BACKGROUND

In the context of acute psychiatric care characterized by severe hallucinatory symptoms, providing timely and effective interventions poses challenges. Therapy administered by Mental Health Nurses (TKN) emerges as a promising solution to comprehensively address these acute symptoms. This therapeutic approach is designed to alleviate hallucination symptoms during the acute phase.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Therapy administered by Mental Health Nurses (TKN) as an intervention tailored for individuals facing acute hallucinatory challenges. The overarching goals include exploring the therapeutic dimensions of the intervention, assessing the potential for tailored interventions based on demographic factors, and translating findings into practical implications for mental health professionals.

METHODS

This study used a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre-post-test structure. A total of 117 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia from outpatient psychiatric wards were selected in community setting, excluding individuals with concurrent mental retardation to maintain sample homogeneity. Data collection, conducted over two months from July to August 2023, included a pre-test assessment before any intervention to establish baseline hallucinatory symptoms. Therapy by Mental Health Nurses (TKN) was administered over two weeks, consisting of four 30- to 45-minute sessions for each participant. After each session, participants underwent reassessment for hallucinatory symptoms, totaling five assessments. Psychotic Syndrome Rating Scale (PSYRAT) was used to measure hallucination scores. The data analysis employed paired t-tests for baseline and post-intervention scores within a two-week period. A Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) assessed the effect of interventions on hallucination scores, with age, gender, and adherence status as factors. Post hoc analyses, including pairwise comparisons, identified specific subgroup differences and assessed the time effect within the same group.

RESULTS

The study cohort primarily consisted of adults (90.6%), maintaining a balanced gender distribution with 51.3% males and 48.7% females. A substantial portion had low educational backgrounds (59%), and the majority were unemployed (87.2%), with family members serving as the predominant primary caregivers (87.2%). Regarding medication adherence, over half adhered to the prescribed regimen (52.1%). Results demonstrated an improvement in hallucination symptoms for adolescents and the elderly compared to adults. While gender and adherence status did not individually influence symptoms significantly, age category emerged as a significant contributing factor (F = 3.991, p = 0.021). Interaction effects emphasized the substantial influence of time on symptom shifts over the intervention (F = 24.164, p < 0.001). Particularly, the mean difference of 4.636 (p < 0.001) from Time 1 to Time 5 signified a substantial decrease in hallucination scores, highlighting the cumulative impact of the therapy. These findings underscore the effectiveness of Therapy administered by Mental Health Nurses (TKN) across diverse demographic factors, providing valuable insights for tailored interventions in psychiatric emergencies.

CONCLUSION

Therapy administered by Mental Health Nurses (TKN) demonstrates effectiveness in reducing schizophrenia symptoms, especially among adolescents and the elderly. The impact of time on the intervention's effectiveness is notable, with a cumulative effect observed over the intervention period. Sustained and consistent engagement with the therapy leads to more substantial improvements in hallucination symptoms. Therefore, tailored interventions considering age are crucial for optimal effectiveness. This understanding enables practitioners to optimize the therapy schedule, aligning it with the natural progression of symptom alleviation.

Human ; Hallucinations ; Therapeutics ; Therapy ; Mental Health ; Nurses

BACKGROUND

Public health nurses (PHNs) are a significant cadre of the primary healthcare workforce working toward achieving universal health care (UHC). Exploring their work activities is integral to understanding how UHC is implemented better.

OBJECTIVES

To describe and explore the work activities, roles, and functions of the PHNs in rendering primary care services in the context of UHC.

METHODS

Key informant interviews were conducted with 12 PHNs in Tarlac Province who were working with permanent status in their respective rural health units (RHUs) for at least 1 year. They were selected through selection criteria. Data were recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Data analysis led to the emergence of 4 themes and 11 subthemes. The four themes were: (a) evolving scope and nature of work, (b) work challenges and barriers toward UHC implementation, (c) UHC outcomes, impact, and insights, and (d) communication and health promotion.

CONCLUSIONS

The study underscores the importance of exploring the PHNs’ roles and functions, as it offers a window on how they fulfill their duties toward achieving the goals of UHC. From the viewpoint of the interviewed PHNs, several elements and issues need to be addressed. Consequently, some positive impact on their work activities and functions emerged. Their nature of work brought them professional development and fulfillment as they render primary care and value-driven services despite the challenges and struggles they encountered in public health.

Human ; Primary Health Care ; Nurses, Public Health ; Universal Health Care

BACKGROUND

Medication safety is a global priority, yet in the Philippines, particularly in rural hospitals, it remains underexplored. Nurses are at the frontline of safeguarding patients, often working under resource constraints.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored nurses' perspectives on medication safety in rural Philippine hospitals, while focusing on systemic barriers, emotional and ethical challenges, and strategies employed to sustain safe practice.

METHODS

Aqualitative design was used that employed focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) with staff nurses in rural hospitals. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes and subthemes emerging from participants' experiences.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged: (1) Building Responsibility and Skills (accountability, verification, documentation, and mentorship); (2) Keeping Patients Safe and Reducing Mistakes (protecting patient care, overcoming systemic barriers); and (3) Handling Emotions and Challenges in Giving Medicine (coping with guilt, moral distress, and reliance on teamwork). Findings revealed that nurses sustain safety through vigilance and accountability but are constrained by chronic understaffing, interruptions, moral distress, and limited training access.

CONCLUSION

Medication safety in rural Philippine hospitals is shaped by nurses' competence, emotional resilience, and teamwork, but remained fragile without systemic supports. Implications included equitable workforce policies, supportive errorreporting cultures, and strengthened continuing professional development opportunities. Strengthening safety also required shifting from individual responsibility to organizational and system-level accountability.

Human ; Hospitals, Rural ; Nurses ; Patient Safety ; Philippines ; Qualitative Research

BACKGROUND

Aggression is a major challenge in psychiatric settings, particularly among service users with schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurses are at the frontline of aggression prevention thus making their strategies vital for safe, high-quality care.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the strategies used by psychiatric nurses in preventing aggression among adult schizophrenia service users at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) and also analyzed the relationship between nurses' demographic profiles and their prevention strategies.

METHODS

A quantitative, descriptive-correlational, comparative design was employed. A total of 18 head nurses and 87 staff nurses were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation tests to determine associations between nurse profiles and aggression prevention strategies. Ethical approval was also obtained prior to data collection.

RESULTS

Most head nurses were female (77.78%), aged 30–39 years (44.44%), and held a BSN degree (77.78%). Staff nurses were also predominantly female (57.47%), aged 30–39 (67.82%), and BSN graduates (96.55%). Both groups frequently applied risk assessment, de-escalation, therapeutic communication, and medication administration. Significant relationships were found between age, sex, education, and length of service, and nurses' ability to prevent aggression. No significant differences were found between head nurses and staff nurses in their self-assessed ability to prevent aggression.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric nurses' age, education, and experience significantly influence aggression prevention strategies. Strengthening training in risk assessment, de-escalation, therapeutic communication, and medication administration is essential for enhancing nurse competency and ensuring safer mental health care.

Human ; Schizophrenia ; Nurses ; Mental Health ; Aggression ; Adult ; Health

BACKGROUND

Organizational commitment strengthens care delivery and system responsiveness, yet high turnover and workforce exhaustion threaten healthcare stability. Understanding factors that sustain commitment is especially critical during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM

This study examined how nurses' attitudes toward their practice environment predict organizational commitment at King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC), Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

DESIGN

Across-sectional predictive correlational design was used.

METHODS

Data was collected from 275 staff nurses between October and November 2020 using convenience sampling. Attitudes toward the practice environment were assessed with the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PESNWI), while organizational commitment was measured using the Revised Three-Component Model Employee Commitment Survey. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression were conducted in SPSS version 21.

RESULTS

Nurses reported positive work attitudes, with the highest ratings for nursing care and interdisciplinary relationships, followed by management and leadership, and the lowest for adequate resources. Organizational commitment was moderate across affective, normative, and continuance domains. Regression analyses identified nursing care and interdisciplinary relationships as the most consistent predictor across all domains of commitment, including affective (p < .001), normative (p = .047), continuance (p = .004), and overall organizational commitment (p < .001). Adequate resources significantly predicted affective (p = .014) and overall commitment (p = .050), while management and leadership predicted normative commitment (p = .016).

CONCLUSION

Nurses' perceptions of their practice environment significantly shape organizational commitment during crisis conditions. Interdisciplinary collaboration consistently emerged as the strongest predictor, underscoring the value of teamwork and nurse–physician partnerships. Adequate staffing and resources also reinforced commitment, particularly in sustaining affective bonds. These findings underscored that supportive practice environments, through collaboration, adequate resources, and participatory leadership, enhance nurses' autonomy and sense of meaningful work, which in turn strengthen organizational commitment, retention, and resilience during crises.

