Fournier's gangrene in a female: A case report.

Fournier's gangrene is characterized by an acute necrotic infection. The infection can occur in all parts of the body including the scrotum, penis, or perineum, and is a rare condition that is primarily reported in men and seldom in women. Existing literature suggests that it might be underreported, possibly leading to overlooked cases. Risk factors include diabetes, chronic illness, and trauma. This case involves a 52-year-old female with a 10-year medical history of diabetes mellitus, multiple healed skin lesions all over the body, and dermatitis. The presentation was a perianal swelling, which progressed into an extensive necrotizing soft tissue infection of the perineum, making a diagnosis of Fournier's gangrene. She underwent wide local debridement and was managed with antibiotics in a timely manner. The patient's clinical course and subsequent follow-up were uneventful. Uncontrolled diabetes and dermatitis significantly increase the risk of Fournier's gangrene; therefore, it should be suspected in women with such comorbid conditions. This case highlights the need for increased awareness and vigilance regarding this condition among women.

Systematic Review for Risks of Pressure Injury and Prediction Models Using Machine Learning Algorithms.

Pressure injuries are increasing worldwide, and there has been no significant improvement in preventing them. This study is aimed at reviewing and evaluating the studies related to the prediction model to identify the risks of pressure injuries in adult hospitalized patients using machine learning algorithms. In addition, it provides evidence that the prediction models identified the risks of pressure injuries earlier. The systematic review has been utilized to review the articles that discussed constructing a prediction model of pressure injuries using machine learning in hospitalized adult patients. The search was conducted in the databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHIL), PubMed, Science Direct, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Cochrane, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria included studies constructing a prediction model for adult hospitalized patients. Twenty-seven articles were included in the study. The defects in the current method of identifying risks of pressure injury led health scientists and nursing leaders to look for a new methodology that helps identify all risk factors and predict pressure injury earlier, before the skin changes or harms the patients. The paper critically analyzes the current prediction models and guides future directions and motivations.

Factors correlating with self-care behaviors among patients with coronary artery disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In Palestine, there is a lack of studies that examined self-care behaviors among patients with coronary artery disease in outpatient clinics.Objective: This study purposed to evaluate self-care behaviors, examine the relationship between self-care behaviors and selected sociodemographic and psychosocial factors (e.g. depression, anxiety, stress, and social support), and self-efficacy, and determine predictors of self-care behaviors among patients with coronary artery disease in outpatient clinics in the West Bank/Palestine.Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted.Methods: A total of 430 Palestinian adult patients suffering from coronary artery disease attended outpatient clinics were recruited. A self-reported questionnaire consisting of the following tools: Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale 21, Sullivian's Self-efficacy scale, and Multidimensional Social Support Scale was used to collect data during the period from the beginning of April to the beginning of July 2022. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson's and Point-biserial correlation tests and multiple linear regression) were used for analyzing data.Results: The patients reported low self-care behaviors levels and high self-efficacy levels. The psychosocial reactions endorsed by the patients were 86.3% for depression, 76.3% for anxiety, 43.3% for stress, and 98.6% had moderate and normal social support. A positive correlation was found between self-care behaviors and age (r = 0.160, p < 0.01), duration of disease (r = 0.095, p < 0.05), self-efficacy (r = 0.443, p < 0.01), and social support (r = 0.266, p < 0.01). Self-efficacy (B = 0.401, p < 0.01), social support (B = 0.160, p < 0.01), and age (B = 0.109, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of self-care behaviors in those patients.Conclusion: Low self-care behaviors were a significant issue among patients with coronary artery disease in outpatient clinics. This study may help healthcare professionals develop health promotion programs for patients with coronary artery disease to improve self-care behaviors.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Adults in the West Bank: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study.

Seroprevalence studies provide an accurate measure of SARS-CoV-2 spread at a population level and the number of undiagnosed individuals. Repeated cross-sectional sero-studies are encouraged to monitor the spread of the virus. The aim of this study is to assess the seroprevalence rate among a random sample of Palestinians residing in the West Bank region of Palestine, especially among those who were not vaccinated and not diagnosed. The study was able to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic cases among the Palestinian adult population. The study also focused on measuring the percentage of adult Palestinians who accepted to get vaccinated across gender and age groups. Methods: This second round cross-sectional study involved 1451 participants, who agreed to be interviewed and answer the questionnaire, where 910 of them agreed to participate in the sero-study and donate a blood sample to be tested for antibodies. The sample was randomly selected from the adult population, 18 years or older, living in the West Bank region of Palestine. Serological tests for 910 adequate serum samples were performed using immunoassays for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Sociodemographic information and medical history data were collected. Results: Study findings indicate that as of October 2021, there was a seroprevalence rate of 75.9% (30% due to infection with COVID-19 virus and 45.9% due to vaccination) with 95% CI (73.1−78.7). The results indicate that the prevalence of antibodies among those who are unvaccinated and undiagnosed was 45.2% with 95% CI (39.9−50.5%). The average age of participants was 37.6 years old. A total of 49.2% were females, and 50.8% were males. In relation to COVID-19, 13.6% of respondents reported getting infected by COVID-19 with statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.001) between males (10.7%) and females (16.5%). In terms of vaccination, 52.8% of respondents reported getting vaccinated with an important difference between males (64.3%) and females (40.9%), (p-value < 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings reveal a drastic rise in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies due to infection and vaccination. This information is useful for assessing the degree of herd immunity among the adult population and provides better understanding of the pandemic. Population-based seroprevalence studies should be conducted periodically to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Palestine and inform policy makers about the efficacy of the surveillance system and the public compliance with vaccination policies especially among females.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the West Bank region of Palestine: a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: Seroprevalence rates are important indicators to the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the extent of the pandemic given the existence of asymptomatic cases. The purpose of this study is to assess the seroprevalence rate in the Palestinian population residing in the West Bank. SETTING: The study involved 1355 participants from 11 governorates, including 112 localities in the West Bank and 1136 individuals visiting Palestinian medical laboratories. PARTICIPANTS: Blood samples were collected between 15th June 2020 and 30th June 2020 from 1355 individuals from randomly selected households in the West Bank, in addition to 1136 individuals visiting Palestinian medical laboratories between the 1st May 2020 and 9th July 2020 for a routine check-up. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Out of the 2491 blood samples collected, serological tests for 2455 adequate serum samples were done using an immunoassay for qualitative detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Seroprevalence was estimated as the proportion of individuals who had a positive result in the total SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the immunoassay. RESULTS: The random sample of Palestinians living in the West Bank yielded 0% seroprevalence with 95% and an adjusted CI (0% to 0.0043%), while the lab referral samples yielded an estimated seroprevalence of 0.354% with 95% and an adjusted CI (0.001325% to 0.011566%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that as of mid-June 2020, seroprevalence in Palestine persists low and is inadequate to provide herd immunity, emphasising the need to maintain health measures to keep the outbreak under control. Population-based seroprevalence studies are to be conducted periodically to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Palestine and inform policymakers about the efficacy of their surveillance system.

Research in conflict zones: implications for nurse researchers.

Using the example of a doctoral research study conducted in the Palestinian West Bank during December 2008 to January 2009, the implications for nurse researchers conducting research within armed conflict zones are described and analyzed. The philosophical implications for nurse researchers who are members of a displaced population being studied under conditions of violence are discussed. Instrumental and affective methodological implications are explored, with the identification of potential barriers and solutions for conducting research in this context.