Background: The quality of life for people with chronic illnesses like cancer has been shown to be significantly impacted by self-efficacy and perceptions of their illness. Objectives: This study investigates the relationship between cancer patients’ perceptions of their illness, their self-efficacy beliefs, and their quality of life. Method: Conducted from December 2022 to February 2023, this research involved 120 adults undergoing cancer treatment. We utilized the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the Arabic version of the Cancer Behavioral Inventory Brief (CBI-B), and the Arabic EORTC QLQ-C30, alongside clinical data collection. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation and descriptive statistics. Results: Breast cancer emerged as the most common type among participants. A positive correlation was found between self-efficacy and quality of life, as measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30, particularly in relation to symptom management. Interestingly, all dimensions of illness perception correlated with quality of life, except for control and concerns. Conclusions: The findings underscore the vital role of nurses and healthcare providers in aiding cancer patients to develop and utilize self-management strategies effectively. The study reveals that a patient’s capacity to manage their illness is significantly influenced by their confidence, understanding of their condition, and overall quality of life. Addressing these aspects can greatly enhance healthcare professionals’ contribution to improving the resilience and well-being of individuals battling cancer.

Introduction: The rising prevalence of patients living with chronic illnesses and frequent hospitalizations represent many challenges in delivering high-quality care. Assessing patients’ perceptions and needs regarding the quality of health care services is a critical step in improving quality of care. Objective: This study sought to explore the perception of quality of care from the perspectives and experiences of chronically ill patients during hospitalization. Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative descriptive design. Face-to-face semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 15 chronically ill patients at their bedside during their current hospital admission. Analysis followed Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Results: Overall patients were pleased with their hospitalization experience; however, they highlighted many aspects of care that can be addressed to improve the quality of care provided. Five themes were identified from the analysis as follows: defining quality of care; aspects related to the healthcare providers; unmet care needs; patient's involvement in healthcare decisions and care expectations and outcomes. Conclusion: A key finding of this study was the association between quality of care and healthcare providers’ skills, clinical competence, and attitudes. Poor communication and discoordination of care were the most significant impediment expressed. Actively involving patients in care may be effective when combined with meeting expectations. The findings of this study helped to identify the strength points and areas of improvement that are the cornerstone for developing tailored and patient-centered strategies to improve the quality of care during hospitalizations among chronically ill Saudis.

Background: Nurses often face significant emotional distress and grief when dealing with patient deaths, especially in acute hospital settings. Despite extensive literature offering guidance on nursing practices for providing optimal care to terminally ill patients and their grieving families, there is a scarcity of empirical research examining nurses’ experiences of grief following patient deaths in Middle Eastern contexts. This study aimed to assess the relationship between grief and coping strategies among nurses experiencing patient death in an acute hospital in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey distributed to nurses at King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah. Data from 382 nurses were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, Pearson’s chi-square test, Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, and regression analysis were employed to examine the associations between grief levels, coping strategies, and various socio-demographic and professional characteristics. Results: Among the participants, 80% were aged 25–40 years, and 50% were married. Most nurses (85.4%) reported normal levels of grief. Coping strategies’ mean scores ranged from 2.60 to 5.52. Grief levels showed significant correlations with nationality, received support, and intervention type. Nurses with high or severe grief levels had significantly higher mean scores for problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping strategies (p < 0.001). A significant positive linear correlation was found between total coping scores and total grief scores. Regression analysis indicated that 21.3% of the variance in total coping scores was explained by total grief scores. Conclusions: The study highlights that while nurses employ personal coping strategies, there is a need for additional, culturally tailored support to manage grief effectively. Implementing structured support systems may enhance nurses’ coping mechanisms and overall well-being when facing patient deaths.

Lifestyle interventions are an essential element in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, promoting a healthy lifestyle is challenging because a multitude of factors interact and influence people’s decisions to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. The effects of these factors on Saudi cardiac patients are largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to healthy lifestyle changes among Saudis after cardiac events. The study followed an exploratory qualitative research design, using a social ecological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants (13 men and 8 women) who had a cardiac event. Participants were purposively recruited from cardiac clinics of two hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were analysed using the qualitative framework analysis, and factors were identified as salient based on their frequency and the potential strength of their impact. Six factors were identified as influencing lifestyle behaviours in cardiac patients, categorized as ‘major’ factors and ‘mediating’ factors. The ‘major’ factors were sociocultural norms, family values, and religious beliefs, and the mediating factors were insufficient healthcare services, physical environment, and policy regulations. Depending upon the behaviours reported and the context, the same factor could be classified as both a barrier and a facilitator. The findings of this study can be used to inform the development of contextual-based interventions to promote the adoption of healthy lifestyles that meet the population needs and are relevant to Saudi society.

Introduction: Caregivers play a critical role in improving stroke survivors’ outcomes. Yet, they often encounter numerous challenges in their caregiving process, with the lack of rehabilitative services and poststroke follow-ups. While extensive research has explored caregiver challenges primarily in Western contexts, sociocultural factors significantly influence family caregiving experiences and roles, necessitating exploration within the Saudi cultural context. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the experiences of family caregivers of stroke survivors in Saudi Arabia. Method: A descriptive exploratory qualitative design was employed. Using purposive sampling, 20 family caregivers of stroke patients were recruited from three healthcare institutions. Data collection involved individual semi-structured interviews complemented by field notes. A thematic analysis approach was used for data analysis. Results: Four major themes captured caregivers’ experiences and challenges: (a) emotional and psychological strain, (b) barriers to navigating healthcare systems, (c) disrupted daily living and social isolation, and (d) resilience through coping mechanisms. Conclusion: This study enhances the understanding of caregivers’ experiences of stroke survivors in Saudi Arabia. While the findings are aligned with global literature, they also reveal culturally specific challenges and coping mechanisms that are unique to the Saudi context. These insights underscore the need for culturally sensitive practices, including caregiver education, mental health support, and community-based services. To improve continuity of care and caregiver well-being, healthcare policies should prioritize integrated support systems and long-term care planning tailored to family-centered models of caregiving.

Background/Objectives: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT), the formation of a blood clot within a large vein, is one of the most common problems among hospitalized patients. The annual prevalence of DVT is 48 per 1,000,000. Nurses’ knowledge significantly affects compliance with VTE risk assessment and prevention. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices regarding deep venous thrombosis prevention among nurses in Ministry of Health hospitals and King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This study was conducted in Jeddah using a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design. A sample of 240 registered nurses were conveniently recruited to complete a self-administered online questionnaire. The data were coded and analyzed through SPSS version 24. Results: The participants had adequate knowledge on the prevention of DVT (75.64 ± 18.88), and the highest level was observed for knowledge about the prevention and prophylaxis of DVT (81.98 ± 45.73%). The practice level of nurses in preventing DVT was 71.92%, with a mean score of 18.7. Conclusions: There is a significant effect of nurses’ level of academic qualifications, working ward, and DVT prevention training on their knowledge and practice of DVT prevention.