Navigating the Global Pandemic in Pediatric Overweight and Obesity: Emerging Challenges and Proposed Solutions.

BACKGROUND: Since 1990, childhood overweight and obesity have been rising on every continent and have almost doubled worldwide. The deleterious consequences include hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia leading to metabolic syndrome in childhood and myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer and other disabling conditions in adulthood. PURPOSE: In Southern Europe, including Greece, Italy, and Spain, 10 to 15% of children are obese. Obesity in Eastern European countries is somewhat lower, but the rates of rise are very steep and will approach those in Southern Europe during the next few years. Worldwide, Asia accounts for nearly half of all overweight children under the age of 5, while Africa is home to one quarter of overweight children under 5. In Latin America, about 20% of children under 20 are overweight. Further, children living in poverty can suffer simultaneous overweight and obesity as well as malnutrition. In the US, the risk of being overweight in adolescence is several times higher when a younger child has a body mass index (BMI) in the 50th or greater percentile. FINDINGS: If the clinical, non-clinical and public health communities ignore these challenges, such inaction will surely portend an unprecedented future pandemic of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents leading to future premature morbidity and mortality. All clinical, non-clinical and public health professionals should exert concerted efforts concerning their individual patients, their families, communities, and policymakers. CONCLUSIONS: Such coordinated interdisciplinary efforts may curb these alarming trends and secure healthier futures for children and their families throughout the world.

Increases in drug-related infant mortality in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: We explored temporal trends in drug-related infant deaths in the United States (U.S.) from 2018 to 2022. METHODS: We used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER). A total of 295 drug-involved infant deaths were identified from 2018 to 2022 (provisional mortality data for year 2022) based on the underlying cause of death. RESULTS: In the U.S. from 2018 to 2022, there was a significant 2.2-fold increase in drug-involved infant mortality. The observed increases were higher in non-Hispanic White and Black infants. The findings show that drug-involved infant deaths were more likely to occur in the postneonatal period, defined as ages 28-364 days (81.4 %) compared to the neonatal period. The most prevalent underlying causes of death included assault (homicide) by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (35.6 %) followed by poisoning due to exposure to narcotics and psychodysleptics (hallucinogens) (15.6 %). The most common multiple causes of drug-involved infant deaths were psychostimulants with abuse potential of synthetic narcotics. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-related infant mortality has increased significantly from 2018 to 2022. These increases are particularly evident among White and Black infants and occurred predominantly in the postneonatal period. These findings require more research but also indicate the need to address drug-involved infant deaths as preventable clinical and public health issues. Effective strategies to reduce drug-involved infant deaths will require preventing and treating maternal substance use disorders, enhancing prenatal care access, and addressing broader social and behavioral risk factors among vulnerable maternal and infant populations.

E-cigarette use during pregnancy and its association with adverse birth outcomes in the US.

The popularity of e-cigarette use among young adults is a growing concern. However, little is known about factors associated with e-cigarette use in pregnant women and birth outcomes. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the influence of several factors on behavioral changes in e-cigarette use before and during pregnancy, and assessed the association between e-cigarette use and subsequent birth outcomes among pregnant women. The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a government-sponsored national longitudinal study based in the US, Waves 1 through 4 (2013-2018) were used. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate behavioral changes in e-cigarette use during pregnancy and subsequent influence on high-risk birth (e.g., preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, etc.) and fetal death. Although pregnant women who quit vaping before pregnancy (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.54-2.40) or had any use during pregnancy (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.38-3.73) showed non-differential risk of having a high-risk birth in comparison to women who did not initiate vaping, we observed that the usage of mint/menthol flavor was correlated with higher risk of fetus death (OR = 3.27, 95% CI 1.17-9.19). Healthcare providers should encourage e-cigarette users to quit prior to and during early pregnancy.

