Effect of stacked breathing exercise on reducing pulmonary infection and complications for patients with pleural effusion

Background: Chest expansion exercises are widely used for patients with pleural effusion. One of these exercises is stacked breathing exercise which has shown to be effective in mobilizing greater lung volumes and in achieving and sustaining deep inspiration. But it is not known whether it will have similar effects in patients with pleural effusion and if it has effect on reducing pulmonary infection and complications for these patients.Objective: Was to evaluate the effectiveness of stacked breathing exercise on reducing pulmonary infection and complications for patients with pleural effusion.Design: A randomized controlled experimental study was used in this study.Participants: sixty patients with pleural effusion were selected by convenience sample and randomly assigned into two groups; the intervention and control groups (30 patients each).Method: Three tools were used. Tool I was Pleural effusion assessment tool included demographic and medical history, hemodynamic parameters and assessment of respiratory system. Tool II is stacked breathing exercise tool used to assess the exercise done to the intervention group. Tool III was Patients' outcomes evaluation sheet used to assess the effect of stacked breathing exercise on pulmonary infection score and complications.Results: There were significant differences in pulmonary infection score and complications between the intervention and control groups. Pulmonary infection score in the intervention group was much lower, and their complications were lower than those in the control group.Conclusion: implementing stacked breathing exercise had significant effect in reducing pulmonary infection and complications in patients with pleural effusion than the routine hospital care.

Nurses' compliance to patient and environmental safety guidelines in critical care units

The ability to provide safe and high-quality care to patients is the primary goal and the focus for many health care providers. Guidelines can be used to reduce adverse event in practice and to promote the delivery of high quality and evidence-based health care. The aim of the study to investigate nurses' compliance to patient and environmental safety guidelines in critical care units. Descriptive research design was utilized to achieve the aim of this study. The study was carried out at three of Minia University Hospitals in Minia city. All available nurses (n= 88) who were working in critical care units at time of data collection in the selected hospitals. An environmental and patient safety guidelines questionnaire was used to achieve the aim of this study. Results: less than two third of studied subject were not compliance to patient safety nurses', while nurses complied to environmental safety with 62.5% in critical care units; also, there is highly statistical significance between departments and nurses' compliance to patient safety. Thus, it was concluded that less than two third of studied subject were not compliance to patient safety. As well as environmental safety in critical care units was appropriate with 62.5% in critical care units. Recommendations: Staff development programs for nurses working in critical care units related to patient and environmental safety as well as ensuring that the organization’s annual budget includes adequate resources to implement and evaluate health and safety activities.

Relationship of fear and fatalism with breast cancer screening among women using health belief model

Despite the potential benefits of screening in discovering breast cancer, many women still do not follow recommended screening regimens. Fear of cancer detection and fatalistic beliefs were identified by previous studies as the main reasons given by women for noncompliance with breast cancer screening. The aim of this descriptive study is to explore relationship of fear and fatalism with breast cancer screening among a convenience sample of 136 women recruited during their visit to the Gynecology Clinic at the Maternity University Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. The study tool consists of four parts: (1) Bio-sociodemographic information; (2) Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale (CBCFS); (3) Powe Fatalism Inventory (PFI); (4) abridged version of the Champion Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). The findings revealed that only 3.7% and 14.7% of women practiced regular breast self-examination and had previously had mammography, respectively. Negative correlations were found between fatalism and health beliefs; and between fear and health belief. A positive correlation was found between fatalism and fear. The findings of this study add some experimental support for the relationships between fear, fatalism, and breast cancer screening behavior.

Psychosocial distress among patients with cancer at a county referral hospital in Kenya

Introduction: Cancer diagnosis and treatment are emotionally draining to patients and their caregivers. For a long time, treatment for cancer has been associated with pain, suffering and death. These negative consequences of cancer create psychosocial effects such as anxiety and fear. Therefore, there is need to recognize and accurately identify this psychosocial distress problems on patients with cancer by healthcare providers to figure out interventions for these psychosocial issues.Objective: To assess the psychosocial distress among patients with cancer attending the Machakos county referral hospital palliative care unit.Subjects and Methods: Data were collected through descriptive cross-sectional design where a total of 97 patients were interviewed and filled the questionnaires and the National Cancer Center Network distress thermometer and problem list. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 24. Descriptive statistics such as the means, standard deviation and frequencies were generated and Pearson Chi square test of association computed to determine the associations between the independent and the dependent variables. The confidence interval was set at 95% (p≤ 0.05).Results: The study findings revealed that 72.2% of the respondents were distressed. Majority (83.3%) of the respondents reported being in pain, 64.9% of them cited problems with decision making about treatment, while 59.8% of the respondents said that they were experiencing fatigue. Other issues cited by the respondents included financial constraints and facing difficulties while eating. The study results also showed that there was statistically significant association between having psychosocial distress and gender (P=0.015) and cancer treatment (P=0.015).Conclusion: There is a very high prevalence of psychosocial distress among patients with cancer with the leading psychosocial distress problem being pain.

