefit attributes of therapy in metastatic prostate cancer patients, we recruited 200 hormone-sensitive and 100 castration-resistant patients for a cross-sectional discrete choice experiment survey. A mixed logit model estimated attribute-level preference weightings, calculating tradeoff points. The chance of adverse effects and self-care ability were pivotal in treatment decisions, with cost remaining a major access barrier.

Analysis of the Status Quo and Influencing Factors of Advanced Lung Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life

Objective: To investigate the quality of life and related influencing factors of patients with advanced lung cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 51 patients with advanced lung cancer who were hospitalized in the Department of Oncology from January 2023 to December 2023, and the influencing factors of patients’ quality of life were analyzed. Results: Among the five functional scales (physical, role, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning) of the QLQ-C30 scale, the social and emotional function scores were the lowest, respectively 16.7 (IQR: 0, 33.3) points, and 16.7 (IQR: 8.3, 25), and among the three symptom scales (fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting), the fatigue symptom score was the highest: 77.7 (IQR: 66.7, 88.9) points. The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the anxiety score of patients with advanced lung cancer was positively correlated with depression score (P &lt; 0.01), while the quality of life of patients with advanced lung cancer was not correlated with anxiety and depression score (P &gt; 0.1). The self-care ability, the nature of the disease, and whether the patient was treated for chemotherapy were the independent influencing factors of the patient’s quality of life, and the difference was statistically significant (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with advanced lung cancer have different degrees of anxiety and depression, and their quality of life is affected by many factors, which are mainly related to the patient’s self-care ability, the nature of the disease, and whether they received chemotherapy.

Remote monitoring of patients with chronic heart failure class II-III (NYHA) using the mobile application 'M-cardio' in residents of Kyrgyzstan

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the impact of remote monitoring through the "M-cardio" mobile application on patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of NYHA class II-III, particularly those of ischemic etiology, residing in Kyrgyzstan. Methods A total of 244 patients with NYHA class II-III heart failure due to ischemic etiology were included in the study. During the inpatient phase, patients underwent training on self-monitoring and self-help strategies for heart failure. The intervention group received additional training on using the "M-cardio" mobile application. Patients were randomized into two groups: 1) intervention group with remote monitoring using the mobile application (n=127), and 2) control group under standard outpatient observation at their residence (n=117). The intervention group used the mobile application with a developed algorithm for clinical indicators, allowing real-time assessment of the patient's condition. The observation period extended for 12 months. Results The study evaluated changes in quality of life (MLHFQ), self-care ability (EHFSBS), and physical activity tolerance (6MWT). Initially, there were no significant differences between the groups. However, improvements in quality of life and self-care ability in the intervention group were evident at 6 months and persisted up to 12 months (44.8 ± 6.7 points and 56.5 ± 7.9 points, p &amp;lt; 0.01, in the intervention and control groups, respectively). Significant differences were also observed in physical activity tolerance after 12 months (6MWT) - 319 ± 79 meters in the intervention group and 233 ± 64 meters in the control group (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Moreover, there was a notable decrease in the proportion of patients discontinuing essential medications in the intervention group compared to the control group, particularly in ACE inhibitors/ARBs and beta-blockers. Conclusions The preliminary results indicate that the "M-cardio" mobile application for remote monitoring significantly improved the quality of life, self-care capabilities, and functional status of heart failure patients. The application demonstrated effectiveness in reducing recurrent hospitalizations and enhancing medication adherence, suggesting its potential for improving long-term outcomes and survival.

Research Status of Self-care Ability, Quality of Life, and Community Home Healthcare Needs of the Elderly with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

This paper reviews the self-care ability, quality of life, and needs of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in community-based home care. The study shows that the elderly's self-care ability is closely related to their quality of life, and good self-care ability can significantly reduce the incidence of complications and improve quality of life. Although community-based home care services are crucial for meeting the medical needs of the elderly, there are problems such as insufficient supply, poor information communication, and lack of economic support. By analyzing domestic and foreign studies, this paper proposes suggestions for optimizing community-based home medical services to better support the improvement of elderly diabetes patients' self-care ability and quality of life.

