Nurses' Self-Efficacy, Confidence and Interaction With Patients With COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate nurses' self-efficacy, confidence, and nurse-patient interaction during caring of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: A cross-sectional design with online survey was used with a Self-efficacy scale, Self-confidence scale, and Caring nurse-patient interaction scale: 23-item Version-Nurse (CNPI-23 N). RESULTS: A sample of 120 nurses participated in the current study. The results showed that the participants had a moderate level of self-efficacy, self-confidence and interaction (M = 28.84 (SD = 7.7), M = 47.41 (SD = 9.0), and M = 93.59 (SD = 16.3), respectively). Positive relationships were found between nurse' self-efficacy, self-confidence, and nurse-patient interaction (r = 0.81; P < 0.0001 and 0.79; P < 0.0001, respectively). Significant differences were found in self-efficacy according to years of experience, academic qualifications and position (F = 2.10; P = 0.003; F = 3.60; P = 0.002, and F = 2.60; P =0.007, respectively). Furthermore, the results indicated that there was a significant difference in self-confidence and nurse-patient interaction also. CONCLUSION: Nurse educators and administrators should develop and implement further strategies, such as continuing education and training, compensatory payment, organizational support, and availability of protective measures to increase their self-efficacy, self-confidence, and interaction with COVID-19 patients.

Effectiveness of booster BCG vaccination in preventing Covid-19 infection (preprint)

Introduction : The evidence that BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine may increase the ability of the immune system to fight off pathogens other than tuberculosis has been studied in the past. This nonspecific immunity gained our interest, especially after initial reports of less cases in countries with universal BCG vaccination. In hopes of possible protective immunity, all staff of the Emirates International Hospital (United Arab Emirates) were offered a booster BCG vaccine in early March 2020. All the hospital staff were then tested for Covid-19 infection by the end of June 2020. Methodology : We divided the subjects into two groups: booster vaccinated, versus unvaccinated. The rate of Covid-19 infection was compared between the groups. Criteria included all staff who were offered the vaccine. Results: 71 subjects received the booster vaccination. This group had zero cases of positive COVID 19 infection. 209 subjects did not receive the vaccination, with 18 positive PCR confirmed COVID 19 cases The infection rate in the unvaccinated group was 8.6% versus zero in the booster vaccinated group. (Fishers exact test p-value=0.004). Conclusion : Our findings demonstrated the potential effectiveness of the booster BCG vaccine, specifically the booster in preventing Covid-19 infections in an elevated-risk healthcare population.