Nurse-led self-management education and support programme on self-management behaviour and quality of life among adults with type 2 diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

AIM: This study examined the preliminary effects of a nurse-led self-management education and support programme on the self-management behaviours and quality of life among people with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia. METHODS: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted between January and August 2021. Participants were recruited in the hospital and randomly assigned to the control arm to continue usual care (n = 38) or the intervention arm to receive usual care and the diabetes self-management education and support programme (n = 38) in the community. Self-management behaviours and quality of life were assessed using a 10-item summary of diabetes self-care activity (expanded) scale and a 34-item diabetes quality of life measure, respectively, at baseline and 2 months after follow-up. Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the preliminary effects of the programme on the outcomes. RESULTS: Preliminary results indicated that the programme outperformed usual care in self-management practise, with large effect sizes immediately postintervention and at 2 months after the intervention, and quality of life at 2 months after the intervention. CONCLUSION: A nurse-led diabetes self-management education and support intervention, including the families of people with diabetes, may be an option to boost the self-management practise and quality of life of patients with diabetes.

Effects of a culturally tailored, family-supported, community-based self management education and support programme on clinical outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia: A pilot randomised controlled trial.

AIM: To examine the preliminary effects of a culturally tailored, family-supported, community-based diabetes self management education and support (DSMES) programme for Ethiopian people with type 2 diabetes on glycosylated haemoglobulin (HbA1c ), blood pressure, body mass index and lipid profiles. METHODS: A two-arm pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted involving 76 participant-caregiver dyads from Western Ethiopia, which were randomly allocated to the intervention arm to receive 12 h of DSMES intervention guided by social cognitive theory on top of usual care, or to the control group, which received usual care. While HbA1c was a primary outcome, the blood pressure, body mass index and lipid profiles were secondary outcomes. Primary outcome was the change in HbA1c between baseline and 2-month follow-up between the groups. Generalised estimating equations was used to test the preliminary effect of the DSMES programme on the outcomes at baseline, post-intervention and at 2-month follow-up for secondary outcomes. Cohen's d was used to estimate the between-group effect sizes of the intervention. RESULTS: The DSMES produced significant improvement in HbA1c with large effect size (ß = -1.667, p < 0.001, d = -0.81) and triglycerides with medium effect size (d = -0.50). HbA1c in the intervention group was decreased by 12 mmol/mol (1.1%). Although nonsignificant, the DSMES also had small to moderate effects (d = -0.123 to 0.34) on blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol, low-density and high-density lipoproteins when compared with usual care. CONCLUSION: A culturally tailored, social cognitive theory-guided, family-supported, community-based DSME programme could have a benefit on HbA1c and triglycerides. A full RCT is warranted to test the effectiveness of the DSMES programme.

Mediating role of self-efficacy between unmet needs and quality of life in palliative cancer caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: Although unmet support needs are associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer caregivers, little is known about the mechanism underlying the relationship between two variables. The self-efficacy (SE) theory and literature suggest that caregiving SE is important in the perception of and reaction to caregiving demands, which in turn affects HRQOL. The aim of this study was to examine whether caregiving SE mediates the relationship between unmet support needs and HRQOL in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients. METHODS: This secondary analysis used the data from 125 family caregivers of palliative cancer patients who were recruited from two public hospitals in Hong Kong. The caregivers completed a survey questionnaire that covered socio-demographic characteristics, unmet support needs, caregiving SE, and HRQOL. Parallel mediation analyses were conducted via SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4) to test the hypothesized models. RESULTS: The direct effect of unmet support needs on mental HRQOL was significant (effect = -0.49, 95% CI = -0.06 to -0.92). For the indirect effect, only caregiving SE in the domain of 'care for the care recipient' mediated the relationship between unmet support needs and mental HRQOL (effect = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.08 to -0.59). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that caregiving SE may function as a mechanism through which unmet support needs influence mental HRQOL in family caregivers of palliative cancer patients. Healthcare providers should consider developing supportive care interventions to improve caregivers' HRQOL by incorporating effective strategies to enhance SE and reduce unmet needs for this population.

