Pilot Study of SATELLITE Education on Nurses' Knowledge and Confidence toward Assessing and Caring for Female Victims of Sexual Violence.

Sexual violence (SV) can deeply impact victims' physical and psychosocial well-being. Yet many healthcare providers, including registered nurses (RNs), hesitate to screen patients due to a lack of confidence and knowledge. The SATELLITE Sexual Violence Assessment and Care Guide was developed to address this gap; however, the guide's educational effectiveness remained untested. This pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an education program based on the SATELLITE guide among RNs in clinical settings (n = 8), using a pre- and post-test design. Results indicated that the education was not only feasible and acceptable, but also demonstrated the effects as desired with significant increases in RNs' knowledge and confidence in SV screening and care. The program's assessment tool was reliable, and participant recruitment was feasible. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the SATELLITE education program be further tested with a larger RN sample and extended to other healthcare providers. Additionally, exploring SATELLITE's use in different regions, cultural contexts, and healthcare settings would enhance understanding of the program's broader applicability and effectiveness.

The impact of comprehensive licensure review on nursing students' clinical competence, self-efficacy, and work readiness.

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of comprehensive licensure reviews and adaptive quizzing assignments on nursing students' clinical competence, self-efficacy, and work readiness-an under-researched topic. Additionally, it seeks to explore the mediating effect of self-efficacy in the relationship between students' clinical competence and work readiness. A quasi-experimental (pre- and post-test), single-group design was employed. The study was conducted in a public university in Saudi Arabia and included a total of 293 senior nursing students in their last year of the bachelor program. An intervention was developed based on the blueprints of the Saudi Nursing Licensing Exam and NCLEX-RN and consisted of a weekly 3-h synchronous comprehensive licensure review bundled with 23 adaptive quizzing assignments over 15 weeks. Data were collected prior to and after the intervention using three scales: clinical competence, self-efficacy, and work readiness. The mean scores of clinical competence, self-efficacy, and two subscales of work readiness (work competence and social intelligence) increased significantly post-intervention. Self-efficacy (ß = 0.353, p < 0.001) and clinical competence (ß = 0.251, p < 0.001) influenced work readiness (F [5, 226] = 21.03, p < 0.001) and accounted for 31.8% of the explained variability in work readiness. In the mediation analysis, clinical competence had a significant and indirect effect on work readiness through self-efficacy (B = 0.464, p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.250 to 0.699). The proportion of mediation indicated that 37.2% of the total effect of clinical competence on work readiness was due to the indirect effect of self-efficacy. Comprehensive licensure review and adaptive quizzing assignments improve students' perceptions of clinical competence and self-efficacy. Such interventions could ease the transition of senior nursing students to clinical practice.

Comprehensive licensure review and adaptive quizzing assignments for enhancement of end-of-programme exit examination scores in Saudi Arabia: a quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the effectiveness of a comprehensive licensure review and adaptive quizzing assignments intervention in improving the performance of undergraduate senior nursing students on the end-of-programme exit exam. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental single-group design was used to compare pretest and post-test scores through computerised adaptive tests. SETTING: The setting was a nursing college in Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 292 senior nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme. INTERVENTION: A comprehensive licensure review bundled with adaptive quizzing assignments was delivered over 15 weeks in the academic year 2021-2022. The bundle was guided by the elaboration theory, and it included 3-hour synchronous lectures every week and 23 adaptive quizzing assignments that covered weekly content. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Students' mastery scores and the percentage of correct answers were the primary and secondary measures, respectively. Both measures were collected in the pretest and post-test (exit examination). Additionally, demographic characteristics were collected in the pre-test using an online survey. RESULTS: The overall mean of the mastery score was statistically significantly higher in the exit exam (M=2.51, SD=1.70) than in the pretest (M=1.45, SD=0.44; p<0.001). Although the overall mean of the mastery score in the exit exam did not reach the cut-off score, students who demonstrated the required knowledge and satisfactory performance in the pretest achieved a mastery score above the cut-off. The percentage of correct answers was statistically significantly higher in the exit exam (M=58.59%, SD=9.50) than in the pretest (M=49.32%, SD=9.78; p<0.001). A statistically significant difference in students' performance based on gender, age and grade point average was observed. CONCLUSIONS: A comprehensive licensure review and adaptive quizzing assignments intervention bundle fostered the performance of undergraduate nursing students in the end-of-programme exit exam.

