SELF-CARE PROGRAM FOR OLDER COMMUNITY-DWELLERS: PROTOCOL FOR A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract Aim: To report a trial protocol to determine if a self-care program enhances quality of life and sense of coherence in community-dwellers aged 65 years or over. Design: A randomized controlled trial with a two-group pretest and posttest will be conducted in a community activity center involving a sample of 64 community-dwellers who are 65 years or over. Methods: The intervention group will receive Resource Enhancement and Activation Program, a structured 12-week self-care program comprising 24 activities based on a salutogenic framework. The control group will receive the routine service. Both outcome and process evaluations will be used. Outcomes will be measured using standardized tools and these include quality of life, sense of coherence, satisfaction with life, activation measure, well-being, depression, loneliness and resilience. Focus group interviews will be conducted to explore participants' views on the program. Conclusion: This study will provide evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of a self-care program that is based on a salutogenic framework to promote quality of life and sense of coherence among older community-dwellers

Burnout, anxiety and depression in healthcare workers during the early COVID-19 period in Singapore

acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Development and psychometric testing of an instrument to compare career choice influences and perceptions of nursing among healthcare students

Background: With the availability of more healthcare courses and an increased intake of nursing students, education institutions are facing challenges to attract school leavers to enter nursing courses. The comparison of career choice influences and perception of nursing among healthcare students can provide information for recruitment strategies. An instrument to compare the influences of healthcare career choice is lacking. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an instrument to compare the influences of healthcare career choice with perceptions of nursing as a career choice. Methods: The study was conducted in two phases. In phase one, two sets of scales with parallel items that measure the influences of healthcare career choice and perceptions of nursing as a career choice were developed through an earlier qualitative study, literature review, and expert validation. Phase two involved testing the construct validity, concurrent validity and reliability with a convenience sample of 283 first year healthcare students who were recruited at two education institutions in Singapore. Results: An exploratory factor analysis revealed 35-parallel items in a six-factor solution (personal interest, prior healthcare exposure, self-efficacy, perceived nature of work, job prospects, and social influences) that explained 59 and 64% of the variance for healthcare career choice and nursing as a career choice respectively. A high correlation (r = 0.76, p \u3c 0.001) was obtained with an existing tool, confirming the concurrent validity. The internal consistency was sufficient with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93 for healthcare career choice and 0.94 for nursing as a career choice. The test-retest reliability was acceptable with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficient of 0.63 for healthcare career choice and 0.60 for nursing as a career choice. Conclusions: The instrument provides opportunities for understanding the differences between influences of healthcare career choice and perceptions of nursing as a career choice. This comparative understanding of career choice influences can guide educator and policy-makers on nursing recruitmen

Computer attitudes of nurses in a Singapore hospital

In nursing, the utilization of computers at work can have an impact on both practice and care of patients. Notwithstanding, anxiety can lead to resistance in nurses' learning and use of computers. Besides, the use of computers may be perceived to be dehumanizing, confusing and uncaring. Hence, some nurses distrust the appropriateness of computer technology as part of nursing and health care.Master of Educatio

Intellectual capital and its increasing relevance.

This project examines the effect of three factors -- information intensity of industry, number of employees and Internet capabilities -- on the value of Intellectual Capital. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested using financial data collected from a sample of 136 organisations. The results show that Intellectual Capital value is higher in high information intensity companies and that organisations should be aware of the importance of human capital to the intangible value of the firm

Back to the beginning: Perceptions of older Singaporean couples living alone

10.1111/nhs.12203Nursing and Health Sciences173402-40

Lending institutions and the entrepreneur : criteria for a successful business plan

A good, well-written business plan is essential when prospective entrepreneurs approach banks or investors for financing. But very often, many entrepreneurs underestimate how much having a good business plan can increase the likelihood of securing finance.BUSINES

A salutogenic program to enhance sense of coherence and quality of life for older people in the community: A feasibility randomized controlled trial and process evaluation

Objective: To determine the feasibility of a salutogenesis-based self-care program on quality of life, sense of coherence, activation and resilience among older community dwellers.Methods: This is a feasibility randomized controlled trial. Sixty-four older community-dwellers were recruited from a Singapore senior activity center and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group attended a 12-week Resource Enhancement and Activation Program. The outcomes were assessed with the Chinese versions of World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, Sense of Coherence, Patient Activation Measure, and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Process evaluation was conducted using focus groups with the intervention group.Results: At the end of the program, the intervention group showed significant improvement in the Sense of Coherence scale and the psychological subscale of the WHO Quality of Life scale compared with the control group. Three themes emerged from the process evaluation: participation in the program, reflection on the experience, and improving the experience.Conclusion: A salutogenic self-care approach could be a potential health promotion strategy for older people. Practice implications: With improved sense of coherence and psychological aspect of quality of life, older people's self-care ability may improve, leading to better health and better quality of life. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved