Ruqayya Zeilani

Muslim women's experiences of suffering in Jordanian intensive care units: A narrative study

This paper explores Muslim womens experiences of suffering in Jordanian intensive care units. A narrative approach was employed to access womens stories of their critical illness. Sixteen women who had spent at least 48 hours in intensive care were recruited from two hospitals in a Jordanian city and took part in between one and three interviews over a six-month period. Womens accounts of suffering were pervaded with physical, social, spiritual and technological themes. Pain was a central strand in the womens accounts and was experienced often as severe, overwhelming and disturbing to their sleep. The sudden onset of illness, the unfamiliar ICU environment and feeling of uncertainty made it difficult for the women to interpret their experiences. Religious beliefs and cultural norms helped the women make sense of their suffering. Social support, especially from the family, was reported by the women to be essential: a lack of social support was seen as a symbol of death. This study emphasises the importance of looking at a patient who is critically ill as a whole person within the context of their cultural, spiritual and biographical milieu.

Screening for breast cancer among young Jordanian women: ambiguity and apprehension

AIMS The goal of this study was to understand young Jordanian womens attitudes towards breast cancer screening practices in order to improve young womens uptake of screening and early detection. BACKGROUND The incidence of breast cancer is increasing annually among younger Jordanian women; however, little is known about their attitudes towards breast cancer and associated screening practices. Young womens attitudes towards breast cancer must be taken into account when designing screening strategies and interventions specifically for this age group. Screening strategies must also acknowledge young womens cultural context; however, little is known about how culture shapes their understandings and practices. METHODS A qualitative interpretive approach was utilized to interview 45 young educated women about their breast cancer views and screening practices. Data were analysed thematically. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Four overlapping themes emerged: (i) young women should not think about it, (ii) absence of a role model, (iii) cultural shame of breast cancer, and (iv) cancer means death and disability. The study found high levels of apprehension and ambiguity related to breast cancer. This was associated with the perceived impact of a cancer diagnosis on a young womans social status and family role. Family support was perceived to be a necessary prerequisite for seeking treatment or screening. CONCLUSIONS Understanding young womens perception about screening and early detection of breast cancer is essential for policy makers and healthcare providers to design culturally appropriate and age-appropriate health promotion campaigns and services.

After the Doctorate: A qualitative study investigating nursing research career development in Jordan

There is a dearth of research exploring the development of postdoctoral nursing research careers in non-Western contexts. This paper reports on a qualitative study of Jordanian graduates of UK PhD programs. Interviews were held with 16 graduates who worked in the nursing faculty of seven different universities in Jordan. Participants reported that their doctoral degree had equipped them with confidence and enthusiasm for developing a research career. Mentorship, leadership, and peer support were identified as essential to supporting ongoing research activity. Access to these sources of support was variable and participants also described a range of institutional and organizational structures that directly or indirectly discouraged them from developing research productivity. This research suggests that support for postdoctoral novice researchers is an important area for further attention - for Jordanian universities, for UK PhD supervisors (and their associated academic departments), and for the wider nursing community.

Looking back at the doctorate: A qualitative study of Jordanian graduates from PhD programs in the UK

Many countries develop their nursing capacity by sending nurses overseas to gain their doctorates. There is a lack of research on their subsequent experience and career development. Focusing on the Jordanian and UK contexts, this qualitative study explored the doctoral and postdoctoral experience. Interviews were held with 16 PhD nursing graduates in Jordan. The participants had studied in 12 different universities in the UK and now worked as faculty members in seven Jordanian universities. The data were analyzed thematically. The participants reported that the most difficult task (but also the most significant achievement) was the transition to autonomous scholarship. They also described a profound personal transformation as a result of living in another country. However, very few of them could cite examples of how they were using their skills now to influence their current practice within their faculty roles. This suggests a possible under-use of the skills, new perspectives, and enthusiasm that new doctoral graduates bring back home with them. Future research should focus on identifying ways to support and develop doctoral nursing graduates to maximize their potential on their return home.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Index

