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Aim: To explore the health beliefs of clinical and academic nurses from Japan, Australia and China regarding wearing paper masks to protect themselves and others, and to identify differences in participants' health beliefs regarding masks. Background: The correct use of face masks and consensus among health professionals across the globe is essential for containing pandemics, and nurses need to act according to policy to protect themselves, educate the public and preserve resources for frontline health workers. Paper masks are worn by health professionals and the general public to avoid the transmission of respiratory infections, such as COVID‐19, but there appear to be differences in health beliefs of nurses within and between countries regarding these. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study used content analysis with a framework approach. Findings: There were major differences in nurse participants' beliefs between and within countries, including how nurses use paper masks and their understanding of their efficacy. In addition, there were cultural differences in the way that nurses use masks in their daily lives and nursing practice contexts. Conclusion: Nurses from different working environments, countries and areas of practice hold a variety of health beliefs about mask wearing at the personal and professional level. Implications for nursing policy and health policy: The COVID‐19 pandemic has sparked much discussion about the critical importance of masks for the safety of health professionals, and there has been considerable discussion and disagreement about health policies regarding mask use by the general public. Improper use of masks may have a role in creating mask shortages or transmitting infections. An evidence‐based global policy on mask use for respiratory illnesses for health professionals, including nurses, and the general public needs to be adopted and supported by a wide‐reaching education campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyse scientific papers published by Chinese authors in nursing journals included in the Science Citation Index Expanded and compare the published scientific papers from mainland China (ML), Taiwan (TW) and Hong Kong (HK). All articles published in 62 journals that were related to nursing originating from ML, TW and HK from 1999 to 2008 were retrieved from the PubMed and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Knowledge database. The total number of articles published in nursing journals, impact factors and citation reports and articles were estimated for quantity and quality comparisons. The number of articles from the three regions increased significantly from 1999 to 2008. There were 1015 articles in total from the three regions: ML (48), HK (414) and TW (553) in PubMed. In the ISI Web of Knowledge database, TW derived the highest total citations (1755 citations from 500 articles), followed by HK (1316 citations from 347 articles) and ML (158 citations from 55 articles). HK had the highest average citations of 3.79, followed by TW (3.51) and then ML (2.87). The difference between the quantity and quality of nursing research articles published in ML, TW and HK is significant, although the gap appears to be narrowing. Long-term job stresses, low levels of education and language barriers are likely the main factors. ML, TW and HK have the same culture and ethnicity. We expect that ML will benefit significantly from increased exchanges with TW and HK in nursing research and education. We also speculate that TW and HK will benefit from exchanges because ML may have diverse nursing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This paper reports a study that leads to understanding challenges facing nurse educators implementing mandatory continuing nursing education in The People’s Republic of China. Background: Mandatory continuing nursing education was instituted to maintain and develop registered nurses’ competence in the context of healthcare reform in China in 1996. However, there is an increasing complaint of credit-focused and teacher-centred learning in Chinese literature. Despite an increasing appeal to improve the learning situation, little consensus has been reached. By examining nurse educators’ perceived challenges and their coping strategies in implementing mandatory continuing nursing education, this study illuminates the possibilities for reform in mandatory continuing nursing education. Methods: Data were collected through in-depth interactive dialogues between the researcher and five nurse educators in five healthcare organizations in China, utilizing Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics. Findings: Three themes were found in this study described as finding a way to support nurses’ competence within a constrained situation, reconciling credit requirements and representing all stakeholders’ interests. Conclusions: A tension between the mandatory continuing nursing education policy and the context of implementing the policy can contribute to credit-focused and teacher-centred learning. Regular policy review and educational support for nurse educators are crucial aspects to improve mandatory continuing nursing education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify the mediating and moderating mechanisms by which social connectedness predicts life satisfaction among Chinese nurses. Background: Previous researchers have primarily focused on sociodemographic and occupational domain risk factors for nurses' life satisfaction with relatively little insight into facilitative and protective factors and underlying psychological mechanisms. Methods: We investigated 459 