Risk factors for self-injurious behaviours among children with autistic disorders

The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors for self-injurious behaviours among children with autistic disorders. A descriptive exploratory design was utilized in this study. A sample of convenience of 50 autistic children were recruited from Out-patient Clinic in Institute for Postgraduate Childhood Studies-Center for Children with Special Needs [Autism Unit] in Ain-Shams University and Center for Social and Preventive Medicine [child psychiatry out-patient clinic] at Abu-EL-Rish University Hospital. Four tools were used to measure the current study variables, sociodemographic and medical data sheet, childhood autism rating scale, diagnostic self-injury behaviors scale and Vineland adaptive behavior scale. The results showed that, half of the studied sample had severe degree of autism, and severe degree of self-injury behaviors. Findings revealed that there is an association between severity of self-injury and higher degree of autism, higher communication delay, lower age and intelligent quotient. To conclude, SIBs represent a very common problem in children with autism. Further studies about SIBs on a larger number of autistic children from different geographical areas are recommended

effect of a supportive program for psychiatric nursing students as a tool for reducing their anxiety level resulting from their psychiatric nursing experience

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a supportive program for psychiatric nursing students on their anxiety level resulting from their experience in psychiatric nursing. The convenient sample selected for this study consists of 23 4th year students of the High Institute of Nursing, Cairo University. A modified Taylor's anxiety scale was used for measuring students anxiety level prior and after their psychiatric nursing experience. Descriptive as well as, analytical statistics were used for data analysis. Findings revealed statistically significant difference between students anxiety level before and after their psychiatric nursing experience [paired-t- = 3.5 at P < 0.01]. Students anxiety level prior the experience was relatively higher [X= 28.3 +/- 1.71] than their anxiety level after the experience [X= 24.08 +/- 0.426]

effect of a psychiatric nursing course on the students ego strength

Psychiatric nursing course is one of the experience that the student at High Institute of Nursing has to go through. This course has two main objective, primarily to care for the mentally ill persons and secondary to help the student in the process of her personal development. Therefore, this article presents the effect of the psychiatric nursing course, if any, on the student's ego strength. The participants were the 4th year students who were undertaking their psychiatric nursing experience. The ego strength scale was conducted prior and after the completion of their experience. The results indicated that there is a difference of significance where t= 2.4 that is significance at 0.5%

study of the influence of affective illness of the parents on their children

A convenient sample of twelve children of affectively ill parents was obtained from the outpatient department of a governmental mental hospital. By means of semi-structured interview, the subjects relationship with their parents, the way in which they coped with their parent's disorder, and their perceptions of the effectiveness of these coping strategies were examined. Interview data support information in the literature that suggests children who have someone with whom they can talk about their difficulties appear to adjust better to stressful family situation. The fact that all but two of the children interviewed reported some coping problems with their family situation was also detected through the present study

Students nursing attitudes toward addiction and addicts

This research aims mainly to identify the students attitudes toward addicts and addition. Therefore, the tool was constructed of 47 statements that deal with five various aspects. These were, students attitudes toward the addict as a person, the addiction, itself, motives, causes and the treatment of addiction. The sample consisted of two groups of students A and B. Each group consisted of 12 students where group A has the chance to deal with addicts but not group B. This research was carried out while the students were undertaking their psychiatric nursing course at the High Institute of Nursing, Cairo University the results revealed that most, if not all, of the students negative attitudes were directed toward the addict as an individual. Last but not least, it was recommended as a result of this research that there is a crucial need to develop a a training program for nurses about the drug addiction perspectives

Communication skills necessary for the nursing career

The aim of this study was to identify the specific oral communication skills necessary in nursing and those skills most in need of improvement according to nursing teachers. To fulfil this in two questionnaires were developed. The first one was to assess the level of significance of each skill and the other one was to determine the frequency of the undesirable communication behaviour. Questionnaires were filled by all the teaching staff of the High Institute of Nursing of Cairo University results showed that many specific communication skills are critical to the success of nurses and the certain communication skills were most important and in greatest need of improvement

influence of psychiatric nursing experience on the attitudes of students towards the nursing process

This study is an attempt to examine the influence of psychiatric nursing experience on the attitudes of students towards the nursing process. The attitudes of 24 students towards the nursing process were studied by means of a questionnaire. Attitudes became more favourable on termination of the psychiatric nursing experience. The results indicate that a positive environment is influential in changing the attitudes of students towards the nursing process