Digital Commons Network^™

Rompiendo Fronteras: Addressing Language Barriers In Hispanic Palliative Cancer Care, Carla Mcnulty, Catherine Finlayson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic people, accounting for 20% of deaths (American Cancer Society, 2023). In 2024, the American Cancer Society predicted that 195,300 Hispanics would be diagnosed with cancer in the United States, and 50,400 (25%) would die from their disease, leaving approximately 144,900 (75%) living with cancer. As the Hispanic population rises in the United States, one can predict that cancer diagnoses will also increase. This is likely to result in a higher number of cancer-related deaths, as well as more individuals living with cancer. Consequently, there will be an increased demand for …

Supporting Socialization & Expression In Ltc: A Scoping Review Of Language Barriers & Older Adults, Christina Oleynikov, Amanda Mcintyre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Communication is central to socialization and the expression of cultural identity [7]. In multilingual societies such as Canada, language barriers can hinder full integration, affecting social participation and overall quality of life [6,7,9]. The proposed study focuses on language barriers faced by minority older adults in long-term care settings. Non-English speaking residents who face barriers in communication and lack the adequate support necessary to overcome them, become vulnerable to impaired meaningful interactions and social isolation [3,11]. This study plans to gather and review existing scientific literature on how these barriers affect older adults and impact their socialization needs. A scoping …

Musculoskeletal Disorders, Care Burden, And Sarcopenia: A Preliminary Study On Family Caregivers, Shu-Yuan Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family caregivers bear a high risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), which may precipitate sarcopenia and care burden. This study hypothesizes that the occurrence of MSDs may be related to caregiver burden and sarcopenia among middle-aged and older family caregivers.

Study Purposes: (1) To investigate the incidence of MSDs, sarcopenia, and the level of care burden among middle-aged and older family caregivers; (2) To identify the correlations between MSDs, sarcopenia, and care burden.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted. Family caregivers who received services from the Caregivers Association or home care services and met the inclusion criteria, including …

Older Population-Based Resilience: An Evolutionary Analysis Via Complex Adaptive Systems, Po-Chung Feng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: To clarify the concept of older population-base resilience to support nursing research, public health planning, and healthy aging strategies.

Background: Older population-based resilience is an important concept for facilitating the adaptation of aging populations to multifaceted adversity networks. While extensive studies has examined resilience among older adults across diverse systems, hierarchical levels, and dimensional perspectives, the conceptual discourse has focused mainly on the individual level. A comprehensive articulation of population-level resilience attributes has been notably absent from the literature. Consequently, establishing a precise conceptualization of Older Population-Based Resilience constitutes an imperative scholarly endeavor.

Methods: A systematic literature search was …

Being Present: Elevating Patient And Nursing Satisfaction Through Leadership Presence, Miranda Marie Schmidt

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: Predominant and notable themes currently being actively monitored in healthcare are nursing satisfaction, retention, and job performance. These variables have been identified as important areas to evaluate as to how they directly impact patient care outcomes. Use of the evidence-based Casey Fink Graduate Nurse Survey and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality- Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) leadership rounding guide highlights that combining structured tools along with leadership presence, style, and interactions is associated with positive changes in patient care, nursing satisfaction, retention, and the overall quality metrics will improve in a specified unit.

Methodology: 26 articles were reviewed …

Examining Social Support Among Black Dementia Caregivers In The Greater Toronto Area, Deanna Marie Black

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Dementia affects more than 55 million people globally and disproportionately impacts Black populations due to inequities in healthcare access. In Canada, Black communities face higher dementia risk and greater barriers to timely, culturally aligned care. In the Greater Toronto Area, Black caregivers carry major responsibilities while navigating fragmented services shaped by race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Although social support reduces caregiver burden, little is known about how Black caregivers access and use support within intersecting social and structural constraints.

