Journal of Holistic Nursing Science

Nurses are never gone or forgotten: Breaking barriers to enhance nursing care with technology

Eka Sakti Wahyuningtyas — 2024-09-30

In recent years, healthcare systems around the world have undergone significant transformation, and the integration of technology into nursing care is at the forefront of this evolution. From electronic health records (EHR) to telemedicine, technology is reshaping the way nurses deliver care, improving patient outcomes, and enhancing efficiency. However, as promising as these advancements are, there remain significant barriers that must be overcome to fully leverage the potential of technology in nursing. This editorial explores these challenges and how they can be addressed to pave the way for more effective, patient-centered care. One of the most significant barriers to the adoption of technology in nursing is the lack of adequate infrastructure. Many healthcare settings, particularly in low-resource environments, lack the necessary equipment, reliable internet connectivity, or even the technical support needed to implement advanced technological solutions. Without these foundational resources, even the most innovative tools cannot be effectively utilized, leaving nurses and patients at a disadvantage.

Keywords: Healthcare systems; health records; nursing development; patient care; telemedicine; telehealth

Unveiling nurses' expertise in disability care: A cross-sectional quantitative analysis

Aisyah Iffah Ulayya — 2024-01-11

Nurses often face challenges in addressing the needs and issues related to persons with disabilities (PwDs) due to gaps in their knowledge. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge among hospital nurses regarding PwDs and to identify variations in knowledge based on demographic characteristics. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional design, the research involved 386 nurses from RSUP dr. Sardjito, all with a minimum of a D3 education and over one year of experience. Data were collected from January to February 2021 using a Self-Administered Questionnaire focused on Knowledge of Health Care Professionals about PwDs. The analysis, conducted with Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, revealed a median knowledge score of 19.00 (range: 5.00-23.00), with scores varying from 0 to 23. Notably, nurses' knowledge was significantly associated with their experience in caring for PwDs (p = .006). However, no significant differences were found in relation to age, gender, education level, contact with PwDs, or prior disability training. Findings indicate that many nurses are unaware of critical issues such as the risk of discrimination faced by disabled individuals, the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities to manage personal affairs, and the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to managing children with disabilities. Overall, while nurses’ knowledge of PwDs is generally good, there is a clear need for targeted programs to enhance their knowledge and experience in disability care. Implementing such programs could bridge the existing gaps and improve the quality of care provided to PwDs.

Keywords: Disability care; nursing process; clinical experiences; community nursing; supporting programs

Revolutionizing home care with SIRAMAH: A smart system for supporting family members with mobility impairments

Catur Novihantoro — 2024-06-23

Many families independently care for patients with physical mobility disorders at home. One effective intervention to enhance family caregivers' knowledge and skills is the implementation of a telenursing application. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SIRAMAH telenursing application in improving the knowledge and skills of families caring for individuals with physical mobility impairments. The research was conducted in two stages. The first stage involved designing the telenursing system using a prototype method. In the second stage, the system was tested using a Pre-Experimental One Group Pretest-Posttest design. A simple random sampling technique was employed, with 30 family caregivers participating. The application was assessed through Black-Box testing, with content validity evaluated by experts. The Aiken index value (V) was 0.76, indicating high validity, while the application received a 78% validity rating from experts and a 90% rating from general respondents. Results showed a significant improvement in both knowledge and skills following the intervention. The average knowledge score increased from 58.00 before the intervention to 78.67 afterward. Similarly, the average skill score rose from 64.93 to 92.10. Statistical analysis revealed that the SIRAMAH telenursing application significantly enhanced the knowledge and skills of family caregivers (p < 0.001). The SIRAMAH telenursing application has proven to be a feasible and effective tool for improving the care provided by families to individuals with physical mobility impairments at home. The application meets the required feasibility standards and successfully boosts caregivers' knowledge and skills.

Keywords: Caregivers; mobility disorders; telenursing; skills of family; home care

Optimizing self-management and quality of life for patients living with diabetic foot ulcers: Insights from Indonesia

Niken Safitri Dyan Kusumaningrum — 2024-06-23

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are chronic wounds on the lower extremities of individuals with diabetes, characterized by slow healing. Without effective self-management, patients with DFUs face an increased risk of hospitalization and amputation, which can significantly impair daily activities and diminish quality of life. This study aims to analyze the correlation between self-management and quality of life in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Employing a correlational study design, this research involved adults with any stage of diabetic foot ulcers treated at a public hospital in Semarang, Central Java. Participants were consecutively sampled, and data were collected using the Diabetes-related Foot Ulcer Self-Management Behaviour Scale (DFUSMBS) and the Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale-Short Form (DFU-SF). Descriptive and correlational analyses were conducted on the collected data. The study included 36 participants with a mean age of 57.61 years (SD = 9.71), over half of whom had no history of amputation. Results indicated a positive correlation between self-management and quality of life (r = 0.385, p < 0.05). However, both self-management and quality of life scores were generally low, with mean scores of 42.52 and 89.55, respectively. Effective self-management is positively correlated with improved quality of life for individuals with diabetic foot ulcers. It is recommended that healthcare providers offer targeted self-management education to enhance or maintain the quality of life for these patients.