Abstract Objective: Public understanding of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important to ensure informed participation in CKD prevention programs. This study aimed to develop and to test the psychometric profile of the CKD Screening Index that measures patient’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding CKD prevention and early detection. Methods: A cross-sectional design was implemented and a total of 740 Jordanian patients recognized at risk for CKD were recruited by convenience sampling from out-patient departments. Development and psychometric validation of the CKD Screening Index were conducted in four phases: (1) item generation, (2) pilot study, (3) preliminary psychometric validation study to examine factor structure, and (4) final psychometric validation with 740 participants. Results: On factor analysis, 24 items categorical knowledge items loaded into one factor and yielded a Guttman Split-Half Coefficient of 0.80. In a separate factor analysis, 15 items were loaded on two attitude factors (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.69), and nine items loaded on two practice factors (Cronbach alpha coefficient = 0.68). The CKD Screening Index associated significantly and negatively with depressed and anxious patients compared to their counterparts. Practice implications: This promising CKD Screening Index can be used for an early identification of patients at risk for CKD, thus, allowing the development of interventions to raise these patients’ awareness. Future studies are needed on other populations with different cultural background to support reliability and validity of this new instrument.

Jordanian Women's Personal Practices Regarding Prevention and Early Detection of Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND Breast cancer, as a leading cause of mortality, is responsible for 12.5% of all deaths in Jordan. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe Jordanian womens personal practices and perceptions of breast cancer screening tests. METHODS A quantitative cross-sectional survey using a proportionate stratified sample of 331 women was conducted. The target population includes all Jordanian women living in high- and low-density neighborhoods. The population involved women from the 12 governorates areas. RESULTS Perception of susceptibility, confidence in performing breast self-examination (BSE) barriers of the group that had previously performed BSE were significantly higher than those who did not practice (t = 8.38, p = .02; t = 9.90, p = .00; t = -0.98, p = .01, respectively). CONCLUSION The results of this study provide information to policy makers and healthcare leaders who seek to improve breast cancer prevention and response to cancer control efforts.

Perspectives and Attitudes of Jordanian Male College Students on Breast Cancer Screening

The purpose of this study is to understand the attitudes of young Jordanian men towards breast cancer screening practices. A qualitative descriptive design informed by Clendenin and Connelly was used. Thirty-seven in-depth semi-structured individual audiotaped interviews were conducted. The analysis of the men’s attitudes toward breast cancer captures the perception that breast cancer is an illness that occurs mainly later in life. This was associated with the perception of negative impact of cancer diagnosis on a young woman’s social status and family role. Men believed that breast cancer preventive practices must be performed in a similar context of women’s religious and cultural background. Younger generations are in need for health education related to breast cancer and its screening. It is important to provide support and guidance for young men to be more involved in providing early detection of breast cancer.

Looking back at the doctorate: A qualitative study of Jordanian graduates from PhD programs in the UK: Looking back at the doctorate

Many countries develop their nursing capacity by sending nurses overseas to gain their doctorates. There is a lack of research on their subsequent experience and career development. Focusing on the Jordanian and UK contexts, this qualitative study explored the doctoral and postdoctoral experience. Interviews were held with 16 PhD nursing graduates in Jordan. The participants had studied in 12 different universities in the UK and now worked as faculty members in seven Jordanian universities. The data were analyzed thematically. The participants reported that the most difficult task (but also the most significant achievement) was the transition to autonomous scholarship. They also described a profound personal transformation as a result of living in another country. However, very few of them could cite examples of how they were using their skills now to influence their current practice within their faculty roles. This suggests a possible under-use of the skills, new perspectives, and enthusiasm that new doctoral graduates bring back home with them. Future research should focus on identifying ways to support and develop doctoral nursing graduates to maximize their potential on their return home.