Jordanian nursing students' knowledge and attitudes of corneal donation.

A high success rate of corneal transplants is evident. However, there is still a lack of corneal grafts available to meet demand, largely because donors are reluctant to donate. Given their critical role in future healthcare teaching and advocacy. There has not been much research on Jordanian nursing students' perspectives on corneal donation, so it's critical to identify and eliminate any obstacles. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Jordanian nursing students concerning corneal donation. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used to recruit (n = 440) nursing students from four Jordanian universities. A self-reported questionnaire was used to obtain data on knowledge and attitudes regarding corneal donation. The average age of senior nursing students was (M = 23.07, SD = 3.63) years. Varying levels of understanding were revealed amongst university students toward corneal donation items. Generally, good attitude of nursing students toward corneal donation (M = 34.1, SD = 8.1). Weak positive relationship was found between total knowledge scores and age (r = 0.141, p = 0.003) while there is no significant relationship between age and total attitude score (r = 0.031, p = 0.552). Age was found to be a significant predictor (B = 0.01, Beta = 0.12, t = 2.07, p = 0.04). Also, the educational level of fathers is a significant positive predictor (Beta = 0.128, p = 0.008) for the total attitude scores among nursing students. Limited awareness of corneal donation, highlighting the need for focused educational interventions to improve their comprehension.

The influence of the pulmonary recruitment maneuver on post-laparoscopic shoulder pain in patients having a laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-laparoscopic shoulder pain is very common after laparoscopy. One method to reduce postoperative shoulder pain is the pulmonary recruitment maneuver. It is used to reduce post-laparoscopic shoulder pain. This study utilizes a truly experimental, double-blinded, prospective randomized design to assess the effect of pulmonary recruitment maneuvers on post-laparoscopic shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Sixty patients were allocated randomly into two groups. The intervention group received five manual pulmonary inflations for 5 s at a maximum pressure of 25 cm H2O. The control group included patients whose residual CO2 gas was evacuated from the abdominal cavity using passive exsufflation as the routine method at the end of surgery by abdominal massage. Gentle abdominal pressure was applied to facilitate CO2 gas removal. RESULTS: When Ramsay's Sedation Score's results were compared between the two groups after the operation, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups during the first and (p value = 0.20) second (p value = 0.61) hours. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the pulmonary recruitment maneuver is significant (p-value 0.001) and had a high effect size (0.527) in reducing shoulder pain among laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients after controlling the effect of other covariate patient characteristics. CONCLUSION: Utilizing a pulmonary recruitment maneuver at the end of laparoscopic surgery reduces shoulder pain.

Assessing Professional Competencies Among Undergraduate Nurses: An Exploratory Study.

AIM: The study aimed to identify nursing students' professional competencies and examine which factors of the clinical learning environment affect these competencies. BACKGROUND: Professional competencies are vital for the quality and safety of nursing practice. The learning environment is important for the development of professional competencies. METHOD: Data were collected from 178 nursing students using the Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision Scale and the Nursing Professional Competencies Scale-Short Form. RESULTS: The highest competency was achieved in value-based nursing care; the lowest competency was achieved in development, leadership, and organization of nursing. Factors such as positive pedagogical atmosphere, nursing care on the ward, and good supervisory relationship affected learning and, in turn, improved professional competencies. CONCLUSION: The results establish a link between the clinical environment and reported professional competencies, leading to a call for more focused coverage of these factors in the academic curricula.

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.

The role of structural empowerment in predicting computer use among Jordanian nurses: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The study aimed to examine the relationship between structural empowerment and attitudes towards computer use among nurses. BACKGROUND: Empowering organizational structure is a significant factor affecting employees' attitudes and behaviours towards using organizational resources. Health information technologies were proven to improve health care quality. No previous studies examined the relationship between structural empowerment and attitudes towards computer use. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. Self-reported questionnaires were completed by 200 Jordanian nurses. Descriptive statistics, Pearson r correlation and linear regression analyses were used to address the research aim. RESULTS: Structural empowerment was significantly and positively associated with attitudes towards computer use. Dimensions in structural empowerment that predict positive attitude towards computer use were access to opportunity (ß = 0.382, p = .000), formal power (ß = -0.252, p = .006) and informal power (ß = 0.176, p = .046). CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening access to empowerment structures is essential to increase nurses' work efficiency. Improving empowering structures can be achieved by enhancing opportunities to increase professional knowledge and skills towards computerization. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse managers should promote work conditions that motivate nurses towards positive recognition of innovation through efficient collaborations with the information technology teams.

