Background and Aims: During the coronavirus pandemic (COVID‐19), healthcare providers confronted risks of disease transmission to themselves and their family members, resulting in physical and psychological burdens. This might affect their decisions to leave their jobs temporarily or permanently, fearing infection and protecting their families. This study examined the factors related to the intention to leave a job among healthcare providers during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Jordan.Methods: A cross‐sectional correlational design was used to collect data using a convenience sample of 557 healthcare providers working in different sectors across Jordan. Data were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire about the intention to leave jobs during the pandemic.Results: The sample included 368 females (63.8%) and 209 males (36.6%) participants. The mean age of participants was 30.8 years (SD = 6.65). Differences found in intention to leave job during COVID‐19 in relation to age (t = 2.60, p < 0.05), gender (X² = 4.25, p < 0.001), and marital status (X² = 18.2, p < 0.001). Participants with a high risk of exposure to COVID‐19 and who experienced higher workloads had higher scores of intention to leave their job during COVID‐19, while being married had lower scores.Conclusions: Policy‐makers need to pay attention to young and single healthcare providers during the COVID‐19 pandemic to prevent them leave their job. Crucial guidelines for managing workload during the COVID‐19 pandemic are needed. Policy‐makers during pandemics have to protect healthcare providers who feel they are at high risk of infection.

Background: Patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies residing in low-middle-income countries undergo significant physical and psychological stressors. Despite this, only 16% of them receive proper care during the terminal stages. It is therefore crucial to gain insight into the unique experiences of this population. Aim: To have a better understanding of the needs and experiences of adult patients with advanced hematological malignancy by exploring their perspectives. Methods: A qualitative interpretive design was employed to collect and analyze data using a phenomenological approach. The study involved in-depth interviews with ten participants aged between 49 and 65 years, utilizing a semi-structured approach. Results: Two primary themes emerged from the participants’ experiences of reaching the terminal stage of illness: “Pain, Suffering, and Distress” and “Spiritual Coping.” The first theme encompassed physical and emotional pain, suffering, and distress, while the second theme was centered on the participants’ spiritual coping mechanisms. These coping mechanisms included seeking comfort in religious practices, relying on spiritual support from family and friends, and finding solace in their beliefs and faith. Conclusion: Patients with hematological malignancies in the terminal stages of their disease experience severe pain, considerable physical and psychosocial suffering, and spiritual distress. While they require support to cope with their daily struggles, their experiences often go unnoticed, leading to disappointment and loss of dignity. Patients mainly rely on their spirituality to cope with their situations. Healthcare providers must acknowledge these patients’ needs and provide more holistic and effective care.

Background: Radiation-induced xerostomia is a prevalent and incapacitating side effect among patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), significantly impacting swallowing, sleep, nutritional status, and quality of life (QoL). Aim: This review assessed the burden of radiation-induced xerostomia and its consequences for swallowing disturbances, nutritional status, sleep quality, and QoL in patients with HNC undergoing radiotherapy. Method: An updated synthesis of current evidence was conducted using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time (PICOT) framework to analyze relevant studies. Eligible studies published between 2019 and 2024 were identified through systematic searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria focused on adult HNC patients undergoing radiation therapy, with outcomes assessing xerostomia, swallowing disturbance, nutritional status, sleep disturbances, or QoL. Data from 37 studies involving 6118 patients were extracted, including study design, patient demographics, treatment specifics, and outcome measures. Data synthesis: Findings revealed that xerostomia significantly affects swallowing, sleep, and nutritional status, leading to QoL impairments. Advanced radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, were associated with reduced xerostomia severity. Conclusion: Radiation-induced xerostomia profoundly impacts the well-being of HNC patients. Interventions targeting symptom management, advanced treatment modalities, and supportive care strategies are critical to improving QoL and clinical outcomes. Further longitudinal research is needed to address knowledge gaps and optimize care.

Objective: The current study aims to review, appraise, and synthesize the available studies and recommend the significant clinical implications for healthcare professionals to understand the existing findings of palliative care experience among patients with hematology malignancy. Methods: After excluding the registered or ongoing systematic reviews in the PROSPERO database regarding the lived experience of palliative care among patients with HM, our systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was registered in PROSPERO [CRD42021270311]. A search for published articles in English between January 2000 and December 2020 was conducted among different electronic databases using PRISMA guidelines 2020. Meta-synthesis was accomplished using the JBI meta-aggregation method to synthesize the findings. The implemented approach involved all qualitative research and mixed-method studies that included a qualitative part. Results: This review contained eight studies which led to 25 codes and seven categories. Finally, three synthesized themes were developed: (1) Approaching the end of life among patients with Hematology Malignancy, (2) submission and surrender of patients with Hematology Malignancy during their terminal stage, and (3) Entrance to the palliative care world. Therefore, realizing the importance of palliative care services to patients with Hematology Malignancy by providing evidence-based education and timely referral is crucial. Conclusion: There was a substantial increase in the HMs rate with late referral to palliative care services. The results of this review may draw attention to some issues reported by patients with Hematology Malignancy. Scaling up palliative care services for those patients is essential to minimize end-of-life suffering and the long-term impact of inadequate palliative care for patients with Hematology Malignancy.

This study investigates caregiver burden, unmet needs, and quality of life (QoL) in family caregivers (FCs) of patients with advanced hematology malignancies (HMs). A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at a governmental hospital (Between April - July 2021), involving 197 FCs. The survey used three validated tools: Needs Assessment of Family Caregivers-Cancer, Short form Zarit Burden Interview, and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer. The findings revealed that psychological needs (average score 29.6) and daily activity needs (average score 26.5) were the most unmet. The majority of caregivers reported experiencing a high burden (51.3%) and poor QoL, with an average score of 72.1. Those with higher daily activity unmet needs (β = 0.214, p < 0.001) and higher financial unmet needs (β = 0.696, p = 0.044) were associated with poor QoL. Also, patients with higher psychological unmet needs (β = .414, p < .001) and higher burden scores (β = 0.542, p < 0.001) had poor QoL. These results highlight an urgent requirement for measures addressing the unmet needs of FCs of patients with HMs in Jordan. The study underscores the importance of healthcare professionals recognizing and supporting the mental, psychological, and social needs of FCs.

Background: Information is presently lacking about the end-of-life care in intensive care unit (ICU). We explored the characteristics, mortality rates, and treatments received in the last few days of life for patients who died in ICU. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study. We included patients who died from different medical illnesses between January 2014 and January 2017 in 8 medical ICUs across 3 major health-care systems in Jordan. Of 11 029 patients who were admitted for the study in ICUs, data from 3885 health records were retrieved and analyzed. Pediatric patients aged younger than 18 years and patients admitted to an ICU for less than 4 hours were excluded. Results: The mean ICU mortality rate was 34.6% (29%-38%), with a slight decline from 2014 through 2016. Most of the patients who died were male (56.6%), transferred from the emergency department (46.8%), and had multiple comorbidities (74%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, invasive mechanical ventilation, pharmacological hemodynamic support, and artificial hydration were pursued until death for most patients (91.5%, 80.1%, 78.8%, and 94.1%, respectively). Conclusions: Aggressive treatment modalities were usually pursued for critically ill patients at the end of their lives. There is a need to explore further the current end-of-life care needs and practices in ICUs in Jordan and to tailor end-of-life care and management suitably to meet the needs of Islamic and Arabic cultures.