Smoking patterns among Jordanian health professionals: A study about the impediments to tobacco control in Jordan

Background

Little is known about Arab health professionals' smoking practices.

Aim

This is the first study to examine smoking practices among Arab health professionals.

Methods

Background: Little is known about Arab nurses and physicians' smoking patterns.

Aim

This study aims to examine smoking patterns among Arab nurses and physicians.

Methods

A total of 918 nurses and physicians participated in this study. Data were collected using the Global Professional Health Survey.

Results

About 38.8% are current smokers. The smoking percentages for male nurses and male physicians were high (83.8%, 94.6% respectively) compared to female nurses and female physicians (16.2%, 5.4% respectively). Approximately 53.8% wanted to quit and 60.6% had made previous quit attempts that lasted for more than two days. About 64.1% believed that nurses and physicians who smoke were less likely to advise patients to stop smoking. The predictors of smoking were: age when tried first cigarettes OR = 6.36, 95% CI = 4.48, 9.04; father smokes OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.40, 2.72; mother smokes OR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.18, 3.39; shift work OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.04, 2.03; and the interaction (gender and profession) OR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.55, 2.14.

Discussion

Effective interventions often begin with and/or depend on nurses and physicians being committed to smoking cessation. Given the very high smoking rates among nurses and physicians a key priority must be to provide quit smoking programs and to enable them to become effective champions of smoking cessation nationwide.     

Ophthalmologic findings in fifteen patients with Wolfram syndrome

PURPOSE: To look for ophthalmologic abnormalities in 15 patients with Wolfram syndrome, also known as DIDMOAD syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy and deafness). METHODS: Fifteen patients from four inbred families diagnosed as having Wolfram syndrome at the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, in Amman, Jordan, were evaluated ophthalmologically. Their examination included best-corrected visual acuity, color vision testing, pupillary light reflexes, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundus examination. Fundus fluorescein angiography was done in all patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of optic atrophy was (93.3%), colordefect (92.9%), cataract (66.6%), pigmentary retinopathy (30%) and diabetic retinopathy (20%). Abnormal pupillary light reflexes and nystagmus were also reported. CONCLUSIONS: Although ourgroup of patients was genetically heterogeneous, the ophthalmic findings are consistent with those reported in other series, except for cataract which was highly prevalent but mild and did not contribute significantly to loss of vision.     

Chronic urinary tract infection and bladder carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis of case–control and cohort studies

Objective

This meta-analysis of published case–control and cohort studies sought to quantify the magnitude and direction of association between chronic UTI (defined as the infection of the urinary tract that either does not respond to treatment or keeps recurring) and risk of bladder carcinoma (BCa) (i.e., including mainly urothelial carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma).

Methods

A literature search was conducted using Medline, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, Science Direct and Cochrane Library, which was supplemented with manual search of reference lists of the identified articles. Case–control and cohort studies examining UTI as a predictor of BCa risk published through June 2016 were eligible. Using random-effects models, odds ratios (OR) or relative risks (RR) from eligible studies were combined to synthesize summary effect estimates. The included studies were assessed for methodological quality and potential publication bias. Heterogeneity by study characteristics was examined by sub-group and meta-regression analyses.

Results

Eighteen case–control and three cohort studies published between 1963 and 2016 were eligible. Random-effects models showed that UTI was significantly associated with an increased BCa risk both in case–control studies (summary OR_RE = 2.33; 95% CI 1.86, 2.92) and cohort studies (summary RR_RE = 2.88; 95% CI 1.20, 6.89). The observed relationship of UTI with an increased BCa risk was independent of the study characteristics considered. No significant publication bias was detected.

Conclusions

Chronic UTI was significantly and independently associated with an increased BCa risk. However, due to the presence of high between-study heterogeneity and inconsistent patterns of adjusted confounding effects, more data are needed to clarify the role of chronic UTI in causation of BCa and if established, prompt and effective treatment of UTI may minimize a substantial proportion of BCa risk.

     

The impact on mothers of bringing up a child with intellectual disabilities: a cross-cultural study

BACKGROUND: Most research into the impact on mothers of having a child with an intellectual disability has been done in Western cultures. These mothers are at increased risk of stress, along with poorer health and weakened family relationships. Nurses are well placed to support these mothers. OBJECTIVES: (1) To describe across three different cultures-Irish, Taiwanese and Jordanian-the inter-relationships among three indicators of maternal well-being. (2) To identify the coping strategies of mothers and the professional and informal supports available to them. (3) To identify the variables that have a negative impact on maternal well-being and possible moderating influences on them. DESIGN: A survey approach with three groups of self-selected mothers. PARTICIPANTS: The characteristics of the child determined the inclusion criteria; namely aged 5-18 years with a diagnosis of intellectual disability of such severity that the children attended special schools or centres. In each country, the special services within particular geographical areas were approached and all families known to them were given the opportunity to participate. In all 206 mothers agreed to participate. METHODS: Mothers were interviewed individually at home or in the day centre attended by their child. They completed various rating scales of known reliability and validity. In addition they described in their own words, the impact the child had on their lives and how they coped. RESULTS: In all three countries, mothers experienced poor mental health, increased levels of child-related stress and poorer family functioning which the qualitative data further illuminated. Their child's behaviour problems were a major factor in this. The impacts on mothers' well-being were not alleviated by access to professional supports or use of coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Health professionals need to adopt family-centred approaches that embrace the support needs of mothers. Similar strategies would apply across all cultures although they must be responsive to individual need.     

Jordanian nursing students' knowledge of osteoporosis

The aim of this study was to explore baccalaureate nursing students' knowledge of osteoporosis for beginning practice in the community. A cross-sectional study design was used. Students were selected by convenience sampling ( n  = 85) from one University in Jordan in the final of 4 years. Students were asked to complete a 23-item-knowledge questionnaire based on two earlier published studies of osteoporosis. Results indicated poor level of knowledge of osteoporosis on all dimensions: prevention (11 items) 62.6%; SD 14.2; general (5 items) 59.5%; SD 20.6; and the pathophysiology (7 items) 39.6%; SD 15.6, and an overall mean grade of 54.9%; SD 10.3. This result provides information that graduating nursing students have limited knowledge to undertake the role of health promotion and disease prevention in the community.