Purpose: To examine prevalence, nutrition and activity, and overweight and obesity prevention and management in Saudi Arabia. Design: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis criteria, PubMed, Web of Science, PyschINFO, Global Health, Family Studies Worldwide, Middle Eastern Studies, and Sociological Abstracts was searched from January 1, 2003 to January 31, 2016. Inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed articles published in Arabic and English that focused on prevalence, overweight or obesity in children 2 to 20 years of age, body mass index percentile, and interventions. Findings: Three themes were identified: epidemiological features, where the eastern region had the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity, risk factors, which included higher parental education, and lifestyle factors, which included increased consumption of calorie-dense food and a sedentary lifestyle. Conclusion: Childhood obesity is increasing in Saudi Arabia at an alarming rate. Implications for Practice: Practitioners need to consider the cultural influences of the increasing obesity epidemic in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Poor sleep quality is prevalent among nurses worldwide. Around two-thirds of nurses doing shift work are known to experience sleep problems and fatigue. Fatigue and sleep problems are linked to poor performance, impaired alertness, injuries, chronic diseases, compromised healthcare quality, and medical errors, all of which detrimentally impact nurses and threaten patients’ safety. This area of research has received insufficient attention in Saudi Arabia; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the levels of sleep quality and perceived fatigue and their association among nurses working in acute care settings in comprehensive hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Chalder Fatigue Scale. Data was obtained via an online questionnaire that was distributed to nurses using the QuestionPro platform through hospital administrators, social media (WhatsApp), and personal contact. Results: A total of 173 nurses completed the online survey. Most participants reported poor sleep quality (n = 127, 73.4%) and severe perceived fatigue (n = 156, 90.2%). Furthermore, the study revealed a significant correlation between the overall sleep disturbance and fatigue global scores (r = 0.57, P < 0.001), indicating that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with higher fatigue levels among the study sample. Conclusions: The current study found a significant association between sleep quality and severe fatigue in nurses working in high acute care settings in Saudi Arabia. It is very clear from the results that nurses are experiencing poor sleep and severe fatigue, which in turn, will negatively impact the nurse’s quality of life and patient safety.

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health challenges for adolescent populations. The current study aims to examine the levels of perceived stress of COVID-19 and self-compassion and their relationship among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. This study employed a cross-sectional online survey of adolescents from secondary schools in Asir, Saudi Arabia. Instruments that we distributed online included the modified Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), in addition to demographic and health-related questions. A total of 500 adolescents completed the survey. Adolescents in the study reported an average moderate perceived stress level of 18.6 (SD = 6.67) and an average moderate self-compassion level of 3.22 (SD = 0.53). A significant correlation is also found between the two variables (r = -0.460, P < 0.001). This negative correlation indicates that lower levels of perceived stress are significantly correlated with higher levels of self-compassion. The study results show that the perceived stress of COVID-19 is inversely correlated with self-compassion in Saudi adolescents. Further research is needed to explore how to enhance adolescents' self-compassion. School nurses' role should be given full play in this area.

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between the perceived levels of resilience and self-efficacy among a selected sample of pediatric nurses working in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Patients and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was used. A total of 99 pediatric nurses from two governmental hospitals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia completed an online survey which included two standardized measures: The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE). Results: The nurses reported an overall moderate resilience level (M = 19.3, SD = 2.6) and moderate general self-efficacy level (M = 32.1, SD = 4.9). The Spearman’s Correlation test revealed a significant positive correlation between perceived self-efficacy and resilience (rho = 0.19, P < 0.05). This indicates that pediatric nurses who reported having higher levels of perceived self-efficacy would also have higher levels of resilience. Conclusion: Nursing plays a vital role in the healthcare system and requires ongoing development. It is essential for nurses to cultivate resilience skills, which are crucial for reducing turnover, burnout, and empathy fatigue.

Background: A growing body of literature has focused on issues related to recruitment and retention to enhance diversity in nursing. This study was designed to identify barriers and supports encountered by underrepresented students when applying to nursing school. Method: Twenty-two underrepresented baccalaureate nursing students participated in two focus groups. Applied thematic analysis was used to organize the data and identify major themes. Results: Students expressed the importance of having (a) navigators in the offices of admissions and student affairs to provide encouragement, support, and information during the application process; (b) tailored programming for underrepresented students; (c) financial aid guidance; (d) timely feedback about admissions decisions; (e) a clear and easily navigated Web site; and (f) negotiation and acculturation to know the right things to do and say during the application and admissions process. Conclusion: Findings provide direction for developing programming and collaborations to enhance the institutional climate for underrepresented nursing applicants. [ J Nurs Educ. 2015;54(5):261–269.]

Aim: To examine nurses and other healthcare professionals’ perspectives on the sociocultural communication strategies that shape both expressing and responding to nursing assertive communication behaviors in Saudi Arabia. Background: Assertive communication skills are an integral part of safe nursing practice and are closely aligned with nursing empowerment. Saudi Arabia has unique sociocultural dimensions that shape how nurses express, respond, and adopt certain tactical choices when practicing assertive communication behavior with peers and other healthcare professionals. Methods: A descriptive, qualitative case study design focusing on one university teaching hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia was conducted. Data were collected using four focus groups, four semistructured interviews with nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and senior executive hospital personnel, along with document analysis. Data collection is guided by the modified version of Garon (2012)’s three communication dimensions on speaking up and examines the sociocultural communication strategies within the contexts of assertiveness or saying “no” indirectly. Results: Analysis led to three major themes and seven subthemes: “Understanding the cultural context,” “Tactical choices for practicing assertiveness,” and “Change on the horizon.” Conclusion: This study provides a valuable perspective on how nurses and other healthcare professionals from Saudi Arabia view and contextualize assertive communication in their practice. Implications for Nursing Management: The findings highlight the importance of understanding communication strategies that are utilized by the nursing workforce from diverse working environments, with a sociocultural focus on assertiveness strategies that promote staff empowerment.