NU Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Application of Thai Qigong Meditation Exercise SKT 7 for Blood Pressure Control: An integrated Approach to Community-Based Preventive Healthcare

2025-01-29T10:04:24+07:00

This article aims to study the application of Thai Qigong Meditation Exercise SKT 7 in controlling blood pressure among individuals at risk of hypertension. A review of literature from both Thailand and international studies was conducted. The findings reveal that the application of Thai Qigong Meditation Exercise SKT 7 helps reduce blood pressure levels, decrease stress, and balance the autonomic nervous system, which are critical factors in preventing the progression from pre-hypertension to full hypertension. Furthermore, the article presents an integrated approach to incorporating Thai Qigong Meditation Exercise SKT 7 into preventive healthcare in the community. This includes designing appropriate programs for target groups, establishing support systems, emphasizing the crucial role of nurses in promoting sustainable practice of Thai Qigong Meditation Exercise SKT 7. Studies have shown that practicing Thai Qigong Meditation Exercise SKT 7 regularly and continuously over the long-term leads to an increase in parasympathetic nervous system activity and a decrease in sympathetic nervous system activity. The brain enhances the release of the neurotransmitter GABA, promoting a sense of calm, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving sleep quality. Additionally, there is an increase in the release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the circulatory system, leading to the dilation of arteries throughout the body. This results in the expansion of peripheral blood vessels and improved blood circulation to peripheral organs, which is highly beneficial for effectively reducing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Relationship between Mental Health Literacy and Depression among Nursing Students

2024-10-22T15:28:32+07:00

The objectives of this descriptive correlational research were to study mental health literacy, depression, and determine the relationship between mental health literacy and depression of nursing students. The study sample was composed of 242 nursing students of the Bachelor of Nursing Program in 1^st to 4^thyear who were studying in the 2023 academic year at the Faculty of Nursing, Naresuan University. The students were selected using systematic random sampling based on their identification numbers. Two research instruments were used in this study: 1) the depression assessment form of the Department of Mental Health (Thai Version of The Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents: PHQ-A), and 2) mental health literacy assessment form based on Jorm's concepts. The content validity index of the mental health literacy assessment form was .96. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the PHQ-A and mental health literacy assessment form in terms of disorder recognition and first aid skills were .83, .88, and .85, respectively. The Kuder Richardson's coefficient of the mental health literacy assessment form in term of knowledge (prevention, help-seeking, and self-help strategies) was .76. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The results revealed that 1) the overall mental health literacy of nursing students was at a high level ( = 26.78, S.D. = 3.79). 2) More than half of nursing students had depression (57.0 %) while those nursing students had mild, moderate, moderately severe, and severe levels were 45.5%, 8.2%, 2.5%, and .8%, respectively. 3) The overall mental health literacy had a low negative relationship with depression of nursing students (r = -.11) with statistical significance (p <.05).

Effects of an Empowerment Program on Health Behaviors and Blood Pressure Levels among Patients with Hypertension.

2024-11-07T08:51:41+07:00

This quasi-experimental research aimed to investigate the effects of an empowerment program on health behaviors and blood pressure levels among patients with hypertension. The participants, aged 35 – 59 and diagnosed with hypertension, were residents of Phu Sang District, Phayao Province, and were simple random sampling. The study included sixty participants, who were equally divided into two groups: an experimental group and a control group, with thirty participants in each. The experimental group received an empowerment program based on Gibson’s concept, while the control group received standard care over a 12-week period. Data collection was conducted using sphygmomanometer, health behavior questionnaire, which had a reliability coefficient of 0.81, by Cronbach's alpha.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. The results of the study showed the following outcomes. The experimental group showed a statistically significant increase in mean scores in health behaviors compared to before the program implementation and higher mean scores than the control group (p<.05).In addition, the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels compared to the levels before the program implementation and lower those of the control group (p<.05).

