Qualitative study exploring the experiences of sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: To explore the sexual experiences and interactions of women with type 1 diabetes to explicate an understanding of the impact of diabetes on women's sexual function. The study was conducted as part of a wider project to develop a patient-reported outcome measure to assess sexual dysfunction (SD) in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A qualitative study using face-to-face and virtual semi-structured interviews was conducted with premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes who have had some difficulties related to sexual functioning. Participants were recruited from two National Health Services (NHS) sites in the UK and from social media platforms. The data were analysed to generate themes using Framework Analysis approach. RESULTS: Eighteen women, aged 22-49, were interviewed (NHS sites n = 13; online n = 5). Five themes related to women experiences of SD were identified, these were; initiation of sexual activity, sexual confidence, sexual enjoyment, sexual engagement and sexual desire. CONCLUSIONS: SD in women with type 1 diabetes is a complex phenomenon impacting their experiences and quality of life. SD is related to multiple interacting biopsychosocial factors related to diabetes, including blood glucose levels, diabetes treatments, technologies and complications. A targeted measure of SD for women with type 1 diabetes specifically would allow for these factors to be assessed routinely in clinical care.

Effectiveness of interventions to increase healthcare workers' adherence to vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 1993 to 2022.

BackgroundVaccination adherence among healthcare workers (HCWs) is fundamental for the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in healthcare. This safeguards HCWs' well-being, prevents transmission of infections to vulnerable patients and contributes to public health.AimThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to describe interventions meant to increase HCWs' adherence to vaccination and estimate the effectiveness of these interventions.MethodsWe searched literature in eight databases and performed manual searches in relevant journals and the reference lists of retrieved articles. The study population included any HCW with potential occupational exposure to VPDs. We included experimental and quasi-experimental studies presenting interventions aimed at increasing HCWs' adherence to vaccination against VPDs. The post-intervention vaccination adherence rate was set as the main outcome. We included the effect of interventions in the random-effects and subgroup meta-analyses.ResultsThe systematic review considered 48 studies on influenza and Tdap vaccination from database and manual searches, and 43 were meta-analysed. A statistically significant, positive effect was seen in multi-component interventions in randomised controlled trials (relative risk (RR) = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.13-1.66) and in observational studies (RR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.29-1.58). Vaccination adherence rate was higher in community care facilities (RR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.49-1.68) than in hospitals (RR = 1.24; 95% CI: 0.76-2.05).ConclusionInterventions aimed at increasing HCWs' adherence to vaccination against VPDs are effective, especially multi-component ones. Future research should determine the most effective framework of interventions for each setting, using appropriate study design for their evaluation, and should compare intervention components to understand their contribution to the effectiveness.

The Effectiveness of a Motivational Interviewing Intervention on Mutuality Between Patients With Heart Failure and Their Caregivers: A Secondary Outcome Analysis of the MOTIVATE-HF Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Mutuality, defined as "the positive quality of the relationship between a caregiver and a care receiver", was found to be associated with self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in heart failure (HF). However, no studies were conducted to evaluate whether motivational interviewing (MI) can improve mutuality in patients with HF and caregivers. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of MI on mutuality in HF patient-caregiver dyads. METHODS: This is a secondary outcome analysis of the MOTIVATE-HF randomized controlled trial, the primary aim of which was to evaluate the effect of MI on improving self-care in patients with HF. Participants were randomized into 3 arms: (1) MI for patients only, (2) MI for both patients and caregivers, and (3) standard care. To assess the HF patients' and caregivers' mutuality, the Mutuality Scale was used in its patient and caregiver versions. RESULTS: Patients with HF had a median age of 74 years, and there were more men (58%). Most patients were retired (76.2%). Caregivers had a median age of 55 years and were mostly women (75.5%). Most patients were in New York Heart Association class II (61.9%) and had an ischemic HF etiology (33.6%). The motivational interviews did not show any impact on changes in the patient and caregiver mutuality during the follow-up time (3, 6, 9, and 12 months from baseline). The condition of living together between the patient and the caregiver was significantly associated with better mutuality between the patient and the caregiver. CONCLUSIONS: Motivational interviewing performed by nurses was not effective in improving mutuality in patients with HF and caregivers, but the target variable of the intervention was patient self-care. Stronger effects of MI on mutuality were observed in patients with HF and caregivers who live together. Future studies should target mutuality to see whether MI is really effective.

