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School nurses are sometimes the sole healthcare professionals in schools, highlighting their significant role in delivering emergency care and the vital necessity of their competence in emergency nursing care. The scope of practice and ongoing professional development are hypothesized to play significant roles in enhancing these competencies.
Investigate the direct and indirect effects of the scope of current practice and the importance of training on the emergency nursing care competency of school nurses, with career growth serving as a potential mediator.
A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenient sample of 219 school nurses. Data were collected using the career growth of nurses' scale, the emergency nursing care competency scale for school nurses and the scope of school nursing practice tool. Mediation analysis was used to explore the direct and indirect effects of studied variables.
Mediation analysis indicated that the scope of current practice had a significant direct effect on career growth (β = 0.179) and emergency nursing care competency (β = 0.389). The importance of practice also had significant direct effects on career growth (β = 0.164) and emergency nursing care competency (β = 0.220). Additionally, career growth significantly mediated the relationship between both the scope of current practice (β = 0.110) and the importance of practice (β = 0.120) with emergency nursing care competency.
The findings emphasis the critical role of career growth as a mediator between the scope and importance of practice and emergency nursing care competency among school nurses. Expanding the scope of practice and emphasising the importance of professional activities can enhance career growth and improve emergency nursing care competencies.
Nurses scope of practice and clear career advancement through mentorship, advanced certifications, further education and enforcing policies mandating regular emergency care is crucial. Establishing a regulatory framework to define and expand the scope of practice for school nurses is also important.
No patient or public contribution.
This study aimed to determine the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) medication use and glycaemic control.
This was a retrospective diabetes registry-based cohort study.
Singapore.
Patients aged 18 and above with incident DM in the SingHealth Diabetes Registry from 2013 to 2020 were included. The entire study period included a 1 year baseline period, a 1 year observation period and a 3 month outcome period.
Drug use was measured using the proportion of days covered (PDC), and the changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) between the outcome and baseline periods were assessed. The associations between baseline HbA1c and PDC ≥0.80 and between PDC and change in HbA1c were analysed using logistic regression and the Kruskal–Wallis test, respectively.
Of 184 646 unique patients in the registry from 2013 to 2020, 36 314 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The median PDC for any DM drug, oral DM drugs and insulin during the observation period was 20.3%, 16.8% and 0%, respectively. Those who had good glycaemic control at baseline were less likely to receive DM drugs and those with poor baseline glycaemic control or missing baseline HbA1c were more likely to be consistent users (PDC >80%) (px 10-16).
The relationship between DM drug use and glycaemic control is complex and non-monotonic. Higher PDC for any DM drug and oral DM drugs during the observation period was significantly associated with clinically relevant HbA1c improvements.
To explore the factors affecting the sustainable improvement of nurses' evidence-based practice (EBP) competency after receiving an EBP training program.
A sequential mixed-methods study.
Thirty-seven ICU nurses participated from an adult ICU in Egypt. The qualitative phase used a category-generating approach with focus group interviews and content analysis. The quantitative phase followed a cross-sectional descriptive design using self-report questionnaires. The study adhered to the Good Reporting of a Mixed Methods Study (GRAMMS) guidelines and was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05941364).
Qualitative analysis generated six subcategories, organised into three overarching themes: working environment challenges, job dissatisfaction and organisational obstacles. Quantitative findings revealed low levels of motivation (M = 19.1, SD = 2.2, out of 60), self-efficacy (M = 18.4, SD = 8.66) and self-regulation (M = 124.9, SD = 52.6). The highest mean score was observed for the Sustained Implementation Support Scale (M = 94.7, SD = 5.0, out of 140). These variables showed negative correlations with the sustainability gap. Integration of findings through a joint display demonstrated a convergence of results regarding training program burden and low motivation.
Sustaining nurses' EBP literacy requires addressing long-term obstacles such as inadequate job satisfaction, limited workplace support and lack of team cohesion. Sustained organisational support and leadership development are essential for EBP clinical integration.
The study highlights key strategies for nurses' development to enhance care quality, including improving self-efficacy through mentorship and fostering a supportive work environment. Health policies should establish EBP as a core competency, offer flexible schedules, ongoing training, adequate resources, and empower nurse leaders for successful implementation.
