Caring for People Living With Dementia in Saudi Arabia: The Perspective of Nurses as Primary Caregivers.

Dementia is a progressive condition and an umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms that affects many older adults. Older adults living with dementia often experience social stigma, which can impact their quality of life. Most people with dementia need the assistance of a caregiver in order to enhance their health. The present study seeks to explore the perspective of nurses as the primary caregivers of people living with dementia in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the challenges faced by nurses and their reactions to these challenges. A descriptive qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 10 nurses with experience caring for people living with dementia from 2 hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Using thematic analysis, 4 main themes were identified: (1) types of support, (2) challenges when caring for people living with dementia, (3) society's views on people living with dementia, and (4) nurses' perceptions of dementia. The nurses stated that people living with dementia do not receive sufficient support from their families. Most participants believed that public awareness about dementia is insufficient. Increased efforts to raise public awareness about dementia could include harnessing social norms around family structure and respect for elders to improve care provided to people living with dementia.

Socio-Demographics of Initial Substance Use Exposure and Its Relation to Progression: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Empirical evidence on substance use in Saudi Arabia is lacking. This quantitative study is aimed at describing the socio-demographics of initial exposure to substance use and its relation to substance abuse progression. METHOD: A questionnaire about socio-demographics during initial exposure to substance use was completed by 379 participants. RESULTS: For most participants, the commencement of substance abuse occurred at the age range of 19‒23 years, and while in high school, they first started taking drugs with school friends. The two psychoactive substances most commonly taken for the first time were hashish and alcohol. The two main reasons for first drug exposure were teenage curiosity and joy-seeking. The chi-square test revealed statistically significant differences between substance abuse progression by sex, current age, father's education level, parent's marital status, and one's company in substance use. Female participants were more likely to continue taking drugs. CONCLUSION: Young people must be educated about the risks and consequences of substance use from early adolescence.

Impact of settings and culture on nurses' knowledge of and attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia: An integrative literature review.

BACKGROUND: Well-trained nurses are required to support dementia patients; however, the quality of the provided dementia nursing care can be impacted by nurses' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia. AIM: To obtain an overview of the current nursing practice towards people with dementia around the world. DESIGN: An integrated literature review was conducted based on Whittemore and Knafl's method. RESULTS: A total of 72 articles met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes were identified: (1) nurses' knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards dementia; (2) nursing experience of caring for people with dementia in acute and community care settings; and (3) dementia nursing care across health regions. CONCLUSION: Nurses play the role of facilitators in the efficient delivery of quality care for dementia patients. A variety of attitudes and perceptions towards people with dementia were found to be triggered by the severity of dementia, religion, ethnicity and gender. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Healthcare organisations and educational settings need to coordinate and function together to improve nurses' knowledge and encourage positive attitudes towards people with dementia.