Mei Chan Chong

Is Reflective Practice a Useful Task for Student Nurses

BACKGROUND Reflective practices have been advocated as a method to bridge the gap between nursing theory and practice, and as a tool to develop knowledge embedded in practice. AIM The aim of this study was to examine the perceptions of student nurses towards reflective practice in their clinical practice. METHODS A cross sectional descriptive survey was carried out to examine the perception of a cohort of 108 final year, pre-registration Diploma of Nursing students towards reflective practice. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; part A: perception of students towards reflective practice; and part B: issues reflected by students. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. All (n = 98) students completed the questionnaire. RESULTS The mean score of perception to reflective practice was 4.07. Students found reflective practice useful to them with a mean score of 3.82, despite the perceived barrier to good reflective practice with a mean of 3.60. The perception on the appropriateness of reflective practice as a tool to assess was 3.47. The validity of reflective practice as an assessment tool for practical examinations was not conclusive, as the mean score was only 3.47. CONCLUSION The results indicated that even though some students were skeptical with reflective practice, they found it useful. The College of Nursing should review the content of reflective practice and prepare nurse educators for their role in teaching this subject more effectively. [Asian Nursing Research 2009; 3(3):111-120].

Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Sleep Disturbance among Jordanian Mothers and Fathers of Infants Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Preliminary Study

Purpose To investigate the stressors and stress levels among Jordanian parents of infants in the NICU and their relationship to three factors: anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance. Design and Methods A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in two hospitals in Jordan among 310 parents of infants in the NICU by using PSS: NICU and PROMIS. Results Both parents experienced high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance. There was a significant difference in stress level between mothers and fathers [t (308) = 3.471, p = 0.001], with the mothers experiencing higher stress than the fathers [mean: mothers = 108.58; fathers = 101.68]. The highest and lowest sources of stress were infant behavior and appearance (M = 4.09) and sights and sounds in the NICU (M = 3.54), respectively. The correlation between stress levels with anxiety (r = 0.79) and depression (r = 0.75) was strong and positive while sleep disturbance was significant and moderate (r = 0.43). Conclusions The mothers experienced higher levels of stress compared to fathers, with positive correlations between stress and anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance. Practical Implications The findings of this study create nursing awareness of parent stress and its impact, which will help them to improve nursing care for parents. HighlightsInfant behavior and appearance were the largest sources of stress.Sights and sounds in the NICU were the lowest sources of stress.It is significant that mother experiencing higher stress than fathers.There is a positive correlation between stress with anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance.

Factors Associated With Medical and Nursing Students' Willingness to Donate Organs.

AbstractMalaysia suffers from a chronic shortage of human organs for transplantation. Medical and nursing students (MaNS) are future health professionals and thus their attitude toward organ donation is vital for driving national donation rates. This study investigates MaNS’ willingness to donate organs upon death and the factors influencing their willingness. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 500 students (264 medical and 236 nursing) at the University of Malaya. A self-administrated questionnaire was used. The responses were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Of all respondents, 278 (55.6%) were willing to donate organs upon death, while the remaining 222 (44.4%) were unwilling to donate. Only 44 (8.8%) had donor cards. The multiple logistic regression revealed that the minorities ethnic group was more willing to donate organs than Malay respondents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.98, P = 0.010). In addition, medical students were more willing to donate than nursing students (aOR = 2.53, P = 0.000). Respondents who have a family member with a donor card were more willing to donate than respondents who do not (aOR = 3.48, P = 0.006). MaNS who believed that their religion permits deceased donation were more willing to donate than their counterparts (aOR = 4.96, P = 0.000). Household income and sex were not significant predictors of MaNS’ willingness to donate organs upon death. MaNS have moderate willingness, but low commitment toward deceased organ donation. Strategies for improving MaNS’ attitude should better educate them on organ donation, targeting the most the Malay and nursing students, and should consider the influence of family attitude and religious permissibility on MaNS’ willingness.

Tai Chi with music improves quality of life among community-dwelling older persons with mild to moderate depressive symptoms: A cluster randomized controlled trial

&NA; Depression leads to a poorer quality of life (QOL) which is a determinant of healthy ageing. Cost‐effective solutions for enhancing QOL in the older population are much needed in China, with its rapidly ageing population. We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 112 community‐dwelling older participants with mild to moderate depression, to evaluate the effect of Tai Chi with music on QOL (57 in intervention group, 55 in control group). WHO Quality of Life‐BREF was used to measure QOL at baseline and at every month for three months. Following the adjustments for sociodemographic data, the effect of intervention on QOL was assured (F = 25.145, P < 0.001, &eegr;p2= 0.435, F = 18.696, P < 0.001, &eegr;p2= 0.364, F = 17.473, P< 0.001, &eegr;p2= 0.348, and F = 29.576, P < 0.001, &eegr;p2= 0.475 for physical, psychological, social, and environment domains respectively). This intervention represents an economically viable solution to better QOL and healthy ageing in a highly populous developing nation.

Assessing Nurses Knowledge of Glasgow Coma Scale in Emergency and Outpatient Department

Assessment of level of consciousness using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a tool requiring knowledge that is important in detecting early deterioration in a patients level of consciousness. Critical thinking used with the skill and knowledge in assessing the GCS is the foundation of all nursing practice. This study aims to explore the knowledge and competence in assessing the GCS among staff nurses working in the Emergency and Outpatient Departments. This is a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study design using the GCS Knowledge Questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used. Nurses in these Departments were asked to partake in the survey. Data collected was analyzed using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Descriptive and Pearsons chi square was used. Result showed that 55.56% of nurses had poor knowledge followed by 41.48% and 2.96% with satisfactory knowledge and good knowledge, respectively. The result on the association between knowledge and education level showed a significant association between the two variables (X 2 = 18.412, df = 3, n = 135, and p < 0.05). There was also a significant correlation between knowledge and age group (X 2 = 11.085, df = 2, n = 135, and p < 0.05). Overall, this study supports that good knowledge and skill are important in assessing GCS level.