Nursing for Women''s Health最新文献

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic disorder that affects 6% to 21% of women of reproductive age. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism, ano/oligo-ovulation, and ovarian cysts. Insulin resistance is a common finding among women with PCOS. To effectively manage PCOS, efforts must be focused on improving insulin resistance, as it has been noted to play a major role in a multitude of life-altering and life-threatening conditions. Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary intervention alternating between fasting and feasting. IF has been shown to improve insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperandrogenism, all of which contribute to the hormone imbalance and reproductive complications seen in women with PCOS. Current literature will be reviewed to demonstrate that IF may be a safe, nonpharmacologic intervention to manage PCOS.

Objective: To explore the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students who took either combined or separate maternity and pediatric courses.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study.

Setting: Two 4-year Catholic universities in northeastern suburban Pennsylvania, both offering a traditional bachelor of science in nursing program. University A offers a five-credit combined maternity and pediatrics course (three didactic and two clinical credits). University B offers two separate courses in maternity and pediatrics (each with two didactic and two clinical credits).

Participants: A total of 22 bachelor of science in nursing students participated: 18 who completed the combined course (University A) and 4 who completed the separate courses (University B).

Methods: Focus groups were used for data collection. Benner's concept theory From Novice to Expert served as the theoretical framework.

Results: Four themes emerged: Negative/Positive Experience, Convenience and Time Limitations, Mixed Emotions About Entering the Novice Phase in Maternity and Pediatrics, and Course Revisions to Optimize Learning.

Conclusion: The study highlights the impact of course structure on students' learning and perceived preparedness for clinical practice. Students in a combined course reported feeling overwhelmed, whereas those in separate courses did not report negative feelings. This study fills the gaps in the literature and offers practical implications for nurse educators and curriculum developers. A closer academic partnership with clinical agencies is recommended to enhance student readiness and promote safe, high-quality care in maternity and pediatrics.

Factor V Leiden is a genetic mutation that is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and is the most common of the five inherited thrombophilias. VTE is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, mostly due to mortality risk from pulmonary embolism. Factor V Leiden, particularly among homozygotes, figures significantly in the highest risk of VTE during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Current clinical guidelines from professional societies and international bodies often recommend different strategies for stratifying risk and reducing risk of VTE with thromboprophylaxis. This article provides an overview of the role of factor V Leiden and other risk factors for VTE during pregnancy and the postpartum period, approaches to screening and thromboprophylaxis, and practice implications for women's health nurses.

Acrylate allergic contact dermatitis is a growing concern, particularly among women exposed to nail cosmetics as consumers or professionals. Not all nail products carry equal risk. Repeated exposure to acrylates or improper curing can lead to symptoms resembling other forms of allergic contact dermatitis. Onycholysis is one common symptom that can be painful and slow to heal. Treatment of acrylate allergic contact dermatitis centers on acrylate avoidance and selection of alternative nail beautification methods. Nurses are positioned to educate and advocate for nail professionals, who are often marginalized and at heightened risk due to prolonged exposure and limited access to workplace protections. Nurses can also provide education on strict product avoidance, coach on nail care strategies, and provide emotional support.

Objectives: To determine the extent of stigmatizing attitudes among perinatal registered nurses in North Carolina, examine correlates of stigmatizing attitudes, and describe nurses' attitudes about patients with perinatal substance use disorder (PSUD).

Design: Explanatory sequential mixed methods.

Setting: Participants were recruited through the North Carolina Board of Nursing and included nurses providing care to patients with PSUD in any care setting in North Carolina.

Participants: Eighty-three nurses licensed with the North Carolina Board of Nursing completed the survey; nine of these participants were interviewed.

Methods: Nurses' attitudes were scored using the Modified Attitudes About Drug Use in Pregnancy (MADUP) scale, and a subsample completed semistructured interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: MADUP scale scores averaged 3.4 (SD = 0.8), and 33% of participants had stigmatizing attitudes toward patients with PSUD. Participants with a bachelor's degree or higher had more positive attitudes than those with a diploma or associate degree (b = -0.603, 95% CI [-1.117, -0.088], p = .022). Three stages emerged from the qualitative data illustrating a continuum in which nurses are positioned related to their knowledge and attitudes toward patients with PSUD.

Conclusion: There is a need for integrated, standardized nursing care and structural education to mitigate stigma toward patients with PSUD and to ensure quality care. A larger national study is recommended for more generalizability of the results.

Objective: To review examined health care-seeking behavior (HSB) and antenatal care (ANC) visits among pregnant adolescents from the perspectives of maternity health care professionals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). HSB was defined as the willingness and actions of pregnant adolescents to seek and use ANC services.

Data sources and study selection: Systematic searches in PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and ScienceDirect for articles published in English between 2013 and 2024. Eligible studies included qualitative research in LMICs addressing health professionals' perspectives on HSB and ANC. Of 2,149 records screened in Covidence, 1,043 duplicates were removed and 1,106 titles/abstracts reviewed. Twenty nine full texts were assessed, and 14 studies were included. Data extraction captured study characteristics and health care professionals' experiences.

Data extraction: A standardized data extraction tool was used to capture key study characteristics, including author, year, country, study design, population, theoretical framework, and health care professionals' experiences.

Data synthesis: The findings highlight the need for adolescent-friendly ANC services. Health care professionals, particularly midwives, emphasized the importance of respectful, accessible care tailored to adolescents' unique needs. However, many reported emotional strain and lack of specialized training to support this group. Although adolescents can make health decisions, access is often restricted by family control, stigma, and fear, especially for unmarried girls. Care seeking is more likely when adolescents experience health concerns, receive social support, and develop trust in providers. Barriers include financial hardship, limited knowledge, negative community or provider attitudes, cultural norms, long waiting times, policy constraints, and transportation challenges.

Conclusion: Emotional barriers, family dynamics, stigma, fear, financial and structural constraints, and limited provider capacity shape HSB and ANC use among pregnant adolescents in LMICs. To improve maternal outcomes among adolescents in LMICs, it is critical to implement adolescent-friendly ANC, enhance provider training, build trust, and address sociocultural and structural barriers to health care access.

Objective: To identify factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in midlife and older women with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome/hypermobility spectrum disorders (hEDS/HSD).

Design: Online, cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Online survey was administered to participants in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Facebook groups.

Participants: Women ages 40 years and older with a diagnosis of hEDS/HSD.

Methods: Online survey including demographic and health history; 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to measure HRQOL; and free-text questions related to things that reduced and improved well-being.

Results: Sixty-six women (mean age, 55 years) participated in the survey. Symptom onset was in childhood, but treatment was not sought until their late 20s. The mean age at diagnosis was the mid-40s; thus, the diagnosis was delayed by more than 18 years from the time participants first sought treatment. Comorbidities were common, with 62% of participants reporting seven or more comorbid diagnoses. The SF-36 scores indicated a high symptom burden and poor HRQOL, with worse mean scores in the physical domains compared to the mental domains. Symptom severity, treatment restrictions, environmental factors, comorbidities, and interactions with health care providers influenced HRQOL.

Conclusion: Nursing has an emerging role in research and education related to genetic syndromes and heritable connective tissue disorders, including hEDS/HSD, in midlife and older women. Future research should address the complex relationships among physical, social, personal, and environmental factors to maximize HRQOL in this population.