Reliability of The Post-Operative Recovery Index for Measuring Quality of Recovery after Surgery

Background: Postoperative recovery is a crucial component of the patient experience, regardless of the kind of treatment. There has been a lot of research done in this field, including studies using post-operative recovery as an end measure. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the consistency of the Quality of Recovery (QoR-40) index among post-operative patients in the hospitals of Erbil city. Subjects and methods: A descriptive study was designed among 166 participants of patients, physicians, nurses, and medical assistants in four surgical wards of Hawler, Rizgary, Maternity, and Raparin (Pediatric) Teaching Hospitals in Erbil City in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The data were collected through self-report and direct interview face-to-face techniques from January to July 2022. A questionnaire was designed, and It is divided into two main sections: the sociodemographic information about the participants is presented in the first section, and the second section contains a ready-made scale question about the QoR-40 index, which consists of 40 items concerning five different items and is used to assess the quality of recovery following surgery dimensions. RESULTS: The study results showed that all the participants believed that the items of all dimensions were applicable and can be used in measuring the level of recovery for post-operative patients and the correlation coefficient was 0.746 which considered that this index has a Good Agreement among the participants. Conclusion: This study concluded that the QoR-40 index is reliable among the different peoples of patients, nurses, physicians, and medical assistants, and it’s considered that this index has a positive agreement among people with very highly applicable for post-operative patients in measuring the quality of the recovery after surgery

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices related to COVID-19 among People in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background and objective: COVID-19 illness is a serious public health concern worldwide. The people in Iraqi Kurdistan have little knowledge about Coronaviruses. It was noticed that in the Kurdistan Region, the COVID-19 infection was not dealt with as required in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practice. This study aimed to identify the level of knowledge and attitudes of Kurdish people in addition to their practices concerning COVID-19. Methods: This study adopted an online cross-sectional survey design and was conducted from March 23 to April 2, 2020, to collect data from Iraqi Kurdistan Region citizens who were asked about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to COVID-19. Results: The majority of the study participants were young and male (62.5%). Most respondents (92.9%) were optimistic that the government could take necessary procedures to reduce the risks of COVID-19 infection. Less than half of the participants wore masks and gloves when they left home (41.4%, 45.1% males and females respectively). Most of the participants had good knowledge (74%), and good practice (64.6%), and the vast majority had a positive attitude (98.1%) concerning COVID-19. Conclusions: Less than half of the participants who got engaged in this study wore masks and gloves whenever they went out. Hereby, the participants are to be provided with an extensive health education program so they can increase their awareness of COVID-19 infection

Impact of Nurse’s Satisfaction on Work Performance

Background and objective: A high satisfaction of nurses imply an improvement in effectiveness and performance in doing work or healthcare service. This study aimed to find out the relationship between nurse’s job satisfaction and their work performance in the hospital while providing health care. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at both Hawler and Rizgary Teaching Hospitals in Erbil City of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A randomized-clustered sampling technique was used for enrolling 89 nurses and 27 their team-leaders through a direct interview by a questionnaire to assess nurse’s job satisfaction by researcher and evaluate work performance by their team leaders. The outcome focused on the correlation coefficient to find out the correlation between job satisfaction and work performance of nurses. Results: The majority of the study sample was between 20 and 32 years old, Institute graduated, had fewer than five years of experience, and single among nurses with 33 and 45 years old, college graduated, more than five years, and married among team-leaders, from urban areas of both groups. Most of the nurses had fairly job satisfaction and team-leaders think that the nurses need some improvement in their work performance. Conclusion: There was a strong positive correlation between nurse’s job satisfaction and their work performance in the hospital during providing health care

The Significance of Qualitative Research in Nursing Practice

According to the World Health Organization, qualitative research aims to explore people’s needs, values, perceptions and experiences of the world around them, including of health, illness, healthcare services, and more broadly of social systems and their policies and processes. Qualitative evidence is very important for understanding how, and whether, people perceive health interventions to be effective and acceptable or more fundamentally, whether they work. Qualitative evidence is also essential to understanding the factors affecting the application of health policies and interventions

Barriers to Adherence to Post-stroke Exercise Program: A Qualitative Study into the Experiences of Patients with Stroke

