The utilization of social networking sites, their perceived benefits and their potential for improving the study habits of nursing students in five countries.

BACKGROUND: The abundance of easy and accessible information and the rapid development of social networking sites (SNSs) have proven that the world is small and within reach. The great implication of this interconnectivity is attributable to the change in the learning and sharing environment, which for the most part is something that classrooms are lacking. Considering the potential implications of SNSs in nursing education reveals the benefits of SNSs in allowing students to communicate and interact with a wider audience and beyond the classroom. The aim of this study is to identify the extent of SNS utilization, the perceived benefits of SNSs and the potential of SNSs for improving the study habits of nursing students in five countries (Israel, Iraq, Oman, the Philippines and Turkey). METHODS: This study is a quantitative cross-sectional study that determined the relationship between the utilization of SNSs, the perceived benefits of SNSs, and the potential of SNSs for improving the study habits of nursing students in the five participating countries (Israel, Iraq, Oman, the Philippines, and Turkey). This paper is based on carefully analysing the survey responses of a sample of 1137 students from an online hosting site. The online instrument focuses on the extent of the utilization and benefits of SNSs according to their accessibility, usability, efficiency and reliability. RESULTS: Based on the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) our findings, reveal a significant positive correlation between the extent of a possible improvement in study habits and the extent of SNS utilization in terms of the four domains, namely, accessibility (r = 0.246), usability (r = 0.377), reliability (r = 0.287) and efficiency (r = 0.387). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that there is a significant positive correlation between students' study habits and the extent of SNS utilization, meaning that the more students devote themselves to their study habits, the higher the level of SNS utilization. The use of SNSs by nursing students has positive and negative implications, and there is greater potential for further improving approaches to nursing education through the adaptation of curricula based on the proper utilization of SNSs.

Maternity-ward nurses' kangaroo mother care attitudes and practices: implications and future challenges.

BACKGROUND: Successful implementation of KMC depends on the attitudes and practices of maternity-ward nurses. This study assessed the attitudes and practices of kangaroo mother care (KMC) by maternity-ward nurses in the Eastern Philippines. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey design was used in the study. A convenience sample of 138 maternity-ward nurses working in six rural health units (RHUs), two public hospitals and one private hospital. A questionnaire was used to assess the attitudes and practices of KMC by the recruited maternity-ward nurses. Data were collected from June to July 2017 in maternity-ward nurses' workplace. RESULTS: Maternity-ward nurses have a positive attitude towards KMC. Age is associated with attitudes towards KMC. Married maternity-ward nurses have exhibit better attitudes and practice than single nurses. The attitudes of maternity-ward nurses with master's degrees towards KMC are more positive than those with BSN degrees. Maternity-ward nurses from Rural Health Units have better attitudes but fewer support to practice the KMC skills than those from public hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Maternity-ward nurses who are married, hold master's degrees and are working in RHUs have better KMC attitudes than their counterparts. Maternity-ward nurses have good KMC attitude but poor KMC practices. The KMC information and skills of maternity-ward nurses should be continuously updated to implement KMC effectively and efficiently.

Untapped aspects of mass media campaigns for changing health behaviour towards non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh.

In recent years, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become epidemic in Bangladesh. Behaviour changing interventions are key to prevention and management of NCDs. A great majority of people in Bangladesh have low health literacy, are less receptive to health information, and are unlikely to embrace positive health behaviours. Mass media campaigns can play a pivotal role in changing health behaviours of the population. This review pinpoints the role of mass media campaigns for NCDs and the challenges along it, whilst stressing on NCD preventive programmes (with the examples from different countries) to change health behaviours in Bangladesh. Future research should underpin the use of innovative technologies and mobile phones, which might be a prospective option for NCD prevention and management in Bangladesh.

Standard precautions compliance and its associated factors among nurses in Kazakhstan: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, with many nurses being infected, understanding compliance with standard precautions (SP) among nurses in Kazakhstan is crucial for improving infection prevention and control and preparedness for future emergencies. The study aimed to assess Kazakh nurses' SP compliance amid the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the factors associated with their compliance. METHODS: Quantitative, cross-sectional design. This research surveyed 241 clinical nurses in Astana, Kazakhstan using a standardized tool from December 2021 to April 2022. RESULTS: This study found 76.0% SP compliance among the nurses. The highest compliance was observed in the dimension "Decontamination of spills and used articles" (86.0% compliance rate), followed by "Use of protective devices" (83.5% compliance rate), "Prevention of cross-infection from person to person" (72.7% compliance rate), "Disposal of sharps" (65.4% compliance rate), and "Disposal of waste" (56.0% compliance rate). Nurses' age and educational qualification influences the nurses' SP compliance. DISCUSSION: While the nurses' compliance rate in this study was moderate, specific areas warrant more attention, such as their compliance with proper waste and sharps disposal. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the experiences of nurses in Kazakhstan on their compliance with SP during the pandemic.

Saudi Arabian nurses' workaholic tendencies and their predictive role in professional quality of life.

PURPOSE: To determine whether nurses' workaholic tendencies and demographic variables predict their professional quality of life. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was utilized among 427 Saudi nurses which conveniently selected in four tertiary public hospitals in Saudi Arabia. FINDINGS: Nurses' have higher workaholic tendencies level and moderate professional quality of life levels. Working more than 40 h per week correlates with one's risk of workaholism. Certain professional quality of life subscales is associated with gender, marital status, hospital experience, and work addiction tendencies. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The present study contributes to the development of new clinical practices by enlightening readers of the implications of workaholism for nurses' professional quality of life, so that this can be addressed and managed properly.

