The associations between spiritual well-being, hope and psychological symptoms in Chinese childhood cancer patients: A path analysis.

Aims: We aimed to test a model in which hope and spiritual well-being acted as protective factors against anxiety and depressive symptoms in childhood cancer patients (CCPs). We hypothesized that hope and spiritual well-being were mutually reinforcing factors that would both reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Methods: Using path analysis, the hypothetical model was tested on a cross-sectional sample of 412 Chinese CCPs aged 8-17 years.

Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI) in Chinese children with cancer.

Hope plays an extremely important role in protecting childhood cancer patients from psychological distress caused by cancer. The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that can accurately assess hope is crucial for the development of interventions to enhance hope among childhood cancer patients. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Herth Hope Index (HHI).

Effectiveness of spiritual interventions on psychological outcomes and quality of life among paediatric patients with cancer: a study protocol for a systematic review.

Introduction: Cancer and its treatment affect children's physical, psychological and social well-being throughout the disease trajectory. Spiritual well-being is a fundamental dimension of people's overall health and is considered a source of strength to motivate patients to cope with and adapt to their disease. Appropriate spiritual interventions are important to mitigate the psychological impact of cancer on children, with an ultimate goal of improving their quality of life (QoL) throughout the treatment course.

Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy spiritual well-being scale among Chinese childhood cancer patients in China.

Background: Spiritual well-being is a strength for childhood cancer patients to cope with cancer. The availability of a valid and reliable instrument for assessing spiritual well-being is crucial. This study translated and adapted the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-being scale (FACIT-Sp) for Chinese childhood cancer patients and examined the psychometric properties and factor structure in this population.

A Descriptive and Phenomenological Exploration of the Spiritual Needs of Chinese Children Hospitalized with Cancer.

Spiritual well-being is the fourth dimension of health, as equally important as physical, mental, and social well-being. The shadow of death associated with cancer triggers children to explore their personal values, meanings, and life goals throughout the illness trajectory, enabling them to identify their unique spiritual needs. Chinese children are generally non-religious, unlike Western children, which affects their spiritual needs.

University Staff's Perceptions of Community College Transfer Students' Transition Experiences Within a "2+2" Pathway in an Asian Educational Context.

Various countries have alternative pathway policies for 2-year community college graduates to articulate to 2-year university study, forming a "2+2" pathway. However, few studies have explored university staff members' perceptions of this "2+2" transfer pathway and their understanding of transfer students' (TSs) transition experiences. This descriptive qualitative study addressed this research gap.

Factors Affecting Resilience of Nursing, Optometry, Radiography and Medical Laboratory Science Students.

Background: The concern over the high level of stress experienced by students of the caring professions has led to increased attention being paid to the promotion of their resilience. Most earlier studies have focused on the resilience of medical and nursing students. There has been little exploration of the resilience and associated factors of students of other health-care disciplines.

The Effectiveness of Qigong in Managing a Cluster of Symptoms (Breathlessness-Fatigue-Anxiety) in Patients with Lung Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Purpose: Qigong is used by cancer patients, but its effect is not adequately evaluated to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Qigong for the management of a symptom cluster comprising fatigue, dyspnea, and anxiety in patients with lung cancer.

Methodology: A total of 156 lung cancer patients participated in this trial, and they were randomized to a Qigong group (6 weeks of intervention) or a waitlist control group receiving usual care.

A Qualitative Exploration on the Challenges of Transfer Students in an Asian Educational Context.

Limited research has been conducted on community college (CC) transfer students' (TS) experiences in four-year universities, particularly in Asian contexts. To fill this research gap, in this qualitative study, 124 TS from various disciplines in a Hong Kong university participated in 39 focus groups and seven individual interviews. Unlike their Western counterparts, our TS were relatively better prepared and more academically adaptive.

Partners' experiences of living with men who have screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysms: A qualitative descriptive study.

Aim: To describe partners' experiences of living with men with a screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Background: Diagnosis of a chronic life-threatening disease affects the patients' as well as their partners' lives in different aspects. AAA, with rupture as the major consequence, is a life-threatening disease that can affect the whole family.

Perceptions of the English Use of College Transfer Nursing Students in a Non-English Speaking City: A Qualitative Study.

There has been limited research on nursing students' (NSs) language problems conducted in non-English speaking countries, especially research focusing on college transfer students. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived needs and challenges of English use by college transfer NSs in a non-English speaking environment. A descriptive study design was adopted.

Stressors and coping of nursing students in clinical placement: A qualitative study contextualizing their resilience and burnout.