Effectiveness of the re-engineered discharge (RED) care model in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to investigate whether the re-engineered discharge (RED) model can significantly improve the quality of life, enhance the health status, and reduce the levels of depression and anxiety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis during hospitalization. This study selected 108 rheumatoid arthritis patients treated at our facility between February 2023 and February 2024. Based on the different treatment methods, these patients were divided into a control group and an observation group, with 54 patients in each group. During hospitalization, both groups received standardized routine care provided by the hospital. After discharge, the control group continued with regular follow-up visits, while the observation group received a more comprehensive and multidimensional extended care based on the RED model. The intervention period for both groups was set to 3 months. The core observation indicators of this study focused on the emotional fluctuations, symptom improvement, and changes in self-care ability of the patients before and after the intervention. After the intervention, the scores of the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale in both groups showed significant decreases, with the scores in the observation group being significantly lower than those in the control group, showing a highly significant statistical difference (P < .01). Additionally, the joint pain scores in both groups were alleviated, reflected by shorter morning stiffness times, reduced joint swelling, and increased grip strength. The observation group had lower joint pain scores, shorter morning stiffness times, fewer swollen joints, and stronger grip strength, all of which were statistically significant (P < .01). Furthermore, the distribution of self-care abilities in the observation group showed a significant difference compared to the control group (P < .05), with the observation group having a higher proportion of self-care abilities, which was also statistically significant (P < .05). For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the implementation of the RED model nursing strategy can significantly alleviate negative emotions, reduce the distress caused by symptoms, and markedly improve their quality of life, providing a more comfortable and reassuring treatment experience.

Easing caregiver strain: The power of health check-ups

Against the backdrop of global aging and escalating pressures on family caregiving, this study delves into the impact of health check-ups for the elderly on alleviating the objective burden of family caregiving by analyzing China's Free Health Check-up Program (FHCP). Using an unbalanced panel dataset spanning 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020, comprising approximately 35,000 observations of the elderly population aged 65 and above, the research employs the Difference-in-Differences method. The research reveals a significant 9.18% reduction in family caregiving time following the implementation of FHCP, primarily attributed to the enhancement of the elderly's self-care abilities and health awareness. This study elucidates, for the first time, the efficacy and mechanisms of health check-ups in alleviating caregiving objective burdens, providing evidence for the formulation of pertinent policies. It underscores the significance of routine health check-ups as a public health intervention in supporting family caregivers and addressing the challenges of aging.

The Effect of Heart Failure Symptom Clusters on Quality of Life: The Moderating Effect of Self-Care Behaviours.

Although heart failure (HF) symptoms affect patients' quality of life (QoL), improving patients' QoL requires certain self-care behaviours. However, the specific role of self-care behaviours in the relationship between HF symptoms and QoL has not been clarified. To evaluate the status of symptom clusters, self-care behaviours and QoL in HF patients, and to analyse and test the moderating effect of self-care behaviours between symptom clusters and QoL. This study is a cross-sectional study. A total of 320 HF patients who treated in thethree hospitals in Chengdu, China, from December 2022 to July 2023 were selected as the research subjects. The patients were evaluated using The General Information Questionnaire, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Heart Failure, Self-Care of Heart Failure Index and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. The statistical analysis methods were exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, hierarchical regression analysis and simple slope analysis. There were five symptom clusters in HF patients: emotional symptom cluster (sadness, anxiety, irritability, feeling nervous), digestive symptom cluster (lack of appetite, dry mouth, weight loss, nausea, abdominal distension), ischemic symptom cluster (dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, fatigue), dyspnoea symptom cluster (difficulty breathing when lying flat, waking up breathless at night, sleep difficulty) and congestion symptom cluster (cough, shortness of breath, oedema). There was a significant correlation between HF symptom group, self-care behaviours and QoL (p < 0.05). Both self-care maintenance (β = -0.262, p < 0.001) and self-care management (β = -0.258, p < 0.001) had a moderating effect between symptom clusters and QoL. There are a variety of symptom clusters in HF patients. Improving the self-care behaviours ability of HF patients is conducive to reducing the impact of HF symptom clusters on QoL. The study used the STROBE checklist for reporting. Medical staff should focus on the impact of HF symptom clusters and self-care behaviours on QoL, and formulate corresponding interventions for HF symptom clusters and self-care behaviours to improve the QoL of patients. The head nurse of the cardiovascular department actively assisted us in collecting questionnaires from HF patients, and all HF patients surveyed participated in this study seriously.