Structural and psychological empowerment and its influencing factors among nursing students in Oman.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the empowerment of nursing students to contribute to nursing education and recommend ways of increasing the engagement of nursing students in their training. The development of empowerment among nursing students leads to the maximum achievement of learning competencies and enables them to eventually become competent nurses. PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between student nurses' characteristics, structural empowerment, and psychological empowerment. METHODS: A total of 185 nursing students were recruited through systematic sampling at Sultan Qaboos University, with a 92% response rate. Nursing students' level of psychological empowerment, in terms of meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact, and their level of structural empowerment, in terms of access to opportunity, support, information, and resources were investigated using a self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: The results showed that "access to support" was rated as the highest dimension by the students, followed by "access to information," "informal power," "access to opportunity," "access to resources," and "formal power." The global empowerment mean score was 3.64 (SD = 1.01), and the total structural empowerment score was 20.58 (SD = 3.62). The multivariate multiple regression analysis revealed that students' year level and involvement in school organizations had multivariate effects on the four dimensions of psychological empowerment. Students who were involved in school organizations had higher scores for the dimensions of "meaning," "competence," and "impact" than students who were not involved in any school organization. CONCLUSION: Power can be either developed or acquired, and its definition is expressed based on the achievement objective. Age is not a barrier, as it had little or no impact on nursing student experiences and no correlation with structural empowerment.

Factors affecting nurses' intention to leave their current jobs in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: It is known that job satisfaction and quality of life influence nurses' intention to resign from their jobs. However, health-care systems should examine all the possible factors that contribute to nurse turnover to retain them for the long term. To this purpose, this study further explores the aspects that affect the intention of nurses who work in Saudi Arabia to leave their current jobs. METHODS: A sample of 318 staff nurses working in two public hospitals in Saudi Arabia was surveyed in this cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used to assess job satisfaction, stress, quality of life, and intention of recruited nurses to leave their current jobs. Data were collected between April and May 2018. RESULTS: Quality of life dimensions, such as physical and psychological health, predict nurses' intention to resign from their current workplaces. We found that being single or of Filipino or Indian origin, working in the medical and surgical department, or having a low monthly gross salary is correlated with a high intention to leave. CONCLUSION: The results present a unique theoretical underpinning that expands on the previous knowledge and literature on the factors that affect nurses' intent to leave their organizations. The findings of this study can be used as a guide to establish human resource policies toward satisfying nurses' needs and improving job satisfaction and quality of life to promote retention.

Fear of falling among Brazilian and Portuguese older adults.

BACKGROUND: Falling is the leading cause of physical disability, mortality and social exclusion in older adults. In Brazil and Portugal, falls cause thousands of hospitalisations every year. Fear of falling (FOF) causes loss of confidence in accomplishing daily tasks, restriction in social activities and increased dependence. AIM: To compare the prevalence of FOF between Brazilian and Portuguese community-dwelling older adults and the factors associated with FOF. METHODS: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data collected from older adults residing in Brazil (n = 170; M age=70.44 years) and Portugal (n = 170; M age=73.56 years). RESULTS: The prevalence of FOF was significantly higher (p = 0.015) among Portuguese (n = 133, 54.1%) versus Brazilian (n = 113, 45.9%) older adults. FOF among Brazilian older adults was associated with being 76 + years of age and female. Among Portuguese older adults, factors associated with FOF were intake of daily medications, having fallen within the past year, and visual difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: Fear of falling is linked with modifiable and non-modifiable factors. Timely assessments of FOF and factors associated with FOF are essential. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Primary care nurses should assess and address FOF in older people with interdisciplinary practitioners.

Organizational commitment and turnover intention among rural nurses in the Philippines: Implications for nursing management.

OBJECTIVES: The unrelenting migration trend of Filipino nurses to other countries has threatened the quality of patient care services in the country. This study explored the extent of nurses' organizational commitment and turnover intention in the Philippines. Furthermore, predictors of nurses' organizational commitment and turnover intention were identified. METHODS: A cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study. Two hundred nurses from nine rural hospitals in the Central Philippines were asked to participate in the study and 166 nurses responded (an 83% response rate). Two standardized instruments were used: the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire and the Six-item Turnover Intention Inventory Scale. RESULTS: Findings revealed that Philippine nurses were moderately committed (3.13 ±â€¯0.24) to and were undecided (2.42 ±â€¯0.67) whether or not to leave their organization. Nurses' age (P = 0.006), gender, (t = -2.25, P = 0.026), education (t = 2.38, P < 0.001), rank(t = 4.38, P < 0.001), and work experience (t = 2.18, P = 0.031) correlated significantly with organizational commitment, while nurses' age (P = 0.028) and education (t = 1.99, P = 0.048) correlated significantly with turnover intention. An inverse relationship was identified between the organizational commitment and turnover intention (r = -0.22, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study highlight the need for formulation and implementation of interventions to promote life-long commitment in nurses and to reduce turnover rates.

A cross-country comparative study on stress and quality of life in nursing students.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare perceptions of stress and quality of life (QoL) among nursing students from three countries (the Philippines, Greece, and Nigeria) and to examine the impact of stress on their QoL. DESIGN AND METHODS: A comparative, cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Data were collected from 547 nursing students from three countries using the perceived stress scale (PSS) and the quality of life evaluation skill (QOLES). FINDINGS: Students' perceptions of stress and QoL were different across the three countries. Furthermore, higher stress perceptions were identified from taking care of patients, the clinical environment, and faculty, peer, and staff encounters, which predicted a negative QoL. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The findings emphasized the need for empirically tested and culturally tailored interventions to effectively reduce stress and enhance the QoL in nursing students.