Mediating effect of job performance between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions among hospital nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A path analysis.

Background: Nursing shortages are a persistent and concerning problem for the nursing workforce worldwide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional stressors and workloads and has worsened nursing shortages. Aim: To investigate interrelationships among emotional intelligence, job performance, and turnover intentions of nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and explore the mediating effect of job performance between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. In total, 673 nurses working in a medical centre hospital in northern Taiwan were recruited from November 2020 to April 2021. An anonymous questionnaire was used in this survey. Data were collected using a seven-item turnover intention scale, a 16-item emotional intelligence scale, a 24-item job performance scale, and demographic questions. A path analysis was performed. This study was based on STROBE guidelines. Findings: Statistically significant correlations between turnover intentions and emotional intelligence (r = -0.10, p = 0.012), between turnover intentions and job performance (r = -0.13, p = 0.002), and between emotional intelligence and job performance (r = 0.54, p < 0.001) were detected. Model fit indices were adequate. Job performance had a significant indirect effect between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions (ß = -0.16, p = 0.011). Discussion: It was found that job performance was a mediator between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions during the pandemic. The study results support the need to continue to create healthy work environments. Conclusion: These results can assist hospitals in developing specific evidence-based interventions such as showing appreciation and providing acknowledgments to reduce turnover of their nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3D Virtual Reality Smartphone Training for Chemotherapy Drug Administration by Non-oncology Nurses: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chemotherapy agents are cytotoxic materials. Thus, there is a need for the operators to be familiar with the knowledge and procedures before operation. We conducted a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of an immersive 3D VR teaching of chemotherapy administration operated in a smartphone coupled with a visual and audio device. We adopted a two-arm single-blind design and recruited 83 nurses, and they were randomized using a cluster approach. The VR group learned chemotherapy administration through VR, while the controlled group learned through document reading. The Knowledge and Attitude of Chemotherapy Administration (KACA) was administrated before the intervention, while the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and the Checklist of Action Accomplishment (CAA) were administrated one month after the intervention. The VR group scored higher than the controlled group in the CAA (95.69 ± 5.37 vs. 91.98 ± 9.31, p = 0.02) and the OSCE (73.07 ± 10.99 vs. 67.44 ±10.65, p = 0.02). Stepwise regression demonstrated that service years, an education level of undergraduate or above, and VR exposure contributed positively to the OSCE score (adjusted R2 = 0.194, p = 0.028). The use of VR improves the learning efficacy of chemotherapy administration in non-oncology nurses. We recommend using VR as a teaching tool for chemotherapy administration and other chemotherapy-related skills in a VR learning group with senior nurses with higher education levels as advisors. The study provides an approach to online training, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CONSORT 2010 guidelines, registry number: NCT04840732).

Effect of hyaluronic acid on radiodermatitis in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Radiodermatitis is commonly experienced by patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, affecting their quality of life and potentially leading to cancer treatment postponement. Recently, people who use natural substances to treat radiodermatitis have attracted more and more attention. However, there is no unanimous conclusion to follow. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared hyaluronic acid with other topical agents in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for eligible articles. The primary outcome indicating symptom relief was a decreased radiodermatitis grade. The secondary outcome indicating symptom relief was preference and desquamation. The study is registered with PROSPERO (number: CRD42021237793). RESULTS: Eight RCTs that together enrolled 500 patients were analyzed. Six studies assessed the radiodermatitis grade and found significant differences in three of eight subgroups. The subgroups comparing hyaluronic acid with phytosterol, omega-3, 6, 9, and vitamin E showed significantly lower risk ratios. In two subgroups, the effect of hyaluronic acid was not significantly different from that of grapevine extract and Avene thermal water. The remaining three studies reported that other topical agents exerted a nonsignificantly better effect than hyaluronic acid did. Physicians' preference was better for the control group, while the patients' preference for hyaluronic acid was better, and there was no statistical difference. In addition, our study showed that desquamation events were few in the hyaluronic group. CONCLUSIONS: Hyaluronic acid can show a better effect than other topical drugs and the lower incidence in desquamation events. Since hyaluronic acid has no obvious side effects, we recommend it as one of the alternative options. Further research is required to evaluate this effect comprehensively.

A low-glycemic load diet reduces serum C-reactive protein and modestly increases adiponectin in overweight and obese adults.

Low-glycemic load (GL) diets improve insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis in individuals with diabetes. Less is known about whether low-GL diets, independent of weight loss, improve the health profile for persons without diabetes or other preexisting conditions. We conducted a randomized, cross-over feeding study testing low- compared to High-GL diets on biomarkers of inflammation and adiposity in healthy adults. Eighty participants (n = 40 with BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m²; n = 40 with BMI 28.0-40.0 kg/m²) completed two 28-d feeding periods in random order where one period was a high-GL diet (mean GL/d = 250) and the other a low-GL diet (mean GL/d = 125). Diets were isocaloric with identical macronutrient content (as percent energy). All food was provided and participants maintained weight and usual physical activity. Height, weight, and DXA were measured at study entry and weight assessed again thrice per week. Blood was drawn from fasting participants at the beginning and end of each feeding period and serum concentrations of high-sensitivity CRP, serum amyloid A, IL-6, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. Linear mixed models tested the intervention effect on the biomarkers; models were adjusted for baseline biomarker concentrations, diet sequence, feeding period, age, sex, and body fat mass. Among participants with high-body fat mass (>32.0% for males and >25.0% for females), the low-GL diet reduced CRP (P = 0.02) and marginally increased adiponectin (P = 0.06). In conclusion, carbohydrate quality, independent of energy, is important. Dietary patterns emphasizing low-GL foods may improve the inflammatory and adipokine profiles of overweight and obese individuals.

[Providing care to an elephant leg patient: a nurse's experience].

This article reports on the experience of nurses who provided nursing care to a woman who had recently immigrated to Taiwan from Mainland China. The woman suffered from chronic lymphedema, and had previously received surgical treatment for the condition. The period of nursing care ran from June 10th through September 9th, 2008. Nursing care experience focused on the two care issues of anxiety and health seeking behavior. During the nursing process, we expressed empathy, encouraged the patient to express her feelings, and provided disease-related information. We successfully resolved the patient's anxiety problem. The patient learned to use distraction to help relieve pain. The patient also participated in a rehabilitation program to improve her blood circulation. We tracked the patient's rehabilitation progress through e-mail correspondence. We hope that this complete nursing experience can serve as reference in caring for patients facing similar problems in the future.