Clinical Trial on Mindfulness with Family Caregivers for Patients with Cancer.

To examine the effectiveness of a brief mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and educational interventions (EI) on self-efficacy and burden among family caregivers (FCs) of patients with cancer in Jordan. A quasi-experimental design was conducted. Two interventions were performed: the brief MBIs and the EIs were applied. A sampling of 138 FCs completed the study interventions. The FCs in the mindfulness group demonstrated a significant improvement in measures of self-efficacy and reduction in burden scores. Furthermore, in the EI group, only self-efficacy was significantly higher in the post-test. Burden reduction was significantly higher in the EI group than the mindfulness group. Appropriate supportive interventions should be directed to improve self-efficacy and reduce burden to assist FCs to carry out their crucial role in providing care for their patients.

Assessing knowledge of nosocomial infection among Omani student nurses: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The total cost and negative health associated with nosocomial infection are high and early interventions are required. Assessing students' knowledge about nosocomial infection may contribute to solving this issue. AIMS: The present study aimed to assess the level of knowledge of nosocomial infection among student nurses and to identify their main sources of information on the topic. METHODS: A total of 330 student nurses at Sultan Qaboos University completed the online survey, which included participants' demographics and the Infection Control Standardized Questionnaire (ICSQ). FINDINGS: The results of the study reveal the average total corrected score of the participants was 51.53 (SD=0.89) out of 100, with a minimum score of 16 and a maximum score of 96. Female students had a higher average score (13.9, SD=4.34) than male students (11.6, SD=3.2); t(328)=5.35. CONCLUSION: The student nurses did not have a sufficient level of knowledge about nosocomial infection. This calls for a review of nursing curricula to pave the way for more pragmatic teaching of infection control.

Predictors of burden and quality of sleep among family caregivers of patients with cancer.

PURPOSES: This study aimed to (1) assess the levels of burden and quality of sleep among family caregivers (FCs) of patients with cancer and (2) examine the predictors of burden among FCs of patients with cancer in Jordan. METHODS: A convenience sample of 111 FCs of patients with cancer has completed the Caregiver Burden Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess the levels of burden and quality of sleep. RESULTS: The mean and (standard deviation) of burden for FCs was 37.9 (16.3) indicating high level of burden. The mean and (standard deviation) of quality of sleep for FCs was 9.1 (4.3) reflecting poor quality of sleep. The multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the significant predictors of burden. The study model was able to explain 36% of variance in burden. Burden was significantly predicted by poor quality of sleep for FCs, stage of cancer for patients, side effects of treatment, presence of chronic illnesses among FCs, and the level of education for FCs. CONCLUSIONS: Supportive care for FCs, considering all predictors of burden, needs to be considered in order to reduce their burden, which will consequently maintain their caregiving role.

Self-reported adherence to therapeutic regimens among patients with hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To assess Jordanian hypertensive patients' adherence rate to hypertension therapeutic regimen (HTR) and to identify the strongest predictors of adherence rate among such patients. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: A descriptive comparison design and convenience sampling were used. The sample comprised 192 participants who came to their regular appointments in a public healthcare center. MEASUREMENT: The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale and the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale were used to assess adherence to HTR and knowledge of hypertension, respectively. RESULTS: The mean total score for adherence to HTR was 87.3, and 82.8% of participants reported good adherence overall. Adherence scores were significantly higher among women, less educated, unemployed participants, those with comorbidities, those with a negative family history of hypertension, and those who visited their physicians regularly. To identify the most significant predictors of adherence to HTR, multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results indicated that good adherence to HTR was predicted by greater knowledge about hypertension and regularly visiting a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to taking antihypertensive medications was good overall among the study participants; these participants, however, were less interested in adherence to reduced sodium intake and keeping up with medical appointments. Hypertensive patients appear to follow instructions related to pharmacological management and are less likely to comply with other elements of HTR.

Assessing Public's Knowledge About Hypertension in a Community-Dwelling Sample.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases that affect a high proportion of people worldwide. Understanding people's levels of knowledge about hypertension might contribute effectively to nurses' efforts to prevent, treat, and control the disease. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to identify the levels of knowledge about hypertension disease among Jordanian adults and to identify differences in knowledge about hypertension on the basis of sociodemographic and clinical variables. METHODS: A convenience sample was used in this descriptive comparison design as was the Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale, which measures 6 dimensions of knowledge about hypertension (definition, treatment, drug compliance, lifestyle, diet, and complications). RESULTS: There were 284 participants, and the mean total knowledge about hypertension was 73.65. The participants had higher levels of knowledge about lifestyle and complications; lower scores were recorded for definition of hypertension as well as the relationship between diet and hypertension. Participants with higher education levels, who watched health programs, exercised regularly, visited their physicians regularly, and had other chronic diseases, had greater knowledge about hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Although the total level of knowledge about hypertension is good among the participants, more efforts are needed to improve all dimensions of hypertension-related knowledge. Sociodemographic and clinical variables have significant relationships with levels of knowledge about hypertension. This necessitates the importance of considering these variables when designing and providing health educational programs.

Perception of Nursing Students About Effective Clinical Teaching Environments: A Multi-Country Study.

Background: The transition of nursing education from traditional methods to more advanced approaches is crucial for adequately preparing students to deliver competent care in tertiary care centers. Moreover, clinical faculty in nursing plays a key role in guiding nursing students through their clinical training in various healthcare settings. Purpose: This study aims to describe the perceptions of undergraduate nursing students regarding the effectiveness of the learning environment and clinical teaching in clinical areas across various countries. Methods: The study, conducted using a descriptive, cross-sectional research design, gathered data from 215 nursing students using the Clinical Learning Environment Inventory and Clinical Teaching Effectiveness Instrument. Data analysis included frequencies, percentages, mean, standard deviation, t-tests, analysis of variance, and correlation assessments to comprehend the impact of clinical teaching and learning environments. Results: Nursing students' perceptions of the clinical learning environment produced mean scores between 2.03 and 3.38 on a scale from 1 to 4, resulting in an overall mean score of 2.72 across 42 items. This indicates a general satisfaction with their clinical learning experiences. Regarding effective clinical teaching, the mean student responses varied from 3.02 to 3.40 out of a possible 5 points, with a total mean of 3.22. The study revealed notable correlations in the context of effective clinical teaching, particularly with demographic variables and the clinical learning environment. Specifically, a significant correlation with age (r = .177, p = .009) and the clinical learning environment (r = .572, p < .001) was identified. Conclusion: The study concludes that students expressed overall satisfaction with their clinical learning experiences. They recognized the importance of participating in clinical training, fulfilling clinical responsibilities for assigned patients, exerting extra effort for learning, receiving support from preceptors in clinical settings, and being attentive to communications from staff. The collaboration between clinical preceptors and academic nursing lecturers is crucial in providing a positive learning environment for students to complete clinical tasks effectively.

Maturity Level of the Stigma Concept Associated with Cancer Diagnosis in the Nursing Literature

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the maturity level of stigma as a concept in nursing and its relationship to care provided for patients with cancer. Methods: The four principles of Morse and his colleagues were used to evaluate the maturity level of the stigma concept: epistemological, logical, pragmaticl, and linguistic. Analysis was conducted with the literature published between 2006 and 2016. Results: The findings of this study suggest that the concept of stigma in nursing is immature, defined inconsistently, and measured with different instruments. How stigma is defined can influence nurses in their assessment of patients with cancer and identification of their needs. Conclusion: Although extensive studies have been conducted in the field of mental illness, it is only recently that the effect of stigma on treatment of cancer patients has attracted attention. Thus, substantial work yet needs to be done to understand the breadth and scope of stigma impacting on individuals with cancer.

The implementation of mindfulness-based interventions and educational interventions to support family caregivers of patients with cancer: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: This review aims to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and educational interventions (EIs) as supportive care for family caregivers (FCs) of patients with cancer. DESIGN AND METHODS: Review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The search protocol was performed using EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for the studies published between 2007 and 2017. FINDINGS: Little evidence is available on the usefulness of MBIs among FCs of patients with cancer. However, the available evidence supports that MBIs have the potential to enhance overall well-being and reduce the burden for FCs. EIs have shown positive outcomes on some aspects of well-being and reducing the burden. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings provide preliminary support for effectiveness of MBIs and EIs as a supportive care for FCs.

Nurses' Experiences of Grief Following Patient Death: A Qualitative Approach.

PURPOSE: To explore the lived experiences of nurses' feelings, emotions, grief reactions, and coping mechanisms following their patients' death. BACKGROUND: On a daily basis, nurses are experiencing patients' death, which exposes them to grief. Nurses' grief has not been sufficiently addressed in practice settings, although it has been a well-known threat to health and work performance. DESIGN: A qualitative design guided by a phenomenological approach was adopted. METHOD: Data were collected from a purposive sample of 21 Jordanian nurses by conducting three focus groups and analyzed using Colaizzi's framework. FINDINGS: Four themes were generated in which participants reported feelings of grief following their patients' death. Their grief emotions were reported as sadness, crying, anger, shock, denial, faith, fear, guilt, fear of the family's reaction, and powerlessness. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided evidence that nurses respond emotionally to patients' death and experience grief. Nurses are burdened by recurrent patients' deaths and try to cope and overcome their grief. This study emphasizes the importance of developing strategies to help nurses positively cope with their grief from a holistic perspective. This will reflect positively on the nurses' performance.

Quality of Life for Patients in Medical-Surgical Wards.

The purpose of this study was to examine the quality of life (QoL) for patients in medical-surgical wards in Jordanian hospitals. A cross-sectional design was performed. The data were collected between January and April 2011 through individual interviews (n = 746) using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-Form (MOS-SF-36) and Charlson's Co-morbidity Index (CCI). The private and public hospitals in the three largest cities in Jordan were represented. The MANOVA test was used to examine the health status based on patients' co-morbidity level. The results showed that QoL for patients with severe co-morbidity has been affected negatively in many aspects more than both patients with no co-morbidity and patients with mild co-morbidity. However, although it is difficult to change the demographic characteristics, it is possible to improve the health status of patients with multiple co-morbidities, which will result in having a better QoL.