Association of dietary inflammatory potential (DIP) and endothelial function biomarkers among females

Purpose Dietary inflammatory potential (DIP) is a novel dietary index designed to evaluate individuals’ diets with considering inflammation and anti-inflammation score. In addition, adhesion molecules including soluble intracellular adhesion molecules-1 (sICAM-1), soluble cellular adhesion molecules-1 (sVCAM-1) and E-selectin are important biomarkers to assess endothelium dysfunction which are related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Also, there is no study for assessing the association between adhesion molecules and DIP until now as well as other studies that assessed the relationship between dietary inflammatory index or DIP has controversy. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine the correlation between DIP and endothelial markers such as E-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 among female nurses from Isfahan. In this study, DIP was used instead of DII. Design/methodology/approach This study was performed on 420 healthy nurses. The nurses were selected by random cluster sampling method from private and public Isfahan hospitals. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was applied to assess the DIP. A fasting blood sample was collected for measuring the plasma levels of the endothelial markers and other variables. Findings After adjusting different potential confounders, no statistical association was found between DIP and sICAM-1, E–selectin and sVCAM-1 in Model I (P = 0.57, 0.98 and 0.45), Model II (P = 0.57, 0.98 and 0.45) and Model III (P = 0.67, 0.92 and 0.50) in comparison to the crude group (P = 0.35, 0.83 and 0.49, respectively). Originality/value The results revealed that the plasma levels of endothelial markers including E-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were not significantly associated with DIP in female nurses.

Burnout, Depression and Sense of Coherence in Nurses during the Pandemic Crisis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk to nurses’ mental health has increased rapidly. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and burnout and to evaluate their possible association with the sense of coherence in nursing staff during the pandemic crisis. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory questionnaire, Beck’s Depression Inventory, and the Sense of Coherence questionnaire were completed by 101 male and 559 female nurses. Individual and demographic data were recorded. Regarding depression, 25.5% of respondents exhibited mild depression, 13.5% moderate depression and 7.6% severe depression. In the burnout scale, 47.1% had a pathological value. Female nurses had higher burnout (t test p < 0.01, 49.03 vs. 38.74) and depression (t test p < 0.01, 11.29 vs. 6.93) scores compared to men and lower levels in the sense of coherence (p < 0.05, 59.45 vs. 65.13). Regression evidenced that 43.7% of the variation in the BDI rating was explained by the CBI, while an additional 8.3% was explained by the sense of coherence. Mediation analysis indicated a partial mediation of burnout in the correlation between sense of coherence and depression. The sense of coherence acted as a negative regulator between burnout and depression.

Demographic Factors and Job Characteristics Associated With Burnout in Chinese Female Nurses During Controlled COVID-19 Period: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: To investigate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among Chinese female nurses during the controlled coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period and explore its associated socio-demographic factors and job characteristics.Methods: With the multistage, stratified sampling method, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted from September to October 2020 in China. The survey tool included revised Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) with 15 items, socio-demographic and job characteristics. Univariate logistic regression analysis and multivariate factor logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for burnout of female nurses.Results: During controlled COVID-19 period in China, the overall prevalence of burnout symptoms among Chinese female nurses was 60.2% with a breakdown in severity as follows: 451 (39.8 %) mild, 163 (14.4%) moderate, and 68 (6.0%) severe burnout. Little variance was reported for burnout symptoms according to job tenure (Waldχ2 = 14.828, P &lt; 0.05,odds ratio [OR] &lt;1), monthly salary income (Waldχ2 = 12.460, P &lt; 0.05, OR &lt;1), and night shift (Waldχ2 = 3.821, P &lt; 0.05, OR &gt; 1).Conclusion: Burnout symptoms among Chinese female nurses were prevalent and associated with job tenure, monthly salary income, and night shift. Female nurses who were with shorter job tenure, worked at night shifts, and had lower monthly salaries tended to exhibit increasing high-level burnout than their counterparts. This study serves as an implication for administrators and policy-makers to improve the work conditions of nurses for promoting overall healthcare service quality.

COMPARISON OF PROGRESSIVE MUSCULAR RELAXATION (PMR) AND MUSIC THERAPY (MT) IN REDUCING THE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND STRESS SYMPTOMS AMONG NURSES

Objective: To compare the progressive muscular relaxation and music therapy in reducing the anxiety, depression and stress symptoms among nurses. Study Design: Quasi-experimental Study. Place and Duration of Study: Various hospitals in Rawalpindi, from Mar 2018 to Mar 2019. Methodology: Sample of study was 20 female nurses. They were assessed by using depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS21), Urdu version. Study participants were randomized into two groups, group 1= who received the music therapy (n=10); group 2=who receive progressive muscular relaxation (n=10). Both the groups were provided with 4 sessions of both interventions for one month. After completion of intervention, post assessment was carried immediately and analysis was carried out. Results: Mean age of nurses was 31 ± 7.42 years (range from 19-45 years). Significant difference was found which showed that progressive muscular relaxation was more effective in reducing the symptoms of depression and stress as compared to music therapy. Whereas, no significant difference (p>0.05) was found on anxiety (both the treatments equally reduced the anxiety). Conclusion: Progressive muscular relaxation was found to be more effective in reducing stress and depression in nurses than music therapy. The use of such techniques can serve as an additional therapy in the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression and can be used to reduce the need for pharmacological therapy.