The effect of a lifestyle intervention program using a mobile application versus the effect of a program using a booklet for adults with metabolic syndrome: A three-arm randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The research aimed to examine the effect of a lifestyle intervention program using mobile application versus booklet for adults with metabolic syndrome in Hong Kong. The outcomes comprised body weight (primary outcome), exercise amount, improvement of cardiometabolic risk factors, cardiovascular endurance, perceived stress scale, and exercise self-efficacy. DESIGN: A three-arm randomized controlled trial namely App group, Booklet group, and control group was adopted. METHODS: Two hundred sixty-four adults with metabolic syndrome were recruited from community centers from 2019 to December 2021. Inclusion criteria are those adults with metabolic syndrome, able to use a smart phone. All participants received a 30-min health talk. App group additionally received a mobile application, while Booklet group received a booklet, and the control group received a placebo booklet. Data were collected at baseline, Weeks 4, 12, and 24. SPSS and generalized estimating equations (GEE) model were employed for data analysis. FINDINGS: Attrition rates were minimal, ranged from 2.65% to 6.44%. Both app and booklet group showed significant improvement in outcomes (exercise amount, waist circumference) when compared to control group. However, statistically significant and superior results were observed in app group, including body weight, exercise amount, waist circumference, body mass index, and systolic blood pressure when compared to booklet group. CONCLUSION: The lifestyle intervention supported with app was found to be superior to the booklet support for reducing body weight and maintaining exercise. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The lifestyle intervention program using mobile application support could be used widely for adults with metabolic syndrome in the community. Suggest nurses may incorporate this program in their health promotion strategies focusing on a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of progression to metabolic syndrome.

Development and evaluation of a multimedia intervention to promote cervical cancer prevention among South Asian women in Hong Kong.

Objective: The uptake of cervical cancer screening among South Asian ethnic minorities is low, rendering them at higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Interventions should, therefore, be developed to enhance their knowledge of this disease and its prevention. We developed and implemented a Health-Belief-Model-based and culturally sensitive multimedia intervention for South Asian women in Hong Kong, and evaluated its feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness using the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance framework.Design: At post-intervention, a short survey was conducted to assess the participants' perceptions of the acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention. Focus group and/or telephone interviews with persons-in-charge of community organizations were conducted to collect feedback on the intervention's effectiveness and long-term sustainability.Results: The intervention was implemented successfully in partnership with 54 community organizations, of which 51 expressed a willingness to continue doing so at their centers. 1061 South Asian women received the intervention through attendance at the 51 health talks held. Over 90% of them agreed that the intervention was acceptable and effective.Conclusions: The intervention appeared to be feasible, and is potentially effective in enhancing participants' knowledge of cervical cancer and self-efficacy in undergoing screening.

Implications of COVID-19 on the Loneliness of Older Adults in Residential Care Homes.

With little understandings on the loneliness of older adults in residential care homes structured by social contact restrictions, the provision of person-centered care was jeopardized during the pandemic. This study employed hermeneutic phenomenology to explore the lived experiences of loneliness of this population during a 5-month period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted unstructured face-to-face interviews with 15 older adults living in seven residential care homes. Thematic analysis was guided by Van Manen's approach. The essence of loneliness was uncovered as "A deprived sense of self-significance in a familiar world contributes to older adult's disconnection with prior commitments." A sub-theme "From collapse to dissolution of self-understanding" revealed how COVID-19 structured their loneliness. Another sub-theme, "Restoring meanings by establishing connections with entities" illustrated the ways to mitigate loneliness during the pandemic. Activities fostering alternative self-interpretation are important to protect older adults against loneliness.

