Factors affecting the quality of working life among nurses caring for Syrian refugee camps in Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: The global refugee crisis, exacerbated by the Syrian war, has placed tremendous strain on Jordan's healthcare system and infrastructure, notably impacting nurses working in refugee camps. The aim to identify factors influencing nurses' Quality of life at work (QWL) and understand their significance in crisis healthcare environments. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted in multiple healthcare facilities within Syrian refugee camps. A convenient sample of 166 nurses participated, and data were collected using the Brook's Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential (one-way ANOVA) statistics. Significance level was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Nurses in this study generally reported a moderate QWL, with an average score of 152.85, indicating that their overall work experience falls into the moderate range. The study found that nurses perceived their work-life/home-life balance (mean score 25.79), work design (mean score 35.71), work context (mean score 71.37), and work world (mean score 19.96) at levels indicative of moderate satisfaction. There were no statistically significant differences in QWL among participating nurses, suggesting that factors other than demographic characteristics may play a more influential role in determining nurses' QWL in the unique context of refugee caregiving. CONCLUSION: This study underscores that working within refugee healthcare missions and recommends targeted interventions to enhance their well-being.

The influence of hospital accreditation on nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture.

OBJECTIVES: Hospitals' accreditation process is carried out to enhance the quality of hospitals' care and patient safety practices as well. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of hospitals' accreditation on patient safety culture as perceived by Jordanian hospitals among nurses. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational survey was used for the current study, where the data were obtained from 395 nurses by convenient sampling technique who were working in 3 accredited hospitals with 254 nurses, and 3 non-accredited hospitals with 141 nurses, with a response rate of 89%. RESULTS: The overall patient safety culture was (71.9%). Moreover, the results of the current study revealed that there were no statistically significant differences between the perceptions of nurses in accredited and non-accredited hospitals in terms of perceptions of patient safety culture. CONCLUSION: The current study will add new knowledge about nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture in both accredited and non-accredited hospitals in Jordan which in turn will provide valid evidence to healthcare stakeholders if the accreditation status positively affects the nurses' perceptions of patient safety culture or not. Continuous evaluation of the accreditation application needs to be carried out to improve healthcare services as well as quality and patient safety.

The variations in health cost based on the traditional obesity parameters among patients with coronary artery diseases undergoing cardiac catheterization.

BACKGROUND: In the literature, obesity has been correlated with coronary artery diseases (CADs) and high health costs. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between obesity parameters and the health costs among patients with CADs undergoing cardiac catheterization. METHOD: A secondary data analysis was done for an original study. The original study was conducted among 220 hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac catheterization from two main hospitals located in the Middle and Northern regions of Jordan. Bivariate Pearson's correlation and forward linear regression analysis were calculated in this study. RESULTS: The average health cost for the participants was 1,344 JOD (1,895.63 USD). A significant positive moderate correlation (r = 0.4) was found between hip circumference (HC) and health cost. There were significant positive weak correlations between low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and depression, and the health cost (correlation coefficient 0.17, 0.3, 0.29, 0.22 and 0.17, respectively. HC, waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and body adiposity index (BAI) were significantly associated with health costs among male participants. In contrast, among females, none of the obesity parameters was significantly associated with health costs. The forward regression analysis illustrated that an increase of HC by 3.9 cm (ß (0.292) * SD (13.4)) will increase the health cost by 1 JOD (0.71 USD). The same analysis revealed that HS-CRP increased by 0.4 mg/dl (ß (0.258)*SD (1.43)), or triglycerides increased by 8.3 mg/dl (ß (0.241)* SD (34.3)), or depression score increased by 0.32 score (ß (0.137)* SD (2.3)), or total cholesterol increased by 4 mg/dl (ß (0.163)* SD (24.7)), the health cost will increase by one JOD (0.71 USD). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers, including nurses, should significantly consider these factors to reduce the health costs for those at-risk patients by providing the appropriate healthcare on time.