Nurses' readiness to prescribe under supervision in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To explore nurses' readiness to prescribe medications under supervision and identify associations between prescribing practices under supervision and demographic characteristics in Saudi Arabia. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Using convenience sampling, this study used a 32-item survey to collect data on nurses prescribing medications under supervision between December 2022 and March 2023. Results: A total of 379 nurses were recruited from different regions in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 7% (n = 30) of the participants were prescribing medications independently, and 70% (n = 267) expressed their likelihood of becoming prescribers. The highest motivating factors to become prescribers were improvement of patient care (52.2%) and contribution to the multidisciplinary team (52.0%). Most participants (60%-81%) agreed that prescribing medications under supervision would improve potential outcomes at the system, nurse, and patient levels. Availability of appropriate mentors or supervisors (72.9%) was the highest rated facilitating factor, followed by support of nursing colleagues (72%). Based on demographic characteristics, findings revealed significant differences in the: a) likelihood and motivators of becoming prescribers; b) required minimum qualification, years of experience, and continuing professional education hours to become prescribers; and c) type of organizations delivering educational programs for nurse prescribing. Conclusion: Majority of nurses in Saudi Arabia favored becoming prescribers, and motivating factors were mostly relevant to optimizing patient care outcomes. Having the proper supervision was rated as the most facilitating factor for nurse prescribing. Nurses' views on potential outcomes, facilitating factors, and possible motivators varied based on nurses' demographical characteristics. Implications for the professional and/or patient care: Nurses favored prescribing under supervision to improve patient care outcomes, which is an opportunity to expand the benefits of health services, including easy access to healthcare. Impact: Results revealed that nurses support the implementation of prescribing practice under supervision. Thus, the findings may inform practice change in Saudi Arabia to allow prescribing under supervision, which was perceived to have a positive impact on patient care outcomes. Reporting Method: This study adhered to STROBE guidelines.

Nursing faculty perceptions of simulation culture readiness in Saudi universities: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Academic programs are increasing simulation-based learning in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 pandemic; however, there is limited knowledge about these universities' simulation culture readiness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore faculty perceptions of the readiness to integrate simulation into nursing programs. METHODS: This cross-sectional correlational study recruited faculty members in four nursing colleges at Saudi universities using the simulation culture organizational readiness survey 36-item questionnaire. A total of 88 faculty members from four Saudi universities were included. Descriptive, Pearson's correlation, independent sample t-test, and analysis of covariance analysis were utilized in this study. RESULTS: Nearly 39.8% and 38.6% of the participants had Moderately and Very Much overall readiness for the simulation-based education (SBE), respectively. There were significant correlations between the summary impression on simulation culture readiness measures and simulation culture organizational readiness survey subscales (p < 0.001). Three simulation culture organizational readiness survey subscales (defined need and support for change, readiness for culture change, and time, personnel, and resource readiness) and the overall readiness for SBE were correlated with age, years since highest degree, years of experience in academia, and years using simulation in teaching (p < 0.05). The sustainability practices to embed culture subscale and summary impression were only correlated significantly with the number of years using simulation in teaching (p = 0.016 and 0.022, respectively). Females had a significantly higher mean in the sustainability practices to embed culture subscale (p = 0.006) and the overall readiness for simulation-based education (p = 0.05). Furthermore, there were significant differences among the highest degree in the overall readiness for SBE (p = 0.026), summary impression (p = 0.001), the defined need and support subscale (p = 0.05), the sustainability practices to embed culture subscale (p = 0.029), and the time, personnel, and resource readiness subscale (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Favorable simulation culture readiness results suggest great opportunities to advance clinical competencies in academic curricula and optimize educational outcomes. Nurse academic leaders should identify needs and resources to enhance simulation readiness and encourage the integration of simulation in nursing education.

