Conectar
Previous work in South Africans living with HIV and chronic pain has raised questions regarding maintained levels of physical activity while in pain, patterns of pain disclosure and recruitment of social support. Recent data suggest that pain in people living with HIV may be more due to issues of poverty rather than HIV. We explored how South Africans with chronic pain living in a rural area: (1) understand and experience chronic pain, (2) how chronic pain affects activity levels and (3) the relationship between pain disclosure and social support.
We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews. Transcripts were analysed using thematic data analysis.
The Ndlovu Care Group Research Centre in the rural Elandsdoorn, Dennilton area in Limpopo province, South Africa, between April and July 2019.
34 individuals (19 women, 15 men) with a mean age of 37 years (SD 8) living with chronic pain, half of whom were living with HIV, and half without.
Perceived causes of pain included illness or injury, ‘thinking too much’ and non-Western perspectives. Three patterns of activity in response to chronic pain emerged: perseverance, reduced activity and complete inactivity. Reasons for perseverance included fear of losing income, perceived social stigma or no social support. Patterns of pain disclosure included full, selective (telling some people but not others depending on their perceived trustworthiness), partial (sharing pain presence but not how severe it was) and non-disclosure. Disclosing pain was common in women and was used to recruit practical support. Men rarely disclosed to recruit support, and if they did, would recruit for financial support. Disclosing pain was also a strategy to avoid the social stigma of being labelled ‘lazy’. Patterns of activity, disclosure and type of support recruited did not differ between those with and without HIV.
Our findings suggest that activity levels, disclosure and recruitment of support in South Africans living with chronic pain are influenced by low income, social stigma and gender, rather than HIV.
To develop precision health (PH) competencies and evaluate their comprehensiveness and fit into nursing practice.
A modified e-Delphi technique was used to gather perceptions and achieve consensus on the inaugural set of PH domains, competency statements and sub-competencies developed by a workgroup formed under the aegis of the American Nurses Association (ANA).
A set of PH competencies and sub-competencies was developed by the ANA workgroup, beginning with a literature review, followed by a multi-step work process of the group over 3 years (2022–2025). Then, a modified e-Delphi technique was conducted via a four-point Likert scale Qualtrics survey, using a purposive sample of PH experts. The respondents were asked to agree or disagree with each competency or sub-competency statement and suggest modifications. The threshold of concordance was set at 80%.
The ANA workgroup reached consensus on six domains, six competency statements and 43 sub-competency statements to represent PH in nursing practice in its entirety. Forty experts in the field evaluated and offered revisions to the final 44 sub-competencies that represent the knowledge and skills necessary for PH in general nursing practice. A majority of the competency statements obtained favourable agreement from the expert panel, and a typical pattern of convergence was observed over two rounds of evaluation.
The development of PH competencies is the essential first step in the attempt to integrate PH into nursing practice.
The competency statements will inform nursing curricula, clinical practice guidelines, funding opportunities and role expectations in all healthcare settings.
This work sets the stage for subsequent interprofessional practice initiatives and research exploring how these competencies influence patient outcomes, workforce readiness and the practical integration of advanced technologies into precise care.
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