Human ; Nurses ; Nursing ; Workforce ; Health Resources ; Covid-19 ; Work ; Leadership ; Environment ; Saudi Arabia

PURPOSE

This study assessed the relationship between the levels of intrapersonal and interpersonal skills among ward nurses in selected public hospitals in Manila City in order to address the limited research on how these soft-skill domains interact and influence nurse–patient interactions in the Philippine public health context.

METHODS

A descriptive–correlational design was employed to determine the relationship between nurses' intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. The study was conducted in three government-funded public hospitals in Manila that were chosen through purposive sampling based on patient volume and accessibility. The sample (N=122) consisted of Filipino nurses working in clinical wards for at least six months to two years and employed in three public hospitals in Metro Manila. Data was collected using an adopted and validated tool via online and face-to-face questionnaires. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance and Pearson Correlation were used to test the hypotheses.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that there is very high correlation between the intrapersonal and interpersonal skills of the respondents as revealed by the null hypothesis (p-value = < 0.001 and R= 0.930). However, profile variables such as age, type of ward, and number of years employed as ward nurse showed no significant correlation on either intrapersonal skills or interpersonal skills of the respondents. However, analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between sex and both intrapersonal skills (p = 0.002) and interpersonal skills (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Intrapersonal and interpersonal skills were distinct yet critical competencies in nurse–patient interactions. Results suggested the need for targeted training and gender-sensitive interventions to strengthen these skills. These findings provided a basis for healthcare institutions to design development programs and for future research to expand on soft-skill dynamics in nursing.

Human ; Nurses ; Social Skills ; Hospitals, Public

BACKGROUND: Obesity and diabetes constitute significant health concerns within the Arab population in Israel. The study examines food literacy and self-assessed nutritional variables, which may explain family eating and activity habits among the Arab ethnic minority in Israel. The study examines these variables among professional nurses, who are expected to advocate for healthy behaviors within the population, compared to non-health professionals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study compared two groups: professional nurses and non-health professionals. A closed, structured self-report questionnaire (with five sub-sections) assessed food literacy, self-assessed nutrition, and family eating and activity habits. Data was collected between January and May 2022. A MANCOVA was used to compare the research variables among nurses and non-health professionals, and η² was calculated as the effect size. A multiple linear regression was conducted to examine the variables explaining families' eating and activity habits. The model's significance and variance explained (R²) were calculated. RESULTS: The study included 213 Israeli Arab participants (103 nurses and 110 non-health professionals). Nurses showed poorer self-assessed nutrition and family eating/activity habits than non-health professionals. Regression analysis identified profession (β = -0.39, p < 0.001), gender (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), BMI (β = -0.22, p < 0.001), food literacy (β = 0.20 p < 0.001), and self-assessed nutrition (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of family eating and activity habits. The model was significant (p < 0.001) and explained 38.0% of the variance. CONCLUSION Despite their health education background, Arab nurses reported suboptimal nutritional behaviors and unhealthy lifestyles that impact their family lifestyle practices, potentially hindering their health and limiting their effectiveness as health role models. Policymakers should develop ongoing nutrition health promotion programs tailored to the Arab nurses and Arab ethnic minority communities in Israel.
Humans ; Israel ; Female ; Male ; Arabs/psychology* ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Nurses/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Feeding Behavior ; Minority Groups/statistics & numerical data* ; Exercise ; Nutritional Status ; Family ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) are adverse events brought about by non-compliance of the healthcare staff to set of infection prevention and control (IPC) standards. Consequently, additional medical costs, increased mortality and morbidity rates, and decreased quality of life among patients can happen. As valuable players in preventing and controlling HAIs, nurses must have good knowledge and strict compliance with infection control; however, recent evidence suggests that nurses may need more knowledge or better integration into practice. Nurses' degree of knowledge and practice in preventing and controlling HAIs and factors influencing them should be determined to provide solutions appropriately.

OBJECTIVES

The study specifically sought answers to the following questions: (1) What is the level of knowledge of nurses in the prevention and control of HAIs? (2) What is the degree of practice of nurses in the prevention and control of HAIs? (3) Is there a significant relationship between nurses' knowledge level and degree of practice in the prevention and control of HAIs? (4) What are the facilitating and hindering factors that affect nurses' practice in the prevention and control of HAIs?

