The relationship between sleep quality and menopausal symptoms among postmenopausal women in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess sleep quality and examine its relationship with menopausal symptoms among Saudi postmenopausal women. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 410 postmenopausal women, aged 50-60 years, visiting Prince Mutaib bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Maternity and Children Hospital, and primary health care clinics, Sakaka, Jouf, Saudi Arabia. The menopause rating scale (MRS) was used to assess menopause symptoms and severity, while the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) was used to assess sleep quality. RESULTS: The participants' age was 53.04±4.15 years, their mean age at natural menopause was 49.14±3.07, and the meantime since their menopause was 6.50±3.84 years. The PSQI total mean score was 6.10±4.17, classified into good versus poor sleepers; 65.4% scored ≤5, and 34.6% scored >5. The Mann-Whitney analysis revealed that somatic and urogenital symptoms, and total MRS score were associated with poor sleep quality (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study findings revealed that more than one-third of Saudi postmenopausal women had poor sleep quality.

Effectiveness of Health Information Package Program on Knowledge and Compliance among Pregnant Women with Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Despite the availability of iron supplements during pregnancy for all pregnant women receiving antenatal care in Saudi Arabia, anemia remains to be a global public health concern leading to adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Health Information Package Program on the knowledge anemic pregnant women had about anemia, their compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation, and their hemoglobin levels. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines between January and May 2021. Pregnant women (n = 196) aged 18-45 years old and diagnosed with anemia during the first trimester of their pregnancy were randomly assigned into two groups: the intervention group (Health Information Package Program plus routine care, n = 98) and the control group (routine care only, n = 98). Knowledge, the ability to select appropriate food, and hemoglobin levels were assessed at baseline and after three months, while compliance with iron and folic acid supplementation was also measured at the end of three months. This study indicated that the post-education mean knowledge score, food selection ability score, compliance rate, and hemoglobin level were significantly higher for the intervention group than for the control group. The Health Information Package Program with regular follow-ups using the WhatsApp platform was an effective educational intervention for anemic pregnant women.

The impact of bullying on the mental health and academic achievement of nursing students.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of bullying and identify the perpetrators of bullying among nursing students. Further, the impact of bullying on their mental health and academic achievement was also examined. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted. A total of 180 undergraduate nursing students completed an electronic questionnaire. RESULTS: Approximately half of the participants had experienced at least one or more bullying behaviors on a daily or weekly basis during nursing education. Classmates were the most frequently reported perpetrators of bullying behaviors. Bullying experience was associated with poor psychological health and perceived stress. A lower grade point average emerged as a significant predictor of exposure to bullying behaviors. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: There is a need to create policies that delineate the legal implications of bullying to protect students. Faculty members and clinical service providers should work together to reduce the prevalence and impact of negative acts against students.

Efficacy of Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy on sleeping difficulties in menopausal women: A randomized controlled trial.

Sleeping difficulties are the most significant cause of disability in menopausal women. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first line of management for sleeping difficulties and chronic insomnia. PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of an Internet-based CBT program on sleeping difficulties in menopausal women. DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 80 eligible menopausal women who fit the criteria of poor sleep quality were randomly and evenly assigned to the CBT intervention group or the control group. TOOLS: The tools used for data collection were the demographic sheet, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, and sleep diary. Internet-based CBT modules were administered to the intervention group. Six consecutive modules were held weekly for each participant. Sleep quality scores and insomnia index scores were considered the primary outcomes, while sleep diaries were the secondary outcomes. Self-administered questionnaires were given at baseline and 6 weeks after randomization. FINDINGS: Internet-based CBT is effective in reducing sleeping difficulties, particularly sleep quality scores (-3.60 ± 2.76) and insomnia index scores (-5.10 ± 3.54) from baseline. Moreover, the program induced significant changes in sleep parameters, such as increased total sleep hours (t = 2.734, p = 0.008), increased sleep efficiency ≥85%, (t = 3.558, p = 0.001), and decreased sleep latency (t = 2.180, p = 0.033) compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The strong predictors of having very poor sleep quality were short duration since last menopause, severity of hot flashes, and short duration of sleep difficulties. PRACTICE IMPLICATION: Internet-based CBT is a useful practical intervention for managing sleeping difficulties in menopausal women. The current study provides evidence on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Internet-based cognitive behavioral intervention; thus, we recommend this method as a practical and accessible intervention to improve sleep in menopausal women.

Levels of fear and uncertainty regarding the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among university students.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the levels of fear and uncertainty regarding the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 among Jouf University students and to explore the factors influencing those fears and uncertainties. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 416 undergraduate students who used an electronic questionnaire. Fear and intolerance of uncertainty scales were used to assess students' fear and uncertainty. FINDINGS: Results indicated a positive correlation between fear and intolerance of uncertainty, and a negative correlation between the level of knowledge and fear. Gender, age, and type of college emerged as significant predictors of fear. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Developing strategies to respond positively to students' worries and fears and proactively help them to solve their problems and guide them in preparing a plan for the future.