This study addresses the critical challenge of sustaining nurses' competency improvements after EBP training. The findings are crucial for healthcare administrators, policymakers and educators aiming to design effective EBP training programs. By addressing these factors, the study has the potential to improve patient outcomes.
No patient or public contribution.
Sepsis is a major cause of death both globally and in the United States. Early identification and treatment of sepsis are crucial for improving patient outcomes. International guidelines recommend hospital sepsis screening programmes, which are commonly implemented in the electronic health record (EHR) as an interruptive sepsis screening alert based on systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria. Despite widespread use, it is unknown whether these sepsis screening and alert tools improve the delivery of high-quality sepsis care.
The Sepsis Electronic Prompting for Timely Intervention and Care (SEPTIC) master protocol will study two distinct populations in separate trials: emergency department (ED) patients (SEPTIC-ED) and inpatients (SEPTIC-IP). The SEPTIC trials are pragmatic, multicentre, blinded, randomised controlled trials, with equal allocation to compare four SIRS-based sepsis screening alert groups: no alerts (control), nurse alerts only, prescribing clinician alerts only, or nurse and prescribing clinician alerts. Randomisation will be at the patient level. SEPTIC will be performed at eight acute-care hospitals in the greater New York City area and enrol patients at least 18 years old. The primary outcome is the percentage of patients with completion of a modified Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) hour-1 bundle within 3 hours of the first SIRS alert. Secondary outcomes include time from first alert to completion of a modified SSC hour-1 bundle, time from first alert to individual bundle component order and completion, intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, hospital discharge disposition, inpatient mortality at 90 days, positive blood cultures (bacteraemia), adverse antibiotic events, sepsis diagnoses and septic shock diagnoses.
Ethics approval was obtained from the Columbia University Institutional Review Board (IRB) serving as a single IRB. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journal(s), scientific meeting(s) and via social media.
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06117605 and
by Muhammad Hafiz Mohamed Pauzi, Azidah Abdul Kadir, Rosediani Muhamad, Zainab Mat Yudin
BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccination is crucial for pregnant women to protect against severe complications during pregnancy. However, vaccine hesitancy and refusal can affect acceptance rates among this vulnerable group, posing risks to both maternal and fetal health. This research was conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators influencing COVID-19 vaccination among Malaysian pregnant women.
MethodsThis qualitative study adopted a hermeneutic phenomenological design. Nineteen pregnant women receiving antenatal care at three clinics in Kelantan between February 2024 and June 2024 were purposively selected to participate in in-depth interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo software alongside manual coding. Thematic analysis, incorporating both inductive and deductive approaches, was conducted to identify key themes.
ResultsMost pregnant women expressed hesitancy toward COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy due to various concerns. Our findings identified four key themes as barriers to vaccination: (i) Fear of side effects, (ii) Negative social influences, (iii) Perception of returning to normalcy, and (iv) Vaccine scepticism and prejudice. Conversely, three themes emerged as facilitators of vaccine acceptance: (i) Concerns about the effects of COVID-19 infection, (ii) Trust in the vaccine, and (iii) Personal and shared vaccination experiences.
ConclusionThis study identified key factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. These findings highlight the importance of addressing both personal and social dimensions of vaccine hesitancy. Public health interventions should focus on building trust, countering misinformation, and leveraging positive community experiences to encourage vaccine uptake, particularly in populations where hesitancy remains a concern.