Chinese nurses' social connectedness, work–family enrichment, self‐concept clarity, and life satisfaction via a cross‐sectional design. We explored the underlying predictive mechanisms among these variables by creating a moderated mediation model. We followed STROBE checklist. Results: Work–family enrichment played a mediating role in understanding the positive effects of social connectedness on nurses' life satisfaction. In addition, the moderating effect of self‐concept clarity was manifested itself in the association between work–family enrichment and life satisfaction. Discussion and conclusion: Interpersonal asset (social connectedness) and the positive aspect of the work–family interface (work–family enrichment) were significant contributors to nurses' life satisfaction. In particular, high self‐concept clarity can enhance the beneficial effect of work‒family enrichment on life satisfaction. Implications for nursing policy and practice: Strengthening social connectedness, promoting synergy in work‒family roles, and maintaining a clarity of self‐concept are important intervention pathways to enhance the health and well‐being of nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate organizational commitment among Chinese nurses and analyze factors influencing organizational commitment during COVID‐19. Background: Organizational commitment is the most important link between nurses and the organization because it is effective in work retention and the motivation of nurses, especially when addressing the COVID‐19 crisis. However, there has been no empirical study conducted to predict organizational commitment in the field of nursing by combining work values with professional practice environments. Methods: A cross‐sectional predictive study was done with 362 nurses recruited from two tertiary hospitals in China. The Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, the Work Values Scale, and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index were used to collect data. Two factors related to the organizational commitment of nurses were investigated by using binary logistic regression analyses. Results: Increased work values and a professional practice environment were associated with an increased likelihood of higher organizational commitment. Discussion: The COVID‐19 crisis became the utmost challenge to global healthcare systems and professional organizational commitment. Nurses' organizational commitment was directly influenced by the professional practice environment and work values, especially intrinsic work values, in which the spirit of collectivism was consequential. Conclusion and implications for the field of nursing and health policy: Study results provide information for global hospital administrators to promote these organizational commitment predictive factors, including work values and a professional practice environment in nursing practice. This helped foster a stronger organizational commitment among nurses to reduce nurse resource flow during COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Social engagement is an important active aging strategy to promote older adults' mental health. The purposes of this study were to compare social engagement in older populations around the world and explore associations with mental health outcomes. Materials and methods: An international cross‐sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2019. Data were retrieved from The International Social Survey Programme for a secondary data analysis across 30 countries. This study applied the Taxonomy of Social Activities and its six levels as operational definitions for a consistent concept of social engagement for international comparisons. Results: In total, 9403 older adults with a mean age of 72.85 ± 6.40 years responded. The highest levels of older adults' social engagement were found in Switzerland, Thailand, and New Zealand. Older adults of a higher age, with a lower educational level, who were permanently sick or disabled, who had no partner, who were widowed or whose civil partner had died, who lived alone, and who had lower self‐placement in society had significantly lower social engagement than did their counterparts. In the regression model, older adults' social engagement positively predicted general health, self‐accomplishment, and life satisfaction, but negatively predicted loneliness and depression. Conclusions: In aging societies worldwide, encouraging older adults' social engagement would be beneficial to promote mental health. Implications for nursing practice and health policies: Community professional nurses can develop strategies of social engagement based on the needs and sociodemographic factors of older adults to improve their mental health. Developing efficient strategies and local policies by learning from successful experiences in other countries is important to promote social engagement in aging societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HAO Y., LIU H., YUE S. & LIU X. (2011) Introducing traditional Chinese nursing: a review of concepts, theories and practices. International Nursing Review 58, 319-327 Aim: This paper discussed the basic concepts, theories and practices of traditional Chinese nursing (TCN) to enrich our understanding of relevant concepts and ways to contribute to human health. Background: Advantages of TCN include health education based on theories and techniques of traditional Chinese medicine. It focuses mainly on mobilizing humans' capacity for self-adjustment and self-rehabilitation to make a dynamic balance between yin and yang, qi and blood and zang and fu. It has played a significant role in the fields of primary nursing, geriatric nursing, hospice, family