Background and objective: Approximately one-third of stroke patients remain disabled and post-stroke rehabilitation is required. Adherence to an exercise rehabilitation program is considered an important area of interest in the wake of optimizing long-term participation in physical activities after stroke. This study aims to explore the barriers to adherence to exercise program among post-stroke patients. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in the Physiotherapy units of Hawler and Rizgary Teaching Hospitals, Erbil, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq including twelve post-stroke participants with limited/ inadequate adherence to a post-stroke exercise program schedule from March to December 2018. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews. All of the interviews were conducted at a time and place that was the most convenient for the participants. Within two months, the categories emerging from the analysis of the inter-views began to repeat, and no new categories emerged, leading to an enrollment of 14 participants. One month after the first interview, the second interview was conducted which included 12 participants. This was done to confirm their previous answers and ensuring that there were no new concepts about this limited adherence. Software for Qualitative Data Analysis was used for managing the data. Results: More than half of the participants were over 70 years old, male, illiterate, married, and housekeepers from urban areas. Most of the participants had an ischemic stroke for more than four weeks. The barriers to adherence to post-stroke exercise program were categorized into the four main categories of the barriers related to environment and facility, personal (physical and psychological) factors, organizational policies, and contents of exercise program. Conclusion: Barriers to adherence are different in nature. Environmental barriers and lack of facilities show that a well-organized rehabilitation program in health care system at directorate of health-Erbil is very important to improve and facilitate adherence..

Assessment of Social Phobia among Students of Nursing College in Hawler Medical University at Erbil City-Iraq

AbstractAims: Present study aims to assess the social phobia among nursing students at Hawler Medical University in Erbil City.Methods: Quantitative, Descriptive study was conducted on nursing students in the college of Nursing at Hawler Medical University in Erbil City in the Kurdistan Region of Iraqfrom 5th May to 4th August 2015. A non-probability (purposive sample) was used for selection of 296 students. Questionnaire was designed and divided into two parts; socio-demographic characteristics of nursing students, and social phobia items which included Inventory scale questions that include 17 items with 5 responds. The data were analyzed through the SPSS software V.22 application, descriptive data analysis was done through measuring of frequency and percentage of social phobia score using Social Phobia Inventory Scale. Inferential data analysis was done by Chi-square and ANOVA tests.Results: The results shows that most of the study sample was between 17-22 years old, female, single, and faire economic status from rural area (59.8%). Most of the students had social phobia. There was significant difference between students’ academic years regarding severity of social phobia.Conclusions: The study concluded that more than half of the study sample had social phobia and there are a highly significant relationship between academic years and social phobia among the nursing students.Recommendations: The study recommends educational programs for all nursing students regarding social phobiaand how to cope with such situations in Hawler Medical University.Keywords: Assessment, Social phobia, Nursing students, Hawler Medical University, Academic social phobia anxiet

Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Bacterial Vaginosis among First Trimester Pregnant Women in Erbil Maternity Hospital

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial clinical syndrome characterized by changes in vaginal flora, with replacement of normally abundant Lactobacillus species by high concentrations of anaerobic bacteria among reproductive age women. Studies have different aspects on the effect of vitamin D on BV. Objective: To find out the prevalence of BV, vitamin D deficiency in early pregnancy and to examine association between BV and vitamin D deficiency. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out during July 2017 till October 2018 among 100 pregnant women at first trimester pregnancy, aged 18-35 years old at Erbil Maternity Hospital. Results: At enrollment the prevalence of BV was (53%), about (73%) of our clients suffering from homogenous white greyish vaginal discharge, (57%) were with elevated vaginal PH and fishy odor, clue cells was found among (53%) of them. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as 25 (OH) D concentration below 20 ng/ml, was found in (67%) of women. Insufficiency of the vitamin D 25(OH) D concentration between 20-30ng/ml was present in (29%) of the women. Sufficient level of 25 (OH) over (30 ng/ml) was found in (4%). The incidence of Vitamin D pattern among women with BV were (49.3%), (62.1%) and (50%) respectively for each vitamin D deficiency, Insufficiency and sufficient vitamin D.  No significant association was found between Vitamin D deficiency and BV. Conclusion: High occurrence of BV and vitamin D deficiency were found. Vitamin D was not associated significantly with increased BV incidence. We suggested that pregnant women should check and manage their level of vitamin D and BV additionally they must not depend only on vitamin D for curing BV

