Descriptive Cross-sectional Study Research Articles

Influence of Health Literacy on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Older Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease is a chronic condition that requires continuous adherence to healthy behaviors. Adhering to physical activity and reducing prolonged sedentary behavior are important for the physical health of older patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Health literacy is increasingly recognized as a key factor in secondary prevention for these patients. However, evidence regarding the associations among health literacy, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors for secondary prevention in older patients with coronary artery disease remains limited. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of limited health literacy and the influence of health literacy on physical activity and sedentary behaviors in older patients with CAD. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from May to December 2022 in South Korea. A total of 186 patients aged 65 and older diagnosed with coronary artery disease participated. Data on health literacy, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors were collected through self-reported questionnaires and electronic medical records. The prevalence of limited health literacy in older patients was 66.7%. Hierarchical linear regression revealed that health literacy was a significant determinant of physical activity (β = -0.50, P < .001) and sedentary behaviors (β = 0.58, P < .001) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our main findings showed that health literacy can facilitate improvements in physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Health literacy can facilitate health decisions for secondary prevention in older patients with CAD. Thus, healthcare professionals should assess patient health literacy and illness severity when designing secondary prevention programs.

Impact of the February 6, 2023, Turkey earthquake on post-traumatic stress disorder, internet addiction and insomnia: A cross-sectional study.

After earthquakes, individuals may increase their internet usage to cope with post-traumatic stress symptoms, potentially leading to internet addiction and sleep disturbances. This study aims to determine the levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), internet addiction and insomnia in earthquake survivors 1 year after the event and to explore the relationships between these variables. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between April and June 2024 through face-to-face interviews with 554 individuals who survived the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Turkey, 1 year after the event. Data were collected using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form (YIAT-SF) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). A statistically significant moderate positive correlation was found between PCL-5, YIAT-SF and ISI based on the Pearson correlation test (r = .32 and .44, respectively; p < .05). According to the logistic regression analysis, experiencing physical injury during the earthquake and the loss of first-degree relatives were found to predict the severity of PTSD symptoms (p = .04, OR = 2.44, 95% CI [1.04, 5.65]; p < .001, OR = 1.98, 95% CI [1.26, 3.06], respectively). Additionally, the YIAT-SF and ISI variables were found to be statistically significant predictors of PTSD symptom severity (p < .001, OR = 1.04, 95% CI [1.01, 1.07]; p < .001, OR = 1.18, 95% CI [1.12, 1.23], respectively). It is concluded that the severity of PTSD symptoms in earthquake survivors is associated with the severity levels of insomnia and internet addiction. Additionally, it is determined that experiencing injury or loss of a loved one during the earthquake may increase the severity of PTSD symptoms. To protect earthquake survivors from the risk of PTSD, it may be necessary to provide psychosocial support focussed on positive coping strategies for internet addiction and insomnia.

Một số đặc điểm về tuân thủ sử dụng thuốc kháng động kinh của người bệnh động kinh tại Trung tâm Thần kinh Bệnh viện Bạch Mai

Epilepsy is a common disease, affecting about 65 million people in the world, accounting for 1% of the global burden of disease. Many aspects are affected such as: Economic, social and especially the quality of life. Some researches have shown that the quality of life of people with epilepsy is much lower than that of healthy people. Treatment of epilepsy is necessary. However, epilepsy treatment is difficult with a high rate of seizure recurrence. One of the important causes of seizure recurrence is the medication non-adherence that even making the disease more difficult to control. Objective: Describe the characteristics of medication adherence in epilepsy patients at the Bach Mai neurology center and analyze some related factors. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study on patients who were diagnosed and treated for outpatient epilepsy, came for follow-up examination at the neurology center of Bạch Mai hospital. Patient classification based on medication adherence characteristics and patients beliefs about drug use, through MMAS-8 scale and BMQ scale. Results: Out of 193 patients, 80.5% of them often had difficulty remembering to take medication, 11.4% felt bothered when adhering to treatment. 0% of patients achieved a high level of compliance, 27.5% at average level and 72.5% at low level). Conclusion: The majority of patients have a moderate level of knowledge about epilepsy, with most of them understanding that epilepsy can be cured, the available treatment methods, and the necessity of adhering to medication. However, they also recognize the serious issue of using stimulants. Despite this, none of the patients achieved a high level of adherence, with most showing low adherence to treatment, primarily due to occasionally forgetting to take their medication.

