Factors Influencing Occupational Health and Safety among Nursing Students in Their Clinical Placements: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Occupational health and safety aims to promote and maintain optimal physical, mental, and social health for workers in their occupations. Within Saudi Arabia, adequate information must be gathered to address the various factors influencing occupational health and safety among nursing students to minimize occupational health hazards and ensure a safe clinical environment. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between April and September 2023, involving 150 nursing students. Data collection included questions to gather sociodemographic information, and contained an instrument assessing the participants' knowledge of occupational health and safety and evaluation of risk control in clinical environments. Blood and other bodily fluids, workplace violence, needle-stick injuries, and injuries caused by sharp instrument tools were identified as the most prevalent occupational risks among the participants. Most nursing students were aware of occupational health and safety, with a high level of compliance with occupational health and safety measures and personal protective equipment use. We also identified a statistically significant correlation between occupational health and safety knowledge and risk control evaluation among nursing students. To ensure a safe and beneficial clinical training area, student nurses must complete extensive occupational health and safety courses before moving to clinical areas to reduce potential hazards that may affect their lives.

The Effectiveness of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program in Improving Patients' Self-Efficacy and Health-Related Behaviors: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

The Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a valuable educational resource for supporting patients' self-management behaviors. However, no evidence supporting its effectiveness in the Saudi Arabian population exists. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the 6-month CDSMP in individuals with chronic conditions in Saudi Arabia within a primary care context. A quasi-experimental design was conducted in 110 adults living with ≥1 chronic disease in Saudi Arabia. The patients in the experimental group (n = 45) participated in a six-session CDSMP, whereas those in the control group (n = 65) continued their usual care. Baseline and 6-month assessments were conducted using relevant questionnaires to assess outcome measures. Analysis of covariance revealed that the participants who underwent the CDSMP had significantly higher self-efficacy levels in managing their conditions (F = 9.80, p < 0.01) and a greater tendency to adopt healthy behaviors to successfully manage their chronic illnesses (F = 11.17, p < 0.01). The participants who underwent the CDSMP also showed significant improvements in all health-related outcomes compared with those in the control group (p < 0.01). These findings indicated that the program had a positive effectiveness in self-efficacy, self-management behaviors, and health-related outcomes among adults with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. The CDSMP may be integrated into primary care settings to help patients successfully manage their chronic conditions.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Self-Management Program on Patients Living with Chronic Diseases.

Background: Chronic diseases are a major public health concern globally, and the position in Saudi Arabia is no exception. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) is a widely used intervention process to address care of chronic conditions. However, its effectiveness in a Saudi context has not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the post-intervention outcomes of the CDSMP in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: The study utilized a qualitative design on patients with chronic conditions. Data were collected through two focus group sessions with 15 participants who had completed the CDSMP. A thematic analysis technique was used for data analysis. Results: Three key themes emerged from analysis of the qualitative data obtained through the focus groups: the perceived benefits from participation in the CDSMP workshop; the impact of the CDSMP workshop on improving health status and quality of life; and, the cultural acceptability of the CDSMP. The study also found that the CDSMP was effective in improving participants' self-management skills and quality of life. Additional benefits included increased motivation for behavioral change, enhanced confidence regarding self-care of chronic conditions, improved communication with healthcare providers, and better coping strategies. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of the CDSMP in addressing chronic conditions in Saudi Arabia. The program's emphasis on self-management skills and peer support aligns with the cultural values of Saudi Arabia. However, applying the CDSMP across various chronic conditions should be addressed in future interventions.