Lifestyle Factors and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

Background and Objectives: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition characterized by heartburn and acid regurgitation without signs of oesophagal mucosal injury on one hand, and erosive oesophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus consequences like oesophagal cancer on the other. The aim of this study was to explore the involvement of different lifestyle-related factors in the aetiology of symptomatic GERD. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 79 patients (28 men and 51 women) aged between 20-68 years old were recruited randomly through a direct interview between January to October 2021, and they were prescribed Proton Pump Inhibitors. Prior to starting this study, the approvals had been granted by the ethics committee and oral consent was gained from the participants. A questionnaire was designed and consisted of demographic and clinical characteristics regarding GERD. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25 for describing frequencies and percentages, followed by Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact tests as inferential statistical analysis for finding associations between variables. Results: Among the total of 79 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, the findings indicated that more than half of the study sample (58.2%) were overweight and obese (26.6% and 31.6% respectively), and the heavy smokers made the highest percentage among smokers (19%). There was a statistically significant association between gender and smoking and BMI among GERD patients (P-value = 0.001 and < 0.001 respectively). There was a very highly significant association between BMI and heartburn and nausea and vomiting (P-value = 0.001 for both), while there was a non-significant association between BMI and chest pain, cough, and sleep pattern disturbance (P-value = 0.324, 0.558, and 0.907 respectively). Conclusion: A higher BMI and smoking are associated with a higher likelihood of GERD symptoms

Healthy Lifestyle for Clients Attending to Primary Health Care Centers in Erbil City

AbstractBackground: Healthy lifestyle is the responsibility of person to choice and making smart health through good nutrition, daily exercise, adequate sleep, avoid tobacco smoking and drinking alcohol and engage with family members and friends.Aim of study: is to identify the lifestyle for clients attending to primary health care centers in ErbilMethods: descriptive study conducted in Erbil City through the period of July 17, 2014- January to 11, 2015. A convenience method of sample was recruit 248 client age 15 and above without chronic diseases who were attended to primary health care centers during study period for purpose either treatment minor illness or vaccination coverage program for their children. Questionnaire designed by researchers and used to collect data by interview. Chi square test of association (or Fisher’s test) was used to compare proportions. A p- value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: study found that the unhealthy behavior among study sample were: smoker 27.0%, did not practicing physical activities 64.9%, watch TV more than seven hours 70.2%, eat food high in fat 40.7% and there significantly association between age and smoker (P<0.0001), age and number of hours sleeping (P<0.0001), age and going to bed early (P<0.0001), and there was significantly association between r physical activities and gender (P=0.021).Conclusion: there was proportion of unhealthy lifestyle among sample of study such as watch TV more than seven hours, did not practicing physical activities eating fatty foods, there was significantly association between age and smoking, age and practicing physical activities, and association between gender and practicing physical activities.Recommendation: study recommended for health policy in governorate to encourage health lifestyle among people through mass media and open more sports club for physical activities.Keywords: Lifestyle, Healthy Adults, Primary Health Care Centers, Erbil City

Patient’s Satisfaction with Health Care Services in Erbil City/Iraq

Background and objective: Patient satisfaction is one of the most important factors to determine the success of a health care facility. It is a relative phenomenon, which evaluates the patients’ perceived needs, their expectations from a health system, and the experience of health care. Patient satisfaction is the main goal today for most health care organizations, from hospitals to physician practices and other health care agencies. This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction with the health care services provided by public and private hospitals in Erbil City. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a non-probability purposive sample of 450 patients (225 from public and 225 from private hospitals) who were seeking health care in hospitals in Erbil City. The data were collected between the 7th of January and 15th of November 2016 by direct interviews and filling of the standardized questionnaires (Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18). Results and Discussion: Most of the patients in public hospitals expressed a neutral level of satisfaction with received health services (80.9%) while 10.7% were dissatisfied and only 8.4% were satisfied with the provided health care. On the contrary, most of the patients in private hospitals (80%) were satisfied with their care, with only 20% expressing a neutral level of satisfaction with private health care services. These findings show that there is a very high statistical difference between patient satisfaction in the governmental and private hospitals in Erbil City (Mean ± Standard Deviation 45.35 ± 3.520), (56.42 ± 5.696) (p-value= <0.001). Conclusion: Most of the patients were satisfied with private health care services but not with public hospitals health services in selected hospitals in Erbil City in Iraq