Primary care performance in a Ugandan rural district: cross-sectional descriptive study.

To strengthen primary health care (PHC), there is a need to measure its performance. To measure primary care performance in one rural Ugandan district. A cross-sectional survey of Tororo District administered the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) across a sample of 51 facilities. There were four levels of health facilities (health centres II to general hospital). Random sample of 100 users was obtained from each level while including all primary care providers and managers. Data was collected in REDCap software, and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences vs23. Only 35.1% of users had a strong affiliation with their PHC facility. Overall primary care score suggested that performance was acceptable to the majority of users (58.9% rating performance at least acceptable). Ongoing care was rated by users as very poor (<25% of people rating it at least acceptable). Comprehensiveness (services available) was rated poor by users (<50% finding it at least acceptable). Users rated first contact access and coordination (information systems) acceptable (51-75% finding them at least acceptable). Person-centredness and comprehensiveness (services provided) were rated good by users (>75% rating them as acceptable or more). Providers and users differed significantly in their scoring across all domains, with providers usually more positive. Performance significantly improved as the PHC level increased. Primary care performance in the study district was sub-optimal. The PCAT identified primary care functions that needed improving and may be a useful tool to measure PHC performance across the region.

Online Health Services: Attitudes and Behaviors among Adults in Israel

Objective: Online Health Services (OHS) emerged in the last decade and currently encompass technologies that facilitate patient-practitioner communication in medical fields such as diagnosis, treatment, counseling, and monitoring, including for chronic patients. The current study aims to describe attitudes and behaviors related to OHS and identify variables that explain online technology use. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among Hebrew-speaking, computer-literate adults, with data collected via online questionnaires. The convenience sample included 700 respondents, of whom 57.4% were female. Respondents’ mean age was 64 years, with most being married (59.3%), secular (75.9%), academically educated at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels (59.1%), and having a chronic illness (65.7%). Results: Despite high OHS use among nearly half the participants, most were undecided whether they preferred in-person or online treatment. Preference for in-person treatment was negatively associated with the perceived efficiency and safety of online treatment, online health literacy, and the extent of OHS use. Key variables explaining OHS use were perceived efficiency and safety of online treatment, online health literacy, preference for in-person treatment, and chronic illness. The explained variation of the OHS consumption model was 40.4%. Conclusion: The variables explaining OHS use are not necessarily linked to classic background variables, e.g. gender, age, and education, but rather to variables related to the use of OHS for therapeutic purposes. OHS are not perceived as substitutes for in-person meetings with healthcare providers but as a supplementary service. Therefore, to enhance OHS use rates, decision-makers should improve online health literacy and design services integrating OHS with in-person treatment.

Characteristics, Perspectives, and Experiences of Cyproheptadine Users at Community Pharmacies in the Context to Prescription Medication Misuse