Measuring Self-Care: A Description of the Family of Disease-Specific and Generic Instruments Based on the Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in attention paid to the patient-reported outcome of self-care. Many investigators have used one of the families of self-care instruments freely available on the website www.self-care-measures.com. These self-care measures have been translated into many languages, which are also available on the website. The measures include both disease-specific and generic instruments, which are based on a common theoretical framework, the Middle Range Theory of Self-Care of Chronic Illness. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to illustrate similarities among the instruments and to standardize their scoring, analysis, and use. We describe the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, the Self-Care of Coronary Heart Disease Inventory, the Self-Care of Hypertension Inventory, the Self-Care of Diabetes Inventory, the Self-Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Inventory, the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory, and the Self-Care Inventory. Detailed guidance on scoring, translation, and analysis is provided. Complementary measures of self-care self-efficacy and those used to measure caregiver contributions to patient self-care are briefly described. CONCLUSIONS: Many of the common questions of instrument users are answered in this article. Following this guidance will facilitate consistent use of the instruments, which will enable users to compare their results to those of others worldwide and facilitate future reviews and meta-analyses.Clinical ImplicationsThis review, emphasizing standard scoring and interpretation, is useful for clinicians and researchers across various populations and settings.

Generic and disease-specific caregiver contribution to self-care in a population with multiple chronic conditions: A comparative study.

AIM: Describe and compare generic and disease-specific caregiver contribution (CC) to self-care behaviours in the dimensions of self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring and self-care management in multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). DESIGN: Multicentre cross-sectional study. METHODS: We enrolled caregivers of patients with MCC, from April 2017 to November 2022, if they were (a) 18 years of age or older and (b) identified by the patient as the principal unpaid informal caregiver. The Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory, Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Heart Failure Index, Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of COPD Inventory and Caregiver Contribution to Self-care of Diabetes Inventory were used to measure generic and disease-specific contribution to patient self-care. Descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used. RESULTS: We found adequate generic CC for self-care monitoring but inadequate CC in self-care maintenance and management. All CC to disease-specific self-care maintenance, monitoring and management scales' scores were inadequate, except for caregivers of diabetic patients in which we observed an adequate score in the CC to self-care maintenance and self-care management scales in those practice insulin therapy. CONCLUSION: Caregivers experience difficulties in performing behaviours of contribution to their patients affected by chronic conditions. Caregivers of patients with MCCs contribute more to self-care in aspects related to provider prescriptions and less to lifestyle changes. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Healthcare professionals have to know in which behaviours caregivers show gaps and reflect on the reasons for poor CC to self-care to develop interventions to enhance these behaviours. IMPACT: This study underlines the importance of choosing the most appropriate instrument for measuring CC to self-care, considering the caregiver's characteristics. REPORTING METHOD: We adhered to STROBE guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Caregivers of patients affected by MCCs were enrolled.

Generic and disease-specific self-care instruments in older patients affected by multiple chronic conditions: A descriptive study.

AIMS: To describe and compare generic and disease-specific self-care measures in patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) in the three dimensions of self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management. DESIGN: Multicentre cross-sectional study. METHODS: Patients aged 65 and over with MCCs. We used Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory to measure generic self-care, Self-care of Diabetes Inventory to measure self-care in diabetes mellitus, Self-Care of Heart Failure (HF) Index to measure self-care in HF, and Self-Care of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Inventory to measure self-care in chronic lung diseases. RESULTS: We recruited 896 patients. Multimorbid patients with diabetes had lower scores on the self-care maintenance scale, and diabetic patients in insulin treatment on the generic management scale than on the disease-specific instrument. Multimorbid patients with HF or chronic lung diseases scored higher on generic self-care maintenance and monitoring scales than disease-specific ones. There was a partial consistency between the generic and disease-specific self-care maintenance and management. Inadequate behaviours were recorded in disease-specific self-care monitoring rather than generic ones. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients affected by MCCs scored differently in the generic and disease-specific instruments, showing inadequate self-care in some of the three self-care dimensions. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The choice between generic and disease-specific instruments to use in clinical practice and research should be made considering the specific aims, settings, patients characteristics, and knowledge of the different performance of the instruments by users. IMPACT: No study has described and compared generic and specific self-care measures in patients affected by MCCs. Knowing these differences can help nurses choose the most suitable measure for their aims, context, and patients and plan generic and disease-specific self-care educational interventions for those behaviours in which MCCs patients perform poorly. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION: Patients were informed about the study, provided informed consent, and answered questionnaires through interviews.