Are Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Ready to Confront the Perinatal Cannabis Use Challenge?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess health care providers' knowledge and practices related to cannabis use among pregnant and postpartum women. STUDY DESIGN: A survey of health care providers (n = 75 responders) was conducted across four main regions in the state of Virginia to assess knowledge of adverse health effects associated with perinatal cannabis use, screening tools, follow-up for positive screening, barriers to having discussions about cannabis use, and treatment among pregnant and postpartum women. RESULTS: An astonishing 34.7% of the providers surveyed responded as not being aware of the impacts of cannabis use on the health of the mother and infant, and 66.7% of them reported that they would like some training on feeling comfortable with their knowledge about the impact of perinatal cannabis use on the population they are serving. When asked about providing resources and/or patient education related to cannabis use during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, 62.7% reported they did not but they would be interested in providing both resources and education. Over one-third of the providers did not have a follow-up process for positive screening. In addition, numerous barriers to asking/screening and/or discussing cannabis use and potential harm reduction methods for the pregnant and postpartum populations emerged such as inadequate or lack of resources for positive screening, lack of knowledge on the topic, unsure about the policies of reporting a positive screening, etc. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that health care providers caring for pregnant and postpartum women are not equipped to make appropriate recommendations to patients and guide them through decision-making. Health care providers caring for pregnant and postpartum women need to be knowledgeable on how to best support patients with cannabis use for effective counseling and guidance due to health risks. State policies and resources are needed to ensure training for clinicians on perinatal cannabis. KEY POINTS: · Providers are not knowledgeable about perinatal cannabis.. · Providers lack resources and do not have a follow-up process.. · Providers would like to receive training on the impact of perinatal cannabis on health outcomes..

Disability and suicidal behaviors among women of reproductive age.

Limited research exists on suicidal behaviors among women with disabilities. This study examined disability, suicidal behaviors, and associated health determinants among non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Data from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 76,750) were used to estimate associations between disability and suicidal behaviors and evaluate the effects of health determinants on suicidal behaviors among non-pregnant women of reproductive age with disabilities. Approximately 22% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age with disabilities reported suicidal behaviors compared to only 4.3% of women without disabilities. Women with disabilities had greater adjusted odds of past-year suicidal behaviors (AOR 1.73; 95% CI 1.60-1.87) than those without disabilities. Psychological distress (OR 3.66; 95% CI 2.98-4.49), major depressive episode (OR 3.22; 95% CI 2.82-3.67), unmet perceived mental health need (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.98-2.65), age 18-25 years (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.43-1.92), and illicit drug use (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.20-1.64) were significantly associated with higher odds of suicidal behaviors, and specifically suicidal ideation, among women with disabilities. Non-pregnant women of reproductive age with disabilities are at increased risk for exhibiting suicidal behaviors. Better understanding of suicidal behaviors among women with disabilities can assist public health officials and medical professionals in developing meaningful prevention, detection, and intervention programs.

Marijuana use in Pregnant Women with Disabilities in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: While perinatal marijuana use is increasing, limited research exists related to its use during pregnancy among vulnerable subpopulations of women with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to assess marijuana use in pregnant U.S. women with disabilities. METHODS: The analytic sample using 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data included 3657 pregnant women. Descriptive statistics were performed and adjusted logistic regression models estimated the size and direction of the association between the type of disability and marijuana use. RESULTS: Approximately 13.0% of pregnant women with disabilities used marijuana in the past month, which was higher than pregnant women without disabilities (4.4%). The highest prevalence of past month marijuana use was observed among pregnant women with sensory disabilities (17.2%) followed by women with cognitive disabilities (14.6%) and daily living limitations (11.7%). Marijuana use was also associated with younger age (≤ 25 years old), Black non-Hispanic, high school education or less, non-married, and past month alcohol/tobacco use. Overall, pregnant women with any disability, and particularly those with sensory disabilities (AOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.21, 4.47), were significantly more likely (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.02, 2.69) to use marijuana than their counterparts without disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The higher prevalence of marijuana use among pregnant women with disabilities in this study supports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations for universal screening of maternal substance use. Screening for marijuana use in vulnerable populations is crucial and it may require training of health care providers to administer such screenings to women with disabilities.

Exploring Levels and Correlates of Depression Literacy Among Older Korean Immigrants.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the high prevalence of depression among older Korean Americans (KAs), there has been very little research on depression literacy among older KAs. This study identified specific areas of improvement in depression literacy to address mental health promotion among KAs. Twenty-two items on the depression literacy scale were grouped under five key themes: incidence and prognosis, differential symptoms, symptom recognition, non-pharmacological effectiveness, and pharmacological knowledge. This study aimed to assess the level of understanding depression literacy based on five domains and identify factors associated with depression literacy and its domains among older KAs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 178 KAs aged 60 years and older was conducted in the Washington DC Metro area. Interviewer and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with depression literacy and its domains. Statistical significance was set at p < .05 for analyses. RESULTS: Knowledge pertaining to all 5 depression literacy domains was low, particularly on pharmacological treatment and differential symptoms were noticeably low. The majority of participants had misconceptions about antidepressants. 86% believed that antidepressants can have a rapid effect on symptoms, 82.6% believed people with depression should stop taking antidepressants as soon as they feel better, and 66.3% believed antidepressants were addictive. CONCLUSION: Misperception about depression and antidepressants may be associated with poor mental health outcomes among older KAs. Culturally-tailored education for older KAs with limited English proficiency could be beneficial in promoting depression literacy and reducing stigma or misconceptions regarding depression and treatments.

