Burden, strain and coping strategies among caregivers of persons living with HIV

Care giving for persons living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus [HIV] is often an emotionally intense and physically demanding experience. Caregiver burden is the most common outcome measure in caregiver research. The aim of this study is to assess burden, strain and coping strategies among are givers of persons living with HIV. The study was conducted in three governorates namely; Cairo, Alexandria, and Gharbia. The subjects of the study included 145 care givers of persons living with HIV [PLHIV]. The data were collected using an interview schedule to elicit information about care burden, strain index and coping strategies among care givers. Study revealed that caregivers of PLHIV suffered from a considerable degree of care burden and strain. Spouse and parents caregivers significantly experienced more burden and strain than others. Emotional focused coping was more utilized by caregivers. The total score of coping strategies is statistically negatively correlated with the care burden. It can be concluded that caregivers of PLHIV experienced negative psychosocial consequences. They need help and support in order to assume their role effectively and compassionately

Burnout and coping strategies among operating theatre nurses

There is an increasing attention toward investigating job stress and its consequences among nurses working in operating theatres. One of its most common potential negative consequences is burnout. This study aimed to determine the relationship between burnout and coping strategies among operating theatre nurses. It was conducted at Alexandria Governorate Hospitals of the different health care agencies. The subjects comprised 50% of nurses [n=251] who had the responsibilities of carrying out the manual activities in the operating theatres for patients undergoing surgery. Data were collected through two main scales namely Maslach Burnout Inventory and Ways of Coping Questionnaire. The study revealed that the majority of operating theatre nurses had high level of burnout. In addition, the majority of the nurses who were graduated from secondary technical nursing school with five to less than ten years of experienced burnout in different levels. Also, no significant correlations were found between level of burnout and coping strategies used by operating theatre nurses, and between coping strategies used and their demographic characteristics

Depression and anxiety in a geriatric outpatients

One hundred patients aged above 65 years and attending the geriatric outpatient clinic of Alexandria University hospital for reasons other than psychiatric problems, were studied as regards depression and anxiety. Their mean age was 66.5 +/- 8.84. They were 53 females and 47 males. The mean depression score was 67.58 +/- 8.02 and that for anxiety was 31.74 +/- 5.83. A significant positive correlation was found between anxiety and depression scores [r=7.58]. Severe or very severe anxiety was present in 86% of the sample. As regards depression, 89% of the patients were depressed. The highest mean scores were on somatic pre-occupation subscale, weight loss and fatiguability

Psychiatric nurses' view about their knowledge

Nurses knowledge as regards psychiatric nursing was found to be below average regardless of their level of education which had an effect on the total scores of nurses The majority of nurses are aware of their lack of knowledge and feel the need to improve it. Lack of practical training during basic program, lack of preservice and inservice training, deficiency in psychiatric nursing content and lack of psychiatric nursing books are the main causes of inadequate knowledge. Nurses expressed their needs to Increase their knowledge in areas which will increase their efficiency in dealing with psychiatric patients