The Incidence of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Phlebitis and Risk Factors among Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Phlebitis is one of the most common complications of peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) that can lead to many complications, including higher medical costs and longer hospital stays. OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of phlebitis associated with PIVC and determine its risk factors among hospitalized pediatric patients. METHODS: An observational and cross-sectional design was used. Data such as patient's demographics, medical diagnosis, place of admission, and other PIVC characteristics were recorded. In addition, observations of PIVC sites over 12-hour intervals were conducted to measure PIVC complications using the Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) scale. SAMPLE AND SETTING: Over a period of six months, a sample consisting of 307 children from five governmental hospitals that are located in north and middle Jordan were targeted. The sample consists of patients under 12 years old with PIVCs who were hospitalized in pediatric departments. RESULTS: PIVC catheterization has been associated with several complications such as phlebitis (N = 164; 53.4%), extravasation (N = 107, 34.9%), pain (N = 37; 12.1%), leakage (N = 37; 12.1%), and obstruction (N = 26; 8.5%). The main risk factors for phlebitis were: children admitted to wards, PIVC inserted by novice nurse, catheter inserted in the lower limbs, and catheter with contaminated dressing. CONCLUSION: This study enriches knowledge of PIVC complications and risk factors of phlebitis to help nurses avoid complications and initiate prompt treatment, leading to decrease financial burden as well as patient pain and discomfort.

Measuring Patient Safety Competence Among Nursing Students in the Classroom and Clinical Settings.

BACKGROUND: Little is known of the extent to which patient safety (PS) education is addressed in nursing curricula in the classroom and clinical settings in Jordan. METHOD: An Arabic version of the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey was administered to a convenience sample of 297 nursing students from two governmental universities in Jordan. RESULTS: Nursing students were moderately satisfied about their knowledge and competencies regarding most PS dimensions; they also had more confidence about the knowledge and competencies they learned in the classroom than during the clinical training. Students in their advanced year had lower confidence about their PS knowledge and competencies than students in the earlier years. CONCLUSION: The study suggests the need to close the gap between theory and practice in the nursing curriculum. The adoption of a comprehensive framework that integrates PS knowledge and competencies is recommended.

Patients' satisfaction with the quality of nursing care in thalassemia units.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to evaluate patients' satisfaction with the quality of nursing care in thalassemia units. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive research design was used. An Arabic version of the "Patients' satisfaction with nursing care quality questionnaire" (PQNCQ) was used. A convenience sample of 377 thalassemia patients from three public hospitals in Jordan was used. RESULTS: Overall, participants were satisfied with the quality of nursing care and the health services they received during their hospitalization. Total high scores were given for the level of nursing skills and competencies, ease of getting information, responses to patient's calls, and maintaining patient's privacy. However, participants reported some concerns regarding the structure of these units and the availability of some services, as well as the system for dispensing medication. Nevertheless, patients were willing to recommend the units to their families and friends. Significant positive relationships were found between patients' satisfaction with different nursing care practices and with overall quality of nursing care, overall hospitals' quality of care, and recommending the hospital to families and friends. Self-rated health and frequency of hospitalization were the only significant predictors for overall quality of nursing care. CONCLUSION: Improving nursing care practices play an important role in shaping nurses' and hospitals' quality of the care among patients in thalassemia units. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Policy makers and hospitals administrators should focus on nursing training programs that improve patients' satisfaction and quality of nursing care in thalassemia units.

Effectiveness of Basic Life Support Training for Middle School Students.

Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a basic life support (BLS) educational course given to 110 middle school children, using a pretest posttest design. In the pretest, students were asked to demonstrate BLS on a manikin to simulate a real-life scenario. After the pretest, a BLS training course of two sessions was provided, followed by posttest on the same manikin. Students were assessed using an observational sheet based on the American Heart Association's BLS guidelines. In the pretest, students showed significant weakness in the majority of guidelines. In the posttest, they demonstrated significant improvement in their BLS skills. BLS training in the middle school was effective, considering the lack of previous skills. It is recommended that BLS education be compulsory in the school setting.

Assessment of Headache Among High School Students in Jordan.