Burnout among Primary Care Providers and Staff: Evaluating the Association with Practice Adaptive Reserve and Individual Behaviors.

BACKGROUND: Workplace burnout among healthcare professionals is a critical public health concern. Few studies have examined organizational and individual factors associated with burnout across healthcare professional groups. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between practice adaptive reserve (PAR) and individual behavioural response to change and burnout among healthcare professionals in primary care. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used survey data from 154 primary care practices participating in the EvidenceNOW Heart of Virginia Healthcare initiative. PARTICIPANTS: We analysed data from 1279 healthcare professionals in Virginia. Our sample included physicians, advanced practice clinicians, clinical support staff and administrative staff. MAIN MEASURES: We used the PAR instrument to measure organizational capacity for change and the Change Diagnostic Index© (CDI) to measure individual behavioural response, which achieved a 76% response rate. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of PAR and CDI on burnout. KEY RESULTS: As organizational capacity for change increased, burnout in healthcare professionals decreased by 51% (OR: 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33, 0.73). As healthcare professionals showed improved response toward change, burnout decreased by 84% (OR: 0.16; 95% CI, 0.11, 0.23). Analysis by healthcare professional type revealed a significant association between high organizational capacity for change, positive response to change and low burnout among administrative staff (OR: 2.92; 95% CI, 1.37, 6.24). Increased hours of work per week was associated with higher odds of burnout (OR: 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05, 1.10) across healthcare professional groups. CONCLUSION: As transformation efforts in primary care continue, it is critical to understand the influence of these initiatives on healthcare professionals' well-being. Efforts to reduce burnout among healthcare professionals are needed at both a system and organizational level. Building organizational capacity for change, supporting providers and staff during major change and consideration of individual workload may reduce levels of burnout.

Prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviors during pregnancy: evidence from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Suicidal behaviors during pregnancy are prevalent and have the potential to adversely affect a woman's health and her developing infant. The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence and correlates of suicidal behaviors in a national sample of pregnant women. Using data from the 2009-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a sample of 7479 pregnant women was analyzed. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between sample characteristics and suicidal behaviors overall and by pregnancy trimester. In this sample, 3.4% of women exhibited suicidal behaviors such as ideation, planning, and attempt. Suicidal behaviors were more prevalent at 4.4% among women in the first trimester compared to the second/third trimesters (2.9%). Of those exhibiting suicidal behavior, 63.0% were ideators, 18.9% planned suicide, and 18.1% attempted suicide. Logistic regression analyses revealed that all racial/ethnic groups of women in the third trimester were less likely to be suicidal relative to black non-Hispanic women. Alcohol abuse (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.97, 6.81) and major depressive episode (OR 4.91, 95% CI 3.10, 7.84) in the past year significantly increased the odds of suicidality for all pregnant women. Perceived unmet need for treatment increased the likelihood (OR 5.64, 95% CI 3.55, 8.97) of suicidal behavior regardless of trimester. These findings underscore the importance of screening for suicidal behaviors in the first trimester, especially among those with existing mood disorders and substance abuse. Racial/ethnic differences should be considered in targeted interventions for suicide prevention.

