Health literacy as mediator between perception of illness and self-medication behaviour among outpatients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: implication to primary healthcare nursing.

INTRODUCTION: Perception of illness (PI) and self-medication (SM) have been thoroughly explored in the existing literature. However, there is a lack of understanding about the mediating effect of health literacy on PI and SM in a non-homogenous population like Saudi Arabia. As such, primary healthcare nurses who have constant interaction with the outpatients have difficulty addressing self-medication. This study aimed to investigate health literacy as mediator between PI and SM among outpatients in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: This study employed a cross-sectional approach and was conducted at 10 major primary healthcare (PHC) clinics serving 30 million individuals in 13 different regions of KSA. The 424 outpatients who participated in this study were selected through convenience sampling. Data collection started in November 2022 and concluded in February 2023. RESULTS: The mean of the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool, self-medication scale (SMS), and PI scores were 13.01 ± 3.32, 27.46 ± 7.01, and 45.56 ± 7.69, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the age and BRIEF scores (p = 0.039), and the level of education was significantly related to all variables, as were nationality and BRIEF scores (p = 0.001). Finally, occupation was significantly related to BRIEF and SMS scores (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). Completing college and being non-Saudi had positively significant effects on health literacy (p < 0.01). The structural equation model (SEM) found no effect of PI on health literacy or SM behaviour (p = 0.263 and 0.84, respectively), but health literacy did have an effect on SM behaviour (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Health literacy is an important factor in self-medication behavior and that PI is not directly related to health literacy or self-medication behavior, but that health literacy does influence self-medication behavior. Therefore, primary healthcare givers should promote public health literacy alongside the control of other conditions as one of the most effective ways to decrease the prevalence of self-medication and the risks associated with it.

Impact of Sleep and Psychological Well-Being on the Academic and Clinical Performance of Nursing Students in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Nursing students frequently encounter the challenge of balancing their studies with the demanding requirements of hands-on practice and this can greatly affect their mental wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sleep and psychological well-being on the academic and clinical performance of nursing students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional approach with 218 student nurses selected through convenience sampling from King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia. The sleep quality, psychological wellbeing, academic performance and clinical performance questionnaires were adopted to measure the variables. The Google Forms survey was used to gather the data, which were collected in August through October 2023. t-test and chi-square were used to analyze the data. Results: The sleep quality was higher with good/very good performers (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference with academic performance on positive relations (p < 0.007) and purpose in life (p < 0.004). Additionally, there was a significant difference in autonomy (p < 0.01), environmental mastery (p < 0.026), positive relations (p < 0.001), and purpose in life (p < 0.001) with clinical performance. Among students with good academic performance, those who were older than 25 years of age (p < 0.043) and level 3 students (p < 0.001) were found to have a significant correlation. Furthermore, those who were 25 years of age (p < 0.012) and level 3 students (p < 0.001) were also found to have a significant correlation with clinical performance. Conclusion: The sleep quality, positive relations, purpose in life, autonomy, and environmental mastery are all important factors for academic and clinical success. Moreover, older students and level 3 students may be more likely to have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in these areas. Further research exploring factors influencing academic and clinical success must be conducted.

Levels and Factors of Nurses' Alarm Fatigue in Critical Care Settings in Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: A continuous and high frequency of alarms from monitoring and treatment devices can lead to nurses' sensory exhaustion and alarm fatigue in critical care settings. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of alarm fatigue and determine the relationship between nurses' sociodemographic and work-related factors and the level of alarm fatigue in critical care settings in Hail City, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Between May and July 2023, 298 nurses who worked in the emergency, intensive care, and critical care units of all the public hospitals in Hail City participated in a cross-sectional survey. Sociodemographic and work-related sheet and the Nurses' Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire were used to collect data. Results: The total mean score of alarm fatigue was 26.38±8.30 out of 44. The highest score was observed for the item "I pay more attention to the alarms in certain", while the lowest score were observed for the items "I turn off the alarms at the beginning of every shift" with mean scores of 2.51 and 1.61, respectively. Nurses who were males, older than 30 years and Saudi citizens had significantly higher mean scores of alarm fatigue than their counterparts. In addition, significantly higher mean scores of alarm fatigue were noticed for nurses experienced for 10 years or more and who had regular morning shifts. Multiple linear regression showed that male (p=0.014), age (p=0.012), and Saudi nationality (p <0.029) were the independent factors affecting the level of fatigue alarm among nurses. Conclusion: Nurses working in critical care settings at hospitals in Hail city are exposed to average levels of alarm fatigue, which can be influenced by sex, age, nationality, and experience of nurses. Therefore, it is imperative to manage alarm fatigue in critical care units by considering work-related and personality-related factors to ensure patient safety.