Social cultural factors influencing health seeking practices among men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms attending surgical outpatient clinic at a county referral hospital in Kenya

Health seeking practices is critical towards early screening, detection and control of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) whereby human prostate gland is the major cause of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCA), which mostly accounts for LUTS. Social cultural factors such as cultural beliefs, educational level, income level and religion among many others have a direct influence on health seeking practices both positively and negatively in as far as LUTS are concerned. The researcher explored social cultural factors influencing health seeking practices among men with LUTS attending surgical outpatient clinic at Meru level five hospital (Kenya). De-scriptive cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 120 men with LUTS, and 4 health workers. Census method was used to select the study participants with questionnaires, interview guide and focused group discussion used as instruments of data collection. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22, whereas the qualitative data was analyzed using qualitative techniques. Descriptive statistics were computed to generate percentages and frequencies, which were then presented in tables and charts. Logistic regression was used whereby P-values were employed to determine the statistical significance of results with cut off set at (p ≤0.05). Majority (67.0%) of the patients with LUTS were aged between 61-70 years. Also, majority (68.8%) of the respondents had primary level of education, with majority (72.0%) of them being farmers with an income level of below Ksh. 20,000. The study results showed that social cultural factors had statistical significant influence on health seeking practices among men with LUTS.

Coping experiences of Pakistani nurses against corona stressor; a qualitative study

Objective: The aim of the present qualitative study was to find out how Pakistani Nurses are experiencing the coping strategies against Corona- Stressor.Background: Corona is the World- Wide stressor for Nurses. The Pakistani Nurses are experiencing this stressor and are coping with it too. The present study is on Coping of Nurses of Pakistan against Corona- Stressor.Method: Narrative variation of qualitative research with conventional content analysis was applied to extract results from open- ended interview questions which were administered on nurses face to face with purposive sampling technique.Results: Six major themes; five of conventional coping strategies and one new coping strategy were used by Nurses against Corona- Stressor.Discussion & Conclusion: Nurses in Pakistan are using Standard Operating Procedures as a new coping strategy against Corona Stressor with the already established conventional coping strategies.

Dietary knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding prevention of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is recognized as the world’s most widespread nutritional disorder, affecting 1.6 billion people that constitute about 25% of the global population, and it is one of the most common diseases complicating antenatal women worldwide, particularly in the developing countries. There have been few research studies on IDA in pregnancy in Arab countries including Saudi Arabia.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on IDA among pregnant women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods: A correlational study was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 314 pregnant women in Al Yammamah Hospital. Socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practice toward IDA during pregnancy questionnaire were determined and were analyzed for association. The KAP questionnaire was developed by the researchers based on Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines.Results: Majority of the participants were in the age group 31 years and older who were university graduates, housewives, and have a monthly income of more than 5000 Saudi Riyals. In addition to their obstetric history, majorities were multigravida and multipara, in their third trimester, had no previous surgical or obstetric surgical history or complications in their previous pregnancies. Significant associations were found between the level of hemoglobin and income and dietary practices. Education is a major predictor of knowledge, attitude and practice among Saudi pregnant women.Conclusions: Saudi pregnant women have modest knowledge and positive attitude regarding IDA during pregnancy. Appropriate nutritional counseling during antenatal follow up should be encouraged and should include all women in reproductive age.

