Menstrual Disorders Among Nursing Students at Al Neelain University, Khartoum State

Background: Menstrual disorders can severely affect the daily life of young females, particularly the student population, which generates a massive tension that extends to families, but they seldom affect the quality and standard of life. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the morbidity nature of menstrual disorders among nursing students and their effect on students’ life activities. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional institutional-based study conducted at the Al Neelain University, Faculty of Nursing. Of the 200 students recruited, 149 completed the questionnaire with the responding rate of (74.5%). Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 149 participants, most were young and in the age range of 18–24 years with a mean age of 21 years. Most students (74%) started their menarche at a normal age range of 12–15 years. A relatively high dysmenorrhea (94.0 %)  was observed  among the participants. More than half of the respondents (55.0%) had irregular menstruation. Conclusion: The authors concluded that the prevalence and morbidity of dysmenorrhea and menstrual irregularity were high but broadly comparable to those observed in similar developing countries. Therefore, national health policies need to consider the health and educational impact of menstrual disorders on nursing students and develop the plan through a change in students’ lifestyle; moreover, school authorities and teachers need to be aware of the problems to provide psychological and academic support. Keywords: morbidities, dysmenorrhea prevalence, menstrual disorders, nursing students, irregular menstruatio

Effects of Nurse’s Work Environment and Practice on Patient’s Safety

Background: When a patient with an acute medical illness is admitted to a hospital, their safety is a prime concern for healthcare professionals. Ongoing nursing assessment is a type of nursing assessment that commences at the beginning of every shift and is completed on every patient. This information is used to develop a plan of care. The aim of this study was to assess the application of ongoing nursing assessment approaches in intensive care units.  Methods: This cross-sectional hospital-based study included a total of 135 nurses, of which 23 (17%) were from Khartoum hospital, 62 (46%) from Alshaab hospital, 15 (11%) from Soba University Hospital, and 35 (26%) from the National Center for Neurological Science. Results: The ongoing nursing assessment approaches were available in most intensive care units of the study area with the domination of the ABCDE approach. Factors that can impact the thoroughness of the ongoing nursing assessment performance suggested by the studied participants were nurses' knowledge and competency, followed by insufficient time and resources to carry out the assessment. Conclusion: Most participants did not complete the assessment suggesting a poor performance. The knowledge base of the participants was not reflected in their practice with a wide difference between them. Key words: Nursing assessment approach, intensive care unit, assessment performance, Suda

Effectiveness of Gum Arabic in Diabetes and its Complications: A Narrative Review

Gum Arabic (GA) is a gummy exudation from Acacia species, rich in soluble fibers. It is a dietary fiber used traditionally by the natives of many countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and India as therapeutic natural product for treating various diseases including kidney diseases, impotence, obesity, and epilepsy. Diabetes represent a global health problem causing many complications and health risk to people of different ages. The current study aimed at identifying the role of Gum Arabic in treating diseases especially diabetes. Many studies have been conducted on the role of Gum Arabic in experimentally induced diabetes as well as randomized clinical studies. This narrative review was written based on a database search in common libraries such as PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus. The libraries were searched for English articles published between 1995 and 2020 focusing on the role of Gum Arabic in different preclinical and clinical trials of early and advanced level of diabetes. Keywords: Gum Arabic, diabetes, animals, human, nanoparticle

Knowledge and Practice Regarding Coronavirus Disease Prevention (COVID-19) Among Internally Displaced Persons in Camps in Central Darfur Region, Sudan

Background: The lacking healthcare system services in conflict areas and the emergence of infection with a pandemic of coronavirus disease may exacerbate the humanitarian crisis among the camp residents in the central Dafur region of Sudan. Adequate knowledge and practices are vital to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practice regarding COVID-19 among internally displaced persons in Sudan. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected through an online survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used for the internally displaced persons in two camps of Zalingei town, central Darfur region, Sudan. Results: In total, 143 participants responded; 75 (52.4%) of them were female, while 68 (47.6%) were male; 49 (34.3%) were between the age of 50 and 60 years; 78 (54.5%) were formally uneducated; 126 (88.1%) did not have a chronic disease; and 56 (39.2%) knew about COVID-19 from their relatives and friends. The overall mean of participants’ knowledge toward COVID-19 was 3.68 (SD ± 0.60(, denoting good with a rate of 73.6% and that of the practice was 2.65 (SD ±1.08), denoting moderate with a rate of 53%. A positive correlation was seen between knowledge and practice (r = 0.700, p < 0.000). Statistically significant differences were observed between the mean score of knowledge and practice with age, education, and information sources (p < 0.0001). While graduates showed a higher knowledge (116.29, p = 0.000), secondary respondents showed a higher practice (115.04, p = 0.000) than others. Conclusion: This study suggests educational intervention and awareness programs for uneducated and older people

