RESUMO
Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most significant leading causes of death and disability in the world. The quality of life (QoL) score is used to evaluate the impact of ACS treatments on the patients' physical, emotional, and social functioning. It is considered a significant indicator of the progress of the patients' health status and is useful in predicting patients' needs for continuing, modifying, or changing their treatment plans. Objective: To identify the associations between patients' characteristics and the QoL among ACS patients in Jordan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 372 participants with ACS from six referral hospitals in Jordan. Results: Jordanian patients with higher educational level and exercise had significant and positive association with QoL (ß = 0.257, p < .001), (ß = 0.191, p < .001), respectively. Also, patients who reported having dyslipidaemia and having unstable angina (UA) had lower score of QoL (ß = -0.165, p < .001), (ß = -0.149, p < .001), respectively. Finally, gender and working status did not significantly appear to have an association with the total QoL. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the importance of increasing the level of patients' awareness about their illness by educating them about it and encouraging them to engage in physical activity programs.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The literature shows that oncology nurses have more stressors than nurses in other units. They face many challenges both within and outside the work environment that affect them negatively. Most of the reviewed studies concerning these challenges were conducted in developed countries. AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges experienced by oncology nurses in Jordan during their daily practice. METHOD: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted. Semistructured individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with 24 nurses. Participants were selected from oncology departments in one of the biggest governmental hospitals in Jordan. RESULTS: Two main themes were drawn from the data analysis. The first discussed the personal challenges that oncology nurses encountered. These included emotional attachment to patients and difficulties in separating work and personal life. The second related to organizational challenges in the work environment, which included the nurses' lack of authority to inform patients about their diseases, nursing staff and supply shortages, and a lack of orientation programs. All of these factors affected the psychological status of the nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that the working environment for oncology nurses is highly stressful and demanding and these nurses face many challenges in their work. The understanding and consideration of these challenges by stakeholders, managers, and organizational leaders would lead to improvements in the nurses' psychological state, thereby enhancing the quality of care in these units and helping with staff retention.