The impact of nurse practice environment on patient outcomes and mediation effects of registered nurse outcomes in Middle Eastern acute care hospitals: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: Examining associations between unit nurse practice environment and four patient outcomes (catheter-associated urinary tract infections [CAUTIs], central line-associated bloodstream infections [CLABSIs], falls, and pressure injuries) and mediation effects of three RN unit workgroup outcomes (job enjoyment, psychological safety, and intent to stay at 1 and 3 years) on these relationships. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational design, using the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) unit-level data from 2018 on inpatient units from seven Middle Eastern hospitals. Ninety units were included, where the sample of units for each patient outcome varied (n = 73-90) based on outcome data availability. RESULTS: Higher unit nurse practice environment scores were significantly associated with higher CLABSIs (exp(b) = 8.181, 95 % CI = [2.204, 30.371], p = .002) and lower pressure injuries (exp(b) = 0.153, 95 % CI = [0.032, 0.730], p = .018). However, mediation analysis showed no significant direct effects of unit nurse practice environment on patient outcomes. Mediation analysis showed that nurses' psychological safety-respect significantly mediated the relationship between unit nurse practice environment and CAUTIs (ß = 2.620, p = .013, 95 % bcb CI = [0.837, 5.070]). Nurses' intent to stay at 1-year and psychological safety-respect had significant direct effects (ß = -4.784, p = .017 and ß = 3.073, p = .012, respectively) on CAUTIs. CONCLUSIONS: Nurse practice environment was significantly associated with two patient outcomes and a mediation role of RN outcomes was supported when examining one patient outcome. Future research should examine these relationships in a larger sample for replication. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Although nurse practice environment can impact patient outcomes directly, nurse outcomes play a crucial role in mediating this relationship.

Maintaining Clinical Training Continuity during COVID-19 Pandemic: Nursing Students' Perceptions about Simulation-Based Learning.

BACKGROUND: Simulation-based learning (SBL) in nursing education is an innovative pedagogical approach that has significantly improved nursing education. Adopting SBL provides a controlled environment for meeting educational objectives without the risk of harm to real patients. Given that social distancing is required during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, SBL is a suitable alternative to clinical training for nursing students to learn and acquire the required clinical competencies. The study aimed to describe the effectiveness of SBL as a complete substitute for clinical experience from the perspective of students. This cross-sectional descriptive survey investigated students' perceptions regarding the description of the effectiveness of SBL in four nursing colleges at four different universities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. SETTINGS: Four nursing colleges at four different universities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants included nursing students who attended simulation sessions. Data were collected by distributing a self-administrated online questionnaire, the Modified Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET-M), which is a 19-item. RESULTS: Approximately two-thirds of the participants were in their third (30.4%) and fourth (44.5%) academic year. The highest student presentation was for Site 1 (39.5%) and Site 2 (32.5%). Significant differences existed in all domains according to sex and university (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant difference in relation to the level of agreement for pre-briefing, scenario, and debriefing domains (<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: SBL is a valuable teaching strategy that enhances nursing students' self-awareness, self-confidence, clinical performance, and efficiency in performing procedures with considerable gender variation. Female students had more positive perceptions toward simulation effectiveness.

Production of bioconcrete with improved durability properties using Alkaliphilic Egyptian bacteria.

Microbial-based self-healing of concrete represents innovative technology for improving micro-crack sealing. Microbial bioactivity can induce calcite-precipitation in concrete, which seals micro-cracks. In this respect, two Egyptian bacterial isolates were selected and identified, as Bacillus subtilis (Bs) and Bacillus megaterium (Bm) using MALDI-TOF/MS-Biotyper®. Peak patterns of the bacterial ribosomal proteins showed a high match between samples and standards, which verified species consistency. Bs and Bm were added to the mortar mixture in two concentrations (0.5%, 1%) of cement weight, then the mechanical and physical properties were tested throughout a 180-day time course. The compressive strength of Bm0.5 bacterial mortar samples was increased by 21.4% after 28 days, as compared to control. The rate of water absorption of Bm samples was decreased by 12.4% after 180 days. Bacterial mortar samples showed significant restoration of compressive strength than the original samples by 44%, 21%, and 52.6% for Bs1, Bm0.5, and Bs0.5, respectively. SEM and EDAX analyses confirmed that bacterial samples were denser with fewer voids than the control, as a result of microbial nanosized calcite-precipitation. DTA verified that the amount of CaCO3 and its degree of crystallinity were increased in the bacterial mortar samples. Load-deflection of reinforced-laminates for bacterial mortar samples showed ductile behavior and less deformation as compared to control. In this work, novel concrete with improved mechanical and physical properties has been developed using selected Egyptian microorganisms, it can promote self-healing of micro-cracks with improved durability of the concrete. The application of self-healing bioconcrete can reduce the inspection and maintenance costs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02781-0.

The influence of restricted feeding on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-containing cells in the chicken small intestine.

