Effect of simulation-based zoom learning on clinical decision-making among undergraduate nursing students and experiences of students and instructors: A mixed methods study.

Aim: To determine the effect of simulation-based Zoom learning (SBZL) on perceived capabilities and clinical decision-making skills among undergraduate nursing students and to explore experiences of the instructors and students participating in SBZL. Background: Nursing is a practice profession and students acquire clinical decision-making skills in clinical settings. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted conventional clinical learning activities. In this study, the outcomes of implementing SBZL in an undergraduate programme to support students' clinical learning were examined. Design: A mixed methods design was employed. Methods: This study recruited 195 final-year students to participate in the SBZL programme, which was developed based on the NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory to guide its design, implementation and evaluation. Case scenarios were developed and simulated through Zoom. Students' perceived capabilities, perceptions of the learning environment and clinical decision-making skills were assessed before and after SBZL. A historical control group of 226 previous final year students who had received a clinical practicum was included for comparison. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 instructors and 19 students to explore their experiences of participating in SBZL. Results: A total of 102 students completed the post-SBZL questionnaire. An increase in perceived creative thinking (mean difference = 0.24, p < 0.001) was observed post-SBZL. After SBZL, the perceptions of the learning environment were significantly improved. However, the SBZL group demonstrated lower perceived problem-solving capability than the control group (mean difference = 0.14, p = 0.007). Clinical decision-making was significantly improved in the SBZL group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Both the instructors and students reported positive experiences with SBZL, and highlighted challenges and factors for improving its implementation. Conclusions: SBZL showed improvement in perceived creative thinking, perceptions of the learning environment and clinical decision-making. This innovative teaching and learning method can be valuable for nursing education in various regions to prepare students for real-life roles. Tweetable abstract: Simulation-based Zoom learning is better than traditional teaching in improving clinical decision-making skills among undergraduate nursing students.

Effects of Health Coaching on Cardiometabolic Health in Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To appraise and synthesize evidence on the effects of health coaching as the primary intervention on cardiometabolic health among middle-aged adults. DATA SOURCE: Six electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, and the Cochrane library) were searched from inception until July 2021. STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials published in English, reporting health coaching aimed to promote behavioral changes for improving cardiometabolic health among middle-aged adults were included. Studies on health coaching as secondary intervention were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers selected the articles, appraised the study quality, and extracted data independently. All kinds of outcomes related to cardiometabolic health, including health behaviors, psychological and physiological outcomes, were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Meta-analysis was performed if three or more studies reported the same outcomes. Narrative synthesis was performed if pooling of data for meta-analysis was not feasible. RESULTS: Eight studies were reviewed. Most studies involved substantial risk of bias. The majority of the participants were women (99.1%). Meta-analysis showed a small but significant effect of health coaching on increasing physical activity (SMD = .34, 95% CI = .08-.60, p = .01, I2 = 0%); however, its effect on perceived barriers to physical activity and depressive symptoms was nonsignificant. Narrative synthesis yielded inconsistent results on diet, smoking, anxiety, goal achievement and self-efficacy for behavioral change, physiological outcomes, and metabolic syndrome severity, and nonsignificant effects on alcohol consumption, sleep quality, perceived benefits of physical activities, and cardiovascular symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Health coaching has significant effects on increasing physical activity among middle-aged adults; however, its effects on health behaviors and risk factors related to cardiometabolic health are inconclusive. Further efforts are warranted to examine how health coaching can improve cardiometabolic health among middle-aged adults.

Effects of yoga on physical and psychological health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To synthesise and critically appraise the quality of existing evidence about the effects of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes among older adults. DESIGN: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Participants aged 60 and above. MEASUREMENTS: Nine English and two Chinese electronic bibliographic databases, including MEDLINE OvidSP, PsycINFO, AMED, EMBASE, Global Health, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Hyread and WanFang databases, were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes among older adults were included. Meta-analysis was conducted for outcomes studied in three or more studies, otherwise narrative synthesis was performed. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included for review. The results of meta-analysis after sensitivity analysis showed that yoga significantly improved balance (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.48-1.14, p < .001, II2 = 59%), flexibility (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.07-0.68, p = .020, II2 34%), muscle strength (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.18-0.79, p = .002, I2 43%) and depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.09-0.91, p = .01, I2 0%). There was insufficient data for meta-analysis on gait and other psychological outcomes. Narrative synthesis suggested that yoga has positive effects on reducing anxiety, but its effects on improving gait and reducing stress among older adults were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: The results of this review supported the beneficial effects of yoga on physical outcomes among older adults, but the heterogeneity across studies was relatively high. Evidence related to the effect on psychological outcomes was limited.

Prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment and associated risk factors in Chinese stroke survivors.

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) adversely affects survivors' recovery trajectory and overall health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PCSI and its associated risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with stroke survivors recruited from the neurology units of three hospitals in Yunnan, China. Measures included the Frenchay Aphasia Screening Test (FAST), Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Informant Questionnaire for Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify risk factors significantly and independently associated with PSCI. RESULTS: Of 389 stroke participants studied, 139 (36%) were found to have PSCI. Every 10-year increase in age [odds ratio (OR) =1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27-2.24, p < 0.001], and 1-point increase in the AES (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.18, p < 0.001) and FSS scores (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03-1.10, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with higher odds of PSCI. Conversely, a 1-point increase in the MoCA score (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.87-0.95, p < 0.001) and having an undergraduate education (OR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.24-0.84, p = 0.013) or postgraduate education (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.06-0.50, p = 0.001) were associated with reduced odds of PSCI. CONCLUSIONS: PSCI is prevalent in the Chinese population, with advanced age, lower education levels, lower MoCA scores, and higher fatigue and apathy scores identified as strong risk factors. It is recommended that psychological and cognitive assessment be routinely incorporated into post-stroke rehabilitation pathways to mitigate cognitive decline.