Factors influencing fatigue among patients undergoing hemodialysis: a multi-center cross-sectional study.

Fatigue has been reported to be the most common symptom experienced by patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) therapy. Fatigue can lead to a reduction in their ability to engage in both routine and self-care activities, which can negatively affect their self-confidence and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the level of fatigue and the factors that affecting its level among patients receiving uHD. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was utilized to explore the level of fatigue among patients receiving maintenance HD using the Mul-tidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) scale. Data were collected from four dialysis centers in two Saudi Arabia cities, Hail and Al-Qassim, between January 2022 and October 2022. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 236 patients. Older patients, male patients, and retired pa-tients reported significantly higher levels of fatigue (p < 0.001). In contrast, marital status, educational level, and financial status did not significantly affect the level of fatigue among patients (p = 0.193, 0.285, and 0.126, respectively). Patients who had seven or more dependents reported more fatigue than those who had lower levels of fatigue or who did not have dependents (p = 0.004). In addition, patients who had a regular exercise regimen reported significantly lower fatigue than those who did not have an exercise regimen (p = 0.011). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that employment status (student), comorbidity condition (one chronic disease), dialysis duration, satisfaction with dialysis time, and dialysis time were found to affect the fatigue scores (R2 = 0.302, p ˂ 0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study gives a broader understanding of factors influencing fatigue among patients with HD that will help to develop strategies of more focused interventions to reduce fatigue among patients with HD.

The influence of social support on sleep and fatigue level among patients receiving hemodialysis in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional correlational design.

Background: Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are more likely to experience sleep problems and fatigue that may affect their health outcomes. Management of these patients with social support may improve their sleep quality and fatigue as well as their health. Aim: This study aimed to assess the influence of social support on sleep quality and fatigue levels among HD patients. Methods: A cross-correlational study was conducted among 260 conveniently sampled HD patients from four dialysis centers in Hail and Al-Qassim cities of Saudi Arabia from Jun 2022 to January 2023. Besides sociodemographic data, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) and the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) were used to assess sleep quality, fatigue levels and social support, respectively. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between categorical variables, while Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to test the correlation between sleep quality, fatigue, and social support. Results: Poor sleep and high fatigue were significantly higher in older patients compared to younger patients (p <0.001), while strong social support was significantly lower in older patients than younger and middle-aged ones (p = 0.001). On the other hand, poor sleep and high fatigue were significantly higher in males than females (p = 0.022 and p <0.001, respectively), while strong social support was significantly higher in females than males (p <0.001). Married patients showed significantly poorer sleep than single ones (p = 0.019), but single patients received significantly stronger social support. Retired patients showed significantly poorer sleep, higher fatigue and weaker social support than other groups (p <0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between fatigue and sleep quality among HD patients, where patients with more fatigue had poorer sleep (r = -0.510, p <0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between social support and sleep quality, where patients with stronger social support had more normal sleep (r = 0.415, p <0.001). However, a significant negative correlation was found between social support and fatigue, where patients with stronger social support had lower levels of fatigue (r = -0.479, p <0.001). Conclusion: Saudi patients on HD who have stronger social support have better sleep quality and reduced fatigue levels than those with less social support. There is a need to design and implement intervention studies with structured social support programs, and to evaluate their effectiveness on improving sleep and reducing fatigue among HD patients.