nursing, etc., in China. Method: PubMed, CINAHL, Ovid Medline (English) and the Wang Fang (Chinese) databases were searched for literature on a range of keywords relating to traditional Chinese medicine and nursing. Forty references (13 English and 27 Chinese) were finally selected for review. Conclusion: Practices of nursing care in traditional Chinese medicine are based mainly on the theories of yin-yang and the five elements. There are two prime characteristics in the theoretical system of TCN: holism and nursing determination based on syndrome differentiation. The distinctive content include prevention, daily care of patients, dietary nursing, etc. TCN, with its characteristics of little damage, little pain, ease of operation and low cost, is appropriately used in primary health care in China. By combining Western and Eastern philosophies and approaches to nursing, life phenomena can be better understood, and more ways to promote health can be exploited. Scientists are beginning to use Western research methods to establish effectiveness. Many common interventions would not, however, be considered safe in Western nursing practice without more evidence and consideration of health and safety issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LIU W., GERDTZ M.F. & LIU T.Q. (2011) A survey of psychiatrists' and registered nurses' levels of mental health literacy in a Chinese general hospital. International Nursing Review 58, 361-369 Background: Mental health literacy (MHL) is the term used to describe people's knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid in the recognition, management or the prevention of illness. Health professionals' levels of MHL will shape the therapeutic relationship in which they work in partnership with patients. Studies have been conducted in Australia and Singapore to determine levels of MHL among members of the general public and health professionals. To date, no such studies have been published in Chinese populations. Aim: The study aims to compare levels of MHL between registered nurses and psychiatrists in a Chinese general hospital. The paper reports participants' diagnosis and beliefs about interventions used to manage depression and schizophrenia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was undertaken among a group of psychiatrists and registered nurses in the psychiatric department of one large teaching hospital in China ( n = 70). Participants completed the survey by rating written vignettes related to depression and schizophrenia. Results: The psychiatrists were highly accurate in correctly diagnosing both depression and schizophrenia; the registered nurses were less so for diagnosing depression. In terms of treatment options, the two groups reached a broad agreement on beliefs about the use of mental health interventions, but differed significantly in the use of some specific mental health interventions. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary information about levels of MHL among Chinese mental health professionals and describes their attitudes towards the helpfulness of interventions used to restore mental health and well-being. Future large-scale studies are required to identify factors that influence beliefs about the use of mental health interventions. The findings have implications for further education of registered nurses in the specialization of mental health nursing in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rampant spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) has assumed pandemic proportions across the world. Attempts to contain its spread have entailed varying early screening and triage strategies implemented in different countries and regions. Aim: To share the experience of scientific and standardized management of fever clinics in China, which provide the first effective checkpoint for the prevention and control of COVID‐19. Introduction: A fever clinic was established at our hospital in Tianjin, China, for initially identifying suspected cases of COVID‐19 and controlling the spread of the disease. Methods: The management system covered the following aspects: spatial layout; partitioning of functional zones; a work management system and associated processes; management of personnel, materials and equipment; and patient education. Results: Within two months of introducing these measures, there was a comprehensive reduction in the number of new COVID‐19 cases in Tianjin, and zero infections occurred among medical staff at the fever clinic. Discussion: The fever clinic plays an important role in the early detection, isolation and referral of patients presenting with fevers of unknown origin. Broad screening criteria, an adequate warning mechanism, manpower reserves and staff training at the clinic are essential for the early management of epidemics. Conclusion: The spread of COVID‐19 has been effectively curbed through the establishment of the fever clinic, which merits widespread promotion and application. Implications for nursing and health policies: Health managers should be made aware of the important role of fever clinics in the early detection, isolation and referral of patients, and in the treatment of infectious diseases to prevent and control their spread. In the early stage of an epidemic, fever clinics should be established in key areas with concentrated clusters of cases. Simultaneously, the health and safety of health professionals require attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify issues and challenges of genomics education in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China. Background: The use of genetics/genomics in health care, such as genetic testing, pharmacogenomics and tumour