by Lucie Ancel, Jules Gueguen, Guillaume Thoër, Jules Marçais, Aïda Chemloul, Bernard Le Guen, Marc Benderitter, Radia Tamarat, Maâmar Souidi, Mohamed Amine Benadjaoud, Stéphane Flamant
The threat of nuclear or radiological events requires early diagnostic tools for radiation induced health effects. Localized radiation injuries (LRI) are severe outcomes of such events, characterized by a latent presymptomatic phase followed by symptom onset ranging from erythema and edema to ulceration and tissue necrosis. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective triage and adapted treatment, potentially through minimally invasive biomarkers including circulating microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been correlated with tissue injuries and radiation exposure, suggesting their potential in diagnosing LRI. In this study, we sought to identify early miRNA signatures for LRI severity prognosis before clinical symptoms appear. Using a mouse model of hindlimb irradiation at 0, 20, 40, or 80 Gy previously shown to lead to localized injuries of different severities, we performed broad-spectrum plasma miRNA profiling at two latency stages (day 1 and 7 post-irradiation). The identified candidate miRNAs were then challenged using two independent mouse cohorts to refine miRNA signatures. Through sparse partial least square discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA), signatures of 14 and 16 plasma miRNAs segregated animals according to dose groups at day 1 and day 7, respectively. Interestingly, these signatures shared 9 miRNAs, including miR-19a-3p, miR-93-5p, miR-140-3p, previously associated with inflammation, radiation response and tissue damage. In addition, the Bayesian latent variable modeling confirmed significant correlations between these prognostic miRNA signatures and day 14 clinical and functional outcomes from unrelated mice. This study identified plasma miRNA signatures that might be used throughout the latency phase for the prognosis of LRI severity. These results suggest miRNA profiling could be a powerful tool for early LRI diagnosis, thereby improving patient management and treatment outcomes in radiological emergency situations.Although multimodal rehabilitation programs are effective for substance use disorders and widely used, addiction is still a global socioeconomic problem. Providing practical strategies, such as the HeartMath intervention for managing stress at the moment, helps mitigate the physical, emotional, and psychological impacts associated with substance use disorder, promotes resilience, and enhances treatment motivation.
To investigate the effects of the nurse-led HeartMath Training Program on resilience, emotional adjustment, and treatment motivation among patients with substance use disorder.
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was used to carry out this study. This study was conducted at the inpatient unit for patients with addiction at Elmaa'mora Hospital for Psychiatric Medicine in Alexandria, Egypt. The subjects were 130 patients with substance use disorders (65 in each group). Researchers used three tools to collect the necessary data: Tool I Resilience Scale, Tool II Brief Adjustment Scale–6, and Tool III Treatment Motivation Questionnaire.
The difference in resilience, emotional adjustment, and treatment motivation between the study and control groups after the Nurse-Led HeartMath training intervention was statistically significant.
The HeartMath Training Program is efficacious in improving resilience and emotional adjustment among patients with substance use disorder and increasing their treatment motivation.
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06437366
by Badrul Akmal Hisham Md Yusoff, Muhammad Ikmal Hazli, Norlelawati Mohamad, Muhamad Karbela Reza Ramlan, Nik Kamarul Arif Bin Nik Kamrulzaman, Mohamed Razzan Rameez, Mohamad Azwan Aziz
IntroductionThis study aims to determine the clinical outcomes of a new technique of cartilage repair surgery, using calcified cartilage zone debridement coupled with Hyalofast and bone marrow aspirate concentrate, in terms of pain and functional outcomes.
MethodsThis was a retrospective case series in 19 patients with cartilage injuries, ICRS 3 and 4. Using arthroscopic examination, cartilage defects were identified and debrided. Then, the calcified cartilage zone was identified and scrapped, until punctate bleeding occurred. Hyalofast was fixed into the defect and bone marrow aspirate concentrate was injected into the Hyalofast. Patients were followed up at baseline, 1, 6, and 18 months post-operative, using visual analog scale, KOOS, IKDC, and Lysholm Score.
ResultsThe mean age was 45.33 ± 9.68 years, with the mean cartilage defects of 10.21 ± 11.10 X 9.43 ± 10.85 mm2. Among the cohort, seven patients (36.8%) underwent three chondral repair procedures, five (26.4%) received two procedures, and the remaining seven (36.8%) were treated with a single procedure. In the KOOS subscale, there was a steady improvement; symptoms (mean difference: −23.87, CI: −43.97 – −3.77, p-value = 0.015), pain (mean difference: −28.39, CI: −43.94 – −12.83, p-value = 0.001), activity of daily living (mean difference: −26.23, CI: −40.95 – −10.14, p-value = 0.001), and sports subscale (mean difference: −57.36, CI: −80.76 – −33.97, p-value Conclusion
The calcified cartilage zone debridement technique served as a novel technique to preserve subchondral plate allowing better outcomes for cartilage repair.
Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health concern, with a high prevalence in Egypt. Type 2 diabetes imposes substantial health and economic challenges. Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) programs, such as the Diabetes Conversation Map, have demonstrated promise in enhancing patient knowledge, self-management, and self-efficacy. However, evidence regarding their direct impact remains scarce, necessitating further investigation.
