Preparedness for infection prevention and control practice among undergraduate health sciences students: A systematic review protocol.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates for the strengthening of education and training in infection prevention and control (IPC) in higher educational institutions (HEIs). This is fundamental to ensure health science students are confident and competent in clinical practice. Aim: Explore the preparedness of undergraduate health science students for IPC practice. Search strategy: The PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar databases and grey literature will be searched for relevant articles. Inclusion criteria: Quantitative, and mixed methods studies on teaching and learning, technological methods, strengths and limitations, and challenges of IPC practice in HEI undergraduate curricula. Participant characteristics: Undergraduate health science students including medical, nursing, pharmacy, dental, physiotherapy, radiology, medical imaging, and paramedicine. Setting and time frame: Studies published anywhere in the world, in English, and from 2010 to 2023. Search terms: Preparedness, health science students, infection prevention and control, technology, higher education institutions. Data extraction: The data extracted will be recorded on a data extraction form. Assessment of risk of bias: This will be conducted according to the criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Ethics and dissemination: No ethical approval was required for this protocol. Interim findings will be presented at relevant local and international conferences and a manuscript will be published in a peer reviewed journal. Discussion: This systematic review will provide a baseline for recommendations for developing innovative ways to improve IPC teaching and learning in HEI.

Mortality of patients with sepsis in intensive care units at tertiary hospitals in Jordan: Prospective cohort study.

The aim of this study was to describe the 30-day mortality rate of adult patients with sepsis and septic shock in 6 intensive care units of 2 tertiary hospitals in Jordan. A prospective cohort design was used. Patients with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the medical and surgical intensive care units at 2 tertiary hospitals were followed up during the period between February 2022 and June 2022 (N = 148). Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 23. Moreover, descriptive statistics, chi-square, and binary logistic regression were used. Notably, 52.7% of patients with sepsis and septic shock died within 30 days of diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and the history of having solid tumors significantly predicted the 30-day mortality rate. Moreover, 43 (29.0%) patients with sepsis and septic shock had positive blood cultures, and 46 (31.0%) had positive urine cultures. Patients with sepsis and septic shock have a notable mortality rate that can be predicted from total Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores and from the history of having solid tumors. Early assessment and initiation of treatment for sepsis essentially would reduce the likelihood of progression of sepsis to septic shock and would reduce associated patients' mortality.

Nurses' experiences of integrating the salutogenic perspective with person-centered care for older people in Swedish nursing home care: an interview-based qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Even though there has been a cultural change within residential aged care to a more person-centered care, there remain improvements to be made for a more consistent way of working. Using a salutogenic approach along with person-centered care is a potential way to promote it. This study aimed to describe nurses' experiences of combining person-centered care with a salutogenic approach at a nursing home for older people. METHODS: Nine nurses, specially trained in salutogenesis and Sense of coherence, were individually interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. Data was analysed through qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The nurses experienced that the residential aged care was improved by using salutogenesis and Sense of coherence as a complement to person-centered care. Core aspects of person-centered care were thereby promoted, as the resources of the older persons were emphasized, and aged care became more holistic. In addition to improved residential aged care, the results indicate that this manner of working also contributed to enhanced work satisfaction of the care personnel themselves. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that a salutogenic approach facilitates the implementation of person-centered care by focusing on the older persons' resources and maintaining health. The organization needs to prioritize training staff in salutogenesis and person-centered care, as it supports working toward a common goal and benefits both the older persons and the staff.

Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Disturbance Among Emergency Nurses in Oman.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances among accident and emergency nurses not only harm their well-being but also affect patient care and organizational outcomes. This study examines anxiety, depression, and sleep prevalence and associations among accident and emergency nurses. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional correlational survey with 331 accident and emergency nurses in 12 Omani governmental hospitals. RESULTS: Results showed that 28.7% of accident and emergency nurses reported symptoms indicative of anxiety, with 13.6% experiencing symptoms of depression, 16.6% reporting mild sleep disturbances, and 1.5% experiencing moderate disturbance. Those with symptoms of anxiety (r = 0.183, P = .001) or depression (r = 0.152, P = .005) were more likely to experience sleep disturbances. Being single (t [170.7] = 2.5, P = .015), childless (t [169.7] = -2.807, P = .008), Omani (t [215] = 7.201, P < .001), younger (r = -0.375, P < .001) and having less clinical experience (t [329] = 4.6, P < .001) were associated with a higher anxiety score. For depression, being of Omani nationality (t [215] = 7.201, P < .001), having less than 10 years of experience (t [329] = 3.2, P = .002), and being of younger age (r = -0.285, P < .001) were associated with a higher score. DISCUSSION: Accident and emergency nurses commonly experience anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. Implementing interventions to promote their mental well-being or manage these issues is crucial. Organizational support is vital for ensuring their mental health, and individual-level interventions may also prove beneficial.

Facing and dealing with emotional turbulence: Living with newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease.

INTRODUCTION: The experiences of living with Parkinson's disease (PD) from the perspective of newly diagnosed persons with PD (PwPD) have not been previously described. AIM: This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the impact of living with the early stages of PD. METHODS: A qualitative interview study was conducted among nine persons, seven men and two women, from southern Sweden. Participants had a median age of 71 (min-max, 64-77) years and had been diagnosed with PD for a median of 5 (min-max, 2-12) months. Interviews were recorded and analysed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in one core category, Facing and dealing with emotional turbulence, and four categories with 2-3 subcategories each: Something is wrong (Vague signs of change; Losing control); The going gets tough (Recalling; Lack of motivation); Losing direction (Uncertainties; Frightened of disease progression) and Dealing with life (Avoiding social situations; Hope and despair; Ease worries). CONCLUSION: Newly diagnosed PwPD face emotional turbulence with increasing challenges in managing everyday basic needs. Impaired functioning affects self-esteem and identity, which calls for strategies to overcome emotional reactions of embarrassment, frustration and worry. A sense of lost control and direction increased as the future became more uncertain. The participants' emotional burden and struggle to find a reason to go on or some solution to their new situation left them with both hope and despair. Our results suggest that a person-centred needs-based approach may help newly diagnosed PwPD deal with their new life situation.

Glycaemic control and its associated factors among adult Omanis with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between glycemic control and diabetes self-management (DSM) and other associated factors among adult Omanis with Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to collect data among 210 adult Omanis with T1DM who were conveniently recruited. All tools were self-reported, whereas the HbA1c was collected from the patient's electronic medical records. RESULTS: The HbA1c mean value was 8.6 (SD = 2.5), 30.5% had optimal glycemic control (<7.0). A significant negative relationship between HbA1c and DSM (r = - 0.191, p = 0.006) and diabetes knowledge (r = - 0.153, p = 0.026) was found. Furthermore, the mean HbA1c was significantly lower for persons with a single marital status, have higher education level, have children, are unemployed, were not admitted to the hospital in the last year, and have a health care professional as a family member. Additionally, marital status, level of education, DSM, and social support were significant predictors of glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that better glycemic control could be achieved by optimizing DSM, social support, and diabetes knowledge. Sociodemographic factors should be considered when treating individuals with T1DM to reach good glycemic control.

Childbirth-related episiotomy and tear in relation to risk of postpartum depression: a retrospective cohort study on Omani mothers.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between perineal trauma (episiotomy and tear) and the risk of postpartum depression in Omani mothers are scarce. This study aimed to screen women for the risk of postpartum depression and associated maternal adverse outcomes (episiotomy and tear) in newly delivered Omani mothers. DESIGN/METHODS: Mothers were screened for postpartum depression using only the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with cut-offs of 1-12 indicating low risk and 13-30 indicating high risk. Data on birth outcomes were collected retrospectively from the medical records. Descriptive analyses, group comparisons, and linear regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of the 262 participating mothers (total sample, i.e. mothers with and without depression), 19.0% had an episiotomy, 29.0% had tears, and 52.0% had an intact perineum after their childbirth. The total EPDS score was significantly higher among mothers with episiotomy (10.4, SD = 5.4) compared to those with tears (8.1, SD = 4.8) and those with intact perineum (9.4, SD = 4.9) (p-value <0.05). Lower levels of depression (-2.23 points on average) were significantly (p-value <0.05) associated with higher levels of perineum status (coded as 1 = episiotomy, 2 = other). Mothers who had a tear or episiotomy had on average 1.24 points higher EPDS scores compared to mothers with an intact perineum, although not significant (p-value >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Policymakers and clinicians are recommended to consider following up mothers with adverse birth outcomes to outline the risk of developing postpartum depression, at the same time as they routinely screen all mothers for risk of postpartum depression during their postpartum visits.

Translating and Testing the Validation of the Arabic Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale.

Objective: Attitudes toward mental difficulties are influenced by culture, and different cultural backgrounds have different effects on people's behavior. This study aimed to prepare the Arabic version of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale (PMHSS) and validate it among Omani adolescents. Method : The study was conducted from October 2020 to the end of February 2021. The 24-items PMHSS was translated into Arabic and tested in a sample of 369 adolescents from different governmental schools in Oman. Both exploratory factor analysis (a principal component analysis (PCA) technique with Varimax rotation) and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to examine the construct validity of the PMHSS. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the construct validity of the PMHSS. Cronbach's α was 0.86 for the total scale and 0.84 and 0.81 for awareness and agreement, respectively. Therefore, the goodness-of fit-indicators support the two-correlated factor 16-item model to measure stigma (χ2 / df = 2.64 (p > 0.001), GFI = 0.92, AGFI = 0.89, CFI = 0.90, IFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.067). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale (PMHSS) could assess adolescents' stigmatizing attitudes toward various types of mental health problems within the Arabic context, and it can be utilized by researchers in Arab countries to screen for stigmatizing attitudes and to suggest suitable, effective, and outcome-focused interventions based on its results.

Challenges Experienced by Nurses in Providing Pediatric Palliative Care: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.

Objectives: Pediatric leukemia is the most common cancer among children younger than 14 years of age. Children with leukemia require palliative care as additional support from the health care team. Providing palliative care to children is challenging. Thus, this study explored the challenges experienced by nurses in providing pediatric palliative care to children with leukemia. Methods: Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted on a purposive sample of 11 nurses in the hematology-oncology units of a tertiary care hospital in Oman. Results: Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis, which revealed three main themes and seven subthemes related to challenges in providing pediatric palliative care: Personal challenges: Nurses were unable to neutralize their emotions, which burdened them emotionally; due to multitasking, nurses were unable to manage their tasks within the expected time frame; nurses were stressful when they participated in explaining the diagnosis to the parents; and nurses felt powerless when the health condition of some children deteriorated. Educational challenges: Nurses felt unprepared to meet the physical/psychosocial aspects of caring for children with leukemia. Organizational challenges: Nurses stated that families and nurses required rooms to pray, rest, and read Quran, and they needed a private place to speak to families; and nurses mentioned that there are limited number of psychologists to meet the psychological and social needs of children and their families. Conclusion: Prioritizing and implementing strategies for a supportive workplace, guided clinical practice, and maximizing nurses' satisfaction are crucial.

Symptom prevalence, severity, distress and management among patients with chronic diseases.

BACKGROUND: Advanced knowledge, technology, and treatment approaches resulted in longer survival rates for patients suffering from chronic diseases. However, symptoms of these diseases persist and affect the individual's entire life and normal functioning. AIM: To assess symptoms prevalence, severity, distress, and management among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), chronic heart failure (CHF), and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Oman. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. SAMPLE AND SETTINGS: The study sample comprised 340 participants who were recruited between May and December 2021 from two referral hospitals and one large dialysis unit in the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat Governate using a convenience sampling technique. RESULTS: The highly prevalent symptoms among patients with selected chronic diseases were lack of energy (60.9%), pain (57.4%), numbness (53.2%), difficulty sleeping (49.4%), and shortness of breath (45.9%). The most severe symptoms were shortness of breath (53.2%), problems with urination (51.9%), constipation (50.8%), difficulty sleeping (49.7%), and pain (46.2%). The symptom "problems with sexual interests or activity" was found to be the most frequently occurring and highly distressing symptom out of all reported symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The current study's findings showed that symptoms were prevalent and that some symptoms were frequent, severe, and highly distressing. In addition, patients perceived symptom treatment as inadequate. Psychological symptoms received less treatment attention compared with physical symptoms. One of the mainstays for managing symptoms can be the introduction of palliative care. Providing palliative care to these patients can alleviate their suffering and improve their quality of life. In addition, designing chronic disease self-management programmes can make a difference in patients' life.

