Experiences on health-related quality of life of Jordanian patients living with heart failure: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative studies have provided valuable statistical insights into Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among patients with Heart Failure (HF), yet they often lack the depth to fully capture the nuanced, subjective experiences of living with HF particularly in the specific context of Jordan. This study explores the personal narratives of HF patients to understand the full impact of HF on their daily lives, revealing HRQoL aspects that quantitative metrics often miss. This is crucial in developing regions, where the increasing prevalence of HF intersects with local healthcare practices, cultural views, and patient expectations, providing key insights for tailored interventions and better patient care. METHODS: Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative design, this study conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 25 HF patients to deeply explore their lived experiences. Thematic analysis was employed to identify major themes related to their perceptions of HF as a disease, its impact on various HRQoL domains, and their recommended strategies to enhance HRQoL. RESULTS: The study involved 25 participants (13 males, 12 females), aged 26-88 years (mean 63), with diverse education and heart failure (HF) severities. It revealed three themes: HF perceptions, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across physical, psychosocial, spiritual, cognitive, and economic domains, and HRQoL improvement strategies. Participants had varied HF knowledge; some lacked basic understanding. The physical impact was most significant, affecting daily life and causing symptoms like breathing difficulties, coughing, edema, and fatigue. This physical aspect influenced their psychosocial and spiritual lives, cognitive functions, and economic stability, leading to fear, frustration, worry, social isolation, spiritual and cognitive challenges, and employment problems. CONCLUSIONS: The results underscores the need for holistic healthcare approaches, integrating medical, psychological, and social support. Key recommendations include integrated care models, comprehensive patient education, support networks, and policy interventions to enhance HF patient care.

University Students' Physical Activity: Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Physical Activity and Its Contributing Factors.

Introduction: In general, undergraduate university students in the north of Jordan have a low level of physical activity. Objectives: To examine the physical activity level, perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, and the contributing factors among university students in north of Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, and data was collected from 235 university students through a self-reported questionnaire. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was utilized to calculate the amount of physical activity, while the exercise benefits and barriers scale (EBBS) was used to measure the perceived benefits and barriers of physical activity. Results: According to the findings, less than half of the students (48.1%) reported engaging in physical activity. Several factors were found to be significantly related to higher levels of physical activity, including being younger, single, having a normal body weight, and reporting excellent health status. Logistic regression analysis revealed that overweight (OR = -0.068, 95% CI 0.025-0.183) and obese (OR = -0.250, 95% CI 0.068-0.924) were less likely to be physically active, while those who rated their health as excellent had higher rates of physical activity (OR = 3.590, 95% CI 1.263-10.201). The students agreed most strongly with the perceived benefit item "Exercise improves the way my body looks," while the perceived barrier item they identified most strongly with was "There are too few places for me to exercise." Conclusion: This study provides important data for health promotion programs aimed at supporting physical activity among university students.

Predictors and disturbances of sleep quality between men and women: results from a cross-sectional study in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances, a public health concern that may lead to critical physiological conditions, are associated with personal characteristics such as gender. Limited evidence is available from the Middle East population on the gender disparities in sleep quality. Therefore, the current study examined gender-specific differences in sleep quality and disturbances among Jordanian citizens. METHOD: A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a convenient sample of 1,092 adults from different Jordanian cities. Data was collected using a self-reported questionnaire comprising the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which was distributed online via social media networks. The participants were categorized according to their global PSQI scores into poor (PSQI ≥ 5) and good sleepers (PSQI < 5). The analysis focused on finding differences between women and men in terms of sleep quality and the effects of demographic, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors on reported sleep problems. RESULTS: Women were revealed to have a higher prevalence of all types of sleep disturbances than men. Women who were over 55 (compared to younger than 20 years), did not smoke, had multiple jobs or part-time employment (compared to unemployed women), and had a monthly income of more than 500 JD (compared to those with an income of < 500 JD) were less likely to experience poor sleep than other women. In contrast, men who neither smoked nor drank coffee, ate no sweets or only one to two pieces daily (compared to participants who ate more than two pieces daily), and worked fixed night shifts (compared to alternating shifts workers) were less likely to experience poor sleep than other men. CONCLUSION: This study builds a more nuanced understanding of how different demographic, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors - such as a participant's age, time of working duty, income, daily sweet consumption, daily caffeine consumption, and smoking - affect the sleep quality of men and women. Thus, promoting a healthier lifestyle for both genders by modifying risk factors - such as smoking cessation, as well as reducing their intake of caffeine and sweets - is the first step toward improving their sleep quality. Further studies are needed to examine how the social role of Arabic women affects their sleep.

Assessment of Cognitive Impairment and Related Factors Among Elderly People in Jordan.

