Adequate Practices Research Articles

A conceptual model of an effective early childhood physical literacy pedagogue

Physical inactivity has become increasingly prevalent among young children in early childhood education and care settings. One promising way to intervene and promote physical activity in these settings is to develop children’s physical literacy. Where most children spend their weekday in early childhood settings in the care of early childhood educators, the educators are viewed as ‘change agents’ and become responsible for developing children’s physical literacy. Thus, early childhood educators must possess adequate skills, knowledge, and practices to promote such development. However, research has yet to conceptualize a theory which identifies the significant capabilities and competencies that make early childhood educators, what we propose, an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Therefore, this paper draws on early childhood research regarding physical literacy, physical activity, and active play, to present a conceptual model theorizing an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Within this model, we propose educators’ professional identity and implementation of play-based pedagogy are essential characteristics of an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Furthermore, educators’ physical literacy capabilities (psychomotor, affective, social, and cognitive) are recognized as the vehicle that drives the aforementioned characteristics to be the Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. This conceptual model provides implications for future research to appropriately assess and target physical literacy interventions towards early childhood educators.

Nurses' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Enteral Feeding of Critically ill Patients at Kenyatta National Hospital Critical Care Unit

Enteral feeding/nutrition is the most efficient nutritional support strategy used by critical care nurses to feed patients in critical care units (CCUs) who are unable to meet their dietary demands orally. In developing countries, most critically ill patients continue to receive low amounts of their dietary needs in the CCUs. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out investigations on the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of critical care nurses attending to extremely ill patients. This study's objective was to determine the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of critical care nurses on enteral feeding of critically ill patients at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CCUs. The study adopted a cross-sectional quantitative study design. Using a stratified sampling design and proportionate sampling technique, a sample size of 135 critical care nurses was recruited. Data was collected using a standardised questionnaire. Inferential statistics, Pearson Chi-square (χ2) or Fisher's exact tests were used to analyse the relationship between independent and dependent variables. A p-value of <0.05 was set as the significance criterion. Approximately 65.9% of the study participants noted adequate level of knowledge on enteral nutrition, followed by moderate (23.0%) and inadequate (11.1%) levels of knowledge. Most of the respondents (96.3%.) had positive attitudes toward enteral feeding. About 54.7% of the study subjects had competent enteral feeding practices. The gender, age group, terms of service, level of qualification and work experience were not significantly associated with the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on enteral feeding among critical care nurses. This study concluded that the critical care nurses had adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and competent practices on enteral nutrition. The study recommends that critical care nurses must be provided with regular, continuous medical training on enteral nutrition to maintain a high level of knowledge, positive attitudes, and competent practices on enteral nutrition

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Hand Hygiene Among First year and Fourth year MBBS Students; A Cross Sectional Comparative Study

Objective: To compare the knowledge, attitude and practices of hand hygiene among first- and fourth-year medical students of HBS Medical and Dental College Islamabad. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive comparative study was carried out in HBS medical and dental college Islamabad from June to August 2022(n=200). The survey was based on self-structured closed-ended questionnaire about hand hygiene practices among the participants. Results: We identified 90%of first year and 98% of fourth year medical students with adequate knowledge, attitude and practices about hand hygiene. Conclusions: The majority of first and fourth year MBBS students had updated information regarding hand hygiene knowledge, attitude and practices.

Telepsiquiatria no Brasil: construção, validação e aplicação de questionário de Conhecimento, Atitude e Prática

ABSTRACT Introduction: Telepsychiatry, defined as the use of electronic communication to provide or support remote psychiatric care, has gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of telemedicine regulations in Brazil. This study aims to assess the adoption of telepsychiatry among Brazilian psychiatrists, employing KAP (Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice) questionnaires to understand their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to this field. Objective: Constructing, validating, and applying a questionnaire to determine the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice of Brazilian psychiatrists regarding telepsychiatry in the past year and identifying factors associated with adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice. Method: A methodological study was conducted to construct and validate the instrument, followed by a cross-sectional study with an analytical KAP questionnaire. After the questionnaire development, psychiatry experts validated the instrument using the Delphi method. Subsequently, the questionnaire was distributed to psychiatrists across Brazil through social networks and the Brazilian Psychiatric Association. Data analysis was performed using the Stata 12.1 software, employing multivariate Poisson analyses. Results: The KAP questionnaire was validated with a high degree of agreement among the experts. Among the participants, 68.3% demonstrated adequate knowledge, 80.1% had an adequate attitude, and 81.2% exhibited adequate practices concerning telepsychiatry. The multivariate analysis revealed significant associations, such as adequate attitudes being linked to not practicing in medical offices and providing care to children, while adequate practices were associated with providing care to both the elderly and adolescent patients. Conclusion: The study concludes that the KAP questionnaire is valid and can be applied in future research. It underscores the significance of telepsychiatry in the practices of Brazilian psychiatrists, with notable differences in adequate attitudes and practices based on the age groups of treated patients. These findings indicate the need to consider these variables when implementing telepsychiatry, contributing to guiding mental health policies and specific clinical practices for different age groups.

