DOES EXCESSIVE ABSENCE FROM CLASS LEAD TO LOWER LEVELS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT?

There is a general agreement among researchers that being chronically absent places students at risk for negative academic consequences. However, some studies have failed to find a significant correlation between attendance and academic performance. Studies examining this relationship are lacking at the field of Nursing. The purpose of this study was to check the effect of absenteeism rate on the academic achievement of graduate and undergraduate nursing students at a private university in Amman, Jordan. A cross-sectional correlational design was used with a sample of 130 BSN and 40 Master students. Results showed that students who have higher absenteeism rates have lower Grand Point Average (GPA) regardless to academic level. Moreover, Male students have higher absenteeism rates and lower GPAs than females. In conclusion, the present study has reported a negative correlation between absenteeism and academic achievement. Application of attendance polices might help in improving students’ attendance and their academic achievement

Quality of life among patients with supraventricular tachycardia post radiofrequency cardiac ablation in Jordan

Background Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a common arrhythmia with associated symptoms such as palpitation, dizziness, and fatigue. It significantly affects patients’ quality of life (QoL). Radiofrequency cardiac ablation (RFCA) is a highly effective treatment to eliminate arrhythmia and improve patients’ QoL. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of QoL among patients with SVT and examine the difference in QoL before and after RFCA. Methods One group pre-posttest design with a convenience sample of 112 patients was used. QoL was assessed by 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). Data were collected at admission through face-to-face interviews and 1-month post-discharge through phone interviews. Results There was a significant difference between QoL before (33.7±17.0) and 1 month after (62.5±18.5) the RFCA. Post-RFCA patients diagnosed with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia had higher QoL than other types of SVT. Moreover, there were significant negative relationships between QoL and the number and duration of episodes pre- and post-RFCA. There were no significant differences in QoL based on: age, sex, working status, marital status, smoking, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Conclusions After RFCA, the QoL of patients with ST improved for both physical and mental component subscales

Psychological and demographic predictors of undergraduate non-attendance at university lectures and seminars

Absenteeism from university teaching sessions is increasingly becoming a common phenomenon and remains a major concern to universities. Poor attendance has significant and detrimental effects on students themselves, their peers and teaching staff. There is, however, a lack of previous research investigating demographic and psychological predictors of non-attendance alongside salient reasons students offer for their absence; it is this ‘gap’ that the present study attempts to fill. We approached 618 undergraduate university students from a single UK university studying various courses to complete a bespoke questionnaire assessing their estimated percentage attendance at lectures and seminars over the academic year. Students answered demographic questions, completed psychometric tests of perceived confidence (Perceived Confidence for Learning) and university belongingness (Psychological Sense of School Membership), and rated the degree to which possible reasons for non-attendance applied to themselves. Multiple regression analyses were carried out separately for estimated attendance at lectures and seminars. Results demonstrated that significant predictors of poorer attendance for both scenarios were experiencing a lower sense of belongingness to university; working more hours in paid employment; having more social life commitments; facing coursework deadlines; and experiencing mental health issues. Improving a sense of belonging to university and targeting interventions at students working in paid employment may be effective means of increasing attendance. Providing support for students with mental health issues, structuring courses around coursework deadlines and helping students to organise their attendance around social activities could also be advantageous

Assessment Of Jordanian Nurses' Knowledge To Perform Glasgow Coma Scale

The most important assessment of neurological examination in the clinical setting is assessing level of consciousness. The first neurological tool used to assess patients' level of consciousness was the Glasgow Coma Scale. It is considered as the most common less subjective gold standard coma assessment tool. The purpose of this study was to assess Jordanian nurses' knowledge about Glasgow Coma Scale. A non-experimental, descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was performed in four (3 private hospitals and 1 governmental) hospitals in Amman-Jordan. A self-reported questionnaire was answered by all (ICU, CCU, ER, and Telemetry) nurses who accepted to participate in the study. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to the participants with 90% response rate ending with 180 questionnaires in the final analysis. More than half of the sample (56.7%) was males. The participants were young nurses with mean age of 26.3±8 years. The total mean score for the whole sample was 7.38 ± 1.96. There was no relationship between experience, level of education, and training course and knowledge level. Nurses working in accredited hospitals and governmental hospitals recorded more level of knowledge than other hospitals. Emergency Room nurses recorded less level of knowledge than other area of practice. In conclusion, knowledge about Glasgow Coma Scale is a global problem. Jordanian nurses, as other nurses, have inadequate knowledge to perform Glasgow Coma Scale assessment. It is vital and necessary to include educational programs about Glasgow Coma Scale for nurses in all areas of practice and in the curricula of nursing colleges

