Background. Delirium is a common disorder among patients admitted to intensive care units. Identi... more Background. Delirium is a common disorder among patients admitted to intensive care units. Identification of the predicators of delirium is very important to improve the patient’s quality of life. Methods. This study was conducted in a prospective observational design to build a predictive model for delirium among ICU patients in Oman. A sample of 153 adult ICU patients from two main hospitals participated in the study. The Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) was used to assess the participants for delirium twice daily. Result. The results showed that the incidence of delirium was 26.1%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sepsis (odds ratio (OR) = 9.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.91–49.92; P < 0.006 ), metabolic acidosis (odds ratio (OR) = 3.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18–10.09; P = 0.024 ), nasogastric tube use (odds ratio (OR) 9.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.48–27.30; P ≤ 0.001 ), and APACHEII score (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.09–...
OBJECTIVE To find out the prevalence of hypertension, pre-hypertension and tachycardia among the ... more OBJECTIVE To find out the prevalence of hypertension, pre-hypertension and tachycardia among the women in rural areas of West Bengal, identify co-factors associated with the prevalence and contribute to the body of evidence for future health programs to identify at-risk groups. DESIGN A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. SETTING The study was conducted in remote villages. PARTICIPANTS 1186 women participants, aged 18 years or more were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES They were interviewed using standard structured questionnaire. Blood pressure and tachycardia was monitored using digital sphygmomanometer. For each participant, we made two blood pressure measurements with an interval of 48 hours. Data was analysed statistically using SPSS software. RESULTS Overall prevalence of hypertension in the study subjects was 24.7% and that of pre-hypertension and tachycardia was 40.8% and 6.4%, respectively. Both hypertension and pre-hypertension were seen to increase with age. Other identified significant factors were use of biomass fuel for cooking, absence of separate kitchen, higher body mass index (BMI), education and average family income. CONCLUSION This study suggests quite high prevalence of hypertension as well as pre-hypertension among the women of rural areas. The findings are significant from the women health perspectives. Early detection of pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects will help to formulate intervention strategies to allay the spread of cardiovascular diseases.
Introduction Awareness toward premarital screening test and its influence on preventing high risk... more Introduction Awareness toward premarital screening test and its influence on preventing high risk marriages has become a concern to the health care system in Oman. This is due to the increased rates of inherited diseases and genetic disorders among the Omani population secondary to consanguineous marriages. Objectives This cross-sectional study aims to describe the utilization of premarital screening tests of selected university study participants as future prospective couples. Methods The study included 400 Omani study participants from different majors at a national governmental university that receives students from all over the country. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results Out of the 400 study participants 193 [48.3%] were females and 195 [48.8%] were males, and 380 [95%] were unmarried and 19 [4.8%] were married. Personal and family history of hereditary diseases and consanguinity between parents were reported by 40 participants [10%], 158 [39.5%]...
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore and identify facilitators and barriers to help-seeking beh... more OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore and identify facilitators and barriers to help-seeking behaviours among adolescents in Oman, by exploring the relationship between knowledge, attitude, and behaviour towards mental health help-seeking. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive study was used and 424 adolescents were recruited to participate in the study. Participants were asked to complete five self-reported questionnaires, including two open-ended questions about the main motivations and barriers to seeking professional help for mental problems. RESULTS It was found that those with positive help-seeking attitudes towards mental health were more knowledgeable about mental health, had more positive attitudes towards mental illness, and had higher intention to help seeking. On the contrary, those with higher help-seeker stereotypes had more negative attitudes towards mental illness. Having an adequate support system, being positive and knowledgeable about mental illness, and the reputation of mental health are the main factors facilitating seeking professional help. However, fear, lack of family support, and the time-consuming procedures were the main barriers emerging from the open-ended questions. CONCLUSIONS This study contributes by identifying facilitating factors as well as barriers in an Arabic context (Oman) to fill the exiting knowledge gap; both need to be considered when planning interventions targeting the younger individuals in this society.