Some people abuse the antihistamine medication cyproheptadine in an attempt to reach their desired shape, weight, and appearance. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of cyproheptadine misusers as well as their behaviors, perceptions, experiences, and sources of information regarding using this medication. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Sebha City among customers of community pharmacies. Each customer who has taken cyproheptadine was invited to participate in this research. The data was collected from April 2022 until September 2022. Almost all of the participants (n=99, 96.1%) reported they purchased cyproheptadine from community pharmacies and obtained the drug without a prescription n=79 (76.7%). Over half of the respondents (n=53, 51.5%) use this drug for increasing appetite, compared to (n=25,24.3%) and (n=19, 18.4%) respondents who said they used it to improve their shape and lose weight, respectively. Most participants indicated they were unaware of other uses of a drug (n=72, 69.9%) or its side effects (n=61, 59.2%). Furthermore, twenty participants (19.4%) denied receiving information concerning the precautions and contraindications of using cyproheptadine. The highest rate of source of drug information reported by participants was “friends or family member” (n=34, 33%) followed by pharmacists (n=29, 28.2%). Community pharmacies must employ qualified pharmacists on staff to give customers trustworthy information regarding prescription pharmaceuticals such as cyproheptadine.

Immunological determination of Toxoplasma gondii and Brucella canis in canines from shelters in Risaralda and Caldas, Coffee Region – Colombia

The increasing dog population in Colombia has also raised the incidence of diseases that represent human and animal health risks. Brucella canis is a pathogen that is the primary cause of infertility in canines. It is easily transmitted between canines through body fluids, causing abortions in females, perinatal death of puppies, epididymitis, and infertility in males. On the other hand, Toxoplasma gondii is an easily transmitted parasite; its transmission is the majority between canines and felines, mainly through consuming contaminated food and water, which causes a disease that commonly has a subclinical presentation in canines. However, in immunosuppressed individuals this pathogen can cause neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory signs. Currently, due to the increase and geographical distribution of the canine population, it is important to gather information about the prevalence and possible risk factors associated with the presentation of these diseases in the departments of Risaralda and Caldas from Colombia. In this sense, a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, and a population of domestic canines was sampled (n=93), females n=63 (67.74%), and males n=30 (32.26%). In total, 72% of animals were positive for Toxoplasma gondii, while for Brucella canis, a prevalence of 0% was estimated.

Viêm tĩnh mạch tại vị trí lưu kim luồn tĩnh mạch ngoại biên và một số yếu tố liên quan tại Trung tâm Thần kinh, Bệnh viện Bạch Mai

Introduction: Peripheral venous catheter-related phlebitis is a common complication in healthcare facilities, causing pain, disrupting treatment, and potentially leading to severe complications.Objective: This study investigates the incidence and risk factors associated with peripheral intravenous catheter-related phlebitis. Method: A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a self-designed questionnaire and the Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) Scale to assess the degree of phlebitis. The study included 347 inpatients treated in the Emergency and Intensive Care Unit, Neurology Center, at Bach Mai Hospital. Data were collected from medical records and clinical observation. Results: Among the studied patients, the incidence of phlebitis was 17.6%, and 4.3% of catheter insertion sites exhibited signs of inflammation. Grade 1 and 2 were the most common phlebitis (43.1% and 54.2%), with a small number of grade 3 cases (2.8%) and no cases of grade 4 or 5. Factors such as catheter insertion sites in the forearm, elbow, or ankle; underlying conditions like hypertension, cerebral hemorrhage, pneumonia; paralysis; continuous fluid infusion; and certain intravenous medications were identified as being associated with an increased risk of phlebitis. Conclusion: Phlebitis at the PVC site is a significant concern during treatment in ICU and Neurology centers. Proper catheter site selection and effective management of underlying conditions can help reduce the risk of phlebitis. These findings may assist in developing clinical guidelines to improve patient care quality.

Does the hemodialysis program affect the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)? A cross-sectional descriptive study.