Evaluation of public awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards basic life support: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a major cause of mortality worldwide. When basic life support techniques are implemented quickly, the chance of survival is doubled. Therefore, this study evaluated public awareness, knowledge and attitudes towards basic life support in Jordan. Methods A descriptive, cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 300 Jordanian adults aged over 18 years, recruited from three metropolitan areas in the northern, middle and southern regions. Results A total of 87 participants (29%) stated that they have received training about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Among them, 20 participants (23%) received their training through the media. The highest response rate for cardiac arrest signs was chest pain (n = 129, 43%). Participants who received training had greater knowledge of the three signs of consciousness evaluation. The numbers of participants who received training and performed chest compression, mouth-to-mouth ventilation, and both compression and ventilation were higher than those who did not receive training. Overall, 256 participants (88.3%) reported that they would perform CPR on someone from their family without hesitation. The most important concern about performing CPR was making a mistake. Conclusions Improving knowledge about cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an important topic, which can be achieved by training the general population. Media can play an important role in this issue

The Effect of Listening to Holy Quran Recital on Pain and Length of Stay Post-CABG: A Randomized Control Trial

Background. Nearly, 75% of patients post-CABG complain of moderate to severe pain during their hospital stay. Nonpharmacological interventions have been investigated; however, the effect of Holy Quran recital post-CABG is still not well studied, especially in developing Islamic countries. Objective. To investigate the effect of listening to the Holy Quran recital on pain and length of stay post-CABG. Methods. This was a randomized control trial on 132 patients recruited from four hospitals in Amman, Jordan. The intervention group listened to the Holy Quran recited for 10 minutes twice daily while the control group received the usual care. Data were analyzed using paired and independent samples t-tests. Results. Paired t-test testing showed that there was a significant reduction in the pain level, (M [SD], 6.82 [2.27] vs. 4.65 [2.18], t = 23.65, p < 0.001) for the intervention group. In addition, the intervention group had shorter LoS in the ICU and in the hospital compared to the control group, (M [SD], 5.0 [4.02] vs. 6.58 [4.18], t = −2.1, p < 0.05), (M [SD], 10.15 [9.21] vs. 15.01 [13.14], t = −2.6, p < 0.05), respectively. Conclusions. Listening to the Quran was significantly effective in improving pain intensity among post-CABG patients and shortening their hospital/ICU stay. This trial is registered with NCT05419554

Open visitation policy in intensive care units in Jordan: cross-sectional study of nurses' perceptions

Abstract Introduction Intensive care unit patients and families experience significant stress. It creates frustrations, nervousness, irritability, social isolation for patients, anxiety, and depression for families. An open visitation policy with no time or duration limits may assist in reducing these negative experiences. However, most Jordanian and regional hospitals within the Middle-East and Northern Africa (MENA) have not implemented this strategy. Purpose To evaluate nurse managers' and nurses' perspectives on the effects of an open visitation policy at intensive care units (ICUs) on patients, families, and nurses' care. Method A cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative survey design was used. Results A total of 234 nurses participated in the study; 59.4% were males, and 40.6% were females. The mean of their age was 28.6 years, with a mean of 4.1 years of experience. Nurses generally had negative perceptions and attitudes toward the open visitation policy and its consequences on the patient, family, and nursing care. Conclusions ICU managers and staff nurses did not favor implementing an open visitation in their units despite its known benefits, international recommendations, and relevance and compatibility with the local religious and cultural context. A serious discussion regarding this hesitation from the side of the healthcare professionals should be started to find a suitable solutions that consider the benefits of the open visitation policy and the challenges that prevent its implementation in the Jordanian and Arabic cultures