Use of an Escape Room to Enhance Nutrition Care Process Skills and Self-efficacy

Application of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a fundamental concept for students preparing to become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Adequate practice, within pedagogical methods designed to mimic actual dietetics practice scenarios as realistically as possible, is necessary to increase student NCP skill proficiency and confidence. This study assessed the impact of a virtual escape room experience compared with a traditional case study on both NCP skills and confidence in a senior didactic program in dietetics for undergraduate students. Results indicate that the escape room experience improved both NCP documentation (P < .001) and student self-efficacy (P < .001).

Sports-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries in Medical Students.

Little attention is paid to the problem of sports-related injuries in amateur or nonathletes or recreational student athletes. We investigated the prevalence of sports-related musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries in medical students and attempted to identify the risk factors for these injuries. We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based observational study on medical students of a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India. A total of 500 medical students were approached; the questionnaire consisted of details, such as age, gender, height, weight, predominant sport played or the sport during which they sustained an injury, estimated time spent playing every week, if they had undergone any formal training for the sport, any preexisting MSK condition, details of the injury and the treatment taken, if any, after joining medical school, and duration from getting injured to return to studies and sports. The odds ratio (OR) and logistic regression were calculated for multiple parameters. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Seventy-four of the 402 students who responded reported sustaining a sports-related injury; 33 and 41 students reported injury while playing contact and noncontact sports, respectively. Of these, 58 students reported that they had received formal training in sports. Football, volleyball, cricket, and kabaddi were the sports during which most injuries occurred. The injury rate was 3.7 per 1000 playing or practice hours. Almost one-fifth of the students reported sustaining a sports-related MSK injury after joining medical school. The risk factors identified for these injuries were male gender, participation in team sports, participation in noncontact sports, and lack of adequate preparation or practice.

The EU’s human security based approach towards energy poverty

The phenomenon of energy poverty shows that energy issues, traditionally linked with international, regional, and national levels of analysis, have wider economic and political causes that are being manifested at the community and individual levels as well. Latest energy crisis across the European continent, coped with some structural factors such are resource scarcity, energy transition, and war between Russia and Ukraine, emphasized individualistic consequences of the ongoing energy processes. The fact that approximately 42 million people in the EU are affected by energy poverty put the phenomenon of the energy poverty very high at the EU agenda. Clear connection of this topic with human security concept made the phenomenon of energy poverty justifiable to be analysed from the people-centred perspective. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to highlight human security approach as a solid framework for understanding and analysis of the energy poverty phenomenon in the EU. Review of the significant academic knowledge base on this phenomenon, secondary data analysis from the relevant European surveys related to this issue, and analysis of adequate EU policies and practices combating energy poverty will serve to outline state-of-playwhen it comes to the energy poverty and human security nexus at the EU level.

Manejo de bezerras bubalinas

ABSTRACT One of the main stages in bubalinoculture is breeding calves, because this phase is defined by the quality of the animals that will be the future property matrices. The breeding phase extends from birth to weaning, and is delicate and precise; consequently, attending to characteristics of extreme importance in dairy farming activity such as behavioral and health aspects will aid these animals to express all of their genetic potential. Since this life phase of the animal does not generate immediate economic return to the producer, it ends up not receiving the necessary attention, contributing to low zootechnical indices and high production costs. Adopting adequate management practices is essential for the productive development of the animal that will guarantee the future good productivity of the farm. In view of the above, the objective of this study is to present the management of buffalo calves through a literature review, emphasizing that proper feeding, correct management and disease prevention are fundamental to ensuring the well-being and health of calves. These factors, together with a clean and safe environment, can maximize the productive potential of these animals. It is therefore essential that producers are well-informed and prepared to properly care for these animals during this crucial phase of their lives.