Prevalence and associated factors of sexual dysfunction in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction (SD) in women with diabetes is a multifaceted complication driven by hormonal, neuropathic and psychosocial factors. It has been reported that the prevalence of SD is higher in women with type 1 diabetes compared to both women with type 2 diabetes and women without diabetes. However, prevalence estimates of SD in women with type 1 diabetes are variable, due to the heterogeneity of the conducted studies and the various confounding factors that are associated with SD. AIM: This review aimed to estimate the prevalence of SD in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes compared to women without diabetes; consider current methods for measuring SD; and identify factors associated with SD in women with type 1 diabetes. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Four electronic databases (Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO) were searched between 15 March and 29 April 2022, the search was updated on 4 February 2023 to identify studies that assessed SD in women with type 1 diabetes. FINDINGS: The search yielded in 1104 articles; of these, 180 were assessed for eligibility. A meta-analysis of eight eligible studies revealed that the odds of experiencing SD is three times higher in women with type 1 diabetes compared to women without diabetes (OR = 3.8 95%CI 1.8-8.0, p < 0.001). The most commonly used measure of SD was the female sexual function index (FSFI); in three studies, this was combined with the female sexual distress scale (FSDS). Factors that have shown significant association with SD are depression, anxiety and duration of diabetes. CONCLUSION: This review has shown that SD is a significant issue for women with type 1 diabetes. These findings should encourage diabetes professionals and policymakers to give more attention to female SD (FSD) by incorporating it into care pathways and clinical guidelines.

The influence of social support on self-care is mediated by self-efficacy and depression in chronic illness: key findings from the 'SODALITY' observational study.

Objectives: Family is a major source of support for older chronically-ill patients and known to be associated with better self-care. Depression and self-care self-efficacy are associated with healthy behaviors and thus may serve as mechanisms by which family support influences self-care.We explored depression and self-care self-efficacy as mediators of the relationship between perceived family support and self-care.Methods: Five hundred forty-one older adults with multiple chronic illnesses were recruited from outpatients and community settings. Three structural equation models (SEM) were fit on cross-sectional data. We measured perceived family support (subscale of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, scores range 1-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, scores range 0-27), selfcare self-efficacy (Self-Care Self Efficacy Scale, standardized scores range 0-100), and self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management (Self-care of Chronic Illness Inventory, standardized scores range 0-100).Results: Participants (mean age = 76.6±7.3 yrs) were predominantly females (55.6%). In the full sample, depression and self-care self-efficacy mediated the relationship between perceived family support and self-care; in the gender-stratified SEM, men's depression was no longer a significant mediator. Depression and self-care self-efficacy were significant mediators of the relation between perceived family support and self-care.Conclusion: In older chronically-ill patients, interventions addressing perceived family support may facilitate a rapid improvement in self-care self-efficacy and a decrease in depressive symptoms, particularly among women.

The influence of dyad sex combination on patient self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in multiple chronic conditions: An observational study.