Healthcare costs and outcomes associated with surgical site infections after coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries in Oman.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries is considered a key indicator of the quality of healthcare services. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the healthcare outcomes associated with SSIs after CABG surgeries in Oman in terms of mortality rate, case-fatality rate, LOS, readmission rate and healthcare costs. METHODS: The nested case-control study design was used based on retrospective data, which was conducted from 2016 to 2017. The case group encompassed all CABG patients with confirmed SSIs within 30 days of the surgery (n = 104) while controls were CABG patients without SSIs (n = 404). RESULTS: Forty-four (42.3%) of the SSI patients were readmitted to the hospital compared to eight (2%) of the control group (p < .001). Patients in the case group had a longer LOS (M = 24.4, SD = 44.6 days) compared to those in the control group (M = 11, SD = 21 days, p = .003). The mean healthcare costs of cases (M = Omani Rial [OMR] 3823, SD = OMR 2516) were significantly greater than controls (M = OMR 3154, SD = OMR 1415, p = .010). CONCLUSION: Results from this study can be baseline data for formulating new hypotheses and testing the causal relationship between SSIs after CABG surgeries and the readmission rate, LOS and health care costs.Key messagesSurgical Site Infections (SSIs) are still a major complication after cardiac surgeries in Oman.SSIs after cardiac surgeries are associated with substantially increased healthcare costs and length of stay.SSIs after cardiac surgeries are associated with negative outcomes such as mortality and case-fatality rates.

Nurses' knowledge of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and its management: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that is associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess nurses' level of knowledge of CIN and its association with socio-demographic factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 34.1 years (SD = 7.1 years) and were predominantly female (78%) and with a bachelor's degree in nursing (95.6%). The nurses had a moderate level of knowledge about neutropenia and its management (mean total score 16.3 out of 30, SD = 3.7). Those who had a post-graduate degree (P = .048), had received an oncology educational course (P = .011), had attended a course on neutropenia (P = .007), who were working in an oncology unit (P = .002), and had more oncology experience (P = 001) were more likely to have a higher level of knowledge of CIN and its management compared to their other counterparts. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of a moderate level of knowledge of CIN among nurses, the findings call for the need for further education and training. As a long-term plan, this might be accomplished by encouraging nurses to pursue post-graduate education or oncology-specialized certification and supporting them with scholarship grants. However, deliberate plans for short courses, training and workshops on oncology or CIN are other choices with a more immediate impact on nurses' knowledge and clinical practice. Finally, integrating oncology nursing education within nursing curricula is urgently needed.

Prevalence and Predictors of Loneliness Among Youth During the Time of COVID-19: A Multinational Study.

BACKGROUND: Given the restrictions associated with COVID-19, feelings of loneliness among youth may increase. AIMS: The aims of the current study were to assess the prevalence of loneliness among young people at the time of COVID-19 and to identify whether selected variables related to the pandemic predicted the level of loneliness. METHOD: A cross-sectional study using WhatsApp and Facebook social media platforms was conducted to survey 1,057 young people aged 15 to 24 years from six Middle Eastern countries. Participants completed survey items including demographic and COVID-19-related questions; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS); the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS); and the UCLA Loneliness Scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of experienced loneliness was 1 (0.1%), 625 (59.1%), 429 (40.6%), and 2 (0.2%), reflecting low, moderate, moderately high, and high experiences for loneliness, respectively. History of depression or anxiety, being dissatisfied with life, and having depression at the time of COVID-19 were significant predictors of loneliness among youth. The model was significant (F = 44.95, p < .05) and accounted for 29.8% of the variance in UCLA Loneliness Scale scores. CONCLUSIONS: We found that the high prevalence rate of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic was correlated with depression and impaired life satisfaction among Middle Eastern youth. Thus, special attention and interventional action plans need to be developed taking into consideration the youths' special situation during COVID-19.