A questionnaire-based study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Materiovigilance among health-care professionals of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Gujarat

Background: Medical devices are now an essential component of modern healthcare, providing better illness screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Every medical equipment has some level of health risk. Health-care professionals such as resident doctors, intern doctors, and nursing staff play an important role in identifying and reporting adverse events caused by medical devices. Aim and Objective: The study aimed to evaluate doctors’ awareness and attitudes concerning Materiovigilance within a tertiary care hospital setting. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study done among resident doctors, intern doctors, and nursing staff of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. To collect the relevant data of the study variable, a self-administered Google Forms-based questionnaire was created. It consists of a total of 18 questions related to KAP aspects of the Materiovigilance. The study participants were given access to the questionnaire via a digital web link using several social media platforms, and their responses were collected. Results: A total of 147 participants responded, of which 40.1% were resident doctors, 29.9% were intern doctors, and 29.9% were nursing staff. After analysis of responded data, 50% had proper Knowledge, 77.5% had proper Attitude, and 37.4% had a proper practice of materiovigilance. Conclusion: It was discovered that the participants in our study lacked adequate Materiovigilance knowledge and practice, but had better attitudes toward Materiovigilance. For the purpose of raising awareness and encouraging the reporting of adverse events caused by medical devices, more workshops and training programs must be held.

Pregnant Women and Postnatal Mothers Lack Knowledge of COVID-19 and its Preventive Measures.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic. During any health emergency, the pregnant women and postnatal mothers are more vulnerable for hazards. Hence, it is important to provide them adequate knowledge and good practice guidelines as issued by the World Health Organization. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice against COVID-19 infection among Pregnant and post natal mothers in South Indian population. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the pregnant women who were in their third trimester and in postnatal mothers delivered within past 3 months. Semi structured questionnaire was used to assess 134 subjects. Results: Out of 134 participants 40(29.9%) had adequate, 43(32.1%) had moderate and 51(38.1%) had inadequate knowledge. The level of practice and attitude towards COVID-19 and its prevention was good (94.8% and 93.3% respectively). There was a significant correlation between knowledge &practices(P=0.023) and practices& attitudes(P=0.000) among the study population. The antenatal mothers had significantly more knowledge than their postnatal counterparts (P=0.044). Age had significant association with knowledge, attitude and level of practice while parity was associated with practice levels alone. It is also evident that some practices of hand hygiene and proper breastfeeding hygiene are lacking among antenatal women and postnatal mothers. Conclusion: By virtue of the findings, it is evident that pregnant women and postnatal mothers lack adequate knowledge about COVID-19 pandemic and its preventive measures as issued by the World Health Organization. Since the knowledge & practices and the practices & attitudes towards COVID-19 are correlated, it is essential that meticulous steps are initiated to provide proper knowledge to the antenatal women and postnatal mothers in order to protect them from COVID-19 infection. We also found that some practices of hand hygiene and proper breastfeeding hygiene are lacking among our women. Steps must be taken to educate and encourage antenatal women and post natal mothers with respect to practices of hand hygiene and proper breastfeeding hygiene during this this ongoingCOVID-19pandemic.

Empowering Communities for Environmental Change: Waste Segregation Solutions in Alido Heights

One of the significant environmental challenges we face is improper waste segregation. Poor waste disposal practices hinder the progress of integrated solid waste management in households. This study aims to identify problems encountered during implementation and provide specific solutions to enhance the quality of life for residents and the Homeowners Association and establish adequate waste segregation practices that promote environmental cleanliness. The study utilizes quantitative and qualitative methods with a descriptive design to evaluate the waste segregation system in Alido Heights Subdivision, Bulihan, City of Malolos, Bulacan. The researchers designed a survey questionnaire with questions constructed and developed based on the issues identified by the residents. Simultaneously, interviews were conducted with an officer of the homeowners’ association to gather their knowledge and experiences. The results indicate that the respondents effectively manage household waste and segregation. Furthermore, the efficiency of the waste segregation system implemented by the subdivision reveals inadequacies in designated waste disposal equipment and the location of the dumping site, resulting in inefficient waste segregation within the subdivision. The improvement programs recommended by the subdivision’s residents include providing more garbage bins, allocating additional waste disposal sites, and implementing a campaign program to establish a more efficient segregation system among the residents in the area.