Effects of simulation in improving the self-confidence of student nurses in clinical practice: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Considering the positive influence of simulation from previous literature may encourage educators to regard it as a valuable teaching strategy in nursing schools. This literature review aims to investigate whether the use of simulation improves undergraduate nurses' self-confidence during clinical practice. METHODOLOGY: This study employed a literature-based design. Five academic databases, including CINAHL, EBSCO, ProQuest, PubMed and Medline, were utilised to extract relevant studies using appropriate keywords and Boolean operators. Studies published in the last 15 years (2005-2020) were included in the search. Studies were retrieved using the Exclusion and Inclusion criteria. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used to critically appraise the studies. RESULTS: A total of 15 primary research studies were extracted for review. Four major themes emerged from the review: Improved self-confidence to carry out clinical tasks, Increased ability to work in teams, Improved self-confidence to perform community work and Improved self-confidence in communicating with patients and team members. CONCLUSION: Clinical simulation is a useful tool in increasing the self-confidence of nursing students to perform clinical tasks, make clinical judgements, communicate with patients and team members and improve their teamwork. To improve the quality of care received by patients, it is recommended that clinical simulations be integrated into the nursing curriculum in Saudi Arabia. Increasing the confidence of students has been shown to be associated with greater confidence in performing clinical tasks.

Nurses' Attitudes and Factors Affecting Use of Electronic Health Record in Saudi Arabia.

(1) Background: Nurses' attitudes toward electronic health records (EHRs) is a very valuable issue that needs to be evaluated, understood, and considered one of the main factors that can lead to its improvement or handicap its implementation. This study aimed to assess nurses' attitudes toward EHRs and associated factors that affect the implementation of EHRs in different hospitals in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was utilized to collect data from 297 nurses working in public hospitals and primary healthcare centers in Ha'il Province from January to May 2023. Data were collected using the Nurses' Attitudes Towards Computerization questionnaire and a sociodemographic and work-related characteristics sheet. (3) Results: Most of the participants' attitude scores (81.1%, n = 241) were more than or equal to 60, representing positive attitudes, whereas 18.9% (n = 56) of the nurses' scores were less than 60, which is interpreted as negative attitudes. There was a significant relationship between nurses' attitudes toward EHRs and a participants' sex, where males had a more positive attitude than females (p < 0.001). Particularly, young nurses and those who had previous computer experience had a more positive attitude than older nurses and those who had no computer experience (p = 0.044 and < 0.001, respectively). Saudi nurses holding a master's degree had significantly more positive attitudes toward EHRs than non-Saudi nurses holding a bachelor's or diploma degree (p = 0.007 and 0.048, respectively). Nurses with less experience (less than five years) in the nursing field had a significantly positive attitude. Multiple linear regression showed that sex (p = 0.038), level of education (p = 0.001), and previous computer experience (p < 0.001) were independent factors of nurses' knowledge of EHRs. (4) Conclusion: The majority of nurses had positive overall attitudes toward using EHRs. Nurses who are Saudi nationals, male, younger, have previous computer experience, and have less than five years of experience had a more positive attitude toward EHRs than nurses who are non-Saudi, female, older, have no computer experience, have bachelor's or diploma degree, and have less than five years of experience, respectively. Sex, education level, and previous computer experience were independent factors of nurses' knowledge of EHRs.

Sleep Quality and Its Affecting Factors among Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