This study aims to investigate the effect of high-flux membrane hemodialysis on total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) serum levels in hemodialysis patients and to evaluate the clinical significance of any observed changes. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted involving 75 hemodialysis patients at An-Najah National University Hospital. tPSA and hematocrit (Hct) serum levels were measured before and after one hemodialysis session. The correlation between changes in tPSA and Hct levels was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The mean age of the patients was 54.25 ± 15.27 years, with a mean hemodialysis duration of 40 ± 38 months. The mean tPSA levels before and after hemodialysis were 0.95 ± 0.81 ng/ml and 1.15 ± 0.96 ng/ml, respectively. Significant increases were observed in both tPSA (t = -3.264, p = 0.002) and Hct levels (t = -7.861, p < 0.001). The percentage changes in tPSA and Hct were 20% and 12%, respectively, with no significant correlation between the changes (r = 0.152, p = 0.215). Hemodialysis significantly elevates tPSA serum levels; however, no significant correlation was found between changes in tPSA and Hct. None of the patients showed clinically significant elevations in tPSA that would necessitate prostate biopsy. Therefore, high-flux membrane hemodialysis does not appear to compromise the diagnostic value of tPSA in hemodialysis patients.

THE IMPACT OF PAEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SKILLS ON PATIENT OUTCOMES IN ZARIA

Paediatric emergencies represent a critical challenge in Nigeria, where approximately 2,300 children under the age of five die daily, predominantly from preventable and treatable conditions such as pneumonia, malaria, and diarrheal diseases. Mortality rates are disproportionately higher in rural areas, where primary health care (PHC) centers often serve as the only point of access to medical services. The effectiveness of these centers is largely dependent on the emergency management skills of their healthcare workers. Despite their importance, there has been limited research on how the skills of PHC workers in managing paediatric emergencies impact patient outcomes. This study aimed to assess the proficiency of healthcare workers in primary healthcare centers in Zaria in managing common paediatric emergencies. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 139 health workers selected through a multi-stage sampling technique in Sabon Gari and Zaria Local Government Areas. Data collection was carried out using a pre-tested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21, and associations were tested using the chi-square test, with results presented in tables and charts. The findings revealed a significant deficiency in the emergency management skills of healthcare workers. A majority of respondents demonstrated inadequate skills in handling paediatric emergencies, with 66 (48.5%) exhibiting very poor competency in the management of common paediatric emergencies, and 32 (23.5%) displaying poor competency. Only a small fraction, 4 (2.9%) of respondents, demonstrated excellent skills in emergency management. Similarly, 46.7% of the respondents had very poor skills in the treatment of common paediatric emergencies, while only 3.0% exhibited excellent treatment skills. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the level of academic qualification and emergency management skills (p &lt; 0.05). The results underscore the critical need to enhance the skill levels of healthcare workers in PHCs through continuous professional development. This could be achieved through collaborative efforts between the Department of Paediatrics at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and the Primary Health Care Departments of Zaria and Sabon Gari local governments, focusing on regular training and workshops. Improving the skills of healthcare workers in managing paediatric emergencies is essential for reducing child mortality and improving health outcomes in the region.

Knowledge on Complications of Recurrent Tonsillitis and its Surgical Management among Parents/Guardian of Paediatric Patients Receiving Services at the Otorhinolaryngology Department at BMC Mwanza Tanzania

Background: Tonsillitis refers to inflammation of the palatine tonsil and most often occurs in children. Recurrent tonsillitis is defined as more than seven attacks within one year, more than five attacks a year within a two-year period, or more than three attacks a year within a three-year period. The global incidence and prevalence of tonsillitis are not completely known, the research indicates that 15-30% of sore throats in children and 5-10% of sore throats in adults are bacterial tonsillitis. Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study with span from May 2024 to August 2024. Results: 385 participants were enrolled in the study; 60.8%of the participants were aged from 21 years to 30 years which was the majority. About 317(82.3%) parents/guardians responded that recurrent tonsillitis has an effect on the child's health, whereas 68 (17.7%) reported that recurrent tonsillitis has no effect on the child's health. Complications of recurrent tonsilitis reported to be known by parent /guardian were snoring (sleep apnoea) 111 (28.8%), ear problems like otitis media 2(0.5%), hearing loss 1(0.3%) heart problem (0.8%), renal problem 3(0.8%), affect the growth of the child 6 (1.6%), missing school 11 (2.9%). 183(47.5%) of the study participants reported that they don’t know about any complications that their child may get after surgery, while other parents/guardians reported that the child can suffer pain after surgery 99(25.7%), intraoperative or postoperative bleeding 3(0.8%) others reported that the child can get pain during eating 8(2.1%)