Effect of multidisciplinary team-style continuity of care and nutritional nursing on lung cancer: randomized study.

Aim: The clinical efficacy of systemic chemotherapy is limited due to the nonspecific delivery of anticancer drugs and is associated with serious systemic adverse effects. Therefore, integrated treatment and comprehensive care are particularly important for postoperative chemotherapy patients with lung cancer.Materials & methods: This study aimed to ascertain the application effect of multidisciplinary team (MDT)-style continuity of care combined with whole-process nutritional nursing in postoperative chemotherapy patients with lung cancer. Nutritional indices, immune function, adverse emotions, self-efficacy, self-care ability, quality of life and toxic reactions during chemotherapy were recorded in postoperative chemotherapy patients with lung cancer receiving routine care (control group) and MDT-style continuity of care combined with whole-process nutritional care (intervention group).Results: After care, the intervention group performed higher BMI, PA, TP and ALB, CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+, lower levels of CD8+, lower self-rating anxiety scale, self-rating depression scale and QLQ-C30 symptom domain scores and higher general self-efficacy scale, exercise of self-care agency scale and QLQ-C30 functional domain scores versus the control group (all p<0.05).Conclusion: MDT-style continuity of care combined with whole-process nutritional care can improve the nutritional status of postoperative chemotherapy patients with lung cancer, and in turn enhance their quality of life.

The Use of Diagnostic Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as a Predictor of the Functional Outcome in Ischemic Stroke

ABSTRACT. Determination of rehabilitation potential (RP) is necessary for optimal rehabilitation strategy and the best rehabilitation measures. Navigational transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) has been proposed as a method for PR determination in after-stroke patients.THE AIM. was to study the importance of navigational diagnostic transcranial magnetic stimulation as a neurofunctional predictor of motor function recovery after ischemic stroke.MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study included 28 after-stroke patients, 19 men and 9 women, the mean age was 60.07±5.67 years, who underwent a course of inpatient medical rehabilitation at the Moscow Research and Practice Center for Medical Rehabilitation, Restorative and Sports Medicine named after S.I. Spasokukotsky in 2022–2023. Clinical examination and assessment were conducted before and after the rehabilitation course using validated scales and questionnaires — the Medical Research Committee (MRCs) scale, the Box and Block Test (BBT), the modified Rankin scale (mRS); the rehabilitation routing scale (RRS). The patients were also examined using nTMS at the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine with the determination of motor evoked potential (MEP) parameters from the muscles of the upper and lower extremities.RESULTS. In patients with preserved MEP, there was a significant increase in the strength of the paretic limb on the MRCs scale from 4.00 (2.94–4.06) to 4.22 (3.83–4.89) points (p &lt;0.001) for the upper limb and from 4.00 (3.67–4.00) to 4.44 (3.83–4.61) (p&lt;0.001) for the lower limb. Improvements were revealed according to the mRS scale — the number of patients with an mRS score of 2 points in the group of patients with defined MEP increased by 26.1%, reached values of 1 point — 13.0% of patients, and the number of patients with an assessment of disability and self-care ability of 4 points decreased by 8.7%.CONCLUSION. Navigational transcranial magnetic stimulation is one of the methods for assessing the rehabilitation potential in patients with ischemic stroke. But TMS should not be used as the only method of evaluating rehabilitation potential. The assessment of RP should be comprehensive and based on the complex data obtained.

Designing and evaluating a mobile app to assist patients undergoing coronary angiography and assessing its impact on anxiety, stress levels, and self-care

BackgroundCoronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Coronary angiography is a diagnostic procedure used to detect atherosclerosis. Patients typically experience anxiety and stress before and during the angiography procedure. Furthermore, self-care ability is crucial following angiography.AimThis study aims to describe the design and evaluation of a mobile application focusing on stress, anxiety, and self-care abilities in patients undergoing coronary angiography.MethodThe researchers developed a mobile application for patients undergoing angiography. The application provides information about angiography and tips for enhancing self-care following the procedure. An interventional study was conducted on 70 patients admitted to the angiography ward in hospitals in Kerman, Iran, between 2022 and 2023. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: control and intervention. The interventional group received the intervention application the night before angiography. Two groups completed the Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DAS) and Kearney-Flescher Self-Care Survey before the intervention. The researchers used questionnaires that had been prepared and previously utilized in other studies. The two groups completed the anxiety and stress questionnaire within three to six hours and the self-care questionnaire one month after angiography. SPSS 15 software was used for data analysis, with a significance level set at 0.05.ResultsThe study found that the majority of participants were women. Before the study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of anxiety, stress, and self-care scores. However, after the study, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in average anxiety and stress scores (p < 0.001). Additionally, compared to the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement in average self-care score (p < 0.001).ConclusionAccording to this study, AP can be effective in influencing the anxiety, stress levels, and self-care ability of patients who undergo coronary angiography. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety while increasing self-care. Instructive software is user-friendly, cost-effective, and can be recommended by nurses and doctors.

Effect of intravenous thrombolysis with butylphthalide, edaravone and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on serum inflammatory factors in patients with ischemic stroke

Purpose: To study the impact of edaravone in combination with edaravone and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) intravenous thrombolysis on serum inflammatory factors in ischemic stroke subjects. Methods: Eighty ischemic stroke patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi’an, China were randomly assigned to study and control cohorts, each with 40 subjects. Patients in control cohort were administered edaravone and rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis. The study cohort received butylphthalide in combination with edaravone and rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis. Treatment effectiveness/efficacy, neurological function, self-care ability, inflammatory indicator levels, and blood cell levels were compared between the 2 cohorts. Results: Efficacy was significantly better in the study cohort than in the control cohort (p &lt; 0.05). After treatment, NIHSS score was significantly lower in the study cohort than in control cohort, while ADL score was significantly higher in the study cohort (p &lt; 0.05). After medication, CRP level was decreased significantly in both cohorts, but was significantly lower level in the study cohort (p &lt; 0.05). Treatment led to significant reductions in white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and NLR ratio in the study cohort, relative to the control cohort (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: The use of butylphthalide in combination with edaravone and rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis produces significant and beneficial effects on ischemic stroke subjects by regulating abnormal levels of inflammatory cells, improving coagulation status and decreasing inflammation. Moreover, it ameliorates neurological defects and improves activities of daily living. There is, however, a need to determine the mechanisms of action of this combination therapy and the influence of other cofounding factors on the activities of the combination therapy.

Improving diabetes self-management and control through individualized patient counseling: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases, affecting a large proportion of the global population. This study aims to evaluate the effects of individualized patient counseling on diabetes self-management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study utilized a non-randomized two-arm pre-post design. It was conducted at the out-patient clinics of a tertiary care hospital, Gujarat, from February 2023 to August 2023. There were 300 type 2 diabetes patients who belonged to an intervention group receiving 3 monthly 30-minute individualized counseling sessions (n = 150) or a control group continuing usual care (n = 150). Assessments at baseline and 3 months post-intervention compared treatment effects. The outcomes measured were diabetes knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, medication/lifestyle adherence, self-reported quality of life, blood pressure (BP), and HbA1c. The intervention covered medication and lifestyle guidance, self-monitoring skills, barrier identification, and problem-solving with a focus on patient empowerment. The analysis compared within- and between-group changes. RESULTS: At 3 months, counseled patients showed significantly greater improvements in knowledge (difference 13.6 points), self-care abilities (lifestyle adherence difference 6.6 points), 5.9 mmHg extra drop in systolic BP, and 0.6% higher HbA1c reduction versus controls (all P &lt; 0.05). Greater knowledge gain is strongly correlated with improved HbA1c (r = 0.42). Patients reported medication counseling as the most useful and cost and cultural dietary habits as key ongoing barriers. CONCLUSION: Individualized counseling promoted better self-management behaviors, improved clinical measures, and subjective well-being in diabetes patients versus usual care alone. Routine Counseling should be considered to complement medical management in high-risk chronic diseases.

Mediating effect of health literacy on social support and self-care ability in older patients undergoing percutaneous coronary stent implantation

Mediating effect of health literacy on social support and self-care ability in older patients undergoing percutaneous coronary stent implantation

Using a Mobile Application to Promote Patient Education for Patients With Liver Cirrhosis.