Headache is considered one of the most common complaints affecting all ages: children, adolescents, and adults. A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess primary headache among high school students aged 16-18 in Grades 11-12, over a period of 3 weeks (May 2017). A questionnaire was designed, in accordance with the International Headache Society's criteria. The Pearson's χ2 test was computed to show the differences between the variables. Nearly two thirds of the students reported having headache (19.0% tension-type headache, 8.8% migraine, and 39.0% unknown type). Nearly a quarter sought help for headache, and the most frequently used analgesic was acetaminophen (82.2%) followed by aspirin (5.1%). The current study revealed that the prevalence of headache and migraine was initially high and increased with age. Moreover, headache is one of the major public health problems among high school students. An education program conducted by school nurses and other health-care providers regarding headache and migraine is needed.

Prevalence of physical restraint among ventilated intensive care unit patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of physical restraint among mechanically ventilated intensive care unit patients in Jordan and to identify predicting factors and consequences. BACKGROUND: Physical restraint has been widely used among intensive care unit patients in many countries. Despite the benefits it offers in protecting patients from disrupting their medical treatment, it has been reported that restraint has many physical and psychological adverse effects. METHOD: A cross-sectional and observational study was conducted during a period of 3 months (April-June 2017). A sample of 321 intensive care unit patients was selected from five governmental and one university-affiliated hospital in the north and middle of Jordan. The Restraint Prevalence Tool was used to collect data from the patients. RESULTS: The study found that the prevalence of physical restraint use on intensive care unit patients in Jordan was 35.8%. This prevalence rate varied across the units, ranging from 33.3%-57.1%. The factors that predicted physical restraint use were younger age (odds ratio = 0.96), large intensive care unit (odds ratio = 6.14), the surgical intensive care unit (odds ratio = 10.36), the night shift (odds ratio = 3.57), a conscious patient (odds ratio = 2.24) and longer hospital stay (odds ratio = 1.07). However, hospital type, gender and being on chemical restraint were not significantly associated with physical restraint. Many patients were observed to have physical complications from restraint use, such as redness, bruising and oedema. CONCLUSION: Physical restraint is a common practice in Jordan. Not following standard restraint practices may lead to many physical complications among intensive care unit patients. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study recommends implementing more policies/guidelines inside Jordanian hospitals. In addition, nursing education programs on the safe use of physical restraint should be implemented.

Compliance of Middle Eastern hospitals with the central line associated bloodstream infection prevention guidelines.

AIMS: The purposes of this study were to (1) assess compliance with the CLABSI prevention guidelines, (2) assess the predictors of compliance, and (3) investigate the effect of compliance on the rate of CLABSI and related mortality. BACKGROUND: Implementation of the Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) prevention guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps to reduce the rate of CLABSI and related mortality, although the extent to which hospitals implement these guidelines is questionable. METHODS: A prospective design was used in this study. Observations were conducted over three months in the intensive care units of 58 hospitals in three Middle Eastern countries. An observational checklist, based on the CDC guidelines, was used to assess compliance. The rate of CLABSI and related mortality were obtained from patients' records. RESULTS: The degree of compliance, rate of CLABSI and mortality were highly variable. The multiple regression model showed that the hospitals' characteristics explained 82.0% of the variance of compliance (R2Adj= 0.820, F=29.82, p<0.05). The number of beds in the intensive care unit and patient-nurse ratio were significant predictors of compliance. A lower number of beds and a lower patient-to-nurse ratio were related to higher compliance. Moreover, higher compliance with CLABSI prevention guidelines was associated with lower rate of CLABSI and related mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in the patients' outcome can be achieved through compliance with the CLABSI prevention guidelines. lowering patient-nurse ratio and the number of beds in the ICUs would help to improve compliance.

Compliance of Nurses and Hospitals With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Prevention Guidelines: A Middle Eastern Survey.

This study was a self-reported cross-sectional survey that investigated nurses' and hospitals' compliance with ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention guidelines and the barriers and factors that affect their level of compliance. A questionnaire was completed by 471 intensive care unit nurses from 16 medical centers in 3 Middle Eastern countries: Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. The results show that both nurses and hospitals have insufficient compliance. Previous education, experience, and academic degree were all found to affect nurses' compliance.