(1) Background: Sleep quality is one of the most important clinical outcomes of hemodialysis (HD) patients, as it can affect their physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate sleep quality and its affecting factors among patients with HD. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to investigate the quality of sleep among HD patients in two cities in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected during the period from January to December 2022. A convenience sample of 250 HD patients was selected in this study. Data were collected using the Arabic version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). (3) Results: About two-thirds of participants (63.6%) had normal sleep, while one-third had poor sleep (36.4%). There was a significant relationship between the participants' age and the quality of sleep, where participants who were aged more than 50 had poorer sleep than those who were younger (p < 0.001). Male and married participants significantly had poor sleep more than female and single participants (p = 0.011 and 0.015, respectively). In addition, participants who were retired, had a higher number of dependents, did not adhere to exercise, and had more comorbidities had significantly poorer sleep than other groups (p = 0.002, 0.016, 0.023, and <0.001, respectively). The level of education, financial status, distance from home to dialysis center, and participants' satisfaction at the time of dialysis had no influence on the quality of sleep among HD patients. The multiple linear regression shows that exercise (p = 0.017), the number of comorbidities (p = 0.008), and the duration of dialysis (p < 0.020) were the independent factors affecting the quality of sleep among HD patients. (4) Conclusions: About one-third of HD patients in this study had poor sleep. There were significant differences between patients' age, gender, marital status, and sleep-quality levels. Moreover, participants who retired, had a higher number of dependents, did not adhere to exercise, and had more comorbidities had significantly poorer sleep than other groups. Future studies should develop appropriate interventions to address the problem of poor sleep quality among HD patients.

Patient Assessment of Care with Chronic Cardiovascular Disorders and Its Relationship with Self-Efficacy: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients' assessment of care navigating cardiovascular disorders is imperative in improving the quality of care provided. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of people living with cardiovascular disorders on the care they received and its relationship with general self-efficacy. METHODS: This investigation employed a cross-sectional correlational approach. The study sample was comprised of patients with cardiovascular disorders from both the King Khalid Hospital and the King Salman Specialist Hospital, in Hail City, Saudi Arabia. Convenience sampling was used, resulting in 104 participants. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was employed to collect the data, which ran from 10 March to 20 May 2023. RESULTS: The participants perceived that they occasionally (2.75 ± 1.053) received care, and they perceived themselves to have better self-efficacy (25.28/40). Of note, the age (0.062), years of being diagnosed with having the disease (-0.174), sex (0.180), educational attainment (0.125), and occupation (0.206) were found to have no significant relationship with the patient assessment of care with chronic cardiovascular disease (PACIC). However, civil status (0.867) was found to have a strong positive correlation to the PACIC. No significant relationship was found between age and GSE (0.070) and PACIC (0.62), civil status with GSE (0.013), years being diagnosed with having the disease with GSE (0.095), and PACIC (0.174) educational attainment with GSE (0.088) and PACIC (0.125) or occupation (0.115) with GSE. However, sex (0.795) was found to have a strong correlation with general self-efficacy (GSE). Of note, patient activation (0.390) and goal setting (0.360) had a moderate positive correlation while problem solving (0.228) and follow-up (0.278) had a weak positive correlation to GSE. Meanwhile, the delivery system (0.507) had a strong positive correlation to GSE. This study illuminates the value of self-efficacy and patient involvement as self-management techniques for cardiovascular illnesses. Future cardiovascular illness self-management initiatives should concentrate on enhancing patient self-efficacy by adopting the PACIC.

Relationship between the Health Literacy and Self-Medication Behavior of Primary Health Care Clientele in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Public Health.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Because they are unaware of the potential adverse effects of medications, people frequently self-medicate as a form of self-care. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with health literacy and the propensity to self-medicate among the primary healthcare clientele of the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This research employed a cross-sectional approach with the participation of 383 primary health center clientele of the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia. Participation was enacted via convenience sampling from December 2022 to February 2023. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The investigation utilized descriptive statistics as well as multiple linear regression and correlation for the data analysis. RESULTS: Participants who were aged 30 years and above, single, had a college degree, were non-Saudi, had a white-collar occupation and received information from the internet/Google/YouTube had a significant relationship (p < 0.05) with health literacy. On the self-medication scale (SMS), there were significant relationships with age, marital status, educational level and occupation (p < 0.05). The nationality and source of information factors related to health had a positively significant effect on health literacy (p < 0.01), while middle age (24-29 years) had a positive effect on the self-medication scores (p < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between the health literacy screening scale (BRIEF) and the self-medication scale (SMS) scores (r = 421, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Age of 30 years old or above, single status, a college degree, non-Saudi status, white-collar occupation and receiving information from the internet/Google/YouTube were all significant for health literacy. There were also significant relationships with the SMS scores for age, marital status, educational level and occupation. The factors affecting health literacy were older participant age, nationality and the source of information regarding health. Conversely, among the participants, being in the middle-aged group (24-29 years) was a factor that affected their self-medication scores. There was a significant positive correlation between the health literacy screening scale (BRIEF) and the self-medication scale (SMS).

