Confounding factors affecting the clinical decision-making of nursing and midwifery students post-pandemic COVID-19: cross-sectional study in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The ability of a nurse to make effective clinical decisions is the most important factor that can affect the treatment quality. However, several factors can affect the ability of nursing and midwifery students to make effective clinical decisions. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the confounding factors that may affect the clinical decision making of nurses and thus patient outcomes after the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed in this study. An online self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 269 nursing and midwifery students selected through purposive sampling, 224 of whom completed the questionnaire. The valid and reliable nursing decision-making instrument, which consisted of 24 items, was employed to gather the data, and descriptive statistics and simple linear regression were employed for the data analysis. Data was collected from November to the end of December 2022. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 72.8% were female, and the average age was 20.79 years (SD = 1.44). The vast majority of the respondents (94.6%) was unmarried, and 74.1% were pursuing a nursing degree. The simple linear regression analysis showed that clinical decision making had a negative and significant relationship with social media usage of an average of 6 h a day (ß=-0.085). Moreover, the male nursing students obtained lower clinical decision-making scores (ß= -0.408) compared with the female nursing students. CONCLUSION: Social media usage and gender have a considerable effect on the clinical decision making of the nursing and midwifery students. Therefore, the confounding factors that can affect the clinical decision making of nurses should be discussed further, and strategies to address such factors should be implemented.

The effect of multicomponent approach in enhancing the level of confidence with evidence-based practice activities and promoting evidence-based practice culture among nurses in a clinical setting in the United Arab Emirates.

AIM: The aim of this work is to examine the effect of multicomponent interventions on enhancing the level of confidence of staff nurses with evidence-based practice in an acute care hospital in the United Arab Emirates. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based practice is one of the strategic pillars of nursing practice and a key to organizational success. To effectively implement and sustain evidence-based practice programmes in clinical sites, well-designed implementations can promote staff attitude, knowledge, skills, and confidence in translating research evidence into optimal patient care. METHODS: Experienced and bachelor prepared nurse managers in collaboration with the clinical resource nurse undertook condensed staff training and interventions for the evidence-based practice programme, where 70 registered nurses participated. The intervention was conducted over a period of time extending from December 2019 until December 2020. The study design is quasi-experimental using the pre- and post-Self Efficacy Assessment tool to gauge the nurses' confidence in evidence-based practice. Also, SPSS software was used to explore the effect of the programme. RESULTS: Higher significant score on the evidence-based nursing practice self-efficacy scale postprogramme was noted (t = -7.667 and p value <.001). CONCLUSION: Participating in a well-structured evidence-based practice programme would positively enhance the nurse's confidence in the programme implementation and promote an evidence-based practice culture in clinical settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGERS: Nurse managers must recognize their critical role in promoting evidence-based practice among nurses. A focused and well-designed intervention may assist in establishing a culture of evidence-based practice to ensure the best patient outcome.

The effect of palliative care intervention program on the quality of life among Jordanian caregivers of cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of palliative care intervention on the quality of life among Jordanian caregivers of cancer patients. Repeated measures design was used in this study. Data were collected from 137 Jordanian caregivers of cancer patients utilizing a self-administered questionnaire. An intervention program called SHARE was implemented to the experimental groups and its effectiveness in improving the overall quality of life for caregivers of cancer patients was evaluated using repeated measure ANOVA test. The results showed a statistically significant effect on the quality of life domains. For workshop experimental group (F = 26.822, p < .001) and for home visit experimental group (F = 10.236, p = .003).

Factors Affecting Nursing and Midwifery Students Knowledge Regarding Preoperative Nursing Care.