Background: Huge efforts are being made to control the spread and impacts of the coronavirus pand... more Background: Huge efforts are being made to control the spread and impacts of the coronavirus pandemic using vaccines. However, willingness to be vaccinated depends on factors beyond the availability of vaccines. The aim of this study was three-folded: to assess the prevalence of children’s vaccination against COVID-19, to explore parents’ attitudes towards children’s vaccination, and to discover the factors associated with parents’ hesitancy towards children’s vaccination in several countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design. A sample of 3744 parents from eight countries, namely, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was conveniently approached and surveyed using Google forms. The participants have responded to a 42-item questionnaire pertaining to socio-demographics, children vaccination status, knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, and attitud...
The purpose of this retrospective, matched case-control study (two controls [healthy control and ... more The purpose of this retrospective, matched case-control study (two controls [healthy control and high- risk control] vs. COVID-19 cases) was to compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with and without COVID-19. A total of 261 pregnant women from three different countries with and without COVID-19 were included in this study. Several pregnancy complications were more common in high-risk pregnant women compared to COVID-19 cases and healthy pregnant women. These include preeclampsia ( p < .01), vaginal bleeding ( p < .05), preterm labor ( p < .05), premature rupture of membrane ( p < .01), requiring induction of labor ( p < .05), have lower gestational age on delivery ( F (2) = 3.1, p < .05), requiring cesarean section ( p < .01), neonatal admission in the NICU ( p < .01), and low neonatal Apgar score ( p < .01). Nurses are advised to provide equal attention to pregnant women with underlying health issues and to pregnant women infected w...
BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a serious global health concern. It is essential t... more BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a serious global health concern. It is essential that student nurses who are the future of healthcare are equipped with the right knowledge to care for the unique needs of patients with neutropenia. OBJECTIVE The study assesses student nurses' knowledge of neutropenia management and examines the difference in their knowledge with regard to their demographics. DESIGN A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. SETTINGS Participants for this survey were recruited from four nursing schools from three countries: Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS The study sample comprised 230 student nurses representing all three countries. METHODS Online data collection was implemented. A message including the link to the study questionnaire was sent to students through their university portal. Demographic data and the neutropenia knowledge questionnaire were collected. RESULTS The student nurses showed poor knowledge of neutropenia and its management (mean = 10.1 out of 30). The bridging students (M = 12.6, SD = 9.8) had significantly higher mean total knowledge scores than the regular students (M = 9.8, SD = 5.5) (t = 2.9, df = 38.9, p = 0.006). However, students who had received previous education about neutropenia management (M = 11.6, SD = 5.0) had significantly higher mean knowledge scores than those who had not (M = 9.5, SD = 5.6) (t = -2.73, df = 134.8, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS The study findings underscore the overarching necessity to improve students' knowledge of neutropenia and its management. However, addressing this concern is multifaceted and requires deliberate effort from various agencies. Developing innovative strategies to increase the coverage of oncology nursing in the curriculum, improving faculty expertise, enhancing staff nurses' knowledge and skills, provision of funding, and adoption of oncology-related competencies in the nursing program need to be explored as key solutions.
Purpose: To explore the psychological problems (stress, depression, and anxiety) and the level of... more Purpose: To explore the psychological problems (stress, depression, and anxiety) and the level of resilience among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) who provide care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Additionally, the current study identified the correlation among these problems, resilience, and demographics of participants. The study explored the main predictors of stress, depression, anxiety, and resilience.Methods: Both the descriptive cross-sectional correlational design and convenience sample technique were used to collect data from active Jordanian HCWs who directly deal with patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 and work at healthcare facilities in Jordan. Data were collected by using online questionnaires about the demographics, stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience of the participants.Results: Data were collected from 225 HCWs. Their mean age was 31.17 years (SD = 6.8). All the participants perceived different levels of st...
This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Comm... more This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
Nurse turnover is a critical challenge for healthcare organizations as it results in a decreasing... more Nurse turnover is a critical challenge for healthcare organizations as it results in a decreasing nurse/patient ratio and increasing costs. Identify factors influencing the termination of Filipino nurses in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals and record nurse recommendations to improve retention. Cross-sectional. Data was gathered from a convenience sample of Filipino nurses with previous experience in MOH hospitals in Saudi Arabia who attended recruitment interviews at the Saudi employment office in Manila. The sample included 124 nurses. Major turnover factors included low salary (18.3%), low nurse/patient ratio (15%), end of contract (14.5%), discrimination (13.5%), and bad accommodations (9%). Suggested areas of improvement included financial motivations (34%), administration support (25%), quality of life (25%), and work environment (16%). Managing nurse turnover can be implemented on the organizational as well as at MOH levels. The recommendations given by the participants prov...