Nurses' work environment: indicators of satisfaction.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate nurses' perceptions of the nursing work environment in Jordanian hospitals. BACKGROUND: Previous research has indicated a strong relationship between nurses' work environment and their satisfaction at work. However, little is known about the situation in Jordan. METHOD: A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used. A sample of 500 nurses was recruited. The study was conducted using the Individual Workload Perception Revised scale (IWPS-R). RESULTS: A sum of 382 out of 500 nurses from three health care sectors in Jordan responded to the questionnaires (response rate = 76.4%). The results indicate that nurses working in the public hospitals had significantly better perceptions about their work environment than nurses working in private and university hospitals. Older nurses with lower academic qualifications are more likely to be satisfied with their work. Furthermore, nurses who have good perceptions of support from their manager and peers, and a manageable workload are more likely to stay in their jobs. CONCLUSION: The public hospitals are currently considered a more suitable milieu for nurses in Jordan. Other health care sectors should work to enhance nurses' working conditions. IMPLICATION FOR NURSE MANAGER: Providing a supportive work environment with a manageable workload will encourage nurses to stay in their hospitals.

Exploring Safety Culture in Jordanian Hospitals: A Baseline Study.

Medical error is a serious issue in hospitals in Jordan. This study explored Jordanian nurses' perceptions of the culture of safety in their hospitals. The Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture translated into Arabic was administered to a convenience sample of 391 nurses from 7 hospitals in Jordan. The positive responses to the 12 dimensions of safety culture ranged from 20.0% to 74.6%. These are lower than the benchmarks of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Jordanian nurses perceive their hospitals as places that need more effort to improve the safety culture.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of intensive care unit nurses about physical restraint.

BACKGROUND: Physical restraint is mainly used in intensive care units (ICUs) to prevent delirious or agitated patients from removing tubes and lines connected to them. However, inappropriate use of physical restraint could have many detrimental physical effects on the patient, such as nerve damage, asphyxiation or even death. AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice of physical restraint in ICUs in Jordanian hospitals, about which little is known. DESIGN: A descriptive and cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: A convenience sample of 400 nurses working in three public hospitals and one university-affiliated hospital from different geographical regions in Jordan was selected. An Arabic version of the Physical Restraint Questionnaire (PRQ) was used to collect the data. RESULTS: A total of 300 completed questionnaires were returned, with a response rate of 75%. Of the total sample, 51% were males, 65.7% were from public hospitals and 80.3% held a bachelor's degree. The mean score in the knowledge section was 9.7 (SD =1.7) out of 15; in the attitude section, it was 24.7 (SD = 4.8) out of 33; and in the practice section, it was 30.9 (SD = 3.5) out of 42. Nurses who reported previous related education scored higher on the knowledge section (mean = 10.7; SD = 1.4) than nurses who reported no previous related education (mean = 9.1; SD = 1.6; p < .001). However, no significant differences between these categories were found in relation to attitude and practice. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated some lack of knowledge and unsafe practices regarding physical restraint in ICUs in Jordan. It suggests improving nurses' knowledge, attitude and practices through in-service education on best practice for physical restraint, developing policies/guidelines and providing adequate staff and equipment to maintain patient safety and prevent complications. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Conducting education programmes on physical restraint for ICU nurses and providing other preventive strategies are important in improving nurses' knowledge, attitude and practice.

Prevalence and Related Factors of Postpartum Depression among Jordanian Mothers with a History of COVID-19 during Pregnancy or After Childbirth in a Developing Country.

Background: The magnitude of postpartum depression in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic is under-documented, and little is known about its potential social, demographic, and clinical correlates. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and related factors of postpartum depression among Jordanian mothers with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy or after childbirth. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in March-June 2021 among a convenient sample of 109 women with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy or after childbirth, who were at a leading hospital equipped to care for COVID-19 cases in North Jordan. An online survey using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to collect information from mothers with a history of COVID-19-positive tests. Results: Among the total number of women who participated in the study (n = 109), 73 women had postpartum depression. The prevalence of postpartum depression in the present study was 67%. In addition, the study found a positive statistically significant correlation between EPDS scores and being a smoker, delivery method, experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, and being hospitalized. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, women had a high level of postpartum depression. It would be necessary to follow further the confirmed cases of COVID-19, and mothers should be screened for depressive symptoms during pregnancy and followed up for antenatal and postnatal care.