Background: Preoperative competence is a crucial aspect of nursing and midwifery students' education to improve the quality of care and patient safety. It assists nursing and midwifery students in maintaining and enhancing their practice by determining strength and areas that should be developed. Purpose: This study aims to assess the level of nursing and midwifery students' knowledge regarding preoperative nursing care and determine the most influencing demographic variables. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design using an online self-administered questionnaire was utilised among 202 nursing and midwifery students selected by simple random sampling. The Perceived Preoperative Nursing Care Competence Scale for Nursing students (PPreCC-NS) was used to assess the perceived preoperative nursing care competence of nursing and midwifery students. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and multiple regression was used for data analysis. Results: The overall level of perceived preoperative nursing care competence was adequate 99.09 (SD = 10.81). The highest mean score was recorded for ability to fulfil legal responsibilities and adherence to ethical principles (M = 23.6, SD = 2.53). The lowest mean score was obtained for research and professional development (M = 17.6, SD = 2.60). The regression analysis showed that place of residency explained significantly about 4.53% of the variance in the nursing and midwifery students' knowledge regarding preoperative nursing care, and it was the strongest predictor (B = 0.218, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The perceived level of preoperative nursing care among nursing and midwifery students was found to be adequate and associated with place of residence. Future research should be conducted to explore factors affecting nursing and midwifery students' preoperative competence in different cultures and contexts.

Level of adherence to diet and physical activity among menopausal women and influencing factors in Jordan: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: During menopause, a woman's lifestyle may change significantly, which will have implications on her quality of life. Women will experience menopause for more than a third of their life; therefore, maintaining good health during this period is crucial. A healthy diet and physical activity can help women maintain their health during menopause. Hence, assessing adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity among menopausal women is important. Purpose: This study aims to assess the degree of adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity of menopausal women in Jordan and determine the most influential factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used in this study, and an online self-administered questionnaire was sent to 299 menopausal women selected through simple random sampling. A valid and reliable questionnaire was used to assess the menopausal women's adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity. The questionnaire consisted of 14 items covering two domains: 12 questions for the diet domain and two questions for the physical activity domain. Descriptive statistics were obtained, mean weight and body mass index (BMI) were calculated, and stepwise regression was conducted for the data analysis. Results: The overall degree of adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity of the women was moderate (49.25, SD = 7.17). Most of the participants reported eating refined food items once a month or less (n = 188, 62.9%) and not exercising weekly (n = 119, 39.8%), and only a few reported eating refined food items at least once a day (n = 5, 1.7%) and exercising 5-6 times a week (n = 15, 5%). The regression analysis showed that age (B = 0.145, p = 0.014), having two children (B = 0.123, p = 0.034) and completing primary or secondary education (B = 0.120, p = 0.038) were statistically significant and the strongest predictors of adherence. The predictors accounted for 68% of the variance in adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity (R2 = 0.068, F [343.54] = 7.123, p = 0.000). Conclusion: The majority of the middle-aged menopausal women in this study showed moderate adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity. Age, having two children and completing primary or secondary education were associated with degree of adherence to a healthy diet and physical activity. Therefore, healthcare intervention, such as physical activity and dietary control programs, should target women in this age group and stage in life.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Clinical Practicum of Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Students in Jordan: A Descriptive Survey.

Introduction: The effects of COVID-19 lockdowns and the discontinued face-to-face clinical practicum had negative consequences on nursing and midwifery students at many levels. The clinical learning environment includes all the training and learning experiences that nursing students undergo during their clinical practicum. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the nursing and midwifery students' practicum training in governmental and private universities and academic faculties of nursing in Jordan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 1025 nursing and midwifery students from academic faculties of nursing of both governmental and private Jordanian universities was conducted in September 2021. The research group from two Jordanian universities designed and validated a 13-item survey to determine and evaluate the impact of mass lockdowns on nursing and midwifery students' practicum training. The responses were assessed using descriptive and inferential analyses. Results: The findings revealed that the lockdown had a negative impact on nursing and midwifery students' self-confidence and competency in performing nursing procedures. The academic year of the students was a significant independent predictor of their self-confidence and competency levels in performing nursing procedures. Conclusion: The study concluded that nursing and midwifery students were dissatisfied with their clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to poor self-confidence in performing nursing procedures. The study group recommended repeating the clinical practicum, incorporating extensive laboratory and hospital courses, and implementing a one-year internship for newly graduated nurses and midwives to address the training gap and enhance self-confidence in clinical procedures.