profiling in the context of cancer, is increasing. The rapid application of genetics/genomics in clinical practice requires healthcare providers to be competent to practise genetics‐related patient care. Sources of evidence: We reviewed current practices in genomics education in nursing in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China, including the opportunities for nurses to advance their knowledge and recommendations to incorporate genomics education in the nursing curriculum in these regions. Findings: While many citizens and health professionals recognize the importance of new and exciting research areas of genomics/genetics, there are still many gaps in the translation of genetic/genomic medicine into clinical practice. There is also a similar lack of genetics professionals in China. Conclusion: Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China face challenges in promoting genetic education in nursing. A strategic approach in a coordinated effort ineffectively translating genomic knowledge into healthcare practice should be established in these three regions. Implications for nursing and policy: Nursing educators in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China should link with the international nursing community (e.g. Global Genomics Nursing Alliance) and form closer networks to improve education in the area of genetics and genomics. From a policy level, genomics education is suggested to be incorporated in nursing curriculum to enhance nurses' competency in incorporating genetics/genomics service into patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to physical restraint in tertiary hospitals and identify the factors that influence physical restraint use. Background: Physical restraint is used to maintain patient safety. Nurses play an important role in the restraint process. It is important to identify their understanding, feelings and approach regarding the use of physical restraint. Introduction: Physical restraint is widely practiced in hospitals in China. However, it results in a range of serious negative consequences. This article provides a clear description of nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices related to physical restraint. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire examining their knowledge, attitudes and practices related to physical restraint use. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed in four tertiary hospitals in Hubei Province, China between August and October 2014. Results: The nurses' responses indicated a good level of knowledge regarding physical restraint use. However, they held some misconceptions. The nurses' attitudes towards physical restraint tended to be neutral. The nurses were well experienced in the use of physical restraint. Nurses who had received on‐the‐job training performed better than those who had received no training related to knowledge and practices regarding physical restraint use. Conclusions and implication for nursing/health policy: In‐service training is highly recommended for nursing managers to improve nurses' physical restraint related knowledge and practices. Regulations regarding the use of restraints should be established as soon as possible by healthcare administration system. Implications for nursing: Nurses should be open to evaluate and improve their views and attitudes regarding effective physical restraint use via multidimensional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based nursing is widely recognized as the critical foundation for quality care. Aim: To develop a middle-range theory on the process of evidence-based nursing implementation in Chinese context. Methods: A grounded theory study using unstructured in-depth individual interviews was conducted with 56 participants who were involved in 24 evidence-based nursing implementation projects in Mainland China from September 2015 to September 2016. Results: A middle-range grounded theory of 'Taking Root' was developed. The theory describes the evidence implementation process consisting of four components (driving forces, process, outcome, sustainment/regression), three approaches (top-down, bottom-up and outside-in), four implementation strategies (patient-centred, nurses at the heart of change, reaching agreement, collaboration) and two patterns (transformational and adaptive implementation). Limitations: Certain perspectives may have not been captured, as the retrospective nature of the interviewing technique did not allow for 'real-time' assessment of the actual implementation process. The transferability of the findings requires further exploration as few participants with negative experiences were recruited. Conclusion: This is the first study that explored evidence-based implementation process, strategies, approaches and patterns in the Chinese nursing practice context to inform international nursing and health policymaking. The theory of Taking Root described various approaches to evidence implementation and how the implementation can be transformational for the nurses and the setting in which they work. Implications for nursing and health policy: Nursing educators, managers and researchers should work together to improve nurses' readiness for evidence implementation. Healthcare systems need to optimize internal mechanisms and external collaborations to promote nursing practice in line with evidence and achieve clinical outcomes and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand Chinese nurses’ perceptions of health beliefs, their content, origin and the influence of sociocultural factors, as a basis of their evidence‐based practice. This study contributes to a larger study to establish the health beliefs of