Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of new fear of the coronavirus questionnaire.

The fear of COVID-19 significantly impacting the health of people globally. This study translated newly developed measurement tool New Fear of the Coronavirus Questionnaire (New_FCQ) into Chinese language and evaluated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of New_FCQ among Chinese population. A total of 522 participants were included in the study. Internal consistency, construct validity, criterion validity, and concurrent validity of the Chinese version of New_FCQ were assessed in this study. The Chinese version of New_FCQ had excellent internal consistency (α = 0.97) and exploratory factor analysis demonstrated one-dimensional structure of the Chinese version of New_FCQ. The preliminary criterion validity revealed statistically significant differences in the fear of COVID-19 scores based on age and education level (P = .002 and P = .03, respectively). The good concurrent validity also established with the Chinese version Fear of COVID-19 Scale(P < .001). Psychometric proportions of the Chinese version of New_FCQ were established, which exhibited sufficient validity and reliability among Chinese population.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Preventive Care Utilization, and Patient-Nurse Trust Relationship Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who identify as sexual and gender minorities often experience high rates of adverse childhood experiences and encounter discrimination and stigma in their interactions with healthcare providers, leading to low utilization of healthcare services. However, the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, preventive care utilization, and trust in nurses among sexual and gender minority individuals remains unclear. PURPOSE: This study explored the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and preventive care use and assessed the potential interaction effects of trust in nurses between adverse childhood experiences and preventive care use among individuals from sexual and gender minorities. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used. A sample of 160 self-reported individuals from sexual and gender minorities completed an electronic online survey. Multiple linear regression and moderation analyses were conducted to examine the association between adverse childhood experiences, preventive care utilization, and nurse trust. RESULTS: There was a significant negative relationship between adverse childhood experiences and preventive care utilization. There was also a significant positive relationship between trust and preventive care utilization. The results also indicated that trust in nurses moderated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and preventive care utilization among sexual and gender minority individuals. DISCUSSION: A significant relationship was found between a high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and low healthcare service utilization. Strengthening the trust relationship between nurses and sexual and gender minority individuals could serve as a potential intervention point, leading to improved health outcomes for this vulnerable population. Hence, enhancing trust in nurses could be a key factor in increasing healthcare service utilization and overall health outcomes.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Patient-Nurse Trust Scale among Sexual and Gender Minorities.

PURPOSE: To assess the psychometric properties of a newly developed instrument patient-nurse trust scale (PNTS) among sexual and gender minorities (SGM). DESIGN: Secondary data analysis. METHODS: Reliability and construct validity of the PNTS were assessed. FINDINGS: The PNTS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha= 0.96). It also demonstrated a good fit to the data and confirmed construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: PNTS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure trust in the nurse-patient relationship with SGM youth. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: PNTS is a valid and reliable tool that quantifies patient-nurse trust relationship and can predict patient satisfaction, health behaviors and health outcomes.

An Assessment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Competencies Among Bachelors-Prepared Registered Nurses in Graduate-Level Study.

PURPOSE: To assess graduate nursing students' lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)-specific health competencies. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional design, a 13-item multiple response survey, derived from The Joint Commission guidelines and LGBT health competencies proposed by the Association of American Medical Colleges, was administered online to 116 registered nurses enrolled in graduate study. Survey items assessed nurses' knowledge of LGBT health, professionalism, provision of patient care, communication skills, care environment, gaps in learning, and systems-based practice. Descriptive analyses were used to summarize frequencies and proportions of study variables. RESULTS: Respondent nurses' knowledge about health, prevalent conditions, and social factors that influence LGBT health was somewhat limited. Respondents did not rate their knowledge about LGBT health high (µ = 3.11 [1.1], median = 3) and did not feel qualified to educate other colleagues about LGBT health issues (µ = 2.43 [1.26], median = 2). But 58% (n = 65) indicated that they felt comfortable performing prostate exams on transgender female patients (born with male genitalia); 62% (n = 70) felt comfortable doing pap smears for transgender male patients (born with female genitalia). Sixty nurses (52%) stated that they would advocate reforms within existing health care institutions to improve the care of LGBT patients. Cultural competency training was offered in some health care settings and environmental indications of inclusivity were inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: LGBT health competence among graduate nursing students was limited. There is a need to reevaluate LGBT health-related content in nursing curricula as well as robust assessment of competence in LGBT health.

Development of A Patient-Nurse Trust Scale in Underserved Community Setting.

This study developed and evaluated an instrument to measure the patient-nurse trust relationship in a medically underserved community. An exploratory sequential design was employed. In-depth interviews with 20 patients and 15 nurses were conducted to elicit their experiences regarding trust. Interview results were coded, analyzed and formatted into a Likert scale instrument. The instrument was administered to 120 patients. 19 items were retained for the final instrument with item-to-total correlational coefficients greater than 0.5, and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95. Both construct validity and preliminary criterion validity were confirmed. Psychometric proportions of the instrument were established.

Utilizing a Mobile Health Intervention to Manage Hypertension in an Underserved Community.

This 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a Mobile Health (mHealth) intervention for hypertension self-monitoring and management in an underserved urban community. The four health outcomes measured included changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), BP monitoring adherence, perceived medication adherence self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to the mHealth group or a standard follow-up group; 25 participants completed the study. The mHealth group had statistically significant improvement in systolic BP decrease (p = .01). The mHealth group had better adherence to BP monitoring and improved perceived medication adherence self-efficacy at 6 months, compared with the standard follow-up group. The results suggest that an mHealth intervention has the potential to facilitate hypertension management in underserved urban communities.