Predictive Factors Contributing to Strain and Burden among Jordanian's Caregivers in Chronic Disease.

Background: It is well known that caregivers are at risk of suffering from diseases, including chronic ones, which might increase the burden of the healthcare worker. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan on 143 caregivers who were randomly selected to participate in self-administered Quality of Life in Life-Threatening Illness-Family Carer Version (QOLLTI-F) questionnaire. The variables were tested using simple linear regression analyses in the SPSS. Results: Male Jordanian caregivers who provide unpaid care, reported lower quality of life than their female counterparts (p = 0.028), (p = 0.077), respectively. A high statistically significant result was found between unshared and shared care (p = 0.009). Statistically significant results were determined between single caregivers compared with those who were married or divorced (p = 0.894 and p = 0.041, respectively). Conclusions: This study concludes that gender, care status, type of care, and marital status are direct predictors of quality of life among Jordanian caregivers.

A multi-institute, follow-up, observational study measuring nursing students' adherence to infection prevention and control protocols in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Nursing students learn principles of infection prevention and control (IPC) and hand hygiene (HH) in clinical courses, and their learning is reflected in their practice. Objectives: The knowledge, attitude, and practice of principles of IPC and HH of the students were measured prior to and after attending an educational workshop. The adherence of the students to the IPC and HH protocols at the hospital was also observed. Methods: This study included a pretest-posttest time series follow-up and an observational part. During the first part of the study, students attended a workshop, which was preceded by a pretest. It was then followed by a posttest directly after finishing the workshop and in 12 weeks. Participants were submitted to an observational part by a trained observer to document certain skills taught earlier during the workshop. Settings: Students from three nursing schools in Saudi Arabia participated in the study. Participants: A total number of 130 completed the study protocol, and 100 completed the observation part. Results: Students were found to experience an improvement in their knowledge, beliefs, and commitment scales after the workshop. The attitude scale remained relatively unchanged over different tests. Most students performed the skills properly and adequately, but some failed to perform certain skills, like hand rub, and the proper use of disinfectants.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 among undergraduate students in Jordan: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Psychopathology could be brought on by an immune system disruption triggered by an infection. Psychiatric residual effects have been noted following prior coronavirus outbreaks. Method: This study is a cross-sectional study that examined the psychopathological influence of the COVID-19 pandemic among survivor students compared to students who have never been diagnosed as positive COVID-19 patients (i.e., healthy students). Further, the study identified the relationship between sociodemographic profiles and mental health. To examine the significance of psychological health differences we used the DASS-21, to measure depression, anxiety, and stress scales. There were seven questions to assess each dimension within the psychological scales. The respondents were selected randomly via online sources and completed the online self-reporting questionnaire between August 23 and October 2, 2021. Results: A total of 750 students completed the online questionnaire, with 677 participants (90.27% of those originally surveyed) included in the final analysis of this study. The mean score of the stress scale for healthy students (M = 16.88, SD = 12.3, N = 537) demonstrated a significantly lower mean compared to COVID-19 survival students (M = 21.7, SD = 11.01, N = 140), t(675) = -4.22, p < 0.001. The mean of the depression scale for healthy students (M = 16.18, SD = 11.94) demonstrated significantly lower mean compared to COVID-19 survival students (M = 20.91, SD = 11. 90), t(675) = -4.18, p < 0.001. The mean of the anxiety scale for healthy students (M = 12.50, SD = 10.72) demonstrated significantly lower mean compared to COVID-19 survival students (M = 19.43, SD = 11. 25), t(675) = -6.74, p < 0.001. Conclusion: University students who were infected with COVID-19 had a traumatic experience, and thus developed psychological symptoms greater than students with no history of this infection.