Cardiometabolic risk profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes seeking services at a Regional Referral Hospital in Kenya

BackgroundPatients with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Early identification and thus treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors may significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in such patients.ObjectiveTo determine the cardiometabolic risk profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes attending a Regional Referral Hospital in Kenya.MethodA descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 136 adults with diabetes. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical measurements were taken to ascertain the cardiometabolic risks which included obesity/overweight, high waist-hip ratio, hypertension, elevated glycated hemoglobin levels, alcohol and tobacco use. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the social demographic characteristics of the participants as well as the cardiometabolic risk factors. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe mean age was 56.34 (± 13.83) years with the majority (69.9%, n = 95) being female. 66.2% (n = 90) were known to be hypertensive. The mean Body Mass Index was 28.02 (95% CI 27.1, 28.9) with 66.2% (n = 90) being obese/overweight. Waist-Hip ratio revealed that 64% (n = 87) were at a high risk (> 1 for men, > 0.85 for women) of cardiometabolic complications. In addition, 63.2% (n = 86) had poor glycemic control as indicated by elevated (> 7%) levels of glycated hemoglobin (mean 8.3%, (95% CI 7.8,8.8).ConclusionCardiometabolic risks were prevalent among the participants with majority having hypertension with uncontrolled blood pressure, were obese/overweight, had a high Waist-Hip ratio and elevated glycated hemoglobin levels. This underscores the need to focus on these risks during follow-up and when designing interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Prevalence of vaginal and cervical HPV infection among 35-year age cohort ever-married women in Kalutara district of Sri Lanka and the validity of vaginal HPV/DNA specimen as a cervical cancer screening tool: a cross-sectional study.

Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common female cancer among Sri Lankan females and is almost associated with sexually transmitted cervicovaginal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of vaginal and cervical HPV infection among 35year old ever-married women and assess the validity of primary healthcare provider-collected vaginal HPV/DNA specimens as a cervical cancer screening tool to improve the coverage of the programme. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from the 1st of September 2018 to the 31st of January 2019. Ever-married women 35 years of age in Kalutara district were the study population. Two women from each Public Health Midwife area (n = 413) were selected randomly from the relevant area eligible families register/s. HPV/DNA cervical specimen and vaginal specimen collection (n = 621) were carried out. Specimens were screened by the Cobas 4800 HPV/DNA automated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine. Participants' profiles were recorded by the research assistants using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The overall prevalence of vaginal and cervical HPV infection was 7.08% (95% CI; 5.2-9.4%) and 6.12% (95% CI; 4.26-8.3%) respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy, and the kappa coefficient of the vaginal HPV/DNA screening method vs. cervical HPV/DNA screening method were 100%, 98.9%, 86.4%, 100%, 99% and 0.92 respectively. Vaginal HPV/DNA specimen screening method can be used as a cervical cancer screening tool due to its high validity. Pilots of the feasibility should be set up before the regional or national rollout of vaginal sampling strategies.