INTRODUCTION: We know that patient and caregiver sex influence patient self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in multiple chronic conditions. However, the role of dyad sex combination (e.g., male patient and female caregiver, female patient and male caregiver, male patient and caregiver, and female patient and caregiver) in influencing patient self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care remains unexplored. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between patient and caregiver sex combination and patient self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in multiple chronic conditions. DESIGN: Multicentre cross-sectional study. METHODS: We enrolled patients with multiple chronic conditions and caregiver dyads in outpatient and community settings from April 2017 to December 2019. We used the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory and the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory that measure, from the patient and caregiver perspective, self-care maintenance (i.e., behaviors to maintain illness stability), self-care monitoring (i.e., monitoring of illness signs and symptoms), and self-care management (i.e., behaviors to manage signs and symptoms). We used multivariate analysis of covariance to evaluate the association between sex and self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care. RESULTS: We recruited 540 patient-caregiver dyads. Male patients cared by female caregivers performed higher self-care maintenance compared to female patients cared by female caregivers. Female caregivers caring for female patients performed higher caregiver contribution to self-care monitoring compared to male caregivers caring for female or male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider the influence of patient and caregiver sex combination on self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in multiple chronic conditions to provide tailored interventions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Healthcare professionals should consider the patient and caregiver sex combination in the dyad to tailor better interventions aimed at improving patient self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in multiple chronic conditions.

The Association Between Self-reported Sleep Quality and Self-care in Adults With Heart Failure: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance is one of the most common symptoms among patients with heart failure (HF), and it may affect the ability of patients to perform self-care. There is a lack of evidence on the association between sleep quality and its components and self-care in adults with HF. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between sleep quality and its components and self-care in adults with HF. METHODS: This study is a secondary analysis of baseline data from the MOTIVATE-HF study, a randomized controlled trial on patients with HF and their caregivers. Only patients' data were analyzed in this study (n = 498). Sleep quality and self-care were evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v6.2, respectively. RESULTS: A habitual sleep efficiency of 75% to 84% was associated with lower self-care maintenance compared with a habitual sleep efficiency of 85% or greater ( P = .031), as was taking sleep medications once or twice a week compared with less than once a week ( P = .001). A frequency of daytime dysfunction less than once a week was associated with lower self-care management compared with a frequency of daytime dysfunction of 3 or more times a week ( P = .025). Taking sleep medications less than once a week was associated with lower self-care confidence compared with taking sleep medications 3 or more times a week ( P = .018). CONCLUSION: Poor sleep quality is frequently reported by patients with HF. Sleep efficiency, sleep medications, and daytime dysfunction may influence self-care more than the other sleep quality components.

The Impact of an Intervention to Improve Caregiver Contribution to Heart Failure Self-care on Caregiver Anxiety, Depression, Quality of Life, and Sleep.

BACKGROUND: Better caregiver contribution to self-care in heart failure is associated with better patient outcomes. However, caregiver contribution to self-care is also associated with high anxiety and depression, poor quality of life, and poor sleep in caregivers. It is still unclear whether interventions that encourage caregivers to contribute more to patient self-care might increase caregivers' anxiety and depression and decrease their quality of life and sleep. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a motivational interview intervention aimed at improving caregiver contribution to self-care in heart failure on caregivers' anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep. METHODS: This is a secondary outcome analysis of the MOTIVATE-HF trial. Patients with heart failure and their caregivers were randomized into arm 1 (motivational interview to patients), arm 2 (motivational interview to patients and caregivers), and arm 3 (standard care). Data were collected between June 2014 and October 2018. The article has been prepared following the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist. RESULTS: A sample of 510 patient-caregiver dyads was enrolled. Over the year of the study, the levels of anxiety, depression, quality of life, and sleep in caregivers did not significantly change among the 3 arms. CONCLUSIONS: Motivational interview aimed at improving caregiver contribution to self-care does not seem to increase caregiver anxiety and depression, nor decrease their quality of life and sleep. Thus, such an intervention might be safely delivered to caregivers of patients with heart failure, although further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Remote motivational interviewing to improve patient self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care in heart failure (REMOTIVATE-HF): Rationale, design, and methodology for a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

