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Background: Pain and anxiety management in patients undergoing medical and surgical procedures is an important competence area for nurses. Aim: This study aimed to determine and compare the effects of virtual reality and acupressure interventions on pain, anxiety, vital signs and comfort levels in the process of femoral catheter extraction for patients undergoing coronary angiography. Methods: The study was a single‐blind, three‐group, randomized controlled trial conducted in the cardiology clinics of a university hospital in 2021. A total of 153 patients (51 virtual reality, 51 acupressure, 51 control) participated in the study. Data were collected using a Visual Analogue Scale, the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, a vital signs follow‐up form and the Perianesthesia Comfort Scale. Results: Both intervention groups had significantly lower pain and anxiety scores, as well as higher comfort scores, compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The virtual reality group had lower systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and pulse rate than the control group (p < 0.05). The acupressure group had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: While neither intervention group was found to be superior to the other, both interventions improved vital signs and comfort levels by reducing pain and anxiety. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Uncontrolled pain and anxiety during medical and surgical procedures may increase the risk of complications and have negative effects on the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems, leading to changes in vital signs and compromising patients' hemodynamics.Virtual reality has demonstrated its potential to restore cognitive attention capacities, enabling patients to remain engaged and mentally focused during procedures, and thus reducing pain and anxiety.Acupressure, as a non‐pharmacological intervention, involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to alleviate pain and anxiety. It constitutes a safe, side‐effect‐free and cost‐effective option for improving patient outcomes.What this paper adds? This paper contributes to the knowledge of virtual reality and acupressure interventions as non‐pharmacological approaches that nurses can safely incorporate within their independent professional roles.The study evaluates the effects of traditional acupressure and technological virtual reality interventions on patients, comparing the two interventions for the first time to the best of our knowledge. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, these procedures were applied for the first time in femoral catheter extraction after coronary angiography.The implications of this paper: This study emphasizes the positive impacts of virtual reality and acupressure interventions administered by nurses for patients undergoing medical procedures.Overall, the findings suggest that non‐pharmacological techniques such as virtual reality and acupressure can contribute to a similar degree in improving patient outcomes during medical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of solution‐focussed education and counselling on problematic internet usage, sleep quality and school achievement. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted between January ‐ December 2016 with 44 adolescents who participated in a solution‐focussed intervention to address their problematic internet usage and poor sleep quality. After the intervention, the teens were followed up for 6 months to measure problematic Internet usage, sleep quality and school achievement using the Internet Addiction Test, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Parent–Child Internet Addiction Scale and the students' end‐of‐term school grades. Data were analysed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences programme using Chi‐square test, Independent t test, Man–Whitney U test, Friedman test and Spearman correlation analysis. Results: The median Internet Addiction Test and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index scores of the adolescents in the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the controls (P < 0.05), and there was a positive and moderate association between problematic Internet usage and sleep quality in both groups after the follow‐up (r = 0.537, P = 0.010; r = 0.576 P = 0.005). Conclusion: The education and counselling intervention decreased problematic Internet usage and increased sleep quality. There was also an improvement in school achievement, but the difference was not significant. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Problematic internet usage is a common public health problem among adolescents, and it affects their physical, social and academic lives.There are some studies in the literature on the prevalence and treatment of problematic internet usage, but there are few on preventing its occurrence.Strengths‐based approaches in adolescent interventions encourage active learning. What this paper adds? A solution‐focussed approach was used for the first time in adolescents to prevent and manage problematic internet usage and accompanying problems.A programme of solution‐focussed health education and counselling was found to be an effective intervention for preventing problematic internet usage and some accompanying problems in adolescents. The implications of this paper: For the prevention and management of problematic internet usage school nurses should screen young adolescents for Internet addiction symptoms and accompanying problems.Nurses must have the benefit of multiple approaches to systematize health care in fulfilling their school health responsibilities.Health education programmes administered by school nurses to address Internet addiction in students can be based on solution‐focussed approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses are exposed to declining work ability and quality of life because of biological and environmental factors. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a self‐management programme based on an attitude–social influence–self‐efficacy model on work ability and quality of life for nurses aged 45 years and over. Methods: A parallel group trial design was used. Nurses who fitted the eligibility criteria of being aged 45 years and over were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. Data were collected between October 2017 and June 2018 at the hospital. The participants were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome in the study was the impact of age on work ability. Results: Each group consisted of 30 nurses. There were no dropouts, so all subjects were analysed. Compared with the baseline, the intervention group's work ability was higher. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of the amount of changes in Work Ability Index scores at the third month compared the baseline. Conclusion: The self‐management programme was effective in increasing the nurses' work ability and healthy lifestyle behaviours affecting their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This paper aims to describe the research protocol that will be used to determine the effectiveness of a health-social partnership intervention programme among community-dwelling older adults. Background Ageing in place is a preferred option for overcoming challenges of the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and the risk for hospitalization associated with the ageing population. Nevertheless, our knowledge of how to implement this concept is limited. The integrated efforts of health and social services may help to enable older adults to live with a sense of control over their daily life and to be independent to the fullest extent possible in the community. Design This is a randomized, controlled trial. Methods Participants are community-dwelling older adults referred from a community centre. Sample size calculation was based on power analysis. The intervention group will receive the programme with the standard protocols guided by a comprehensive assessment-intervention-evaluation framework. Home visits and telephones follow-up will be employed as means of conducting the interventions and monitoring their progress. The customary care group will receive placebo social calls. The duration of the interventions will be 3 months. The study was funded by the School of Nursing in Hong Kong. Research Ethics Committee approval was obtained in September 2014. Discussion The results of this research are expected to enable older adults to stay in the community with optimal health and well-being. Health and social sciences are integrated into the practice in this research protocol. The scarce literature on this topic means that this study can also provide an opportunity to bridge the caring gap among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bullying in nursing workplaces has been considered a serious problem that increases nurse turnover. Aim: To develop a cognitive rehearsal intervention for workplace bullying and examine its effects on nurses' bullying experiences and turnover intentions. Methods: We developed a smartphone application to cognitively train nurses to handle bullying situations in the workplace. This application included common bullying situations and appropriate non‐violent communication scenarios. A cluster quasi‐randomized trial was performed with 72 hospital nurses working in a university hospital in South Korea from November 2016 to January 2017. We measured workplace bullying experiences and turnover intention before intervention and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention in both intervention and control groups. Results: The cognitive rehearsal intervention developed in this study was effective for decreasing nurses' person‐related bullying, work‐related bullying experiences, and turnover intention. However, it had no effects on intimidation‐related bullying experiences. Conclusions: The smartphone application‐based cognitive rehearsal intervention can serve as a personal coping measure for person‐related and work‐related bullying among nurses. It is recommended that the intervention developed in this study be applied as a strategy to reduce nurse turnover. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Bullying in the nursing workplace is prevalent and a major cause of turnover.Cognitive rehearsals that reproduce specific situations and train positive coping skills can serve as an intervention for workplace bullying. What does this paper add? Cognitive rehearsal using smartphone applications is effective in lowering workplace bullying and turnover intention.Unit‐based intervention for workplace bullying can be implemented effectively. The implications of this paper: Cognitive rehearsal application can be used as a personal training tool.Workplace bullying scenarios can be applied in simulated nursing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of application of superficial local heat and a home exercise program on pain and function levels to patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This study was conducted in Turkey between January 2014 and February 2015. The sample group of the study consisted of 62 patients with osteoarthritis; 15 assigned to heat application, 15 to exercise, 15 to exercise after heat application, and 17 for the control group. While the patients in the control group received routine treatment only, the patients in the intervention group were treated with heat application, exercise, or exercise after heat application, suggested for 5 days a week for 4 weeks in addition to routine treatment. Results: In this study, all of the intervention groups had decreases in Visual Analogue Scale Pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain, stiffness, and function scores when compared with the control group. It was found that this decrease in Visual Analogue Scale Pain and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores was mostly in the exercise group, but this condition was not statistically significant. Conclusions: As a result, it is recommended that nurses train patients with osteoarthritis on heat application and home exercises and encourage them to apply these practices. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic musculoskeletal system disease characterized by pain and physical disabilities that affects joints, typically progresses bilaterally, and impairs quality of life.The most frequent symptoms of knee osteoarthritis are pain, stiffness, limited range of joint motion, motion restriction, joint deformity, and loss of function.The combination of heat application and exercise for knee osteoarthritis has been stated to reduce pain, ensure comfort, and enhance stiffness and physical function. What this paper adds? This study showed that application of heat and a home exercise program reduced pain and enhanced the functional level for patients with osteoarthritis.While Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index stiffness, pain, and disability subgroup scores decreased in all intervention groups (heat application, exercise after heat application, and exercise) post intervention, no change was found in the control group.Pain was significantly lower in all intervention groups post intervention. The implications of this paper: It is important for nurses to use nonpharmacological methods with high evidence levels in patient care.Nurses can train patients with osteoarthritis on application of heat and home exercise, which are easy‐to‐apply, cost‐effective, and efficient methods, and encourage them to do these practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]