Purpose: This study will examine how Black adult caregivers in the Greater Toronto Area construct, access, and mobilize social support …

Social Frailty In Asia: A Scoping Review Of Interventions, Gaps, And Priorities, Julienne Ivan Dagondon Soberano, Jed Montayre

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: Social frailty (SF) is a multidimensional state of social vulnerability linked to adverse outcomes in older adults. Asia’s rapidly aging population poses challenges for health systems, particularly in addressing SF-related conditions. This scoping review aimed to describe existing SF interventions in Asian countries, assess evidence volume and characteristics, and identify research gaps.

Methods: A systematic search of eight databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) identified English-language studies published from January 2020 to September 2025. The review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Interventions were synthesized across the care continuum (prevention, …

Assessing Nursing Students' Knowledge And Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Desiree L. Fernandes, Jennifer A. Fearon-Lynch

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: The population of older adults in the United States is increasing and will require an increase in the number of nurses to care for this population. Evidence suggests that there are many biases, stereotypes, and myths associated with the older adult population, which influence nursing students’ attitudes toward working with this population.

Aim: Our aim was to assess the effect of an aging adult educational intervention on second-semester sophomore nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward older adults.

Method: This one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with qualitative questions was conducted at a college within the northeastern United States. Undergraduate second-semester sophomore …

Enhancing Community Health Volunteers In Screening Indonesian Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Riksa Wibawa Resna, Ching-Min Chen, Tram Thi Bich Nguyen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Indonesia faces a shortage of healthcare professionals (3.84 per 1,000 population, compared with the WHO standard of 4.45). Additionally, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) play a crucial role in community-based geriatric care in Indonesia. However, their competencies in conducting Intrinsic Capacity (IC) screening remain limited.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured training program in improving CHV knowledge and skills related to intrinsic capacity screening.
A pre–post quasi-experimental design was employed with a total of 120 eligible CHVs recruited from three PHCs through purposive judgmental sampling. The two-day training program and a month of personal guidance were implemented …

Developing Ethical Reasoning And Teamwork In Nursing Students Via Organ Donation Simulation, Miranda M. Smith, Melissa Miasek, Laura Dunaway, Joseph Chamness, Mary Deason, Shikha Modi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Organ donation is a critical healthcare priority, with 140,964 transplants performed worldwide in 2018 (Lewis et al., 2021). Nursing students often report limited exposure to donor referral processes, brain death determination, and communication with organ procurement organizations. Low baseline knowledge and confidence highlight the need for structured educational interventions (Alwesmi et al., 2023; Bertocchi et al., 2025). Evidence shows teaching and simulation-based learning enhance knowledge, attitudes, and competence in end-of-life donation care (Lewis, 2023). Simulation provides psychological safety, supporting teamwork, communication, clinical judgment, and emotional readiness for ethically complex situations (Masgaard & Svellingen, 2025).

Purpose/Methods: This study examined senior …

Factors Influencing Geriatric Nursing Performance Among Korean Hospital Nurses, Yeon-Ju Kang, Eunji Seo, Jiyeon Ha, Minkyung Kang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: The global aging population has increased the demand for competent geriatric nursing care in acute hospital settings (Espinel-Jara et al., 2025, OCED, 2025). This study aimed to identify factors influencing geriatric nursing performance among Korean hospital nurses, focusing on nursing professionalism and work intensity, which would inform strategies for improving care quality.

Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted with 144 nurses from medical and surgical wards, intensive care units, and emergency units in three general hospitals in South Korea. Participants had at least six months of clinical experience and provided direct care to patients aged 65 years or …

Preparing Patients Without Caregivers: Nursing Strategies For Safe Discharge To Home, Christine Rae Platt, Alycia Bristol, Hannah Wilkerson, Susy Vega, Deedee Long, Catherine Elmore, Andrea Wallace

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Hospital discharge represents a critical transition in care, particularly for individuals without caregiving support. Patients who identify as having “no one to help” face heightened vulnerability to complications and rehospitalization. Understanding how nurses can identify and address these gaps is essential to reducing post-discharge complications and readmissions.