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Diabetes Conversation Map program in improving knowledge retention, self-management, and self-efficacy among type 2 diabetes patients in Egypt.
A prospective, parallel, two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Damanhour Health Insurance Outpatient Diabetic Clinic in Egypt. A total of 120 adult patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized into a control group (n = 60), receiving standard diabetes education, and an intervention group (n = 60), attending 8 weekly interactive sessions using the Diabetes Conversation Map. Primary outcomes were assessed using validated questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months later.
The intervention group exhibited significant improvements in knowledge, self-management, and self-efficacy compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, positive correlations between these outcomes were observed post-intervention, replacing negative correlations observed at baseline.
The Diabetes Conversation Map program effectively enhances patient knowledge, self-management, and self-efficacy, supporting its integration into routine diabetes education. Healthcare providers should implement structured, interactive educational interventions to empower patients in managing their condition. Regular follow-ups and reinforcement strategies are necessary to sustain long-term self-efficacy improvements. Policymakers should consider incorporating evidence-based diabetes education into national healthcare programs. Future research should explore digital adaptations of the program to enhance accessibility and engagement.
Registration No: R000061691, Trial ID: UMIN000054044
by Weam Mohamed Meargni Ahmed, Malaz M. Abdalmotalib, Mohamed H. Elbadawi, Galia Tajelsir Fadulelmula Mohammed, Waad Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed, Fatima Salih Babiker Mohammed, Hajar Saad Salih, Hiba Omer Yousif Mohamed
BackgroundArtificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing education globally, yet its adoption in medical education remains inadequately understood. ChatGPT, a generative AI tool, offers promising yet doubtful potential for enhancing academic and clinical training.
MethodsThis study employed an analytical cross-sectional design, involving 1,443 Sudanese medical students who participated through an online, structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to assess ChatGPT awareness, usage, and associated factors. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software to identify key determinants influencing ChatGPT awareness and usage among the participants.
ObjectiveThis study investigates the levels of awareness, attitude, and usage of ChatGPT among Sudanese medical students, identifying key socio-demographic, economic, and institutional factors influencing its adoption.
ResultsAmong the participants, 65.8% were aware of ChatGPT, yet only 41.9% reported using it. Gender differences were statistically significant, with males demonstrating higher usage rates (p 300,000 SDGs) showed significantly greater usage (p Conclusions
The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including curriculum reform to integrate AI literacy, enhanced digital infrastructure, and gender-equity initiatives. Addressing these systemic gaps will scale up AI adoption in medical education. This study provides actionable insights for educators and policymakers, emphasizing the urgency of bridging socio-economic and institutional inequities to foster equitable access to AI tools in medical training.
Work addiction is characterized by a compulsive drive to work excessively, often leading to diminished job satisfaction and negatively impacting professional quality of life and creativity. Critical care nurses require a creative mindset to deal with the variety of obstacles encountered during their work. Creativity is essential for succeeding as a critical care nurse in today's competitive world. Furthermore, creativity is crucial to healthcare organizations aiming to achieve excellence and development, particularly in the context of global growth, high demands, and a limited supply of human resources.
To investigate work addiction among critical care nurses' and its relationship with their creativity and professional quality of life.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 ICUs at El-Menshawy General Hospital in Elgarbia, Egypt. All nurses were invited to complete a survey in Google Forms that included the Dutch Work Addiction Scale, Nurses Creativity Questionnaire, and Professional Quality of Life Scale.
A total of 242 intensive care nurses participated in the study: Pediatric (82), Medical (92), Neurological (30), and Cardiac (38). This study revealed that higher levels of work addiction in nurses were associated with increased creativity (r = 0.311, p < 0.001) and improved professional quality of life (r = 0.574, p < 0.001). Also, more than half (53.7%) of critical nurses had moderate levels of work addiction and just under half (49.3%) also had a moderate level of creativity and professional quality of life. Statistically significant differences were found between critical care nurses' levels of work addiction, creativity, and professional quality of life (p = 0.001). Multiple regression analyses indicated that work addiction and other parameters significantly predicted nurses' creativity (R 2 = 0.453, p < 0.001). Specifically, work addiction (B = 0.606, p < 0.001), compassion satisfaction (B = 0.692, p < 0.001), burnout (B = 0.438, p < 0.001), and secondary traumatic stress (B = 0.199, p = 0.025) were significant predictors of creativity. Additionally, attributes related to work addiction and other parameters significantly predicted professional quality of life (R 2 = 0.467, p < 0.001). Sensitivity toward problems (B = 0.874, p < 0.001) and risk-taking (B = 2.098, p < 0.001) were attributes that improved professional quality of life.
