Manar AlAzzam

Self-Medication among School Students.

Self-medication, usually with over-the-counter (OTC) medication, is reported as a community health problem that affects many people worldwide. Most self-medication practice usually begins with the onset of adolescence. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mafraq Governorate, Jordan, using a simple random sampling method to select 6 public schools from a total of 34 schools. The total sample consisted of 422 school students from Grades 7 through 12. Measures of central tendency and χ2 were used to compare the difference between the categorical variables. The prevalence of self-medication among the participants was 87.0%. Nearly 75% of self-medication was used for pain relief. The prevalence of self-medication among school students is very high and increases with age. School nurses and other local health-care workers must coordinate with school principals to disseminate health education campaigns about safe use of medication to provide awareness and education to school students, parents, and families.

The Relationship Between Social Support and Adherence to Healthy Lifestyle Among Patients With Coronary Artery Disease in the North of Jordan

Numerous studies have shown that social support improves health behaviors in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adherence to a healthy lifestyle, and social support and selected sociodemographics among patients with CAD. Cross-sectional descriptive design was used. A convenient sample of 153 patients with CAD was recruited from the cardiac clinic in an educational hospital in the north of Jordan. One hundred and thirty-three patients completed the interview. Social support was the most significant predictor—t(124) = 9.51, p < .001—which explained 60% of variance in adherence to a healthy lifestyle. Providing patients with adequate social support improves adherence to a healthy lifestyle. More attention should be given to the elderly and patients with low income to enhance adherence to a healthy lifestyle. The applications of this study in practice provide a guide for nursing clinical assessment of social support for patients facing CAD.

Workplace violence toward emergency department staff in Jordanian hospitals: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Workplace violence against emergency department staff (EDS) is considered one of the most common and widespread phenomena of violence in the hospital setting. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to determine the incidence of workplace violence and the predictors of violent behavior against EDS working at hospitals in Jordan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to investigate the workplace violence experiences of a convenience sample of 355 EDS working at 8 government-run and 4 privately run Jordanian hospitals. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that was developed for this study. Results: Nearly three quarters (72%) of participants reported being exposed to violent acts. Patients and their relatives were identified as the main perpetrators of this violence. The contributing factors to workplace violence identified by the participants included overcrowding, lack of resources, staff shortages, and the absence of effective antiviolence policies. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Policies and legislation related to workplace violence should be instituted and developed. Furthermore, EDS should be trained to deal with violent incidents and to understand violence management policies.

Prevalence and Risk Factors ofWorkplace Violence towardMental Health Staff Departments in Jordanian Hospitals

abstract A cross-sectional study (n = 262) was conducted to assess the prevalence of workplace violence among mental health departments staff in Jordan. The findings showed that 67.2% of the respondents were victims of at least one violent incident in the last year. Verbal abuse was the most reported type of violence. Patients were considered as the main source of violence. The contributing factors to workplace violence include being unmarried and working longer shifts. Sadly, just being a healthcare worker was found to also be a factor in the incidence of increased workplace violence. As a result of these findings, workplace violence policies and legislation should be instituted, and mental health department staff should be trained on violence-management policies.

Electronic versus paper records: documentation of pressure ulcer data

BACKGROUND The documentation of patient data on health records is a vital component of the care process. Accurate and complete recording of this data is a necessary practice. The adoption of electronic health records to improve the quality of nursing documentation is on the rise. OBJECTIVES This study compares the accuracy and completeness of pressure ulcer data documentation between electronic and paper records. DESIGN A descriptive, comparative design with a retrospective review of patient records. Settings and sample: Two hospitals were chosen purposefully, one using electronic recording of patient data and the other using paper records. METHODS In the first phase, all hospitalised patients aged 18 years and over were inspected for pressure ulcers. In the second phase, the files of patients with pressure ulcers were audited. RESULTS Of the 52 patients with ulcers found in the hospital that used an electronic system, 43 of their records documented the pressure ulcers (83%). Of the 55 patients with pressure ulcers in the hospital using paper records, 39 files had corresponding documentation of the presence of a pressure ulcer (71%). CONCLUSION In terms of accuracy and completeness, more comprehensive documentation practice was found on the electronic health records compared with paper records. However, both types of systems have shortcomings in the practice of pressure ulcer data documentation.

School Nurses' Role in Helping Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a multifaceted disease characterized by core symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, affecting children across every socioeconomic and ethnic group. An estimated 40% to 60% of children with ADHD have comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and learning disabilities. School nurses must be an integral part of the process of increasing awareness about ADHD through improving the service delivery model for affected children and their families. There is a solid foundation of research on which they can build to improve the benefits through study, workshops, community programs, and national screening programs.

Assessment of Headache Among High School Students in Jordan

Headache is considered one of the most common complaints affecting all ages: children, adolescents, and adults. A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess primary headache among high school students aged 16–18 in Grades 11–12, over a period of 3 weeks (May 2017). A questionnaire was designed, in accordance with the International Headache Society’s criteria. The Pearson’s χ2 test was computed to show the differences between the variables. Nearly two thirds of the students reported having headache (19.0% tension-type headache, 8.8% migraine, and 39.0% unknown type). Nearly a quarter sought help for headache, and the most frequently used analgesic was acetaminophen (82.2%) followed by aspirin (5.1%). The current study revealed that the prevalence of headache and migraine was initially high and increased with age. Moreover, headache is one of the major public health problems among high school students. An education program conducted by school nurses and other health-care providers regarding headache and migraine is needed.