The association between prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and childhood obesity: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the review was to determine if prenatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) increases the risk of obesity and overweight in children. INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in many developed countries. This is of great concern as childhood obesity is associated with early onset of chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease, type II diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. Extensive research suggests a multifactorial etiology. These factors include genetic markers, individual lifestyle, social and environmental factors, particularly the interaction between these factors. Among environmental factors, prenatal exposure to ETS has been linked to increased rates of obesity and overweight in childhood. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review considered studies on children of women who were non-smokers and who reported exposure to ETS during pregnancy. The exposure of interest was exposure to ETS or second hand smoke during pregnancy, determined by either: i) self-reported maternal exposure; and/or ii) serum cotinine levels. Observational studies such as cohort studies, case control studies, retrospective studies and analytical cross-sectional studies were included. Outcomes of interest were weight, height and body mass index of children from birth up to 18 years. METHODS: A three-step search strategy was used to search for published and unpublished studies in the English language. No search range (years) was set. Two reviewers assessed the studies for inclusion and methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information (JBI SUMARI) standardized appraisal instruments. Data was extracted by two people independently and entered into the JBI extraction tool. Extracted data was pooled in a statistical meta-analysis based on a random effects model. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in the review. Eight of the studies were included in the final meta-analysis. Findings suggest that there was an association between prenatal exposure to ETS and childhood obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.905, CI: 1.23-2.94), and no association between ETS exposure and overweight (OR: 1.51, CI: 0.49-4.59). The high rates of heterogeneity between studies in both of the meta-analyses determined by the I statistic (97% and 99%, respectively) sanction caution in the interpretation and use of these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the evidence, childhood obesity is associated with exposure to prenatal ETS, however overweight does not appear to be associated with this type of exposure.

Incarceration as a Health Determinant for Sexual Orientation and Gender Minority Persons.

Incarceration is considerably more prevalent among sexual and gender minority persons (SGM) than among the general population. Once behind bars, they are at the greatest risk for health-related harms. Although a growing number of studies have assessed health disparities produced by mass incarceration, scholars are yet to systematically assess the health consequences of incarceration on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. We invite public health scholars to study the effects of incarceration on health in the SGM population and provide a roadmap to aid these research efforts. First, we document the disproportionate presence of SGM persons in jails and prisons. Second, we note health-related risks that are the most salient for this population. Third, we recommend examining heterogeneity in the effects of incarceration by teasing out distinct risks for groups defined by sexual orientation, gender identity, and race/ethnicity. Fourth, we note methodological challenges with respect to measurement and assessing causality. Finally, we discuss the importance of health care access and quality and the need to study health during incarceration and afterward.

Health Care Needs and Care Utilization Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations in New Jersey.

The purpose of this study was to explore prevalent health issues, perceived barriers to seeking health care, and utilization of health care among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations in New Jersey. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 438 self-identified LGBT people. Results identified health needs, which included management of chronic diseases, preventive care for risky behaviors, mental health issues, and issues related to interpersonal violence. Barriers to seeking health care included scarceness of health professionals competent in LGBT health, inadequate health insurance coverage and lack of personal finances, and widely dispersed LGBT inclusive practices making transportation difficult. There is a need for better preparation of health care professionals who care for LGBT patients, to strengthen social services to improve access and for better integration of medical and social services.

Conducting systematic reviews of association (etiology): The Joanna Briggs Institute's approach.

The systematic review of evidence is the research method which underpins the traditional approach to evidence-based healthcare. There is currently no uniform methodology for conducting a systematic review of association (etiology). This study outlines and describes the Joanna Briggs Institute's approach and guidance for synthesizing evidence related to association with a predominant focus on etiology and contributes to the emerging field of systematic review methodologies. It should be noted that questions of association typically address etiological or prognostic issues.The systematic review of studies to answer questions of etiology follows the same basic principles of systematic review of other types of data. An a priori protocol must inform the conduct of the systematic review, comprehensive searching must be performed and critical appraisal of retrieved studies must be carried out.The overarching objective of systematic reviews of etiology is to identify and synthesize the best available evidence on the factors of interest that are associated with a particular disease or outcome. The traditional PICO (population, interventions, comparators and outcomes) format for systematic reviews of effects does not align with questions relating to etiology. A systematic review of etiology should include the following aspects: population, exposure of interest (independent variable) and outcome (dependent variable).Studies of etiology are predominantly explanatory or predictive. The objective of reviews of explanatory or predictive studies is to contribute to, and improve our understanding of, the relationship of health-related events or outcomes by examining the association between variables. When interpreting possible associations between variables based on observational study data, caution must be exercised due to the likely presence of confounding variables or moderators that may impact on the results.As with all systematic reviews, there are various approaches to present the results, including a narrative, graphical or tabular summary, or meta-analysis. When meta-analysis is not possible, a set of alternative methods for synthesizing research is available. On the basis of the research question and objectives, narrative, tabular and/or visual approaches can be used for data synthesis. There are some special considerations when conducting meta-analysis for questions related to risk and correlation. These include, but are not limited to, causal inference.Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies related to etiology is an emerging methodology in the field of evidence synthesis. These reviews can provide useful information for healthcare professionals and policymakers on the burden of disease. The standardized Joanna Briggs Institute approach offers a rigorous and transparent method to conduct reviews of etiology.

Ethnographic study of experiences of Pakistani women immigrants with pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum care in the United States and Pakistan.

STUDY PURPOSE: Describe the comparative birthing experiences of Pakistani immigrant women in Pakistan and the United States. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK: The framework was drawn from Berry's cultural adaptation, Glick-Schiller et al.'s transnationalism and Berkman's social network. METHODOLOGY: Qualitative DESIGN: Women experienced difficulties associated with inability to observe cultural traditions and loss of extended, gendered kin support. Adaptive strategies were evident through development of social networks of weak ties with non-kin groups in the United States, maintenance of transnational ties with kin back in Pakistan, and assimilation of less gender-defined roles by women and their spouses.