Role of Emotion Regulation as a Buffer against Workplace Stress among Nurses during COVID-19

The present study examined the relationship between workplace stress and job satisfaction among nurses along with exploring the moderating role of emotional regulation during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 120 (n=60 male, n=60 female) nurses were approached from different public and private hospitals of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The Workplace Stress Scale, The Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form, and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were used to assess workplace stress, job satisfaction, and emotion regulation abilities among nurses. Pearson product-moment correlation and Linear regression analysis were carried out to measure the relationship of workplace stress with job satisfaction and the moderating effect of emotion regulation, respectively. Findings of the study revealed that workplace stress is negatively associated with job satisfaction among nurses. Moreover, moderation analysis indicated that cognitive reappraisal significantly moderated the relationship between workplace stress and job satisfaction. Other key findings of the study indicated that female nurses were higher on workplace stress and used cognitive reappraisal as compared to male nurses who used expressive suppression. Moreover, married nurses were higher on workplace stress as compared to unmarried nurses. Public sector nurses were higher on job satisfaction. The findings of the study suggest that there is a strong need to reduce workplace stress by developing healthy emotion regulation strategies to increase the level of job satisfaction among nurses, especially during this pandemic environment.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cervical cancer and screening among female nurses at Chunya District Hospital, Tanzania

Background: Cervical cancer is a preventable and is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. About 83% of the world′s new cases and 85% of all cervical cancer-related deaths occur in developing countries. However, lack of knowledge and awareness can result in underutilization of the preventive strategies. Healthcare professionals with adequate knowledge play a greater role in educating the general public on the belief and practices of the cancer of cervix. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cervical cancer and screening amongst female nurses at Chunya District Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study on female nurses at Chunya District Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania. Data were collected using a predesigned and self –administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included specific sections to test the participant′s knowledge, attitude, and practices related to cervical cancer and screening. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Results: Data from 138 participants were included in the final analysis. The age of the participants was between 20-59 years. The majority of participants had good level knowledge of cervical cancer (in terms of risk factors, signs and symptoms, ways of prevention and ways of screening). All 138 (100.0%) participants knew that Pap smear test is a useful test for detection of cervical cancer and 127 (92.0%) had undergone Pap smear testing. Conclusion: Our study population showed good knowledge of cervical cancer as a disease. The participants had a good knowledge of Pap smear testing and the majority had undergone testing themselves. This study highlights the need for formal educational programs to public to improve knowledge regarding the risk factors and early signs and symptoms of cervical cancer.

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF SHIFT WORK DISORDER QUESTIONNAIRE AMONG INDONESIAN FEMALE NURSES

Nurses on shift work experience several symptoms such as excessive sleep, insomnia, feeling tired and fatigue. This situation could be inimical to health, and lead to the conditions known as shift work disorder (SWD). A tool is needed to measure shift work disorder among shift work nurses. It can be used to understand the ailment, and support strategies to prevent it. The aim of this study was to adapt SWD questionnaire for use in Bahasa. The study was a cross-sectional study among 201 female nurses who worked on shift duties at public hospital from March to April 2020. The questionnaires were self-administered via an online platform. SWD questionnaire was measured using three questions from previous study. It was used to measure sleep disorder related to work schedule. Permission to use this questionnaire was granted by original author. The process of translation and adaptation SWD questionnaire based on WHO studies. Cronbach alpha was used to measure internal consistency reliability. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using principal axis factor to examine construct validity. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the structural model fit of SWD. The cronbach alpha for SWD questionnaire was 0.834, which indicated adequate reliability. All of the items in SWD questionnaire had factor loading greater than 0.32, and the CR and AVE of SWD questionnaire were 0.951 and 0.751, which indicated good convergent validity. This study validates the psychometric properties of SWD questionnaire among Indonesia Female Nurses, including translation, validity, and reliability.

The Mobile Woman: Getting Around during the 1630 Plague in Bologna

Legal proclamations show that during the 1630 plague outbreak in Bologna, Italy, women were required to remain quarantined in their homes for the duration of the epidemic while men remained mobile. However, primary texts and visual sources demonstrate that despite these legal restrictions, women remained active players in the fight against the plague by circumventing regulations. Significantly, women played a key role in sustaining the Bolognese economy, in particular by travelling to work in the silk industry. Moreover, while male doctors enjoyed special dispensations to avoid visiting the sick directly, female nurses left their homes to care for the daily needs of patients in the lazzaretto, the plague hospital. Artworks and primary texts depict a mobile woman. They show women from the poorest of backgrounds who were compelled to move through the city’s public spaces, remaining active in the street life of the plagued city. For instance, along with unlicensed women healers and nuns, prostitutes commonly volunteered for service in the plague hospitals. This required a brief shift in the social status of these women as they moved from their brothels to the pestilent walls of the lazzaretto. This paper will address the contribution that these resilient women made to maintaining the family economy and the significant positions women held in administering care, which have been overlooked in the scholarship. It will argue that by performing these essential activities, Bolognese women enjoyed an increase in physical but also social mobility, albeit short-lived.