A Causal Model of Factors Affecting Organizational Commitment of Nursing Instructors under Praboromarajchanok Institute, Ministry of Public Health

2025-01-04T11:11:58+07:00

This study aimed to develop a causal model of factors influencing the organizational commitment of nursing instructors under Praboromarajchanok Institute, Ministry of Public Health and study guidelines for building organizational commitment. The research was conducted in three phases: 1) developing the causal model through a literature review and interviewed 15 experts and nursing instructors; 2) validating the model and analyzing the effects of influencing factors based on data collected from 586 nursing instructors across 30 institutions; 3) developing guidelines for enhancing organizational commitment through a connoisseurship seminar with 8 experts. The research instruments included structured interviews and validated questionnaires, seminar questions, and an evaluation form for a draft of guidelines for enhancing organizational commitment. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) and framework analysis for qualitative data.The results showed that: 1) the causal model included one external latent variable: transformational leadership and four internal latent variables: perceived organizational justice, perceived organizational support, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment; 2) the model was consistent with empirical data (𝑥² = 82.115, df = 64, p = 0.063, CFI = 0.998, TLI = 0.995, RMSEA = 0.022, SRMR = 0.027); 3) the factors with the highest total effect on organizational commitment were job satisfaction (β=1.414), followed by perceived organizational justice (β=1.149) and transformational leadership (β=0.528). Guidelines for fostering organizational commitment encompassed four areas: improving job satisfaction, developing transformational leadership among administrators, promoting organizational justice, and enhancing organizational support among nursing instructors.

The Role of Family, Knowledge, and Dietary Behaviors of Patients With Type II Diabetes With Uncontrolled Blood Glucose in Rural Areas of Nakhon Ratchasima Province

2025-03-14T13:00:21+07:00

Type 2 diabetes is a common chronic health problem in rural Thailand. Patients often struggle to control their blood glucose levels due to limited knowledge and inappropriate dietary behaviors. The family plays a key role in supporting healthy eating habits and managing meals for diabetic patients. This descriptive study aimed to explore the role of family members in meal management, along with assessing the dietary knowledge and behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes. The sample consisted of 30 diabetic patients and 30 family food managers residing in rural areas. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing patients’ dietary knowledge and behaviors, and a focus group discussion guide for family food managers. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used for data analysis. The results indicated that the role of the family in dietary management consisted of four main aspects. First, food selection was primarily determined by the food manager, who often prioritized convenience and price, which sometimes resulted in the selection of foods inappropriate for the patient's health condition. Second, food preparation was typically based on familiar routines and shared family meals, with no differentiation in food provided specifically for the patient. Third, regarding food quantity, meals were prepared in the same proportions for all family members. As a result, some patients consumed more than appropriate, especially when influenced by the belief that eating large amounts of rice would provide sufficient energy for daily activities. Fourth, meal frequency was maintained through regular main meals; however, many patients continued to consume snacks between meals, contributing to poor dietary control. The participants demonstrated a good level of dietary knowledge (x̄ = 14.37, S.D. = 2.82), but their actual eating behaviors remained at a moderate level (x̄ = 3.26, S.D. = 0.87). These findings suggest that effective dietary management requires the integration of both knowledge and behavior change, with families playing a central role. Interventions should focus on continuous, clear, and applicable health education, promoting sustainable behavior change in daily life.

The Effects of Self-Efficacy Promotion Program on Health Behaviors, HbA1C Level, and Glomerular Filtration Rate of Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

2025-02-07T12:48:52+07:00

This quasi-experimental research examined the effects of self-efficacy promotion program on health behaviors, HbA1C level, and glomerular filtration rate of diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease. The study’s sample consisted of 60 patients with type 2 diabetes with chronic kidney disease from Chumtabong Hospital, Nakhonsawan Province. The participants were simple random sampling to either the experimental group (n=30) or the control group (n=30) based on the inclusion criteria. The experimental group received a Self-Efficacy Promotion Program based on Bandura’s Self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1997) which included four components. The program was administered over 12 weeks. Data collection instruments included health behavior questionnaires and measures of HbA1C levels and glomerular filtration rates. The questionnaire's content validity was reviewed by five experts, and its reliability was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.78. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, paired t-tests, and independent t-tests. The results indicated the following: Experimental group after receiving the self-efficacy promotion program Health Behavior Average Score Accumulated sugar levels in the blood and glomerular filtration rate Different from before the experiment and the control group (p<.05). The study’s findings suggest that the Self-Efficacy Promotion Program may effectively improve health behaviors, reduce A1C levels, and increase glomerular filtration rates in type 2 diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease. The program may serve as a valuable tool for professional nurses and other healthcare providers in patient care.

