Nursing students' stressors and coping strategies during their first clinical training: a qualitative study in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the stressors and coping strategies of nursing students in their first clinical training is important for improving student performance, helping students develop a professional identity and problem-solving skills, and improving the clinical teaching aspects of the curriculum in nursing programmes. While previous research have examined nurses' sources of stress and coping styles in the Arab region, there is limited understanding of these stressors and coping strategies of nursing students within the UAE context thereby, highlighting the novelty and significance of the study. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Overall 30 students who were undergoing their first clinical placement in Year 2 at the University of Sharjah between May and June 2022 were recruited. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and analyzed for themes. RESULTS: During their first clinical training, nursing students are exposed to stress from different sources, including the clinical environment, unfriendly clinical tutors, feelings of disconnection, multiple expectations of clinical staff and patients, and gaps between the curriculum of theory classes and labatories skills and students' clinical experiences. We extracted three main themes that described students' stress and use of coping strategies during clinical training: (1) managing expectations; (2) theory-practice gap; and (3) learning to cope. Learning to cope, included two subthemes: positive coping strategies and negative coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative study sheds light from the students viewpoint about the intricate interplay between managing expectations, theory practice gap and learning to cope. Therefore, it is imperative for nursing faculty, clinical agencies and curriculum planners to ensure maximum learning in the clinical by recognizing the significance of the stressors encountered and help students develop positive coping strategies to manage the clinical stressors encountered. Further research is required look at the perspective of clinical stressors from clinical tutors who supervise students during their first clinical practicum.

Salutogenesis: A sense of coherence and health among British military veterans exposed to impactful life challenges - the emergence of post-traumatic growth and positive deviance within a life-story approach.

Background: This study sought to capture the perspectives and experiences of two sub-groups of military veterans, namely those who had previously been identified as offenders and those employed as practitioners within the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom. Methods: The lead author undertook narrative inquiry in the form of life story research. The life stories of 17 in-depth interviews were conducted across England and Wales, allowing for insight into the lived experiences of two life story trajectories of the health of military veterans. Existing literature on salutogenesis, health, post-traumatic growth, and positive deviance has also been investigated. Results: Life story interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed concurrently using thematic analysis to identify emergent themes. The researchers used thematic analysis as an analytical framework to allow descriptive themes from the literature on salutogenesis, health, post-traumatic, and positive deviance to be compared with those of life-story interviews. Conclusion: The study adopts a salutogenic approach, which suggests that an important indicator for a sense of coherence is enabled through the positive utilization of resilience through the reconstruction of military identity and experience. Notably, the concept of salutogenesis demonstrates the ability to draw from internal and external resources as circumstances require, to survive, and because of this, the participants' health is maintained or improved. Hence, adaptation was notable through the coherence identified by the identity of being a veteran noted between the two subgroups and represents a continuous and dynamic process. The study suggests that the development of a sense of coherence is not restricted to the early decades of life but is a continuous process as contexts, personal circumstances, and opportunities arise. This later point is realized through the presence of post-traumatic growth and positive deviance, as they aid in the nurturing and development of a renewed sense of coherence via the known identity of military service and life.

Undergraduate nursing students' mentoring experiences in the clinical practicum: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) perspective.

AIM: This study explored undergraduate nursing students' mentoring experiences during their final clinical practicum as they prepared to enter the workforce. METHODS: We used a qualitative case study design with data collected in two focus group discussions involving 19 students. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Students' descriptions of their mentoring experiences fell under three themes: 'great experience', 'being treated like part of the family', and 'gaining confidence and skills'. Students described their mentors as having critical roles in providing feedback and learning opportunities to interns. Students also reported that ungraded initial assessment, friendlier workplaces, and mentors with patience were required to strengthen their professional learning at the workplace. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that prompt and constructive feedback, warmer workplace environments, and passionate mentors' involvement may help enhance students' mentoring experiences during their clinical practicum. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Management and academia should work jointly to develop mentorship programs to achieve better student outcomes. Doing this will lead to role clarity, higher levels of satisfaction, and increased productivity. Management needs to consider compensating mentors for their time in student learning and select experienced nurses willing to mentor others to promote enjoyable relationships and effective mentoring engagements. Management needs to find creative ways to build mentoring into appraisals, for at present, it is considered a voluntary activity for educating the next generation of nurses. Management should ensure adequate training and ongoing support for mentors and mentees in clinical mentoring.

Traditional, religious, and cultural perspectives on mental illness: a qualitative study on causal beliefs and treatment use.

PURPOSE: Limited information is known from studies regarding traditional, religious, and cultural perspectives on mental illness and the use of traditional and alternative therapies by mentally ill people in Indonesia. This study explored traditional, religious, and cultural beliefs about causes of mental illness and the use of traditional/alternative treatments for mentally ill patients. METHOD: We adopted a qualitative content analysis method as proposed by Schreier. This study was conducted at a mental Hospital in Indonesia. We interviewed 15 nurses and 15 patients. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis method. RESULTS: Five discrete but interrelated themes emerged: 1) Possessed illness and belief in supernatural forces; 2) Sinful or cursed illness; 3) Witchcraft or human-made illness; 4) traditional/alternative treatments; and 5) Barriers to treatment of mental illness. CONCLUSION: Traditional/alternative treatments play an important role in meeting the need for mental health treatment. The findings are relevant for mental health nurses who provide direct to their patients, and for other areas of mental health practice. We also found a lack of knowledge about the causes of mental illness among patients and families. Education should be at the heart of mental health promotion to raise the level of mental health literacy in Indonesia.