The influence of restricted feeding on the distribution of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-containing endocrine cells in the chicken small intestine was investigated using immunohistochemical and morphometrical techniques. This study demonstrated that the restricted feeding had an influence on the activity of GLP-1-immunoreactive cells in the chicken small intestine. There were differences in the localization and the frequency of occurrence of GLP-1-immunoreactive cells in the small intestine between control and restricted groups, especially 25% feed supply group provided with 25% of the intake during the adapting period. GLP-1-immunoreactive cells in the control chickens were mainly located in epithelium from crypts to the lower part of intestinal villi. Those in restricted groups, however, tended to be located from crypts to the middle part of intestinal villi. The frequency of occurrence of GLP-1-immunoreactive cells was lowest in the control group, medium in 50% feed supply group and highest in 25% feed supply group at each intestinal region examined in this study, that is, increased with the advancement of restricting the amount of feed supply. These data show that the quantity of food intake is one of signals that have an influence on the secretion of GLP-1 from L cells in the chicken small intestine.

Do 'passive' medical titanium surfaces deteriorate in service in the absence of wear?

Globally, more than 1000 tonnes of titanium (Ti) is implanted into patients in the form of biomedical devices on an annual basis. Ti is perceived to be 'biocompatible' owing to the presence of a robust passive oxide film (approx. 4 nm thick) at the metal surface. However, surface deterioration can lead to the release of Ti ions, and particles can arise as the result of wear and/or corrosion processes. This surface deterioration can result in peri-implant inflammation, leading to the premature loss of the implanted device or the requirement for surgical revision. Soft tissues surrounding commercially pure cranial anchorage devices (bone-anchored hearing aid) were investigated using synchrotron X-ray micro-fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge structure. Here, we present the first experimental evidence that minimal load-bearing Ti implants, which are not subjected to macroscopic wear processes, can release Ti debris into the surrounding soft tissue. As such debris has been shown to be pro-inflammatory, we propose that such distributions of Ti are likely to effect to the service life of the device.

Degradation of propamocarb-hydrochloride in tomatoes, potatoes and cucumber using HPLC-DAD and QuEChERS methodology.

Propamocarb-hydrochloride is a widely used fungicide around the world. The dissipation of propamocarb-hydrochloride in tomatoes, potatoes and cucumber were evaluated. QuEChERS methodology before quantification using HPLC-DAD was used. Preharvest interval and maximum residue limit were 4 days and 1.0 mg kg(-1) for tomatoes, 3 days and 0.5 mg kg(-1) for potatoes and 7 days and 1.0 mg kg(-1) for cucumber. Half-lives (t(1/2)) were 1.29, 2.26 and 9.05 days for tomatoes, potatoes and cucumber, respectively.

Less is more: treatment with BTH and laminarin reduces herbivore-induced volatile emissions in maize but increases parasitoid attraction.

Chemical plant strengtheners find increasing use in agriculture to enhance resistance against pathogens. In an earlier study, it was found that treatment with one such resistance elicitor, BTH (benzo-(1, 2, 3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester), increases the attractiveness of maize plants to a parasitic wasp. This surprising additional benefit of treating plants with BTH prompted us to conduct a series of olfactometer tests to find out if BTH and another commercially available plant strengthener, Laminarin, increase the attractiveness of maize to three important parasitic wasps, Cotesia marginventris, Campoletis sonorensis, and Microplitis rufiventris. In each case, plants that were sprayed with the plant strengtheners and subsequently induced to release volatiles by real or mimicked attack by Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars became more attractive to the parasitoids than water treated plants. The elicitors alone or in combination with plants that were not induced by herbivory were not attractive to the wasps. Interestingly, plants treated with the plant strengtheners did not show any consistent increase in volatile emissions. On the contrary, treated plants released less herbivore-induced volatiles, most notably indole, which has been reported to interfere with parasitoid attraction. The emission of the sesquiterpenes (E)-ß-caryophyllene, ß-bergamotene, and (E)-ß-farnesene was similarly reduced by the treatment. Expression profiles of marker genes showed that BTH and Laminarin induced several pathogenesis related (PR) genes. The results support the notion that, as yet undetectable and unidentified compounds, are of major importance for parasitoid attraction, and that these attractants may be masked by some of the major compounds in the volatile blends. This study confirms that elicitors of pathogen resistance are compatible with the biological control of insect pests and may even help to improve it.