Validation of the Arabic Version of the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13) for Application within the Primary Healthcare Context in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Empowering patients with behavioral issues or chronic conditions to actively participate in their healthcare can help improve health outcomes. However, in the Saudi Arabian context, evaluation tools for achieving this goal are lacking, considering cultural and healthcare system factors. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Patient Activation Measure. METHODS: This cross-sectional validation study was conducted on a sample of 225 patients receiving treatment from primary healthcare centers located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Item analyses and reliability and construct validity testing of the tool were conducted. RESULTS: The item-total correlation coefficients ranged from 0.31 (item 2) to 0.57 (item 11). The item-total correlation coefficients for all 13 items were above 0.30. The reliability was 0.80. A two-factor model ("knowledge and beliefs" and "confidence and skills") reflecting the instrument was constructed. The raw model did not sufficiently fit the data (χ2 = 170.98, degree of freedom (df) = 64, p < 0.001; Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.79; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.83; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.86 [90% confidence interval {CI} = 0.07-0.10]). After all significant correlations between the items' error terms were modeled, an adequate fit was achieved (χ2 = 76.76, df = 51, p < 0.01; TLI = 0.94; CFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.04 [90% CI = 0.02-0.07]). CONCLUSIONS: the Arabic version of the Patient Activation Measure can be utilized by healthcare providers to assess the activation levels and unique needs and preferences of Arabic-speaking individuals and tailor interventions accordingly to provide necessary support.

The psychometric properties of the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale in Saudis with type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale (A-DSES). DESIGN: This study used a cross-sectional design. METHODS: This study recruited 154 Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes at two primary healthcare centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Its instruments were the Diabetes Self-Efficacy Scale and the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire. The psychometric properties of the A-DSES were assessed for reliability, including internal consistency and validity using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and criterion validity. RESULTS: The item-total correlation coefficients were >0.30 for all items, ranging from 0.46 to 0.70. The Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency was 0.86. One factor was extracted from the exploratory factor analysis (self-efficacy for diabetes self-management), and the one-factor model showed an acceptable fit to the data in the confirmatory factor analysis. Diabetes self-efficacy levels were positively correlated with diabetes self-management skills (r = 0.40, p < 0.001), indicating criterion validity. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the A-DSES is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing self-efficacy related to diabetes self-management. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The A-DSES could be used in clinical practice and research to provide a reference for assessing self-efficacy levels in areas of diabetes self-management. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Participants were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of this research.

A Mixed-Methods Sequential Explanatory Study of the Factors That Impact Nurses' Perspectives toward Nurse Practitioners' Roles in Saudi Arabia.

Nurse practitioners' roles need to be clearly defined in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, we aimed to explore potential factors that impact nurses' perspectives toward nurse practitioners' roles and whether they are interested in becoming nurse practitioners. A mixed-methods study design was employed using a questionnaire and focus groups. The survey was sent to nurses working at a public hospital in the Riyadh region. Participants (N = 77) reported that having more nurse practitioners would improve quality of care and patient safety. Additionally, most participants stated that an increased supply of nurse practitioners would have a positive impact on effectiveness, equity of care, and healthcare costs. In regression analysis, participants with favorable perspectives towards nurse practitioners were significantly more likely to have interest in becoming nurse practitioners (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]:1.04 [1.01-1.07]). In the qualitative domain, three positive factors were identified: effective collaboration with other staff, better contribution to quality care and patient safety, and better contribution to evidence-based practice. Two barriers were also determined: lack of motivation to become a nurse practitioner and unclear scope of practice. Results showed that nurse practitioners can provide quality healthcare services that meet patients' different needs. The growing role of this speciality warrants further research to show its value in daily practice.

