Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a main, highly prevalent, and challenging public health issue. Suboptimal self-care for type II diabetes can lead to poor glycemic control, complications, and even death. Objective: This study investigated the incidence of distress and its link with self-care habits of patients with diabetes type II. Methods: A correlational, cross-sectional design with a convenient sample of 200 patients was used to conduct this study. Three questionnaires were administered: (A) the demographic and medical data questionnaire; (B) diabetes self-care activities in brief; and (C) the diabetes distress scale in Arabic language. Results: The patients’ mean age was 51.78 ± 11.34; 80% of patients practiced lower levels of diabetes self-care, and 37% of them had a high level of diabetes distress. Self-care is associated with diabetes distress ( R = −0.152, p-value = .032). Conclusion: Self-care activities can help in the early detection and management of diabetes distress. Sustained self-care education is promising to minimize diabetes distress. The potential advantages of association between diabetes distress and self-care can offer self-care programs that enhance diabetes distress management.
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as one of the top ten public health threats facing humanity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship educational intervention on family caregivers’ knowledge and practices in primary healthcare settings in Egypt. Methods: A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design involving a sample of 300 family caregivers attending family health centers. The data were collected using questionnaires that assessed caregiver knowledge and self-reported practices regarding AMR before and after the intervention (primary outcomes). The intervention combined tailored knowledge and practice components that carefully evaluated participants’ knowledge regarding AMR, health risk, antibiotic usage, and prevention of infection. Furthermore, their practice of using antibiotics, including previous antibiotic exposure, their antibiotic use during the past year, reasons for taking antibiotics, ways of obtaining antibiotics, and reasons for discontinuing of antibiotic therapy were also recorded. Results: The pre-intervention assessment revealed poor knowledge and practice regarding antibiotic use. Post-intervention, mean knowledge scores increased significantly from 18.36 to 23.28 (t = 19.5, p < 0.0001), while mean practice scores improved from 9.83 to 12.37 (t = 6.4, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The intervention successfully improved caregivers’ knowledge and practices regarding AMR. However, there are some limitations that could affect the generalization, and the impact of the results such as the relatively small sample size recruited from a single center, lack of a control group, reliance on self-reported data, and lack of long-term follow-up. Future studies should aim to address these constraints in order to assess the intervention’s effectiveness.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the public’s perspectives and the health institutions’ readiness for telehealth utilization in Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected from a convenient sample of 800 Egyptian citizens and 26 nursing administrators and information technology personnel from 16 governmental hospitals and 10 private hospitals between January and March 2022. The Egyptian community utilization of telehealth questionnaire and the telemedicine hospital readiness assessment were used to collect the data. Results: The results revealed that 35.1% of the general Egyptian population used telehealth services and 43% expressed willingness to use them in future. As perceived by the general Egyptian population, the most prevalent barriers to telehealth utilization were communication barriers (97.6%), lack of confidence in health professionals (77.6%), technological limitations (72.5%), the need for physical examination (25%), and privacy concerns (10%). Regarding hospital readiness, 42% of governmental hospitals were not taking any initiative to implement telehealth services, and 15.4% were at the beginner level, meaning that some steps had been taken. However, the hospital was still far from being able to implement telehealth services. In contrast, private hospitals were either at the beginner or advanced level. Conclusion: Although the use of telehealth services in Egypt has increased, there is a need to address the barriers to public utilization and improve hospitals’ readiness to implement telehealth services to enhance public usage.
Background: Cesarean sections (CS), although commonly performed and generally considered safe, may be associated with prolonged hospitalization, increased postoperative pain, and a higher risk of complications. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led Enhanced Recovery Program (ERP) on selected outcomes among women undergoing elective CS. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted across inpatient and outpatient settings at Cairo University Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, including 90 women allocated into a study group ( n = 45) and a control group ( n = 45). Data was collected using structured interviews, numerical pain rating scale, postoperative recovery criteria, functional outcome assessment, and satisfaction questionnaire. Results: Both groups had comparable demographic characteristics. The ERP group demonstrated significantly better outcomes including reduced pain scores (2.71 vs. 4.26 at discharge, p < 0.001), faster ambulation (4.37 vs. 8.11 h), shorter hospital stays (9.22 vs. 11.88 h), and zero wound infections compared to 13.3% in controls. The intervention group showed higher satisfaction rates (33.3% vs. 8.9% completely satisfied) and greater functional outcomes in physical activities, self-care, and baby care 48 h post-discharge ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The nurse-led ERP effectively improved post-cesarean outcomes, including pain control, recovery time, functional independence, and maternal satisfaction with self and infant care. The findings support integrating nurse-led ERP into cesarean section protocols across maternity hospitals to enhance maternal and neonatal outcomes. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.
16 January 2023 in The Egyptian Journal of Bronchology
Background: Adherence to preventive control measures is influenced by perception, attitudes, and practices toward the disease prevention. Aim: To assess the perceptions, attitude, and practices of university students in three health sector faculties (Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy) from six Egyptian universities towards COVID-19 pandemic prevention. Methods: An electronic online survey was distributed to students of 3 faculties (Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing) in six Egyptian universities from March to July 2021. The questionnaire consists of the following parts: socio-demographic data of participants, student perception and attitude towards the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, as well as practices of preventive measures in the community. Results: The study included 1990 participants. Most respondents perceived the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic (88.2%). The rates of practicing precautionary measures were mostly high (approximately 90% or above). Significantly high attitude scores toward the pandemic were detected in people with quite-to-extremely concerned, very good/excellent status, aware of infection risk, willing to report positive cases and avoiding contact with them, and seeking medical advice regarding infection. The attitude to protective measures followed a similar pattern along with average health status, female students, and avoidance of contact when experiencing flu symptoms. Significantly higher practice scores were observed in those with bad health status, rural areas, perceiving the risk of infection, willing to report positive cases, and avoiding contact with positive cases. Conclusion: The effectiveness of precautionary measures should be stressed to promote positive student practices.
1 December 2020 in Egyptian Journal of Health Care
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic caused an immediate and significant shift in how nursing education can be delivered. Aim: Exploring the experience of nursing college student with e-learning and its related stressors. Design: qualitative phenomenological research. Sample: A purposive sample of 20 nursing college students from grades 1 to 4. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using WhatsApp mobile messaging and Zoom meeting applications. Semi-structured interviews included two parts: demographic characteristics of the students and six open-ended questions for exploring the experience of nursing college student with e-learning and its related stressors. Setting: The study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing Cairo University. Results: The lived experience of e-learning and its related stressors among nursing college students in the current study is presented in seven major themes; living in uncertainty, psychological suffering, privileges of e-learning vs. traditional method, educational difficulties, challenges of e-learning, and stress management techniques used with e-learning. Conclusion: Nursing students generally view e-learning as a successful experience to some extent. However, they reported many challenges and stressors associated with e-learning, including unreliable internet, and perceived the faculty is unprepared to teach in this environment. Therefore, it is recommended to replicate the research on a large sample and in different settings to achieve more generalization. Also, to train teaching staff, students to deal with distance learning sites and programs and give oral and written assignments and directions.