The effects of diabetes self-management interventions on physiological outcomes in people living with diabetes in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: To examine the effects of diabetes self-management interventions on physiological outcomes among people living with diabetes in Africa compared with patients receiving usual care. METHODS: Relevant databases including PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched from inception to 28 September 2019, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults living with diabetes in Africa. Nine RCTs were included in the review, and the quality of the studies was assessed using Cochrane's collaboration risk of bias tools. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of the outcomes showed the significant effects of diabetes self-management interventions on blood pressure, total cholesterol and body mass index, whereas non-significant and inconclusive results were obtained for waist circumference and glycosylated haemoglobin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The diabetes self-management interventions (DSM) effectively improved many physiological outcomes, but their effectiveness in HbA1c was inconclusive, suggesting a need for modifications in DSM interventions for African people living with diabetes.

A nurse-led, community-based self management program for people living with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia: A feasibility and pilot study protocol.

AIM: To develop and examine the preliminary effects of a nurse-led, community-based diabetes self management education and support program on clinical outcomes, self care behaviours, quality of life and family support through a pilot randomized controlled trial among adults living with type 2 diabetes in Western Ethiopia. METHODS: A two-arm parallel-group pilot randomized controlled trial involving participant-caregiver dyads will be conducted. A total of 76 dyads will be recruited, with 38 dyads randomly allocated to the intervention arm receiving six sessions of the diabetes self management education and support program supported by an educational handbook, flier and video on top of the usual care; the control arm will continue to receive the usual care. The intervention will be guided by social cognitive theory and related international guidelines for diabetes management, addressing misconceptions, using culturally tailored foods and involving family members in the intervention. Participants will be recruited at Nekemte Specialized Hospital over 2 months. Nurses will deliver the intervention in the community in Nekemte, western Ethiopia. Diabetes self​ care behaviour, quality of life, family support, glycosylated haemoglobin, body mass index, blood pressure and lipid profiles will be assessed. Descriptive statistics will summarize the sociodemographic variables of the dyads; people living with diabetes' clinical outcomes, self care behaviours, quality of life and the level of family support; family caregivers' behaviours; and the acceptability level. Cohen's d will be computed to estimate the effect size. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry prospectively registered the trial, and the registration number was ChiCTR2000040292.

A phase Ib/IIa, open-label, multiple ascending-dose trial of domagrozumab in fukutin-related protein limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: In this study we report the results of a phase Ib/IIa, open-label, multiple ascending-dose trial of domagrozumab, a myostatin inhibitor, in patients with fukutin-related protein (FKRP)-associated limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. METHODS: Nineteen patients were enrolled and assigned to one of three dosing arms (5, 20, or 40 mg/kg every 4 weeks). After 32 weeks of treatment, participants receiving the lowest dose were switched to the highest dose (40 mg/kg) for an additional 32 weeks. An extension study was also conducted. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Secondary endpoints included muscle strength, timed function testing, pulmonary function, lean body mass, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. As an exploratory outcome, muscle fat fractions were derived from whole-body magnetic resonance images. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of domagrozumab increased in a dose-dependent manner and modest levels of myostatin inhibition were observed in both serum and muscle tissue. The most frequently occurring adverse events were injuries secondary to falls. There were no significant between-group differences in the strength, functional, or imaging outcomes studied. DISCUSSION: We conclude that, although domagrozumab was safe in patients in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2I/R9, there was no clear evidence supporting its efficacy in improving muscle strength or function.

Reliability, validity and acceptability of the traditional Chinese version of the carer support needs assessment tool in Hong Kong palliative care settings.