Effectiveness of nursing interventions on level of anxiety, stress, and depression of elderly patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Background: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy is a widely used procedure in medicine today. It is the diagnosis and treatment of choice among elderly patients with upper gastrointestinal disorders. Thus anxiety, stress, and depression of adverse out-come or side effect and discomfort regarding endoscopy reduce the patient’s acceptance ability. Effective procedure ex-planation and safety measures have positively impact on decrease level of anxiety, stress, and depression and improve elderly patient’s general health condition Aim: Evaluate effectiveness of nursing interventions on level of anxiety, stress and depression of elderly patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Design: A quasi experimental study design with pre and post procedure was used.Setting: The study was conducted at Gastrointestinal Surgery Center (GISC) (Endoscopy Unit) Mansoura University Subjects: A convenient sample of 76 elderly patients undergoing GIT endoscopy. Data collected over a period of 9 months from first of May 2019 at the end of January 2020.Tools: Three tools were used: Socio Demographic Characteristics and Clinical Data Structured Interview Schedule, Depression, Anxiety and Stress scales (DASS-21), and Endoscopic Nursing interventions.Results: The study results revealed that statistically significant improvement in all aspects of elderly patient's anxiety score at pre and post nursing intervention (p<0.001). There were significant improvements of level of stress from pre and post implementation of nursing intervention to endoscopy (p<0.05). Also, there was a statistically significant difference in the pre, and posttest mean score of depression (p<0.05). Statistically significant differences regarding all sociodemographic characteristics within the studied subjects and their total mean score of anxiety, stress, and depression.Conclusion A clear and noticeable improvement in the mean score of anxiety, stress and depression of all studied subject after the implementation of the endoscopic nursing interventions than before.Recommendation: Replication of this study is highly recommended on a large representative probability sample to achieve generalizable results.

Lowering blood sugar levels with kersen leaf stew (muntingia calabura l) and black onion (alium sativum) extract in mice (mus musculus)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by an increase in blood sugar levels. Blood sugar levels in patients with DM are mostly challenging to control, and this will threaten the occurrence of complications. Alternative therapies used are active flavonoids in reducing blood glucose. The purpose of this study was to analyze the decrease in blood sugar levels by administering cherry leaves stew and black onions to mice (mus musculus). The design of this study was the Quasy Experimental design (pretest-posttest with control group design). The sample in this study was 32 mice, 16 in the intervention group, and 16 comparison groups. There are independent variables (Kersen Leaf Stew and Black Onion Extract) and the dependent variable (Blood Glucose Level). The data were collected using an observation sheet, then analyzed using the independent sample T-test and Kolmogorov Smirnov test. The results of this study showed that the pre and post administration of cherry leaf decoction was 36.5 mg/dl, and the difference between pre and post administration of black onion extract was 24.3 mg/dl. While the analysis showed p = value 0.98, it showed no difference in the effectiveness of the two extracts in reducing blood sugar levels in mice. Obtained comparative test results from the two extracts were equally effective in lowering blood sugar in mice. Thus further research needs to be done with more samples.

Perception of women towards contraceptive methods: using health belief model

Introduction: The Health Belief Model (HBM) is one of the major conceptual frameworks guiding current research as well as practice in the health sciences. It takes into account the multiple factors present in a person’s decisions to live a healthy life, seek help when needed, and maintain periodic check-ups and screening. Aim of the study is to identify perception of women towards contraceptive methods using the health belief model. Research design: A descriptive research design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was conducted at four family planning clinics affiliated to four maternity hospitals namely: EL- Shatby Maternity University hospital affiliated to Alexandria University, Dar-Ismail Maternity hospital affiliated to Ministry of Health, Faisal hospital affiliated to Health Insurance and Dar ALWelada hospital affiliated to Medical Health Association. Subjects: A convenience sample of 320 women who were seeking family planning services. Tools; Tool I: Contraceptive users' basic data structured interview schedule; Tool II: Contraceptive users' Health Belief scale. Results: Approximately an equal percent (56.56% & 43.44%) of the contraceptive users perceived themselves either highly susceptible or moderately susceptible for threat of getting pregnant, respectively. More than three-fourths (76.25%) of them had moderate perceived severity to the problems associated with contraceptive use compared to only 23.75% of them who had high level of perception. As much as 84.37% of them highly perceived the benefits of contraception uptake. Meanwhile, almost all (93.44%) of them moderately perceived barriers associated with contraception utilization. Conclusion: Contraceptive users had high perception related to susceptibility of the threat of pregnancy and benefits of contraceptive methods utilization. Moreover, the vast majority of them had moderate perception to severity and barriers associated with contraception uptake. Last but not least, there was a statistically significant correlation between women's health beliefs and their utilization of contraceptive method.