Opioid use in pregnant women with mental health-related disabilities.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine associations between opioid use and the degree of mental health-related disability due to emotional/behavioral problems as measured by the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) instrument in a national sample of pregnant women. METHODS: We used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2014-2017 which included 2,888 pregnant women 18 years or older. The WHODAS instrument was utilized to measure disability as the degree of functional impairment due to emotional/behavioral problems experienced by the respondent. Multinomial logistic regression models were built to assess the magnitude and direction of the association between severity of mental health-related disability with opioid use and abuse/dependency in the past year. RESULTS: Approximately 30% of pregnant women suffered from moderate/severe mental health-related disability, and 2% reported opioid abuse/dependency. Compared to those with no opioid use, the odds of opioid use in the past year for individuals with moderate/severe mental health-related disability were 1.73 (95% CI 1.36, 2.21) times higher than those with no/mild disability. Similarly, the odds of opioid abuse/dependency were at least three times higher (OR 3.51; 95% CI 1.80, 6.84) among those with moderate/severe mental health-related disability relative to pregnant women with no/mild disability. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider screening for both opioid use and mental health conditions and related disabilities using screening tools such as the WHODAS during the initial prenatal visits.

Use of e-Cigarettes and Development of Respiratory Conditions in Women of Childbearing Age.

OBJECTIVE: Women of childbearing age are encouraged not to smoke because of well-documented adverse health outcomes. This study examines the association between e-cigarette use and respiratory conditions (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) among women of childbearing age. METHODS: The study used data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2016-2017. The sample consisted of 131,965 women of childbearing age (18-44 years old). The main independent variable was smoking status and the primary outcomes were self-reported respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to assess the effects of e-cigarettes on asthma and COPD. RESULTS: In this sample of childbearing-age women, 2.79% were current e-cigarettes users with or without a history of combustible cigarette smoking and 3.02% were current dual users. Compared with nonsmokers, current e-cigarette users without a history of combustible cigarette smoking were associated with 74% higher odds of having asthma (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.35), whereas results were not significant for COPD. The odds of having COPD, however, were 3 times higher (AOR 3.28, 95% CI 2.62-4.12) for current e-cigarette users with a history of cigarette smoking, whereas current dual users showed 5 times higher odds (AOR 5.07, 95% CI 3.91-6.56) of COPD compared with nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: Policies related to e-cigarettes need to be reevaluated and clearly communicated to improve prevention efforts for women of childbearing age.

Nurses' evidence-based practice knowledge, attitudes and implementation: A cross-sectional study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the influence of staff nurses' individual factors on knowledge, attitudes and implementation of evidence-based practice in Saudi Arabia and to identify facilitators and barriers to evidence-based practice implementation. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based practice has been considered as a key for healthcare quality measure. The literature, however, shows that nurses worldwide are not implementing evidence-based practice as expected and recommended by governing agencies. In Saudi Arabia, evidence-based practice implementation has not been addressed sufficiently. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. We have complied with the guidelines of STROBE Checklist in presenting this research. A convenience sample of staff nurses (n = 227) was selected from four hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The survey questions included the Evidence-based Practice Questionnaire and individual factors. Data were analysed using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: Attitudes towards evidence-based practice had the highest mean followed by evidence-based practice knowledge and implementation means. Evidence-based practice training and research involvement were associated with knowledge in the bivariate and multivariate analyses. None of the individual factors were associated with attitudes. However, knowledge was associated with attitudes. Knowledge and attitudes influenced evidence-based practice implementation positively. Unexpectedly, receiving evidence-based practice training made it more difficult for nurses to participate in evidence-based practice implementation process. We found that attitudes partially mediated the relationship between knowledge and evidence-based practice implementation. CONCLUSION: Nurses in Saudi Arabia are willing to be involved in the evidence-based practice process. However, nurses identified that they need to improve their knowledge and skills in order to be active participants in the process. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Organisations and nursing leadership may benefit from developing a comprehensive strategy to promote staff nurses' involvement in the evidence-based practice process through providing continuing education and mentoring programmes about evidence-based practice.

Workplace bullying among nurses and organizational response: An online cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To examine prevalence of bullying among nurses and explore associations of organizational betrayal and support with well-being among nurses exposed to bullying. BACKGROUND: Bullying is a problem in many nursing workplaces, and organizations have an obligation to support nurses who are bullied. Support or betrayal after bullying could affect nurse well-being, including burnout. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study among U.S. nurses, data were collected in a survey using the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised for Nursing, the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire for Health, the Well-Being Index, a job satisfaction scale and demographic questions. RESULTS: Prevalence of weekly/daily bullying was 31% (N = 242). Among nurses exposed to any bullying (N = 173), organizational betrayal increased odds of burnout (OR 2.62, p = .02), job dissatisfaction (OR 2.97, p = .04) and absenteeism (OR 6.11, p < .001). Organizational support decreased odds of job dissatisfaction (OR 0.30, p = .001) and absenteeism (OR 0.50, p = .04). CONCLUSION: Analysis of study findings suggests organizational betrayal increases likelihood of burnout, job dissatisfaction and absenteeism, and support decreases likelihood of dissatisfaction and absenteeism. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse leaders should be aware of the issue of organizational betrayal and support in relation to well-being. Future studies can further explore the concepts of betrayal and support to provide additional evidence.