Assessing Socioeconomic Disparities and Health Outcomes among Cancer Patients in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Background: Cancer affects all population groups in the Nigeria, but due to social, environmental, and economic disadvantages, certain groups bear a different burden of cancer. Disparities in health among populations account for preventable morbidity and mortality. Research in this area is focused on identifying health disparities and outcomes contributing to overall wellbeing. Different groups may experience cancer disparities and these groups can be defined by age, gender, education, ethnicity, income, race, origin, and other characteristics. Health disparities can affect cancer outcomes, from diagnosis to treatment. This study evaluates the health disparities and outcomes of cancer patients in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire among patients visiting the oncology unit in the hospital. The questionnaire was interviewer- administered. Descriptive statistics was used to present respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics. Pearson correlation test was used to determine relationship between the determinant of cancer disparity (social demographics) and the outcomes (from patient perspective). Results: A total of 150 patients participated in the study. More female respondents (70%) than male respondents (45%), mostly within the age range of 62 and above (56.7%) participated in this study. The disparities examined include: age, gender, marital status, educational level, occupatina, montly income, religion and health insurance. There was a correlation between the different disparities and health outcomes. All disparities except gender were statistically significant (P = 0.05 &amp; 0.01). Age, marital status, occupation status, religion and health insurance associated postively, while educational level and monthly income associated negatively. Gender had no associaton at all. Overall, patients (50%) were a little satisfied with the overall health outcomes.

Transcultural adaptation and validation of the Eating Self-Efficacy Brief Scale (ESEBS): the Brazilian version

PurposeThis study aimed to develop and validate the Brief Eating Self-Efficacy Scale (ESEBS-BR) in Brazilian Portuguese, addressing the lack of tools to assess eating self-efficacy beliefs in Portuguese-speaking populations.MethodThe study sought to cross-culturally adapt the scale, evaluate its internal structure, validate its reliability and validity, and explore potential associations between eating self-efficacy and eating behaviors. The cross-cultural adaptation process involved translation and back-translation, expert committees, and pre-testing. Scale validation was conducted with 228 participants, including reliability analyses, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlations with established measures of eating behavior.ResultsThe ESEBS-BR, maintaining all 8 original items, demonstrated high reliability, with a two-factor structure model confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Significant correlations were found between ESEBS-BR scores and measures of binge eating and eating behaviors, validating its criterion validity.ConclusionsThe development and validation of the ESEBS-BR represent a significant contribution to the assessment of eating self-efficacy in the Brazilian population. The scale proved to be sensitive, reliable, and valid, offering an important tool for research and clinical interventions related to eating behavior.Level of evidence: V, descriptive cross-sectional study.

Prevalence of Hyperglycaemia and Associated Factors Among People Living with HIV in Eastern Uganda: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Prevalence of Hyperglycaemia and Associated Factors Among People Living with HIV in Eastern Uganda: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Assessment of Dental Students' Knowledge and Attitudes About the Epidemiologic and Clinical Characteristics of Oral Cancer: Implications for Other Middle-income Countries.

The stage of detection of head and neck cancer and the time between detection and treatment are critical to prognosis. The importance of the dentist in primary diagnosis and treatment planning has been emphasized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of dental students in the prevention and early diagnosis of oral cancer. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 199 students from different institutions. A self-administered questionnaire with 34 multiple-choice questions on clinical and epidemiologic knowledge and opinions about oral cancer was used. Descriptive analysis to show means and frequencies and the binomial logistic regression test were used to perform the statistical analysis. The confidence level used was 95%. The results showed that all students in the study had heard of the existence of oral cancer, but only 24.6% knew someone with the disease. The majority reported a lack of information in the population about prevention and self-examination, as well as a lack of information campaigns in institutions. Although the majority perform clinical examinations of the oral mucosa (73.4%) and refer patients with suspicious lesions to specialists, there is low confidence in performing biopsies (73.4%) and gaps in training during graduation (84.4%). The majority have never attended continuing education courses on oral cancer but show interest (97.5%). The study identifies deficiencies in the knowledge and practices of dental students and highlights the need for improved teaching and training to promote oral cancer prevention and early detection. Further research in this area and ongoing assessment of students' skills are suggested.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Hemocultures of Patients Attended in a Campaign Hospital During COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Primary bloodstream infections are most commonly related to health care and are associated with intravascular devices, increasing patient mortality, length of stay, and health care costs. Among the complications of hospitalizations for COVID-19, bloodstream infection is one of the most prevalent, requiring prevention and early treatment. Due to the contingency of hospital resources during the pandemic, understanding the prevalence and incidence of antimicrobial agents that cause bloodstream infections and using exams judiciously are essential public health measures, avoiding the misuse of antimicrobials and being able to establish treatment. Objective: This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and the prevalence of etiological agents of bloodstream infections in patients with COVID-19 at the field hospital in the city of São Bernardo do Campo - SP. Method: A descriptive, observational, and retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on the results of blood cultures already collected for diagnostic purposes from patients from May to August 2020 at the same hospital. Results: Of the 300 blood cultures analyzed, 73.7% of the samples showed no bacterial growth. Among the others, the main bacteria found were Klebsiella pneumoniae, sensitive to tigecycline, present in 30 (10%), followed by Staphylococcus sp. (coagulase-negative, non-lugdunensis), sensitive only to doxycycline, gentamicin, tetracycline, and vancomycin, in only 2 (14.3%) samples. Conclusion: In this study, a low rate of laboratory-confirmed bacterial coinfection was identified in patients with COVID-19.

