Smoking attitudes, health believes and behaviour of patients following first myocardial infarction

The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of patients [related to smoking], following first myocardial infarction, to determine attitude and health beliefs for smokers and ex-smokers, as well as to identify the ex-smokers' responses related to persons that trigger their attitudes toward quitting of smoking. This study was conducted in the Outpatients Clinic of Cardiology Department, Main University Hospital. The selected subjects had the first myocardial infarction 6 months ago. The results of the study confirmed significant attitude differences between those individuals who stop and those who continue to smoke. The most significant persons that trigger the attitude of myocardial infarction patients toward quitting of smoking were physicians and family. The least significant persons were patients with the same disease. It was recommended to motivate smokers who suffer from coronary heart disease to modify their behavior through changing their health beliefs and encouraging a positive attitude for cessation of smoking. This can be achieved through smoking committees presented by medical and nursing staff, and by encouraging anti-smoking measures as substitute for cigarettes

Determination of the most common problems and fundamental needs of elderly through expectation of middle age population and experience of the elderly persons

The most common health problems of the elderly are amnesia, cardiovascular, arthritis and sensory impairment. More than half of the elderly subjects were dependent on others in one or two of their activities daily living. The expectation of the middle age subjects about presence of health problems in old age corresponds to what actually experienced by elderly but middle age subjects do not have an accurate conception of what is the extent of the elderly health problems. The other problems faced by the elderly are psychosocial problems, financial problems, inadequate medical care, decline of functional abilities, as well as transportation problem. The findings revealed the main sources of emotional stress experienced by elderly are loneliness and feeling of emptiness, career disappointment, deterioration of the health status and bad attitude of public towards elderly. The fundamental needs of the elderly are satisfactory living condition, satisfy psychosocial needs, accessibility of medical care, recreational activities and to be involved in doing useful thing, as well as good attitude of society towards them. Some differences were found between elderly views and the middle age expectations. As regards preparation for retirement, the majority of elderly did not plan for retirement while most of the middle age are preparing themselves for retirement

Design, implementation and evaluation of an inservice training program to prevent and control low-back injuries among nurses

Forty bedside nurses from different departments of the main University Hospital were included in the study. This study aimed to: [1] design and implement an inservice training program to prevent or control low back injuries among nurses, [2] evaluate the effect of the developed program. To fulfill the design of the program, the following steps were carried out: [a] assessment of the incidence and severity of low back pain or fatigue among bedside nurses, [b] assessment of nurses' knowledge and practical application of body mechanics to determine their learning needs, [c] identification of the environmental and contributing factors that enhance low back pain among the nurses. The instruments used in assessment were questionnaire sheet, observation checklist, filling report, as well as flexibility test tool. The inservice training program was developed based on the findings of the assessment part of the study the program was implemented to the nurses in eight sessions. After finishing the teaching sessions, each nurse was followed during the morning shift for reinforcement about practical use of correct body mechanics. The program was evaluated twice, immediately after finishing the sessions, and two months later. The results of the participants knowledge and their practices revealed statistically significant differences between pre-and post-training program. The program had a good impact upon the participants' health life style in relation to the use of their body mechanics correctly. In addition, one forth of them started to practice at least two types of exercise daily which improved their flexibility to certain extent. Furthermore, they changed their self-actions when they experienced fatigue or low back pain

Relationships of surgical patients' perception of the impending surgery and their postoperative recovery and welfare

This study was carried out on a sample of 84 surgical patientas undergoing major abdominal operations in order to: 1- assess their perception towards the impending surgery. 2- find the relationship of their preoperative perception and post operative recovery and welfare. The patients were given a variety of instruments designed to assess the preoperative and postoperative variables. The findings revaled that almost half of the sample had favourable perception towards surgery Patients perceptions were not affected by their sociodemographic variables more favourable perception was associated with more positive moods and more positive evaluation of physical condition after surgery. A significant positive correlation was found between post operative recovery and welfare which indicates the interrelation ship between these two variables. The findings suggest that nursing intervention with surgical patient should include fostering of hopes, enhancing his social assets, helping him brings appreciation of spiritual values to his awareness, providing him with in formation regarding what he can expect in the operative and postoperative periods, and helping him to acquire confidence in surgeon, the nursing staff and the hospital. Within the intervention plan provision should be made to al-emphasis on one aspect or another, depending on a holistic issessment of patient's perception and adapting the plan accordingly