The Effect of Infection Control Course on Nursing Students' Knowledge of and Compliance With Universal Precautions: A Quasi-experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of and compliance with universal isolation precautions are important issues and were found to be low in many previous studies. However, there were no Jordanian studies that have examined the effect of an infection control teaching course on nursing students' knowledge of and compliance with universal precautions. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess knowledge and compliance levels, assess the relationships between knowledge and compliance, and examine the effect of infection control teaching courses on knowledge of and compliance with universal precautions among university nursing students. METHODS: A quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design using a convenient sample of 130 third-year nursing students was applied. The experimental group (n = 60) were third-year nursing students who registered for infection control clinical course for 3 months. On the other side, the control group (n = 70) were students at the same academic level but did not register for the course and never attended the course. RESULTS: The mean knowledge of and compliance with universal precaution were quite low, with a mean (SD) of 7.82 (1.98) and 49.36 (11.13) respectively. There was a statistically significant weak positive correlation between knowledge of and compliance with standard precaution (r = 0.28, P = .003). An independent t test indicated a significant effect of the infection control clinical course (t119 = -5.36, P = .01) on knowledge mean score (mean [SD], 15.51 [1.41]) and compliance with universal precaution mean score (mean [SD], 89.00 [10.17]; t119 = 6.26, P = .02) compared to the control group. Paired t test revealed that knowledge and compliance were significantly higher in the posttest than in the pretest in the experimental group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of and compliance with universal precautions were relatively low among nursing students. The application of an infection control teaching course helps improve both knowledge of and compliance with universal precautions among university nursing students.

Pressure Ulcers Prevalence in the Acute Care Setting: A Systematic Review, 2000-2015.

Little is known about the prevalence of pressure ulcer (PrU) in acute care settings. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence rate of PrU in acute care settings and to assess the methodological quality of the reviewed publications. The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, British Nursing Index, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched using the keywords pressure ulcer or decubitus ulcer or bed sore or pressure sore or pressure injury, with prevalence and acute care, for studies published between January 2000 and December 2015. Nineteen publications met our criteria. These reported a prevalence range of between 7.8% and 54% for those using European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel methodology, 6% and 22% for those using National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel methodology, and 4.94% for the study that employed the Torrance system. The likely worldwide PrU prevalence rate range in acute care settings is between 6% and 18.5%. Prevalence rate varies between studies depending on the methodology of data collection. Moreover, the methodological quality of the included studies in the review was variable; therefore, it was difficult to compare the prevalence rate between the studies, settings, and countries.

Prevalence of neonate adhesive skin injuries in a Jordanian intensive care unit.

AIM: To determine the prevalence of adhesive skin injuries in neonates in a Jordanian neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to examine the characteristics of neonates with these injuries. METHOD: A cross-sectional period-prevalence study was conducted in a NICU in Irbid National University Hospital in Jordan. A total of 169 neonates were examined for skin injuries caused by adhesive equipment. RESULTS: The prevalence of skin injuries in this population was 26.6%. The injuries were located mostly on the face, arms, hands and chest, and were caused by endotracheal tubes, intravenous cannulae, fixation of nasogastric tubes and electrodes. Neonates with skin injuries were more likely to be preterm and underweight, to have respiratory problems and to have been connected to a mechanical ventilator. CONCLUSION: Adhesive skin injuries were found in more than one quarter of the neonates in this NICU and healthcare service providers should endeavour to minimise the occurrence of these injuries.

eHealth literacy among undergraduate nursing students.

BACKGROUND: The Internet has become a major source of health related information. Nursing students, as future healthcare providers, should be skilled in locating, using and evaluating online health information. AIM: The main purpose of this study was to assess eHealth literacy among nursing students in Jordan, as well as to explore factors associated with eHealth literacy. METHODS: A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted in two universities in Jordan, one public and one private. A total of 541 students completed the eHealth literacy scale (eHEALS). Some additional personal and demographical variables were collected to explore their relation to eHealth literacy. RESULTS: Students have a moderate self-perceived level of eHealth literacy (M=3.62, SD=0.58). They are aware of the available online health resources and know how to search, locate, and use these resources. Yet, they lack skills to evaluate them and cannot differentiate between high and low quality resources. Factors that are related to eHealth literacy include type of university, type of student admission, academic level, students' internet skills, and their perception of the usefulness and importance of the internet. On the other hand, age, gender, grade point average (GPA), and frequency of internet use were found not to significantly affect eHealth literacy. CONCLUSION: This study represents a baseline reference for eHealth literacy in Jordan. Students have some of the necessary skills, while others still need to be improved. Nursing educators and administrators should incorporate eHealth literacy skills into the curriculum.

A comparison of the performance of the Braden Q and the Glamorgan paediatric pressure ulcer risk assessment scales in general and intensive care paediatric and neonatal units.

AIMS: To compare the predictive ability of two risk assessment scales used in children. BACKGROUND: There are several risk assessment scales (RASs) employed in paediatric settings but most have been modified from adult scales such as the Braden Q whereas the Glamorgan was an example of a scale designed for children. METHODS: Using incidence data from 513 paediatric hospital admissions, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was employed to compare the two scales. The area under the curve (AUC) was the outcome of interest. RESULTS: The two scales were similar in this population in terms of area under the curve. Neonatal and paediatric intensive care were similar in terms of AUC for both scales but in general paediatric wards the Braden Q may be superior in predicting risk. CONCLUSION: Either scale could be used if the predictive ability was the outcome of interest. The scales appear to work well with neonatal, paediatric intensive care and general children's wards. However the Glamorgan scale is probably preferred by childrens' nurses as it is easy to use and designed for use in children. There is some suggestion that while the two scales are similar in intensive care, for general paediatrics the Braden Q may be the better scale.

The prevalence of pressure ulcers in the paediatric population.

BACKGROUND: A paucity of research related to the problem of pressure ulcers in paediatrics is found, with a variety of reported prevalence rates. OBJECTIVE: To record the prevalence, location and categories of PU in the inpatient paediatric wards, and to identify the characteristics of pressure ulcer patients. DESIGN: A descriptive point prevalence study. SETTING: All paediatric inpatient wards in two hospitals in Jordan. One of which is a university-affiliated hospital and the other a paediatric public hospital. Isolation, burn and emergency units, outpatients' clinics and psychiatric wards were excluded. SAMPLE: One sixty six paediatric patients aged from one day up to 18 years from both hospitals. METHODS: Patients who met the inclusion criteria were included and examined for the existence of pressure ulcers on one day in each hospital by the primary investigator. The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel classification system was used to categorise each identified ulcer. The characteristics of ulcers were collected as well. RESULTS: Sixteen ulcers were identified in 11 patients, giving a prevalence rate of 6.6%.When Category I ulcers were excluded, the prevalence rate dropped to 2.4%. All except one of the PU patients were being treated in critical care units (n = 10, 90.9%), and most of the ulcers were category one (n = 7, 63.6%) and caused by devices (n = 7, 63.6). The face was the most frequently reported location of PUs (n = 6, 54.5%), followed by the occiput (n = 2, 18.2%). Most PU patients were male (n = 6, 54.5%), and less than 12 months old (n = 8, 72.7%). PU patients had experienced longer hospital stays than patients free from PU (U = 499.0, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Jordanian paediatric patients do have pressure ulcers, with a prevalence rate congruent with previously reported international rates. Most of the ulcers found were caused by devices used in critical care units. This should encourage nurses to pay extra attention to their paediatric patients when they are connected to medical devices.

Exploring changes in nursing students' attitudes towards the use of technology: A four-wave longitudinal panel study.

BACKGROUND: It is essential for nursing students to be equipped with the necessary technology skills throughout and after their study period. Their acceptance of this technology depends largely on their attitudes towards technology. OBJECTIVES: To explore the evolution in nursing students' attitudes towards technology, and to determine whether there was a change in participants' formal education in technology over their four years of study. METHODS: A longitudinal panel study was conducted in a single school of nursing in Jordan. A total of 140 students were followed over their four years of undergraduate study. They completed the same tool (the Technology Attitude Scale) each year, to capture any changes in their attitudes towards technology across the years. RESULTS: In all four waves of data collection, students showed positive attitudes towards technology, with the highest attitude scores being in their final year (M=6.19, SD=0.72). As the students spent more time on their nursing education, they were found to have a more positive attitude. Thus, a strong positive relationship existed between this formal education in technology and attitudes: as the students' education in technology increased, their attitudes were more positive. CONCLUSION: A remarkable development in students' attitudes towards technology is reported in this study. The positive attitudes displayed by the students should be enhanced by providing technology-related subjects during their studies in nursing schools at a very early stage.