Background: With an increase in elderly people, it is essential to address the issue of cognitive impairment and support healthy aging. This study aimed to assess cognitive impairment and factors associated with it among older adults. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in different catchment areas within the Jerash governorate in the north of Jordan. The Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire (ECAQ) and a household face-to-face interview were used to collect data from 220 older adult participants aged 60 years and more. Descriptive statistics were conducted to describe the study variables. Correlation tests were applied to find associations between them. Logistic regression analysis was applied, with a minimum significance level (p < 0.05). Results: About 9.10% of the older adults had cognitive impairment. Cognitive impairment was correlated with age, self-perceived health, hypertension, stroke, and mental illness. The primary predictors of cognitive impairment were age [odds ratio (OR) =1.07 (1.01-1.14), p = 0.001] and stroke [OR = 10.92 (1.44-82.85), p = 0.001]. Conclusions: While many factors were correlated with cognitive impairment, the strongest predictors of cognitive impairment were age and stroke.

Associated Factors Influencing Quality of Life and Knowledge Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of the quality of life (QoL) among type 2 diabetic patients is associated with different factors. Evidence shows that these patients usually suffer from a lack of knowledge about the disease, inadequate self-care, and low QoL. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess knowledge of the QoL of type 2 diabetes patients and its possible associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study recruited type 2 diabetic patients conveniently from out-clinics to achieve the objective of the study. The Diabetes Quality of Life Brief Clinical Inventory (DQOL) and the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire 18 (DKQ-18) along with a demographic questionnaire were used for patient assessment. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients participated in the study. Patients' knowledge of diabetes was found to be low (8.57 out of 18), with no statistical differences between male and female participants (p=0.259). The average DQOL score was 2.87 out of 5, indicating moderate satisfaction and self-care behavior. DKQ-18 and DOQL were found to be correlated (r= 0.216, p=0.003). However, the patient's age was found to be a significant factor that influences patients' QoL (F=4.27, p=0.040), whereas patients' knowledge contributed weakly to the variation of QoL (F=1.70, p=0.084). CONCLUSION: Irrespective of knowledge and educational background, the patient's age is influential in enhancing better QoL among type 2 diabetic patients.

The lived experiences of healthcare professionals working in pre-hospital emergency services in Jordan: A qualitative exploratory study.

INTRODUCTION: Globally, injuries account for 9% of all deaths, with road accidents contributing to approximately a quarter of these fatalities. A major concern is the inadequacy of pre-hospital care (emergency medical services provided before arrival at a hospital) and delays in transportation to medical facilities, identified as leading causes of preventable injury-related deaths. This study explores the experiences of emergency health professionals (EHPs) in peri-hospital services (emergency medical services provided immediately upon arrival and within the hospital setting). METHODS: A qualitative exploratory design, underpinned by Van Manen's (1990) descriptive phenomenological principles, was used. Thirty EHPs from five central and southern Jordanian emergency departments were purposefully sampled, including physicians, nurses, and paramedics from both emergency departments and pre-hospital services. RESULTS: Two primary themes emerged: (1) In Search of Clarity: The Unsettled Journey of Pre-hospital Emergency Care Providers; (2) Frustrations on the Frontline: Role Ambiguity and Emotional Exhaustion in Trauma Care, with EHPs reporting fluid and unclear roles, physical and verbal abuse, and limited authority in critical interventions. CONCLUSION: The study highlights several service lapses in peri-hospital care that negatively impact healthcare professionals, posing risks to patient safety. These findings urge decision-makers to devise actionable strategies to rectify these deficiencies, enhancing care quality and thereby decreasing injury-induced mortality and morbidity.

Psychometric Properties of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist among the Lebanese Population Exposed to the Beirut Explosion: A Cross-Sectional Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: This study was aimed at testing the psychometric properties of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) checklist for the Diagnostic Statistical Manual version 5 (DSM-5) (PCL-5) among the Lebanese population and at identifying the prevalence of PTSD. Design: A cross-sectional survey of PCL-5 among 950 Lebanese, using the online survey platform by Google Form, was conducted. Snowball recruitment was used to identify participants for the survey. Results: Face, content, construct, discriminant, and convergent validity had been accomplished through the survey. The reliability using Cronbach's alpha, composite, and average variance extracted was identified as superior. We also found that more than half of the participants (55.6%) scored 33 or above which is the cut-off score for a likely diagnosis of PTSD. Conclusion: The current study provides further support for the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of PCL-5 among non-Western populations. This supports using the checklist in the screening of probable PTSD.

Pain experience of cancer patients receiving care in a multidisciplinary pain management clinic.