Purpose: To explore from the patient perspective how nurses can effectively prepare patients, who have no identified caregivers, for discharge home.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 adults recently discharged from a large metropolitan hospital in the western United States who reported having no one …

Reduced Executive Function In Older Adults With Chronic Diseases And Subjective Cognitive Decline, Cheng-Chen Chou, Yuan-Mei Liao, Jong-Ni Lin

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Chronic diseases are common worldwide and are closely associated with cognitive decline. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to self-perceived worsening of memory or cognitive ability. Individuals with SCD have a two-fold higher risk of developing dementia and often experience reduced physical function, emotional problems, lower quality of life, and an increased risk of falls. However, research on cognitive function and related factors among older adults with chronic diseases who report SCD remains limited.

Purpose: To compare cognitive and executive function in older adults with chronic diseases with and without SCD, and to identify factors associated with cognitive and executive …

Factors Influencing Canadian Nursing Students' Confidence, Perceptions, And Interest In Primary Care, Deanne Curnew, Julia Lukewich, Maria Mathews, Marie-Eve Poitras, Kathleen Stevens, Toni Leamon, Kennedy Deveau, Sheila Epp, Anaëlle Morin, Keirsten Smith

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: As team-based primary care expands in Canada, efforts to prepare Registered Nurses for primary care practice are growing. Learning experiences influence students' career-related confidence, perceptions, and interest. No studies have examined Canadian nursing students' academic exposure to primary care (i.e., in undergraduate programs) or the contribution of exposure to their confidence, perceptions, and interest in practicing in primary care.

Purpose: To examine the influence of Canadian nursing education on final-year baccalaureate nursing students’ confidence, perceptions, and interest related to practicing in primary care.

Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional study of final-year baccalaureate students from accredited nursing programs across …

Family Support As A Correlate Of Self-Care In Older Adults With Diabetes In The Us, Solomon Tagbor, Diane E. Berish

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Family support and the maintenance of functional ability are crucial for managing diabetes among older adults (OA). In the United States, diabetes affects 29.2% of OA, and its management is complicated by frailty, polypharmacy, and hospitalizations (Bellary et al., 2021). Supporting individuals’ self-care ability and activities of daily living (ADL) independence can help to support diabetes management. Family support may influence the self-care ability needed for independent diabetes management, but it is less studied. The social-ecological model guided this study (Tudge et al., 2022).

Purpose: To examine the association between family support and self-care ability among OA with diabetes …

Strategies For Early Diagnosis And Treatment Of Patients With Ovarian Cancer, Petrina Nicole Harrison

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Purpose: Ovarian cancer remains the leading cause of death among gynecologic malignancies, largely due to delayed diagnosis. Rural clinics face unique challenges, including limited access to specialists and diagnostic tools. This DNP quality assurance project aimed to evaluate and improve providers’ strategies for the timely diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer within a rural gynecology clinic serving women at increased risk for delayed detection and mortality.

Methods/Design: Using Avedis Donabedian’s structure-process-outcome framework, a retrospective chart review assessed adherence to evidence-based diagnostic and treatment practices. Findings informed the implementation of a Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) integrated into provider workflows. Educational …

Reliability And Validity Of A Spiritual Health Scale For Older Adults In Long-Term Care Facilities, Kuan-Pei Lee, Ya-Lie Ku

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a Spiritual Health Scale designed for elderly residents in LTC facilities and to establish the reliability and validity of the instrument.

Methods: This study adopted a scale development approach. Based on the Elderly Spiritual Health Scale by Li and Shih (2021), the researchers integrated additional components derived from the conceptual framework to create a revised scale consisting of 16 items distributed across four dimensions—personal, community, environmental, and transcendental—with four items per dimension. A dichotomous scoring system was employed with responses coded as 1 (presence) or 0 (absence) of a spiritual issue scores ranged from …

Effects Of Tongue Resistance And Strengthening Exercises In Elderly With Mci: A Double-Blind Rct, Kuei-Ru Chou

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Frail older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often experience reduced tongue function, resulting in inefficient bolus transport and swallowing difficulties. Tongue resistance exercises (TRE) use isometric or isotonic movements against resistance to enhance tongue strength, while tongue strengthening exercises (TSE) involve repetitive, high-intensity movements to improve tongue pressure and swallowing coordination. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a combined TRE + TSE program on tongue function, swallowing pressure, swallowing performance, and quality of life (QoL) in frail older adults with MCI.