Nurses' Perception Regarding the Quality of Communication between Nurses and Physicians in Emergency Departments in Saudi Arabia: A Cross Sectional Study.

Background: One of the defining characteristics of safe and highly reliable patient care is effective team communication. It is becoming increasingly crucial to improve communication among healthcare team members since social and medical conditions change quickly. Main aim: The present study seeks to assess nurses' perception of the quality of communications between physicians and nurses and associated factors in the emergency departments of selected government hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in five hospitals in Jazan and three hospitals in Hail City, Saudi Arabia, on a convenience sample of 250 nurses total using self-administered questionnaires. Independent sample t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used for the data analysis. Ethical considerations were adhered to throughout the conduct of the study. Results: The mean score of all domains of nurses' perceptions of the quality of nurse-physician communication in emergency departments was 60.14 out of 90. The highest mean score was observed in the openness subdomain, followed closely by relevance and satisfaction, with mean percentages of 71.65% and 71.60%, respectively. Age, level of education, years of experience, and job position had significant positive correlations with nurses' perceptions of the quality of nurse-physician communication. (p = 0.002, 0.016, 0.022, and 0.020, respectively). Post hoc tests showed that nurses older than 30, those with diplomas, those with more than 10 years' experience, and those in supervisory positions had more positive perceptions of the quality of nurse-physician communication. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the mean scores of quality of nurse-physician communication with regard to participants' sex, marital status, nationality, and working hours (p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression showed that none of the independent factors affected the nurses' perceptions of the quality of nurse-physician communication in emergency departments (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, the quality of communication between nurses and physicians was not satisfactory. Future research should be meticulously planned, using validated outcome measures, that will capture and reflect the goals of communication among healthcare teams.

Factors Contributing to Leaving against Medical Advice (LAMA): A Consideration of the Patients' Perspective.

It is essential to understand why patients choose to leave the hospital in direct opposition to medical advice. This understanding could help to identify individuals who are at risk of adverse outcomes. In realizing this need, this study aimed to explore the factors contributing to the decision of patients to leave the hospital against medical advice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research employed a descriptive-analytical approach. It was conducted in the city of Hail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The participants were 13 patients who had opted to leave against medical advice from the Emergency Department of the government-subsidized hospitals. The researchers employed both purposive and snowball sampling. In snowball sampling, the researchers used referrals from initial participants to generate additional participants. Moreover, purposive sampling was used to find the individual that would best contribute to addressing the research issue. The data gathering was conducted from April to June 2022. RESULTS: Five themes emerged based on the accounts of the 13 participant patients. These included (1) health literacy, (2) self-diagnosing, (3) unclear explanations regarding their condition, (4) prolonged waiting times, and (5) communication issues. CONCLUSION: The factors contributing to patients leaving against medical advice resulted in the five themes mentioned above. While interactions between patients and healthcare professionals may be challenging, pertinent health information must still be handed down clearly to patients.

The Impact of Mental Well-Being, Stress, and Coping Strategies on Resilience among Staff Nurses during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: A Structural Equational Model.