BACKGROUND: Among the few existing needs assessment tools for family carers, the 14-item Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) is the only brief and holistic needs screening tool designed for everyday use in palliative care practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and acceptability of the traditional Chinese version of the CSNAT in palliative care settings in Hong Kong. METHODS: This adopted a cross-sectional and correlation design with repeated measures. The participants were 125 family carers of palliative cancer patients and 10 healthcare providers (HCPs) that were recruited from two local hospitals. The evaluation of psychometric properties included the following: (1) content validity through HCPs including frontline physicians, nurses, social workers, and clinical psychologists; (2) construct validity between the CSNAT items and those of the validated tools that measured caregiver burden, social support, and caregiving self-efficacy; and (3) one-week test-retest reliability in a sub-sample of 81 caregivers. The acceptability of the tool was assessed by the carers using several closed-ended questions. RESULTS: The content validity index of the CSNAT at the scale level was 0.98. Each item of the CSNAT was significantly and moderately correlated with caregiver burden (Spearman's r = 0.24 to 0.50) and caregiving self-efficacy (r = - 0.21 to - 0.52), but not for social support. All CSNAT items had fair to moderate test-retest reliability (weighted kappa = 0.21 to 0.48), with the exception of two items "managing your relatives' symptoms, including giving medicines" and "having time for yourself in the day". Regarding the acceptability of the CSNAT, almost all HCPs were willing to use the CSNAT for carer assessment and support. 89.6% of the carers demonstrated a comprehensibility of the CSNAT tool and 92.9% felt comfortable answering the questions. Around 90% of the carers agreed to use the tool for screening, discussing needs, and making referrals. CONCLUSION: The traditional Chinese version of the CSNAT is a tool with high validity and acceptability and adequate reliability that measures family carers' support needs, which should be considered for wide application in local palliative care practices.

Development of a multimedia intervention to improve pneumoconiosis prevention in construction workers using RE-AIM framework.

Pneumoconiosis is a common occupational lung disease among construction workers. Educational interventions targeting specific ethnic groups of construction workers are of benefit for pneumoconiosis prevention. The aim of this study was to develop a multimedia educational intervention for pneumoconiosis prevention for South Asian construction workers, and to evaluate its feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness in increasing knowledge of pneumoconiosis, modifying beliefs about pneumoconiosis, and enhancing intention to implement measures for its prevention among the workers. This evaluation was performed using the Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance framework. A one-group design was adopted and intervention mapping was used to guide the process of intervention development, while the Health Belief Model guided the development of intervention content. The intervention was delivered at construction sites, ethnic minority associations and South Asian community centres. Data were collected via surveys completed at pre-intervention, post-intervention and 3 months after the intervention. A total of 1002 South Asian construction workers participated in the intervention. The participants reported a moderate-to-large increase in knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, cues to action and self-efficacy (Cohen's d: 0.37-0.89), a small reduction in perceived barriers (Cohen's d = 0.12) and a moderate improvement in attitudes and intention to practice (Cohen's d: 0.45, 0.51) at post-intervention. A follow-up survey of 121 participants found that the implementation of preventive measures appeared to increase. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the implementation of a culturally adapted multimedia educational intervention could be an effective approach to improving knowledge, self-efficacy and intention regarding pneumoconiosis prevention among South Asian construction workers.

Broadening learning communities during COVID-19: developing a curricular framework for telemedicine education in neurology.

BACKGROUND: In response to the cancellation of clinical clerkships due to COVID-19, the Johns Hopkins (JH) Neurology Education Team developed a virtual elective to enhance medical students' clinical telemedicine skills and foster community between academic institutions. METHODS: This two-week clinical elective, entitled "Virtual Patient Rounds in Neurology," was administered once in April 2020 and once in May 2020. The curriculum included attending/fellow-led Virtual Rounds, Student Presentations, and Asynchronous Educational Activities. We also developed a new lecture series entitled JHNeuroChats, which consisted of live synchronous lectures presented by JH faculty and Virtual Visiting Professors. Trainees and faculty from outside institutions were invited to participate in the JHNeuroChats. Students and faculty completed pre- and post-elective surveys to assess the educational impact of the elective. Student's t-tests were used to compare scores between pre- and post-elective surveys. RESULTS: Seven JH medical students enrolled in each iteration of the elective, and an additional 337 trainees and faculty, representing 14 different countries, registered for the JHNeuroChats. We hosted 48 unique JHNeuroChats, 32 (66.7%) of which were led by invited Virtual Visiting Professors. At the end of the elective, students reported increased confidence in virtually obtaining a history (P < 0.0001) and performing a telehealth neurological physical exam (P < 0.0001), compared to the start of the course. In addition, faculty members reported increased confidence in teaching clinical medicine virtually, although these findings were not statistically significant (P = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the constraints imposed by COVID-19, this virtual Neurology elective increased medical students' confidence in certain telemedicine skills and successfully broadened our learning community to encompass learners from around the world. As virtual medical education becomes more prevalent, it is important that we are intentional in creating opportunities for shared learning across institutions. We believe that this elective can serve as a model for these future educational collaborations.