Patient education and self-management are essential for patients with liver cirrhosis. Based on Fisher and Fisher's Information-Motivation-Behavior Skills model, a Cirrhosis Care App was developed to support the education and self-management of these patients. To evaluate the effectiveness of the application, a randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients having liver cirrhosis who were being followed up in the outpatient area of ​​a medical center in Taiwan. The experimental group used the app for 1 month, whereas a control group continued to receive conventional patient education. A pretest and posttest questionnaire was used to evaluate the app's effectiveness in improving the knowledge and practice of self-care. In addition, a questionnaire was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model to understand satisfaction with the app. Results showed that following the implementation of the Cirrhosis Care App, patients' self-care knowledge and ability to promote self-care practice improved. User satisfaction with the app was measured and reflected in its frequency of use. This study confirmed that the Cirrhosis Care App, based on the Information-Motivation-Behavior Skills model, can improve patient knowledge and self-care practice and be actively promoted to benefit patients with cirrhosis.

'You're Just Thinking About Going Home': Exploring Person-Centred Medication Communication With Older Patients at Hospital Discharge.

The hospital discharge process poses significant safety risks for older patients due to complexities in communication and coordination among stakeholders, leading to potential drug-related problems post-discharge. Adopting a person-centred care (PCC) approach in medication communication by healthcare professionals (HCPs) is crucial to ensure positive health outcomes. This study aimed to explore the practice of PCC in medication communication between older patients and HCPs during the hospital discharge process. We conducted a qualitative study using non-participatory direct observations of patient-HCP consultations during hospital discharge, followed by semi-structured interviews with observed patients and, when applicable, their informal caregivers. Data collection occurred from October 2020 to May 2021 at two Swedish hospitals. We gathered data using an observational form and audio-recorded all consultations and interviews. The data were analysed thematically using the systematic text condensation method. Twenty patients were included (median age: 81 years [range: 65-94]; 9 female) in observations and 13 of them participated in interviews. Two patients were accompanied by an informal caregiver during the interviews. Three main themes were identified: (1) The impact of traditional authoritarian structures, depicts power dynamics between patients and their HCPs, showing how traditional structures influence the practice of PCC in medication communication during hospital discharge; (2) Consultation timing and mode not on patients' terms, describes suboptimal times and settings for consultations, along with the use of complex language that hinders effective communication; and (3) Discrepancy in expectations of self-care ability, illustrates a mismatch between the self-care guidance provided by HCPs during hospital discharge and the actual needs and preferences of patients and informal caregivers. Medication communication between older patients and HCPs during hospital discharge is frequently inconsistent with the practice of PCC. Not only must HCPs improve their communication strategies, but patients and their informal caregivers should also be better prepared for discharge communication and encouraged to participate in their care. This involvement would give them relevant knowledge and tailor communication to their individual needs, preventing problems in managing their medications after discharge. An advisory group of six patients and/or informal caregiver contributors provided input on the study design, edited the consent forms, and helped develop the interview guide.

Determining the Care Burden and Burnout Levels of Family Members Providing Care for Cancer Patients

Objectives: Caregivers’ care burden and burnout levels are projected to increase as the physical independence of their patients decreases. This study aimed to determine the care burden and burnout perception of caregivers of cancer patients. Methods: The study was conducted with 143 patient relatives who were providing primary care for patients treated between March 1 and June 1, 2017, in the clinics of the Institute of Oncology of Istanbul University. The data were collected using the “ Personal information form “, “Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale” and “Maslach Burnout Inventory”. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical program. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation) student t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. Results: The mean score from the burden interview was found 27.38±17.04. In the burnout inventory results, the mean of emotional exhaustion is 19.61±9.08, the mean of depersonalization is 8.78±5.38, and the mean of decrease in personal accomplishment is 29.66±5.91. Individuals’ perceptions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization increase as their perception of care burden increases (p&amp;lt;.001). There was, however, no relationship between care burden and personal accomplishment (p&amp;gt;.05). The study demonstrated that caregivers’ care burden and burnout perceptions increased as cancer patients’ self-care ability worsened (p=.001). Conclusion: It has been found that the perceived care burden level is low and burnout level is middle among the caregivers of cancer patients. The patients’ level of dependency increases perceptions of caregiver burden and burnout increases too.

Factors associated with postoperative discharge readiness and continuing care needs in patients with lung cancer undergoing fast-track surgery: A prospective cohort study.

