Pulido, Nathaniel Karl Enin T.

August 18-20 2022

BSN 3A-D

I.
TITLE: THE EFFECTS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION ON OBSTETRIC SURGERY PATIENT’S
MENTAL STATES, PAIN LEVELS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE

AUTHOR: Lei Quan and Lei Zhang

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: April 15, 2021

II. SUMMARY

Positive psychology interventions, or PPIs, are a set of scientific tools and strategies that focus on
increasing happiness, wellbeing, and positive cognitions and emotion (Keyes, Fredrickson, & Park,
2012). Positive psychological intervention (PPI) is a model based on positive psychology, which
emphasized and stimulates some actual or potential positive strengths and qualities inherent in the
patients, thereby establishing a higher-quality personal and social lifestyle. At present, PPIs rarely
used in patients undergoing obstetric surgery. When a woman gives birth, there are variety of
surgical methods that are done. This includes cesarean sections, which comprise the majority of
clinical obstetric procedures. However, because to the invasiveness of the surgery, surgery might
affect a mother’s body, resulting in complications such as infected incisions and constipation, which
can lead to poor prognoses or outcomes for the mothers. Hence, mothers are typically nervous and
anxious before a surgery, and the pain, combined with the incision trauma that follows the
operation, has a negative impact on the surgical process, causing tension, anxiety, panic, and
depression, among other things. It also has an impact on the patient’s quality of life due to surgery.
As a result, it is vital to provide psychological support for these patients.

II. NURSING IMPLICATIONS

A. To Nursing Practice

In general, surgery is the most commonly employed method in clinical practice. The role of nurses is
to monitor the patient’s condition before, during and after the surgery. These may include
monitoring vital signs, assessing pain in surgical sites, and answering the questions about the fears
about surgery. Patients may experience negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, or even depression
because of the high risk involved. As we provide nursing interventions, we should also enhance our
skills and knowledge and fully understand how our clients behave and act in certain situations. We
work in a setting where interaction and good communication are essential to bringing quality of
care to our patients. Quality care does not mean only managing the physical aspect of a patient
but also changing their thought and attitudes to improve well-being. The help of psychology will
helps us interact with our patients because some patients are optimistic, and easily cope with their
illnesses.

In contrast, others may negatively react, leading to serious mental illness. Thus, psychology can help
improve the nurse and patient relationship with the help of some models, such as mentioned in the
journal. As a result, patients can openly interact and communicate with them and inform them
about their specific needs, which can help us render the quality care they need and improve their
whole well-being.

B. To Nursing Education

Nurses acquire the skills and resources to positively impact patient’s lives through education. It helps
improve the practice of nurses when it comes to rendering interventions. The journal’s information
gives us awareness of the interventions given and understanding and managing the patient’s
outcome after surgery. One example of PPIs that I have searched for is Empathy PPIs. Emphathy-
oriented PPIs focus in strengthening positive emotions in interpersonal relationships. Healthy social
bonds- both at personal and professional fronts are essential for happiness and inner peace. (Diener
& Seligman, 2002).

PPIs that promote empathy include activities like self-love meditation and mindfulness practices,
where individuals create positive feelings toward themselves and others by being more mindfully
connected to the present (Fredrickson, Cohn, Coffey, Pek, & Finkil, 2008).

C. To Nursing Research

This journal contributes to nursing research as it gives additional knowledge of a topic. Nursing
journals are essential for disseminating evidence-based practice, providing new information to keep
nurses up to date, communicating research findings, and developing the nursing profession’s
science base, all while demonstrating the value of nursing care. Moreover, this journal becomes a
guiding and helping hand for researchers in their future research related to this topic, such as
improved interventions or applying various models that can help the patient’s psychological state. It
can improve the limitation of the study. Hence, it will also help to improve quality care and clinical
practice when health care challenges happen in the future.

IV. PERSONAL INSIGHTS

When we assess our patient’s condition before, during, and after the particular surgery,we should
also consider how the patient responds to the outcome of their surgery. As we know the definition of
health by World Health Organization (WHO), “Health is a state of complete physical, metal and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Even though there are
continuous developments in medicine, treatment should not only focus on patient’s physical
recovery but also on the achievement of a healthy psychological state or overall well-being. Being
in a good mental state can help you healthy and help prevent serious health conditions. Overall, I
agree with the journal that PPIs can improve the mental states of patients undergoing obstetric
surgery and improve their quality of life. However, there should also be another model that can help
or support the said model. In addition, the study group should large to get more accurate
observations.