Effects of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Infancy on Asthma and Respiratory Allergy in 6-Year-Old Children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in early infancy and health conditions such as asthma and respiratory allergies at 6 years of age in a cohort of US children born at term with no medical issues at birth. METHODS: Data (1542 records) from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II and the Year Six Follow-Up study were used in the analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were conducted to estimate the magnitude and direction of potential associations between children's health conditions such as asthma, hay fever, or respiratory allergy, and RSV infection during infancy. RESULTS: A substantial proportion of children with RSV infection in infancy were reported to have developed asthma (10.3%) and hay fever or respiratory allergy (9.4%) by 6 years of age. Analyses revealed that children with RSV infection in infancy were more likely to develop asthma (odds ratio 1.99, 95% confidence interval 1.06-3.74), and hay fever or respiratory allergy (odds ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval 1.28-3.57) by 6 years of age. In addition, the risk of developing asthma and hay fever or respiratory allergy by 6 years of age increased considerably with a family history of these conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the need for understanding and monitoring the long-term health outcomes of RSV infection in infancy. Appropriate prevention and treatment measures for RSV infection during infancy may reduce the incidence of associated long-term adverse health outcomes. Knowledge of the long-term complications of RSV infection in infancy, such as asthma, hay fever, or respiratory allergy, can aid in the prevention and better management of these health conditions.

Institute of Medicine Early Infant Feeding Recommendations for Childhood Obesity Prevention: Implementation by Immigrant Mothers From Central America.

PURPOSES: Describe implementation of Institute of Medicine (IOM) early infant feeding recommendations for child obesity prevention by immigrant mothers from Central America; examine potential relationships with food insecurity and postpartum depressive symptoms. DESIGN AND METHODS: Using a cross-sectional, descriptive design, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 318 mothers of 2month old infants at a large pediatric setting for low income families. Logistic regression models assessed feeding practices, food insecurity and postpartum depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Exclusive breastfeeding rates were low (9.4%); most mothers (62.7%) both breastfed and bottle fed their infants. Mothers who bottle fed at moderate and high intensity were twice as likely to affirm that if you give a baby a bottle, you should always make sure s/he finishes it (OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.13, 4.69; OR=2.29, 95% CI=1.26, 4.14). Food insecurity was experienced by 57% of mothers but postpartum depressive symptoms were low (Possible range=0-30; M=2.96, SD =3.6). However, for each increase in the postpartum depressive symptoms score, the likelihood of affirming a controlling feeding style increased by 11-13%. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrant mothers from Central America were more likely to both breastfeed and bottle feed (las dos cosas) than implement exclusive breastfeeding. Bottle feeding intensity was associated with a controlling feeding style. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Infant well visits provide the ideal context for promoting IOM recommendations for the prevention of obesity among children of immigrant mothers from Central America.

Association of asthma with obesity among adolescents exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between asthma diagnosis and obesity among adolescents exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). METHODS: The sample included 28,807 adolescents (13-17 years old) from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) (2011-2012). STUDY DESIGN: The NSCH is a US cross-sectional telephone survey that included at least one child between the ages of 0 and 17 years residing at a household during the time of the interview. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sample characteristics and assess the prevalence of asthma among adolescents with obesity exposed to ETS. Logistic regression models were built to assess the effect of obesity on asthma diagnosis within the context of ETS exposure. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma among adolescents was 10.4% and the obesity was 13.2%. Adolescents with obesity exposed to ETS within the home were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to have an asthma diagnosis (23%) compared with non-obese (10.9%) residing in similar households. Adjusted odds ratios showed that adolescents with obesity were 2.07 (95% CI, 1.15, 3.70) times more likely to have asthma if they were exposed to ETS inside their homes. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that adolescents with obesity are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma if they are exposed to ETS in the household. It is important that the association between obesity and asthma is examined within the context of environmental risk factors in future studies, as this may shed some light to underlying mechanisms between these two serious public health issues.

