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Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and reliability of the modified Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument in an English‐speaking population. Background: There is growing evidence that self‐management behaviours can improve outcomes for people with chronic kidney disease. However, there are few suitable instruments available. Design The study was cross sectional, with a test–retest protocol. Method: Adults with chronic kidney disease attending a primary health care between June and December 2015 completed the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument. Construct validity was determined using exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency and test–retest reliability using Cronbach's α and intraclass correlation. For convergent validity, the relationships between knowledge, self‐efficacy and self‐management were investigated. Results: The Australian version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument has 17 items grouped into four factors: self‐integration, seeking social support, adherence to lifestyle modification and problem solving. The instrument demonstrated good reliability. Self‐efficacy was positively correlated with self‐management scores, although there was no correlation between chronic kidney disease knowledge and self‐management. Conclusions: The Australian version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument was found to be a valid and reliable patient‐reported outcome measure. It can be used in clinical practice to support self‐management, as well as future research. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The burden of chronic kidney disease is rising mostly due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.Chronic kidney disease progression can be slowed with effective self‐management behaviours.Patient‐reported outcome measures need testing in target populations prior to implementation in clinical settings and research. What this paper adds? The Australian version of the Chronic Kidney Disease Self‐Management instrument demonstrated good validity and reliability in the target population.The instrument is suitable to use in research testing interventions to improve self‐management of chronic kidney disease. The implications of this paper: Clinicians can use this patient‐reported outcome measure to assess for changes in CKD self‐management behaviours following patient education.The instrument can be used to identify individuals in need of support for self‐management skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Health literacy is an important predictor of health outcomes. The Health Literacy Questionnaire has been widely adopted to measure health literacy and has been translated into multiple languages including Chinese. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the simplified Chinese Health Literacy Questionnaire. Methods: Data were obtained from a sample of 362 Chinese immigrants from Chinese community organizations in New South Wales, Australia. Statistical analyses include descriptive and exploratory factor analyses. Results: A seven‐factor solution was derived from 39 of the original 44 items, all with acceptable to excellent internal consistency but differing from the original construction. The health literacy subscale scores were negatively associated with age and with age at immigration, but positively associated with duration of stay (years) in Australia, better English proficiency and current employment. Differing interpretations of the questions based on Chinese culture could possibly explain the variations between the two versions. Conclusion: The simplified Chinese Health Literacy Questionnaire measures some central concepts of health literacy well. However, the questionnaire may require further development, especially in linguistic and cultural aspects. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The Health Literacy Questionnaire has been translated and validated in multiple languages with good reliability and validity. What this paper adds? The study addresses issues that may be related to cultural adaptation and language interpretation of the simplified Chinese version of the Health Literacy Questionnaire. The implications of this paper: It is important for researchers and clinicians to evaluate the cultural sensitivity of translated questionnaires within the specific context before application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term Non-Medical Surgical Assistant (NMSA) encompasses all roles where healthcare clinicians without a medical degree provide clinical services during the perioperative cycle. The role of NMSA is gaining momentum within Australia. It is timely to ascertain who is preforming the role and quantify the practice setting and scope of practice to enable a nationally recognised platform for role evolution. For two months in 2015 a NMSA Practice Audit was available online. Sampling was initially of a convenience modality. A total of 83 clinicians responded. The majority of NMSAs were experienced RNs [>11yrs]; held post-graduate qualifications [80%], practiced predominantly in metropolitan areas [65%] and had been performing the role for 8 years or less. The specialty with the highest uptake of the NMSAs is orthopaedic surgery. This paper provides an overview of NMSAs practicing in Australia and provides cost effective evidence of the need for this service in Australian healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Middleton S, Gardner G, Gardner A, Della P, Gibb M, Millar L. