Designing and Evaluating an Interactive Multimedia Web-Based Simulation for Developing Nurses’ Competencies in Acute Nursing Care: Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundWeb-based learning is becoming an increasingly important instructional tool in nursing education. Multimedia advancements offer the potential for creating authentic nursing activities for developing nursing competency in clinical practice.ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the design, development, and evaluation of an interactive multimedia Web-based simulation for developing nurses’ competencies in acute nursing care.MethodsAuthentic nursing activities were developed in a Web-based simulation using a variety of instructional strategies including animation video, multimedia instructional material, virtual patients, and online quizzes. A randomized controlled study was conducted on 67 registered nurses who were recruited from the general ward units of an acute care tertiary hospital. Following a baseline evaluation of all participants’ clinical performance in a simulated clinical setting, the experimental group received 3 hours of Web-based simulation and completed a survey to evaluate their perceptions of the program. All participants were re-tested for their clinical performances using a validated tool.ResultsThe clinical performance posttest scores of the experimental group improved significantly (P<.001) from the pretest scores after the Web-based simulation. In addition, compared to the control group, the experimental group had significantly higher clinical performance posttest scores (P<.001) after controlling the pretest scores. The participants from the experimental group were satisfied with their learning experience and gave positive ratings for the quality of the Web-based simulation. Themes emerging from the comments about the most valuable aspects of the Web-based simulation include relevance to practice, instructional strategies, and fostering problem solving.ConclusionsEngaging in authentic nursing activities using interactive multimedia Web-based simulation can enhance nurses’ competencies in acute care. Web-based simulations provide a promising educational tool in institutions where large groups of nurses need to be trained in acute nursing care and accessibility to repetitive training is essential for achieving long-term retention of clinical competency.     

A survey of approximal root concavities in an ethnic Chinese population

Eight hundred and forty teeth were surveyed, 60 approximal surfaces for each tooth type being studied. Approximal root concavities were completely absent in maxillary central incisors, in contrast with mandibular central incisors of which 73% had concavities on mesial surfaces and 93% on distal surfaces. Similarly, a markedly higher prevalence was found for mandibular lateral incisors and canines. However, mandibular first and second molars had fewer approximal concavities than their maxillary counterparts. In maxillary teeth, concavities were more frequent on distal surfaces, while for mandibular teeth no definite pattern was seen. In both maxillary and mandibular teeth, approximal concavities often started in enamel, extending down to the root surface. There were differences in the approximal root topography of Chinese teeth in comparison with other populations.     

Effects of illness perception on negative emotions and fatigue in chronic rheumatic diseases: Rumination as a possible mediator

BACKGROUNDIllness perception has long been hypothesized to be linked to psychological well-b eing in patients with rheumatic diseases, although substantial evidence is lacking, and the contribution of ruminative coping style to this relationship is unclear.AIMTo investigate the roles of illness perception and rumination in predicting fatigue and negative emotions in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases. METHODSIllness perception, rumination, fatigue and negative emotions (i.e. depression, anxiety and stress) were assessed by the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised, Stress Reactive Rumination Scale, Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue, and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale respectively. Multivariate regression analysis, the Sobel test, and the bootstrap were used to identify the mediating effect of rumination. RESULTSAll five subscales of illness perception, including perceived illness identity, chronicity, cyclical nature, consequences and coherence of illness, were significantly associated with fatigue and negative emotions. In mediational analysis, rumination was found to mediate three components of illness perception (the identity, cyclical nature and consequences of illness) and negative emotions/fatigue. CONCLUSIONPerceived identity, cyclical nature, and consequences of illness are significantly associated with fatigue and negative emotions in patients with chronic rheumatic diseases and these associations are mediated by rumination. Our findings suggest that psychological intervention should target rumination to improve physical and emotional well-being of patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.     

Self-reported alcohol use versus phosphatidylethanol in behavioral trials: A study of people living with HIV in Tshwane,South Africa

Background

Accurately quantifying alcohol use among persons with HIV (PWH) is important for validly assessing the efficacy of alcohol reduction interventions.

Methods

We used data from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to reduce alcohol use among PWH who were receiving antiretroviral therapy in Tshwane, South Africa. We calculated agreement between self-reported hazardous alcohol use measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; score ≥8) and AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C; score ≥3 for females and ≥4 for males), heavy episodic drinking (HED) in the past 30 days, and heavy drinking in the past 7 days with a gold standard biomarker--phosphatidylethanol (PEth) level (≥50 ng/mL)--among 309 participants. We used multiple logistic regression to assess whether underreporting of hazardous drinking (AUDIT-C vs. PEth) differed by sex, study arm, and assessment time point.

Results

Participants' mean age was 40.6 years, 43% were males, and 48% were in the intervention arm. At 6 months, 51% had PEth ≥50 ng/mL, 38% and 76% had scores indicative of hazardous drinking on the AUDIT and AUDIT-C, respectively, 11% reported past 30-day HED, and 13% reported past 7-day heavy drinking. At 6 months, there was low agreement between AUDIT-C scores and past 7-day heavy drinking relative to PEth ≥50 (sensitivities of 83% and 20% and negative predictive values of 62% and 51%, respectively). Underreporting of hazardous drinking at 6 months was associated with sex (OR = 3.504. 95% CI: 1.080 to 11.364), with odds of underreporting being greater for females.

Conclusions

Steps should be taken to decrease underreporting of alcohol use in clinical trials.