Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of infected sandflies, causing disfiguring skin lesions and a range of physical symptoms. However, the psychological ...impact of CL is often overlooked despite the significant burden it imposes on the affected individuals and communities. This is especially true in Saudi Arabia, where limited research exists on the psychological consequences of CL, particularly among females. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by investigating the perceived psychological problems associated with CL among females living in the Hubuna area of Saudi Arabia.
This cross-sectional study recruited 213 females with CL in the Hubuna area of Saudi Arabia using purposive sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered electronic questionnaire that included socio-demographic characteristics and measures of depression and anxiety using the BDI and GAD-7 tools. Descriptive analysis was used to determine the psychological impact of CL, including means and standard deviations for the BDI and GAD-7 scores, as well as frequencies and percentages for other variables of interest. Logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of anxiety and depression, including variables such as age, marital status, education, occupation, number and location of lesions. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at
< 0.05. The study was carried out between September and December of 2022.
The study found that the mean Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scores among the participants were 8.67 ± 4.82 out of 63 and 8.20 ± 7.08 out of 21, respectively. Furthermore, the prevalence of depression and anxiety was 55.9% and 68.1%, respectively, indicating a significant psychological burden associated with CL in the study population. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety and depression were significantly associated with age, marital status, number of lesions, and location of the lesions on the body, highlighting the importance of considering these factors when designing interventions aimed at improving the mental health of CL patients.
In conclusion, this study highlights the significant psychological impact of CL among females in the Hubuna area of Saudi Arabia, calling for urgent action to address this neglected aspect of the disease. By integrating mental health considerations into CL prevention and management efforts, healthcare providers can improve the overall well-being of affected individuals and contribute to the broader goal of eliminating CL as a public health concern.
Background and Objective: Stress is common among nursing students, especially during COVID-19, because of direct contact with patients, so they need to cope with the stressors. The aim of this ...systematic review was to assess the level of perceived stress and coping strategies by nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: Databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched using keywords. The authors used keywords (perceived stress, coping strategies or resilience, and nursing students). The language was restricted to English. The studies, conducted between December 2019 and December 2021, were included. The full articles were checked for eligibility. The reference manager software EndNote X4 was used for sorting and managing studies. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO with a number: CRD42021267791. Results: Five studies were included in this review: the first study, from the Philippines, showed that levels of stress and coping strategies were estimated to be 79% and 76.8%, respectively; the second study, from Saudi Arabia, found that the rate of stress among nursing students was 30.9% with several strategies for coping, while the other study from Saudi Arabia showed that the stress level is 1.32 (low stress) and 1.95 (moderate stress) with different coping strategies (avoidance 1.47, problem solving 2.09, stay optimistic 2.06, and transference 1.87); the fourth study from the USA showed that the rate of stress is high 24.7%, with high levels of resilience among nursing students; and the fifth study showed that the rate of stress is 20.94 in the UK and 21.54 in China, with a resilience of 26.70 in the UK and 25.18 in China. Conclusion: The current systematic review showed that nursing students have a high level of stress in all included countries (the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the USA, the UK, and China), and they developed appropriate coping strategies to face the situation.
Background/Aim: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a significant complication of acute and chronic liver disease. It is crucial for nurses to have knowledge of encephalopathy symptoms to enable prompt ...and effective responses when caring for such patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate nurses' HE knowledge in Najran hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted with nurses at the Najran Hospital in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. The sample size was determined using Epi-Calc 2000, resulting in a final sample of 125 nurses from intensive care units (ICU), cardiac surgical ICU and pediatric ICU, and they were selected by convenience sampling technique. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and 125 nurses participated in knowledge assessment. The data were coded and entered into SPSS version 21.0 for descriptive and inferential statistics. Information letters and consent forms were obtained from all the participants. Results: The majority of nurses (88.8%) were female, and 59.2% were married. The age range of participants was 20-30 years (50.4%). Approximately 36.8% had 4-6 years of work experience. The majority of the nurses (87.2%) held a bachelor's degree. More than half (56%) of the nurses demonstrated moderate HE knowledge, whereas over a quarter (28%) exhibited good knowledge. There was a highly statistically significant association between marital status, level of education, nationality, and level of nurses' knowledge regarding HE (P-value = 0.01, 0.02, and 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: The study concludes that nurses in Najran hospitals have an adequate knowledge levels, ranging from moderate to good. This highlights the importance of tailored educational programs to enhance nurses' understanding of HE symptoms and management. Furthermore, the marital status, education level, and nationality have significant association with nurses' knowledge. Keywords: hepatic encephalopathy, knowledge, Najran hospitals, nurses
Background: The development of the nursing profession depends significantly on how communities perceive it. This study aims to identify the views and attitudes of Arabic communities, specifically ...those in Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt, toward the nursing profession. Methods: A descriptive comparative study was used to identify the perception of Arabic communities (Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt) toward the nursing profession. The study was conducted in three Arabic countries (Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt) using an online approach by sending the link of questions to the targeted population using emails, WhatsApp, and social media. There were 529 participants from the three Arabic countries. The study was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A majority (75.6%) of the participants were aged <40 years, with most (82.9%) being between 21 and 30 years of age. There was a generally positive perception toward the nursing profession among these communities: 97.6% of Sudanese, 94.9% of Yemenis, and 96.1% Egyptian. There was a borderline statistical significance between the Sudanese and Egyptians' age and their perception toward their profession. Gender is the only factor influencing the perception in Sudan and Egypt, and while women have a higher positive perception in Egypt, men have a higher positive perception in Sudan. Conclusion: Overall, the perception of Sudanese, Yemeni, and Egyptian communities toward the nursing profession is acceptable. The only influencing factor on the level of perception was Egyptian females who have high positive perception toward the nursing profession and Sudanese males who have high positive perception toward nursing profession We recommend further research to assess the perception toward nursing from different sociocultural backgrounds and on a larger sample size.
