End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a growing public health concern in Oman, with an increasing number of adults requiring hemodialysis and facing complex dietary restrictions. Adequate nutrition knowledge and nutrition literacy are essential for effective dietary self-management, yet their relationship with dietary adherence in the Omani hemodialysis population remains underexplored. To determine the level of dialysis-specific nutrition literacy among Omani adults with end-stage kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis and to identify socio-demographic and clinical factors that predict acceptable nutrition literacy in this population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 adults with ESKD receiving hemodialysis in Oman. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demographic and clinical items, the Dialysis-Specific Nutrition Literacy Scale (DSNLS), the Dialysis-Related Diet Knowledge Questionnaire (DDKQ), and adherence/health-belief subscales (perceived benefits, barriers, seriousness, susceptibility, and self-efficacy). Descriptive statistics summarized sample characteristics and scale scores. Correlation analyses assessed relationships between nutrition literacy, diet knowledge, and adherence-related perceptions. Multiple logistic regression identified independent predictors of acceptable nutrition literacy. Participants had a mean age of 48.19 years and a mean dialysis duration of 5.46 years. Overall, 60.7% had acceptable dialysis-specific nutrition literacy and 39.3% had limited literacy. Dialysis-related diet knowledge was low in 10.7%, moderate in 46.4%, and high in 42.9% of participants. Perceived benefits of dietary adherence were high, whereas perceived barriers, seriousness, and susceptibility were moderate and self-efficacy was relatively low. Nutrition literacy was positively correlated with perceived benefits, seriousness, susceptibility, and self-efficacy, while diet knowledge showed weaker associations with these beliefs. In the logistic regression model, living in the city (OR = 0.17, p = 0.01) and having diabetes mellitus as a comorbidity (OR = 0.17, p = 0.01) were associated with lower odds of acceptable nutrition literacy, whereas higher hemoglobin levels (OR = 1.51, p = 0.04) and self-rated “very good” overall health (OR = 5.80, p = 0.03) were associated with higher odds. Most Omani adults on hemodialysis demonstrated acceptable nutrition literacy and at least moderate renal-diet knowledge, but a substantial subgroup had limited literacy and low self-efficacy for dietary adherence. Nutrition literacy was more strongly linked to adherence-related beliefs than factual knowledge alone and was influenced by place of residence, comorbid diabetes, hemoglobin level, and perceived health. These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored, literacy-sensitive nutrition education in Omani dialysis units, with particular attention to urban patients and those with diabetes, to strengthen self-efficacy, address perceived barriers, and ultimately improve dietary adherence and clinical outcomes.

Background: Pressure injuries are a preventable source of morbidity, mortality, and excess healthcare costs among hospitalized adults. They represent a significant burden in acute and critical care settings in the Eastern Mediterranean region, yet data from Oman remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and burden of pressure injuries and to identify their clinical determinants among adult hospitalized patients in Oman. Methods: A multicenter, descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted in four tertiary hospitals in Oman. A total of 169 adult inpatients were assessed using standardized pressure injury definitions and staging criteria. Point and periodic prevalence of pressure injuries, including hospital- and community-acquired cases, were calculated over a three-month data collection period. Demographic and clinical data (comorbidities, hemoglobin levels, prior pressure injury history, ventilator use) were extracted from medical records. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were used to identify factors independently associated with the presence of pressure injuries. Results: The overall point prevalence of pressure injuries was 8.7%, including 4.2% hospital-acquired and 4.7% community-acquired cases; periodic prevalence over the three-month study period was also estimated to capture pressure injuries occurring at any time during hospitalization. Most lesions were located over bony prominences and ranged from stage 1 to stage 4. In multivariable analysis, lower hemoglobin levels (odds ratio [OR] 0.059, p = 0.019), prior pressure injury history (OR 0.156, p = 0.003), cancer diagnosis (OR 4.328, 95% CI: 1.225–15.291, p = 0.023), and ventilator use (OR 0.211, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with pressure injury development. Conclusions: Pressure injuries represent a considerable burden among adult hospitalized patients in Oman, with almost half of cases being hospital-acquired and therefore potentially preventable. Identified determinants particularly anemia, cancer, previous pressure injury, and mechanical ventilation highlight the need for targeted risk stratification and intensified preventive measures in high-risk groups. Integrating routine risk assessment, nutritional optimization, and device-related pressure relief into standard care may reduce pressure injury occurrence and improve patient outcomes.

Background: Secondary osteoporosis is common but remains understudied in various contexts. In Oman, public awareness of osteoporosis and its risk factors is low, and to date, few studies have specifically addressed secondary osteoporosis, despite its implications for healthcare costs, quality of life, health promotion, and well-being. Objective: To identify the common characteristics of patients with secondary osteoporosis in Oman to guide patient education and interventions for health promotion. Methods: This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study analyzed data of patients diagnosed with secondary osteoporosis at a national referral center in Oman in February 2025. In a database of 500 patients, 112 eligible cases were included, and all met the inclusion criteria. The extracted data included demographic and lifestyle factors, laboratory results, and medical history pertinent to osteoporosis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The mean age was 39.44 ± 7.50 years, and many participants reported regular physical activity and chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (17%), chronic kidney disease (14.3%), diabetes mellitus (13.4%), inflammatory bowel diseases (8.9%), and cancer (8%), among others. The commonly taken medications linked to osteoporosis were proton pump inhibitors (41%), glucocorticoids (35.7%), and thyroid hormones (12.5%). After the diagnosis of secondary osteoporosis, patients had a recorded diagnosis of chronic pain (75%), fractures (26.8%), and depression (17%). Follow-up bone mass density testing indicated low lumbar, hip, and femoral z-scores in patients with a history of cancer, chemotherapy, smokers, and thyroid hormone therapy. Conclusion: Chronic diseases were common among patients with secondary osteoporosis. Thus, patients with non-communicable diseases need comprehensive risk assessment, routine screening, and health promotion to enhance bone health maintenance. Nurses can play a critical role in providing patient education and guidance to promote bone health.

Background & Objective: While students' perceptions are rarely discussed in studies on student evaluations of teaching effectiveness, the majority concentrate on the features, validity, and reliability of the questionnaire used, the variables affecting students' ratings, and the proper assessment of teaching quality. Therefore, this study aims to look into how ...