KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AMONG LEBANESE HEALTHCARE WORKERS

During the first week of March, the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases reached over 100 countries with more than 100,000 cases. Healthcare authorities have already initiated awareness and preparedness activities beyond borders. A poor understanding of the disease among healthcare workers (HCWs) may result in delayed treatment and the rapid spread of infection. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of HCWs about COVID-19. A cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among HCWs about COVID19, where a 23-item survey instrument was developed and distributed randomly to HCWs using google forms and email portals. The majority of the sample were females (75.5%) and have been working as registered nurses (50.3%), where their main source of information was their hospital and the Ministry of Health, followed by the social media the results of the study showed that the healthcare providers had adequate knowledge and positive perception regarding the prevention of COVID-19, however they have expressed concerns regarding contracting the infection and infecting family members. There has been a significant difference between those who have attended lectures and trainings and who have not on the level of the knowledge and perceptions (

EFFECT OF CONFUSION ASSESSMENT TOOL APPLICATION ON CRITICAL CARE NURSES’ KNOWLEDGE OF DELIRIUM RECOGNITION

In critically ill patients, delirium is a serious and frequent disorder that is associated with a prolonged intensive care and hospital stay and an increased morbidity and mortality. The lack of education, knowledge of delirium and the lack of a delirium screening instrument makes delirium often overlooked by critical care nurses and physicians. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Confusion Assessment Method-Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU) tool implementation on the recognition of delirium by critical care nurses. A Pre-Posttest research design was implemented; 40 critical care nurses at Clemenceau Medical Center at three critical care units participated in the study. The participants were surveyed regarding recognition of delirium before and after the application of CAM-ICU tool and after a CAM-ICU education program was implemented. Highly significant difference in the test scores of the nurses between pre and post intervention were noted. The training concerning delirium and the application of validated assessment tools CAM-ICU increases the knowledge of critical care nurses and effective in recognizing patients with delirium

BARRIERS FACED BY SYRIAN REFUGEES IN ACCESSINGHEALTHCARE IN URBAN AREAS IN LEBANON

The crisis in Syria continues to take a devastating toll on the country’s civilian population. Lebanon now has 1.2 million Syrian refugees registered with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, where over 1 million of them live outside of camps in urban settings and informal settlement. The high prevalence of communicable and noncommunicable diseases among Syrian refugees in Lebanon is being faced with a variety of multifaceted barriers leading to limited access to and use of healthcare services in terms of provision of appropriate secondary and tertiary services, continuity of care, access to medications, and costs. Aim: This study aims at exploring barriers faced by Syrian refugees in accessing health care in urban settings in Lebanon. Methodology: This qualitative study will be conducted on 40 Syrian refugees living in urban settings across Lebanon. Data will be collected through interviews to explore the context, reasoning and perception of the participants of existing barriers, and then will be phenomenologically analyzed. Results: The results of this study showed that the Syrian refugees who participated recognized financial, structural and cognitive barriers to accessing health care services

CONCEPT MAPPING VERSUS TRADITIONAL TEACHING METHOD ON HEALTH SCIENCES’ STUDENTS’ SCORE

In the recent years, health care systems have been dynamically changing which demanded modifications in health care education. Current educational models are becoming more and more obsolete in enhancing the professional level of both teachers and students. Concepts maps are effective tools in processing large amounts of information, comprehending new concepts, as well as in generating information and amplifying creativity levels. The aim of this study is to compare the concept mapping versus traditional teaching method on Health Sciences’ students’ score. A Quasi-experimental design was implemented in the study. The study revealed that there was a significant difference between learning by traditional method and by concept mapping that can be a predictor of better academic achievement. Concept maps prove to be an efficient teaching-learning method in health sciences education

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CLINICAL STUDENTS ABOUT INFECTION CONTROL MEASURES AWARENESS AT HOSPITALS

Healthcare-associated infections are a major global public health concern. Health care workers are on the front line of protecting themselves and clients from infection, through preventing the transmission of nosocomial infections and that is through the implementation of infection control measures. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of infection prevention among healthcare workers at Lebanese hospital. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was implemented in the study, where the sample included 240 participants (80 nurses, 80 medical lab, and 80 clinical students). Participants were surveyed using pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. The results showed that knowledge between the three groups was good regarding standard precautions, but moderate regarding post exposure prophylaxis and vaccination. The results showed 41.7% of participants know the correct vaccines recommended, and medical labs were significantly higher than the other two groups, (p=0.00). Despite the good knowledge about standard precautions, the main reason for noncompliance was that they don’t have time to wear PPE’s while working and nurses were significantly higher than the other two groups, (p=0.00). The adherence to the use of PPE’s was significantly related to if they have regular access to them in the facility, (p=0.00).Among those who had occupational exposure nurses were significantly higher in reporting the exposure, (p=0.001). In addition, 62.9% reported that PEP medications were available at their work place, while 52.5% experienced sometime unavailability of these medications. This study revealed a good knowledge and attitude of infection prevention among the majority of participants with relatively minimal practice rate

PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF WEIGHT MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS: ACHIEVED GOALS AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Obesity is becoming a major health problem growing in strength and prevalence. It is often associated with large array of debilitating diseases and conditions including psychosocial impairments. Morbid obesity rarely responds to conservative treatment regimens but has been successfully managed with bariatric interventions that have been achieving sustained weight loss of about 50% of excess body weight with improvement or resolution of most obesity-associated conditions. This cross sectional study evaluates the impact of weight changes by bariatric interventions on psychosocial functioning among Lebanese patients. 38 participants who signed consent were examined at pre-interventional and 6-month follow-up period. The spectrum of examination consists of demographic variables including height and weight measurements and psychosocial functioning evaluated through four standardized questionnaires well recognized and pretested in several previous studies. Data was analyzed using SPSS program. Positive impact of bariatric intervention was prevalent in approximately all studied parameters. This should be taken into consideration as a therapeutic tool in positive psychology-oriented intervention and necessitated pre-interventional psychological clearance and follow up as well

SURVEILLANCE OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS IN THE SOUTH OF LEBANON

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is one of the common infectious diseases in both hospitals as well as community settings; they are recognized to be among the most serious worldwide bacterial infections impacting 150 million people globally every year. The purpose of this study was to assess the changing antibiotics resistance profile for uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from community and hospital setting over a period of time (2018–2019) with a special emphasis on ESBL/MDR producing Escherichia coli. A descriptive retrospective study was conducted among patients with uropathogenic Escherichia coli from both community and hospital settings in south Lebanon. Out of 863 patients with positive uropathogenic Escherichia coli, 451 (52.25 %) comes from the community while 412 (47.74 %) came from the hospital settings. Almost 60.83 % are not Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL), 31.4 % ESBL, and 7.76 % Multiple drug resistance (MDR). The majority of urinary tract infections are related to the female population (78.21 %). The most vulnerable age for both gender to develop UTI belong to elderly population (\u3e64 years) which account 37.19 % of all isolates. Statistically, we observed a high resistance rate toward all antibiotics using in the treatment of urinary tract infections such as Cefixime (45.30 %), Sulfamethoxazole (44.95 %), Ciprofloxacin (38.23 %) and Augmentin (38.93 %). A statistically significant association was observed between risk factors for hospitalized patients and all age categories with (P \u3c 0.05). Susceptibility profiles are critical to be evaluated in countries such as Lebanon where excessive use of antibiotics is observed at all levels. Therefore, this finding is useful for the determination of appropriate antimicrobial treatment in UTI patients that are caused by Escherichia coli and to follow the antimicrobial stewardship program to reduce the rate of resistance toward antibiotics

Critical care nurses' experiences during the Illness of family members : a qualitative study

Introduction: A loved one's hospitalization in a critical care unit is a traumatic experience for families. However, because of their status and professional competence, a family member who is also a critical care nurse has additional obstacles and often long-term consequences. Objectives: To describe the experiences of critical care nurse-family members when a loved one is admitted to a critical care unit at the Hotel-Dieu de France hospital. Methods: A qualitative path based on van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology combining both descriptive and interpretive models were adopted. Results: The lived experience of critical care nurses in providing care for their family members admitted into the same critical care were summarized in five themes. Nurses were torn between roles, consisting of confounding roles, their registered nurse status, and watchfulness. The lived experience of critical care nurses in providing care for their family members admitted into the same critical care was summarized into specialized knowledge that included a double-edged sword of seeking information and difficulty delivering the information. Critical nurses compete for expectations, including those placed on self and family members, resulting in emotional and personal sacrifice while gaining insight into the experiences. Conclusions: Critical care nurse-family members have a unique experience compared to the rest of the family, necessitating specialized care and attention. Increased awareness among healthcare providers could be a start in the right direction