Background Given the rapid pace of globalization and the fact that the Sultanate of Oman is exper... more Background Given the rapid pace of globalization and the fact that the Sultanate of Oman is experiencing a significant impact of social media on specifying appearance norms among youth in the country, research into positive body images and self-esteem among young individuals has become a national priority. Whilst body image has been well studied across cultures, both positive body image and the relationship between positive body image and self-esteem among Omani youth have been neglected. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between positive body image and self-esteem and associated sociodemographic factors among Omani university students based on gender. Methods This cross-sectional study used an online survey consisting of the two questionnaires that are Body Appreciation Scale-2 and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. A total of 237 students were recruited from Sultan Qaboos University's different colleges. Results The results indicated that positive body i...
In recent years there has been an increase in research conducted in the Middle East, with a corre... more In recent years there has been an increase in research conducted in the Middle East, with a corresponding increase in the challenges faced by members of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs). This study compares the structures of Omani and Jordanian RECs and investigates the perceptions of the challenges affecting the work of the REC members in Oman and Jordan. A convenience sample of 34 Omani and 66 Jordanian participants from 21 universities was recruited in this cross-sectional study. Almost 70% disagreed that the members of RECs are unqualified, providing comments without justification; half believed that members have limited experience in research, and almost three-quarters that they have different opinions regarding some ethical issues. No significant differences were found between Omani and Jordanian REC members regarding their perception of the challenges, except for the perception that reviewing proposals is a time-consuming task (p = 0.048) and that multi-REC centres are l...
Objective To understand the perceptions of professors, health care providers and students about t... more Objective To understand the perceptions of professors, health care providers and students about the articulation of interprofessional education with health practices in Primary Health Care. Method To understand and interpret qualitative data collection, carried out between 2012 and 2013, through semi-structured interviews with 18 professors and four sessions of homogeneous focus groups with students, professors and health care providers of Primary Health Care. Results A triangulation of the results led to the construction of two categories: user-centered collaborative practice and barriers to interprofessional education. The first perspective indicates the need to change the model of care and training of health professionals, while the second reveals difficulties perceived by stakeholders regarding the implementation of interprofessional education. Conclusion The interprofessional education is incipient in the Brazil and the results of this analysis point out to possibilities of cha...
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2012
Approximately 210 patients are admitted each year to the Western Australian State Forensic Mental... more Approximately 210 patients are admitted each year to the Western Australian State Forensic Mental Health Service, and most present with psychotic illness, along with other physical and mental comorbidities. In 2010, a healthy lifestyle programme, which included a formal exercise programme coordinated by an exercise physiologist, was introduced at the service. A self-report questionnaire was developed to obtain feedback on the programme, and 56 patients completed the questionnaire during the 6-month evaluation period. As well as providing patients with access to regular physical activity, the programme also supports the recovery philosophy, where patients work in partnership with forensic mental health staff. Overall, patients reported that the programme assisted them to manage their psychiatric symptoms, as well as improving their level of fitness, confidence, and self-esteem. In addition, patients received education about the importance of regular exercise to their mental health, and the role exercise plays in preventing chronic illness and obesity. While the benefits of exercise on mental health outcomes for people with depression and anxiety are well established, this evaluation adds to the evidence that such programmes provide similar benefits to people who have a psychotic illness and are hospitalized in an acute secure setting.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension on the basis of the 2... more OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension on the basis of the 2004 National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group guidelines in an adolescent school-screening population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-...