Identifying Symptom Clusters in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy using Symptom Occurrence and Distress Dimensions.

The current study explored symptom clusters in a heterogenous sample that includes all age groups, and all types of cancer being treated with chemotherapy. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The sample comprise 393 cancer patients with a mean age of 52.1 years (SD 13.9). The most prevalent symptoms were tiredness (78.9%), lack of energy (71.8%), and irritability (66.9%) and the most distressing symptom was lack of appetite. Four clusters of the symptom experience: chemotherapy-related, psychological, fatigue and pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms, regardless of the dimension used, were identified. The content and number of symptoms within each cluster using the distress dimension were slightly different from the occurrence dimension. The findings call for an early comprehensive assessment and treatment of symptoms for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Also, healthcare providers especially nurses need to thoroughly assess and manage these symptoms to ease patients' experience, enhance their compliance and improve their quality of life.

Undergraduate nursing students' knowledge of and attitudes toward people with alzheimer's disease.

As the population ages, the number of people living with Alzheimer's disease is expected to grow; consequently, nursing students are expected to care for more people with Alzheimer's disease in their future careers. Exploring nursing students' level of knowledge and attitudes is essential here to fill any knowledge gap and enhance attitudes. For this reason, the current study aimed to measure the knowledge of and attitudes toward people living with Alzheimer's disease among undergraduate Jordanian nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized. Data were collected through an online questionnaire consisting of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS). A third part contained questions about previous formal education about Alzheimer's disease, reading Alzheimer's research, and the need for formal education about Alzheimer's disease. The study targeted all undergraduate Jordanian nursing students. A total of 275 students agreed to participate and completed the questionnaire. Jordanian nursing students had low knowledge regarding people living with Alzheimer's disease, with a mean ADKS score of 18.3 out of 30; however, their attitudes were positive, with a mean DAS score of 91 out of 140. There was no statistical difference in attitude or knowledge between different academic levels. The majority of students (90.5%) expressed their desire to have a formal education regarding Alzheimer's disease. Knowledge regarding people with Alzheimer's disease could be improved through training and education. Positive attitudes reported by students could augment the learning process.

Public information needs and attitudes regarding cancer and cancer patients in Oman: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Exploring public information needs and attitudes towards cancer patients might be the first step in developing an intervention that encourages public engagement in early detection and cancer prevention programmes. AIM: To explore Omani public information needs and attitudes towards cancer in Oman. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used. FINDINGS: Of the 569 participants, 369 (64.9%) were female; the mean age was 30.9 (SD=9.5) years. Of the participants, 94.4% wanted to be informed if they were found to have cancer in the future. The mean total attitudes score was 40.2 (SD=4.7) out of a maximum 48. Further, being employed, preferring to be informed about cancer diagnosis and having positive attitudes towards cancer and cancer patients predicted higher information needs. CONCLUSIONS: The current paternalistic approach seems to be no longer appropriate for cancer patients in Oman, and more active patient involvement in decision-making is needed.

A comparison of knowledge and attitude toward mental illness among secondary school students and teachers.

AIM: The current study aimed to assess and compare the level of knowledge and attitude towards mental illness between secondary school students and their teachers in Oman. METHODS: An online survey was carried out to collect data from 400 students and 411 teachers about their knowledge and attitudes toward people with mental illness. Two independent case studies about depression and schizophrenia were also tested. RESULTS: Students have a poor knowledge of mental illness compared with their teachers, as more than half scored less than 60% compared with 16.5% of the teachers. More than two-thirds of the students (80%) and teachers (76.4%) have a low or minor positive attitude toward people with mental illness. The study identified significant differences in knowledge in favour of teachers, although the opposite was found regarding attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Since students spend a significant amount of time in school, bridging the gap between teachers' and students' knowledge and attitudes toward mental illness is an essential part in enhancing the knowledge and attitudes of the students. In addition, knowledgeable teachers with positive attitude can assist in early identification of mental illnesses and help students when needed. In turn, students who possess knowledge and positive attitude toward mental illness can share their concerns with their teachers. In the presence of such accepting and cooperative environment, the stigma can be decreased and early detection of mental illness and help-seeking behaviour can be promoted.