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING EVIDENCE BASED GUIDELINES ON VAP PREVENTION AMONG NURSES

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious healthcare-associated infection that increases morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs). In Pakistan, the high prevalence of VAP in ICUs underscores the importance of adherence to evidence-based preventive practices among nursing staff. However, knowledge gaps and inconsistencies in VAP preventive practices remain a challenge, largely due to limited training resources and high patient-to-nurse ratios. Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of ICU nurses on evidence-based guidelines for VAP prevention at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized. Data were collected from 140 registered nurses working in the ICU of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, using a structured questionnaire consisting of 17 questions related to VAP prevention guidelines. Convenience sampling was employed to recruit participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics applied to summarize findings and identify knowledge gaps. Results: The study revealed varied levels of knowledge among ICU nurses regarding VAP prevention. While the majority demonstrated awareness of core practices, such as semi-recumbent positioning and regular oral care, there were notable gaps in understanding related to the frequency of ventilator circuit changes and the optimal use of suction systems. Approximately 67.9% of nurses were aware of general VAP guidelines, but only 47.1% correctly identified all recommended practices. Additionally, knowledge disparities were observed based on educational background and years of ICU experience.Conclusion: This study highlights critical knowledge gaps among ICU nurses regarding evidence-based VAP prevention practices. The findings underscore the need for targeted educational interventions and standardized training programs to improve adherence to VAP guidelines. Strengthening nurse education on VAP prevention can contribute to reduced infection rates, enhanced patient safety, and better utilization of healthcare resources in Pakistan’s ICUs.

Factors associated with adherence to preventive measures against COVID-19, among adult Bahraini residents

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life-altering experience. It compelled individuals to alter their attitudes and habits and adopt measures to prevent the risks of infection. This research discusses factors that determine adherence to these measures, with the aim of enhancing compliance in future pandemics. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball non-random sampling through an online Qualtrics survey targeting Bahraini residents, aged 18 and older. The sample included 1,008 participants, and data were analyzed using SPSS, and presented in tables and graphs. The majority of the participants were Bahraini females with a bachelor’s degree, between the ages of 20–29 (43.2%). Awareness of COVID-19 transmission was high, with 87.7%. The adherence rates for preventive measures were high: mask usage at 98.8%, hygiene practices at 93.7%, and social distancing at 92.2%. Older adults aged 50 + showed the highest consistency in compliance (p = 0.001). Individuals with chronic diseases were more likely to adhere to mask use (p < 0.001). Conversely, those experiencing negative emotions about social distancing were more likely to visit crowded places (p = 0.031), indicating a psychological barrier. Mask use exhibited the highest adherence at 98.8%, while overall compliance was notably high among educated and retired individuals. Public health campaigns should target younger demographics with education about crowded spaces and address emotional barriers to social distancing. Future strategies can be tailored to promote adherence among diverse populations, enhancing community resilience against pandemics.