Background: Mental health problems in university students are increasing in frequency and severit... more Background: Mental health problems in university students are increasing in frequency and severity and have a substantial bearing on students' ability to complete their university programs. Discrimination and stigma are present in the university environment and impact on students in many ways. Mental health problems occurring in staff are also relatively unexplored but they appear to have an influence on university productivity and staff wellbeing. Objectives: To determine: 1) attitudes towards mental illness in staff working at two universities in Australia; and, 2) student experiences of stigma within these university environments. Design: Descriptive study that examined the attitudes and experiences of staff and student towards mental health problems. Settings: Two universities in two states of Australia. Participants: University staff and students who agreed to participate in a research study during mental health week in October 2013. Methods: All staff and students were invited to participate in the research. Staff were asked to complete the "Attitude towards mental illness survey", and students who self-identified as having a mental health problem were asked to complete the "Stigma scale". Both quantitative data collection tools have been used in previous international studies. Results: Data from 270 staff and 201 students were collected using an online collection process and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 22.0. The findings show that both students and staff hide their problems and are reluctant to disclose to others for fear of stigma and discrimination. As a result, the silence surrounding mental health problems permeates throughout the university environment. It impacts on help seeking behaviours, the provision of support as well as on the recovery and wellbeing of affected individuals. Conclusions: University strategic plans must decrease stigma and foster social inclusion, a fundamental principle to build self-esteem and to facilitate recovery in people who have mental health problems. Highlights Mental health problems are common in university students and staff Fear, and discrimination create a "silence" about mental health problems Failure to disclose mental health problems impacts on student educational outcomes. Increased mental health literacy can support improved outcomes for students.
Being overweight and obese in adolescence are significant global public health issues which threa... more Being overweight and obese in adolescence are significant global public health issues which threaten the viability of basic healthcare delivery in many countries. The number of affected adolescents is growing at an alarming rate. Behavioural treatment, which refers to a set of principles and techniques designed to help people reverse maladaptive eating and activity habits, has become a crucial part of most programmes designed to address overweight and obesity. This article outlines three steps involved in the behavioural treatment of overweight and obesity in adolescents: antecedents, eating behaviour and the consequences of eating behaviour. Regular and consistent daily recording of food intake and the individual's activities are foundations of behavioural management, and should form part of the nursing care plan.
Background. Delirium is a common disorder among patients admitted to intensive care units. Identi... more Background. Delirium is a common disorder among patients admitted to intensive care units. Identification of the predicators of delirium is very important to improve the patient’s quality of life. Methods. This study was conducted in a prospective observational design to build a predictive model for delirium among ICU patients in Oman. A sample of 153 adult ICU patients from two main hospitals participated in the study. The Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) was used to assess the participants for delirium twice daily. Result. The results showed that the incidence of delirium was 26.1%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sepsis (odds ratio (OR) = 9.77; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.91–49.92; P < 0.006 ), metabolic acidosis (odds ratio (OR) = 3.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18–10.09; P = 0.024 ), nasogastric tube use (odds ratio (OR) 9.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.48–27.30; P ≤ 0.001 ), and APACHEII score (OR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.09–...
OBJECTIVE To find out the prevalence of hypertension, pre-hypertension and tachycardia among the ... more OBJECTIVE To find out the prevalence of hypertension, pre-hypertension and tachycardia among the women in rural areas of West Bengal, identify co-factors associated with the prevalence and contribute to the body of evidence for future health programs to identify at-risk groups. DESIGN A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted. SETTING The study was conducted in remote villages. PARTICIPANTS 1186 women participants, aged 18 years or more were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES They were interviewed using standard structured questionnaire. Blood pressure and tachycardia was monitored using digital sphygmomanometer. For each participant, we made two blood pressure measurements with an interval of 48 hours. Data was analysed statistically using SPSS software. RESULTS Overall prevalence of hypertension in the study subjects was 24.7% and that of pre-hypertension and tachycardia was 40.8% and 6.4%, respectively. Both hypertension and pre-hypertension were seen to increase with age. Other identified significant factors were use of biomass fuel for cooking, absence of separate kitchen, higher body mass index (BMI), education and average family income. CONCLUSION This study suggests quite high prevalence of hypertension as well as pre-hypertension among the women of rural areas. The findings are significant from the women health perspectives. Early detection of pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects will help to formulate intervention strategies to allay the spread of cardiovascular diseases.