The impact of a nursing spiritual care module on nursing competence: an experimental design.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the impact of the Nursing Spiritual Care Module on the competence of nurses in providing spiritual care in the context of Malaysia. METHOD: This study employed an experimental design and involved a total of 122 nurses, with 59 in the experimental group and 63 in the control group. Participants were selected from palliative care wards associated with Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Nurses in the experimental group underwent a two-week educational module on nursing spiritual care, while nurses in the control group attended a single lecture on spiritual care provided by the hospital. RESULTS: The results indicated no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics between the two groups. A significant difference in spiritual care competence within the intervention group and the control group over time (p-value = 0.001), between the two groups (p-value = 0.038), and in the interaction between time and group (p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Nursing Spiritual Care Module is crucial in aiding nurses and healthcare professionals in cultivating the appropriate and wholesome attitudes and practices necessary to address the spiritual needs of patients.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward Patient Safety among nurses in health centers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) toward patient safety among nurses working at primary and comprehensive health care centers in Jordan; to identify factors that predict KAPs among nurses. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted using a convenience sample of 307 primary health care nurses in Jordan. A self-reported questionnaire (KAPs) toward patient safety was distributed to the nurses between August 2022 and October 2022. RESULTS: The results revealed that the mean score of knowledge was 9.51 out of 11 (SD = 1.35), the mean score of attitudes was 57.66 out of 75 (SD = 9.17), and the mean score of practices was 5.64 out of 8 (SD = 1.72). Where 59% of participants reported good knowledge about patient safety. 61% of participants reported positive attitudes toward patient safety. A significant regression equation was found (R² = 0.073, F= (2.94), p = 0 0.003). Age and having information on patient safety during continuing education were significant predictors of the attitude score (p ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to implement patient safety education programs and training.

Awareness of reporting practices and barriers to incident reporting among nurses.

BACKGROUND: Adequate incident reporting practices for clinical incident among nurses and even all healthcare providers in clinical practice settings is crucial to enhance patient safety and improve the quality of care delivery. This study aimed to investigate the level of awareness of incident reporting practices and identify the barriers that impact incident reporting among Jordanian nurses. METHODS: A descriptive design using a cross-sectional survey was employed among 308 nurses in 15 different hospitals in Jordan. Data collection was conducted between November 2019 and July 2020 using an Incident Reporting Scale. RESULTS: The participants showed a high level of awareness of the incident reporting with a mean score of 7.3 (SD = 2.5), representing 94.8% of the highest score. Nurses perceived their reporting practices at the medium level, with a mean score of 2.23 out of 4. The main reporting barriers included worrying about disciplinary actions, fearing being blamed, and forgetting to make a report. In regard to awareness of incident reporting, there were statistically significant differences in the mean for total awareness of the incident reporting system scores according to the type of hospital (p < .005*). In regard to self-perceived reporting practices, nurses working in accredited hospitals demonstrated statistically significant differences in self-perceived reporting practices (t = 0.62, p < .005). CONCLUSIONS: The current results provide empirical results about perceived incident reporting practices and perceived barriers to reporting frequently. Recommendations are made to urge nursing policymakers and legislators to provide solutions for those barriers, such as managing staffing issues, nursing shortage, nurses' empowerment, and fear of disciplinary actions by front-line nurse managers.

Acceptance, attitudes, and barriers of vaccine booster dose among nursing students: A multicounty survey.

AIM: This study investigated the acceptance and attitudes of nursing students toward the COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in two Gulf Cooperation countries and the potential influencing factors for taking a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose. BACKGROUND: The world is still battling coronavirus because of the emerged of variants and because protection against COVID-19 has waned over time. Vaccination is a powerful and effective method of reducing the outbreak of COVID-19 and decreasing the loss of lives. DESIGN: This research was a survey using a cross-sectional design. METHODS: The study's sample was two nursing colleges. The study tool was adopted according to recent information concerning the COVID-19 vaccine published by the World Health Organization. Data was collected through an online survey during March to April. RESULTS: A total of 216 nursing students completed the survey, of which 69.4% (n = 150) were male students and more than half of the participants were from Saudi Arabia (55.1%, n = 119). Two-thirds of the students (75.5%, n = 161) reported that they agreed to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster. The total attitude scores for the students ranged from 28 to 35, with a mean score of 15.8 (SD = 2.5), representing 73% of the highest possible score, with 79.3% classified as 'positive attitude toward booster dose of COVID-19'. Vaccine booster might cause infection, vaccine booster ineffective, worried about adverse effects and not safe were major barriers influencing the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine booster. CONCLUSION: Nursing students revealed high acceptance rates related to COVID-19 vaccine booster. However, more attention should be paid from nursing educators to barriers influencing the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine booster. Preparing nursing students with positive attitude of COVID-19 vaccine booster is very important to patient and community safety. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing educators and managers must make an effort to educate the nursing students regarding safety and effectiveness from COVID-19 vaccine booster and ensure that it is necessary to reduce their perception of the injury of COVID-19 infection.