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 517-524 The first Australian nurse practitioner census: A protocol to guide standardized collection of information about an emergent professional group Internationally, collection of reliable data on new and evolving health-care roles is crucial. We describe a protocol for design and administration of a national census of an emergent health-care role, namely nurse practitioners in Australia using databases held by regulatory authorities. A questionnaire was developed to obtain data on the role and scope of practice of Australian nurse practitioners. Our tool comprised five sections and included a total of 56 questions, using 28existing items from the National Nursing and Midwifery Labour Force Census and nine items recommended in the Nurse Practitioner Workforce Planning Minimum Data Set. Australian Nurse Registering Authorities ( n = 6) distributed the survey on our behalf. This paper outlines our instrument and methods. The survey was administered to 238 authorized Australian nurse practitioners (85% response rate). Rigorous collection of standardized items will ensure health policy is informed by reliable and valid data. We will re-administer the survey 2 years following the first survey to measure change over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of breast cancer patients will experience some level of emotional distress, with some patients having long‐term psychological maladjustment. Personal and social resources play a role in recovery yet the interplay between these factors warrants further examination. This study aimed to investigate the interaction of psychosocial factors impacting women in their breast cancer trajectory, at 2 years or less following diagnosis (stages I‐III). Design A longitudinal cohort study approach was used in this study. Methods: The sample consisted of n = 49 participants. Data were collected between June 2013 and October 2013 and followed for 12 months across the trajectory of the disease. Results: The mean age was 56.6 years (SD 11.6 years). Most participants had stage I or stage II breast cancer. Time (over three time points—4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months) after diagnosis was significantly associated with the body image (P = .003) and age (P = .004). Conclusion: Older women with breast cancer reported less concern regarding body image than their younger peers. These findings suggest that posttreatment younger women may require access to psychological support posttreatment. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? The majority of breast cancer patients experience some level of emotional distress, with some patients having long‐term psychological maladjustment.Personal resources (ie, self‐image, optimism, and perceived control) and social resources (ie, social support) play a central role in recovery.The interplay between the personal and social resources is not well known particularly in the first 2 years postdiagnosis What this paper adds? Older women with breast cancer reported less concern regarding body image than their younger peers.Older women also experienced more positive future perspectives when compared with younger women.Younger women appeared less adaptive psychologically. The implications of this paper: There are known psychological impacts for women who have breast cancer, and nurses are well placed within their scope of practice to undertake routine mental state examination of these patients.Younger women who have breast cancer in particular may require additional psychological supports during the first 2 years postdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop a model of factors influencing meeting family needs when a relative was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Background: Studies identify individual factors impact on the needs of family members with a relative in ICU. No studies have reported on relationships between these factors and/or the extent of influence of multiple factors on family needs. Design: Observational, correlational, and predictive study design. Methods: Data were collected from August 2013 to June 2014 using validated scales and a demographic tool. The setting was a large tertiary referral hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Structural equation modelling was undertaken. Results: One hundred and seventy ICU family members participated. Factors included in the developed model were consistent with the literature. Family member anxiety had direct and significant influence on ICU family needs (β = 0.21). Gender was also found to have direct influence (β = 0.19), suggesting female family members were more likely to report needs being met. Family member coping self‐efficacy (β = −0.40) and family member depression (β = −0.33) were mediating variables. Discussion: Interventions to meet family needs within the ICU should take into account family member levels of anxiety, depression, and coping self‐efficacy with consideration of gender. Further model validation is required to confirm findings. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Families experience a crisis when a loved one is admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).While the literature identifies many factors influencing meeting ICU family needs, it is not clear which demographic, psychological, or information‐related factors are directly and/or indirectly associated with meeting family needs.Relationships between the factors are also unclear.What this paper adds? Development and testing of a multivariate prediction model to highlight factors that have direct, indirect, and mediating influence on meeting family needs while their relative is in ICU.The implications of this paper: Factors of family member's level of anxiety and depression, coping self‐efficacy, and gender have significant influence directly and/or indirectly on meeting family needs.Additional research is needed to validate the model.The factors identified in this study should be taken into consideration when developing interventions to meet family needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]