In patients with heart failure (HF), self-care, and caregiver contribution to self-care (i.e., the daily management of the disease by patients and caregivers) are essential for improving patient outcomes. However, patients and caregivers are often inadequate in their self-care and contribution to self-care, respectively, and struggle to perform related tasks. Face-to-face motivational interviewing (MI) effectively improves self-care and caregiver contribution to self-care, but the evidence on remote MI is scarce and inconclusive. The aims of this randomized controlled trial will be to evaluate whether remote MI performed via video call in patients with HF: (1) is effective at improving self-care maintenance in patients (primary outcome); (2) is effective for the following secondary outcomes: (a) for patients: self-care management, self-care monitoring, and self-efficacy; HF symptoms; generic and disease-specific quality of life; anxiety and depression; use of healthcare services; and mortality; and (b) for caregivers: contribution to self-care, self-efficacy, and preparedness. We will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial. We will enroll and randomize 432 dyads (patients and their informal caregivers) in Arm 1, in which patients and caregivers will receive MI or, in Arm 2, standard care. MI will be delivered seven times over 12 months. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and 3 (primary outcome), 6, 9, and 12 months from enrollment. This trial will demonstrate whether an inexpensive and easily deliverable intervention can improve important HF outcomes. With the restrictions on in-person healthcare professional interventions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential to evaluate whether MI is also effective remotely.

"Jumping into the COVID-19 arena": The professional transition into clinical practice of new graduate nurses in Italy at time of COVID-19.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of the professional transition of new graduate nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: The transition from the role of student to the professional role can be challenging for new graduate nurses for the acquisition of higher autonomy and responsibility. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the quality of the professional transition. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional observational study following the Strengthening and Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology checklist. METHODS: One hundred and two nurses who graduated in three consecutive sessions (November 2019-pre-pandemic, March 2020-pandemic outbreak, and November 2020-2nd wave) in a north Italian university located in the most affected Italian region by the COVID-19 pandemic, completed an online survey assessing well-being, risk of burnout, resilience, perceived stigma, strengths and limitations and quality of the professional transition. The study was performed between March and May 2021. RESULTS: 81.4% of participants described the professional transition as worse than expected, and new graduate nurses who worked in COVID-19 settings reported a more difficult transition to professional life. No differences emerged in burnout, mental well-being and perceived stigma between new graduate nurses who worked in COVID-19 settings and those who did not. Similarly, no differences emerged amongst the three graduated cohort sessions. The most commonly mentioned challenges faced during the transition were organisational aspects, suddenly acquired autonomy and lack of suitable coaching. CONCLUSION: New graduate nurses reported a challenging academic-professional transition, in particular, those who worked in COVID-19 settings. The mid- and long-term impact of experiencing an academic-professional transition in COVID-19 settings should be assessed and monitored. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The professional transition of new graduate students should be adequately planned and monitored, new graduates should be assisted to develop realistic expectations about the transition, and an adequate coaching period should be guaranteed all the more during health emergencies.

Further Evidence of Psychometric Performance of the Self-care of Diabetes Inventory in Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: The Self-care of Diabetes Inventory (SCODI) is a theory-based tool that measures self-care, a key strategy in the appropriate treatment of diabetes. However, despite the clinical differences between people with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the psychometric properties of the SCODI were only tested in mixed samples. PURPOSE: This study aims to test the psychometric performances of the SCODI in two separate groups of adults with T1DM and T2DM. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from two previous multicentre cross-sectional observational studies involving patients with T1DM (n = 181) and T2DM (n = 540). We tested dimensionality with confirmatory factor analysis and reliability with a multidimensional model-based coefficient for every scale of the SCODI: self-care maintenance, self-care monitoring, self-care management, and self-care self-efficacy. RESULTS: We found that the SCODI showed the same dimensionality, with minimal variation in factor loadings for each factor and each scale among T1DM and T2DM groups. High reliability for each scale in both groups was also found (self-care maintenance: T1DM = 0.86, T2DM = 0.83; self-care monitoring: T1DM = 0.84, T2DM = 1.00; self-care management: T1DM = 0.87, T2DM = 0.86; self-care self-efficacy: T1DM = 0.88; T2DM = 0.86). CONCLUSION: The SCODI can be used for measuring self-care in people with T1DM, T2DM, or mixed groups using identical scoring procedures. Considering the well-known differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes diseases and patients' characteristics, our results support the generalizability of the self-care theory on which the instrument is based.

Patient Self-Care and Caregiver Contribution to Patient Self-Care of Chronic Conditions: What Is Dyadic and What It Is Not.

