Partner delivered relaxation massage to support mild antenatal anxiety; views of participants
- Authors: Hall, Helen , Lauche, Romy , Fogarty, Sarah , Kloester, Joy , Carr, Bethany , Munk, Niki
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Midwifery Vol. 105, no. (2022), p.
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- Description: Background: Approximately one-fifth of pregnant women suffer from anxiety and/or depression. These mental health conditions are associated with increased infant and maternal morbidity. Relaxation massage has the potential to improve mental health and may provide a vaulable option for pregnant women. This paper reports on participants’ experiences of partner delivered massage as a technique to manage mild antenatal anxiety. Methods: We conducted a feasibility study with 44 pregnant women who self-assessed as mildly anxious. The women were randomised into massage therapy (14 women/partner dyads) or to an active control group (13 women). 4–6 weeks after the birth of their baby, massage group participants were invited to be interviewed about their experiences; twelve women and four partners agreed. The qualitative data was analysed using reflective thematic analysis. Results: Four themes emerged from the data; Supporting mental health, Connecting, Useful and adaptable and Making it happen. Partner delivered massage was an accessible and practical method to manage mild anxiety for pregnant women in this study. The massage program also provided useful skills for participants to apply in their lives after the birth of their child, which has the potential to continue to support maternal mental health as well as partner connection. Conclusion: Partner delivered massage offers low-cost, accessible option for pregnant women to manage their mild anxiety. These findings have particular relevance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where anecdotal reports indicate that antenatal stress is increasing and women may have limited access to healthcare services. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Depression, anxiety and stress among Australian nursing and midwifery undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic : A cross-sectional study
- Authors: Wynter, Karen , Redley, Bernice , Holton, Sara , Manias, Elizabeth , McDonall, Jo , McTier, Lauren , Hutchinson, Alison , Kerr, Debra , Lowe, Grainne , Phillips, Nicole , Rasmussen, Bodil
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship Vol. 18, no. 1 (2021), p.
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- Description: Objectives: To assess depression, anxiety and stress among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify socio-demographic and educational characteristics associated with higher depression, anxiety and stress scores. Methods: Cross-sectional study during August-September 2020, using an anonymous, online, self-administered survey. E-mail invitations with a survey link were sent to 2,907 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing suite of courses, offered across four campuses of a single university in Victoria, Australia. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using the DASS-21. Data on socio-demographic and educational characteristics, self-rated physical health and exposure to COVID-19 were also collected. DASS-21 subscale scores were compared with existing data for various pre-pandemic and COVID-19 samples. Multiple regression was used to investigate factors associated with higher scores on depression, anxiety and stress subscales. Results: The response rate was 22% (n=638). Mean scores on all DASS-21 subscales were significantly higher (p<0.001) than means from all comparative sample data. The proportions of students reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were 48.5%, 37.2% and 40.2% respectively. Being a woman, being younger, having completed more years of study and having poorer self-rated general health were all significantly associated (p<0.05) with higher scores on at least one DASS-21 subscale. Conclusions: Almost half of participants reported at least moderate symptoms of depression; more than a third reported at least moderate symptoms of anxiety or stress. Poor psychological wellbeing can impact students' successful completion of their studies and therefore, has implications for nursing and midwifery workforce recruitment and retention. During and after pandemics, universities should consider screening undergraduate students not only for anxiety and stress, but also for depression. Clear, low-cost referral pathways should be available, should screening indicate that further diagnosis or treatment is required. © 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
Nurses’ experience of caring for patients with delirium: Systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis
- Authors: Thomas, Nissy , Coleman, Mardhie , Terry, Daniel
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing Reports Vol. 11, no. 1 (2021), p. 164-174
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- Description: Delirium is an acute deterioration in attention, conscious state, perception, and cognition of a person. While nurses possess the theoretical understanding of the condition, they lack insight into its early recognition and management. This systematic review aims to understand what factors influence nurses as they care for patients with delirium, and to identify best practices to improve overall clinical care. The Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES), as a strategy process to identify gaps in research, formulate new models or strategies for care, underpinned the review. In addition to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, a methodological assessment, data were analysed using QES, as informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Review process. Ten studies were identified and synthesised to generate four key themes. The themes included (1) nurse's knowledge deficit (2) increased workload and stress (3) safety concerns among nurse when caring for patients with delirium and (4) strategies used when caring for patients with delirium. Overall, the review has highlighted the need for increased delirium education and coping strategies among nurses to effectively care for patients with delirium. This may be augmented through regular education sessions to provide nurses with the confidence and competence to care for the acutely confused person.
The effectiveness of massage for reducing pregnant women's anxiety and depression; systematic review and meta-analysis
- Authors: Hall, Helen , Cant, Robyn , Munk, Niki , Carr, Bethany , Tremayne, Anne , Weller, Carolina , Fogarty, Sarah , Lauche, Romy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Midwifery Vol. 90, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objective: To critically appraise and synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of massage to reduce antenatal women's anxiety and/ or depression. Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis Participants, interventions: Pregnant women over the age of 18 years who receive massage interventions. Measurements and findings: Eight studies were included in the review; seven were randomized controlled trials. Data were collected via pregnant women's self-reported ratings of anxiety or depression using validated tools. Meta-analysis of four studies revealed a moderate effect of massage therapy on women's depressive symptoms as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (MD = -5.95, 95%CI = -8.11 to -3.80, I2 = 0%) compared with usual care. A moderate effect of massage interventions on women's anxiety were also found based on five studies using various measures (SMD = -0.59, 95%CI = -1.06 to -0.12, I2 = 75%) when compared with usual care. However, none of the trials had a low risk of bias. Key conclusions: Non-pharmacologic treatments for mental health symptoms are an important option for women to use during pregnancy. As shown in meta-analysed data, massage therapy might be more effective in reducing pregnant women's anxiety and depression than usual care, although the current results may be prone to bias. Further high-quality research is required to fully evaluate the impact of massage therapy on pregnant women's mental health symptoms in the immediate and also longer term. Implications for practice: Massage therapy may be an acceptable and feasible approach for pregnant women to employ to reduce their anxiety and depressive symptoms. More research evidence examining the safety and effectiveness of massage is required before practice recommendations can be made. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd