Identifying Feasible Heart Failure Interventions Suitable for the Jordan Healthcare system: A Delphi Study.

Interventions and strategies should align with the context and capacity of the health system. Identifying the most feasible and appropriate heart failure interventions in Jordan will improve heart failure management and clinical outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to derive consensus from clinicians (using the Delphi method) regarding the most feasible and appropriate heart failure interventions in Jordan. A two-round Delphi study involving seven clinicians and policy makers were conducted. The Delphi results found consensus for the feasibility of the educational materials, follow up phone call, cardiac rehabilitation, group session, and training courses for staff. The components that were not feasible were: multidisciplinary team, individual session, and telemonitoring devices. The present study demonstrates the importance of utilizing interventions tailored to patients' characteristics and aligned with the capacity of healthcare system.

Predictors of Effective Self-care Interventions Among Jordanians With Heart Failure.

Jordanians are more at risk for heart failure now than in years prior. However, there are few studies addressing heart failure self-care in Jordanians. Identifying predictors that promote heart failure self-care among Jordanian patients is crucial in providing comprehensive care. This study aimed to identify predictors of self-care behaviors among Jordanians with heart failure. A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 300 Jordanian patients was performed in an educational hospital in the north of Jordan. Differences in the level of self-care between selected sociodemographic and clinical variables were identified using univariate statistics, and multiple regression was used to adjust estimates for covariates. The predictors of self-care were insomnia (p ≤ .001) and marital status (p = .018). Identifying factors influencing self-care can assist with addressing the causes of insomnia to ensure effective treatment, providing patients with social support, and eventually promoting heart failure self-care.

Awareness of heart disease and associated health behaviours in a developing country: A qualitative study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore awareness of heart disease and associated health behaviours. DESIGN: A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews. METHODS: The study participants were patients with hypertension. Data analysis was guided by Braun and Clarke's steps of thematic analysis and using NVivo12 software. RESULTS: A total of 18 patients with hypertension were interviewed. The patients had poor understanding of heart disease and were not concerned about developing heart disease in the future. Barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption were poor access, cost and sociocultural factors, whereas being busy, poor physical health and lack of access to an exercise facility were barriers to physical activity.

Clinical nurse managers' leadership practices in Saudi Arabian hospitals: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

AIM: To understand the situational profiles of clinical nurse managers' transformational leadership practices in Saudi hospitals. BACKGROUND: Clinical nurse managers' effective leadership may enable registered nurses to provide safe patient care. METHODS: This included 29 clinical nurse managers and 318 registered nurses from three Saudi hospitals. Data were collected using the leadership practice inventory-self and the leadership practice inventory-observer. RESULTS: A significant difference between self- and observer-assessed transformational leadership practices of clinical nurse managers was found. There was also a significant difference in transformational leadership practice between Saudi and non-Saudi clinical nurse managers. Ward experience of clinical nurse managers was statistically positively associated with higher ratings of "enabling others to act". Length of clinical nurse managers' experience was associated with "enabling others to act" and "encouraging the heart" practices. CONCLUSION: Clinical nurse managers rated their transformational leadership performance higher than that reported by registered nurses. Further, non-Saudi clinical nurse managers working in Saudi hospitals overestimated the extent of their transformational leadership practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Clinical nurse managers should gather feedback about their leadership performance regularly and implement required changes. Hospital administrations should provide additional support to clinical nurse managers through effective leadership programmes, enculturation and team-building strategies, to create a shared vision regarding the execution of optimal leadership.

Regulation, migration and expectation: internationally qualified health practitioners in Australia-a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The global movement of internationally qualified health practitioners (IQHPs), seeking to live and work outside of their place of origin, is subject to considerable study and scrutiny. Extensive published material exists, from government enquiries and print news media articles to peer-reviewed papers, reporting on the views and impacts of migration and practitioner registration. Unsurprisingly much of the research focuses on the two largest groups of health professionals, international medical graduates (IMG) and internationally qualified nurses (IQN). This paper presents a unique case study examining the challenges and complexities of navigating the regulatory processes for skilled migration and practitioner registration in Australia. DISCUSSION: The study comprised a review and analysis of the current policy frameworks, standards and assessment models applied by regulators affecting skilled migration and registration of IQHPs. To target the triangulated themes of regulation, experience and expectations, a phenomenological component was also conducted with the mapping of shared experiences of four key participant groups comprising the following: assessors operationalising the current policies and processes governing skilled migration and registration, educators offering preparatory and training programs to IQHP, workforce agencies engaging with and recruiting IQHP and internationally qualified doctors, nurses and midwives. The study was informed by rich qualitative data extracted from twenty-eight in-depth semi-structured participant interviews. Key themes and points of intersection between participant experiences and the regulatory frameworks were identified using theory and data-driven coding and thematic analysis via the NVivo 12 plus software. CONCLUSION: From studying the complexities of the current regulatory processes for skilled migration and practitioner registration and informed by participants with first-hand knowledge and experience, this research found a clear argument for a re-examination and update of the current regulatory requirements for IQHP. Without greater innovation, harmonisation, evidence-based solutions and reform, it is likely that Australian regulators, policymakers, employers, and the nursing, midwifery and medical professions at large will continue to experience challenges in registering, employing and supporting IQHP, while maintaining the safety of the public requiring care in the Australian healthcare system.

Patients' knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors and associated lifestyle behaviour in Ethiopia in 2018: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is posing a major public health challenge globally. Evidence reports significant gaps in knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with CVD. Despite the growing burden of cardiovascular disease in developing countries, there is limited data available to improve the awareness of this area, which is crucial for the implementation of prevention programs. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two referral hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia from June-September 2018. Outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis cardiovascular conditions were eligible for participation in the study. A convenience sampling technique was used. The primary outcome of the study was knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with cardiovascular disease. The knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors was measured using a validated instrument (heart disease fact questionnaire). A score less than 70% was defined as suboptimal knowledge. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the relationship between knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and explanatory variables. RESULTS: A total of 287 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 47±11yrs and 56.4% of patients were females. More than half of patients (54%) had good knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors (scored>70%), whilst 46% demonstrated suboptimal knowledge levels in this area. Urban residency was associated with higher cardiovascular risk factors knowledge scores, whereas, never married and no formal education or lower education were identified as predictors of lower knowledge scores. There was no statistically significant association between knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and actual cumulative risk behaviour. CONCLUSION: Almost half of CVD patients in Ethiopia have suboptimal knowledge regarding cardiovascular risk factors. Residence, education level and marital status were associated with knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors. Implementation of innovative interventions and structured, nurse-led lifestyle counselling would be required to effectively guide patients in developing lifestyle modification and achieve sustainable behaviour change.

Governance of skilled migration and registration of internationally qualified health practitioners: an Australian policy perspective.

This paper presents a policy perspective on the topical issue of migration and registration of internationally qualified health practitioners (IQHPs), with a focus on international medical graduates and internationally qualified nurses and midwives. Current views, regulatory governance and recommendations affecting skilled migration and registration of IQHPs were examined, specifically whether current and proposed practices are transparent, consistent, equitable, robust, cost-effective and assist in ensuring IQHPs demonstrate the necessary qualifications and experience for protection of the Australian public. The complexity of the current regulatory and administrative application and approval processes for IQHPs seeking to live and work in the Australian healthcare setting provides significant opportunities for future research, particularly those areas of reform under consideration by the Health Ministers' Advisory Council.

Cardiovascular risk behaviour is an emerging health issue in developing countries: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Low and middle-income countries are facing a high burden of cardiovascular disease while there is limited availability of resources and evidence to educate and modify lifestyle behaviours in the population as well as to guide policy making. AIM: The goal of the present study was to quantify the prevalence of different cardiovascular risk behaviours among patients with known cardiovascular conditions in a developing country. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in two referral hospitals in eastern Ethiopia. Outpatients who had a confirmed diagnosis of cardiovascular disease were recruited for the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with patients using validated tools. RESULTS: A total of 287 cardiovascular disease patients was recruited, of which 56.4% were women and 90.2% were urban residents. Most patients had inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables, 51.6% were physically inactive, 20% were current khat chewers, 19% were current alcohol drinkers and only 1% were current smokers. Approximately one-third (30%) of the patients had one of these risk behaviours, more than half (51.9%) had two, 15% had three and 3.1% had four risk behaviours. The majority (70%) of the patients had multiple (more than two) risk behaviours. The prevalence of multiple risk behaviours did not significantly vary with sex, residence and educational level differences (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular disease patients continue to follow unhealthy lifestyles although they attend follow-up care with a specific focus on risk management. The findings of this study provide evidence for policy makers that health services reform is required to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours for the patients.

Analysis of factors influencing length of stay in the Emergency Department in public hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

BACKGROUNDS: The increasing demand for emergency care may cause prolonged Emergency Department length of stay that has an impact on quality of care. In Indonesia, factors influencing Emergency Department length of stay are difficult to determine. The purpose of the study was to identify factors that contributed to length of stay at tertiary hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted with a cross-sectional, retrospective design. Participants (n=139) were patients aged 18 years or over who presented to Emergency Department at tertiary hospital, over seven consecutive days. Data were gathered by reviewing patients' notes using modified data collection tool and by measuring the average time in each stage of Emergency Department patient journey. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were utilised to analyse data. RESULTS: The median Emergency Department length of stay was 330min. The acuity level, specialist consultation and need for admission were associated with increased Emergency Department length of stay (p<0.05). Laboratory turn around time (median 58min) and waiting for bed availability (median 167min) contributed to prolonged length of stay, for discharged and admitted patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study assists in understanding factors that most significantly influence Emergency Department length of stay in an Indonesian hospital and will inform policy makers in development of strategic plans to improve Emergency Department patient flow.

An Investigation of the Needs of Saudi Parents of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Objective This study aimed to identify the needs of Saudi parents who had an infant in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in one of five hospitals in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods Data were collected using a questionnaire that comprised questions about demographic characteristics and a modified version of the NICU Family Needs Inventory. A convenience sample of 36 Muslim Saudi mothers and fathers completed a self-reported questionnaire. Parents were asked to rate 52 statements in the NICU Family Needs Inventory as not important, somewhat important, important or very important. Results Saudi parents ranked the needs for assurance, proximity, and information as the most important needs. The comfort and support needs were ranked as the least important. Moreover, the highest top-ranked items were related to assurance of pain infant being treated for (86%), infant expected outcome (83%), and infant being handled gently (83%). Conclusion Nurses should create a relationship with parents and provide them with comprehensible and honest assurance and information. Likewise, it is imperative to provide a high-quality holistic care for parents that relies on their needs assessment.

Relatives' involvement in the care of patients in acute medical wards in two different countries-An ethnographic study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To explore the nature of relatives' involvement in the care of patients in acute medical settings in Australia and Saudi Arabia and to explore the perceptions, attitudes and experiences of nurses. BACKGROUND: There is little known about how relatives respond to being involved in patient care and the impact this has on the quality of care. Equally, little is known about how nurses enable such involvement. Previous studies have focused on settings such as critical care and paediatrics where relatives' involvement as advocates is mostly acknowledged and accepted. DESIGN: The study used a qualitative ethnographic approach based on an interpretive paradigm. METHODS: Data collection was carried out in medical settings in two major hospitals: one in Australia and another in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by observations and interviews over a 6-month period, with 3 months spent in each setting. RESULTS: In both fields, relatives and nurses faced ongoing ambiguity about the role relatives should play in the hospital environment. Nurses were challenged by the unpredictability of relatives' participation in patient care. The nurses' fear of taking responsibility and uncertainty about the relatives' role led them to take varied and individualised approaches to the involvement of relatives in patient care. Relatives were unclear about how to behave in the role; what the needs of patients were; and whether they were contributing positively to care and this resulted in frustration. CONCLUSION: The results show that ambiguity regarding the role of relatives led to problems in patient care such as safety concerns and conflict with nurses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This study identified the need for patients' relatives and nursing staff to more actively engage in negotiating and managing their respective roles in acute medical areas. This could be supported by the development and use of a set of principles or guidelines for nurses, relatives and patients regarding relatives' involvement in hospital care settings to reduce ambiguity for all involved.

