Randomized,controlled trial of a brief family‐centred care programme for hospitalized patients with bipolar disorder and their family caregivers

Family interventions have been emphasized in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BPD) due to the bidirectional and entangled relationships between patients and the family system, and have benefits for patients’ symptoms and health; however, the effects of family interventions on family function and caregivers’ health‐related outcomes have not been well investigated. This randomized, controlled trial with 47 hospitalized patients with BPD/family caregiver dyads at a medical centre in northern Taiwan compared the effects of a brief family‐centred care (BFCC) programme with treatment as usual (TAU). All of the family caregivers in two groups were invited to attend a routine 60‐min family discussion group about violence and suicide prevention. The TAU group without specific family interview for patient and family caregiver dyad. In the BFCC group, four 90‐min BFCC programme sessions were additionally provided twice a week for each hospitalized family dyad. We hypothesized that, first, family caregivers in the BFCC group could increase their family function, and second, improve perceived health status and reduce caregiver's burdens compared to the TAU. The results showed that family caregivers in the BFCC group significant interaction effects in overall family function (P = 0.03) and subscale conflict (P = 0.04), communication (P = 0.01), and problem‐solving (P = 0.04), but there were no significant interaction effects on the caregivers’ perceived health status and caregivers’ burdens. Our findings support both the feasibility of using the BFCC programme for inpatients and its specific benefits for family function. An intensive family intervention during hospitalization has been suggested in psychiatric practice to support patients with BPD and family caregivers.     

Measuring self‐efficacy to deal with infertility: Psychometric properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the portuguese version of the infertility self‐efficacy scale

This study explores the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Portuguese version of the Infertility Self‐Efficacy Scale (ISE‐P), using translation and back‐translation of the original version; principal component analysis; confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); and internal consistency, and test–retest reliability analyses. A total of 287 participants (156 women and 131 men) seeking medical treatment were recruited from public and private fertility centers. CFA revealed that the single‐component model fit the data well. The instrument showed excellent internal consistency, good test–retest reliability, and correlations with other mental health measures suggesting good convergent and discriminant validity. In conclusion, The ISE‐P is a valid and reliable Portuguese‐language measure of perceived self‐efficacy to cope with infertility. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 36:65–74, 2013     

Psychometric properties of the Norwegian Person‐centred Climate Questionnaire from a nursing home context

Background: The physical and psychosocial environments in nursing homes influence the residents’ everyday life as well as their well‐being and thriving. The staff’s perceptions of and relationships with the residents are crucially important to quality care. Quality care is described often as person‐centred. Few measurement tools exist that focus on person‐centred care in nursing homes. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Person‐centred Climate Questionnaire–Staff version (PCQ‐S). Design: This study had a cross‐sectional survey design. Participants and Settings: Two hundred and nine healthcare and support staff in five nursing homes in the eastern part of Norway. Methods: The Swedish PCQ‐S was translated into Norwegian with forward and backward translation. The relevance of the items included in the questionnaire was assessed by an expert panel of 10 nursing home care staff, because the questionnaire has not been used in this context previously. A psychometric evaluation using statistical estimates of validity and reliability was performed. The discriminatory capacity of the questionnaire was also tested. Results: The content validity index was satisfactory (0.78). The PCQ‐S showed high internal consistency reliability in that Cronbach’s α was satisfactory for the total scale (0.92) and the three subscales (0.81, 0.89 and 0.87). The test–retest reliability was also satisfactory as evident from a Spearman’s correlation coefficient of 0.76 (p < 0.01) between the total PCQ scores at test and retest. The Norwegian version retained the original factor structure of the Swedish version. Conclusion: As the psychometric evaluation showed satisfactory validity and reliability scores, this study supports the Norwegian version of the PCQ‐S when applied to a sample of nursing home staff.     

Psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Attitude Towards Deliberate Self‐Harm Questionnaire

The attitude of nurses and treatment staff is crucial in the treatment of patients who self‐harm. However, many patients experience that attitude as negative. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Attitude Towards Deliberate Self‐Harm Questionnaire. A total of 261 questionnaires were used to measure validity and reliability. Sensitivity to change was measured using a post‐test measurement (n = 171) and a subgroup of 78 participants were given the questionnaire twice for test–retest measurement. Factor analysis revealed four factors explaining 33% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha values ranged 0.585–0.809, with 0.637 for the total scale. Intraclass correlation coefficient was assessed in order to estimate test–retest reliability, revealing the questionnaire was stable over time; the exception was factor 3, which had a value of 0.63. Sensitivity to change was found for the total score, factor one and two, and for three of the five items of factor three. We conclude that the Dutch version of the Attitude Towards Deliberate Self‐Harm Questionnaire possesses adequate psychometric properties and is potentially an acceptable instrument for measuring the attitude of nurses and health‐care staff towards patients who self‐harm in Dutch‐speaking countries.     

The use of educational video to promote maternal self‐efficacy in preventing early childhood diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is responsible for high rates of infant morbidity and mortality. It is multifactorial, manifested by socioeconomic, hygienic, and maternal factors. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of an educational video on maternal self‐efficacy for the prevention of childhood diarrhoea. This was a randomized trial conducted in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Participants were 2 groups (comparison and intervention), composed of mothers of children under 5 years of age. Group membership was allocated by cluster randomization. Outcomes were maternal self‐efficacy measured using the Maternal Self‐efficacy Scale for Prevention of Early Childhood Diarrhoea; outcome data collectors were blinded to group allocation. Ninety participants were randomized to each group; 83 intervention group and 80 comparison group members were contained in the final analysis. Maternal self‐efficacy in preventing childhood diarrhoea increased in both groups, but average scores of the intervention group were higher at all time than those of the comparison group. The educational video had a significant effect on maternal self‐efficacy.