Patient safety attitudes among critical care nurses: A case study in North Cyprus.

INTRODUCTION: Patient safety has become a crucial priority in quality healthcare. Adverse events and serious errors involving critically ill patients are common and can be potentially life-threatening. Thus, this study aimed to examine patient safety attitudes among critical care nurses. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in North Cyprus. Eighty nurses working in critical care units participated in the study. Following ethical approval, data were collected between September and October 2018, using the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire and Safety Attitudes Questionnaire. FINDINGS: Nurses' overall scores regarding patient safety attitudes were found to be negative. The highest positive rate was for safety climate, followed by perception of management, teamwork, working conditions, job satisfaction, and stress recognition, respectively. There were significant differences among working conditions, perception of management, and stress recognition based on participants' positions and event reporting. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate safety culture needs to be improved in the hospitals included in the study. Healthcare managers and decision-makers should foster patient safety culture through in-service education, management support, institutional regulations, and updated guidelines.

Moderating role of relationships between workloads, job burnout, turnover intention, and healthcare quality among nurses.

BACKGROUND: In Jordan, nurses consider a primary providers of direct patient care, and play a multifaceted role in ensuring healthcare quality. The study aimed to examines the moderating effect of job satisfaction in the relationship between workload and healthcare quality, job burnout and healthcare quality, and turnover intention and healthcare quality. METHODS: A cross-sectional research approach was adopted among 311 from Registered Nurses (RN) across Jordanian hospitals. Job satisfaction, workload scale and job burnout scale were shared between March and April 2023. RESULTS: The overall findings indicate that workload, job burnout, and turnover intention are negatively and significantly related to healthcare quality, and that job satisfaction moderates the relationship between workload and healthcare quality, job burnout and healthcare quality, and turnover intention and healthcare quality. These findings have broad implications for healthcare organizations, emphasizing the pivotal role of job satisfaction in mitigating the negative effects of workload, burnout, and turnover intentions among nurses. CONSULSION: Strategies to enhance job satisfaction, such as reducing work-related stress and fostering supportive work environments, should be prioritized by healthcare policymakers and institutions to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care.

Determinants of Utilization of Antenatal Care Services Among Women of Childbearing Age in Jigawa State, Nigeria.

Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) services play a crucial role in safeguarding the health of pregnant women during their reproductive years. This study aimed to evaluate the primary factors influencing the utilization of ANC among women of childbearing age in Isari town, Jigawa State. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 400 mothers of childbearing age, selecting them using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. The statistical analyses performed were descriptive analysis, Pearson's chi-square test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: The majority of respondents (92.5%) indicated awareness of ANC, with a significant proportion expressing the necessity of ANC services (85.7%). 57.8% of the respondents indicated attending ANC services at least four times during pregnancy. Furthermore, the number of visits has a significant relationship with age (P < 0.001), educational level (P = 0.003), occupation (P = 0.043), mother's knowledge of pregnancy danger signs (P = 0.001), and husband's support for ANC (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Enhancing ANC utilization will necessitate focusing on women residing in rural areas and those with limited educational attainment.

The relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for organizational change among nurses.

Organizational change is a complex process that often faces high failure rates due to challenges in managing transition issues. The role of emotional intelligence in fostering readiness for organizational change among nurses remains understudied, especially in the context of Jordan. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for organizational change among Jordanian nurses working in governmental hospitals. A descriptive cross sectional correlational design was used. A convenient sampling method was used to enroll Jordanian nurses from different governmental hospitals, with a resulting final sample of 250 nurses. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect data. Data analysis was run using descriptive and inferential analysis. The findings revealed that the participants had moderate levels of emotional intelligence with a mean score of (M = 87.96, SD = 26.59). The participants demonstrated strengths in understanding their own emotions, perceiving others' emotions, and setting goals. They also showed good control of their emotions and a positive self-perception. Regarding readiness for organizational change, the mean score was (M = 39.58, SD = 11.16), suggesting a moderate level of readiness. The participants exhibited commitment, motivation, and confidence in handling challenges associated with change. A strong positive relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for change commitment (r = .942, P < .01), change efficacy (r = .935, P < .01), and total readiness for change (r = .951, P < .01) were exist. Moreover, age and years of experience were negatively correlated with readiness for change. There was a strong and significant positive relationship between emotional intelligence and readiness for change. This emphasizes the importance of developing emotional intelligence abilities among nurses to facilitate successful change processes in healthcare organizations.