Findings highlight the need for strategies to manage work addiction among critical care nurses, fostering a balance that enhances creativity and professional quality of life. Implementing time management training, minimizing multitasking, and leveraging technology can improve efficiency and well-being in high-demand healthcare settings.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is generally known as secondhand smoke. Assessing the magnitude of children’s exposure to ETS from early infancy is essential for public health and research endeavours. Urinary cotinine is now widely recognised as the primary indicator for assessing exposure to ETS across all age groups. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesise all the published evidence on the urinary cotinine cut-off concentrations used to categorise children under 5 years as being exposed to ETS.
We will conduct a systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. A comprehensive search will be conducted from various databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and Cochrane Library. This search will be performed from the earliest published articles up to the latest available studies until February 2025. We will include all the experimental and observational studies, such as cohort, case–control and cross-sectional, that measure urinary cotinine concentrations in children under 5 years old. Data extraction will be conducted using a standardised data extraction form, and the study quality will be evaluated according to the guidelines specified by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The extracted data will be pooled and combined for meta-analysis. Two reviewers will independently screen, select and assess the quality of the included study. The result will be tabulated in a table of characteristics of the included study, which consists of the cut-off cotinine concentrations, analytical technique, method referred, study design, study area and respondents’ characteristics.
Ethics approval is not required as this is a review of collected published data. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, as well as with key stakeholders, health policymakers and healthcare professionals.
CRD42024556969.
Although medication errors pose life-threatening risks to patients, and reporting them can help prevent future incidents, our understanding of the factors influencing nurses' intentions to report such errors remains incomplete. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms driving this association have yet to be fully identified.
The study aimed to explore the association between nurse managers' anger expression and nurses' intentions to report medication errors and to examine the mediating role of perceived uncertainty in this association.
Two separate studies were conducted. In Study 1, a methodological study was carried out between January and February 2024 to develop and validate a scale assessing nurses' intentions to report medication errors. This study involved 209 clinical nurses from two tertiary governmental hospitals in Mansoura, Egypt. In Study 2, a cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and June 2024 to test the study hypotheses. A total of 286 clinical nurses from three different tertiary governmental hospitals in Mansoura, Egypt, completed a questionnaire measuring leader anger expression, perceived uncertainty, and intentions to report medication errors. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
In Study 1, the findings provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the Medication Errors Reporting Intention Scale. In Study 2, nurse managers' anger expression was negatively associated with nurses' intentions to report medication errors (β = −0.77, p < 0.001). Perceived uncertainty mediated this association (β = −0.62, 95% CI [−2.80, −0.96]).
Nurse managers should implement strategies to regulate their expressions of anger, thereby alleviating uncertainty among nurses and potentially enhancing their intention to report medication errors.
by Nehal Mohamed Eisa, Mohamed A. M. El-Tabakh, Nourhan M. Kamal, Sara M. Gharbia, Mahmoud M. Samir, Wajid Syed, Mahmood Basil A. Al-Rawi, Ahmed Essam Abou Warda, Abdelrahman S. H. Refaee
IntroductionThe phenomenon of burnout and the lifestyle of physicians significantly influence the delivery of healthcare. Over time, burnout intensifies, negatively impacting professional performance, which in turn leads to decreased quality of treatment, patient satisfaction, and productivity. Additionally, it increases the occurrence of medical mistakes and turnover among physicians. In addition to the direct influence of lifestyle on those components.
Aim of the studyThe purpose of this study is to assess burnout syndrome among Egyptian physicians, as well as to investigate factors that contribute to burnout, especially demographic characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and health habits.
MethodsA cross-sectional study examined burnout prevalence and determinants among 502 Egyptian physicians in different governorates. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Questionnaire covered socio-demographics, The abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI), and The Health Lifestyle and Personal Control Questionnaire (HLPCQ).