Methods: A prospective, double-blind, three-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants (n = 89; mean …

Dilemmas And Prospects Of Infectious Disease Prevention In Long-Term Care: A Qualitative Study, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen, Nancy Reynolds

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To explore the experiences of long-term care workers in preventing emerging infectious diseases, the challenges they faced during the pandemic, and how they were addressed.

Design: This study used an exploratory qualitative research design.

Methods: The study involved various long-term care institutions across Taiwan. Twelve interviewees, including four nurses, four nursing assistants, and four managers, were recruited via purposive sampling. All interviewees worked in the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, were actively involved in clinical care or institutional management, and were proficient in Mandarin. In-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face between July and August 2024, and data …

Pandemic Prevention Competencies Of Long-Term Care Institution Workers: A National Survey In Taiwan, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen, Katherine Ornstein

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To assess the self-perceived pandemic prevention competencies of health and care workers in Taiwan’s long-term care institutions and identified key factors influencing these competencies.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from June to July 2024 using stratified proportional sampling of health and care workers (nursing and nursing assistants) from various types of long-term care institutions (assisted living facilities, residential care homes and nursing homes). Participants were actively employed during the survey, involved in COVID-19 prevention efforts, and proficient in reading traditional Chinese. Data on pandemic prevention competencies were collected, using the Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Competencies …

Developing And Validating An Emerging Infectious Disease Prevention Competencies Scale, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To develop an instrument and evaluate its psychometric properties for emerging infectious disease assessing prevention competencies among health and care workers in long-term care institutions.

Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive design utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods was employed.

Methods: The scale was developed according to scale development guidelines in two phases, namely the scale development phase and scale testing phase, with the staff of long-term care institutions as the study population and their workplaces as the sampling unit.

Results: The scale comprises 27 items across three dimensions: 14 items pertaining to professional role performance, 7 items addressing workplace resources, …

Health And Care Workers’ Roles In Infectious Disease Prevention In Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review, Po-Jen Kung, Ching-Min Chen, Yi-Yuan Cheng

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Aim: To describe how health and care workers contribute to the prevention of emerging infectious diseases in long-term care facilities.

Design: A scoping review.

Methods: A systematic search of literature dating from 2002 to 2022 was conducted in the following databases: EMBASE, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane Library, CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCOhost), Web of Science, and AgeLine. Studies were selected if they focused on health and care workers in long-term care facilities, offered a perspective on the prevention of emerging infectious diseases or infection prevention and control, and were original qualitative or quantitative studies in English. Data were extracted, cross-checked …

Reflection And Appreciation: A Journey To Improving Care For Older Adults After Critical Illness, Cheryl Chia-Hui Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

With 25 years of research, my work has focused on improving outcomes for critically ill older adults by addressing delirium, frailty, malnutrition, and functional decline. I’ve advocated for care bundles to prevent complications and support recovery. In this International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame session, I’ll share my journey to advancing care for older adults after critical illness. This award is humbling and reflects the collective efforts of my colleagues, mentors, and students.

Building A Program Of Research To Improve Communication And Care For Older Adults, Kristine N. Williams

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Upon Induction to the Sigma International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, Dr. Williams presented the development of her program of research focused on improving communication and care for older adults.

