Self-efficacy and self-care behaviours among adults with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has an impact on an individuals' health and is influenced by glycemic control. AIM: To examine the relationship between glycemic control, demographic and clinical factors on self-efficacy and self-care behaviours among adults with T2DM. DESIGN: A correlational, descriptive study was used. One hundred and forty Omani adults with T2DM were recruited from a public hospital. METHODS: Data on self-efficacy, self-care behaviours and glycemic control were collected between April and July 2016. The study was approved by the College Ethics Committee and Hospital Board. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Most adults had a fasting blood glucose >7.2mmol/L (90.7%), with the majority demonstrating 'uncontrolled' or poor HbA1c of >8% (65%). Variance of self-care behaviour (20.6%) and 31.3% of the variance of the self-efficacy was explained by the age, duration of diabetes, medication, HbA1c and prevention of activities of living. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with T2DM with poor glycemic control were more probable to have poor self-efficacy and self-care behaviours. Glycemic control has an effect on improving diet, exercise, medication, foot care efficacy and behaviours. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The study recommends using these findings to plan self-efficacy and self-care behaviour to improve glycemic control among adults with T2DM.

Health Related Quality of Life among Omani Men and Women with Type 2 Diabetes.

The aim of this study was to explore predictors of health related quality of life (HRQoL) among men and women with type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional descriptive study consisted of a random sample of 300 adults with type 2 diabetes in a selected public hospital. Euro-QoL and Revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities scales were used to collect data between January and June 2010. Schooling and ability to manage positively were highly significant predictors of quality of life (QoL) among women as compared to men. Age, prevention of activities of daily living and knowledge/management of diabetes were significant predictors of Health state among women as compared to men. Findings demonstrate that 30.6% (versus 35.7%) of the variance in the total QoL and 14% (versus 23%) of the variance in health state could be explained by personal and clinical characteristics among women and men, respectively. The study underlines the importance for nurse educators to assess HRQoL among men and women and to develop effective self-care management strategies based on personal and clinical characteristics.

Do Perceptions of Empowerment Affect Glycemic Control and Self-Care Among Adults with Type 2 Diabetes?

BACKGROUND: The Arab adult with T2DM is understudied with less known facts about the perception of empowerment and its relationship with self-care and glycemic control. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which perception of empowerment by Arab adults living with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) was associated with better glycemic control and self-care management. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was led among 300 Arab adults living in Oman with T2DM in an outpatient diabetes clinic. The Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES), glycosylated haemaglobin (HbA1c) and Body mass index was assessed. The DES was found to be valid and reliable for the population. ANOVA, Regression analysis, and Structural equation modeling was used for analysis. RESULTS: The composite score and three subscales of DES were a significant and strong predictor of good glycemic control among Omani adults with T2DM (p<0.001). Age, education, duration of DM, prior DM education program and medications were significantly associated with DES. CONCLUSION: Diabetes nurse educators engaged in the care of adults with T2DM should assess self-empowerment and tailor interventions to increase empowerment for better glycemic control. Patient empowerment plays an essential role in maintaining self-care behaviours and HbA1c.

Perception of and satisfaction with the clinical learning environment among nursing students.

BACKGROUND: Clinical nursing education provides baccalaureate nursing students an opportunity to combine cognitive, psychomotor, and affective skills in the Middle East. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the paper is to assess the satisfaction with and effectiveness of the clinical learning environment among nursing students in Oman. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample consisting of 310 undergraduate nursing students was selected in a public school of nursing in Oman. METHODS: Ethical approval was obtained from the Research and Ethics Committee, College of Nursing in 2011. A standardized, structured, validated and reliable Clinical Learning Environment Supervision Teacher Evaluation instrument was used. Informed consent was obtained from all the students. Data was analyzed with ANOVA and structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Satisfaction with the clinical learning environment (CLE) sub-dimensions was highly significant and had a positive relationship with the total clinical learning environment. In the path model 35% of its total variance of satisfaction with CLE is accounted by leadership style, clinical nurse commitment (variance=28%), and patient relationships (R(2)=27%). Higher age, GPA and completion of a number of clinical courses were significant in the satisfaction with the CLE among these students. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse educators can improvise clinical learning placements focusing on leadership style, premises of learning and nursing care, nurse teacher, and supervision while integrating student, teacher and environmental factors. Hence the clinical learning environment is integral to students' learning and valuable in providing educational experiences. RELEVANCE TO PRACTICE: The CLE model provides information to nurse educators regarding best clinical practices for improving the CLE for BSN students.

Writing-to-Learn: Attitudes of nursing students at Sultan Qaboos University.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess the attitude of Omani nursing students towards writing-to-learn (WTL) and its relationship to demographic variables, self-efficacy and the writing process. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate attitudes towards WTL by Sultan Qaboos University nursing students. A convenience sample of 106 students was used and data collected between October 2009 and March 2010. A modified version of the WTL attitude scale developed by Dobie and Poirrier was used to collect the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: Senior and junior students had more positive attitudes to WTL than mid-level students who tended to have negative attitudes towards writing. Although 52.8% students had negative attitudes towards the writing process, the median was higher for attitudes to the writing process compared to the median for self-efficacy. There was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and writing process scores. CONCLUSION: Overall, students had negative attitudes towards WTL. Attitudes are learnt or formed through previous experiences. The incorporation of WTL strategies into teaching can transform students' negative attitudes towards writing into positive ones.

Women's well-being and reproductive health in Indian mining community: need for empowerment.

This paper is a qualitative study of women's well-being and reproductive health status among married women in mining communities in India. An exploratory qualitative research design was conducted using purposive sampling among 40 selected married women in a rural Indian mining community. Ethical permission was obtained from Goa University. A semi-structured indepth interview guide was used to gather women's experiences and perceptions regarding well-being and reproductive health in 2010. These interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, verified, coded and then analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Early marriage, increased fertility, less birth intervals, son preference and lack of decision-making regarding reproductive health choices were found to affect women's reproductive health. Domestic violence, gender preference, husbands drinking behaviors, and low spousal communication were common experiences considered by women as factors leading to poor quality of marital relationship. Four main themes in confronting women's well-being are poor literacy and mobility, low employment and income generating opportunities, poor reproductive health choices and preferences and poor quality of martial relationships and communication. These determinants of physical, psychological and cultural well-being should be an essential part of nursing assessment in the primary care settings for informed actions. Nursing interventions should be directed towards participatory approach, informed decision making and empowering women towards better health and well-being in the mining community.

Risk-assessment score for screening diabetes mellitus among Omani adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a self-administered risk-assessment scoring system for identifying Omani adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: An exploratory cross-sectional design was used. Simple random sampling was used to select 93 adults in Muscat. Ethical approval was obtained from the College of Nursing Research and Ethics Committee. The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) was used to collect the data in 2009. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. Data were analysed with the Pearson chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 9.7% of the adults had very high FINDRISC and 17.2% had slightly elevated risk of developing T2DM within 10 years. The risk assessment (family history, waist circumference, body mass index, physical activity, dietary intake, hypertension and high blood glucose) of T2DM was significant and positively related to the prediction of T2DM among Omani adults.