A Survey of Knowledge and Practices of Balinese Culture Sleep Hygiene Modification among Health Faculty Students at Hindu Indonesia University

Background: Sleep disorders were reported among 15−35% of adolescents and adults’ population. Around 27% of college students potentially experience at least one sleep disorder. Poor sleep quality is one of the negative impacts of sleep disorders. Sleep hygiene or good sleeping habits are essential to get good sleep quality. Balinese culture has its own rules on sleeping habits related to sleep hygiene. Good knowledge and practices of Balinese culture sleep hygiene modification are expected to improve sleep quality. Methods: The study design of this research is cross sectional descriptive observational study using total sampling as the sampling method, which included all Health Faculty students at Hindu Indonesia University who met the inclusion criteria. Data was collected through a survey by distributing offline questionnaires from April to May 2023. The questionnaires used in this research modified Sleep Beliefs Scale (SBS) and Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) questionnaires by adding sleep hygiene perspectives according to Balinese culture and customs. Validity and reliability tests were applied to the questionnaires before the survey (Pearson Correlation shows sig. < 0.05 and reliability analysis showed Cronbach Alpha > 0.60). Data collected in this research were analyzed using crosstab tabulation. Results: Thirty-one students of the Health Faculty at Hindu Indonesia University met the inclusion criteria (20 females and 11 males aged 19 to 57 years). The result of this study regarding the knowledge and practices of Balinese culture sleep hygiene modification shows 16 students (51.6%) had both adequate knowledge and practices, 4 students (12.9%) had adequate knowledge but poor practices, 2 students (6.5%) had poor knowledge but good practices, and 9 students (29%) had both poor knowledge and practices. Conclusion: Most of the Health Faculty students at Hindu Indonesia University had adequate knowledge and practices of Balinese culture sleep hygiene modification. Additionally, several students had adequate knowledge but poor practices and several students had poor knowledge but good practices, which indicates that adequate knowledge about Balinese culture sleep hygiene modification does not guarantee good practices. Keywords: Balinese culture sleep hygiene modification, knowledge, practices

Assessing Oral Health Knowledge and Practices: A Study of Mothers and Children in Northwestern Nigeria

Purpose – To explore the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding oral and dental health for mothers of children aged 6 months to 8 years and older children aged above 8 years to 15 years seeking healthcare in a tertiary health facility in the Sokoto metropolis. Design/methods/approach – A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2022. Subjects included mothers of 6 months to < 8 years and children aged 8 to 15 years presenting with minor illnesses to the General outpatient clinic. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Findings – Out of 238 participants, 128 children were 6 months to <8 years, while 110 were above 8 to 15 years old. Less than half of mothers, 46.9%, had inadequate knowledge, while 20.3% had adequate practices. Among the older children in this study, the proportion of those with good knowledge, attitude, and practice level of oral health was 60%, 61.8%, and 32.7%. There was a significant moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores but not practice for the 2 groups. Mothers’ education and fathers’ occupation were significantly related to good scores (p=<0.05). Mothers of children with primary teeth and older children with permanent teeth in this study all had poor oral and dental health practices. More awareness programs should be conducted in the community to target those with poor practices. Increasing female education and empowerment is also essential in this regard. Research implications/limitations – This research implies that from an early age, it is necessary to check oral and dental health to prevent infectious diseases. Originality/value – Oral and dental health is an essential aspect of primary health care and is a situation in which the mouth, teeth, and gums are healthy and free from any diseases. Parents, especially mothers, are responsible for maintaining good oral hygiene practices and inculcating good oral hygiene habits in children. Paper Type Research paper

Socio-Cultural Influence on the Knowledge of Infant Nutrition among Mothers in a Local Council South-East, Nigeria: Implications for Social Work

Infant nutrition is crucial for public health since it aids in the prevention of chronic diseases later in life. The study focused on socio-cultural factors influencing the knowledge of infant nutritional needs among mothers in a local council in Southeast Nigeria. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design with 200 participants who were women of reproductive age (18 and older) selected from communities in a local council. The study’s findings show that mothers’ low educational level contributed to low level of knowledge of nutritional needs of infants. The results indicate that most respondents (80.9%) believed that both parents should be well aware of an infant’s nutritional needs in order to achieve excellent feeding practices. The study revealed various behaviors that do not improve adequate feeding practices for infants based on the respondents’ local knowledge, attitude, and beliefs. The study suggests social workers can help pregnant and parenting women eliminate barriers to breastfeeding by engaging them in prenatal care through therapeutic talks, early intervention programs, both in hospitals, and collaboration with families. The study concludes that there is a link between poor nutrition and family breadwinner roles, literacy level, occupation, and income. There is need for future studies that will involve key community figures including mothers, fathers and other community members. This will help in deeper understanding of social and cultural barriers to proper feeding practices in infants and improve better policy interventions and social work practices.