Patient activation, adherence to hypertension treatment plans and blood pressure control in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between patient activation, adherence to hypertension treatment plans, blood pressure control and other important demographic factors. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary healthcare centres in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 114 adults with hypertension, including 68 men and 46 women. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Blood pressure control is achieved if (a) patients under 80 years of age with treated hypertension have blood pressure under 140/90 mm Hg or (b) patients aged 80 years or over with treated hypertension have blood pressure under 150/90 mm Hg. Secondary outcomes included patient activation, adherence to hypertension treatment plans and demographic factors (age, gender, education, income and comorbidity). Data were analysed using Pearson's correlation and multiple regression models. RESULTS: 57% (n=66) of participants did not achieve the ideal blood pressure target. Perfect adherence to hypertension treatment plans was significantly associated with lower systolic (r=-0.38, p<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.50, p<0.01). Age was significantly correlated with patient activation (r=-0.20, p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.33, p<0.01). There was no statistically significant association between Patient Activation Measure, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. In the hierarchical regression analysis, adherence to hypertension treatment plans was found to be a significant predictor and explained 15% of the variance in systolic blood pressure (ß=-0.36, p<0.001) and 26% of the variance in diastolic blood pressure (ß=-0.51, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The individual and family self-management theory can serve as an effective theory for understanding the key factors in achieving ideal blood pressure target. The majority of patients with hypertension reported lower levels of activation and poor blood pressure control. Inadequate adherence to treatment plans was related to poor blood pressure control. This work is pivotal in devising self-management interventions to assist patients in the management of hypertension disease, especially in Saudi Arabia.

The impact of a 12-hour educational program on nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Proper pain assessment is fundamental to effective pain management. Training nursing staff is critical for improving pain assessment competence and patient clinical outcomes. However, there is a dearth of research examining interventions that can enhance nurses' knowledge and attitudes toward pain management, especially in Saudi Arabia. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured education program on nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards pain management. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design was used. The study sample included 124 registered nurses working in intensive care or inpatient units in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected between March and September 2021 using a knowledge and attitudes survey regarding pain, satisfaction with and self-confidence in learning, and the learning self-efficacy scale for clinical skills. RESULTS: Nurses showed moderate levels of knowledge and attitudes regarding pain before (M = 20.3, SD = 4.80) pain management education, which were significantly higher after the intervention (M = 22.2, SD = 5.09, t = 2.87, p < .01). Before the intervention, nurses with a baccalaureate degree had more knowledge and better attitudes regarding pain management than diploma nurses (t = 3.06, p < .01). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups after the intervention (p > .05), indicating that the education was effective in enhancing nurses' knowledge and attitudes, regardless of nursing education level. Nurses in this study had high mean scores for self-confidence in learning (M = 35.6, SD = 4.68, range = 18-40), self-learning efficacy (M = 52.9, SD = 7.70, range = 25-60), and satisfaction with learning (M = 22.2, SD = 3.24, range: 10-25). CONCLUSION: Regular pain education programs can improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes. Increasing the breadth and depth of educational courses, alongside appropriate training, competency-based assessment, and pain education programs, is also recommended. Future research should consider the subjectivity and individualized nature of nursing by including patient satisfaction surveys to measure the improvement in nurses' knowledge and attitudes from the patient perspective.

Organizational Factors Associated with Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge, Attitudes, and Implementation among Nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial in keeping nurses aware of the current knowledge and improving clinical decision-making. The integration of nurses' EBP competencies and organizational support has been suggested to create an effective arena in implementing EBP. The purpose of the study was to examine organizational factors influencing nurses' EBP knowledge, attitudes, and implementation and identify staff nurses' perceptions of EBP nursing leadership and hospital supports in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from a convenience sample of staff nurses (N = 227) working in four hospitals using a cross-sectional, correlational descriptive design. Level of education (p < 0.05), EBP training (p < 0.05), unit type (ICU (p < 0.001) and ER (p < 0.01)), perceived nursing leadership (p < 0.001), and work environment (p < 0.05) supports were found significantly associated with nurses' knowledge. Magnet recognition (p < 0.01) and knowledge (p < 0.001) had significant influence on nurses' attitudes. Unit type (ER) (p < 0.05), knowledge (p < 0.001), and attitudes (p < 0.001) were associated with implementation. Encouragement to attend EBP trainings from nursing leadership was perceived by most nurses (51.1%). Nurses reported their hospitals support EBP through training (68.2%). Findings support the need for healthcare systems to create a culture that facilitates EBP implementation to enhance nurses' EBP competencies and improve patients' outcomes. Nursing managers may consider preparing nurses through education.

Cyberloafing behaviours in nursing: The role of nursing stressors.

AIM: To assess the prevalence of minor and serious cyberloafing behaviours among nurses and examine the impact of the nursing stressors on nurses' cyberloafing behaviours. BACKGROUND: Cyberloafing could have a negative influence on employees' job performance, but it also has been argued that it could serve as a coping mechanism to deal with stressful work environments. DESIGN: A cross-sectional descriptive, correlational design. METHODS: Data were collected between September and December 2020 from a convenience sample of staff nurses (N = 291) providing care at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Sample characteristics, nursing stressors and cyberloafing behaviours information were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. FINDINGS: Nurses in Saudi Arabia exhibited low levels of minor and serious cyberloafing behaviours. However, they engaged more frequently in minor cyberloafing behaviours more than serious cyberloafing behaviours. Stressors and Internet usage frequency influenced the frequency of minor and serious cyberloafing behaviours. Level of education and nationality impacted serious cyberloafing behaviours only. CONCLUSION: Nursing stressors were associated with cyberloafing behaviours. Other studies on cyberloafing and job stress yielded inconsistent results. Efforts should be taken to avoid the adverse effects of cyberloafing by establishing a clear policy on using the advanced technology for non-work purposes.

Impact of Behavioral Interventions on Patient Activation in Adults with Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Behavioral interventions assist patients in maintaining optimal self-management of their health, especially in those at risk of certain conditions. Little is known about the effects of self-management interventions on patient activation in adults with hypertension. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate how self-management strategies affect changes in activation levels in adults with hypertension. Methods: We searched online databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published between January 2004 and May 2021. We included randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of self-management interventions on patient activation in adults with hypertension and reported patient activation using the patient activation measure (PAM). Results: 4 Four studies (N = 1415 participants) met the inclusion criteria. In adults with hypertension, self-management interventions improved patient activation with moderate strength of evidence. A community-based self-management program, motivational interviewing strategies, and home-based patient-activated care were associated with better PAM scores than usual care. Conclusion: Our findings reinforce the need for healthcare providers to incorporate these interventions into primary care to support the adoption of recommended hypertension self-management behaviors. Future studies must focus on tailoring support to the patient's level of activation in hypertension self-management.

The Influence of Nurses' Characteristics on Medication Administration Errors: An Integrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Medication administration errors (MAEs) are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in acute care settings and can result in a prolonged hospital stay. The WHO estimated that medication errors cost up to $42 billion globally per a year. Therefore, MAEs was among the most common medical errors to occur in acute care settings. Studies of medication error usually focus on system factors, thus creating a gap between what researchers know about the causes of MAEs, and what frontline nurses actually do in the clinical setting. The purpose of this review is to fill a gap in the existing literature by focusing on the relationship between nurses' characteristics and MAEs. METHODS: Online databases were accessed, including CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar from 2007-2020 period. This review was guided by the methods described by Whittemore and Knafl. Studies that addressed the occurrence of medication errors based on RN demographics were included in this review. The included studies were reviewed and analyzed by the two authors. RESULTS: Of the 1141 publications retrieved, 19 studies met inclusion criteria. The result provided strong evidence that nurses' level of education, length of experience, and attendance at training courses, are directly associated with the occurrence of MAEs. There is weak evidence of MAEs being influenced by the age and gender of nurses. Other nurse characteristics, such as cognitive load, frustration with technology, negligence, lack of attentiveness, and nurse ethnicity, are not adequately examined across the reviewed studies necessitates further research. CONCLUSION: Focusing on nurses' characteristics might facilitate other researchers to suggest appropriate interventions that may reduce the incidence of MAEs. Interventional studies may provide convincing evidence as to whether one variable has a causal effect on another variable, and control the influence of confounding variables to enhance the generalizability of the findings.