Investigating the Effect of an Online Self-Care Training Program on Perceived Stress in COVID-19 Patients

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused many adverse effects, including increased stress in patients. The present study aimed to determine the effect of an online self-care training program on perceived stress in COVID-19 patients.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was fulfilled by recruiting 132 COVID-19 patients, referred to two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, from February 20 to August 22, 2021. These patients were selected using the convenience sampling method, and were then randomized into experimental (n=63) and control (n=63) groups. The online self-care training program was subsequently presented to the patients in the experimental group, during six sessions of 30 minutes for two weeks. E-learning and educational content introduced through lectures, multimedia, and instructional videos using web platforms. Then, daily follow-up sessions continued until one month after the intervention. The data were collected administering an individual characteristic form and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at three stages before, immediately, and one month after the intervention.Results: The mean scores of perceived stress before, immediately, and one month after the intervention in the experimental group were respectively 30.51±6.31, 24.59±4.66, and 26.57±3.82, and they were 29.78±4.81, 29.4±4.57, and 29.11±4.73 in that order in the control group. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between both groups at the pre-intervention stage (p=0.467), while the mean scores of perceived stress in the experimental group were lower compared with those in the control group immediately (p<0.001) and one month after the intervention (p=0.001). The mean scores of perceived stress in the experimental group before, immediately, and one month after the intervention had also changed in a significant manner (p<0.001), whereas there was no significant variation in the control group in this respect (p=0.298).Conclusions: The online self-care training program led to a reduction in perceived stress in COVID-19 patients. It is thus recommended to implement this cheap, safe, and efficient method to relieve perceived stress in such cases.

Letter to the Editor Concerning “Why is Palliative Care Training During the Portuguese Family Medicine Residency Program Not Mandatory?”

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Levels and Predictors of COVID-19-Related Anxiety in Older Adults

BACKGROUND: Prolonged quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak is a stressful factor. AIM: This study aims to analyze the psycho-emotional state of Jordan’s older population during the Covid-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study on 620 older adults (mean age, 66.4±5.3 years) was conducted in 2020 in Amman (Jordan). All respondents were asked to complete an online survey on coping strategies, a HUDS questionnaire, and a specially designed questionnaire. RESULTS: The dominant predictors of stress were uncertainty (62%) and a fear other family members getting ill (60%). Of all the respondents, 15% agreed with the necessity to prolong the quarantine period, 47% had a neutral attitude, and 38% exhibited a negative attitude. High levels of anxiety in older population were associated with the lower use of humor (H=11.498, p≤0.002). On the other hand, such respondents demonstrated the higher use of planning (H=6.227, p≤0.039), venting (H=11.087, p≤0.004), avoidance (H=7.457, p≤0.019), and active coping (H=6.043, p≤0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Most of Covid-19 cases are registered in healthcare institutions and for that reason, there is a need to provide psychiatric care to medical workers who do not have the necessary experience in this area. This may also require the state to promote psychiatric care training.

Effects of basic endoscopic handling and care training on gastrointestinal endoscopy logistics

Background and study aims The current practice of endoscopists is undergoing a dramatic revolution due to emerging endoscopy practices. Increasing use of gastrointestinal endoscopy has led to hospital budgets setting aside funds specifically related to damage to endoscopic instruments. Therefore, training in understanding endoscopic equipment, handling techniques, and equipment care can be helpful in addressing this issue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of educational courses and training about basic endoscopic handling and care in gastrointestinal endoscopic care and services. Methods A number of new endoscopists, nurses, and nurse assistants were enrolled in a course for training in basic endoscopic handling and care. Data on the type of damage, cause, cost, and timing of endoscopic repair were prospectively collected. Data from the post-training period then were compared with retrospective data from the pre-training period. Results This study demonstrated that after training, there was less damage to endoscopes, lower costs associated with it, and repair times were shorter for endoscopes than before the training course. Post-training results indicated savings of a total of $ 40,617.21 or £ 29,539.78 and 102.6 days per damaged endoscope. Conclusions Basic endoscopic handling and care training plays an important role for both endoscopists and nurses, as well as in endoscopy facilities, specifically in avoiding the nuisance of unwanted and broken endoscopes. This could be beneficial for both hospital finances and endoscopic services.

