Southern online journal of nursing research最新文献

Recruiting rural African Americans for research presents special problems because of cultural differences, the view of researchers as cultural "outsiders", and transportation problems. This paper reports successful strategies in recruiting rural African American adults with type 2 diabetes for research studies. The researchers tested recruitment strategies commonly used in research, such as flyers, advertisements in local newspapers and radio stations. The researchers also encouraged referrals from medical professionals. When recruitment goals were not met, the researchers modified strategies. Twenty-two rural African American participants were recruited and randomly assigned to culturally-tailored Group or Individual Diabetes Self Management Education (DSME). The latter included storytelling and an interactive learning approach. The key recruitment strategies involved spending time in the community, visits to churches, and flyers to key leaders in the Black community. Enrolling rural African Americans required cultural competence, careful planning, and time in the community. Recruiting for clinical research is challenging and more difficult when targeting minority members in rural settings. Research in diabetes care is needed with rural African Americans because of high rates of diabetes, and limited health care access for this population. Effective recruitment and retention strategies are needed to test interventions to reduce health disparities.

Spirituality and self-efficacy both have been identified as factors that contribute to management of chronic illnesses and quality of life (QOL). For individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD), the lifespan is increasing, but adults report low self-efficacy, ineffective coping skills and poor QOL. The care of adult patients with SCD requires a complex, multidisciplinary team approach with a focus not only on physiological, psychological, and social needs, but also on spiritual needs. However, spirituality, self-efficacy and QOL have been little studied in individuals with SCD.This study explored the relationships among spirituality, self-efficacy, and QOL in adults with SCD. The study used a descriptive correlational design. Prospective participants, 18 years and older, were invited to participate in the study through a mail out and electronic survey.Individuals who reported high levels of spirituality and self-efficacy reported high levels of QOL. Self-efficacy and spirituality accounted for more than 50%, of the variance in QOL.This study provides information about the roles that spirituality, self-efficacy, and QOL play in the lives of adults with SCD and gives direction for developing holistic interventions.

Current standards and competencies guiding public health nursing (PHN) practice promote population-focused practice, but few studies have examined the extent to which change toward this type of practice has occurred. A cross-sectional, mail-back survey was conducted among public health nurses in Mississippi to examine recent changes in their practice, contextual factors related to population-focused practice, and recommendations for improving practice and educational preparation for practice. The survey response rate was 54% (n=150 [of 277]). Participants were predominantly female (95%), White (85%), 46 years or older (62%) and held an associate degree in nursing (69%). Most experienced nurses (n=106, 70%) reported perceived practice changes compared to five years prior, but did not consistently report changes toward greater population-focused practice. Participants reported funding decreases and negative effects on practice stemming from the nursing shortage. Recommendations for improving practice conditions included increasing resources, improving workplace environment and management practices, changing the focus of services, and promoting awareness of public health and PHN. Recommendations for improving education included providing more clinical experiences in public health settings and increasing financial supports and distance learning options. Additional research is needed to determine the nature and characteristics of population-focused PHN as practiced in Mississippi and elsewhere.