Clinical decision-making among new graduate nurses attending residency programs in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: This study examined the impact of residency programs on clinical decision-making of new Saudi graduate nurses who completed a residency program compared to new Saudi graduate nurses who did not participate in residency programs. DESIGN: This descriptive study employed a convenience sample (N=98) of new graduate nurses from three hospitals in Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Clinical decision-making skills were measured using the Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale. METHODS: Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and multiple linear regression analysis were utilized to examine the effect of residency programs on new graduate nurses' clinical decision-making skills. FINDINGS: On average, resident nurses had significantly higher levels of clinical decision-making skills than non-residents (t=23.25, p=0.000). Enrollment in a residency program explained 86.9% of the variance in total clinical decision making controlling for age and overall grade point average. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support evidence in the nursing literature conducted primarily in the US and Europe that residency programs have a positive influence on new graduate nurses' clinical decision-making skills. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first study to examine the impact of residency programs on clinical decision-making among new Saudi graduate nurses who completed a residency program. The findings of this study underscore the need for the development and implementation of residency programs for all new nurses.

Identifying high-risk subgroups for alcohol consumption among younger and older pregnant women.

AIMS: Recent studies indicate that older women are more likely to consume alcohol during pregnancy, but subgroups at highest risk within the context of maternal age have not been identified. This study identifies subgroups at risk for alcohol use during pregnancy among three age categories using classification and regression trees (CART) analysis. METHODS: Using the 2002-2009 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) dataset (311,428 records of U.S. women), logistic regression and classification trees were constructed separately for age groups, ≤24, 25-29, and ≥30 years. RESULTS: Overall, 6.5% of women reported drinking alcohol during the last trimester of pregnancy. Alcohol consumption by age group was: 3.7% for ≤24, 5.7% for 25-29, and 10.1% for ≥30 years of age. Women ≤24 years were at greater risk of consuming alcohol if they also smoked (5.8%). Among nonsmokers, higher levels of education and being Hispanic were associated with a 35% increase in alcohol use. Distinct high-risk subgroups emerged for the 25-29-year-old group. Specifically, 12.8% of non-obese women who reported having experienced abuse during pregnancy also reported drinking alcohol in the last trimester. About 16% of women ≥30 years with at least 16 years of education, White or Hispanic with normal or underweight BMI, drank alcohol during their last trimester. CONCLUSIONS: Given limited health care resources for prevention and treatment, the early identification of high-risk groups for prenatal alcohol use is critical. This study provides evidence that risk factors contributing to alcohol consumption during pregnancy may differ by maternal age.

Determinants of alcohol cessation, reduction and no reduction during pregnancy.

PURPOSE: Despite public health initiatives targeting the harmful effects of alcohol exposure on fetal growth, 12 % of pregnant women report current alcohol use. For women who reported drinking alcohol prior to pregnancy, we examined several factors as predictors of three alcohol use patterns during the third trimester of pregnancy: cessation, reduction and no reduction. METHODS: Using the 2002-2009 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) dataset (311,428 records), a multinomial logistic regression model was constructed to compare alcohol risk by category: (1) cessation vs. reduction (2) no reduction vs. reduction. RESULTS: In this sample, 49.4 % drank alcohol before pregnancy. Among those who drank before pregnancy, ~87 % quit drinking during pregnancy, 6.6 % reduced, and about 6.4 % reported no reduction. Older women and those with higher education were more likely to reduce than quit their alcohol use. Conversely, women who were black or Hispanic, overweight, obese, or multiparas were more likely to quit than to reduce their prenatal alcohol consumption. Several stressors such as abuse during pregnancy increased their risk of not quitting or not reducing alcohol during the last trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Differentiating prenatal alcohol use patterns can inform the design of targeted interventions and public health policies to meet the Healthy People 2020 objective for achieving a national rate of 98.3 % alcohol abstinence during pregnancy.

Baby steps in the prevention of childhood obesity: IOM guidelines for pediatric practice.

The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the infancy-related guidelines from the Institute of Medicine (IOM, 2011) report "Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies" and highlight research studies that support their implementation in pediatric practice. Findings from recent studies of infant growth monitoring, feeding, sleep, and physical activity are presented. Research strategies that may be applied to today's clinical assessments and interventions are specified. Participation by pediatric nurses in the development of future multi-component interventions to prevent rapid infant weight gain is recommended.