Predictor of purnawidya performance post training of wound care blended learning method in DKI Jakarta

The COVID-19 pandemic situation has hampered wound care services. Apart from contact restrictions, patient and family anxiety to visit hospitals and health workers having diabetic wound care skills are still inadequate. Only 1 unit of First Level Health Facility (FKTP) has succeeded in developing a diabetic wound care polyclinic; thus, the percentage of diabetic wound sufferers who receive standard services is only 1 percent. This study aims to determine predictors of graduate performance after wound care training with blended learning methods in Jakarta Province in 2021. Descriptive quantitative method using a cross-sectional approach and primary data were collected using structured questionnaire survey technique. The study was carried out from August to September 2021. The population was all 44 graduates of wound care training with the blended learning method. The result shows that the correlation value (r) between age and performance score was 0.43 with a P-value of 0.007. It means that there is a statistically significant relationship between age and the graduate performance score. There is also a significant relationship between motivation and performance scores, with the correlation value (r) between motivation scores and performance scores of 0.37, P-value of 0.020. The dominant factor that affects graduate performance is motivation, with a P-value of 0.02. The magnitude of the variation that affects the dependent variable is 0.129, meaning that the motivation variable can explain 12-13 percent of the variation in the graduate performance score.

Higher Frequency of Acute Occupational Therapy Services Is Associated With Reduced Hospital Readmissions

Importance: Hospital readmissions are associated with poor patient outcomes, including higher risk for mortality, nutritional concerns, deconditioning, and higher costs. Objective: To evaluate how acute occupational therapy service delivery factors affect readmission risk. Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective study. Setting: Single academic medical center. Participants: Medicare inpatients with a diagnosis included in the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP; N = 17,618). Data were collected from medical records at a large urban hospital in southeastern Wisconsin. Outcomes and Measures: Logistic regression models were estimated to examine the association between acute occupational therapy service delivery factors and odds of readmission. In addition, the types of acute occupational therapy services for readmitted versus not-readmitted patients were compared. Results: Patients had significantly higher odds of readmission if they received occupational therapy services while hospitalized (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.07, 1.31]). However, patshients who received acute occupational therapy services had significantly lower odds of readmission if they received a higher frequency (OR = 0.99, 95% CI [0.99,1.00]) of acute occupational therapy services. A significantly higher proportion of patients who were not readmitted, compared with patients who were readmitted, received activities of daily living (ADL) or self-care training (p &lt; .01). Conclusions and Relevance: For patients with HRRP-qualifying diagnoses who received acute occupational therapy services, higher frequency of acute occupational therapy services was linked with lower odds of readmission. Readmitted patients were less likely to have received ADL or self-care training while hospitalized. What This Article Adds: Identifying factors of acute occupational therapy services that reduce the odds of readmission for Medicare patients may help to improve patient outcomes and further define occupational therapy’s role in the U.S. quality-focused health care system.

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Bundle of Care Training of Nursing Officers Using Simulation and Its Impact on Their Knowledge and Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A quasi-experimental Study

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of simulation-based training (SBT) of a ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle of care on the knowledge and practice of nursing officers working in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and its impact on the incidence of VAP. This study was a single-center, pre- and postsimulation-based educational interventional tool conducted in a six-bed PICU located in Western Rajasthan, India. Thirty nursing officers working in the PICU participated in the study. Baseline knowledge and practice regarding VAP bundle of care were assessed using a questionnaire and practice checklist. It was followed by 1:1 SBT of the VAP bundle of care following which all participants were immediately reassessed and then again at 3 months postintervention. The incidence of VAP (events/1,000 ventilation days) was subsequently compared both at 6 months pre- and postintervention. Thirty nursing officers participated in the study of which 63% were male. Baseline knowledge and practice increased significantly immediately after the VAP bundle of care training and then again at 3 months in comparison to preintervention testing (baseline 20.27 ± 4.51, immediate postintervention 26.0 ± 3.67, 3 months postintervention 23.97 ± 4.69). The incidence of VAP showed a declining trend from 46.1 to 36.5/1,000 ventilation days; however, this finding was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). The simulation-based teaching program significantly enhanced nursing officers' knowledge and practice toward utilization of a preventive VAP bundle of care. There was decay in knowledge with time indicating that repetitive sessions are required at regular intervals to sustain this effect.