Effects of Nursing Care Based on Health Belief Model on Preterm Birth Preventive Perception and Behaviors among Pregnant Teenagers

2025-03-03T09:01:28+07:00

This research is a quasi-experimental study using a two-group pretest-posttest design aimed to evaluate the effects of nursing care based on Health Belief Model on preterm birth prevention perceptions and behaviors among pregnant teenagers. The participants included 62 pregnant women with younger than 20 years old who received the ANC clinic at Buriram Hospital and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=31) or control group (n=31) selected by using inclusion criteria. Data were collected between January to April 2024. The research collection tools were personal questionnaire, preterm preventive perception and behaviors, and preterm birth preventive behaviors questionnaires. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to test reliability of preterm birth prevention perception, and preterm birth prevention behavior questionnaires a value of .75 and .72 The content validity indices (CVI) a value of .99 and .97. Data analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, and Mann-Whitny U test. The results revealed that after the experiment the experimental group had the significantly better mean score of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and preterm birth preventive behaviors than before intervention and the control group (z = -5.530, p<.001; z = -3.608, p<.001; z = -3.424, p<.001; z = -2.512, p=.021; z = -4.748, p<.001, & z = -5.611, p<.001). Findings suggest that midwives could apply this nursing care based on Health Belief Model in order to promote the preventive preterm birth perceptions and behaviors of pregnant teenagers to reduce the rate of preterm birth.

Effects of a Supportive-Educative Nursing Program on Self-Care Behaviors, Activities of Daily Living, and Blood Pressure Levels among Persons with Stroke

2025-03-03T11:52:23+07:00

This quasi-experimental study with a two-group pretest-posttest design aimed to examine the effects of a supportive-educative nursing program on self-care behaviors, activities of daily living, and blood pressure levels among stroke patients. The sample consisted of 60 stroke patients receiving care at primary healthcare units in Mueang Phetchabun District, divided into an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The experimental group received a supportive-educative nursing program based on Orem’s Nursing Theory for 12 weeks. Data were collected using a self-care behavior questionnaire, an activities of daily living record form, and a blood pressure log, with a reliability coefficient (Cronbach’s alpha) of 0.83. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, paired t-test, and independent t-test.Thise findings revealed that the experimental group had significantly higher self-care behavior scores and activities of daily living scores after the intervention compared to before the intervention and to the control group (p < .001). Additionally, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in the experimental group were significantly lower after the intervention (p < .001). The systolic blood pressure of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < .05), and the diastolic blood pressure of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < .01). Thus, the supportive-educative nursing program effectively improved self-care behaviors and activities of daily living among stroke patients and contributed to a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.

Student Needs and Need Fulfilment in Preparation for the Nursing and Midwifery Licensure Examination

2025-06-23T09:09:22+07:00

The objective of this descriptive research was to explore nursing students’ needs and the degree of need fulfilment in relation to their preparation for the Nursing and Midwifery Licensure Examination. The sample was 117 fourth-year nursing students in the academic year 2024, selected using a purposive sampling technique. Research instruments were the student needs and need fulfilment questionnaires. Content validity was assessed using the Index of Item-Objective Congruence which yielded values ranging from 0.67-1.00. The reliability as measured by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, was 0.90. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the paired t-test. The results revealed the following: (1) the overall student needs score was at the highest level (x̄ = 4.66, SD = 0.38); (2) the overall need fulfilment score was at a high level (x̄ = 4.28, SD = 0.41); (3) there was a statistically significant difference between the overall student needs and need fulfilment score (t = 7.93, p <.001) at the 0.5 level of significance. These findings could contribute to more effective planning strategies to enhance students’ readiness for the Nursing and Midwifery Licensure Examination.

