Elise L. Lev

A measure of self-care self-efficacy

Strategies Used by People to Promote Health (SUPPH), a 29-item self-report, is a measure of self-care self-efficacy. Items for the SUPPH were empirically generated, validated by an expert panel, and tested (N = 275) for psychometric properties, factor composition, and convergent and discriminant evidence with existing scales. Good initial psychometric properties were found for the SUPPH and four factors emerged: coping, stress reduction, making decisions, and enjoying life. These factors are consistent with the underlying self-efficacy theory upon which the scale is based.

The effects of home nursing care for patients during terminal illness on the bereaved's psychological distress

BACKGROUND Although some studies have examined the effects of terminal illness care models such as hospice care on survivor outcomes, no studies could be found that examined whether nursing care affected such outcomes. OBJECTIVE To determine whether specialized oncology home care services provided to terminally ill patients with lung cancer positively influenced bereavement psychological distress among survivors, compared with other models of care. METHODS A secondary analysis was performed to test the effects of home nursing care for terminally ill patients on spousal psychological distress during bereavement. Forty-six patient-spousal dyads were randomly assigned to either an oncology home care group (OHC), a standard home care group, or an office care control group. Patient-spousal dyads were entered into the study 2 months after the patients diagnosis of lung cancer and received follow-up until the patient died. Bereaved spouses continued to receive follow-up for 25 months after the patients death. RESULTS Psychological distress was significantly lower initially among spouses of patients that received the OHC intervention compared with the other two groups. Significant mean group differences were found on the subscales of depression and paranoid ideation; marginal group differences were found on the subscales of hostility and psychoticism. There were no significant differences among the groups at 25 months. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the bereaveds psychological distress can be positively influenced depending on how their loved one is cared for during the terminal phase of illness.

Key components of an effective mentoring relationship: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND Despite the recognized importance of mentoring, little is known about specific mentoring behaviors that result in positive outcomes. OBJECTIVE To identify key components of an effective mentoring relationship identified by protégés-mentor dyads in an academic setting. METHODS In this qualitative study, purposive sampling resulted in geographic diversity and representation of a range of academic disciplines. Participants were from 12 universities in three regions of the U.S. (South, n=5; Northeast, n=4; Midwest, n=2) and Puerto Rico (n=1). Academic disciplines included natural sciences (51%), nursing/health sciences (31%), engineering (8%), and technology (1%). Twelve workshops using the Technology of Participation method were held with 117 mentor-protégé dyads. Consensus was reached regarding the key components of an effective mentoring relationship. RESULTS Conventional content analysis, in which coding categories were informed by the literature and derived directly from the data, was employed. Eight themes described key components of an effective mentoring relationship: (1) open communication and accessibility; (2) goals and challenges; (3) passion and inspiration; (4) caring personal relationship; (5) mutual respect and trust; (6) exchange of knowledge; (7) independence and collaboration; and (8) role modeling. Described within each theme are specific mentor-protégé behaviors and interactions, identified needs of both protégé and mentor in the relationship, and desirable personal qualities of mentor and protégé. CONCLUSIONS Findings can inform a dialog between existing nurse mentor-protégé dyads as well as student nurses and faculty members considering a mentoring relationship. Nurse educators can evaluate and modify their mentoring behaviors as needed, thereby strengthening the mentor-protégé relationship to ensure positive outcomes of the learning process.

A shortened version of an instrument measuring bereavement.

The purpose of the study was to develop a tool to measure the grief experience. The Grief Experience Inventory (GEI) [Sanders et al., A Manual for the Grief Experience Inventory. C. M. Sanders, Charlotte, NC (1979)] was revised according to the Parkes [Bereavement: Studies of Grief in Adult Life. International Universities Press, New York (1972)] framework. Four hundred and eighteen subjects who had been primary care givers for significant others prior to the loss of the person through death completed Revised Grief Experience (RGEI) questionnaires. The internal consistency reliability (coefficient alpha) for the RGEI was 0.93. A principal components factor rotation was performed yielding a four factor solution consistent with the theoretical structure (Parkes, 1972). Results demonstrated that the RGEI is a concise, valid, and reliable measure sensitive to the grief experience.

Prospective study of quality of life of patients receiving treatment for prostate cancer.

Background: No research was found that compared quality of life (QOL) outcomes of prostate cancer patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapies with prostate cancer patients receiving radical prostatectomy. Objectives: To (a) describe differences in QOL before and after three types of treatment for prostate cancer: radical prostatectomy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy + seed implantation (permanent brachytherapy), or intensity-modulated radiation therapy + high dose rate radiotherapy (temporary brachytherapy); and (b) investigate demographic, physical, and psychosocial variables that impact QOL of men with prostate cancer. Methods: Data were collected on three occasions: baseline (prior to treatment), 1 month, and 3 months after beginning treatment. Measures included biographic data, physiological, and psychological measures. Analysis of variance and hierarchical regression were used to examine patterns, describe differences, and identify predictors of QOL in the three treatment groups. QOL was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct that included physical, psychological, social, and functional well-being and prostate cancer concerns. Results: Groups differed significantly in bowel and urinary symptom scores and prostate cancer concerns at baseline, and in urinary and depressive symptoms at 3 months. There were no significant group differences at 1 month. Discussion: Significant differences were found in QOL as measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Prostate after treatment with radical prostatectomy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy + seed implantation, or intensity-modulated radiation therapy + high dose rate radiotherapy. Findings may provide healthcare providers with knowledge about treatment sequelae for prostate cancer, enable healthcare providers to educate patients about QOL outcomes of treatment for prostate cancer, and enable patients to make more informed treatment decisions.

Testing measurement invariance of the Chinese version of the Strategies Used by Patients to Promote Health among patients with cancer.

Background and Purpose: The Chinese version of the Strategies Used by Patients to Promote Health (C-SUPPH) is a self-report instrument used to measure self-efficacy among patients with cancer. The purpose of this article is to examine measurement invariance of C-SUPPH using data of 764 cancer patients recruited in China. Methods: Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models were applied across the selected sociodemographic groups of gender, age, education, and monthly income levels. Results: The factorial structure and factor loadings (relationships between items and their underlying factors) of C-SUPPH were invariant across all sociodemographic groups. Conclusions: The findings showed that the C-SUPPH measures the same latent constructs/factors in the same way when administered to different sociodemographic groups and thus can be readily applied to studying self-efficacy of cancer patients in China.

Development and testing of the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory-Short Form.

Background and Purpose: The National Academy of Sciences stressed the need for a doctorally prepared workforce and earlier entry into doctoral study in nursing and the behavioral, social, and basic sciences. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) suggests that self-efficacy for career related skills informs career choices. Thus, increasing clinical research self-efficacy early in students’ studies could increase their choice of a research career. To test interventions, a psychometrically sound measure of clinical research self-efficacy is needed. Methods: We examined the psychometrics of the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory-Short Form (CRAI-SF) in undergraduate and first-year graduate students (N = 268). This scale is a modification of the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory, which measures physician–scientists’ clinical research self-efficacy. Results: Content validity was supported by external review. Factor analysis revealed six factors explaining 75% of scale variance. Internal consistency of subscales and total scale ranged from .84 to .98. Differences in scores by gender (p = .016) and discipline of study (p = .000) supported construct validity. Conclusions: The CRAI-SF is a useful measure of undergraduate and first-year graduate students’ perceived clinical research self-efficacy.