Besher Gharaibeh

The relationships among depression, self-care agency, self-efficacy and diabetes self-care management:

At the time the study was conducted, Besher Gharaibeh, Byron Gajewski, and Diane Boyle were affiliated with School of Nursing University of Kansas, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; Ahmed Al-smadi was affiliated with University of Ulster, Belfast, Newtownabbey Co. Antrim BT37 0QB, Jordandtown road, UK. The coexistence of diabetes and depression is associated with negative outcomes such as poor diabetes self-care management (DSCM). Complex relationships exist among diabetes knowledge, self-efficacy, self-care agency, depression and DSCM. No study has examined the relationships among all these factors at the same time. We aimed to examine relationships among depression, diabetes knowledge, self-care agency, self-efficacy and DSCM in insulin- treated people based on a modification of the DSCM model. A cross-sectional, correlational model testing design was used. Participants with type 1 (n = 35) and type 2 (n = 43) diabetes were recruited from both outpatient and community sites. Participants mean age was 46.6 years (standard deviation 13.7) and the majority were men (56.4%). Multiple regression analyses tested the hypothesised relationships. Depression was found to have a direct negative relationship with self-care agency and self-efficacy. The relationship between depression and DSCM was not direct. Self-care agency and self-efficacy completely mediated the effect of depression on DSCM. Self-efficacy completely mediated the effect of self-care agency on DSCM. We conclude that effective treatment programmes for persons managed with insulin should probably include not only screening and treatment of depression, but also skills training to enhance patient self-care agency and self-efficacy alongside DSCM.

Psychometric properties and characteristics of the Diabetes Self Management Scale

Objective Assessing diabetes self care management is essential for nursing care for diabetes. There is a need to have valid and reliable scales that assess the actual performance of diabetes self management. The purpose of this study was to revise and conduct psychometric testing and analysis of the Diabetes Self Management Scale (DSMS). Methods A cross-sectional methodological design was used. A convenience sample was used and 78 adults with diabetes and taking insulin from five sites in the Midwest area of the U.S participated in the study. Reliability analysis was done using Ferketich techniques to make decisions about whether any given item should be retained or deleted. Results A descriptive analysis for the 60 items of the scale was conducted; several items had low variability compared to the other items on the scale. The correlation matrices showed that a total of 20 items had poor item characteristics. These 20 items were deleted resulting in developing 40- item version of the scale. The 40 - item scale had high level of internal consistency (Cronbachs α = 0.947). The validity testing of the 40 - item scale was guided by the Research Model for Diabetes Self Care Management; results were congruent with the model and showed strong correlation with self efficacy, moderate correlation with self care agency, and weak correlation with diabetes knowledge. Conclusion The items and the scale (DSMS) have undergone careful psychometric testing. The 40-item DSMS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure diabetes self care management among people with diabetes.

Beliefs and Practices of Patients with Diabetes toward the Use of Herbal Therapy

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of using herbal therapy and the beliefs toward the use of this type of therapy among patients with diabetes. It also aimed to identify the significant predictors of these beliefs and the factors that increase the likelihood of using herbal therapy. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample comprised 310 patients with diabetes. Sixty-seven (21.6%) of the participants used herbal therapy. The mean beliefs score was 3.72 and ranged from (0–12). Linear regression showed that beliefs were significantly predicted by self-care, attending workshops, education level, and number of complications. The logistic regression showed that the lower the self-care and the higher the beliefs, the more likelihood the patient uses herbal therapy. Informing patient through individualized diabetes education influences the patients beliefs and promotes self-care. This education program should target mainly those patients with low self-care, high number of complications, lower educational level and having more complications.

Prevalence of depression and its associated factors in patients post-coronary artery bypass graft surgery:

This research aimed to determine the depression level and its correlation experienced by post-coronary artery bypass graft patients after being discharged from cardiac intensive care units. A cross-sectional design was employed for assessing variables. The Self-rating Depression Scale, as proposed by Zung, was used by the researchers on a convenience sample of Jordanian patients (N = 143) who were approached soon after their discharge from the targeted units. The results suggested that the level of depression among Jordanian patients was relatively high (M = 62.7, SD = 5.6). Moreover, depression was significantly higher among female, unmarried and unemployed patients. Patients who received their information about coronary artery bypass graft surgery from nurses had a lower level of depression. Age, length of stay in the cardiac intensive care unit and hospital type significantly predicted the level of depression. The research concluded that the post-coronary artery bypass graft patients who experienced an early onset depression required more attention to highlight the importance of supportive interventions.

Diabetes self-care management practices among insulin-taking patients

Background Diabetes self-care management (DSCM) is complex because various factors and relationships influence its processes. Aims This study aimed to identify the level of DSCM, compare the levels of self care between patients with type 1 and patients with type 2 diabetes, and identify significant predictors of self-care among Jordanian patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who were taking insulin. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed using a convenience sample of 310 Jordanian patients. The Arabic translated version of the 40-item Diabetes Self-Management Scale was used to collect data. Results The type of diabetes (t(310) = 4.81; p < .001) and the type of medications (insulin, or insulin and tablets) (t(310) = 4.75; p < .001) significantly affected the level of self-care. Age (t(296) = − 3.41; p = 0.001), gender (t(296) = −4.78; p < 0.001) training in self-care (t(296) = 4.30; p < .001), educational level (t(296) = 2.81, P = .005) and using traditional treatment (herbal therapy) (t(296) = −4.64, p < .001) significantly predicted self-care and explained around 58% of the variance in self-care. Conclusions Various factors were found to influence self-care. Further research is needed to explore the complex nature of DSCM.

Attitudes and perception of baccalaureate nursing students toward educational simulation

Abstract Background: Simulation can produce highly qualified professionals, however, it can also be perceived as stressful and frustrating by the nursing students. Purposes: This study was to identify the attitudes and perceptions of Jordanian nursing students toward simulation as an educational strategy, to investigate whether certain students’ characteristics affect their attitudes and perceptions, to assess for differences in the attitudes and perceptions toward simulation between the different year levels of students, and to identify the important predictors of students’ attitudes and perceptions toward educational simulation. Method: A descriptive correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 413 Jordanian nursing students. The Arabic translated version of KidSIM ATTITUDES scale was used. Results: The total attitude score was encouraging with significant differences between first, second and third year students. Post hoc analyses showed the lowest attitude mean score occurring in the second year nursing students. Using linear regression analysis, prior experience in an ICU or CCU was the only significant predictor of the student’s attitudes and perceptions toward simulation. Conclusions and implication for practice: Reinforcing the teamwork approach during the students’ early phases of their course of study, and incorporating simulation into later phases can promote knowledge development, skill acquisition, and self-confidence.