Preterm Infant Care Practice among Nurses in Neonatal Care Units of Selected Hospitals of Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction. Preterm infants (PTIs) are vulnerable to morbidity, disability, and mortality. They require meticulous care for survival and development in neonatal care units (NCUs). PTI care in NCUs is a collaborative and team effort among different health professionals. However, nurses have a key role for quality care. This study aimed to assess nurses’ PTI care practices across different hospitals in Nepal. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in NCUs of six randomly selected public hospitals in Nepal. After obtaining ethical approval, structured observation was completed among 40 NCU nurses using a practice checklist. After observation, a self-report questionnaire was administered among 102 nurses. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results. The observation and self-reported mean infant care practices were 73.7% and 70.7%, respectively. The overall practice median score and the interquartile range (IQR) were 4.0 (3.5–4.3) with the highest score of (4.5 [4.1–4.7]) for daily supportive care and the lowest score of (2.8 [2.1–3.5]) for pain management. The care practice was strongly associated with the nurse-infant ratio (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 18.52, confidence interval (CI) = 5.83–58.77, and p=<0.001) and training status (aOR = 4.95, CI = 1.59–15.39, and p=0.006). Conclusion. Nurses have adequate practice of thermal care, safe oxygen administration, nutritional care, and infection prevention in NCUs, whereas lacking is found regarding developmental supportive care components (sleep promotion and a supportive sensory environment), parental support, and pain management practices. Consideration of the proper nurse-infant ratio and continued professional development opportunities are essential for practice enhancement in NCUs. These findings might be useful to identify the gaps in PTI care practice in NCUs.

Efficient removal of toxicity associated to wastewater treatment plant effluents by enhanced Soil Aquifer Treatment

The regeneration of wastewater has been recognized as an effective strategy to counter water scarcity. Nonetheless, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) effluents still contain a wide range of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) even after water depuration. Filtration through Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) systems has proven efficient for CECs removal although the attenuation of their associated biological effects still remains poorly understood. To evaluate this, three pilot SAT systems were monitored, two of them enhanced with different reactive barriers. SATs were fed with secondary effluents during two consecutive campaigns. Fifteen water samples were collected from the WWTP effluent, below the barriers and 15 m into the aquifer. The potential attenuation of effluent-associated biological effects by SATs was evaluated through toxicogenomic bioassays using zebrafish eleutheroembryos and human hepatic cells. Transcriptomic analyses revealed a wide range of toxic activities exerted by the WWTP effluents that were reduced by more than 70% by SAT. Similar results were observed when HepG2 hepatic cells were tested for cytotoxic and dioxin-like responses. Toxicity reduction appeared partially determined by the barrier composition and/or SAT managing and correlated with CECs removal. SAT appears as a promising approach to efficiently reduce effluent-associated toxicity contributing to environmental and human health preservation.

Urban Public Knowledge towards Sarcopenia: Health Education Needs Assessment

Introduction: Sarcopenia is increasingly recognized as a health problem among older persons and is one of the major determinant factors in frailty. Studies revealed sarcopenia is prevalent in Malaysia and it have detrimental impact on the quality of life of older people. Sarcopenia can be prevented with adequate knowledge and practices on controlling the risk factors. This study aimed to assess the urban public’s knowledge on sarcopenia. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among urban population in one of the states in Malaysia. Data was collected from October to December 2020. Results: A total of Two hundred and two publics participated in the study. The present study revealed that only 14 (6.9%) of the participants were found to possess good knowledge about sarcopenia with mean age was 49.0 years (SD = ±12.65. Analysis of variance indicated statistically significant differences at the < 0.05 significance level for age group, gender, educational level and smoking habit. Conclusion: The findings highlight the lack of sarcopenia knowledge among the urban public. This study indicated urban public are not well-informed about sarcopenia and lack of health promotion strategies to address this alarming public health problem. The study findings have identified the health education needs and will contribute to the development and implementation of an evidence-based health promotion programme serve as data for health promotion programme towards sarcopenia and its prevention.