The Profile of Saudi Nursing Workforce: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: The Royal Monarchy in Saudi Arabia decreed that all sectors of the workforce would be subject to a policy of "Saudisation" to reduce the reliance on the expatriate workforce and to reduce the unemployment rate of Saudi nationals (Al-Mahmoud et al., 2012). METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional design was chosen to investigate the research questions. The population of this study comprised Saudi Registered Nurses working in MOH hospitals in Riyadh which is the main health care provider in Saudi Arabia (Aboul-Enein, 2002; MOH, 2009). RESULTS AND FINDINGS: A total number of 1,198 questionnaires were distributed and 61.2% (n = 741) were returned. The findings of the study showed that the questionnaires were collected from an equal portion of the study locale and that a sample of 741 is enough to create a strong conclusion and answer the problem set in this study and all the questions in the study have been provided with answers with enough data and literatures to supports its findings. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The results indicate that an increase in the recruitment of Saudi males may simply reflect cultural issues such as gender specific facilities and the Saudisation program's nondiscriminatory approach to employment of both genders into nursing.

Experiences of healthcare professionals of having their significant other admitted to an acute care facility: a qualitative systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Most healthcare professionals at some time will experience having a significant other admitted to an acute care hospital. The knowledge and understanding that these individuals possess because of their professional practice can potentially alter this experience. Expectations of staff and other family members (FMs) can potentially increase the burden on these health professionals. All FMs of patients should have their needs and expectations considered; however, this review specifically addresses what may be unique for healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVES: To synthesize the qualitative evidence on the experiences of healthcare professionals when their significant others are admitted to an acute care hospital. INCLUSION CRITERIA TYPES OF PARTICIPANTS: The current review considered studies reporting the experiences of healthcare professionals, specifically registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. PHENOMENA OF INTEREST: The experiences of RNs and physicians when a significant other is admitted to an acute care facility. TYPES OF STUDIES: Qualitative studies that have examined the phenomenon of interest including, but not limited to, designs such as phenomenology and grounded theory. SEARCH STRATEGY: The search strategy aimed to find both published and unpublished studies with no date restrictions. Only studies published in English were considered for inclusion in this review. METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: Qualitative papers selected for retrieval were assessed using the standardized critical appraisal instrument from the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-QARI). DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted from the seven included papers using the standardized data extraction tool from JBI-QARI. DATA SYNTHESIS: The data were synthesized using the JBI approach to meta-synthesis by meta-aggregation using the JBI-QARI software and methods. RESULTS: Seven studies of moderate quality were included in the review. Forty findings were extracted and aggregated to create 10 categories, from which five synthesized findings were derived: CONCLUSION: In contrast to "lay" FMs, health professionals possess additional knowledge and understanding that alter their perceptions and expectations, and the expectations others have of them. This knowledge and understanding can be an advantage in navigating a complex health system but may also result in an additional burden such as role conflict.

Healthcare professionals' experiences of having a significant other admitted into an acute care facility: a qualitative systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to synthesize the qualitative evidence regarding the life experiences of healthcare professionals when their significant others are admitted to an acute-care hospital. Specifically, the review will address the following research question: what are the experiences of healthcare professionals as significant others to hospitalized loved ones in an acute-care facility?

Violence in the emergency department: an ethnographic study (part II).

Violence in the emergency department (ED) is a significant and complex problem worldwide. This is a part II of a 2-part series on an ethnographic study. The study which aimed at exploring the cultural aspects of violence was carried out at a major metropolitan ED for 3 months. This paper presents the findings and discussions of the study. One hundred and three violent incident questionnaires were completed. A total of 242.5h of observation and 34 (33%) interviews with nurses were conducted. From the data analysis, three critical cultural themes (i.e. 'problems and solutions', 'requests and demands' and 'them and us') were identified. The study indicated that the cultural meanings of violence were complex and highly subjective. Factors such as environment, conflicting messages regarding waiting time, and the nurse-patient/relative behaviours and the resulting reciprocal relationships were critical. Nurses' efforts to establish rapport with patients was crucial and needed to occur early. There was usually a 'turning point' that provided an opportunity for the nurse to avoid violence. While violence is a complex issue with many paradoxes, the study indicates that effective interpersonal empathetic communication has a significant role in reducing violence in the ED.

Violence in the emergency department: an ethnographic study (part I).