ResultsYounger physicians under 30 showed higher burnout on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scales, with significant findings (P = 0.047), (P Conclusion
These findings highlight the intricate relationship between burnout and lifestyle among physicians. A healthy lifestyle, including diet, routines, social support, and physical activity was linked to reduced burnout, while dietary harm avoidance was negatively correlated. This suggests opportunities to enhance the well-being of medical professionals through lifestyle interventions.
The burden of non-communicable diseases is rising in low-and-middle-income countries, with diet being a key risk factor. This study aimed to assess the patterns, socioeconomic inequalities and determinants of eating healthy in Kenya. The study is the first in Kenya to use a healthy diet index to assess dietary patterns.
We analysed cross-sectional data from the 2015/16 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey. The study’s outcome variable was a continuous healthy diet index (HDI) constructed using principal component analysis from nine WHO/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) healthy diet recommendations. The HDI score and WHO/FAO healthy diet recommendations met were summarised for Kenyan households. Using the concentration index, we examined the socioeconomic disparities in healthy eating. In addition, multivariable linear regression was used to determine factors that influence healthy eating in Kenya.
A total of 21 512 households in Kenya were included, of which 60% were rural and about two-thirds headed by males. The HDI score ranged between –1.13 and 1.70, with a higher value indicating healthier eating. Overall, the average HDI score was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.24 to 0.25), interpreted as moderate. We identified key determinants including socioeconomic status and urban–rural residency differences. Healthy eating was concentrated among higher socioeconomic households, regardless of gender or location. Higher socioeconomic status (β=0.28, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.30), rural residence (β=0.18, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.20), household head being in union (β=0.04, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.06) or employed (β=0.05, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.08) were significantly associated with increased HDI scores, whereas male-headed households and lack of education were associated with significant decreases in HDI scores on average.
Most Kenyan households do not meet all the healthy dietary recommendations, and socioeconomic inequalities exist in eating healthy. Targeted interventions that promote healthy eating based on key determinants in Kenya are required.
Menopause is associated with significant physical, psychosocial, and emotional changes that can negatively affect women's quality of life (QoL). In response to this, psychological interventions like mindfulness-based interventions have shown promise in alleviating menopausal symptoms and improving psychological well-being.
A comprehensive randomized controlled trial was conducted from May to August 2024 at Damanhour University, Egypt. One hundred and twenty menopausal women were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 60), which participated in seven mindfulness sessions, or the control group (n = 60), which received general health education. Pre and postintervention data were collected using the Menopause-Specific QoL questionnaire, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Independent samples t-tests were performed to compare groups, while paired t-tests assessed within-group changes post-intervention. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen's d, ensuring a robust and reliable data analysis.
The intervention group showed significant improvements across all domains of menopause-specific QoL, including vasomotor (d = 0.788, p < 0.01), psychosocial (d = 1.042, p < 0.01), physical (d = 0.809, p < 0.01), and sexual (d = 0.794, p < 0.01). Additionally, significant reductions were observed in anxiety (d = 1.221, p < 0.01), stress (d = 1.030, p < 0.01), and depression (d = 0.880, p < 0.01), along with a significant increase in mindfulness (d = 1.335, p < 0.01) postintervention.
The MBIS significantly improved menopause-specific QoL and reduced anxiety, stress, and depression while enhancing mindfulness in menopausal women. These findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions could be game changers in managing menopausal symptoms and improving overall psychological well-being, offering hope for a better QoL for menopausal women.
The research will primarily impact healthcare providers working with menopausal women, particularly those offering psychological support or nonpharmacological treatments. It also impacts menopausal women themselves by providing evidence-based intervention options that could alleviate menopausal symptoms. Furthermore, researchers and policymakers focusing on women's health and mental well-being may use these findings to inform future studies and healthcare strategies.
Women from Damanhur University.
This trial was registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov database under the registration number NCT06421909
This study aimed to examine the challenges faced by pediatric nurses in implementing and sustaining clinical handover in intensive care units (ICUs), focusing on identifying key barriers affecting the handover process in these specialised environments.
Pediatric nurses encounter several challenges that hinder the effective implementation of clinical handover in intensive care settings. These challenges can compromise patient safety and care continuity. Understanding these obstacles is essential for identifying areas for improvement and enhancing handover practices in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the specialised university hospital for children in Alexandria, Egypt. The sample included 127 nurses who provided direct care to critically ill children. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess various challenges encountered during the clinical handover process. The questionnaire covered five key areas: nurse-related challenges, handover quality-related challenges, organisational challenges, environmental challenges and communication challenges. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multivariate regression analysis. The study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.
