Religious and existential well-being among nursing students in anambra state, nigeria

Spirituality is a significant concept for the discipline of nursing with substantial influence on holistic care of patients. The purpose of the study was to investigate the status of Spiritual Well-Being (SWB) among nursing students in public Schools of Nursing in Anambra State, Nigeria.  A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 228 nursing students based in three government Schools of Nursing in Anambra State, Nigeria.  A 20 item Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWS) comprising of 10 questions each on religious and existential wellbeing sub-scales was adapted for the study. Internal consistency reliability of the instrument using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient was 0.93. Ethical approval was obtained from Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) ethical committee. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Chi-Square and Pearson correlation analysis were done to verify association between variables using SPSS version 21 for Windows.  Probability value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean age of respondents was 22 years. Overall, 55.1% reported moderate level of spirituality compared with 44.9% who had high level of spirituality. Nursing students’ average spiritual well-being (SWB) score was 97.7. SWB was significantly related to the level of study of respondents (p= 0.001). A significant strong positive correlation was found between Religious Well-Being (RWB) and Existential Well-Being (p=0.001; r=.697). The study has shown that nursing students in public Schools of Nursing in Anambra State, self-reported moderate level of spiritual wellbeing (SWB). Educational interventions are required to improve nursing students’ religious and existential well-being for the ultimate purpose of promoting holistic nursing care

Determinants of Job Satisfaction among Nurse / Midwife Educators in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Background: Job satisfaction represents an important element of Nurse Educators' survival which has implications for performance, retention, dedication to the institution, the nursing profession itself and preparing nursing students who are capable of providing high quality patient care. The purpose of the study was to assess overall level of job satisfaction and satisfaction with nine facets of job satisfaction among Nurse/Midwife Educators in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.   Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was used for the study. A total population study of Nurse /Midwife Educators in Calabar was undertaken. A self-administered structured questionnaire adapted from the standardized “Employee Opinion Survey” with a reliability of 0.60 to 0.90 coefficient was used for data collection. Data were computer analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 for Windows. Logistic regression was used to verify association between overall job satisfaction and facets/subscales of job satisfaction scale.   Results: A total of 50 respondents participated in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 46.9±6.9 while the mean years of working experience was 24.9±6.1.  The respondents were made up of (40) 90.0% female and (10) 10.0% male. The mean overall job satisfaction score was 2.63±0.62. The results also revealed that majority of the respondents 41(82.0%) were moderately satisfied with their work while 9(18.0%) were slightly satisfied. Most of the respondents 47(94.0%) were satisfied with the job itself subscale with a mean score of 3.27±0.59, while the least satisfying facet was communication subscale with a mean of 2.50 ± 0.90. Safety and working relationships were significantly related to overall job satisfaction.   Conclusion: The study has shown that the few but experienced Nurse/Midwife Educators in Calabar were not fully satisfied with most facets of their work which could have adverse effect on their work output and overall performance. Therefore in order to address the adverse effect of dissatisfaction, it is recommended that all sub-scales of job satisfaction be addressed by employers of Nurse Educators and the Professional Nursing Association with emphasis on safety and working relationships.   Keywords: Job satisfaction, Working relationships, Nurse /Midwife Educator, Nigeri

Assessing Nurses’ Capacity for Health Research and Policy Engagement in Nigeria

Nurses account for a significant proportion of the health care workforce in most countries. In the African continent, it is estimated that nurses constitute about 80% of the health care professionals, however they are marginally represented in health research investigations and policy/decision-making roles. A descriptive research design was used to obtain data from 120 registered nurses in Calabar municipality, Nigeria. The study aimed at assessing the extent of nurses’ involvement in research and policy development. The findings revealed that only 30(25.0%) of the respondents indicated that they had been involved in research activity. Majority 74(61.7%) utilized research findings and perceived research as a tool to enhance development of nursing. 93(77.5%) respondents were not aware of any financial support for research and only 4(3.3%) had ever received research grant to support research activities. The results also revealed minimal 8(6.7%) involvement of nurses in health care policy development. A significant relationship (P \u3c 0.05) existed between nursing educational qualification and involvement in research activities after school. These findings therefore suggest the building of supportive research environments and strengthening nurses’ research capacity for effective participation of nurses in health care policy decisions in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and global health priorities

The Control of Malaria among PLWHA in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

The purpose of the study was to examine RBM programme’s efforts at controlling malaria among PLWHA and explore their perception of the control strategies. The study was a descriptive survey involving guided interviews of top managers of Roll Back Malaria (RBM) programme. A structured questionnaire was administered to 108 PLWHA attending an HIV/AIDS clinic in a secondary health facility in Calabar. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis revealed that RBM programme strategies include effective case management, promotion of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs), intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) and integrated vector management (IVM). Complementary results showed that 104 (92%) admitted accessibility to malarial treatment. Although 83 (57.7%) of PLWHA have LLINs, only 63 (42.3%) use them. Majority of the respondents 89 (60%) have not heard of indoor/outdoor residual spraying (IRS). How to get IRS services and lack of money to buy it were listed as a barrier to its use. Malarial treatment was accessible to PLWHA. The barriers to the use of ITN and IRS could be addressed through free distribution of odorless ITN and IRS to PLWHA. Higher rates of utilization of the products can be achieved through behavioural change communication