The Effect of the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries Program on Falls Prevention in Neurosurgical Patients.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Despite the negative consequences of falls among neurosurgery patients in acute care settings, there is a lack of high-quality evidence for successful fall prevention programs. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) program on falling prevention compared with routine falling protocol in neurosurgical patients in Jordan. METHODS: A prospective quasi-experimental design was used in this study. The sample comprised 70 neurosurgical patients from a major university-affiliated hospital in Jordan. The study sample was assigned into a control group (35 patients) and an intervention group (35 patients). A demographics questionnaire, and different fall risk screening tools and tests were used in this study as recommended by the STEADI program. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of variance results showed a significant effect ( P = .001) of the STEADI program on the linear combination of outcome measures. Independent samples t tests further confirmed the program's effectiveness, with statistically significant mean differences in most outcome measures between the intervention and control groups post intervention. After implementing the study intervention, participants in the intervention group had a statistically significant lower risk for falls. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate potential effectiveness in improving neurosurgery patients' outcomes and reducing the risk of falls. Implementing the study recommendations can enhance patient safety and promote evidence-based fall prevention interventions in neurosurgery patients.

Exploring the relationships between stress, resilience and job performance among nurses in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Nurses are a crucial part of healthcare organisations, constituting around half of the global healthcare workforce. Therefore, it is important to examine the factors that may affect their job performance, which is central to the delivery of effective healthcare services. AIM: To examine the relationships between stress, resilience and job performance within the nursing context in Jordan. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive correlational design was used. A self-administered questionnaire comprising stress, resilience and job performance scales was completed by a convenience sample of 207 nurses working in five hospitals in the northern and middle regions of Jordan. RESULTS: Overall, respondents self-reported moderate stress levels, normal resilience levels and moderate job performance. The study identified: a moderate positive correlation between stress and resilience; a weak negative correlation between stress and job performance; and a weak positive correlation between resilience and job performance. CONCLUSION: It is essential that nurse managers, leaders and policymakers implement measures to mitigate the stressors encountered by nurses, increase resilience and foster effective coping mechanisms. Such measures could enhance nurses' resilience and job performance, ultimately improving patient care.

Long term clinical and radiological outcomes following surgical treatment of symptomatic cranial arachnoid cyst: A population based consecutive cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Symptomatic intracranial arachnoid cysts are treated mainly through surgical resection, endoscopic fenestration, or by implanting cystoperitoneal (CP) shunt. However, the use of a specific technique remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to discuss these surgical modalities in symptomatic patients with intracranial arachnoid cysts (ACs) and investigate which has better outcomes and less complications by comparing variable preoperative and postoperative parameters. METHODS: An analysis of thirty-nine symptomatic patients who underwent intracranial arachnoid cyst surgery in the department of neurosurgery between 2009 and 2023 was performed. Patients were retrospectively compared based on age group, gender, anatomical location, laterality, type of intervention, clinical and volumetric changes, postoperative complications and outcome. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients, 20 patients (51.28 %) received CP shunt. Eleven patients (28.2 %) underwent endoscopic fenestration, and 8 patients (20.5 %) had surgical resection. The age at the time of first operation ranged from 1 month to 59.9 years (mean age: 16.8 years), and the pediatric patients were 25 (64.1 %). The most common initial symptom was headache which was observed in 19 patients (48.7 %), followed by seizure in 12 patients (30.8 %), vomiting in 11 patients (28.2 %), visual dysfunction in 8 patients (20.5 %), drowsiness in 8 patients (20.5 %), visual symptoms in 8 patients (20.5 %), cognitive impairment in 4 patients (10.3 %), focal neurological deficits in 3 patients (7.7 %), and cranial nerve involvement in 1 patient (2.6 %). 24 patients (61.5 %) showed improvement while in 15 patients (38.5 %) the symptoms persisted or worsened. Postoperatively, patients were followed up for an average of one year. The highest improvement rate was noted in endoscopic fenestration with 9 improved patients (81.8 %), followed by surgical resection with 5 symptom-free patients (62.5 %). The worst outcomes were seen in cystoperitoneal shunt with only half of the patients were relieved (50 %). Complications developed in 2 patients (25 %) who underwent surgical resection, 5 patients (45.5 %) who had endoscopic fenestration, and 13 patients (65 %) who had cystoperitoneal shunting. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic fenestration has the highest improvement rate, the lowest serious complications along with being the least invasive technique. These features make it the optimal modality in treatment of ACs. Surgical resection or cystoperitoneal shunt can be considered as secondary techniques when patients report unchanged or worsening symptoms.