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Backgrounds: Gynaecological cancer survivors may develop lower limb lymphoedema after surgery, which negatively impacts quality of life. The purposes of this study were (1) to assess the levels of symptom distress, depression, body image, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL); (2) to recognize factors associated with HRQoL related in gynaecologic cancer survivors with lower limb lymphoedema. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with convenience sampling of gynaecologic cancer survivors with lower limb lymphoedema. Gynaecologic cancer survivors were assessed for symptom distress, depression, body image, and HRQoL. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to recognize the factors associated with HRQoL. Independent-samples t-test was used to compare symptom distress, depression, body image, and HRQoL by grade of lymphoedema. Results: The most common distressing symptoms of lower limb lymphoedema were lower extremity oedema, lower extremity tightness, and lower extremity stiffness. Worse HRQoL was associated with more symptom distress, less satisfaction with body image, a high grade of lymphoedema, and a longer duration of lower limb lymphoedema. These factors explained 76.5% of the variance in HRQoL. Gynaecologic cancer survivors with late grade lymphoedema experienced lower HRQoL and higher levels of symptom distress, depression, and greater dissatisfaction with body image than those who had early grade lymphoedema. Conclusions: Symptom distress had the strongest association with overall HRQoL and with all individual domains of HRQoL, except mental function. These results suggest that educating gynaecologic cancer survivors to assess lower limb lymphoedema-related problems, providing symptom management, and guiding survivors in physical activity to relieve lower extremity discomfort can improve HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the adaptation of probation period of employment on the aboriginal nursing student graduates in health care institutions in Taiwan. It mentions the confidence and influences felt by these student graduates in their job which incited them to engage with leisure and social activities to cope with their stresses following the probation period. It also notes their willingness to seek for solutions when facing difficulties during their employment.

Aims and objectives. To examine the psychometric properties of the Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale. Background. Sleep disturbances are an extensive and common problem among menopausal women. However, no unique and specific scale has yet been developed to detect the inductive symptoms distresses that cause poor sleep quality for menopausal women. Design. A cross-sectional design. Methods. The Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale was based on in-depth interviews with menopausal women and literature review. Convenience sampling was employed. One hundred and fifty three women participated in this study. Exploratory factor analysis, concurrent validity and contrasting group validity were used to examine the validity of the Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale. Cronbach's a was conducted to test the reliability. The accuracy of the scale was analysed with the receiver operating characteristic from MED CALC version 10.4.8.0 software. The scale's sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were analysed to locate the best cut-off point. Results. One factor was generated by Exploratory factor analysis, and this factor explained 49-07% of total variance. In addition, the Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale had significant positive correlations with the Greene Climacteric Scale and the self-evaluation of menopausal symptoms scale. Cronbach's a of the Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale was 0-89. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy probability of the scale's receiver operating characteristic curve was 0-85. The best cut-off point was three with a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 87%. Conclusions. The Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale had good reliability and validity, as well as refined indicators for assessing the tool's accuracy. Relevance to clinical Practice. The Menopausal Symptoms Distress Affecting Sleep Quality Scale is easy to use, can quickly detect the sleep conditions of menopausal women who suffer from menopausal symptom distress, and provide efficient nursing interventions to relieve menopausal symptom distresses, and then improve sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To develop the newly designed thermal gown to test the effectiveness in relieving postoperative hypothermia as compared to traditional cotton cloth. Background Hypothermia is a common problem after spinal surgery. A patient's safety and comfort are significant. Currently, most research is focused on instruments that relieve a patient's hypothermia. Studies have rarely considered a patient's comfort while caring for their body temperature. Design This study employed an experimental design. The participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the experimental group ( N = 50) and the control group ( N = 50). Methods The experimental group received the newly designed thermal gown intervention. The control group received the standard postanaesthesia care unit re-warming intervention. The material used to collect data included demographic data, postoperative management and comfort level. Nurses measured patients' vital signs and asked for patients' subjective comfort level on admission to the postanaesthesia care unit every 10 minutes until their discharge from the postanaesthesia care unit. Result The accumulated percentage for thermal gown group patients in reaching 36 °C during the first 20 minutes of admission was significantly higher than that of the cotton cloth group. The thermal gown group individuals showed significantly higher comfort levels (score = 4) at 10 minutes, when compared to the cotton cloth group. Conclusion Results suggested that the newly designed thermal gown had effectively improved postoperative temperature and comfort level with an evidence-based intervention. Relevance to clinical practice Maintaining a patient's body temperature is a major task for nurses working in the post-anaesthesia care unit. With the newly designed thermal gown, the duration of a patient's stay in the postanaesthesia care unit was shortened and the patient's comfort was increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]