Preventing intestinal infections in vulnerable communities

Introduction: intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides represents a serious complication in children from endemic regions, with significant repercussions on global public health due to its high prevalence and potential morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the present study has focused on investigating and analyzing the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of intestinal obstruction due to Ascaris lumbricoides in pediatric patients. In order to improve early detection, effective treatment and preventive measures in endemic areas. Method: a systematic review of relevant clinical and epidemiological studies published in scientific databases was carried out, incorporating multicriteria analysis methods such as Saaty’s AHP and COPRAS to evaluate the impact and weight of the risks in the study. Results: the use of methods such as Saaty’s AHP and COPRAS underlined the need for hygiene education and maintenance of sanitary conditions. So that it highlights the central role in the effectiveness of the implemented strategies. Furthermore, computed axial tomography was confirmed as an effective diagnostic method to identify intestinal obstruction due to parasites, while albendazole demonstrated high efficacy in resolving intestinal obstruction and eliminating the parasite. Conclusions: combined strategies of antiparasitic treatment and hygiene education constitute the key to reducing the incidence and complications of Ascaris lumbricoides in children. Adapted public health policies are even required to promote regular deworming and adequate hygiene practices

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Among Nurses on Oral Care for Intensive Care Unit Patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Oral care of intensive care unit (ICU) bound individuals is essential for overall health outcomes and to prevent complications. Nurses, who are the primary caregivers, should possess adequate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) in this regard to provide optimal care to these patients. There are no standardized guidelines existing at present in this regard, making the practice of oral care more challenging.There is a diversified representation of nurses who practice in this region of the world and have not been analyzed in the past. This study would like to address this paucity of data. Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses regarding oral health care in ICU patients along with analyzing any existing hospital-based policies related to oral care. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 230 nurses practicing at ICU of the National Guard Health Affairs (NGHAs) Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Nurses responded to 22 closed-ended questionnaires, which were adopted after content validation and reliability assessment. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 20, 2011; IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). A total of 230 (51.1%) nurses responded. The mean working experience of 12.6 (±7.5) years and ICU experience of 10.6 (±6.7) years were observed. Seventy-four (32.2%) nurses mentioned they received oral care training for ICU patients as part of their degree. A significant variation (p=0.03) in response was observed based on qualification concerning the knowledge of nurses if improper oral care among ICU patients could cause systemic complications. Nurses with less than five years' experience were more likely to provide oral care only once per day compared to nurses with higher experience (>10 years) (OR: 2.97, p=0.00, 95% CI: 2.40-12.2). There were certain knowledge, attitude, and practice-based questions that elicited significant differences in responses based on the qualifications and experience of the nurses. Overall, the nurses did possess fair knowledge and favorable attitudes towards oral care in these patients.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards antenatal physical exercise among pregnant women in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Physical activity and exercise during pregnancy have paramount importance for both the mother and fetus. Regardless of the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, significant proportion of women usually opt sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to synthesis evidences on knowledge, attitude, and practice towards antenatal physical exercise among pregnant women in Ethiopia. The systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors towards antenatal physical exercise among pregnant women in Ethiopia. The systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was registered on PROSPERO website with registration number CRD42023444723. Articles were searched on international databases using medical subject heading and keywords. After ensuring eligibility, data were extracted using Microsoft excel and imported to STATA 17 for analysis. Cochran Q test and I2 statistics were used to check presence of heterogeneity. Weighted Inverse variance random effect model was used to estimate the pooled level of knowledge, attitude, and practice on antenatal physical exercise among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Funnel plot and egger's test were used to check presence of publication bias. A total of 11 studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of adequate knowledge, favorable attitude and good practice towards antenatal physical exercise were 46.04% with 95% CI (44.45%-47.63%), 43.71%, 95% CI (41.95%-45.46%) and 34.06, 95% CI (20.04%-48.08%) respectively. Good knowledge AOR 2.38 95% CI(1.80-3.14), unfavorable attitude AOR 0.43 95% CI (0.32-0.58), having no pre-pregnancy habit of physical exercise AOR 0.44 95 CI (0.24-0.79) and having diploma or above education status AOR 3.39 95% CI (1.92-5.98) were significantly associated with practice of antenatal physical exercise. The level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards antenatal physical exercise among pregnant women was far below the recommended level in Ethiopia. Knowledge, attitude, education status and pre-pregnancy habit of physical exercise were significantly associated factors with antenatal physical exercise practice. It is highly essential to disseminate health information on the benefits of antenatal physical exercise for all pregnant women during antenatal care contacts.