Violence in the emergency department (ED) is a significant problem and it is increasing. Nevertheless the problem remains inadequately investigated as most studies that have investigated this issue are descriptive in nature. Although these studies have provided important preliminary information, they fail to reveal the complexities of the problem, in particular the cultural aspects of violence which are crucial for the ED. This paper is part I of a 2-part series which will provide an overview of the background, aims and methods of an ethnographic study about violence in the ED. The study aimed to explore the cultural aspects of violence in the ED. Contemporary ethnography was adopted to frame the study's methodology. The study was carried out at a major metropolitan ED over 3 months using observations, questionnaires and interviews. Initially, the questionnaires were analysed using SPSS before incorporating into the qualitative data. Then, a data analysis framework was adopted to assist in the analysis of data at item (domain), pattern (taxonomic and componential) and structural levels. A brief description of the cultural scene will also be highlighted before leaving the findings of the study along with its discussions to the part II of the 2-part series.

What is the evidence for the use of high flow nasal cannula oxygen in adult patients admitted to critical care units? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Humidified high flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy is increasingly available in Australian adult intensive care units. Its use in paediatric populations has been extensively studied and has shown positive effects however its clinical effectiveness in adults has not been established. PURPOSE: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to critique current evidence, inform nursing practice and make recommendations for nursing research. METHODS: An extensive search strategy identified clinical studies comparing standard oxygen therapy with high flow therapy in critical care units. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for eligibility, methodological quality and inclusion. Outcomes of interest included oxygenation, ventilation, work of breathing, positive airway pressure, patient comfort and long term effect. A narrative synthesis was conducted to describe the emerging evidence. FINDINGS: Eight studies were included for review. All were abstracts or poster presentations from scientific meetings therefore the quality of data available for analysis was poor. Findings indicated there was preliminary evidence to support the use of high flow therapy to optimise oxygenation in adults. This therapy may reduce the effort of breathing and provide augmented airway pressures. Patients described the therapy as comfortable. No definitive evidence supported the claim that ventilation is improved or conclusively demonstrated a long-term effect. CONCLUSION: Humidified high flow nasal cannula may be used as an intermediate therapy to improve oxygenation in adult critical care patients. Further research is required to determine the duration of effect of the therapy, identify the patient population for whom it is most beneficial and evaluate long-term outcomes; to enable definitive recommendations for practice to be made.

Self-care practices of Malaysian adults with diabetes and sub-optimal glycaemic control.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the self-care practices of Malaysian adults with diabetes and sub-optimal glycaemic control. METHODS: Using a one-to-one interviewing approach, data were collected from 126 diabetic adults from four settings. A 75-item questionnaire was used to assess diabetes-related knowledge and self-care practices regarding, diet, medication, physical activity and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). RESULTS: Most subjects had received advice on the importance of self-care in the management of their diabetes and recognised its importance. Sixty-seven subjects (53%) scored below 50% in their diabetes-related knowledge. Subjects who consumed more meals per day (80%), or who did not include their regular sweetened food intakes in their daily meal plan (80%), or who were inactive in daily life (54%), had higher mean fasting blood glucose levels (p=0.04). Subjects with medication non-adherence (46%) also tended to have higher fasting blood glucose levels. Only 15% of the subjects practiced SMBG. Predictors of knowledge deficit and poor self-care were low level of education (p = <0.01), older subjects (p=0.04) and Type 2 diabetes subjects on oral anti-hyperglycaemic medication (p = <0.01). CONCLUSION: There were diabetes-related knowledge deficits and inadequate self-care practices among the majority of diabetic patients with sub-optimal glycaemic control. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study should contribute to the development of effective education strategies to promote health for adults with sub-optimal diabetes control.

Review of research methods used to investigate violence in the emergency department.

Violence in the emergency department (ED) is of constant concern to emergency practitioners. Much research has been conducted on this topic but it appears that there has been no attempt to systematically evaluate the methods that have been used to investigate this problem. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the research methods in order to identify the most effective approach for future use and to reveal gaps in the understanding of this problem. Most studies that have been conducted to investigate violence in the ED are descriptive in nature with the most common type retrospective or prospective surveys. Few interview-based studies have been conducted but these have provided an in-depth understanding of the perspectives and feelings of staff involved in the patient violence. However, none of the methods used have provided insight into the perspectives of patients or perpetrators of violence in the ED. To date, it appears that no observational or predictive studies pertaining to this problem have been conducted. Combining questionnaire-based and interview-based prospective surveys with observations could be an ideal method to investigate violence in the ED, as it would permit the researcher to investigate this complex problem more thoroughly and holistically.