METHODS

The study utilized a quantitative descriptive correlational design. The study was conducted from May to June 2023 at a private tertiary hospital in Baguio City. The study included 128 nurses who fit the inclusion criteria. The respondents were asked to answer three questionnaires, and the data were statistically treated using mean, Spearman Rank correlation, frequency, percentage, and rank distribution.

RESULTS

The study found that nurses possess good knowledge and a suboptimal degree of practice in preventing and controlling HAIs. The results showed that no significant relationship existed between nurses' knowledge level and degree of practice in preventing and controlling HAIs. Perceived personal benefits and organizational encouragement were seen to primarily facilitate the prevention and control practices of nurses. The primary hindrance identified was workload due to staff shortage, poor dissemination of guidelines, and personal discomfort associated with the use of PPE.

CONCLUSIONS

A good level of knowledge is a derivative of learnings obtained through various educational modalities and these strategies are considered effective means of knowledge formulation. However, created knowledge without actual application into practice results in overuse of unhelpful interventions. To avoid the unnecessary effects of ineffective knowledge translation, a multifactorial consideration is necessary to identify other factors that may influence the practices of nurses on HAI prevention and control because knowledge does not solely improve or worsen actual practices. Identified facilitating factors should be supported, and hindering factors should be addressed. Further recommendations based on the study results include strengthening existing programs and policies, and developing accessible materials to improve the present practices of nurses.

Infection Control ; Knowledge ; Infections ; Nurses

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Nurses comprise the majority of the health workforce in the Philippines. Previous studies revealed that nurses manifest negative mental health outcomes exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) of nurses in the Philippines and their workplace psychosocial support interventions during the pandemic. The ProQOL measures compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS).

METHODS

A self-administered online questionnaire was disseminated by the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. to affiliated nurses via email and Facebook posts. Out of 713 responses, 239 were eligible with their data analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and post hoc pairwise multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

Respondents were found to have high CS (41.95 [SD 5.97]), moderate BO (23.56 [SD 6.07]), and moderate STS (26.62 [SD 8.18]). The most reported intervention was policies on confidentiality of workers’ mental health (84.94%) while the least reported was community engagements under the hospital’s mental health program (61.51%). ProQOL scores significantly differed in CS by age (p=0.011), position (p=0.044) and monthly income (p=0.016), BO by age (p=0.001) and years with current employer (p=0.009), and STS by region (p=0.017) and area of assignment (p=0.015). The existence of interventions yielded significant increase in CS and decrease in BO scores.

CONCLUSION

Nurses in the Philippines exhibit high and favorable ProQOL during the pandemic. The majority of respondents reported the presence of workplace interventions which yield significant differences in CS and BO. The findings highlight the importance of workplace psychosocial support interventions and the need to strengthen implementation.

Human ; Nurses ; Quality Of Life ; Psychosocial Intervention ; Occupational Health ; Covid-19 Pandemic ; Covid-19

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study at a national tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines investigated the use of the "Copy and Paste" Function (CPF) within their Electronic Medical Record (EMR). While CPF has benefits and risks, little is known about its usage patterns and impact on patient safety at the institution. This study explores nurses' perceptions and recommendations on CPF use in this hospital’s EMR, assessing its prevalence, impact on patient safety, associations between prevalence and impact, and providing usage recommendations.

METHODS

A sequential explanatory research design was employed using surveys and semi-structured interviews. Ethical clearance was obtained before data collection. Instruments were adapted from similar studies and have undergone expert validation. Content validity was confirmed, and internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.77). Stratified random sampling determined the respondents per area. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho, and thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The survey (n = 256) showed CPF use by nurses and doctors, and was confirmed by semi-structured interviews (n = 9). Nurses generally perceived CPF's impact on documentation as neutral (40.17%), leaning towards positive impact. Interviews supported this, revealing both “challenges” and “benefits” of CPF use as themes after thematic analysis. There was no statistically significant association between perceived CPF prevalence and its perceived impact on patient safety (p = 0.164). The theme “considerations for safe CPF use” also emerged from the analysis.

CONCLUSION

This study found mixed perceptions on CPF’s impact in healthcare. There is a call to continue its use, but safety measures must be implemented first. Recommendations include order verification, caution, practice standardization, selective CPF usage, additional technological features, and alternative documentation methods. A governance structure to manage EMR-related issues, such as unsafe CPF practices, is also recommended to ensure proper monitoring and response.

Nurses ; Philippines ; Patient Safety