Influence of psychological capital on core competency for new nurses.

BACKGROUND: The development of core competency is crucial for the success of new nurses, enabling them to deliver high-quality care. Psychological capital (PsyCap), encompassing self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience, significantly influences individuals' abilities and achievements across various professions. However, limited research has specifically examined the impact of PsyCap on the core competency of new nurses. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the relationship between PsyCap and core competency development in new nurses, providing valuable strategic insights for improving PsyCap and promoting core competence acquisition. METHODS: 142 new nurses were chosen for the investigation using a convenient cluster sampling method. The questionnaire included components on socio-demographic characteristics, the Competency Inventory for Registered Nurses (CIRN), and the PsyCap Questionnaire-24 (PCQ-24). The t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULT: The number of valid questionnaires was 138, and the effective return rate was 97.2%. The overall mean score for core competencies was 171.01 (SD 25.34), and the PsyCap score was 104.76(SD 13.71). The PsyCap of new nurses was highly correlated with core competency, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.7, p < 0.01. Self-efficacy of PsyCap is a significant independent predictor of core competency (adjust R2 = 0.49). CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy in PsyCap is an important predictor of new nurses' core competency. Nursing managers should pay sufficient attention to the cultivation and development of new nurses' PsyCap, with particular emphasis on enhancing self-efficacy to improve their core competency.

Clinical evaluation of a rapid colloidal gold immunochromatography assay for SARS-Cov-2 IgM/IgG.

BACKGROUND: Since December 2019, there had been an outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China. At present, diagnosis COVID-19 were based on real-time RT-PCR, which have to be performed in biosafe laboratory and is unsatisfactory for suspect case screening. Therefore, there is an urgent need for rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance and clinical utility of the colloidal gold immunochromatography assay for SARS-Cov-2 specific IgM/IgG anti-body detection in suspected COVID-19 cases. METHODS: In the prospective cohort, 150 patients with fever or respiratory symptoms were enrolled in Taizhou Public Health Medical Center, Taizhou Hospital, Zhejiang province, China, between January 20 to February 2, 2020. All patients were tested by the colloidal gold immunochromatography assay for COVID-19. At least two samples of each patient were collected for RT-PCR assay analysis, and the PCR results were performed as the reference standard of diagnosis. Meanwhile 26 heathy blood donor were recruited. The sensitivity and specificity of the immunochromatography assay test were evaluated. Subgroup analysis were performed with respect to age, sex, period from symptom onset and clinical severity. RESULTS: The immunochromatography assay test had 69 positive result in the 97 PCR-positive cases, achieving sensitivity 71.1% [95% CI 0.609-0.797], and had 2 positive result in the 53 PCR-negative cases, achieving specificity 96.2% [95% CI 0.859-0.993]. In 26 healthy donor blood samples, the immunochromatography assay had 0 positive result. In subgroup analysis, the sensitivity was significantly higher in patients with symptoms more than 14 days 95.2% [95% CI 0.741-0.998] and patients with severe clinical condition 86.0% [95% CI 0.640-0.970]. CONCLUSIONS: The colloidal gold immunochromatography assay for SARS-Cov-2 specific IgM/IgG anti-body had 71.1% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity in this population, showing the potential for a useful rapid diagnosis test for COVID-19. Further investigations should be done to evaluate this assay in variety of clinical settings and populations.

Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection for small upper gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors originating from the muscularis propria layer.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER) for small (≤3 cm) upper gastrointestinal (GI) subepithelial tumors (SETs) originating from the muscularis propria (MP) layer. METHODS: Between August 2011 and February 2013, a total of 85 patients with upper GI SETs originating from the MP layer were treated with STER. The key steps were as follows: (1) locating the tumor by injection of methylene blue or indigo carmine and then creating a submucosal tunnel from 5 cm above the tumor between the submucosal and muscular layers; (2) resecting the tumor by endoscopic resection techniques; (3) closing the mucosal incision site with several clips after the tumor is removed. RESULTS: Of the 85 SETs, 60 were located in the esophagus, 16 in the cardia, and 9 in the stomach. STER was successfully performed in all cases (success rate: 100 %). The mean tumor size was 19.2 mm. The mean procedure time was 57.2 min. The average hospital stay after the procedure was 5.9 days. Pathological diagnosis of the tumors were leiomyoma (65/85), gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) (19/85), and calcifying fibrous tumor (1/85). During the procedure, eight patients developed pneumothorax, subcutaneous emphysema, and/or pneumoperitoneum. These patients recovered after conservative treatment. The rate of all complications was significantly higher for lesions originating in the deeper MP layer (70 %) than in the superficial MP layer (1.3 %; p < 0.001). The total complication rate for different histological diagnoses was also significantly different (26.3 % for GISTs, 4.6 % for leiomyomas, 0 % for calcifying fibrous tumors, p < 0.05). No residual or recurrent tumors were detected during the follow-up period (median: 8 months). CONCLUSIONS: Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection appears to be a feasible, safe, and effective procedure for treatment of small (≤3 cm) upper GI SETs originating from the MP layer.

Submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection for the treatment of esophageal submucosal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer: an analysis of 15 cases.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility of submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection of esophageal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer. METHODS: Fifteen patients with esophageal submucosal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer underwent submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection between August 2011 and February 2012. The key steps were: (1) creating a submucosal tunnel from 5 cm above the tumour between the submucosal and muscular layers with a hook knife or hybrid knife; (2) dissecting the tumour by the technique of endoscopic submucosal dissection; (3) closing the mucosal incision site with clips after the tumour was removed. RESULTS: Submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection was successfully performed in all cases. The en bloc resection rate was 100%. The average tumour diameter was 1.8 cm (range 1.0-3.0 cm). During the procedure, perforation occurred in 3 patients, who recovered after conservative treatment. No residual tumour or tumour recurrence was detected during the follow-up period (mean: 3.5 months, range: 1-9 months). Pathological diagnoses of these tumours were leiomyomas (12/15) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (3/15). CONCLUSIONS: Submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection is a feasible method for the treatment of small esophageal submucosal tumours originating from the muscularis propria layer.

Intramuscular injection of metoclopramide decreases the gastric transit time and does not increase the complete examination rate of capsule endoscopy: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Capsule endoscopy (CE) reaches the cecum in about 80% of cases. Decreasing the gastric transit time (GTT) may increase the complete examination rate (CER). METHODOLOGY: Patients (n=177) were prospectively randomized into 2 groups: the control group (n=88) and the intramuscular injection with metoclopramide (IIM) group (n=89). The OMOM CE system, which has the function of real-time monitoring, was used. The patients were injected with metoclopramide 15 minutes before swallowing the CE in the IIM group. The CE would be sent into the duodenum by gastroscopy if the GTT reached 120 minutes in the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted between the two groups. Of the 169 cases without gastroscopic help, the mean GTT was shorter in the IIM group (n=87) than the control group (n=82) (p=0.002). But the CER was similar. Of 135 cases without gastroscopic help but reached the cecum, the mean GTT was shorter in the IIM group (n=71) than the control group (n=64) (p=0.015). But the mean small bowel transit time (SBTT) was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Intramuscular injection of metoclopramide decreases the gastric transit time, but it does not change the SBTT or CER of capsule endoscopy in our study.