To investigate and analyze the characteristics and factors associated with readiness for hospital discharge and continuing care needs of postoperative patients with lung cancer undergoing fast-track surgery (FTS). FTS aims to reduce the body's stress response to surgery and improve patient outcomes. The study included adult patients with confirmed lung cancer who underwent lung cancer surgery under FTS management and were discharged from the Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, between June 2020 and September 2020. Patients with severe illnesses, comorbidities, disturbance of consciousness, cognitive disorders, or communication impairments were excluded. One-hundred-and-eighty patients were included, and 167 (92.8%) indicated that they were discharge-ready. Multivariable regression analysis showed that age 60 years or older (β = 16.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.11-28.46, P = .009) and living alone (β = 37.07, 95% CI: 16.30-45.84, P < .001) were associated with the discharge readiness scores. In addition, those who were able to take care of themselves (β = 43.57, 95% CI: 19.60-67.54, P < .001) and needed little assistance at home (β = 28.39, 95% CI: 5.52-51.26, P = .015) had higher discharge readiness scores than those who needed a lot of assisted care. Patients who were cared for at home by children (β = 40.32, 95% CI: 4.91-75.73, P = .026), parents (β = 56.68, 95% CI: 12.33-101.03, P = .013), or spouses (β = 35.92, 95% CI: 2.45-69.38, P = .036), had higher discharge readiness scores than nursemaid. The discharge readiness scores of patients requiring continuing care were 146.5 ± 39.3, while patients who had no need scored 179.8 ± 36.5 (P < .01). Most patients with lung cancer undergoing FTS are discharge-ready. Discharge readiness is influenced by living conditions and self-care ability. This study identified factors influencing discharge readiness, and that could be used to identify patients who could benefit from help to improve discharge readiness.

Effect of pain nursing intervention on patients with craniocerebral trauma combined with ocular trauma after decompressive craniectomy.

To determine the impacts of pain nursing intervention of patients with craniocerebral trauma combined with ocular trauma after decompressive craniotomy. This was retrospective study. Eighty patients with craniocerebral trauma combined with ocular trauma who underwent unilateral decompressive craniectomy in Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from January 2023 to November 2023 were included and divided into the observation group(n=40) and the control group(n=40) according to different nursing methods. Patients in the control group received conventional nursing intervention, while those in the observation group received pain nursing intervention. The differences in sleep quality, self-care ability, quality of life, psychological state and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups. After intervention, the pain degree of both groups was significantly reduced compared with that before intervention, and the reduction degree of the observation group was more than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The SS-QOL scores of both groups were significantly improved compared with before intervention, and the improvement degree of the observation group was significantly better than that of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The nursing satisfaction score of the observation group was (93.35±3.83) points, which was higher than (83.38±3.59) points of the control group, with a statistically significant difference (t=12.019, P=0.000). Pain nursing intervention shows a variety of benefits in the treatment of patients with craniocerebral trauma combined with ocular trauma after decompressive craniectomy, improving their quality of life, self-care ability and nursing satisfaction.

Enhancing Elderly Well-Being: Exploring Interactions between Neighborhood-Built Environment and Outdoor Activities in Old Urban Area

China has the world’s largest and fastest-growing elderly population, primarily living in outdated urban residential communities. These aging populations face challenges in outdoor activities (OA) and quality of life (QoL) due to deteriorating neighborhood-built environments (NBE). While upgrading these environments is essential for urban renewal, the specific NBE factors affecting OA and QoL for the elderly are not well understood, creating a gap in existing research. This study addresses this gap by investigating how NBE elements influence the OA and QoL of elderly residents in these communities. This study investigates these interactions by conducting a comprehensive literature review, followed by a questionnaire survey, with data analyzed using factor analysis, correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The results reveal that supermarkets and subways significantly impact the physical health of older adults. Psychological health is primarily shaped by daily activities, social relationships, and self-care ability, with roads, hospitals, and bus stops further affecting daily activities. Social relationships are largely influenced by social activities, which are impacted by grocery markets, subways, and parks. Additionally, self-care ability is affected by leisure and daily activities, as well as the accessibility of supermarkets, grocery markets, subways, and buses. These findings offer valuable insights for government-led initiatives aimed at implementing age-friendly retrofitting of NBEs, ultimately enhancing the OA and QoL of the elderly population.