The aim of this study was to explore the stressors and coping of nursing students with differing levels of resilience and burnout during clinical placement. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with twenty-four final-year baccalaureate nursing students, who were identified in the quantitative phase of the study as having scores indicating either: a) low resilience and high burnout; or b) high resilience and low burnout. Ten focus group interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide.

Nurses' perspectives on their communication with patients in busy oncology wards: A qualitative study.

Background: Despite an increase in emphasis on psychosocial care in cancer nursing, time constraints and nurses' lack of knowledge in skilled communication continue to be challenges.

Aims: To examine how cancer care nurses view their communication with patients and how they deal with the psychosocial needs of patients in busy wards.

Design: A qualitative interview study.

The experience of caring for patients at the end-of-life stage in non-palliative care settings: a qualitative study.

Background: More patients are dying in non-palliative care settings than in palliative care settings. How health care providers care for adult patients at the end-of-life stage in non-palliative care settings has not been adequately explored. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of health care providers in caring for patients at the end-of-life stage in non-palliative care settings.

The cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led care program for breast cancer patients undergoing outpatient-based chemotherapy - A feasibility trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a nurse-led care program for breast cancer patients receiving outpatient-based chemotherapy.

Method: An open-label, single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted. Patients receiving the nurse-led care and those receiving the routine care were compared in terms of quality of life, as well as in health service utilizations and total cost of care.

Effects of Qigong on symptom management in cancer patients: A systematic review.

Purpose: Qigong as a complementary and alternative therapy is often used by cancer patients for symptom management. The aim of this systematic review is to critically evaluate the effectiveness of Qigong on symptom management among cancer patients.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the following databases from their inception through May 2016: Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PEDRO.

A Nurse-Led Care Program for Breast Cancer Patients in a Chemotherapy Day Center: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Healthcare providers are facing the challenge of helping cancer patients cope with the impact of outpatient-based chemotherapy. A nurse-led care program was proposed to address this challenge.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a nurse-led care program for patients receiving outpatient-based chemotherapy.

A qualitative exploration of the experiences of patients with breast cancer receiving outpatient-based chemotherapy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of patients with breast cancer and their involvement during outpatient-based chemotherapy in Hong Kong.

Background: The outcome evaluation using a mixed-methods approach is not common in interventional studies of nurse-led chemotherapy care programmes. A qualitative approach could provide a deep understanding of the experiences of patients.

Effect of an education program on knowledge, self-care behavior and handwashing competence on prevention of febrile neutropenia among breast cancer patients receiving Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide in Chemotherapy Day Centre.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an education program on the prevention of febrile neutropenia (FN) among breast cancer patients receiving AC regimen.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial with the repeated-measures design was conducted in a Chemotherapy Day Centre of an acute hospital in Hong Kong. Twenty-five subjects in the intervention group received an individual education session followed by three follow-up sessions and routine care.

Development and Assessment of the Feasibility of a Nurse-Led Care Program for Cancer Patients in a Chemotherapy Day Center: Results of the Pilot Study.

Background: The increasing number of cancer patients and inadequate communication in clinics are posing challenges to cancer patients receiving outpatient-based chemotherapy and healthcare providers. A nurse-led care program was proposed as one way of dealing with at least some of these challenges.

Objective: The objectives of the pilot study were to assess the feasibility of the subject recruitment, care, and data collection procedures and to explore the acceptability of this program.

Job satisfaction among nursing personnel in Hong Kong: a questionnaire survey.

Aims: To investigate the perceived importance and actual level of job satisfaction among enrolled nurses (ENs), registered nurses (RNs), specialty nurses (SNs) and nurse managers (NMs) in Hong Kong.

Background: In the past, few studies have been conducted to investigate job satisfaction among different groups of nursing personnel.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study.

Review of bowel dysfunction of rectal cancer patients during the first five years after sphincter-preserving surgery: a population in need of nursing attention.

Purpose: The aim of the review was to summarize the longitudinal changes in bowel dysfunction among patients with rectal cancer within the first five years following sphincter-preserving resection.

Methods: A series of literature searches were conducted on six English-language electronic databases. Articles published after 1990 were searched.

Prevalence of and risk factors for needlestick and sharps injuries among nursing students in Hong Kong.

Background: Although nursing students are at greater risk for needlestick injuries (NSIs) and sharps injuries (SIs) than staff nurses, there is a lack of research on NSIs and SIs in students, especially in different years of study. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for and prevalence of NSIs and SIs among nursing students in different years of study.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study using a questionnaire confirmed to be valid and reliable, with a content validity index of 0.

Analysis of needlestick injuries among nursing students in Hong Kong.

Background: Research has shown that nursing personnel are exposed to the serious risk of contracting bloodborne diseases from needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs). Only a few studies have examined the problem among nursing students. In Hong Kong, there is an equal lack of research in this area.