Associations Between Barriers to Implementing Evidence-Based Practice and Patient Safety.

Background and Purpose: Few studies have assessed the associations between barriers to evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation and patient safety perceptions among nurses. The purpose of this study was to describe perceived barriers to implementing EBP and their associations with perceived patient safety and the frequency of events reported among nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was used. A self-reported questionnaire was answered by 404 participants in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were implemented. Results: Over half of the nurses expressed a positive response regarding the overall perception of patient safety. Nurses who perceived more barriers to finding and reviewing research had more overall perception of patient safety. Meanwhile, nurses who perceived more barriers to changing practice had more frequency of events reported. Implications for Practice: Interventions to decrease barriers to EBP should be included in all hospital policies and strategies to enhance patient safety perception and frequency of events reported among nurses. The strategies should focus on enhancing research utilization and changing practice.

Risk Knowledge and Awareness of Coronary Heart Disease, and Health Promotion Behaviors Among Adults in Oman.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between an individual's characteristics and experiences (age, gender, level of education, income, and employment), knowledge of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, perception of health status, awareness of CHD, and health promotion behaviors among adult Omanis. METHODS: Using Pender's health promotion model, a cross-sectional and correlational survey design was employed. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 180 participants in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Descriptive and multivariate linear regression analyses were employed. RESULTS: Increasing age was associated with high levels of awareness about CHD. Participants who were employed and knowledgeable about CHD risk factors were more likely to have lower perceptions of health. The regression model showed that knowledge of CHD risk factors and awareness of CHD had positive associations with health promotion behaviors. Meanwhile, employed participants had lower health promotion behaviors scores. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Interventions to increase health promotion behaviors should include application of behavioral change strategies that are suitable for age and employment status. The strategies must focus on providing information to enhance knowledge and awareness about CHD.

Perceptions of risk of coronary heart disease among people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: Our aim is to assess perception of risk of developing coronary heart disease and to examine its associations with individuals' characteristics and health behaviours among Omani people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). BACKGROUND: Evaluating perceptions of being at risk of developing a disease may give insight into health promotion behaviours. People with diabetes are at high risk of coronary heart disease. The management of diabetes mellitus should include prevention and control of coronary heart disease. DESIGN: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted. METHODS: A convenience sample of 160 adults with T2DM was invited to participate in this study between November 2014 and March 2015. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed to examine associations between study variables. RESULTS: Perception of risk of developing coronary heart disease was significantly associated with low educational level (ß = 0.191, P < .05), low income (ß = 0.201, P < .05), and high level of knowledge about diabetes mellitus (ß = 0.200, P < .05). People with T2DM who perceived coronary heart disease as having few moderate known outcomes and consequences reported consuming healthy diet more frequently. CONCLUSION: Teaching people with T2DM about the risk of developing coronary heart disease is essential as it could motivate them to perform health promotion behaviours, which may assist in controlling and reducing coronary heart disease.

Another Chance at Life: Jordanian Patients' Experience of Going Through a Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening health condition that has physical, spiritual, emotional, and social changes. Understanding feelings and thoughts of patients who suffered MI attacks is essential to recovery. Among Jordanian patients who suffered an acute attack of MI, the aim of the study was to describe the experiences and the varied meanings that they assign to their experiences. METHODS: A qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological research design was used. Five participants were engaged in in-depth semistructured interviews. The participants were identified using a purposeful sampling technique, after being admitted at a coronary care unit in a university hospital located in Amman, the capital city of Jordan. The hospital provides a full range of cardiovascular medical and surgical care for patients admitted from different socioeconomic levels. Transcribed data were analyzed following inductive qualitative content analysis method. RESULTS: The experience of MI was a traumatizing event characterized by life-threatening symptoms, and participants feared they would not come back home. However, cultural values and religiosity among the Jordanian patients played a major role in facilitating their positive coping during and after the MI attack. The participants' recount of their experience was summed-up into 5 major themes: frightening experience, needed support, religiosity, experiencing changes, and lifestyle modifications. After the MI attack, most of the participants felt that they had given another chance to live, showing a pressing need to make healthier lifestyle modifications to avoid another MI attack. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Health care workers should need not only pay attention on physical and physiological caring aspects but should also consider other patients' needs, while supporting the patients and their family members.

Symptom management strategies of Jordanian patients following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

The aim of this study was to explore the symptom management strategies utilized by post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients and its associations with demographic variables. A clear understanding of the use of symptom management strategies following CABG surgery may help nurses in developing educational program and interventions that help patients and their families during recovery period after discharge. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was utilized. A convenience sample of 100 Jordanian patients post CABG surgery selected from five hospitals was surveyed between November 2012 and June 2013 using the Cardiac Symptom Survey. Chi squared analyses were used to examine the associations between the symptoms management strategies and selected demographic variables. Frequency of symptom management strategies utilized by post CABG patients revealed that most frequently employed strategies were use of medications (79%), repositioning (54%) and the rest (45%). Symptom management strategies utilized for poor appetite, sleeping problem and fatigue had significant associations with demographic variables. By providing information about the symptoms expected after surgery and possible ways to manage them, will strengthen the patients psychologically and will make CABG experience within the realm of self-management and coping.

Symptoms Experienced by Jordanian Men and Women After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery experience a wide spectrum of physical and psychological symptoms after surgery. Studies have shown that symptoms usually decline over time; however, some can persist up to months after discharge. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess symptoms experienced by patients after CABG surgery and any associations with demographic variables. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample of 100 Jordanian post-CABG surgery patients was selected from 5 hospitals in Jordan. Patients were surveyed using the Cardiac Symptom Survey. To examine the associations between the symptoms experienced and selected demographic variables, χ(2) analyses were used. RESULTS: Chest incisional pain (65%) was the most frequently perceived symptom by the participants. Leg swelling (60%) was also reported by a nearly equivalent number of respondents. Symptoms like fluttering (15%), angina (8%), and depression (3%) were reported by a handful of participants. Three symptoms (poor appetite, sleeping problem, and fatigue) had significant associations with demographic variables. DISCUSSION: The identification of frequently perceived symptoms among post-CABG patients enables health care providers to focus their assessments in identifying and alleviating them. The demographic associations identified facilitate nurses to forecast certain specific symptoms in targeted populations, like women are more prone to experience poor appetite and sleeping difficulties and strengthen these groups with strategies to prevent themselves from these distressing symptoms.