Delay times and decision making processes in acute myocardial infarction: a qualitative literature review

High morbidity and mortality rates in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction [AMI] worldwide are usually related to delays in Seeking Medical Care [SMC]. Improper patient's perceptions and decision making processes contributed to this delay. [1] To review the subjective experiences and decision making processes in patients who delayed in reporting AMI symptoms; [2] To review the gender role regarding the decision making process in regards to delays in SMC for AMI. A literature review search was conducted using CINAHL and MEDLINE. The search was limited to full text, peer reviewed, qualitative studies from 2002 to 2009. Patients with AMI symptoms tended to delay in their decisions to SMC. Decision making processes to SMC were influenced by the experienced symptoms. Patients experienced atypical symptoms were more delayers than those experienced the classical symptoms. When patients perceived their symptoms of cardiac origin they seek medical care with shorter delay times than those perceived them of non cardiac origins. The laypersons and context of the event influenced patients' interpreting and responses to these symptoms. Women predromal and atypical symptoms of AMI, and improper responses toward these symptoms contributed to being more delayers than men. It is substantial to raise public awareness to the factors that impact decision making processes in regards to SMC when experiencing AMI symptoms. Further research is needed to understand the phenomenon of delay from an Arabic cultural and ethnic value

Nurses' perceptions of medication errors in Jordan

The incidence of medication errors is growing and resulting in serious patients' consequences such as hospitalization and death. Worldwide, there is a proliferation of studies about medication errors; however, such studies are absent in Jordan. This is the first nursing study about medication errors in Jordan, and this is one of few international comparative studies about the studied concepts. This study described medication errors in Jordan, as perceived by nurses. A survey method was used to collect data using the Modified Gladstone's Scale of Medication Errors. A convenient sample of 799 nurses was obtained from three types of hospitals at the Capital Amman and the northern part of Jordan. Medication errors were high in governmental hospitals as compared to those in teaching hospitals. No differences were found across hospitals in regard to the rate of medication errors. In all hospitals, underreporting was evident; however, nurses in private hospitals seemed to underreport medication errors more than nurses in teaching and governmental hospitals. Nurses in wards were at higher risks to commit medication errors more than nurses in Intensive Care Units [ICUs]. There were no differences between nurses in ICUs and those in wards in term of the rate of medication errors. In general, nurses were usually sure when to report medication errors using incident reports; however, ICU nurses were slightly higher than ward nurses in this aspect. High rates of medication errors should encourage the reformation process of health care systems. Recognizing medication errors is the first step to reduce, report, and even eliminate them, especially in acute care settings. Findings pinpoint that nurses have to have staff development about various issues related to medication errors, particularly defining and reporting these errors

Respiratory symptoms reported by adults living in an air polluted area in Jordan

Al-Hashemeya area is declared officially as one of the most air polluted areas in Jordan. Some of the hazardous air pollutants in Al-Hashemeya are SO2, CO, CO 2. NOx and PM 10. This descriptive study aims to describe prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms in Al-Hashemeya area, and examine the factors associated with respiratory symptoms. The sample was 400 male and female residents of Al-Hashemya 8 years or older. Data on respiratory symptoms were collected using Respiratory Risk Profile [RRP]. The most frequent respiratory symptoms self-reported were difficulty in breathing when inhale dust or fumes [53%], flu lasting more than one week [51%], difficulty in breathing when exercising [42%], difficulty in breathing because of nasal congestion [39%], mucus without having cough [39%], difficulty in breathing when exposed to cold air [37%]. Use of asthma medication was the only factor associated with respiratory symptoms [r = 0.27, p =.01]. the rates of self-reported respiratory symptoms were high

perceived roles of nursing deans in supporting organizational climates and promoting Faculty members' job satisfaction

This study aimed at assessing the roles of nursing deans in supporting organizational climates and promoting faculty members' job satisfaction. The relationships between the two concepts were also explored. Moreover, this research examined the concepts of organizational climate and faculty members' job satisfaction in relation to sample's characteristics of: gender, marital status, time commitment, academic rank, level of education, years of appointment at the university, age, years of experience in teaching, years of experience in clinical nursing, number of faculty members at the nursing school, number of students enrolled/ year as perceived by faculty members, and total salary. In 2004 and after getting the approvals of the nursing deans, data were collected using survey method over two months. A convenient sample of 82 faculty members was recruited from 5 public universities. The response rate was 59%. Nursing faculty members perceived that it [often occurs] that the nursing deans create supportive organizational climates. Also, faculty members were [neutral] in their opinions about the roles the nursing deans have in promoting their faculty members'job satisfaction. Deans have effective roles in creating supportive organizational climates, and promoting their faculty members' job satisfaction; however, these roles should be expanded