The study found that the most significant challenges during clinical handover were nurse-related (mean = 74.7, SD = 5.6), followed by organisational challenges (mean = 69.2, SD = 16.7). Statistically significant differences were observed in nurses' characteristics, such as gender, age, marital status, years of experience and the place and duration of handover. Nurses who conducted longer handovers or performed them at the bedside reported fewer challenges compared to those who performed handovers at the nursing station or those with shorter durations.
Pediatric nurses in critical care settings face significant challenges in clinical handover, with barriers such as resistance to change, non-standardised language, time constraints and outdated reports being prominent. Female nurses, older nurses and those working in settings with less standardised handover practices reported more difficulties. Addressing these challenges is critical for improving handover processes, ensuring better patient safety and enhancing care outcomes.
Standardised handover protocols tailored to intensive care workflows, along with targeted training for nurses, are essential to address the identified challenges. These measures will enhance communication, improve handover efficiency and promote patient safety in pediatric ICUs. No patient or public contribution.
More than one-third of all diseases in the world are non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and poorer health outcomes are linked to low health literacy (HL), in which nurses have a significant role to play. Various studies have confirmed that there is an association between HL and NCDs. However, less is known about how nurses can intervene in the development of HL in patients with NCDs. This systematic review was carried out to explore, in a comprehensive way, nursing interventions that could promote HL in patients with NCDs.
A systematic review (PROSPERO registration number: CRD370625) was carried out on five databases (PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect and JSTOR). Sequences that provided information for our study topic were retrieved and analysed following PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews.
In total, 1915 titles and abstracts were screened, 71 articles were assessed in full-text screening and 25 studies were included in the review. Around 23 different nurse-led intervention strategies were identified, but only 11 major ones were explored in detail. The majority of them prioritised communication (teach-back), self-management programs, counselling and education. In the majority of the trials, a significant positive outcome was discovered. Both nurses and patients needed to devote time and attention to the complex nurse-led HL interventions.
Nurses' HL interventions have shown promise in promoting HL and other health outcomes in people with NCDs, but they need to be tailored to fit specific patients. Nursing programs should include more than just patient teaching strategies.
Nurses' HL efforts hold potential for enhancing HL in NCD patients, provided they are customised to individual needs.
by Abdeta Muktar Ahmed, Ayanle Suleiman Ahmed, Mohamed Mussa Abdilahi, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nuh
BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (met-s) is a medical condition that includes abdominal obesity, hyperlipidemia, high blood glucose, and high blood pressure. It is associated with a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The condition was believed to be a challenge mostly faced by developed nations. A few studies conducted showed that met-s is increasing and becoming more common in Africa, where it was considered rare. The study aimed to assess the determinants and prevalence of met-s among the adult population in Hargeisa town, Somaliland, in 2023.
MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study among 498 adults living in all eight districts of Hargeisa, was carried out from August to September 2023. The sample size was divided proportionally by the number of households in selected sub-districts. Systematic random sampling was employed to select the households in the sub-districts. One adult from each household was selected and assessed. Data were collected using the STEPwise approach of the World Health Organization. The data were analysed using International Diabetic Federation (IDF) criteria for metabolic syndrome with SPSS version 25. Bivariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression were performed.
ResultIn total, 498 adults participated in the study. The prevalence of met-s was 26.7% in IDF (males 11% vs. females 38.9%). Being of an advanced age of 45–54 years (AOR = 3.6, CI 1.17–11.27), 55–64 years (AOR = 6.1, CI 1.88–19.83), >64 (AOR = 9.1 CI 2.41–34.92), being a woman (AOR = 10.8, CI 5.3–21.8), being overweight or obese (AOR = 4.5, CI 2.5–8), sedentary behavior (AOR = 3.5, CI 1.6–7.5), and lack of physical exercise (AOR = 0.39, CI 0.17–0.88) were significantly associated with met-s.
ConclusionThe met-s was predominant in our findings. Community-based prevention strategies and actions are necessary if the met-s and its potential consequences are needed to be mitigated.
FreshRSS 