Previous studies have revealed various factors related to nurses' resilience and predictors of resilience. However, there are no studies analysing the association of three variables-mental well-being, coping strategies, and stress-with resilience. This study aims to assess the impact of mental well-being, levels of stress, and coping strategies on resilience using path analysis. This study used a cross-sectional approach that involved 763 nurses from 16 major hospitals in the eastern and northern regions of Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data gathering was conducted from August to November 2022. The staff nurses possessed positive mental wellness (3.75 ± 1.08), moderate stress levels (3.06 ± 1.21), adequate coping skills (3.33 ± 1.23), and a low level of resilience (2.90 ± 1.040). Age had a small effect on resilience (ß = 0.040; p < 0.001) but work experience (ß = -0.019; p > 0.139) and marital status (ß = 0.019; p > 0.072) were not significant. Conversely, mental well-being (ß = 0.043; p < 0.001) and stress (ß = -0.089; p < 0.001) had a small effect on resilience, but coping strategies (ß = 0.561; p < 0.001) had a large effect on resilience. Therefore, coping strategies must be reinforced at all times to assist nurses and other healthcare professionals in identifying contributing elements that maintain these workers' resilience in the face of unforeseen and protracted pandemics and other life events.

The Mediating Role of Spiritual Intelligence on Well-Being and Life Satisfaction among Nurses in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis.

Introduction: As they are satisfied with life, nurses who demonstrate spiritual intelligence and well-being at work are tremendous assets to an organisation. This study aimed to determine the mediating effect of spiritual intelligence on the well-being and life satisfaction of nurses in the context of COVID-19. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional study design. It was conducted in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia. The participants were government hospital nurses who were chosen using a multi-stage sampling method. A total of 1121 (75% response rate) nurses participated in the study. Data gathering was conducted from July to September 2022. Results: The life satisfaction level of the participants was deemed positive. Their well-being was better (10/15), and they rated high in spiritual intelligence (90/120). Life satisfaction had a strong association with well-being (r = 0.640, p < 0.001), but a weak association with spiritual intelligence (r = 0.391, p < 0.001). In comparison, well-being had a moderate association with spiritual intelligence (r = 0.551, p < 0.001). The direct effect of well-being on spiritual intelligence was positive and significant (ß = 0.7817, p < 0.0001), and that of spiritual intelligence on life satisfaction was positive and significant (ß = 0.1082, p = 0.0257). The direct effect of well-being on life satisfaction was also positive and significant (ß = 1.5985, p < 0.0001). Conversely, well-being had an indirect impact on life satisfaction (ß = 0.0846), and this effect was significant. Overall, the impact of well-being on life satisfaction was positive and significant (ß = 1.6831, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The nurses in this study were deemed satisfied, to have better well-being, and better spiritual intelligence. Life satisfaction has a strong association with well-being but a weak one with spiritual intelligence, while well-being has a moderate association with spiritual intelligence. Overall, spiritual intelligence was found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between well-being and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that an increase in spiritual growth can serve as the foundation for people to live better and more integrated lives.

Resilience and Emotional Intelligence of Staff Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Although numerous scholars have studied resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, research exploring its relationship with emotional intelligence is scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the resilience and emotional intelligence (EI) of staff nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for this quantitative correlational study were gathered from the staff nurses of hospitals in the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. The researchers employed simple random sampling, which yielded 261 staff nurses. Nationality (t = 6.422; p < 0.001) was found to have a significant relationship with resilience. Sex (t = 5.22; p < 0.001), ward assignment (t = 5.22; p < 0.001), age (F = 6.67; p < 0.001), and years of experience (F = 6.67; p < 0.001) revealed significant relationships with emotional intelligence. Resilience had a moderate positive relationship with EI (r = 0.55; p < 0.023), a weak positive relationship with self-emotion (r = 0.21; p < 0.003), and a very strong relationship with emotional appraisal (r = 0.85; p < 0.001). Improving emotional-intelligence skills is critical for assisting nurses during pandemic outbreaks. This can increase their individual and social resilience, while also improving their professional and life outcomes. These research findings suggest that emotional intelligence should be integrated into clinical practice and that EI data should be integrated into decision-making.