Assessing Nurses’ Capacity for Health Research and Policy Engagement in Nigeria

Nurses account for a significant proportion of the health care workforce in most countries. In the African continent, it is estimated that nurses constitute about 80% of the health care professionals, however they are marginally represented in health research investigations and policy/decision-making roles. A descriptive research design was used to obtain data from 120 registered nurses in Calabar municipality, Nigeria. The study aimed at assessing the extent of nurses’ involvement in research and policy development. The findings revealed that only 30(25.0%) of the respondents indicated that they had been involved in research activity. Majority 74(61.7%) utilized research findings and perceived research as a tool to enhance development of nursing. 93(77.5%) respondents were not aware of any financial support for research and only 4(3.3%) had ever received research grant to support research activities. The results also revealed minimal 8(6.7%) involvement of nurses in health care policy development. A significant relationship (P \u3c 0.05) existed between nursing educational qualification and involvement in research activities after school. These findings therefore suggest the building of supportive research environments and strengthening nurses’ research capacity for effective participation of nurses in health care policy decisions in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and global health priorities

Job Satisfaction among Nurses in Public Hospitals in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria

Background: Job satisfaction is an essential part of nurses’ lives, influencing patient safety, productivity, performance, quality of care, retention, turnover, commitment to the organization and the profession. Little is known about determinants of job satisfaction and their relationship with overall job satisfaction among nurses in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. The study was undertaken to assess the level of job satisfaction and the relationship between determinants and overall job satisfaction. Methods: A descriptive survey with a sample of 346 nurses selected through stratified random sampling was used in this study. A self-reported questionnaire labeled Work Quality Index was used in collecting data on job satisfaction. The instrument yielded a test-retest reliability of ® 0.73 to 0.85. Data were computer analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15.0 for Windows. Results: Majority of respondents 262 (75.7%) were between ages 31-40 years while most (48.5%) had 16-25 years of working experience. The respondents were predominantly female (88.4%). Regarding education, most of the respondents (69.9%) had diploma in Nursing while 28.6% were first degree holders. The mean overall of job satisfaction was 146.7. The results also revealed that majority of the respondents 265 (82.4%) were moderately satisfied with their work. Nurses were least satisfied with their salaries. The level of achievement, advancement, responsibility, recognition, work itself, nursing practice environment, hospital policy, interpersonal relationship, salary, supervision and working conditions were significantly positively related to the overall job satisfaction. Conclusion: The study has shown that nurses in the hospital under study were not totally satisfied with their job. In view of the negative impact of lack of job satisfaction, the main recommendation was that all determinants of job satisfaction must be addressed by the government, hospital management and professional associations

Registered nurses’ (RNS) perception of the nursing profession and health care work environment in tertiary and secondary health facilities in Calabar, Nigeria

Background: A healthy work environment has tremendous benefits on organizational performance, health service delivery, health worker performance and patient outcome. In 2009, International Council of Nurses (ICN) undertook a global survey which sought for nurses’ opinion on the nursing profession and their work environment in 11 countries, excluding Nigeria. Little is known about how Nigerian nurses, particularly nurses in Cross River state perceive their work environment. This study explores registered nurses’ perceptions and experiences with selected features of a positive practice environment, as a basis for developing an intervention strategy for improving nurses’ work environment in Calabar, Cross River state. Methods: This study was a descriptive survey by design. Perceptions of features of positive practice environment were explored among Registered Nurses in full time employment at tertiary and secondary health facilities in Calabar using a modified 51-item standard structured questionnaire originally developed by Pfizer to measure Nurses expectations and needs in a 2009 ICN Quadrennial Study. The questionnaire was adapted with the permission of Pfizer. Data were computer analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 15. Interrelationships between variables were tested using Chi- Square analysis. Results: The mean (SD) age of the respondents was 37.4 ± 8.3 years while respondents’ mean (SD) working experience was 15.8 ± 8.7 years. The respondents were predominantly female 149(90.3%) while 109 (66.1%) were married. The level of education indicated that most 110(66.7%) had diploma in Nursing, 43(26.1%) had first degree, and 12(7.3%) had post-graduate qualification. Most 86(52.1%) of the nurses had heard just a little some about positive practice environment (PPE), 30(18.2%) had heard nothing at all while only 49(29.7%) were quite knowledgeable. The features of PPE rated highly by the participants were clear and comprehensive description of their job responsibility 75(45.5%) and an environment of team work and collegiality 71(43.0%). Similarly, in their practice experience, the very positive feature in their work environment was an environment of open communication, teamwork and collegiality 60(36.4); clear and comprehensive description of their job responsibility 53(32.1%). Most favorable aspect of nursing identified by the nurses was helping patients/patient contact 75 (45.5%) while the most unfavourable aspect of nursing identified were risk of contracting infections 61(37.0%). Although 96(58.2%) of the participants opined that nursing is better today than 5 years ago, only 50(30.3%) were very satisfied with nursing while 103(61.8%) of the nurses expressed the desire to remain in the nursing profession in the next 5 years. Discussion: The findings have established the need for making information on PPE widely available to practicing Registered Nurses in Calabar. Employers of nurses should take urgent steps to improve health and safety policies and procedures at the work place to create a more positive practice environment for nurses to perform their duties and improve patient outcome. More efforts are required by the professional association to negotiate better pay packages, benefits and incentives for nurses in order to guarantee nurses wellbeing and retention in the profession

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways