Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Pattern of Islamic Nursing Ethics among Nurses in Pahang, Malaysia

An international study showed nurses were indeed experienced in various ethical issues. Major theories central to nursing ethics, which are deontology and utilitarian perspective, highlight the importance of human reasoning alone, and the efficiency can still be argued. As Muslim nurse, equipping themselves with the Islamic manner of spirit is crucial. The problem is the extent of applying Islamic ethics in nursing practice that is still in doubt. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Islamic nursing ethics among nurses in Pahang, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire about knowledge of Islamic nursing ethics was developed, validated, tested, and distributed to nurses at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital and Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital in Pahang (a tertiary care hospital) between February and March 2017. A total of 118 nurses had complete data in the study. The frequency of encountering ethical problems among nurses varied from ‘daily’ to ‘yearly’. Only 24.6% of nurses responded that they had experienced ethical issues in their work. 43.2% of nurses responded that they know ‘moderately’ about the moral principle of Islam pertaining to their work. More than half (69.5%) of the nurses scored at the moderate levels, and 17.8% had competent levels of practice regarding Islamic ethics. Only 20.3% of the respondents’ opinion is in line with Islamic ethics for the problem of adherence to the patients’ wishes. This study recognizes the need to evaluate the training curricula and modes of teaching Islamic ethics among nurses to further the Islamic ethics knowledge among nurses in a clinical setting

Post-Divorce Child’s Nafaqah Māḍiyah: An Analysis of the Shifting from Fulfilment to the Assertion of Ownership Rights

The claim for child’s nafaqah māḍiyah (past income) is often overlooked in the rulings of the Religious Court. This research aims to propose a shifting from the concept of li al-intifā’ (benefit) to li al-tamlīk (ownership) regarding child’s living costs claims in the Religious Court, employing the istihsān (juristic preference) approach. The objective is to ensure a more equitable judgment for the child. This study was conducted as a literature review using a normative juridical approach. The research findings reveal that the legal standpoint, which rejects any claim for child’s nafaqah māḍiyah in the Religious Court based on the argument that child’s living costs is categorized as li al-intifā’, contradicts Islamic legal principles regarding child’s living costs and fails to fulfill the principles of justice, as well as being incongruent with several other legislative provisions related to child protection. Therefore, this article proposes a shifting from the concept of li al-intifā’ to li al-tamlīk in determining child’s nafaqah māḍiyah in the Religious Court

Towards Maqasid al-Shari'ah based nursing ethics

Nursing ethics denotes the moral philosophy in nursing practices or a system of principles governing the conduct of nurses that are distinguished between morally good and evil or right and wrong. This system of principles adopted much from conventional moral theories in nursing practices to help nurses figure out what actions are right and wrong. Islam plays a crucial role in providing guidelines on the permissibility and acceptability of nursing practices, especially for Muslim nurses. This study conducts qualitative approaches based on library research. This article discusses the concept of nursing ethics and how it differs from Maqasid al-Shari'ah concerning decision-making processes. Both promote the benefit and prevent harm, but Maqasid al-Shari'ah is more comprehensive in guiding nurses in nursing practices. Then, several applications are presented as examples of how Maqasid al-Shari'ah can be used as a binding principle in nursing ethics

The Association between Physical Activity Status and Mental Wellbeing among Overweight and Obese Female Students

Physical activity (PA) is important in fighting obesity, and it may also improve one’s mental wellbeing. Nonetheless, the association between PA and mental wellbeing among female university students with elevated body mass index (BMI) is still fragmented. Hence, this study aims to determine the association between PA status and mental wellbeing among overweight and obese female students in a university located in the East region of Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 102 overweight and obese female students. An online survey of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Acreda Scale (WEMWBS-ACREDA) was distributed using convenience sampling and analysed. The results show that 43.2% of the participants have a high and 18.6% have a low PA level. Meanwhile, the finding revealed that the majority of the participants have a moderate state of mental wellbeing (59.8%). Additionally, a significant moderate positive association between PA status and mental wellbeing among the overweight and obese female students was identified (r=0.341, p<0.01). This study proposed that PA may influence the mental wellbeing of female university students with elevated BMI. Therefore, incorporating more physical related activities in their learning objectives may promote a better quality of life during their campus life

The association between physical activity status and mental wellbeing among overweight and obese female university students

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is essential in fighting obesity, and it may also improve one’s mental wellbeing. Nonetheless, the association between PA and mental wellbeing among female university students with non-ideal body mass index (BMI) is still fragmented. Hence, this study aims to determine the association between PA status and mental wellbeing among overweight and obese female students in a university in Malaysia’s East region. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 102 overweight and obese female students. An online survey of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Acreda Scale (WEMWBS-ACREDA) was distributed using convenience sampling and analyzed. Results: The results show that 43.2% of the participants have a high and 18.6% have a low PA level. Meanwhile, the finding revealed that the majority of the participants have a moderate state of mental wellbeing (59.8%). Additionally, physical activity levels were found to be a significant predictor of mental wellbeing in overweight and obese female university students (ᵝ = 0.341, p 0.001). Conclusion: This study proposed that PA may influence the mental wellbeing of female university students with non-ideal BMI. Therefore, incorporating more physical-related activities into their learning objectives may promote a better quality of life during their campus life

The association between spiritual wellbeing and dietary intake among obese female university student: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Obesity has become a public health threat worldwide and processing a high burden to the healthcare system. This study aimed to determine the association between spiritual wellbeing and dietary intake among overweight and obese female students in a university in Peninsular Malaysia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 female students from a public university in the East Coast Region of Peninsular Malaysia. The participants are selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Spiritual wellbeing is measured using an adapted and validated spirituality questionnaire, while the dietary intake was calculated using a 24-hour dietary intake questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and Nutritionist Pro. Pearson correlation is applied to measure the association between spiritual wellbeing and dietary intake. Results: Spiritual wellbeing was negatively correlated with dietary intake (r= -0.026, p=0.797). The results showed no significant association between spiritual wellbeing and dietary intake (p>0.05). Conclusion: To conclude, there is no significant association between spiritual wellbeing and dietary intake among overweight and obese female students. Future research could add other variables such as the micronutrients and macronutrients into the study can help to get a more significant result. Besides, a large-scale study is also warranted to observe the association between spiritual wellbeing and dietary intake among overweight and obese female university students in Malaysia

Understanding weight management among postnatal women: a qualitative exploration of experiences and challenges

Postnatal weight retention (PWR) is the change between pre-pregnancy weight and weight after birth. PWR is a risk factor for women of childbearing age to develop obesity. Studies have shown that women who gain weight after childbirth or who do not lose their pregnancy weight are less likely to drop the weight and more likely to suffer from serious health issues. Nonetheless, the prevalence of PWR and obesity among women has kept increasing. Hence, this study aims to explore the experience of postnatal women in Kuantan that shape their weight management behaviours. This study employed a qualitative research study. Nine participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods. A semi-structured interview was conducted to obtain data on the experience, perceived benefits and perceived barriers of weight management among postanal women in Kuantan. All findings were analyzed using thematic analysis. Three categories with nine themes were extracted from the data. The study identifies various factors such as kinship support, perceived benefits of losing weight (including nutritious eating habits, physical activity, and body appearance), people's opinions and perceived barriers (such as time constraints, commitment, and maladaptive eating behaviours) that influence postnatal women's ability to control their weight. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of addressing postnatal weight retention (PWR) as a risk factor for obesity among women of childbearing age. These findings provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions and support systems to help postnatal women manage their weight effectively and reduce the risk of obesity-related health issues

Spiritual care in palliative contexts: perspectives from Hindu family caregivers – a scoping review

This scoping review examines spiritual care in palliative settings from the perspective of Hindu family caregivers, utilizing articles from ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, and applying the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool. By analyzing eleven studies published between 2019 and 2023, we uncover how Hindu spirituality influences care at the end of life, highlighting themes such as the Concept of Death, Spiritual Needs, and Caregiving Challenges. Findings reveal the critical role of family in providing spiritual support, the blend of religious rituals with caregiving, and the array of challenges faced by caregivers, including emotional and financial burdens. The review advocates for palliative care models that integrate Hindu spiritual practices, addressing the need for culturally sensitive care that respects the spiritual beliefs of Hindu patients and their caregivers. Ultimately, this review underscores the necessity of a holistic approach to palliative care that accommodates spiritual needs within Hindu families. It advocates for the inclusion of transcultural care principles, especially significant for Muslim nurses who are prominently represented in the profession. By integrating these insights, healthcare providers can offer culturally sensitive and spiritually respectful care to patients of diverse backgrounds. This approach not only bridges cultural divides but also enriches the palliative care experience for all involved.

Physical activity interventions for postnatal weight management: A systematic literature review

Physical activity (PA) maintains weight and reduces postnatal weight retention (PWR), thereby lowering obesity-related comorbidities. There is only limited evidence on the most effective postnatal PA for Malaysian women. This review identified evidence-based literature on the effectiveness of PA interventions in managing weight in postnatal women and the preferred type of intervention for them. A systematic literature search was conducted following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental research related to PA interventions for women during the postnatal period (18 months after delivery) published in English from 2011 to 2021 were searched in ProQuest, Scopus, Springer Link and PubMed using the following keywords: ‘physical activity’, ‘weight management’ and ‘postnatal women’. Intervention groups with weight and body mass index measured after any supervised PA guidance/counselling with a minimum follow-up of 10 weeks were included in the analysis. Those with pharmacological management and a comparator control group were excluded. A total of six articles met the inclusion criteria. Using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials, one of these articles was classified as low-risk, two as having some concerns and three as having a high risk of bias. Walking, yoga and Pilates were found to be the most appropriate and preferred types of physical activity, despite having a small but significant impact on postnatal women’s weight management. Healthcare professionals should adopt programmes that explicitly target these PA interventions to manage PWR