Kuakarun Journal of Nursing

Effect of the Midwifery Continuity of Care with Smartphone Application for Women with Gestational Diabetes in Urban Area

Piangkhuan Phutong, Wareerat Jittitaworn — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study employed a mixed methods research approach to investigate the effects of the midwifery continuity of care model combined with a smartphone application (Mama GDM application) in caring for pregnant women with gestational diabetes in Bangkok. The study sample consisted of 60 pregnant women with gestational diabetes, including nine nurse-midwives. The content validity and reliability of research instruments were approved. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

The research findings were the mean self-care behavior scores and perception scores of women with gestational diabetes after receiving midwifery continuity of care combined with the use of the Mama GDM application was significantly higher than the control group (t = 3.42; p-value < .05 and t = 3.57; p-value < .05 respectively). Additionally, the nurse-midwives reflected on the use of the midwifery continuity of care combined with the Mama GDM application using semi-structured interviews in the following aspects: 1) promoting learning and awareness in self-care, 2) continuous care, follow-up, and provide information, and 3) easily accessible to pregnant women in urban areas. Pregnant women reflected into three main themes: 1) being stress with baby’s health, 2) having self-care opportunity, and 3) recognizing application as a beautiful and accessible function. Providing midwifery continuity of care with the Mama GDM application to women with gestational diabetes promotes proper self-care and builds confidence in ensuring the safety of both pregnant women and their fetuses.

The Effectiveness of the Decision-Making Enhancement Program for Breast Self-Examination among Lahu Women in Chiang Mai Province

Pornpun Manasatchakun, Sutteeporn Moolsart, Kanjana Srisawad — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This quasi-experimental research with a two-group pretest-posttest design aimed to study the effects of a decision-making enhancement program for breast self-examination on the knowledge about breast self-examination, beliefs about breast self-examination, and breast self-examination behavior among Lahu women. The sample comprised Lahu women aged 20-59. These study areas were selected by simple random sampling. There were 35 individuals in each of the comparison and experimental groups. The research instruments consisted of 1) the 8-week decision-making enhancement program for breast self-examination, consisting of knowledge development, breast self-examination practice, and a speech by religious leaders regarding emphasis on breast self-examination; 2) a breast self-examination video; 3) a breast self-examination guide; and 4) a questionnaire with IOC equal to 1 on knowledge about breast self-examination, beliefs about breast self-examination, and breast self-examination behavior. The score for KR-20 of knowledge about breast self-examination in the questionnaire was .94. The values of Cronbach’s alpha were as follows, beliefs about breast self-examination .75, and breast self-examination behavior .79. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were used for data analysis.

The results revealed that the posttest of knowledge about breast self-examination, beliefs about breast self-examination, and breast self-examination behaviors of the experimental group were significantly better than those of the comparison group (t = -26.63, p-value < .05; t = -13.53, p-value < .05; t = -49.02, p-value < .05, respectively). The program can be applied to Lahu women to examine their breasts in similar contexts.

End-of-Life Care of Pediatric Patients from the Super Tertiary Care Hospital to Home: Perspectives and Experiences of Health Care Providers and Family

Chayanuj Chaiyaratana, Chayabhorn Tiwaree, Tawanrat Sakulrungjalas — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This qualitative descriptive research aimed to describe perspectives and experiences of the end-of-life care from the super tertiary hospital to home in 7 healthcare providers consisting of pediatricians, pediatric nurses, social workers and 2 mothers who take care children at end-of-life. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews and audio record. Sandelowski’s qualitative content analysis method was employed for data analysis by Lincoln and Guba’s criteria in their approach to trustworthiness.

The results revealed that end-of-life care as perceived and experienced by healthcare providers and families could be divided into 3 themes were 1) delayed access to end-of-life care for children depends on decisions made by the pediatrician team and family 2) caring for end-of-life pediatric patients from the hospital to their homes requires collaboration between the pediatric team and the palliative care team and clear communication skills with families and 3) needs of terminally ill pediatric patients who want to die with their loved ones. The findings can be basic information for studying factors related to end-of-life pediatric care. Especially the collaboration between the primary care team and the palliative care team, promoting effective communication skills and enhance the efficiency of palliative care for terminally ill pediatric patients.

The Effect of a Breastfeeding Promotion Program on Breastfeeding Knowledge and Exclusive Breastfeeding for 6 Months in Working Mothers

Chidchanok Phanpom, Pornnipa Wongmak, Patchaneeya Chiengta, Natnari Khamaurai — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This quasi-experimental research with a posttest only control group design aimed to examine the effect of a breastfeeding promotion program on breastfeeding knowledge and exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months in working mothers. The sample group consisted of 52 participants, randomly divided into two groups of 26 people each. The control group received standard nursing care, while the experimental group received standard nursing care combined the breastfeeding promotion program. Research instruments included demographic characteristics and information of pregnancy and childbirth, the Breastfeeding Knowledge Questionnaire (reliability at .64) and the infant feeding interview form. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test.

The results revealed that the mean score of breastfeeding knowledge in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the control group (Z = -3.034, p-value < .05) Exclusive breastfeeding rate for 6 months in the experimental group was higher than the control group (73.10% and 26.90%, respectively). Therefore, the breastfeeding promotion program can enhance the working mothers increase their breastfeeding knowledge, access to reliable information sources and determine to exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months. Nurses should continuously follow up the postpartum mothers after returning home and returning to work.

Development of a Participatory Health Management Model Based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in Roi-Et Province

Parichart Arsarthong, Khwanchira Inkwarg, Thongme Phalapone, Wareerat Wannapoe — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This participatory action research aimed to develop a community health management model based on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in Roi Et Province, Thailand. This study consisted of three phases: 1) the preparation phase, which involved identifying community health issues and randomly selecting 367 participants; 2) the implementation phase, a total of 40 participants including community leaders, village committees, health volunteers, and community residents were enrolled to create and implement a community health management plan; and 3) the evaluation phase, which 80 respondents were randomly selected and data were collected using self-assessment questionnaires. These questionnaires consisted of health management, health literacy, and WHOQOL-BREF with their content validity being .96 and .98, and reliability was .85, .85 and .88, respectively. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics in terms of paired t-tests while the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.

The findings revealed that the community residents reported moderate levels of health knowledge (35.00%), health management (36.25%), and quality of life (38.75%), respectively. The “HEALTHS Model” is composed of seven key elements, including holistic health, sufficiency economy, health awareness, leadership, teamwork, harmony and participation, and sustainability. Following the model’s implementation, participants reported substantial enhancements in health knowledge, management, and quality of life (p-value < .01). This study emphasizes the significance of continuing to promote this participatory health management paradigm, which is founded on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy, in order to ensure long-term sustainability in community health.