Development, feasibility and acceptability of a self-efficacy-enhancing smartphone application among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus: single- arm pilot clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: There is growing attention to the use of mHealth technologies to promote glycemic control for women with GDM around the world, but research on promoting a change in health behaviors is lacking. This study aimed to document the process of designing, developing, and testing the feasibility and acceptability of the SEESPA. METHODS: This single-arm pilot clinical trial study included 15 pregnant women with GDM. Following SEESPA development (e.g., goal setting and action plan, role modeling, motivational messages, mastery of experiences, and tracking healthy behaviors), all participants were provided access to use the SEESPA for 4 weeks. Feasibility outcomes assessed were rates of recruitment, retention rate, success rate of transmitting motivational text messages, rate of participants acknowledging receipt of text messages, and success rate of recording healthy behaviors. Acceptability outcomes were determined by asking open-ended questions through telephone interview at 4-week post-intervention. RESULTS: Fifteen randomly selected women consented to participate in the study, with a 60.0% (n = 9) retention rate at post-trial intervention and 40.0% (n = 6) trial dropout. Two motivational text messages per week were sent to all participants. Of these, 68.1% were acknowledged by the participants. Study participants reported that SEESPA is useful, effective, and they felt satisfied about it. In addition, they brought few suggestions that will be integrated on the final version of the app. CONCLUSIONS: and Clinical Relevance. The developed innovative SEESPA is a feasible and acceptable intervention for behavioral modifications among women with GDM, and is ready to be tested in a larger RCT study which is expected to inform the health policymakers to integrate SEESPA with the antenatal health care practice of women with GDM, specifically in developing countries where there is a greater risk of developing GDM complications among mothers and their infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered on September 16, 2019 (ACTRN12619001278123p) by the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.

Jordanian University Students' Lived Experience of Misusing Amphetamine (Captagon): A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Substance misuse is a growing problem among Jordanian university students. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of university students who misuse Captagon (amphetamines). METHODS: The interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology was used. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 10 Jordanian university students, aged 17-22 years, who were using Captagon (amphetamines) for the last 6 months. RESULTS: Three major themes detailed participants' experiences with Captagon: (a) causes for use, (b) effects of taking amphetamines, and (c) seeking help behaviors and support. Participants who experienced academic and personal stress sought help from friends, who provided them with Captagon pills as a way to overcome their life challenges. Initially, taking Captagon provided participants with a sense of control, but it did not solve their problems. Later or as the days passed by, they experienced increased level of stress, felt disorganized in a way that they missed classes, and were being socially isolated. Participants finally sought community help for their problem, but this was difficult because of stigmatizing attitudes in their community toward substance misuse. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing university students' knowledge about the negative consequences of substance misuse and raising awareness of strategies to address the problem will help young people to make more informed choices, because today's young generation are tomorrow's citizens.

Facilitators and barriers of mental health help-seeking behaviours among adolescents in Oman: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore and identify facilitators and barriers to help-seeking behaviours among adolescents in Oman, by exploring the relationship between knowledge, attitude, and behaviour towards mental health help-seeking. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used and 424 adolescents were recruited to participate in the study. Participants were asked to complete five self-reported questionnaires, including two open-ended questions about the main motivations and barriers to seeking professional help for mental problems. RESULTS: It was found that those with positive help-seeking attitudes towards mental health were more knowledgeable about mental health, had more positive attitudes towards mental illness, and had higher intention to help seeking. On the contrary, those with higher help-seeker stereotypes had more negative attitudes towards mental illness. Having an adequate support system, being positive and knowledgeable about mental illness, and the reputation of mental health are the main factors facilitating seeking professional help. However, fear, lack of family support, and the time-consuming procedures were the main barriers emerging from the open-ended questions. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes by identifying facilitating factors as well as barriers in an Arabic context (Oman) to fill the exiting knowledge gap; both need to be considered when planning interventions targeting the younger individuals in this society.