Integrating Social Determinants Of Health Into Advanced Health Assessment: A Sustainable Model, Heather Jones, Beth Ammerman, Elizabeth Kuzma

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), including economic stability, access to quality healthcare and education, neighborhood characteristics, and social context, are critical factors influencing the health and well-being of individuals and communities.¹ These factors are recognized as core objectives by Healthy People 2030² emphasizing the need for healthcare providers to address SDOH in clinical settings. The purpose of this initiative was to integrate content on SDOH into an Advanced Health Assessment for Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) course, a foundational course for all APN students. Building content in this course sets the stage for further integrating this essential content and …

A Scoping Review On Childhood Immunization Reminder Strategies Available To Parents In North America, Matilda Anim-Larbi, Vivian Puplampu, Sithokozile Maposa, Akram Mahani, Mary Chipanshi

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Objective: The scoping review protocol will be used to map out the immunization reminder strategies for parents’ literature to identify the effectiveness of these approaches in improving childhood vaccination uptake.

Introduction: Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to cause morbidity and mortality despite the introduction of childhood immunizations^1,2, with recent media alerts showing a surge of common childhood vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles³. Parents can play a pivotal role in ensuring their children receive vaccinations when due^4,5,6. However, effective immunization reminders could assist parents who forget or miss the immunization schedules for their children.

Inclusion criteria: The review …

Loneliness, Technology, And Culture: Insights From Older Chinese Immigrants’ Experiences, Shao-Yun Chien, Oleg Zaslavsky, Basia Belza, Annie T. Chen

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Loneliness and social isolation significantly impact the well-being of older adults, particularly immigrants from minority groups. Chinese immigrants are the third-largest immigrant group in the United States and may encounter unique challenges related to loneliness and social isolation due to life transitions. The prevalence of loneliness among older Chinese immigrants is 26%, significantly higher than in the broader aging population. Despite information and communication technology (ICT) interventions developed to address these issues, their effectiveness remains unclear, possibly due to neglecting the subjective nature of loneliness and the diverse backgrounds of participants, including racial and cultural differences.

Research Purpose: This …

Increasing Access To Substance Use Disorder Treatment Through Interdisciplinary Education, Noah Weatherton, Ira Kantrowitz-Gordon, Natalie Hoge, Batoul Abdulsater

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The opioid and SUD epidemic drives a need to dramatically increase treatment opportunities, yet there is a dearth of practitioners who feel comfortable and competent in this area. And there are not enough specialists. To address this, we have developed an elective, online, asynchronous course for Nursing, Medicine, Pharmacy, Social Work, and Public Health housed within a DNP program at UW School of Nursing. Course content includes concepts of trauma-informed practice (and education), stigma, etc., and are woven throughout the course. Use of telehealth simulation scenarios served to prepare students for therapeutic patient interactions and to practice skills of motivational …

Managing Dementia Behavioral Symptoms: Informal Caregivers’ Experience And Needs, Modupe Adewuyi, Xinyue Zhang, Lota Iwuagwu

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Eighty-three percent of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (Pw-ADRD) rely on informal caregivers—mainly family and friends—for at-home care. In 2023, over 11 million dementia caregivers provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care, valued at $346.6 billion [1]. Although there is a wealth of literature on the roles of dementia informal caregivers, there is little data on their ability to manage the behavioral symptoms experienced by approximately 90% of Pw-ADRD [1], as well as the resources they utilize for support [2]. These symptoms have been positively correlated with functional and cognitive impairment leading to earlier placement …

Effect Of Storytelling On Nursing Student Engagement And Patient Perceived Empathy, Catherine Quay

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Purpose: Evidence has shown that engaging, immersive learning experiences that promote the understanding of another person are most effective at improving empathy in nursing students (Bas-Sarmiento et al., 2020; Cho & Kim, 2024; Levett-Jones et al., 2019). There is a lack of evidence, though, related to the clinical significance of these learning experiences on patient perception of empathy. This study examined the effect of storytelling through an immersive virtual reality (IVR) intervention on nursing student engagement and patient-perceived empathy.

Methods: Guided by Transportation Theory (Green & Brock, 2000), a quasi-experimental comparison group, posttest design was used. Participants included 60 second-degree, …