Journal of Holistic Nursing Science

Your patients need your patience: A closer look at wound care

Eka Sakti Wahyuningtyas — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:42:42 +0000

The field of wound care faces various challenges in current times. Approaches to tackle the challenges require an understanding of biological processes, patient's psychological condition, and communication. Apart from physical care considerations, effective communication in wound care is very crucial to prevent misunderstandings and errors. The process warrant that the care is carried out effectively with minimum clinical complications. As the patient is an essential element in wound care, the use of good communication among healthcare professional becomes paramount. Specifically, tissue viability nurses must exhibit patience toward patients who might encounter difficulties in following the treatment or reject the proposed treatment. The importance of patience cannot be overstated in the context of wound care as it helps to manage stress, communication, and patients’ satisfaction. Moreover, patience strengthens the nurse–patient relationship and helps nurses stay well so they can support the nature of wound healing. Patience helps nurses manage challenging behaviors and improve the quality of interactions, both in hospital and community settings. Involving patients and families in goal setting and exploring questions requires time and patience. As a result, it can reduce short-term decision conflict and improve knowledge transfer between patients and healthcare professionals. Integrating clinical knowledge with compassion, effective communication, and determination can significantly support patients during the wound care delivery process. It is important to note that a comprehensive and evidence-based approach will be key to addressing challenges in wound care. The editorial presents a fresher perspective on how the patience in wound care influences the quality of practice. Such publications or studies discussing this concern would be so much helpful as insights or guidelines in wound care delivery.

Keywords: Communication, patience, patients, wound care, wound healing

An observational study of stress and coping among ICU nurses in Iraq through the lens of the Lazarus and Folkman model

Radhwan Hussein Ibrahim, Sahir Mallaah Mohammad Ali, Salwa Hazim Al Mukhtar — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 11:17:32 +0000

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses face high-stress environments due to critical patient conditions, intense workloads, and emotional challenges. Understanding the specific stressors and coping mechanisms is vital for developing effective support interventions, which necessitates a framework like Lazarus and Folkman's model. For this reason, Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping provides a theoretical framework to assess how nurses perceive and manage stress during their work. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among ICU nurses at three public hospitals in Iraq. The study utilized a purposive sampling method to recruit participants. A total of 350 nurses participated in all phases of the study. Data collection was performed using the Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), both of which were tested for validity and reliability. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. The study revealed that ICU nurses experience moderate to high stress levels (mean=82.4±14.6), with primary stressors being workload, death and dying, administrative deficiencies, and interpersonal conflict. Particularly, problem-focused coping strategies were used more commonly (mean=72.1±11.4) than emotion-focused strategies (mean=64.5±13.2). A negative correlation was found between stress and problem-focused coping (r=–0.48, p<0.001). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed with emotion-focused coping (r=0.41, p<0.001). Higher stress levels were associated with younger age, female, and less ICU experience. The findings indicate that ICU nurses in Iraq experience significant occupational stress during the work. This highlights the importance of accentuating problem-focused coping strategies and organizational perspective in nursing. The study underlines the necessity for stress management interventions personalized to the Iraqi nurses working in the ICU.

Keywords: Coping, emergency nursing practice, Intensive Care Unit, nurses, stress

Quantitative analysis of infection prevention behaviors among patients receiving chemotherapy in Thailand: Predictors through the Bandura's Self-efficacy Theory

Wenika Srisoithongsug, Tiraporn Junda, Bualuang Sumdaengrit — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:22:59 +0000

Patients with advanced-stage cancer undergoing chemotherapy are highly susceptible to infections due to immunosuppression. Inappropriate behaviors further increase their risk of infection and severe complications such as not washing hands, consuming unsafe food, or exposure to contaminated environments. Consequently, nursing interventions are essential in promoting preventive behaviors and reducing infection risks. This study, therefore, examined the predictive power of infection prevention knowledge, distress, perceived self-efficacy, and social support on infection prevention behaviors in patients with advanced-stage cancer receiving chemotherapy. Bandura's Self-efficacy Theory was also integrated into the study's framework. This predictive study used a cross-sectional design that included 100 patients with advanced solid malignancy receiving outpatient chemotherapy at the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Thailand. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Knowledge of Infection Prevention in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Questionnaire, the Thai version of the Distress Thermometer, the Thai Version of the General Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, the Social Support Questionnaire, and the Infection Prevention Behaviors in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Questionnaire. Descriptive and multiple regression statistics with the Enter method were used for data analysis. Notably, this study received Institutional Review Board approval from two university hospitals in Bangkok, Thailand. The participants showed a high mean infection prevention knowledge score of 17.09 (SD=2.49), low distress (M=3.17, SD=2.78), moderate self-efficacy (M=30.40, SD=6.99), high social support (M=56.24, SD=6.71), and high infection prevention behaviors (M=105.85, SD=7.89). Regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy (β=0.244, p<0.05), distress (β=-0.233, p<0.05), knowledge (β=0.212, p<0.05), and social support (β=0.192, p<0.05) significantly predicted infection prevention behaviors, explaining 30.6% of the variance (p<0.05). These findings underscore that infection prevention behaviors are influenced by self-efficacy, distress, knowledge, and social support. Specifically, higher self-efficacy improves adherence to prevention and greater knowledge equips patients for effective infection control. Additionally, strong social support reinforces healthy behaviors. Conversely, high distress negatively impacts compliance with preventive behaviors. These insights can guide nurses in promoting effective infection prevention strategies for reducing infection risks.

Keywords: Advanced-stage cancer, cancer care, chemotherapy, infection prevention behaviors, nursing care

Exploring fathers’ experiences in newborn care in Indonesia: A phenomenological inquiry

Ayuda Nia Agustina, Anggi Pratiwi, Putri Mahardika — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:27:58 +0000

The critical role of fathers in newborn care and its impact on child development is gaining increasing recognition. This is because a father's involvement contributes to a child's physical health and emotional development. However, unique challenges inherent in newborn care often hinder paternal participation. These obstacles frequently stem from a lack of practical knowledge, insufficient social support, and prevailing cultural norms that tend to limit the father's role. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of fathers concerning their involvement in newborn care. The study employed a qualitative design with a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data collection was conducted from February to May 2024 through semi-structured interviews, utilizing a purposive sampling method for selecting participants. A total of sixteen fathers who had children under the age of five participated in the study. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subsequently analyzed using content analysis, facilitated by NVIVO version 12 software. The data collection process was stopped once saturation was reached. Ethical clearance was obtained before the study began with all participants reading and approving informed consent for their involvement. The study documented six key themes that emerged from the fathers' experiences, father's perception, the impact of father's involvement, practical experiences, changes in their involvement, and the various challenges encountered in caring for newborns. The study highlighted that paternal involvement in newborn care is a complex process that demands comprehensive support. Pediatric nurses serve as fundamental role in recommending several interventions, including the development of evidence-based intervention programs, the integration of fathers' perspectives into health services, the conduct of advanced research with a wider scope, and the development of instruments to support fathers during the demanding period of newborn care.

Keywords: Caregiving, fatherhood, newborn care, paternal mental health, qualitative study