Longitudinal functional and imaging outcome measures in FKRP limb-girdle muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic variants in the FKRP gene cause impaired glycosylation of α-dystroglycan in muscle, producing a limb-girdle muscular dystrophy with cardiomyopathy. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiology of FKRP-associated myopathies, clinical research in the limb-girdle muscular dystrophies has been limited by the lack of normative biomarker data to gauge disease progression. METHODS: Participants in a phase 2 clinical trial were evaluated over a 4-month, untreated lead-in period to evaluate repeatability and to obtain normative data for timed function tests, strength tests, pulmonary function, and body composition using DEXA and whole-body MRI. Novel deep learning algorithms were used to analyze MRI scans and quantify muscle, fat, and intramuscular fat infiltration in the thighs. T-tests and signed rank tests were used to assess changes in these outcome measures. RESULTS: Nineteen participants were observed during the lead-in period for this trial. No significant changes were noted in the strength, pulmonary function, or body composition outcome measures over the 4-month observation period. One timed function measure, the 4-stair climb, showed a statistically significant difference over the observation period. Quantitative estimates of muscle, fat, and intramuscular fat infiltration from whole-body MRI corresponded significantly with DEXA estimates of body composition, strength, and timed function measures. CONCLUSIONS: We describe normative data and repeatability performance for multiple physical function measures in an adult FKRP muscular dystrophy population. Our analysis indicates that deep learning algorithms can be used to quantify healthy and dystrophic muscle seen on whole-body imaging. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02841267) on July 22, 2016 and data supporting this study has been submitted to this registry.

Effectiveness of an individual acceptance and commitment therapy for smoking cessation, delivered face-to-face and by telephone to adults recruited in primary health care settings: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of delivering an individual Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for smoking cessation among a Chinese population. METHODS: Participants were recruited from six primary health care centers. A total of 144 were eligible to take part in the study and agreed to be randomized to the intervention (ACT) group (n = 70) and control group (n = 74), respectively. Both groups received self-help materials on smoking cessation. The ACT group also underwent an initial face-to-face session and two telephone ACT sessions at 1 week and 1 month following the first session. They were re-contacted through telephone follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months by research assistants. The primary outcome was self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at the 12-month follow-up session. Other outcomes included biochemically validated quitting, quitting attempts, the intention to quit, the self-perception of quitting, and psychological flexibility. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the self-reported 7-day point prevalence quit rate at the 12-month follow-up between the intervention group (24.3%) and the control group (21.6%) (risk ratio = 1.12; 95%CI = (0.62, 2.05); p = 0.704). Greater improvements in secondary outcomes from baseline to the 12-month follow-up were observed in the ACT group than in the control group, including a forward progression in the participants' readiness to quit smoking (p = 0.014) and increased psychological flexibility (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first evidence of a randomized-controlled trial on the adoption of an individual ACT for smoking cessation, delivered initially in primary health care settings and subsequently by telephone within a Chinese population. The present study found that the brief ACT intervention could not produce a significant quit rate but was promising in terms of bringing about cognitive changes, including greater psychological flexibility, and more confidence about quitting, when compared to the use of self-help materials only among the general population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered prospectively with the U.S. National Library of Medicine: ( NCT01652508 ) on 26th July 2012.