OBJECTIVES: Self-care of chronic conditions involves both patients and their informal caregivers and therefore might be considered as a dyadic phenomenon. Nevertheless, empirical evidence supporting a dyadic construct is unavailable. This study aimed to explore the existence of a dyadic construct in self-care maintenance, monitoring, and management in patients affected by chronic conditions and their informal caregivers. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design. We used the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory and the Caregiver Contribution to Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory, which measure patient self-care and informal caregivers' contribution to self-care maintenance, monitoring and management. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling was performed to verify the existence of dyadic latent constructs in each scale in patients and informal caregivers. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 493 patients and informal caregivers, with a mean age of 76.47 and 52.76 years, respectively, was studied. In the self-care maintenance scales, 2 correlated factors (r = 0.34, P < .001) were identified, indicating the presence of a dyadic second-order construct. In addition, 2 factors that were not correlated (r = 0.11, P = .064) were identified in the self-care monitoring scales, indicating the absence of a dyadic construct. Finally, we found a 3-factor model in the self-care management scales composed of both patient and caregiver items, indicating a dyadic first-order construct. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing which care behaviors are dyadic in chronic conditions is important for tailoring interventions to improve self-care. Self-care maintenance and management would benefit from dyadic interventions, while self-care monitoring would not. The results of this study may illuminate future theoretical and scientific developments in dyadic care of chronic illness.

Measuring self-care in the general adult population: development and psychometric testing of the Self-Care Inventory.

BACKGROUND: Self-care is important at all stages of life and health status to promote well-being, prevent disease, and improve health outcomes. Currently, there is a need to better conceptualize self-care in the general adult population and provide an instrument to measure self-care in this group. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the Self-Care Inventory (SCI), a theory-based instrument to measure self-care in the general adult population. METHODS: Based on the Middle Range Theory of Self-Care, the 20-item SCI was developed with three scales: Self-Care Maintenance (8 items), Self-Care Monitoring (6 items), and Self-Care Management (6 items). A cross sectional study with a US-based sample (n = 294) was conducted to test the SCI. Internal validity was assessed with Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Internal consistency reliability was assessed with Cronbach alpha for unidimensional scales or composite reliability and the global reliability index for multidimensional scales. Construct validity was investigated with Pearson correlation to test the relationship between general self-efficacy, positivity, stress, and self-care scores. RESULTS: The Self-Care Maintenance and Management scales were multidimensional and the Self-Care Monitoring scale was unidimensional. The global reliability index for multidimensional scales was 0.85 (self-care maintenance) and 0.88 (self-care management). Cronbach alpha coefficient of the self-care monitoring scale was 0.88. Test-retest reliability was 0.81 (self-care maintenance), 0.91 (self-care monitoring), and 0.76 (self-care management). The General Self-Efficacy Scale was positively related to all three self-care scale scores: self-care maintenance r = 0.46, p < 0. 001, self-care monitoring r = 0.31, p < 0. 001, and self-care management r = 0.32, p < 0. 001. The positivity score was positively related to self-care maintenance (r = 0.42, p < 0. 001), self-care monitoring (r = 0.29, p < 0. 001), and self-care management (r = 0.34, p < 0. 001) scores. The perceived stress was positively related to the self-care management (r = 0.20, p < 0. 001) score. CONCLUSIONS: The SCI is a theoretically based instrument designed to measure self-care in the general adult population. Preliminary evidence of validity and reliability supports its use in the general adult population.

Self-care of patients with multiple chronic conditions and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative descriptive study.

AIMS: Explore the self-care experiences of patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and caregivers' contributions to patient self-care during COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative design was used. The COREQ checklist was used for study reporting. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from patients with MCCs and caregivers selected from the dataset of an ongoing longitudinal study. Data analysis was performed through deductive thematic analysis. The middle-range theory of self-care of chronic illness, which entails the three dimensions of self-care maintenance, monitoring and management, was used as a theoretical framework to guide data collection and analysis. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients and 25 caregivers were interviewed from May to June 2020. The participants were mainly women, with a mean age for patients of 76.25 years and caregivers of 45.76 years; the caregivers were mainly the patients' children (72%). During the pandemic, some patients reported remaining unchanged in their self-care maintenance, monitoring and management behaviours, others intensified their behaviours, and others decreased them. Caregivers played an important role in protecting patients from the risk of contagion COVID-19 and in ensuring patients' self-care of chronic diseases through direct and indirect interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Critical events can modify the self-care experiences of chronically ill patients and caregivers' contributions, leading to maintenance, increase or decrease of self-care and contributions to self-care behaviours. IMPACT: Patients with MCCs and their caregivers can react in different ways in their performances of self-care and contribution to patients' self-care behaviours when ordinary daily life is disrupted; therefore, nurses should assess such performances during critical events to identify the individuals at risk of reduced self-care and promote the most suitable healthcare services (e.g. eHealth) to implement individualised interventions.