Introduction Awareness toward premarital screening test and its influence on preventing high risk... more Introduction Awareness toward premarital screening test and its influence on preventing high risk marriages has become a concern to the health care system in Oman. This is due to the increased rates of inherited diseases and genetic disorders among the Omani population secondary to consanguineous marriages. Objectives This cross-sectional study aims to describe the utilization of premarital screening tests of selected university study participants as future prospective couples. Methods The study included 400 Omani study participants from different majors at a national governmental university that receives students from all over the country. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Results Out of the 400 study participants 193 [48.3%] were females and 195 [48.8%] were males, and 380 [95%] were unmarried and 19 [4.8%] were married. Personal and family history of hereditary diseases and consanguinity between parents were reported by 40 participants [10%], 158 [39.5%]...
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore and identify facilitators and barriers to help-seeking beh... more OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore and identify facilitators and barriers to help-seeking behaviours among adolescents in Oman, by exploring the relationship between knowledge, attitude, and behaviour towards mental health help-seeking. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive study was used and 424 adolescents were recruited to participate in the study. Participants were asked to complete five self-reported questionnaires, including two open-ended questions about the main motivations and barriers to seeking professional help for mental problems. RESULTS It was found that those with positive help-seeking attitudes towards mental health were more knowledgeable about mental health, had more positive attitudes towards mental illness, and had higher intention to help seeking. On the contrary, those with higher help-seeker stereotypes had more negative attitudes towards mental illness. Having an adequate support system, being positive and knowledgeable about mental illness, and the reputation of mental health are the main factors facilitating seeking professional help. However, fear, lack of family support, and the time-consuming procedures were the main barriers emerging from the open-ended questions. CONCLUSIONS This study contributes by identifying facilitating factors as well as barriers in an Arabic context (Oman) to fill the exiting knowledge gap; both need to be considered when planning interventions targeting the younger individuals in this society.
Background: Huge efforts are being made to control the spread and impacts of the coronavirus pand... more Background: Huge efforts are being made to control the spread and impacts of the coronavirus pandemic using vaccines. However, willingness to be vaccinated depends on factors beyond the availability of vaccines. The aim of this study was three-folded: to assess the prevalence of children’s vaccination against COVID-19, to explore parents’ attitudes towards children’s vaccination, and to discover the factors associated with parents’ hesitancy towards children’s vaccination in several countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design. A sample of 3744 parents from eight countries, namely, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was conveniently approached and surveyed using Google forms. The participants have responded to a 42-item questionnaire pertaining to socio-demographics, children vaccination status, knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, and attitud...
The purpose of this retrospective, matched case-control study (two controls [healthy control and ... more The purpose of this retrospective, matched case-control study (two controls [healthy control and high- risk control] vs. COVID-19 cases) was to compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with and without COVID-19. A total of 261 pregnant women from three different countries with and without COVID-19 were included in this study. Several pregnancy complications were more common in high-risk pregnant women compared to COVID-19 cases and healthy pregnant women. These include preeclampsia ( p < .01), vaginal bleeding ( p < .05), preterm labor ( p < .05), premature rupture of membrane ( p < .01), requiring induction of labor ( p < .05), have lower gestational age on delivery ( F (2) = 3.1, p < .05), requiring cesarean section ( p < .01), neonatal admission in the NICU ( p < .01), and low neonatal Apgar score ( p < .01). Nurses are advised to provide equal attention to pregnant women with underlying health issues and to pregnant women infected w...
BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a serious global health concern. It is essential t... more BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a serious global health concern. It is essential that student nurses who are the future of healthcare are equipped with the right knowledge to care for the unique needs of patients with neutropenia. OBJECTIVE The study assesses student nurses' knowledge of neutropenia management and examines the difference in their knowledge with regard to their demographics. DESIGN A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. SETTINGS Participants for this survey were recruited from four nursing schools from three countries: Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS The study sample comprised 230 student nurses representing all three countries. METHODS Online data collection was implemented. A message including the link to the study questionnaire was sent to students through their university portal. Demographic data and the neutropenia knowledge questionnaire were collected. RESULTS The student nurses showed poor knowledge of neutropenia and its management (mean = 10.1 out of 30). The bridging students (M = 12.6, SD = 9.8) had significantly higher mean total knowledge scores than the regular students (M = 9.8, SD = 5.5) (t = 2.9, df = 38.9, p = 0.006). However, students who had received previous education about neutropenia management (M = 11.6, SD = 5.0) had significantly higher mean knowledge scores than those who had not (M = 9.5, SD = 5.6) (t = -2.73, df = 134.8, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS The study findings underscore the overarching necessity to improve students' knowledge of neutropenia and its management. However, addressing this concern is multifaceted and requires deliberate effort from various agencies. Developing innovative strategies to increase the coverage of oncology nursing in the curriculum, improving faculty expertise, enhancing staff nurses' knowledge and skills, provision of funding, and adoption of oncology-related competencies in the nursing program need to be explored as key solutions.
Purpose: To explore the psychological problems (stress, depression, and anxiety) and the level of... more Purpose: To explore the psychological problems (stress, depression, and anxiety) and the level of resilience among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) who provide care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Additionally, the current study identified the correlation among these problems, resilience, and demographics of participants. The study explored the main predictors of stress, depression, anxiety, and resilience.Methods: Both the descriptive cross-sectional correlational design and convenience sample technique were used to collect data from active Jordanian HCWs who directly deal with patients suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 and work at healthcare facilities in Jordan. Data were collected by using online questionnaires about the demographics, stress, anxiety, depression, and resilience of the participants.Results: Data were collected from 225 HCWs. Their mean age was 31.17 years (SD = 6.8). All the participants perceived different levels of st...
This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Comm... more This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
Nurse turnover is a critical challenge for healthcare organizations as it results in a decreasing... more Nurse turnover is a critical challenge for healthcare organizations as it results in a decreasing nurse/patient ratio and increasing costs. Identify factors influencing the termination of Filipino nurses in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals and record nurse recommendations to improve retention. Cross-sectional. Data was gathered from a convenience sample of Filipino nurses with previous experience in MOH hospitals in Saudi Arabia who attended recruitment interviews at the Saudi employment office in Manila. The sample included 124 nurses. Major turnover factors included low salary (18.3%), low nurse/patient ratio (15%), end of contract (14.5%), discrimination (13.5%), and bad accommodations (9%). Suggested areas of improvement included financial motivations (34%), administration support (25%), quality of life (25%), and work environment (16%). Managing nurse turnover can be implemented on the organizational as well as at MOH levels. The recommendations given by the participants prov...
Background Given the rapid pace of globalization and the fact that the Sultanate of Oman is exper... more Background Given the rapid pace of globalization and the fact that the Sultanate of Oman is experiencing a significant impact of social media on specifying appearance norms among youth in the country, research into positive body images and self-esteem among young individuals has become a national priority. Whilst body image has been well studied across cultures, both positive body image and the relationship between positive body image and self-esteem among Omani youth have been neglected. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between positive body image and self-esteem and associated sociodemographic factors among Omani university students based on gender. Methods This cross-sectional study used an online survey consisting of the two questionnaires that are Body Appreciation Scale-2 and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. A total of 237 students were recruited from Sultan Qaboos University's different colleges. Results The results indicated that positive body i...
In recent years there has been an increase in research conducted in the Middle East, with a corre... more In recent years there has been an increase in research conducted in the Middle East, with a corresponding increase in the challenges faced by members of the Research Ethics Committees (RECs). This study compares the structures of Omani and Jordanian RECs and investigates the perceptions of the challenges affecting the work of the REC members in Oman and Jordan. A convenience sample of 34 Omani and 66 Jordanian participants from 21 universities was recruited in this cross-sectional study. Almost 70% disagreed that the members of RECs are unqualified, providing comments without justification; half believed that members have limited experience in research, and almost three-quarters that they have different opinions regarding some ethical issues. No significant differences were found between Omani and Jordanian REC members regarding their perception of the challenges, except for the perception that reviewing proposals is a time-consuming task (p = 0.048) and that multi-REC centres are l...
