Comparing factors related to perceived control and preventive behaviors from COVID-19 between Japanese and American nursing students: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: Higher levels of perceived control are important to maintain health. The difference in factors related to perceived control and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic between Japanese and American nursing students remains unknown. This study aimed to compare factors related to perceived control and infection preventive behaviors between the two countries. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included nursing students attending four universities in Japan and one in the United States. Using Google Forms, the participants answered a survey comprising sociodemographic data, the Perceived Control and Self-Efficacy Scale, the Perceived Health Competence Scale, and a preventive behavior questionnaire. The data were collected from November 2020 to May 2021. Linear and logistic regressions were used to analyze the factors related to perceived control and preventive behaviors, respectively. RESULTS: Data from 878 students were analyzed. University/campus emerged as a strong predictor for perceived control and preventive behaviors in both countries, with a positive correlation between perceived control and preventive behaviors. Older age, less frequent alcohol consumption, higher perceived health competence, less frequent work in Japan; and chronic conditions in the United States were associated with frequent preventive behaviors. Younger age was correlated with higher perceived control in Japan, while religion and increased workload were potential factors for American students. CONCLUSION: Individual factors were pivotal in Japan, whereas interpersonal factors were more likely related to perceived control in the United States. Additionally, in both countries, policy or organizational factors significantly influenced students' preventive behaviors.

Factors related to mental health effect among nursing students in Japan and the United States during the coronavirus pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

In the context of mental health, university students have been considered a vulnerable population. However, limited studies have underscored the association between preventive health behaviour levels and mental health effects among nursing students. The current cross-sectional study provides a comparative analysis of the impact of mental health factors on nursing students in Japan and the United States (US) in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study consisted of 878 participants, comprising both undergraduate and graduate nursing students from four universities in Japan, and one from the US. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to analyse the participant data in this study. In contrast to the American students, the Japanese students demonstrated significantly lower levels of perceived control and significantly higher levels of preventive health behaviours. Furthermore, Japanese students exhibited significantly higher levels of stress and/or symptoms of depression induced by the social distancing orders compared to the American students (z = -4.218, P < 0.001). However, no difference was observed after adjusting for perceived control, individual factors, socio-economic factors, and preventive behaviours. During the pandemic, risk factors that can worsen mental health among the nursing students included younger age [odds ratio (95%CI) = 0.62 (0.48-0.81)], women [OR = 2.17 (1.02-4.61)], higher preventive health behaviour [OR = 1.05 (1.02-1.08)], lower perceived control [OR = 0.97 (0.94-0.99)], and lower perceived health competence [OR = 0.93 (0.90-0.96)]. Thus, this study recommends establishing training programmes that enhance perceived control and perceived health competence while encouraging preventive behaviour to support the mental health of nursing students, particularly young female students.

Perceived Control, Preventative Health Behaviors, and the Mental Health of Nursing Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Perceived control is an individual's subjective beliefs about the amount of control he or she has over the environment or outcome. Objective: To examine the relationship between perceived control, preventive health behaviors, and mental health effects of undergraduate nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study used online self-administered questionnaires. Participants were nursing students attending 3 universities in Tokyo, Japan. Relationships among variables were quantitatively analyzed using linear regressions and a structural equation modeling after adjusting for demographic factors. Results: A total of 557 students participated in the survey. The analysis indicated that higher levels of perceived control were significantly related to higher levels of preventive health behaviors. Although higher preventive health behaviors were related to negative mental health effects, higher levels of perceived health competence translated to improved mental health effects. Perceived control was not directly related to mental health effects but positively related to perceived health competence. Long work hours per week and short hours of sleep per day were associated with lower preventive health behaviors. There were significant differences in the levels of perceived control and preventive health behaviors among students at the 3 universities. Discussion: To improve health behaviors and health competence and subsequently alleviate the mental health effects caused by strictly adhering to recommended health behaviors, students may be supported by the strategies that increase their perceived control. In addition to institutional support, students also require adequate sleep and financial stability to help prevent infections while protecting their mental health.

Risk factors and prevalence of symptoms of sexually transmitted infections in Rural Mayan Villages in Guatemala.

In this study, we identify and describe the risk factors and symptoms that are suggestive of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in rural Mayan villages of Guatemala. We used the World Health Organization's syndromic guidelines for diagnosis and management of STIs to design questionnaires and to identify STI symptoms among indigenous Mayans who presented to mobile clinics in villages served by Guatemala Village Health (GVH). Symptoms that include abdominal pain or pain on urination, genital discharge, itching and sores were highest among younger participants. Lack of male participation in sexual health matters constitutes an important determinant of risk of exposure.

Specialty-care access for community health clinic patients: processes and barriers.

INTRODUCTION: Community health clinics/centers (CHCs) comprise the US's core health-safety net and provide primary care to anyone who walks through their doors. However, access to specialty care for CHC patients is a big challenge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, semistructured interviews of 37 referral coordinators of CHCs were used to describe their perspectives on processes and barriers to patients' access to specialty care. Analysis of data was done using content analysis. RESULTS: The process of coordinating care referrals for CHC patients is complex and begins with a provider's order for consultation and ends when the referring provider receives the specialist's note. Poverty, specialist and referral coordinator shortages, lack of insurance, insurance acceptability by providers, transport and clinic-location factors, lack of clinic-hospital affiliations, and poor communication between primary and specialty providers constitute critical barriers to specialty-care access for patients. CONCLUSION: Understanding the complexities of specialty-care coordination processes and access helps determine the need for comprehensive and uninterrupted access to quality health care for vulnerable populations. Guaranteed access to primary care at CHCs has not translated into improved access to specialty care. It is critical that effective policies be pursued to address the barriers and minimize interruptions in care, and to ensure continuity of care for all patients needing specialty care.

Community health nursing advocacy: a concept analysis.

The purpose of this article is to present an in-depth analysis of the concept of community health nursing (CHN) advocacy. Walker and Avant's (2010) 8-step concept analysis methodology was used. A broad inquiry into the literature between 1994 and 2014 resulted in the identification of the uses, defining attributes, empirical referents, antecedents, and consequences, as well as the articulation of an operational definition of CHN advocacy. Model and contrary cases were identified to demonstrate the concept's application and to clarify its meaning. This analysis contributes to the advancement of knowledge of CHN advocacy and provides nurse clinicians, educators, and researchers with some conceptual clarity to help improve community health outcomes.

Maternal birth outcomes: processes and challenges in Anambra State, Nigeria.

The views of nurse experts and policymakers on maternal birth outcomes in Anambra State, Nigeria, were explored using qualitative content analysis. The findings indicate that although there are different levels of birth attendants in Anambra State, nurses attend to most deliveries; are highly favored; and are the most trusted obstetric providers among skilled personnel. Obstetric complications are extensive, leading to high mortality and morbidity. Poverty, gender inequity, and weak health systems-encompassing insufficiency of trained nursing workforce among other issues-intensify poor maternal birth outcomes.