Limited information is known from studies regarding traditional, religious, and cultural perspectives on mental illness and the use of traditional and alternative therapies by mentally ill people i...

Stigma is of central importance to people with mental illness and their families. It impacts how they experience their illness and access available health services. An important principle in mental healthcare is empowering patients to live independently and productively, which requires optimal caring from family members. Stigma can seriously hinder this principle. This qualitative study was based on Straussian grounded theory. Participants were 25 family members of people with mental illness. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes and memos, and managed using Paillé data analysis. We extracted four interrelated categories: pasung (confinement), demonic/devil possession, alternative treatments and social isolation. Because of misunderstandings about mental illness, participants turned to alternative treatments provided by shamans and religious leaders. Participants reported being expelled from or isolated by their community, suggesting stigma is a reality experienced by families of people with mental illness in Indonesia. Addressing family stigma is important to ensure on-going support for patients and families. It is also important to develop and evaluate anti-stigma interventions in the Indonesian context. The present findings are relevant for mental healthcare professionals, related practice areas where families may be exposed to stigmatization and for international audiences with similar cultural and religious contexts.

Background: Quantitative studies have provided valuable statistical insights into Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among patients with Heart Failure (HF), yet they often lack the depth to fully capture the nuanced, subjective experiences of living with HF particularly in the specific context of Jordan. This study explores the personal narratives of HF patients to understand the full impact of HF on their daily lives, revealing HRQoL aspects that quantitative metrics often miss. This is crucial in developing regions, where the increasing prevalence of HF intersects with local healthcare practices, cultural views, and patient expectations, providing key insights for tailored interventions and better patient care. Methods: Utilizing a phenomenological qualitative design, this study conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 25 HF patients to deeply explore their lived experiences. Thematic analysis was employed to identify major themes related to their perceptions of HF as a disease, its impact on various HRQoL domains, and their recommended strategies to enhance HRQoL. Results: The study involved 25 participants (13 males, 12 females), aged 26–88 years (mean 63), with diverse education and heart failure (HF) severities. It revealed three themes: HF perceptions, its impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across physical, psychosocial, spiritual, cognitive, and economic domains, and HRQoL improvement strategies. Participants had varied HF knowledge; some lacked basic understanding. The physical impact was most significant, affecting daily life and causing symptoms like breathing difficulties, coughing, edema, and fatigue. This physical aspect influenced their psychosocial and spiritual lives, cognitive functions, and economic stability, leading to fear, frustration, worry, social isolation, spiritual and cognitive challenges, and employment problems. Conclusions: The results underscores the need for holistic healthcare approaches, integrating medical, psychological, and social support. Key recommendations include integrated care models, comprehensive patient education, support networks, and policy interventions to enhance HF patient care.

Background: Advanced technologies in intensive care units, including artificial intelligence and digitization, has implications for psycho-emotional aspects of caring in terms of communication, involvement, and holistic provision in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. Critical care nurses must maintain a balance between their technological and humanistic caring behaviours during the provision of individualized holistic patient care. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine level and predictors of caring behaviours among critical care nurses in two Arab countries. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to achieve the objective of this study, whereby a quantitative online questionnaire survey was administered to 210 adult intensive care unit nurses at two government hospitals in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates), and two university hospitals in Amman (Jordan). Based on G* Power analysis, 200 participants were adequate to run the analysis. Results: On average, 49% of the whole sample had ‘good’ caring behaviours. Among nurses who were working in Emirati intensive care units, 48.5% had good caring behaviours, compared to 47.4% of Jordanian intensive care unit nurses. Additionally, the results showed that predictors of caring behaviours among nurses include female gender, holding a master’s degree, interest in nursing profession, and a 1:1 nurse-to-patient ratio. Conclusions: About half of the ICU nurses in this study had low levels of caring behaviours. The present study highlights the requirement for integrating the concept of holistic and patient-centred care as the essence of the nursing profession in nursing curricula to improve the level of care provided by all nurses working in intensive care units. Continuing education programs and specific interventional programs should be directed toward predictors of caring behaviours among each specific group of nurses. Future research is needed using qualitative methods to understand what the perception of intensive care unit nurses is about caring.

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a globally prevalent behavioural disorder, remains underdiagnosed, particularly among adults. This issue is exacerbated in the Arab region due to stigma and insufficient healthcare facilities and professionals. Despite the United Arab Emirates (UAE) efforts to improve mental healthcare, shortcomings persist. No studies in the UAE currently assesses the appropriateness of the screening system for ADHD and other behavioural issues. Furthermore, prevalence rates of ADHD, particularly within the young adult population, are absent. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of ADHD amongst young adults attending university in UAE and examine its relationship with gender and academic outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Young adults in their first year at university were recruited from different academic institutions across the UAE. The study utilized the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) for data collection. Results: A sample of 406 young adults, aged between 18 and 20 years of age were recruited. Approximately, 34.7% (n = 141) reported symptoms suggestive of probable ADHD. Significantly lower grade point average marks were observed in participants with ADHD symptoms (M = 3.15) compared to those without (M = 3.35). Females reported symptoms of probable ADHD at higher rates than males, indicating possibly a potential screening deficiency and a potential stigma consequence. Conclusions: The study demonstrates a high prevalence of probable ADHD in young adults, particularly among females attending university in the United Arab Emirates. Implications for early screening, service provision, and greater professional health training on this disorder are required.