Objective To understand the perceptions of professors, health care providers and students about t... more Objective To understand the perceptions of professors, health care providers and students about the articulation of interprofessional education with health practices in Primary Health Care. Method To understand and interpret qualitative data collection, carried out between 2012 and 2013, through semi-structured interviews with 18 professors and four sessions of homogeneous focus groups with students, professors and health care providers of Primary Health Care. Results A triangulation of the results led to the construction of two categories: user-centered collaborative practice and barriers to interprofessional education. The first perspective indicates the need to change the model of care and training of health professionals, while the second reveals difficulties perceived by stakeholders regarding the implementation of interprofessional education. Conclusion The interprofessional education is incipient in the Brazil and the results of this analysis point out to possibilities of cha...
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2012
Approximately 210 patients are admitted each year to the Western Australian State Forensic Mental... more Approximately 210 patients are admitted each year to the Western Australian State Forensic Mental Health Service, and most present with psychotic illness, along with other physical and mental comorbidities. In 2010, a healthy lifestyle programme, which included a formal exercise programme coordinated by an exercise physiologist, was introduced at the service. A self-report questionnaire was developed to obtain feedback on the programme, and 56 patients completed the questionnaire during the 6-month evaluation period. As well as providing patients with access to regular physical activity, the programme also supports the recovery philosophy, where patients work in partnership with forensic mental health staff. Overall, patients reported that the programme assisted them to manage their psychiatric symptoms, as well as improving their level of fitness, confidence, and self-esteem. In addition, patients received education about the importance of regular exercise to their mental health, and the role exercise plays in preventing chronic illness and obesity. While the benefits of exercise on mental health outcomes for people with depression and anxiety are well established, this evaluation adds to the evidence that such programmes provide similar benefits to people who have a psychotic illness and are hospitalized in an acute secure setting.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension on the basis of the 2... more OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension on the basis of the 2004 National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group guidelines in an adolescent school-screening population. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-...
Background: Mental health problems in university students are increasing in frequency and severit... more Background: Mental health problems in university students are increasing in frequency and severity and have a substantial bearing on students' ability to complete their university programs. Discrimination and stigma are present in the university environment and impact on students in many ways. Mental health problems occurring in staff are also relatively unexplored but they appear to have an influence on university productivity and staff wellbeing. Objectives: To determine: 1) attitudes towards mental illness in staff working at two universities in Australia; and, 2) student experiences of stigma within these university environments. Design: Descriptive study that examined the attitudes and experiences of staff and student towards mental health problems. Settings: Two universities in two states of Australia. Participants: University staff and students who agreed to participate in a research study during mental health week in October 2013. Methods: All staff and students were invited to participate in the research. Staff were asked to complete the "Attitude towards mental illness survey", and students who self-identified as having a mental health problem were asked to complete the "Stigma scale". Both quantitative data collection tools have been used in previous international studies. Results: Data from 270 staff and 201 students were collected using an online collection process and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 22.0. The findings show that both students and staff hide their problems and are reluctant to disclose to others for fear of stigma and discrimination. As a result, the silence surrounding mental health problems permeates throughout the university environment. It impacts on help seeking behaviours, the provision of support as well as on the recovery and wellbeing of affected individuals. Conclusions: University strategic plans must decrease stigma and foster social inclusion, a fundamental principle to build self-esteem and to facilitate recovery in people who have mental health problems. Highlights Mental health problems are common in university students and staff Fear, and discrimination create a "silence" about mental health problems Failure to disclose mental health problems impacts on student educational outcomes. Increased mental health literacy can support improved outcomes for students.
Being overweight and obese in adolescence are significant global public health issues which threa... more Being overweight and obese in adolescence are significant global public health issues which threaten the viability of basic healthcare delivery in many countries. The number of affected adolescents is growing at an alarming rate. Behavioural treatment, which refers to a set of principles and techniques designed to help people reverse maladaptive eating and activity habits, has become a crucial part of most programmes designed to address overweight and obesity. This article outlines three steps involved in the behavioural treatment of overweight and obesity in adolescents: antecedents, eating behaviour and the consequences of eating behaviour. Regular and consistent daily recording of food intake and the individual's activities are foundations of behavioural management, and should form part of the nursing care plan.
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Papers by Omar Al Omari