Assisted reproductive technology and physical activity among Chinese pregnant women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus in early pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

Currently, the number of pregnant women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and using assisted reproductive technology (ART) is increasing. The present study aims to explore the relationship between ART and physical activity in Chinese pregnant women at high risk for GDM in early pregnancy. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a regional teaching hospital in Guangzhou, China, between July 2022 and March 2023. Three hundred fifty-five pregnant women at high risk for GDM in early pregnancy completed the Chinese version of the Pregnant Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ), the Pregnancy Physical Activity Knowledge Scale, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale, the Pregnancy Physical Activity Social Support Scale, and a sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics data sheet. Compared to women who conceived naturally, women who used ART were more likely to be 35 years or older, unemployed, primigravidae, and to have intentionally planned their pregnancies. Women who used ART had significantly lower levels of physical activity and self-efficacy compared to their counterparts who conceived naturally. Over half (55.6%) of women who used ART reported being physically inactive, and those with lower self-efficacy, as well as the unemployed, were significantly more likely to be inactive. Physical inactivity is a critical clinical issue among women who use ART, especially in the context of GDM risk. Future research should develop and test physical activity programs, including enhancing physical activity self-efficacy for women who use ART. Patient or public contribution: In this study, survey questionnaires were completed by participants among Chinese pregnant women at high risk for GDM in early pregnancy.

WITHDRAWN: The relationship between self-directed learning readiness and problem solving in Chinese baccalaureate nursing students.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

Chinese baccalaureate nursing students' readiness for self-directed learning.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 536 Chinese nursing students to explore students' readiness for self-directed learning (SDL). The Self-Directed Learning Readiness (SDLR) Scale for nursing education (Chinese translation version) was used. The value of the content validity index tested by five experts was 0.915. A measure of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.925 on the total scale. Students possessed readiness for SDL with a mean score of 157.72 (S.D.=15.08, 62.3% in high level, and 37.7% in low level). The attributes of Chinese students, such as a strong sense of responsibility and perseverance, due diligence and rigorous self-discipline, enable students to take the initiative and responsibility for their own learning. The existing variation in students' readiness for SDL is helpful in identifying student characteristics that might be used to modify learning activities for these students. Senior students had higher scores for SDLR than junior students. This finding likely reflects the maturational process of developing self-directedness. Promoting SDL skills is a challenging process for faculty members and students. It is helpful if nurse educators assess the learning styles and preferences of their students in order to determine the level of SDL activities to include from year to year in the curriculum.

A systematic review of selected evidence on improving knowledge and skills through high-fidelity simulation.

A systematic review of the evidence published between 2000 and 2010 was undertaken using the following databases: CINAHL, ProQuest, MEDLINE, Science Direct, OVID and Chinese Academic Journal. Empirical studies determining the effects of high-fidelity simulation on knowledge and skills in nursing or medical education were considered. As a result, nine English and seventeen Chinese studies were retrieved. They included sixteen randomized controlled trails (RCTs), one nonrandomized-controlled trial, and nine quasi-experimental studies. The high-fidelity simulation did enhance the scores on knowledge and skill exams but its contribution to objective structured clinical evaluation is mixed. The majority of reviewed RCTs are of low methodological quality. It is necessary to conduct additional RCTs with larger sample sizes to determine whether performance can be enhanced by high-fidelity simulation.

Nursing shortage: the facts and strategies in Macao society.

Historically, Macao, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) in the People's Republic of China, has been troubled by a shortage of nurses. This shortage became especially severe during the period immediately after the handover of Macao from Portugal to the People's Republic of China in 1999. A fast-growing population, an aging population, the risk of epidemics, and competition for personnel with other industries have all contributed to this shortage. In recent years, Macao has implemented the following successful strategies to address the shortage: increased school enrollments, benefits, and professional development, along with the development of a clinical specialist program, a transition program for new graduates, and training for more certified nursing assistants. Strong government support and collaboration among all stakeholders have also served to enhance the nursing work force. In this article, the authors describe the nursing shortage in Macao SAR, discuss factors contributing to the shortage, and present strategies used to manage the shortage. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of increasing salary and professional status and providing transition programs for new graduates.

Attitudes toward urinary incontinence among community nurses and community-dwelling older people.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe attitudes toward urinary incontinence among nurses and community-dwelling older people. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Random samples of 100 community-dwelling persons older than 60 years and 100 nurses practicing in community health service centers were invited to participate in the study set in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to gather self-report data for this study. INSTRUMENTS: The UI Attitude Scale (UIAS) was used to measure attitudes toward UI. RESULTS: The response rate was 100% for all groups. Most respondents indicated that family support was important in dealing with UI (98% nurses, 83% older people), and UI is preventable (63% nurses, 56% older people). Nurses were more likely to perceive that UI can be effectively treated (92% vs 76% older people, P = .002), managed (91% vs 76% older people, P = .004) and hinders social interactions (88% vs 73% older people, P = .007) than community-dwelling adults. Older persons were more likely to perceive UI as shameful (32% vs 6% nurses, P = .000), their own fault (44% vs 4% nurse, P = .000), and frustrating to be taken care of (54% vs 15% nurses, P = .000). Older persons with UI were more unwilling to talk about incontinence(45% vs 17% nurses, P .000), and more often considered UI not serious enough to warrant treatment (29% vs 2% nurses, P = .000). CONCLUSION: The findings indicated a greater need for community education program on UI among community nurses and older people in China. Strategies to alter attitudes toward UI should be explored.

Nursing students' views on the effectiveness of problem-based learning.

A descriptive study was conducted with 28 nursing students in Macao and 23 nursing students in Shanghai to explore students' views on the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL). The PBL Evaluation Questionnaire was used. It used a 20-item self-report Likert scale with a 5-point response choice (1=ineffective and 5=very effective). The value of the content validity index tested by five experts was determined as one and the internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was 0.90. The test-retest reliability with a two-week internal check was 0.89. Two open-ended questions were asked to determine students' comments on the positive and negative features of PBL. The response rate was 100%. Overall, students considered PBL to be moderately effective with a mean of 3.58 (S.D.=0.52). Students from Macao considered PBL to be less effective than students from Shanghai. However, half of the Macao students and 21.74% of the Shanghai students indicated that PBL was a time-consuming and stressful process that involved an increased workload. A small number of students indicated that sometimes the information they received was vague and this resulted in a lack of student confidence. It is clear that the initial implementation of PBL is not always a smooth process. Tutors should be prepared to provide students with substantial support in developing their understanding of PBL, and help students develop appropriate strategies for coping and engaging in the PBL learning process.