Japanese, Australian, Chinese, South Korean and Thai nurses. Background: Registered nurses teach patients and students about maintaining or attaining health are subject to the same range of influences and their health beliefs may be antithetical to current health evidence. Methods: Q‐method design using q‐sort and interview was used to explore the perspectives on a range of health beliefs of 60 nurses in four cities in China. Findings: Three factors arose from the perceptions of the participants about health and accounted for 50.2% of the total variance: (1) social impact, (2) ‘the importance of evidence’, and (3) beliefs rooted in culture. Discussion: Influence on nurses’ health beliefs was explored in terms of the internalized and frequently unconscious beliefs, values and norms tying them to their communities, reflecting the need for nurses to be aware of their health beliefs and behaviours. Conclusions: Education for nurses in practice needs to acknowledge that individual practitioners’ beliefs strongly influence health teaching for patients and families. In order to implement evidenced‐based practice and teach in line with current evidence nurses need to critically examine and reflect on the impact of culture, society and the media on their own health beliefs. Implications for nursing policy and health policy: Education policy needs to consider that culture and societal pressures affect nurses’ health beliefs and practice. Critical thinking, reflective and evidence‐based practice need to be emphasized in clinical training and nurse education. China also needs to develop policies to allow nurses to be able to assess the reliability of health information on the Internet and to make quality health research more available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the influencing factors of suicidal ideation in Chinese patients diagnosed with stomach cancer. Introduction More recently, links have been made between suicide and cancer. For inpatients with cancer, nurses are at the front line to cope with suicidal issues in clinical settings. Method This study was part of a larger study that investigated psychological strains and related factors associated with suicidal ideation. Thirty-two patients with stomach cancer participated in a face-to-face interview. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Findings Four themes were identified as protective factors against suicidal ideation: suicidal denial and fears of stigmatization; positive coping skills; family connectedness; and desire to live well and longer. Discussion Consistent with previous research, these four protective factors may encourage participants to think more positively about life and cancer. Conclusion Our findings suggest four protective factors for targeted suicide prevention, which may play an important role in future suicide-prevention programmes for Chinese patients diagnosed with stomach cancer. Implications for nursing Nurses may help reduce patients' risk for suicidal ideation more effectively by discussing beliefs, family and meaning in life perspectives, as well as offering health education about positive coping skills. Implications for healthy policy Clinical nurses, hospitals and the government should work collaboratively with each other. It is suggested that Chinese national guidelines for working with the high-risk suicide populations should be considered within a future mental health working plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the disaster experiences of nurses called to assist survivors one month after the 2013 Ya'an earthquake. Background China has experienced an increasing number of earthquake disasters in the past four decades. Although a health and disaster management system was initiated after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, nurses' roles and experiences in a disaster have been overlooked. Methods The researchers used qualitative descriptive design that included 16 participants. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and observation notes, after which a qualitative content analysis was conducted. Findings Three major themes emerged: the process of being dispatched from hospitals to the disaster zone, the effort involved in getting to and working in the affected site and reflecting on the challenges they encountered. Discussion About half of the participants had received disaster nursing training before deploying to the disaster site, but they consistently expressed a lack of physical and psychological preparedness regarding the process of being dispatched from their hospitals to the disaster zone. Limitations This was a single-incident experience. Caution should be taken when trying to extend the findings to other parts of China. Conclusion These findings highlighted the need for disaster in-service training as well as for having disaster plans in place. Implications for nursing and health policy Hospital and nursing leaders should provide disaster training opportunities that included topics such as compiling resource inventories, formulating disaster drills and simulations, managing emergencies, and using emergency communication methods. Health policy-makers should be required to prioritize capacity-building training for front-line nurses as well as to develop and implement disaster management plans to better prepare nurses for future disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background On 8 May 2013, the Chinese Nursing Association joined the International Council of Nurses. It is hoped that by sharing the history of nursing in China, scholars globally can incorporate into current thinking the challenges that Chinese nurses have faced in pursuing educational development and professional acknowledgement. Aim To review the history of nurse education in China between 1887 and 1949 and summarize events marking its development; and to provide historical references for considering contemporary nurse education and discipline development in China. Methods Content analysis using bibliometric and historical research methods on available documentation sources. Milestone events were listed and their historical significance analysed. Results Nurse education development during this period was affected by three major influences: (1) international nursing collaboration and involvement with Chinese nursing in China and abroad, (2) the determination of leaders to develop nursing as a unique and ethical profession, and (3) the pressure of war and civilian need on the focus of nursing development in China. Conclusion The development of nurse education in China occurred within an environment of social change, war and international collaboration. Throughout the Modern China period (1887-1949), nursing leadership has guided the growth of nurse education to be responsive to individual and community needs as well as ensuring nurse accountability for conduct and nursing practice. Contemporary Chinese nursing and education owes much to those throughout the Modern China period, who laid the foundations that support the current position and status of nursing. Implications for nursing and health policy The study displays the benefits and challenges of participation in policy and forums that help nurse scholars and practitioners understand the development of nurse education in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background 'Ageing in place' is widely promoted as a response to global ageing and increased demand for services, but little evidence is available about what older people think they need in terms of services and supports to remain at home. Aim To investigate older people's needs when ageing in place in order to provide evidence to inform policies and strategies promoting the option of ageing in place. Methods A total of 568 elderly persons in Hangzhou, China, were surveyed in 2009-2011 using a modified questionnaire validated in the USA and China. Results Overall, 88.9% of older adults were satisfied with the community in which they live; 97.2% were satisfied with life quality. Health problems and healthcare access difficulty increased with age. House repairs and housework were the most troubling. Respondents identified high need for social and health promotion services and this varied across age groups. Limitations Cultural adaptation and validation of the questionnaire could have been influenced by differences in socioeconomic and cultural factors. The sample excluded older adults with disabilities, bed-ridden and/or unable to communicate thus limiting the scope of relevance. Conclusion A majority of older adult respondents ageing at home lived a relatively healthy life; however, they required more comprehensive health insurance to cover costs of long-term health problems and access to home care support. Implications for nursing and health policy The needs of community-dwelling older Chinese people in the Xiacheng District are not being fully met and much remains be done to increase community and regional capacity before ageing in place can be promoted as a policy strategy. More generally, nursing and health policies geared to enhance the self-sufficiency of older people residing in their communities must draw upon evidence of assessed needs and client perspectives of their requirements before services can be designed and delivered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is important to integrate adolescent health domains into pre-service nursing education in order to enhance undergraduate nursing students' competencies in promoting adolescent health. Aim To determine the effectiveness of a structured adolescent health summer programme for Chinese undergraduate nursing students. Methods A quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate differences in the Chinese undergraduate nursing students' perceived competency in promoting adolescent health. A stand-alone adolescent health course was implemented as an intervention with pre- and post-tests of a 2-week intensive summer programme in 2010. The questionnaire included demographics, adolescent health competency checklist and programme evaluation. Descriptive statistics with the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test and the Mann- Whitney U-test were used for data analysis. Results Of the 113 nursing students, seniors perceived higher adolescent health competence mean scores than the juniors in the post-test phase. Majority of nursing students revealed the increasing awareness of the importance in promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours and psychosocial well-being after attending the summer programme. They agreed that nurses do have a role to play. Limitations This 2-week summer programme may only have short-term impacts on students' perception. Conclusions A stand-alone adolescent health summer programme can prepare nursing students to respond to the health issues of adolescents by enhancing their competence in health need assessment and service delivery. Implications for nursing and health policy Nurses serve in a leadership role for health policies and programmes. In nursing education, it is important for students to understand how to put in place policies to resolve adolescent health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study represents an initial effort at examining the association between the construct of self-compassion and human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV)-related