Factors Predicting Health-Related Quality of Life Among People Living with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

2025-05-27T12:09:53+07:00

This study aimed to: (1) examine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, and (2) investigate the predictive power of age, number of chemotherapy sessions, social support, chemotherapy side effects, and health-promoting behaviors on HRQoL. The sample consisted of 148 female patients aged 18 years and older who were diagnosed with breast cancer and follow up to receive chemotherapy at the outpatient department of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society. Participants were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. The research instruments included: (1) personal information questionnaire, (2) social support questionnaire, (3) chemotherapy side effects questionnaire, (4) health-promoting behaviors questionnaire, and (5) breast cancer-specific HRQoL questionnaire. Instruments 2–4 were validated for content using the Content Validity Index (CVI), with CVI scores of .90, 1.0, and .90, respectively. Their reliability, assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficients, were .88, .80, and .84, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that the HRQoL among breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was at a moderate level (M = 62.93, SD = 16.06). Health-promoting behaviors (β = .74, p < .001), social support (β = .42, p < .001), chemotherapy side effects (β = –.39, p < .001), and the number of chemotherapy sessions (β = –.23, p < .001) were significant predictors of HRQoL, collectively explaining 15.88% of the variance (p < .05).

Development of an Assessment Tools for caregivers’ Caring Behaviors of Children Under Five Years with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

2025-07-07T11:59:53+07:00

Research tools are important and play an important role in research as they are employed to measure the situations and the behaviors that need to be measured. This research aims to develop the tools to assess the caregiving behaviors of caregivers of children under five years with lower respiratory tract infection and verify the quality of the developed tools for maximum benefit of measurement consistent with the objectives.Purposive sampling was administered to select the samples, namely 5 experts in the field of examining research tools and 10 caregivers of children under five years with lower respiratory tract infection. The research tools comprised two sets of expert evaluation forms for instrument quality assessment and six sets of caregiver behavior assessment tools for caregivers of children under five with lower respiratory tract infections. The research process consisted of 3 steps. 1) The research tools were constructed based on related concepts and theories. 2) The research tools were verified for quality by using the Index of Item Objective Congruence (IOC) and the Content Validity Index (S-CVI) and then trying out the research tools. 3) Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the research tools through reliability analysis using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.The findings revealed that the developed caregivers’ caring behaviors assessment tools for children under five years with lower respiratory tract infection demonstrated strong psychometric properties. The Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) values for individual items ranged from 0.80 to 1.0, the Scale-level Content Validity Index (S-CVI) ranged from 0.98 to 1.0, and the Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.87 to 0.95. These results indicate that the instrument possesses a high level of reliability and is appropriate for assessing caregiving behaviors among caregivers.

Factors associated with timely hospital arrival in patients with acute stroke, Kong Krailat District, Sukhothai Province

2025-12-27T12:44:19+07:00

Acute stroke is a medical emergency that requires timely treatment to prevent complications and reduce mortality rates. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with timely hospital arrival in patients with acute stroke. It was a case-control study with a 1:1 ratio, involving a sample of 80 subjects divided into 40 cases and 40 controls, selected from patients receiving services at Kong Krailat Hospital, Sukhothai Province. Data were collected using general information checklists, a general stroke knowledge test, an assessment of stroke warning sign perception, a stroke severity perception questionnaire, and a health literacy and health behaviors for stroke prevention questionnaire developed by the Health Education Division. The research instruments were tested for content validity and reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, McNemar’s test, and inferential statistics including multivariable analysis and logistic regression.The results showed that there were two factors out of four variables significantly associated with timely hospital arrival among acute stroke patients: 1. Environmental factors, including a distance of less than or equal to 15 kilometers from home or the scene of onset to the hospital, and the time of the event; and 2. Knowledge and health behavior factors, including general knowledge about stroke and the perception of stroke warning signs. Therefore, educational information should be provided to the general public and high-risk groups, such as patients with chronic non-communicable diseases and the elderly. Additionally, there should be collaboration with primary healthcare units to develop patient referral systems.