Illness Anxiety Disorder and Distress among Female Medical and Nursing Students.

Objective: This study aims to compare the prevalence of illness anxiety disorder (IAD) and distress between medical and nursing students and examine their associations with students' characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected using the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI, for measuring IAD) and the Medical Students' Disease (MSD) Perception and Distress Scales. Results: Two hundred and sixteen Medical students and 250 Nursing students were recruited from a public female university in Saudi Arabia. Their mean age was 21.27 years. The findings showed that the overall prevalence of IAD (SHAI scores ≥18) among the total sample was 38.8%, with a significantly lower prevalence in medical students compared to the prevalence in nursing students (57.2% vs 17.6%, respectively, X2=45.26, p<.001). Nursing students had significantly higher SHAI scores and lower MSD Perception scores than medical college students, but there were no significant differences among them in the MSD Distress scale. Significant differences in the main study variables scores were reported among nursing students but not among medical students, with the fourth-year level nursing students having higher SHAI and lower MSD Perception and perception scores than other nursing students. Conclusion: The highlights that medical and nursing students are susceptible to developing anxiety-related disorders and distress that may have negative impacts on their academic achievements and future careers. Both nursing and medical faculty should help in identifying strategies to support the students' mental health and well-being.

Determinants and prevalence of depression in patients with chronic renal disease, and their caregivers.

INTRODUCTION: This study explored the prevalence of depression among the patients with chronic kidney disease and their caregivers and its association to their demographic profile. METHODS: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study that used the Hamilton rating scale tool to assess the prevalence of depression among 226 patients undergoing hemodialysis and 105 of their caregivers in a hospital in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: Patients with chronic renal disease and their caregivers experience depression at varying levels. Depression was positively associated with the socioeconomic and marital status of the patients. Socioeconomic status of the caregivers was seen to be associated with their depression. CONCLUSION: Depression is highly prevalent among patients with chronic renal disease and their caregivers.

Effect of olive leaf extract on glucose levels in diabetes-induced rats: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The present systematic review statistically analyzed randomized controlled trials on olive leaf extract (OLE) for effectiveness in managing glucose levels in diabetic rats. METHODS: A literature search was performed using PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EBSCO host databases. Selected articles, with no date restriction in the search process, were assessed independently by the authors using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Data from eight trials on 162 rats were reviewed. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta Analysis version 3.0. RESULTS: Combined random effects analysis revealed that treatment of diabetic rats with OLE significantly increased insulin levels (standardized mean difference [SMD] 4.83 µIU/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.13, 7.54) and reduced blood glucose levels (SMD -4.21 mg/dL; 95% CI -5.75, -2.67). Secondary outcomes included significant reductions in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, with a forest plot showing hypolipidemic effects among OLE-treated rats compared with placebo (SMD -6.32 mg/dL [95% CI -9.75, -2.88] and -4.22 mg/dL [95% CI -6.96, -1.48], respectively). There was no significant difference in body weight between OLE-treated rats and the placebo groups (SMD 0.46 g; 95% CI -0.05, 0.96; P = 0.98). CONCLUSION: Olive leaf extract is beneficial for both the lipid profile and glycemic control in diabetes-induced rats and may be as effective among humans.

Therapeutic relationships from the psychiatric nurses' perspectives: an interpretative phenomenological study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to explore the attributes of the therapeutic relationship from the perspective of psychiatric nurses in the United Arab Emirates. DESIGN AND METHODS: Interpretive phenomenology formed the framework of the study. Data were collected through unstructured recorded interviews with 17 nurses. FINDINGS: Study findings revealed that nurses emphasized the importance of the therapeutic relationship. The analysis resulted in four main themes and nine subthemes. The main themes were: provision of physical care, conveying safety and security, protection, and companionship. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Psychiatric nurses can internalize these themes in their practice to improve client outcomes. These themes need to be emphasized in psychiatric mental health nursing courses as well as in nursing management in the orientation of new clinical psychiatric nurses.

Qualitative interviewing: methodological challenges in Arab settings.

AIM: To explore some of the main methodological challenges faced by interviewers in Arab settings, particularly during interviews with psychiatric nurses. BACKGROUND: Interviews are a tool used commonly in qualitative research. However, the cultural norms and practices of interviewees must be considered to ensure that an appropriate interviewing style is used, a good interviewee-interviewer relationship formed and consent for participation obtained sensitively. DATA SOURCES: A study to explore the nature of psychiatric nurses' practices that used unstructured interviews. REVIEW METHODS: This is a methodology paper that discusses a personal experience of addressing many challenges that are specific to qualitative interviewing in Arab settings, supported by literature on the topic. DISCUSSION: Suggestions for improving the interview process to make it more culturally sensitive are provided and recommendations for future research are made. CONCLUSION: Openness, flexibility and a reflexive approach by the researcher can help manage challenges in Arab settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH/PRACTICE: Researchers should allow themselves to understand the cultural elements of a population to adapt interviewing methods with the aim of generating high quality qualitative research.

Screening and correlates of depression and HbA1 C in United Arab Emirates (UAE) women with diabetes.

PURPOSE: The aim was to identify the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics of United Arab Emirates (UAE) women with diabetes and depression and to explore any differences between depressed and nondepressed patients in relation to glycemic control. DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred eighty-two subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II and a socio-demographic questionnaire (i.e., age, national status, economic status, level of education, and employment status). Glycemic control was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C ). FINDINGS: Ninety-two subjects were diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. A statistically significant higher incidence of depression was found in the subject group with diagnosed diabetes mellitus than in the nondiabetic subject group. A statistically significant relationship was found between depression status and type of diabetes (Type 1). A positive relationship between poor glycemic control and higher levels of depression was identified. A positively significant relationship was found between national status and level of depression among the diabetic sample, among whom at least half showed poor glycemic control (HbA1C levels > 7.5). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Early detection of depression among women with diabetes is crucial to enhance treatment regimen adherence and glycemic control. As the UAE diabetic women are at even greater risk than other diabetic women, they need to be very carefully screened and evaluated for depression.

The prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among Arab women in a primary health care setting.

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of most common mental illnesses in the world, with a high prevalence in primary health care settings. Some research has been conducted in the Arab region, but this research has been limited. This study investigated the prevalence of depression in a primary health care setting in the United Arab Emirates as well as possible socio-demographic and stressful life event correlates of depression. METHODS: Arabic versions of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a Stressful Life Events Inventory, and socio-demographic form were used for the study. Data were collected from 224 Arab women, aged 18 and above, in the primary health care centers of Sharjah, using a convenience sampling method. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of women were found to be either moderately (14.7%) or severely (18%) depressed. The following socio-demographic variables were found to be correlated with scores on the BDI (p < .05): marital status (being single, widowed or divorced), working status (working full- or part-time), and family income (lower family income). The number of stressful life events that a woman had experienced in the past year was also correlated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms are common in women attending primary health care centers in the Emirate of Sharjah. Stressful life events, in particular, are related to the level of depressive symptoms experienced by these women. It will be important to consider the social, psychological, and economic variables that impact emotional health in the region. This research is considered to be an initial step in developing prevention and intervention programs to address the mental health needs of Arab women.