Keywords: Diabetic foot ulcers; diabetes care; amputation; self-management; quality of life; nursing care

The impact of asphyxia on the development of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns: An observational study

Sumarni Sumarni — 2024-09-29

Asphyxia is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns in both developing and developed countries. The prevalence of asphyxia in provincial referral hospitals in Indonesia is 41.94%. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the first minute Apgar score and bilirubin levels in newborns at Margono Soekarjo Hospital, Purwokerto. The type of research used is analytic observational with a cross sectional approach. The population in this study were newborns who were cared for in the perinatal room at Margono Soekarjo Hospital Purwokerto in 2021-2022 with a total of 3824 babies. The sample size was 156. Data analysis used the Pearson Product Moment test. The results showed that the lowest Apgar score was 1 and the highest Apgar score was 8, the average Apgar score was 5. The lowest bilirubin level was 0.1 mg/dL and the highest bilirubin level was 24.16 mg/dL, the average bilirubin level was 10.68 mg /dL. There is a significant correlation between Apgar scores and bilirubin levels in newborns at Margono Soekarjo Hospital, Purwokerto, with a weak correlation (-0.231). Conclusion: The greater the Apgar score, the lower the bilirubin level.

A qualitative study on the experiences of hypertension patients undergoing cupping therapy

Hamidatun Rabayya Yusuf — 2024-09-29

Hypertension is one of the silent killer diseases because patients often do not feel the symptoms. Therapies that are commonly applied are pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, which include complementary medicine. These complementary therapies play a role in promoting healing, comfort and care around the world. One of the treatments used in hypertensive patients is cupping. This study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of hypertensive patients undergoing cupping complementary therapy. A qualitative descriptive design has been used in this study. There were 6 participants selected using purposive sampling from two clinics namely Rumah Sehat Insani and Rumah Sehat Holistik in Care. The data collection method used was in-depth interviews. Data were processed and analyzed using seven steps of data analysis based on Colaizzi. There are 4 theme findings including the description of patient perceptions related to hypertension which includes perceptions related to knowledge, causes and symptoms of hypertension; description of perceptions related to cupping therapy including unfamiliarity with the term complementary medicine, perceptions of cupping functions and types of cupping; benefits/effects of cupping felt by participants in the form of psychological effects and physiological effects; and reasons for participants undergoing cupping therapy in the form of the influence of family and friends, the influence of distance, religious factors, drug factors, and physical factors. Most participants were still unfamiliar with the term complementary medicine. The expression of positive effects experienced by participants that could be felt immediately after treatment was the reason for using cupping. This suggests its potential as part of a holistic approach in the management of this condition. The result encourage further research to validate this approach as a safe complementary treatment for hypertension.

Web-based health education utilizing “Sahabat Sehat Serviks” to prevent cervical cancer among adolescent girls

Yasmin Nur Muazizah — 2024-09-29

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in Indonesia, caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The progression of this disease takes a long time, and one of the at-risk groups is adolescent girls who engage in deviant sexual behavior, improper reproductive organ care, and unhealthy lifestyles. Adolescents need to have good knowledge, attitudes, and skills from an early age because these can influence their future behavior, especially in early cervical cancer prevention. Therefore, it is necessary to provide contemporary cervical cancer education through the website "Sahabat Sehat Serviks" to improve adolescents' knowledge, followed by changes in attitudes and skills. This study aims to determine the effect of health education through the website on increasing the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of adolescent girls in the early prevention of cervical cancer. The research design is a quasi-experiment with a quantitative approach, using a pre-post with a control group design. The study population consisted of 179 adolescent girls aged 11–13 years. The sample included 36 respondents selected by proportional stratified random sampling. The results showed significant differences in knowledge, attitudes, and skills among respondents who received cervical cancer health education through the "Sahabat Sehat Serviks" e-health website, with p-values of 0.000 for knowledge, 0.014 for attitudes, and 0.001 for skills. The "Sahabat Sehat Serviks" website is effective as a medium for cervical cancer health education for adolescent girls in improving knowledge, attitudes, and skills for early cervical cancer prevention.

A clinical review of early assessment for congenital hypothyroidism in newborns

Septi Wardani — 2024-11-04

Congenital hypothyroidism is a critical factor associated with stunting, as thyroid hormone deficiencies can impair growth starting in utero. Children with thyroid disorders, including conditions like hypoparathyroidism, often experience growth retardation due to congenital abnormalities and growth hormone deficiencies. For neonates, a lack of thyroid hormones can lead to long-term impacts, such as physical and mental disabilities, neurological disorders, and stunted growth. Early detection of congenital hypothyroidism is, therefore, essential and is typically part of newborn screening aimed at identifying congenital abnormalities. Implementing early screening protocols can diagnose and treat congenital hypothyroidism promptly, mitigating risks such as stunting and enabling better health outcomes for children. This literature review examines methods of early detection for congenital hypothyroidism across various global contexts. Three databases—PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar—were searched using a systematic literature review approach, yielding five eligible studies with a combined study population of 920.441 newborns. These studies involved screenings for T4, TSH, 17-OHP, and G-6-PD, identifying hypothyroidism in 2.530 (27%) cases. Screening involved blood samples taken from the umbilical cord or heel within 48 to 72 hours after birth. Understanding early detection procedures for congenital hypothyroidism is essential for nurses, as it enables them to engage in early intervention and provide effective nursing care for affected infants. Early involvement can help prevent the adverse, long-term effects associated with congenital hypothyroidism, improving quality of life and supporting healthy growth trajectories for children at risk.

Keywords: Congenital hypothyroidism; literature review; nursing assessment; paediatric nursing; prevention