Association of Child Growth Failure Indicators With Household Sanitation Practices in India (1998-2021): Spatiotemporal Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition among children younger than 5 years is a subtle indicator of a country's health and economic status. Despite substantial macroeconomic progress in India, undernutrition remains a significant burden with geographical variations, compounded by poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene services. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the spatial trends of child growth failure (CGF) indicators and their association with household sanitation practices in India. METHODS: We used data from the Indian Demographic and Health Surveys spanning 1998-2021. District-level CGF indicators (stunting, wasting, and underweight) were cross-referenced with sanitation and sociodemographic characteristics. Global Moran I and Local Indicator of Spatial Association were used to detect spatial clustering of the indicators. Spatial regression models were used to evaluate the significant determinants of CGF indicators. RESULTS: Our study showed a decreasing trend in stunting (44.9%-38.4%) and underweight (46.7%-35.7%) but an increasing prevalence of wasting (15.7%-21.0%) over 15 years. The positive values of Moran I between 1998 and 2021 indicate the presence of spatial autocorrelation. Geographic clustering was consistently observed in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Gujarat. Improved sanitation facilities, a higher wealth index, and advanced maternal education status showed a significant association in reducing stunting. Relative risk maps identified hotspots of CGF health outcomes, which could be targeted for future interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Despite numerous policies and programs, malnutrition remains a concern. Its multifaceted causes demand coordinated and sustained interventions that go above and beyond the usual. Identifying hotspot locations will aid in developing control methods for achieving objectives in target areas.

Breaking barriers: Navigating the path to successful scientific research publication among faculty members in Egypt.

Background: In the realm of academia, the publication of scientific research is not merely an act of dissemination; it serves as a pivotal milestone that signifies the culmination of rigorous investigation, critical analysis, and intellectual contribution. Aim: To examine the challenges and barriers encountered by faculty members in the process of publishing their work. Methods: The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design and was conducted from 1 March to 1 May 2022. A convenience sample of 358 faculty members from eight universities in Egypt, representing a diverse range of faculties. These faculties comprised five practical disciplines, namely, Nursing, Medicine, Science, Pharmacy, and Engineering, as well as three theoretical faculties including Al-Alsun (Languages), Arts, and Commerce. The universities involved in the study included Ain Shams, Cairo, Mansoura, Benha, Assiut, 6th of October, British University in Egypt (BUE), among others. Data were collected through an online questionnaire that included staff characteristics and barriers to scientific research and publishing. Hypothesis testing was conducted using appropriate statistical analysis methods (e.g., Chi-square test) to assess the relationships between faculty members' characteristics and barriers to publishing. Results: The faculty staff in our study reported the highest barriers to publishing scientific research in the domains of the reviewing process (74%), institutional support (67%), and scientific publishing process (60.9%). Conversely, the lowest barriers were found in the domains of frustration after rejection (55.1%), scientific writing barriers (46.1%), and loss of passion and causation of publishing barriers (41.3%). Conclusions: The results highlighted the need for increased support and resources to overcome these barriers and foster a positive culture of research and publishing in Egyptian universities.

Association of air pollution with risk and severity of obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a significant health concern characterized by recurrent upper airway blockages during sleep, causing various health issues. There's growing evidence of a link between air pollution and OSA, though research results have been inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to consolidate and examine data on the relationship between air pollution and OSA's risk and severity. METHODS: A literature search across PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science was conducted until January 10, 2024. The selection criteria targeted studies involving OSA participants or those at risk, with quantitative air pollution assessments. The Nested Knowledge software facilitated screening and data extraction, while the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. Meta-analyses, utilizing random-effects models, computed pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the OSA risk associated with PM2.5 and NO2 exposure, analyzed using R software version 4.3. RESULTS: The systematic review included twelve studies, four of which were analyzed in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed diverse results on the association of PM2.5 and NO2 with OSA risk. PM2.5 exposure showed a pooled OR of 0.987 (95 % CI: 0.836-1.138), indicating no substantial overall impact on OSA risk. Conversely, NO2 exposure was linked to a pooled OR of 1.095 (95 % CI: 0.920-1.270), a non-significant increase in risk. Many studies found a relationship between air pollution exposure and elevated Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) levels, indicating a relationship between air pollution and OSA severity. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest air pollutants, especially NO2, might play a role in worsening OSA risk and severity, but the evidence isn't definitive. This highlights the variability of different pollutants' effects and the necessity for more research. Understanding these links is vital for shaping public health policies and clinical approaches to address OSA amidst high air pollution.

