Objective: To explore the perceptions of sleep quality, levels of fatigue, and cognitive executive function in women shift workers.
Design: Qualitative, descriptive study of a sample of participants who participated in a cross-sectional, mixed-methods study.
Setting: Online focus groups.
Participants: Women shift workers (N = 14) recruited from the southeastern United States.
Methods: Four focus groups were conducted using the Zoom online videoconferencing platform. Transcripts were coded inductively, and data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.
Results: Five major themes were developed from the data: Lots of Sleep Lost, Day Sleep Difficulties, Negative Consequences, Missing Out, and Not in My Own Thoughts.
Conclusion: Shift work is associated with sleep loss, which has a negative impact on women's emotional, mental, and physical health. Further nursing science investigation into strategies to enable women to improve their sleep quality, sleep quantity, and social/domestic environment is warranted. Education to increase sleep knowledge and decrease accidents and errors that can result from insufficient sleep is vital.
Objective: To examine the diagnosis experience in an international sample of people with lean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Design: Cross-sectional study with open-ended questions.
Setting: Online.
Participants: A total of 150 people with lean PCOS who met eligibility criteria.
Measurements/intervention: An electronic survey was distributed on social media. Survey questions were adapted from previously published research. Categorical data were analyzed as count and proportions. Chi-square tests were used to examine factors associated with diagnosis experience satisfaction. Post hoc analysis was conducted using adjusted standardized residuals. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. Qualitative data were analyzed with an inductive thematic approach.
Results: Approximately 49.0% (n = 72) of participants reported diagnosis experience dissatisfaction, 72.8% (n = 99) disagreed that there is adequate information about lean PCOS, and 80.2% (n = 109) disagreed that health professionals have adequate knowledge about lean PCOS. Significant associations were found between length of time to diagnosis and diagnosis satisfaction (p = .001, χ2 = 18.133, df = 4, Cramer's V = 0.258) and number of medical professionals seen and diagnosis satisfaction (p < .001, χ2 = 18.095, df = 2, Cramer's V = 0.362). Main PCOS concerns included irregular menstrual cycles (n = 108, 72.0%), hormone imbalance (n = 97, 64.7%), and anxiety (n = 74, 49.3%). Qualitative analyses revealed that participants received limited PCOS management information and felt providers were dismissive of them.
Conclusion: The diagnosis experience for people with lean PCOS includes high feelings of dissatisfaction. Opportunities exist to expand education about lean PCOS among students and clinicians, provide quality resources to support lifestyle modification in patients with lean PCOS, and listen to the needs of each individual. Future research should further examine the lean subset of people with PCOS.
To explore the feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefits associated with a mind–body intervention and varied delivery styles among women during the postpartum period.
Mixed-methods feasibility study.
Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.
Forty-three women (93% White), with an average age of 32.1 (SD = 2.9) years, who had given birth within the last 6 months.
Participants were randomized to three physical activity groups. Validated questionnaires were administered before and after the 12-week intervention. Attendance and feasibility metrics and qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted to assess the intervention.
The intervention and trial were partially feasible, and retention to the intervention was high; however, adherence as assessed by attendance was lower than expected. There was high acceptability among those in the group-based, in-person intervention. There was moderate acceptability among those in the individual, home-based asynchronous program.
Findings highlight the necessity of better understanding what is desired by this population or simply providing more options to participants so that we can tailor physical activity to their needs and provide the necessary support.
The rates of human milk feeding are suboptimal worldwide. Recommendations for healthy, term mother–infant dyads include early breastfeeding initiation, frequent skin-to-skin contact, and frequent breastfeeding. The normal physiology of lactation can be affected by prenatal factors such as diabetes, obesity, and excessive gestational weight gain. Furthermore, birth-related factors such as early-term gestation, stressful labor, unscheduled cesarean birth, and postpartum hemorrhage can additionally disrupt recommended practices such as early initiation of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. Given that the first 2 to 3 days postpartum are critical to achieving timely secretory activation and establishing an adequate volume of milk, a proactive approach to care can include building awareness of risk factors and development of protocols for the effective early initiation of lactation.