The Implementation of a Modified Fluid Assessment Tool to Improve the Clinical Assessment, Detection, and Management of Blood Pressure Control and Fluid Alterations Among Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Fluid overload is a common complication of the care of End-stage Renal Disease patients that may lead to prolonged hospitalization and mortality. This warrants an effective and systemic approach to early recognition and management to improve patient outcomes. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effect of a modified fluid assessment tool to improve accurate clinical assessments, detection, and management of blood pressure control and fluid alteration among hemodialysis patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, data were collected from forty-three dialysis patients who were seen and followed up from a dialysis unit of an acute care hospital during 8 weeks of standard care. A modified assessment tool was used to systematically highlight the appropriateness of the patient set dry weight using intradialytic weight gain (IWDG) and patient blood pressure. Paired sample t-test and repeated measure ANOVA within-group analysis were applied to compare the mean difference score for IDWG and the mean arterial pressure within the study group, respectively. Result: A total of 43 patients were enrolled (mean age, 59.07) (ranges 27-88 years) (SD - 14.30); 51.16% female; 79% Emirati Nationals, with Chronic Kidney Disease. A repeated measure ANOVA analysis showed a significant difference in the mean arterial pressure within the study group based on time, over six measurements (p = 0.001). However, the difference between the pre- and post-intra-dialytic weight gain mean scores yields insignificant results (p = 0.346). Conclusion: The implementation of a modified assessment tool improved blood pressure control, increased staff and physician involvement in assessing patient dry weight facilitated through fluid status evaluation, methodical assessment of dry weight, and precise fluid removal calculation, enhancing overall blood pressure and fluid management in HD patients.

Investigation of the Experience of Immigrant Nurses in a Diverse Cultural Setting.

BACKGROUND: Work-related stress (WRS) is one of the most common stressors in healthcare workplace settings. PURPOSE: This research study was designed to examine and discuss perceived WRS, job performance, social support, and the desire of immigrant nurses to work in a multicultural workplace. METHODS: A case research mixed-methodology approach, a quantitative survey, and semistructured qualitative interviews were used in this research study. Three hundred twenty-one respondents were invited, of which 246 (76.6%) returned valid questionnaires. A purposeful sampling technique was used in the qualitative portion of the study. A semistructured interviewing system was used on 20 nurses. RESULTS: "Workload" was the most common traumatic occurrence, whereas "treatment" and "death and dying" were the least common traumatic occurrences. Similarly, the mean of the social support scale, as defined using the McCain and Marklin Social Integration Scale, was moderate to high, suggesting that most of the participants received strong social support from their colleagues. The qualitative research found that the participants faced high pressures related to work and have struggled to acquire cultural skills, while having difficulties meeting their patients' cultural and spiritual needs and sustaining high-quality nursing care. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support that immigrant nurses working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are stressed. A significant difference between the qualitative and quantitative results was found. The findings further contribute to our understanding of WRS, social support, job performance, and intention to stay among immigrant nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Evaluation of the Impact of an Education Program on Self-Reported Leadership and Management Competence Among Nurse Managers.

Background: Developing leadership and management competencies for nursing managers is critical to the effective leadership of others and driving team and organizational performance. This paper aimed to evaluate the impact of a system-wide nursing leadership quality improvement initiative in a network of four public hospitals and one specialized outpatient center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative was designed to enhance nursing middle managers' leadership and managerial competencies. Methods: This is a quantitative evaluation following the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRES) guidelines. Secondary Data analysis of a pre- and post-course self-assessment for 105 middle nursing managers who attended a nursing leadership quality improvement training program between December 2017 and April 2019. Results: Following participation in this quality improvement initiative, the paired sample t-test analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the pre- and post-assessments total and individual leadership domains mean scores. Conclusion: Attending well-structured nursing leadership quality improvement programs positively enhances nurse managers' professional abilities and perception of their management and leadership competencies. Leadership development programs should equip managers with the skills and tools to achieve their professional goals effectively and support their transition to becoming expert nurse leaders. Healthcare institutions' ethical obligation is to provide them with the necessary resources and training to achieve this goal.