A nurse-led lifestyle intervention using mobile application versus booklet for adults with metabolic syndrome-Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS: To compare the effect of a lifestyle intervention programme using mobile application versus booklet for adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) living in the community. DESIGN: A multisite randomized controlled trial with three parallel arms, namely metabolic syndrome app group, booklet group, and control group. METHODS: The research study has been supported by the Health and Medical Research fund in Hong Kong in 2019. The protocol was approved by the study university and the selected community centres. Three hundred and sixty subjects will be recruited from community centres and randomized into either one arm. Inclusion criteria are those adult with MetS, able to use a smart phone. All participants received a 30-min health educational session. App group participants will receive a mobile application while booklet group participants will receive a specific booklet of MetS care and the control group receive a placebo booklet only. The primary outcomes comprises of body weight. The secondary outcomes include total physical exercise, cardiometablolic risk factors, cardiovascular endurance, self-efficacy for exercise, and stress level. Data will be collected at baseline, weeks 4, 12, and 24. SPSS and generalized estimating equations model will be employed for data analysis. DISCUSSION: Metabolic syndrome is a common health problem associated with the heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and the risks are potentially amenable to lifestyle intervention. The results will compare the relative effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention using an app versus a booklet on physical and psychological outcomes for adults with MetS. IMPACT: What problem will the study address? The results will inform the healthcare professional and nurses about the effective way for health promotion, to enhance patient's lifestyle modification and exercise sustainability that will be beneficial to the clients' health.

Psychometric properties of a modified cultural awareness scale for use in higher education within the health and social care fields.

BACKGROUND: Cultural awareness and cultural competence have become important skills in higher education as populations continue to grow in diversity around the world. However, currently, there are few instruments designed to assess student awareness of the aspects of culture, and the existing instruments need further development and testing for use with different target populations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the psychometric properties of a modified version of the Cultural Awareness Scale (CAS) for use in higher education within the health and social care fields. METHODS: A modified version of the CAS was developed, which was tested psychometrically using cross-sectional data. In total, 191 undergraduate students from different health and social care undergraduate programs in Sweden and Hong Kong responded to a call to test the modified instrument. RESULTS: The results showed that the modified CAS is a four-factor measure of cultural awareness and possesses satisfactory internal consistency. Results also support the use of the modified CAS as a generic tool to measure cultural awareness among students in higher education within the health and social care fields. CONCLUSION: The modified CAS showed satisfactory psychometric properties and can be recommended as a generic tool to measure cultural awareness among students in higher education within the health and social care fields. However, further psychometric testing on the effectiveness of the modified CAS as a tool to evaluate the efficacy of cultural awareness interventions is required.

The effectiveness of a modified advance care planning programme.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a natural consequence of the aging process. With the increasing aging population in Mainland China, the quality of life and end-of-life care for frail older people need to be taken into consideration. Advance Care Planning has also been used worldwide in long-term facilities, hospitals and communities to improve the quality of end-of-life care, increase patient and family satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs and hospital admissions in Western countries. However, it has not been practiced in China. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Advance Care Planning intervention in certainty of end-of-life care, preferences for end-of-life care, quality of life concerns, and healthcare utilization among frail older people. RESEARCH DESIGN: This study used a quasi-experimental design, with a single-blind, control group, pretest and repeated posttest approach. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: A convenience sample of 74 participates met the eligibility criteria in each nursing home. A total of 148 frail older people were recruited in two nursing homes in Zhejiang Province, China. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study received ethical approval from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee, the Faculty of Medicine, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, CREC Ref. No: 2016.059. FINDINGS: The results indicated the Advance Care Planning programme was effective at increasing autonomy in decision making on end-of-life care issues, decreasing decision-making conflicts over end-of-life care issues, and increasing their expression about end-of-life care. DISCUSSION: This study promoted the participants' autonomy and broke through the inherent custom of avoiding talking about death in China. CONCLUSION: The modified Advance Care Planning intervention is effective and recommended to support the frail older people in their end-of-life care decision in Chinese society.