anxiety in a multinational population with HIV disease. Background Previous studies have found that self-compassion is a powerful predictor of mental health, demonstrating positive and consistent linkages with various measures of affect, psychopathology and well-being, including anxiety. Methods Cross-sectional data from a multinational study conducted by the members of the International Nursing Network for HIV Research ( n = 1986) were used. The diverse sample included participants from Canada, China, Namibia, the United States of America and the territory of Puerto Rico. Study measures included the anxiety subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90 instrument, the Brief Version Self- Compassion Inventory and a single item on anxiety from the Revised Sign and Symptom Checklist. Findings Study findings show that anxiety was significantly and inversely related to self-compassion across participants in all countries. We examined gender differences in self-compassion and anxiety, controlling for country. Levels of anxiety remained significantly and inversely related to self-compassion for both males ( P = 0.000) and females ( P = 0.000). Levels of self-compassion and anxiety varied across countries. Conclusions Self-compassion is a robust construct with cross-cultural relevance. A culturally based brief treatment approach aimed at increasing self-compassion may lend itself to the development of a cost effective adjunct treatment in HIV disease, including the management of anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The use of music as intervention for relieving pain has increased in recent years, prompting its growing use among the people of the western world. However, among Asians, music has long been used for this purpose and continues to be so today. Despite this common knowledge, Asians have not generally written about the therapeutic effects of music. Consequently, most of the published research studies supporting this claim were conducted in western settings using western music. PURPOSE: To describe the use of music as intervention in painful conditions as experienced by people in five Asian countries: China, Thailand, Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan. METHOD: Descriptive survey of studies using music as intervention for painful conditions conducted in selected five Asian countries. FINDINGS: Twelve studies including theses and dissertations, published and unpublished, were found; however, only nine met the inclusion criteria. Data were categorized according to research design, sample size, gender, age, duration of music, frequency of music intervention, types of pain and instruments used to measure pain, conceptual or theoretical frameworks and statistical significance of the study. Five of the nine studies declared significant decrease in pain, while three reported mixed results. Fundamentally, the findings of the studies suggested that with music, relief of pain was possible. IMPLICATIONS: The mixed results imply the need for further investigation of the effects of music in painful conditions. Thus, the authors suggest continuing studies on the effects of music as intervention in painful conditions, and encourage increasing global dissemination of these studies, particularly in international journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Health is a global concern. Although nursing is a global profession, most schools of nursing concentrate on teaching health exclusively within the context of their own nation. Sister-school partnerships that cross national boundaries are one way of extending the learning opportunities of faculties and students. An example of a 5-year partnership is described and analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the traditional and contemporary medicine incorporated in the health care services in China. Origin of Chinese medicine; Need of the health services of China to deal with the extensive health needs of the country with its large population; Influence of the exposure to the influence of Western nations on the development of modern medical science.

Background: This paper describes a study that explores the experiences of internationally educated nurses (IENs) in their efforts to gain entry to practice as Registered Nurses (RNs) in the province of Ontario, Canada., Aim: The aim was to uncover, in part, the issues related to professional nursing credentialling., Methods: This study was guided by a biographical narrative (qualitative) research methodology. A convenience sample of 12 IEN students volunteered for this study representing the Philippines, Mainland China, Korea, Ukraine and India., Findings: The findings were that the IENs progress through a three-phase journey in their quest for licensure in Ontario. These phases include: (1) hope - wanting the Canadian dream of becoming an RN in Ontario; (2) disillusionment - discovering that their home-country nursing qualifications do not meet Ontario RN entry to practice; and (3) navigating disillusionment - living the redefined Canadian dream by returning to nursing school to upgrade their nursing qualifications., Conclusions: Professional regulatory nursing bodies and nursing educators, as well as practising nurses, must be aware of the potentially confusing and unpleasant processes IENs go through as they qualify for the privilege of practising nursing in Ontario.

This paper shows how the health professions must meet the demands posed by China's vast geographical area, her population problem, her increasing technological development and economic situation, by utilizing available health resources as well as manpower in order to fulfil 'the national guarantee--to serve the people'.