Assessment and upgrading of knowledge and attitudes among nurses and university graduates towards AIDS

This study aimed to assess and upgrade the level of knowledge and attitudes towards AIDS among nurses and university graduates [U.G.]. The study used pre-test, post-test with no control group design. It was done over a period from January 1995 to July 1996. Four hundred and thirty four nurses and 244 U.G. were subjected to baseline questionnaire and health education lecture about HIV/AIDS. The mean score of knowledge and were attitudes significantly improved from pre to post-lecture among both groups [p=0.0001]. There were no significant differences in the levels of knowledge and attitudes pre and post-lecture between the two studied groups, or participants' sex [p>0.05]. There were statistically significant differences between married and single participants with high levels among married [p=0.003] Logistic regression analysis showed that marriage was the strongest predictor variable of good knowledge score [>/= 75%]

Impact of training programme for nurses caring for the heart surgery patients in Al-Noor specialist Hospital-Makkah Al-Makkah Al Maukarramah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Cardiac Surgery Centre, that recently started in Al Noor Specialist Hospital [A.N.S.H.] is considered the first centre in the Holy Makkah and it is the second for the whole Ministry of Health hospitals in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The nursing management of those patients present quite a challenge either preoperatively, intraoperatively or in surgical intensive care unit [SICU] ANSH. As it is a new speciality, the management post operatively of such patients is considered an important matter, with nursing care playing a major role. So training programme was conducted for 50 nurses in Cardiac Surgery and SICU at K.F.H. Jeddah and followed by another programme in Al Noor Specialist Hospital. Recent study on those nursing staff in Cardiac Surgery Ward, O.R. and in SICU confirmed the improvement of their performance, skills and knowledge for those nurses who had no previous experience in that delicate speciality