BACKGROUND: Few longitudinal studies have focused on patients' cancer pain experience when receiving care in a multidisciplinary pain management clinic (MPMC). This study aimed to evaluate the experiences of a cohort of cancer patients newly engaged in a MPMC. METHODS: This study was based on a longitudinal approach in which data were collected over a 6 months period at the King Hussein Cancer Centre in Jordan. The study adopted the Arabic version of the Brief Pain Inventory to identify the level and prevalence of cancer pain, and to identify the impact of receiving care at the MPMC on patients' pain experience. Data were collected over four time points, and the period between these points ranged from 2 to 3 weeks. RESULTS: The majority of patients demonstrated improvement in their pain after receiving treatment at the MPMC, while a third still experienced severe pain. Significant improvement was reported at T1, and no further decline in pain was noted after this point. This indicates that exposure to the intervention provided by the MPMC generated, on average, an improvement in patients' pain experience. CONCLUSION: The MPMC may be an effective pain management strategy in the treatment of cancer pain.

Cancer pain management program: Patients' experiences-A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients frequently experience unrelieved pain as a significant symptom. However, several studies have found that cancer-related pain is frequently undertreated. PURPOSE: This study aimed to understand the pain experiences of cancer patients who were newly engaged in a multidisciplinary pain management program (PMP) at King Hussein Cancer Centre and still receiving cancer treatments and cancer pain management. METHODS: A qualitative study design and semi-structured interviews were used to obtain data from 21 cancer patients who were purposefully selected. All patients had advanced cancer, including skeleton metastases. All female participants had breast cancer, and all male participants had prostate cancer. RESULTS: It was found that the patient-healthcare professional relationship and satisfaction with services emerged as two themes in healthcare professionals' pain management. CONCLUSION: The results from this study can offer a new understanding of the knowledge related to satisfaction of patients with cancer in terms of the quality of pain management. Additional qualitative studies are required to replicate the findings in populations from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and cultures experiencing cancer pain.

Estimating the time point for nutritional failure in patients suffering from acute brain attacks in the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Severe brain attack patients demonstrate hypermetabolic state and gastrointestinal dysfunction, leading to faster onset of nutritional failure. AIM: To estimate the time point where the development of nutritional failure is more probable among patients with acute brain attacks in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Direct bedside observation for selected nutritional parameters was performed. When enteral nutrition was initiated, observation was performed at five points over 9 days. FINDINGS: 84 patients with 55% mortality risk and on mechanical ventilation were included. Over the observation period, gastric residual volume increased (144 ml vs 196 ml), body weight decreased (79.4 kg vs 74.3 kg), and serum albumin reduced (3.6 g/dl to 3.1 g/dl). Caloric attainment and malnutrition score deteriorated, and feeding-related complications increased. Nutritional failure was evidently prevalent between the third and fifth day of observation. CONCLUSION: An earlier period of enteral nutrition entails higher probability of nutritional failure among severe brain attack patients in the ICU.

Symptom Clusters Predictive of Quality of Life Among Jordanian Women with Breast Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to explore symptom clusters among women with breast cancer in Jordan. DATA SOURCES: A cross-sectional survey of 516 women with breast cancer who were recruited from three hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that women with breast cancer experienced several symptoms at the same time. These symptoms tend to cluster in five main groups, and patients experiencing the psychological, nausea and vomiting, and pain clusters are expected to have a lower mean score of quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses need to assess and manage symptoms as clusters to improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer. Symptoms clusters should guide symptoms management practice and be given a priority equal to the active treatment of cancer. Symptoms management and cancer treatment should be started simultaneously.

Factors that influence the quality of pain management in patients with skin traction.

BACKGROUND: Pain management is a systematic multidimensional process with differing approaches. Investigating the factors that affect the quality of pain management may provide nurses with ideas, suggestions, and trends that target improvements in the pain management experience among orthopaedic patients. AIMS: To assess the elements of the quality of pain management and identify factors that significantly predict higher quality pain management in patients with skin traction. METHODS: A descriptive correlational design was used to recruit a convenience sample of 116 patients. The revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire was used to explore the quality of pain management. RESULTS: Patients suffered from severe pain for more than 64% of the time during the first 24 h after the skin traction was applied. The uncontrolled pain negatively affected patients' abilities to carry out activities in bed, fall asleep, and stay asleep. The quality of pain management indicators using a scale of one to 10 were: "pain severity" = 5.93, "pain interference" = 5.01, "side effects of medications" = 1.5", and "satisfaction about care" = 6.2". CONCLUSIONS: The quality of pain management for fracture patients on skin traction was not optimum in this study. The uncontrolled pain negatively affected patients' physical status and general wellbeing.