Menstrual Disorders Among Nursing Students at Al Neelain University, Khartoum State

Background: Menstrual disorders can severely affect the daily life of young females, particularly the student population, which generates a massive tension that extends to families, but they seldom affect the quality and standard of life. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the morbidity nature of menstrual disorders among nursing students and their effect on students' life activities. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional institutional-based study conducted at the Al Neelain University, Faculty of Nursing. Of the 200 students recruited, 149 completed the questionnaire with the responding rate of (74.5%). Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results: Of the 149 participants, most were young and in the age range of 18–24 years with a mean age of 21 years. Most students (74%) started their menarche at a normal age range of 12–15 years. A relatively high dysmenorrhea (94.0 %)  was observed  among the participants. More than half of the respondents (55.0%) had irregular menstruation. Conclusion: The authors concluded that the prevalence and morbidity of dysmenorrhea and menstrual irregularity were high but broadly comparable to those observed in similar developing countries. Therefore, national health policies need to consider the health and educational impact of menstrual disorders on nursing students and develop the plan through a change in students' lifestyle; moreover, school authorities and teachers need to be aware of the problems to provide psychological and academic support. Keywords: morbidities, dysmenorrhea prevalence, menstrual disorders, nursing students, irregular menstruatio

Application of Virtual Reality-Assisted Exergaming on the Rehabilitation of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Rehabilitation programs for children with cerebral palsy (CP) aim to improve their motor and cognitive skills through repeated and progressively challenging exercises. However, these exercises can be tedious and demotivating, which can affect the effectiveness and feasibility of the programs. To overcome this problem, virtual reality VR-assisted exergaming has emerged as a novel modality of physiotherapy that combines fun and motivation with physical activity. VR exergaming allows children with CP to perform complex movements in a secure and immersive environment, where they can interact with virtual objects and scenarios. This enhances their active engagement and learning, as well as their self-confidence and enjoyment. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on VR exergaming for CP rehabilitation. The specific objectives are: To identify and describe the existing studies that have investigated the effects of VR exergaming on motor function and participation outcomes in children with CP. In addition, we aim to identify and discuss the main gaps, challenges, and limitations in the current research on VR exergaming for CP rehabilitation. Finally, we aim to provide recommendations and suggestions for future research and practice in this field. Methods: In June 2023, we conducted a systematic search on Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase for randomized trials and cohort studies that applied VR-assisted exergaming to rehabilitating patients with CP. The inclusion criteria encompassed the following: (1) Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies involving the rehabilitation of children with CP; (2) the application of VR-based exergaming on the rehabilitation; (3) in comparison with conventional rehabilitation/usual care. The quality of the selected RCTs was evaluated using Cochrane’s tool for risk of bias assessment bias includes. Whereas the quality of cohort studies was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) tool. Results: The systematic search of databases retrieved a total of 2576 studies. After removing 863 duplicates, 1713 studies underwent title and abstract screening, and 68 studies were then selected as eligible for full-text screening. Finally, 45 studies were involved in this review (n = 1580), and 24 of those were included in the quantitative analysis. The majority of the included RCTs had a low risk of bias regarding study reporting, participants’ attrition, and generating a random sequence. Nearly half of the RCTs ensured good blinding of outcomes assessors. However, almost all the RCTs were unclear regarding the blinding of the participants and the study personnel. The 2020 retrospective cohort study conducted at Samsung Changwon Hospital, investigating the effects of virtual reality-based rehabilitation on upper extremity function in children with cerebral palsy, demonstrated fair quality in its methodology and findings. VR-assisted exergaming was more effective than conventional physiotherapy in improving the Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM)-88 score (MD = 0.81; 95% CI [0.15, 1.47], p-value = 0.02) and the GMFM walking and standing dimensions (MD = 1.45; 95% CI [0.48, 2.24], p-value = 0.003 and MD = 3.15; 95% CI [0.87, 5.42], p-value = 0.007), respectively. The mobility and cognitive domains of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory score (MD = 1.32; 95% CI [1.11, 1.52], p-value p-value p-value p-value p-value < 0.001) improved as well. This new intervention is similarly beneficial as conventional therapy in improving other efficacy measures. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that VR-assisted exergaming may have some advantages over conventional rehabilitation in improving CP children’s functioning and performance in daily life activities, upper and lower limb mobility, and cognition. VR-assisted exergaming seems to be as effective as conventional physiotherapy in the other studied function measures. With its potential efficacy, better feasibility, no reported side effects, and entertaining experience, VR-assisted exergaming may be a viable complementary approach to conventional physiotherapy in rehabilitating children with CP