Impact of On-the-Job Training on Nurses' Performance in Creating a Healing Environment and Clustered Nursing Care for Premature.

Introduction: Premature infants require specialized care, and nurses need to have specific skills and knowledge to provide this care effectively. Objective: To evaluate the impact of an on-the-job training program on the improvement of nurses' knowledge and practice related to creation of a healing environment and clustering nursing procedures. Methods: From January to April 2022, a study utilizing a one-group pre- and post-test design was conducted at NICUs in governmental hospitals. The study participants involved 80 nurses working in these NICUs. Researchers used predesigned questionnaire and checklist practice to collect the data pre and post the intervention. Results: 37.5% of the participants were aged between 25 and less than 30 years, with a mean age of 28.99 ± 7.43 years. Additionally, 73.7% of the nurses were female, with a mean experience of 9.45 ± 3.87 years. Prior to the intervention, the study found that a majority of the nurses (62.4%) demonstrated poor knowledge. However, after the intervention, a significant improvement was observed, with 60.0% of the nurses demonstrated good knowledge. Likewise, prior to the intervention, the study revealed that the majority of the nurses (83.8%) exhibited incompetent practice. However, post-intervention, a substantial improvement was observed, with 81.3% of the nurses demonstrated competent practice. Conclusion: On-the-job training had significant improvements in nurses' knowledge and practices regarding applying healing environments and clustering nursing care. On-the-job training is suggested as an adaptable, effective and low-cost technique to train nurses. To maintain the improvement achieved, ongoing instruction, feedback, assessment/reassessment, and monitoring are encouraged.

Assessment of the quality of nursing work life and its related factors among critical care nurses.

Background: Quality of work life (QWL) refers to the degree to which employees contribute to the organization's goals while also experiencing personal and professional satisfaction. This study conducted to evaluate the quality of nursing work life (QNWL) level and its associated factors among nurses working in critical care units. Methods: A convenience sample technique among critical care nurses in Jordan by using a cross-sectional, descriptive design. A self-reported questionnaire was used. A Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Andersson and Lindgren questionnaires scale were used in data collection. Results: The total mean scores of QNWL were M = 86.17 (SD = 35.12), which is slightly below the expected middle value (87.5). The nurses have a higher psychological relation, M = 18.28 (SD = 8.99), whereas they have the lowest competence development, M = 11.44 (SD = 5.56). There was statistical significance between workplace noise, and workplace sources of noise, quality of sleep and QNWL. Conclusion: The outcomes also highlighted the significance of undertaking additional interventional research studies in the future in order to identify practical strategies to improve nurses QNWL. As a result, the nursing care given to the patients and their families may be improved.

Surgical interventions for intractable migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Migraine affects approximately 14-15% of the global population, contributing to nearly 5% of the world's health burden. When drug treatments prove ineffective for intractable migraines, highly specific surgical interventions emerge as potential solutions. We aimed to analyze surgical approaches for these refractory or intractable migraines through a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We conducted a literature search across databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, focusing on studies related to migraines and surgical outcomes. We considered clinical trials or observational studies that included any surgical intervention for refractory or intractable migraines, emphasizing key outcomes such as reductions in migraine intensity, Migraine Disability Assessment scores (MIDAS), and 50% Migraine Headache Index (MHI) reduction rates. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.3. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included in the systematic review. A meta-analysis of four studies involving overall 95 patients showed a significant reduction in mean migraine intensity scores using ONS (-2.27, 95% CI: -3.92 to -0.63, P=0.021). Three studies with 85 patients showed an average MIDAS score reduction of -52.3, though this was not statistically significant (95% CI: -136.85 to 32.19, P=0.116). Two additional studies corroborated these reductions in MIDAS scores. Nerve decompression surgery showed a substantial decrease in the average migraine intensity (from 8.31 down to 4.06). Median MIDAS score dropped from 57 to 20. Two studies indicated a success rate of 40% and 82%, respectively, in achieving a 50% reduction in the Migraine MHI through nerve decompression. Findings from two studies suggest that septorhinoplasty and sinus surgery effectively decrease migraine intensity scores. CONCLUSION: The existing evidence emphasizes the potential advantages of surgical interventions as a promising approach to managing intractable or refractory migraines. However, robust and comprehensive research is crucial to refine and solidify the efficacy of these surgical methods, aiming for widespread benefits for patients, considering cost-effectiveness factors.