Effects of a Web-Based Educational Support Intervention on Total Exercise and Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Adults With Coronary Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: eHealth educational programs have proven to be an effective means for health promotion, yet limited studies have been conducted for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients to improve their total physical exercise, self-efficacy for exercise, and cardiovascular risk factor profile. METHOD: A prospective randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in two cardiac clinics in Hong Kong. Four hundred thirty-eight eligible CHD clients were randomly assigned to either the control or the intervention group. All of the participants received standard care, which consisted of regular medical and nursing care in the cardiac clinic. The intervention group received an additional web-based educational support intervention (eHES), which consisted of a 20-minute individual educational session on the use of the eHES web link. The eHES web link contains a health information platform related to CHD care and an individual member area with records of health measures and physical exercise data for six months. Data were collected at baseline, at three-month and six-month intervals at the cardiac clinic. The primary outcome was the total amount of physical exercise, measured by the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were self-efficacy for exercise and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers (body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile). The data were analyzed using a generalized estimating equations model. RESULTS: The intervention group reported a statistically higher amount of physical exercise and a higher HDL-C at 3 and 6 months, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the groups in self-efficacy for exercise and other CVD risk markers. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the eHES in meeting the challenge of boosting the amount of physical exercise and increase HDL-C among CHD patients who engaged for over three months. The results provide insight for eHealth development to support and promote exercise among CHD patients in the community.

Advancements in magnetic resonance imaging-based biomarkers for muscular dystrophy.

Recent years have seen steady progress in the identification of genetic muscle diseases as well as efforts to develop treatment for these diseases. Consequently, sensitive and objective new methods are required to identify and monitor muscle pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging offers multiple potential biomarkers of disease severity in the muscular dystrophies. This Review uses a pathology-based approach to examine the ways in which MRI and spectroscopy have been used to study muscular dystrophies. Methods that have been used to quantitate intramuscular fat, edema, fiber orientation, metabolism, fibrosis, and vascular perfusion are examined, and this Review describes how MRI can help diagnose these conditions and improve upon existing muscle biomarkers by detecting small increments of disease-related change. Important challenges in the implementation of imaging biomarkers, such as standardization of protocols and validating imaging measurements with respect to clinical outcomes, are also described.

A feminist phenomenology on the emotional labor and morality of live-in migrant care workers caring for older people in the community.

BACKGROUND: Global societal changes, such as increasing longevity and a shortage of family caregivers, have given rise to a popular worldwide trend of employing live-in migrant care workers (MCWs) to provide homecare for older people. However, the emotional labor and morality inherent in their interactions with older people are largely unknown. The aim of the present study is to understand the corporeal experiences of live-in migrant care workers in the delivery of emotional labor as seen in their interactions with older people by: (1) describing the ways by which they manage emotional displays with older people; and (2) exploring their morality as enacted through emotional labor. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis drawing on feminist phenomenology to thematically analyze data from interviews with 11 female MCWs. Follow-up interviews were conducted with 10 participants. The participants had two to 15 years of experience in caring for older people in their homes in Hong Kong. RESULTS: Performing emotional labor by suppressing and inducing emotions is morally demanding for live-in MCWs, who experience socio-culturally oppressive relationships. However, developing genuine emotions in their relationships with older people prompted the MCWs to protect the interests of older people. Through demonstrating both fake and genuine emotions, emotional labor was a tactic that live-in MCWs demonstrated to interact morally with older people. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional labor allowed live-in MCWs to avoid conflict with older people, and to further protect their own welfare and that of others. This study highlights the significance of empowering live-in MCWs by training them in ways that will help them to adapt to working conditions where they will encounter diverse customs and older people who will develop an increasing dependence on them. Thus, there is a need to develop culturally appropriate interventions to empower live-in MCWs to deliver emotional labor in a moral manner.