Jiali Gong

As the healthcare sector increasingly seeks nursing professionals with advanced education and specialized expertise, nursing undergraduates are becoming more inclined to pursue postgraduate studies. This trend highlights the need for a comprehensive examination of the barriers and facilitators that influence their motivation to take postgraduate entrance examinations. Gaining such insights can help shape more effective policies and student support systems. The objective of this study is to investigate the factors-both hindering and supportive-that impact the motivation of nursing undergraduates regarding postgraduate entrance exams. Between October and December 2023, data were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 15 nursing undergraduates at Nantong University. The collected data were examined using thematic analysis to extract core themes. The study identified four primary barriers: the burden of academic workload combined with internship fatigue, self-doubt and anxiety about failing, concerns about job prospects, and insufficient access to relevant information and resources. On the other hand, four major facilitators emerged: the ambition to enhance academic qualifications and professional competencies, career advancement and role transition goals, the intention to delay employment through further study, and the encouraging influence of role models and social support systems. These results may provide nursing undergraduates with better strategies for preparing for postgraduate entrance exams and advancing their academic and career goals. The study emphasizes the importance of reducing the identified obstacles while amplifying supportive elements to foster the all-around development of nursing students.

Objectives. To explore the dyadic interdependence of self-efficacy, benefit finding, anxiety, depression, and QOL in cancer patient (CP) and family caregiver (FC) dyads, and to ascertain the dyadic effects of self-efficacy on quality of life (QOL) in CP-FC dyads. Methods. Conducted from November 2014 to December 2015, participants comprised 772 CP-FC dyads. The study surveyed participant characteristics, self-efficacy, benefit finding, anxiety, depression, and QOL. Data were analyzed using Pearsons correlation, T-test, and actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM). Results. CPs self-efficacy was positively correlated with both their own and FCs benefit finding and mental component summary (MCS), and negatively associated with anxiety and depression (all Psr=0.1440.432). However, CPs self-efficacy was only positively correlated with their own physical component summary (PCS) (r=0.193), but not FCs PCS. The same profile was identified in FCs self-efficacy (all Psr=0.1000.468). FCs reported higher levels of self-efficacy and PCS compared to CPs (both Psr=0.1680.437) were identified among all paired variables in CP-FC dyads (all PsConclusions. Study findings not only support the dyadic interdependence of self-efficacy, benefit finding, anxiety, depression, and QOL in CP-FC dyads but confirm the hypothesis that dyads self-efficacy may impact their MCS/PCS via an indirect approach to improve benefit finding and relieve anxiety and/or depression in CP-FC dyads.

Objective. High levels of self-efficacy (SE) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and/or caregivers enable patients to cope with cancer, reduce caregiver burden, and promote quality of life (QOL) in patients and caregivers alike. This review aims to (a) identify the SE theory sources covered by SE interventions or interventions, including targeting improved SE for CRC patients and/or caregivers, to guide future development of SE interventions; and (b) explore intervention effects based on SE theory through meta-analysis. Methods. Using five electronic databasesCINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PsycINFO, and PubMeda systematic search was performed in April 2021 to identify English or Chinese literature that studied improving SE interventions for CRC patients and/or caregivers. Manual screening of the articles references list was also performed. Results. A total of 18 studies were found to be suitable and included in this review. Of the 18 studies that were included, 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studies with 917 participants were eligible for meta-analysis. Interventions provide support for SE drawing on different sources of information. Performance accomplishment (PA) is the key source, with vicarious experience (VE) and verbal persuasion (VP) assisting in improving PA. Reducing negative emotional arousal (NEA) and improving positive emotional arousal (PEA) are also indispensable factors in improving SE. The meta-analysis results show that interventions based on the SE theory can bring about positive effects for CRC patients and/or caregivers. Conclusions. Different sources of information aimed at improving SE, covered by the interventions, including PA, VE, VP, NEA, and PEA, have been explored. Positive intervention outcomes that focused on improving SE for CRC patients and/or caregivers were identified and highlighted. For future SE interventions, we advocate choosing combination sources of SE information to design interventions. It is recommended that future SE improvement interventions should focus on improving PA, supplemented by increasing VE, while reducing NEA and providing useful VP.