METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using CINAHL, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus databases to retrieve articles published from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2017. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies comparing different strategies in managing overweight and obesity among schoolchildren (6 to 12 years of age) were included. The main outcomes of interest were reductions in weight related variables included anthropometry and body composition measurements. All variables were analysed using random effects meta-analyses.
RESULTS: Fourteen studies were reviewed, 13 were RCTs and one was a quasi-experimental study. The risk of bias for randomisation was low risk for all of RCTs except for one, which was unclear. The risk of bias for randomisation was high for the quasi-experimental study. Most interventions incorporated lifestyle changes and behavioural strategies such as coping and problem solving skills with family involvement. The meta-analyses did not show significant effects of the intervention in reducing weight related outcomes when compared with controls.
CONCLUSION: Meta-analyses of the selected studies did not show significant effects of the interventions on weight related outcomes among overweight and obese schoolchildren when compared with controls. The role of interdisciplinary team approaches with family involvement using behaviour and lifestyle strategies to curb obesity among schoolchildren is important.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at the Kubang Kerian Nursing College, Kelantan which involved 346 respondents using simple random sampling method. The inclusion criteria were year one, two and three of nursing students who have clinical posting and voluntarily joining the study. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Brief COPE inventory were utilised in the data collection. Higher mean score indicates higher degree of stress.
Results: Clinical assignments and workload were the main stressor (mean = 3.19, SD = 1.09). Religion approach was the most coping strategy applied (mean = 3.30, SD = 0.71). Pearson's correlation coefficient test found that six domains of stressors during clinical practices (taking care of patients; clinical educators/instructors and ward staff; clinical assignments and workload; peers and nursing students from other college; lack of professional knowledge and skills and clinical environment) were statistically significant correlation with coping strategies, where P-value < 0.05.
Conclusion: Clinical assignment was the main stressor among nursing students; therefore, successful activities should be promoted to help them in managing clinical assignment and enhancing knowledge in religion.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether uncertainty in illness is negatively correlated with quality of life and whether this relationship is moderated by coping strategies, namely, problem-focused, avoidant, and active emotional coping.
METHODS: A convenience sample of 135 Malaysian women with breast cancer participated in the study. Participants completed measures of uncertainty in illness, quality of life, and coping styles.
RESULTS: Uncertainty in breast cancer was negatively related to quality of life (β = -0.379, P < .001), and active emotional coping was found to moderate this negative relationship (β = 0.155, P < .05). The model explained 22.20% of the variance of quality of life.
CONCLUSION: Lack of information about breast cancer, treatment, hospitalization, and disease recurrence is related to poorer quality of life. However, this negative relationship becomes weaker when active emotional coping strategies are used.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses and health providers should help patients reduce their uncertainty in illness by providing them information on breast cancer or referring them to relevant sources. Moreover, they could reduce the deleterious effect of uncertainty on quality of life by encouraging patients to use more active emotional coping strategies.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving IC attending a PCU. Caregiver burden and psychological manifestations were measured using previously translated and validated Zarit Burden Interview and DASS-21 questionnaires respectively. Two hundred forty-nine samples were selected for analysis.
RESULT: The mean ZBI score was 23.33 ± 13.7. About half of the population 118(47.4%) was found to experienced caregiver burden whereby majority have mild to moderate burden 90(36.1%). The most common psychological manifestation among IC is anxiety 74(29.7%) followed by depression 51(20.4%) and stress 46(18.5%). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that women who are IC to patients with non-malignancy were less likely to experience caregiver burden. IC who were highly educated and spent more than 14 h per day caregiving were at least twice likely to experience caregiver burden. Finally, those with symptoms of depression and anxiety were three times more likely to suffer from caregiver burden.
CONCLUSION: Caregiver burden among IC to palliative patients is prevalent in this population. IC who are men, educated, caregiving for patients with malignancy, long hours of caregiving and have symptoms of depression and anxiety are at risk of developing caregiver burden. Targeted screening should be implemented and IC well-being should be given more emphasis in local policies.
METHODS: A cross-sectional method was used to assess the reliability, validity, and cultural appropriateness of the Arabic version of the Brief COPE (A-BC) among 302 males and females (33.8% females).
RESULTS: The test-retest reliability was strong at 0.8, and the principal component factor analysis yielded a 3-factor structure, namely 'active coping', 'passive coping', and 'support-seeking', with Composite Reliability scores of 0.84, 0.75, and 0.81 respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable factors structure.
CONCLUSION: The 3-factor structure of the A-BC was found to be a valid and reliable instrument among the Saudi population. This makes the scale useful in both clinical practice and clinical research.