Barriers and facilitators of type 1 diabetes self-care in adolescents and young adults.

PURPOSE: This study explores the disease experience of adolescents and young adults with T1DM focusing on the barriers and facilitators that characterise their disease self-care. Self-care requires complex decision making and cooperation between patients, their families, the healthcare team, and the social support system. Personal and social factors affect self-care, and specific challenges impact adolescents and young adults, putting them at a higher risk of poor glycaemic control and more severe complications. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study uses a qualitative description approach. Twenty-two people (15 women; 10-30 years old; 2-24 years from diagnosis) were purposefully recruited through snowballing techniques. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews and analysed inductively with semantic thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes and nine subthemes conceptualise the patients' experience as a life-long journey that has its difficult beginning at the time of diagnosis and continues through the resolution of the initial crisis by integrating disease at the identity level and acquiring expertise. Technology and social environment act both as self-care barriers and facilitators. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of designing and improving technology related to diabetes accounting for patients' experiences. Second, it is imperative to work towards a de-stigmatisation of diabetes. Finally, health professionals should work with people with T1DM on the psychological aspects of the disease and identity integration. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Diabetes-related technology should promote usability and acceptability while addressing visibility and device burden issues. Clinicians should pay particular attention during the transition from the paediatric to the adult centres and offer global assessments and treatment.

Association between coping strategies and professional quality of life in nurses and physicians during COVID-19: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: To explore the associations between coping strategies (social support, avoidance strategies, positive attitude, problem orientation, and transcendent orientation) and professional quality of life (compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress) of nurses and physicians during COVID-19. BACKGROUND: Little is known about the association between the way health care workers cope with stress and their professional quality of life during the unusual circumstances that the COVID-19 pandemic imposed. METHODS: A single-centre cross-sectional observational study was conducted with health care professionals (n = 143). The Professional Quality of Life scale Version 5 and the Italian Version of the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced measured the professional quality of life and coping strategies, respectively. RESULTS: Avoidance, problem orientation and social support coping worsened professional quality of life, whereas a positive attitude improved it. CONCLUSIONS: This study on the relationship between coping strategies and the professional quality of life during health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic can inform interventions aiming to foster functional coping strategies in health care personnel to sustain their professional quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Identifying people at greater risk of burnout and secondary traumatic stress can guide tailored interventions to improve health care workers' wellbeing. Increased professional quality of life might turn in improved quality of care and reduced absenteeism and intention to leave.

Sleep disorders and night-shift work in nursing students: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: University students are known to have higher sleep disorders prevalence than the general population. Among them, nursing students are even more susceptible to sleep disorders. This study evaluates sleep disorders' risk factors among nursing students and their potential association with symptoms and assesses whether night shifts affect sleep quality by increasing the prevalence of sleep disorders. METHODS: A total of 202 nursing students were included; a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic and academic characteristics (i.e., gender, age, height, weight, and year of nursing program) and risk factors for sleep disorders (e.g., smoking, lack of physical activity, and coffee intake late in the evening). The survey included the General Health Questionnaire to assess perceived stress, the Sleep and Daytime Habits Questionnaire, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess sleep disorders symptoms. RESULTS: A high level of perceived stress is associated with sleep disorders symptoms and with poor sleep quality. Daytime symptoms are also associated with smoking. Students who drink coffee late in the evening report fewer nighttime symptoms. Night shifts and their increasing number are not associated with sleep disorders symptoms. The perception of an unsatisfying academic performance is associated with daytime symptoms and poor sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Although night shifts seem to not affect sleep quality among nursing students, sleep disorders represent a critical issue in this population since sleep disorders symptoms may result in errors, accidents, or low academic performance.