Knowledge, risk assessment, practices, self-efficacy, attitudes, and behaviour's towards venous thromboembolism among nurses: A systematic review.

AIM: This study reviewed the literature on nurses' knowledge, risk assessment practices, self-efficacy, attitudes, and behaviours towards venous thromboembolism (VTE). DESIGN: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. METHODS: CINAHL (via EBSCO), MEDLINE (via PubMed), and Web of Science were electronic databases used to find studies published from 2010 to November 2020 in English language. A Hoy critical appraisal checklist was used to assess the risk of bias and methodologic quality. RESULTS: This study included fourteen studies conducted on 8628 Registered Nurses. Nine of the fourteen studies examined nurses' general knowledge level regarding VTE, and five showed that most nurses had a good knowledge of VTE. Of the 14 studies, six assessed nurses' risk assessment knowledge regarding VTE, and three showed that nurses had low knowledge of VTE risk assessment. Eleven studies assessed nurses' practices concerning VTE prophylaxis; 5 of the 11 studies reported that nurses had poor and unsatisfactory levels of VTE practice. Three of the 14 studies showed that nurses had low self-efficacy and varied beliefs. The most frequent recommendations were to create continuous educational programs and in-service training programs (n = 11), followed by creating institutional protocols standardizing VTE (n = 6). CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive educational programs and campaigns based on well-established and standardized tools should be provided to nurses to improve their VTE knowledge.

Incidence, knowledge, attitude and practice toward needle stick injury among nursing students in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Needle stick injuries constitute the greatest threat to nursing students during clinical practice because of accidental exposure to body fluids and infected blood. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of needle stick injuries and (2) measure the level of knowledge, attitude and practice among nursing students about needle stick injuries. Methods: Three hundred participants undergraduate nursing students at a private college in Saudi Arabia were included, of whom 281 participated, for an effective response rate of 82%. Results: The participants showed good knowledge scores with a mean score of 6.4 (SD = 1.4), and results showed that students had positive attitudes (Mean = 27.1, SD = 4.12). Students reported a low level of needle stick practice (Mean = 14.1, SD = 2.0). The total prevalence of needle stick injuries in the sample was 14.1%. The majority, 65.1%, reported one incidence in the last year, while (24.4%) 15 students reported two incident of needle stick injuries. Recapping was the most prevalent (74.1%), followed by during injection (22.3%). Most students did not write a report (77.4%), and being worried and afraid were the main reasons for non-reports (91.2%). The results showed that female students and seniors scored higher level in all needle stick injuries domains (knowledge, attitude and practice) than male students and juniors. Students who had needle stick injuries more than three times last year reported a lower level of all needle stick injury domains than other groups (Mean = 1.5, SD =1.1; Mean = 19.5, SD =1.1; Mean = 9.5, SD =1.1, respectively). Conclusion: Although the student's showed good knowledge and positive attitudes in NSI, the students reported a low level of needle stick practice. Raising awareness among nursing students and conducting continuing education related to sharp devices and safety and how to write an incident reporting is highly recommended.

Nursing Care and Barriers for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Patients: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: To determine barriers to preventing venous thromboembolism in total knee and hip arthroplasty patients by surgical nurses. Methods: This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach. The semi-structured interview questionnaire included two questions focused on nursing care practices for VTE prevention and barriers faced during VTE prophylaxis in total knee and hip arthroplasty patients. Study data were collected from 10 surgical nurses through semi-structured interviews in July 2021. Results: After analyzing the data, two main themes, five categories, and fourteen subcategories were developed. The main themes included "Nursing care" and "Barriers." Two categories were reflected in terms of nursing care: general care and mechanical prophylaxis. Regarding barriers, the analysis of the interview reflected three main categories: "lack of professional competence", "work conditions challenges", and "resistance from patients". Conclusion: Educational institutions must play a critical role in preparing surgical nurses by establishing clinical nurse specialist programs and post-graduate diplomas programs that sufficiently prepare nurses for clinical settings.