The impact of stress associated with caring for patients with COVID-19 on career decisions, resilience, and perceived self-efficacy in newly hired nurses in Jordan: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: The decision to stay in nursing has been challenged by the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. New nurses joined the workforce and provided care to patients with COVID-19 although they received limited training, which could have influenced their intention to stay in nursing. We aimed in this study to examine the impact of caring for patients with COVID-19 on career decisions, resilience, and perceived self-efficacy among newly hired nurses in Jordan. It also tested the predictors of intentions to stay among new nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using an online electronic questionnaire form. The sample included newly hired nurses (n = 300) working in public hospitals and providing care to patients with COVID-19 in different levels of acuity units. The perceived stress scale and Connor-Davidson resilience scale 25 were used to measure stress and resilience among nurses. Results: The majority chose nursing as their career, but they were not satisfied with the current work conditions or autonomy in decision-making. Many nurses reported having moderate to high work-related stress and low to moderate resilience. Among all variables in this study, financial income predicted mild intention to stay in nursing. Conclusions: Nurses expressed the presence of work-related stress and low to moderate levels of resilience. As new nurses, exposure to these stress levels might lead to burnout. Nursing managers should take necessary measures to promote better work conditions and improve resilience to avoid nurses leaving the profession at times when there is a shortage.

Confounding Factors Affecting the Emotional Intelligence Amongst Jordanian Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic's Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study Using USMEQ-i.

Objective: This aim of this study was to determine which variables from the demographic data most affect the EI regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown amongst the nursing and midwifery students in Jordan. Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize, express, comprehend, motivate, influence and regulate emotions proposed the first EI model, which includes three constructs: emotion assessment and expression, emotion consumption and emotion control. During the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, face-to-face study methods have been replaced by online teaching, which has caused many psychological effects. Method: A cross-sectional approach was used to measure EI for nursing and midwifery students. The tool was completed online by nursing and midwifery students using Google Forms. All of the findings were received online and then analyzed accordingly. In this study, USMEQ-i was used to gather data from the participants. Results: The general EI score for the student respondents falls into the average score (M = 39.6). Regarding the difference between males and females, the results showed no significant difference. Moreover, the general linear regressions analysis of independent variables on EI score showed four significant factors. Nursing students who study in Years 1 and 4 had significantly higher EI scores than those in Years 2 and 3. EI ability decreased when a student's economic status changed from luxurious to middle income. Moreover, an increase in age significantly decreased the value of EI. This study indicates that all nursing and midwifery students who enrolled in general nursing program tended to have higher EI scores than others (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Year of study, age, average lifestyle and enrollment in a nursing program were found to be the most significant factors associated with EI amongst Jordanian nursing and midwifery students. This issue needs to be researched further, such that appropriate steps can be taken to address it.

Gender variations in social media usage and academic performance among the students of University of Sharjah.

OBJECTIVE: Social media usage is considered one of the most common activities among university students that could impact their daily lives. There is a great variation of the level of this impact depending on gender and some other factors. The impact of social media usage on academic performance is not known. This study aims to evaluate gender differences amongst students at the University of Sharjah (UoS) for predicting the impact of social media usage on their academic performance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 328 medical UoS students across all years of study. Social media usage was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire titled Social Media and Academic Performance of Students Questionnaire (SMAAPOS). This tool used a 4-point Linkert rating scale and contained two sections: a section for participants' demographics, year of study and time spent on social media and another section collected participants' views about the impact and addictiveness of social media. Chi-square test using SPSS (v 20) was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 500 invitees, 328 students responded; a response rate of 66%. The respondents were 61% female and 39% male students. The average time spent on social media usage was reported as 2-3 h per day. Furthermore, males were more addicted to social media than females (49.6%) and (32%), respectively. Additionally, females' academic performance was more highly influenced by the usage of social media than that of males, although males were more addicted to social media networks. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a significant difference in the academic performance of medical students as influenced by social media usage. Medical educators are urged to frame guidelines for using social media for educational purposes that will help improve the academic performance of the students.