Efficacy and Safety of Gum Arabic on Renal Failure Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a long-term disease caused by progressive kidney dysfunction due to many reasons leading to a significant rise in serum levels of creatinine and urea reaching the advanced stage where the patient goes for frequent hemodialysis. This study aims to discuss the evaluation of the efficacy of gum Arabic (GA) supplementation on the serum level of creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium in CRF patients. Methods: Four databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched for clinical trials assessment of gum Arabic intervention in CRF patients. Animal trials and experimental protocols were excluded. Screening of data and data extraction were done by two reviewers independently of each other. Meta-analysis was conducted on the selected studies using RevMan and the resulting description was summarized through the Forest plot tool on the efficacy of GA on 4 variables, creatinine, urea, sodium, and potassium in CRF patients. Results: From 574 studies searched, only 4 studies were included in this systemic review and meta-analysis. Although one of the studies had proved the objectives of the review but it was removed from the meta-analysis due to the heterogeneity caused by its inclusion. Conclusion: The few studies included in the current review revealed significant efficacy of GA treatment on the serum level of creatinine, urea, and sodium, but not potassium

Effectiveness of Gum Arabic in Diabetes and its Complications: A Narrative Review

Gum Arabic (GA) is a gummy exudation from Acacia species, rich in soluble fibers. It is a dietary fiber used traditionally by the natives of many countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, and India as therapeutic natural product for treating various diseases including kidney diseases, impotence, obesity, and epilepsy. Diabetes represent a global health problem causing many&nbsp; complications and health risk to people of different ages. The current study aimed at identifying the role of Gum Arabic in treating diseases especially diabetes. Many studies have been conducted on the role of Gum Arabic in experimentally induced diabetes as well as randomized clinical studies. This narrative review was written based on a database search in common libraries such as PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus. The libraries were searched for English articles published between 1995 and 2020 focusing on the role of Gum Arabic in different preclinical and clinical trials of early and advanced level of diabetes

Comparing the effectiveness of corticosteroid and surgery in managing chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The optimal treatment for Chronic Subdural Hematoma (CSDH), corticosteroids or surgery, remains controversial. This meta-analysis compares the efficacy and safety of these interventions. Methods: We searched four databases until July 2023 for relevant studies. Data extraction was independently performed by two authors. Risk ratios (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes and mean difference (MD) with a 95% CI for continuous outcomes. Results: Six studies involving 804 patients were included. Dexamethasone showed non-inferiority to surgery for good neurological outcomes (pooled RR = 1.02, 95% CI [0.95, 1.09], P = 0.60). No significant differences were found in mortality, recurrence rate, and hospital stay length between the two groups. Conclusion: Our analysis indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in terms of good neurological outcomes, length of hospital stay, mortality, and recurrence rate between the surgical interventions and dexamethasone. However, we noticed only clinical and numerical differences between the surgical interventions and dexamethasone regarding length of hospital stay, mortality, and recurrence rate. On the other hand, dexamethasone was associated with statistically higher complications compared to surgery. However, we should treat these results with caution as the only included RCT reported a high recurrence rate with dexamethasone indicating that surgery may be the first-line treatment for patients with CSDH

Nurses&rsquo; Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain Assessment and Management in Saudi Arabia

Inadequate pain management affects the patient outcome. Pain assessment and management are fundamental in nursing care, and nurses must be equipped with adequate knowledge and a positive attitude toward pain assessment and management. This study aims to evaluate nurses&rsquo; knowledge and attitudes regarding pain assessment and management at King Fahad Hospital, Al-Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey, using a self-administered questionnaire, was conducted from January to February 2020 with 660 registered nurses working in the Emergency Department, critical care units, inpatient and outpatient departments at King Fahad Hospital in Al-Medinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 660 nurses, 291 responded, resulting in a response rate of 44.09%. The participants&rsquo; scores ranged from 17.7% to 100%, with a mean score 45.29%. The majority of the participants (70.1%) had a poor level of knowledge and attitudes (score &lt; 50%). Nurses working in the outpatient department scored significantly higher than the group working in the Emergency Department and inpatient wards. Deficient knowledge and negative attitudes were found and nurses continue to underassess and undertreat pain. Nursing school curricula and in-service continuous education must equip nurses with the required knowledge and attitudes to enable them to manage pain effectively