Listening to the minority: A qualitative study exploring male students' perceptions of the nursing profession and reasons for choosing nursing as a career.

INTRODUCTION: Nursing is a rapidly growing profession that has traditionally been dominated by women. Research has highlighted various challenges associated with increasing the number of male nurses, such as cultural challenges and stigma related to nursing. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced an increase in male students enrolling in nursing programs. To ensure this is sustainable, it is important to understand how male students perceive nursing and clarify factors that influence their decision to choose nursing as a career. OBJECTIVES: To explore male nursing students' perspectives of the nursing profession and understand why they chose nursing as a career. METHODS: Participants in this qualitative analysis were 30 male students that were selected using purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data about participants' experiences. We used a qualitative content analysis to guide the data analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes were identified that described male students' perspectives of and reasons for choosing nursing: (1) perceptions of nurses and nursing profession; (2) individuals as facilitators or role models in choosing the nursing profession; and (3) barriers to choosing the nursing profession. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results regarding barriers and facilitators for male students in choosing to study nursing may be useful to help improve the recruitment of and learning opportunities for male nursing students. Highlighting the male presence in the nursing profession and positive male role models may encourage males to enter the profession. Therefore, understanding the experiences of male nursing students in choosing nursing as a career has important implications for nursing practice and education.

Waist circumference is a major determinant of oxidative stress in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome.

AIM: Oxidative stress (OS) plays a major role in pathogenic mechanisms associated with metabolic syndrome (Mets) yet the main component of Mets contributing most to OS is not well elucidated. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the oxidative-antioxidative status in Mets subjects and to determine the main predicting component of OS. METHODS: Anthropometric measures, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes [catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)], reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl were assessed in 172 adult UAE residents. International Diabetes Federation criteria were used for Mets diagnosis. Mets Scores (0-5) were calculated and assigned per subject based on number of components. RESULTS: Of all participants, 22.1% had Mets and 49.4% had large waist circumference (WC). Significant lower levels of catalase, SOD, GPx and GSH, and higher levels of MDA and protein carbonyl were observed in subjects with Mets. In addition, catalase, SOD, GPx, and GSH correlated negatively, while MDA and protein carbonyl correlated positively with almost all Mets components. Similar trend of correlations was noticed with Mets Scores. When adjusted for age and gender, linear regression analysis revealed that subjects with large WC demonstrated significantly lower levels of antioxidative enzymes and GSH, and higher levels of MDA and protein carbonyl. Consequently, WC emerged as the best predictor of OS. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of OS is dependent on the Mets Scores, and WC contributes independently to increased OS among adults in UAE.

Effects of an 8-week pelvic core stability and nutrition community programme on maternal health outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Women, during the antenatal and post-partum period, report pelvic, low back pain, stress and urge urinary incontinence, colorectal dysfunction, and other co-morbidities that negatively affect health-related quality of life. Exercise and nutrition are important considerations for improving maternal health in this period. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a community-driven nutrition and exercise programme focused on pelvic floor and core stability, healthy nutrition, and breastfeeding counselling over an 8-week period on pelvic floor and urinary distress (UDI), prolapse and colorectal distress for antenatal and post-partum women with limited access to health care, and low socio-economic resources from a Midwestern Region of the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Purposive sample of 35 females, ages 18-44, were recruited for this prospective, preintervention to postintervention study, following ethical approval from Institutional Review Board and voluntary written consent from participants. The Health History Questionnaire, SF-36, Food Frequency Questionnaire, report of pelvic organ prolapse dysfunction (POPDI), colorectal-anal dysfunction (CRADI), and UDI as measured by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) were completed before and after intervention. RESULTS: Thirty-five women (n = 35) 18 to 44 years old (mean age of 22.72 ± 3.45 years) completed the study. A significant difference was found from preintervention to postintervention scores means for PFDI total scores, CRADI individual scores, and UDI individual scores (p < .05). POPDI scores decreased preintervention to postintervention but were not significant. A significant improvement in healthy nutrition and breastfeeding postintervention was also found (z = 3.21, p = .001). Further analysis showed significant, but weak, correlation between parity and POPDI (r = .366, p = .033); between parity and UDI (r = .384, p = .03); and between parity and PFDI (r = .419, p = .014). DISCUSSION: Our study found a significant reduction in pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary, and colorectal-anal distress symptoms and improvement in breastfeeding and healthy nutrition following an 8-week community-driven nutrition and exercise programme focused on pelvic floor and core stability, healthy nutrition, and breastfeeding counselling.