Family still matters: Human social motivation across 42 countries during a global pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused drastic social changes for many people, including separation from friends and coworkers, enforced close contact with family, and reductions in mobility. Here we assess the extent to which people's evolutionarily-relevant basic motivations and goals-fundamental social motives such as Affiliation and Kin Care-might have been affected. To address this question, we gathered data on fundamental social motives in 42 countries (N = 15,915) across two waves, including 19 countries (N = 10,907) for which data were gathered both before and during the pandemic (pre-pandemic wave: 32 countries, N = 8998; 3302 male, 5585 female; M age  = 24.43, SD = 7.91; mid-pandemic wave: 29 countries, N = 6917; 2249 male, 4218 female; M age  = 28.59, SD = 11.31). Samples include data collected online (e.g., Prolific, MTurk), at universities, and via community sampling. We found that Disease Avoidance motivation was substantially higher during the pandemic, and that most of the other fundamental social motives showed small, yet significant, differences across waves. Most sensibly, concern with caring for one's children was higher during the pandemic, and concerns with Mate Seeking and Status were lower. Earlier findings showing the prioritization of family motives over mating motives (and even over Disease Avoidance motives) were replicated during the pandemic. Finally, well-being remained positively associated with family-related motives and negatively associated with mating motives during the pandemic, as in the pre-pandemic samples. Our results provide further evidence for the robust primacy of family-related motivations even during this unique disruption of social life.

Incidence of patients leaving against medical advice in government-subsidized hospitals: a descriptive retrospective study.

Introduction: this study aimed to determine the prevalence of leaving against medical advice (LAMA) in the local context and the associated predictors to help develop effective strategies to reduce its likelihood. Methods: this study employed a retrospective approach using medical records of the 16233 patients between 2016 and 2020 at various government-subsidized hospitals in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia. Results: the prevalence of LAMA was the highest in 2019 (91.9%) and 2017 (21.45%) among insured and non-insured patients, respectively. Furthermore, it was the highest among patients aged 20-25 years and the lowest among patients aged 46 years and above. The incidence of LAMA was the highest (15.48% for males and 29.53% for females) in 2016. In 2016-2019, the most common reason for LAMA was "wanted medication only," while in 2020, the "fear of infection with COVID-19" was the main reason. High blood sugar was the most common diagnosis among the patients under consideration during the study period. Significant association was found between LAMA and patient's insurance status (t = 4.3123; p < 0.002); however, no association was found between LAMA and age (t = -0.8748; p > 0.658) and gender of patients (t = 1.9008; p > 0.302). Conclusion: strategies such as developing a suitable environment for patients and taking due care of their needs, providing individual consulting services, enhancing staff relations, and providing support to patients in need are vital. The likelihood of LAMA can be minimized by informing hospitalized patients and their relatives about the adverse effects of LAMA.

[A qualitative study on nurses' experiences with social stigma in the context of COVID-19]. / Estudio cualitativo sobre las experiencias de las enfermeras en cuanto a estigma social en el contexto de la COVID-19.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the social stigma experienced by healthcare workers caring for people diagnosed with COVID-19. METHODS: This research employed a qualitative-phenomenological approach. It was conducted at the COVID centers of the Hail region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Both purposive and snowball sampling were used, resulting in 15 participants. However, saturation was identified in the 11th participant. Interviews were conducted online through a Zoom platform, with at least 50min per participant. Thematic analysis was used in analysing the data. RESULTS: The nurses recorded four themes and three subthemes based on one-on-one interviews. These themes included (1) Labeling nurses as "COVID Nurses," with a subtheme of frustration, (2) "Fear of the unknown," with a subtheme of "uncertainties," (3) Nurses' need for support, and (4) the Love for the profession, with a subtheme of "nurses' worth." CONCLUSION: Nurses who cared for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 experienced stigma. They were labeled "COVID Nurses." They experienced fear of the unknown and uncertainties and felt they needed support. Despite these experiences, the nurses felt fulfilled as they have a high regard for their profession. The experiences of these nurses call for intervention to help them before, during, and after any health-related crisis. In this context, nurses will be prepared mentally and emotionally to face the challenges in their career.

Estudio cualitativo sobre las experiencias de las enfermeras en cuanto a estigma social en el contexto de la COVID-19 / A qualitative study on nurses’ experiences with social stigma in the context of COVID-19

Objetivo:El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar el estigma social experimentado por los trabajadores sanitarios que cuidan a las personas diagnosticadas de COVID-19.Métodos:Este estudio utilizó un enfoque cualitativo-fenomenológico, y fue realizado en los centros de COVID-19 de la región de Hail, en el Reino de Arabia Saudita. Se utilizó un muestreo intencional y de bola de nieve, obteniéndose una muestra de 15 participantes. Sin embargo, se identificó saturación en el 11.° participante. Las entrevistas se llevaron a cabo utilizando una plataforma Zoom, empleando al menos 50 minutos por participante. Para analizar los datos se empleó un análisis temático.Resultados:Las enfermeras registraron cuatro temas y tres subtemas basados en entrevistas individuales. Dichos temas incluyeron: (1) el etiquetado de las enfermeras como «enfermeras COVID», con un subtema de frustración; (2) el «miedo a lo desconocido», con un subtema de «incertidumbres»; (3) la necesidad de apoyo de las enfermeras, y (4) el amor por la profesión, con un subtema de «valía de las enfermeras».Conclusión:Las enfermeras que cuidaron a los pacientes diagnosticados de COVID-19 experimentaron estigma. Fueron etiquetadas como «enfermeras COVID». Experimentaron miedo a lo desconocido e incertidumbres, sintiendo que necesitaban apoyo. A pesar de estas experiencias, las enfermeras se sintieron satisfechas, ya que tienen en alta estima su profesión. Las experiencias de dichas enfermeras solicitan una intervención de ayuda antes, durante y después de la crisis sanitaria. En este contexto, las enfermeras estarán preparadas a nivel mental y emocional para enfrentarse a los retos de su carrera.

Aim:This study aimed to examine the social stigma experienced by healthcare workers caring for people diagnosed with COVID-19.Methods:This research employed a qualitative-phenomenological approach. It was conducted at the COVID centers of the Hail region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Both purposive and snowball sampling were used, resulting in 15 participants. However, saturation was identified in the 11th participant. Interviews were conducted online through a Zoom platform, with at least 50min per participant. Thematic analysis was used in analysing the data.Results:The nurses recorded four themes and three subthemes based on one-on-one interviews. These themes included (1) Labeling nurses as “COVID Nurses,” with a subtheme of frustration, (2) “Fear of the unknown,” with a subtheme of “uncertainties,” (3) Nurses’ need for support, and (4) the Love for the profession, with a subtheme of “nurses’ worth.”Conclusion:Nurses who cared for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 experienced stigma. They were labeled “COVID Nurses.” They experienced fear of the unknown and uncertainties and felt they needed support. Despite these experiences, the nurses felt fulfilled as they have a high regard for their profession. The experiences of these nurses call for intervention to help them before, during, and after any health-related crisis. In this context, nurses will be prepared mentally and emotionally to face the challenges in their career.

[A qualitative study on nurses' experiences with social stigma in the context of COVID-19]. / Estudio cualitativo sobre las experiencias de las enfermeras en cuanto a estigma social en el contexto de la COVID-19.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the social stigma experienced by healthcare workers caring for people diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: This research employed a qualitative-phenomenological approach. It was conducted at the COVID centers of the Hail region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Both purposive and snowball sampling were used, resulting in 15 participants. However, saturation was identified in the 11th participant. Interviews were conducted online through a Zoom platform, with at least 50 min per participant. Thematic analysis was used in analysing the data. Results: The nurses recorded four themes and three subthemes based on one-on-one interviews. These themes included (1) Labeling nurses as "COVID Nurses," with a subtheme of frustration, (2) "Fear of the unknown," with a subtheme of "uncertainties," (3) Nurses' need for support, and (4) the Love for the profession, with a subtheme of "nurses' worth." Conclusion: Nurses who cared for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 experienced stigma. They were labeled "COVID Nurses." They experienced fear of the unknown and uncertainties and felt they needed support. Despite these experiences, the nurses felt fulfilled as they have a high regard for their profession. The experiences of these nurses call for intervention to help them before, during, and after any health-related crisis. In this context, nurses will be prepared mentally and emotionally to face the challenges in their career.