Jordan University Research Articles

Impact of Face Mask Wearing on Patient-Doctor Communication, and Associated Physical Side Effects

Background: Our study investigated the effect of face masks on communication between doctors and patients and the physical side effects associated with long-term mask use. (of) Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Jordan University hospital (Hospital) outpatient clinic between October 2021 and February 2022. Some 415 patients completed a self-administered questionnaire developed by the researchers based on their clinical observation and literature review. The questionnaire consisted of three main parts which assessed general sociodemographic information, the effect of mask-wearing on patient-doctor interaction, and common physical side effects of mask-wearing. Results: This study shows that wearing face masks had a significant impact on communication between doctors and patients, making it more difficult for patients to understand what the doctor was explaining to them. This poor communication could lead to non-compliance by patients and negatively affect treatment outcomes. Additionally, the study found other negative physical side effects of wearing face masks, such as the appearance of new or worsened acne, breathing difficulties, new-onset headaches, and an increase in the severity and frequency of pre-existing chronic headaches. Conclusion: Suggestions for future research would be to focus on measuring the extent to which poor communication during a consultation affects compliance and treatment outcomes. We also emphasize the importance of bringing these communication difficulties to the attention of healthcare professionals to avoid poor management and direct efforts towards finding solutions that ensure adequate healthcare for patients.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices to Sunscreen Use among Dermatology Patients at University Hospital Amman, Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aims: Skin cancer is a significant public health concern globally. Jordan’s location and high exposure to UV radiation have led to an increase in the incidence rate of skin cancer. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients to sunscreen use in one of the major hospitals in Jordan, and identify demographic factors associated with regular sunscreen use. Methodology: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the dermatology clinic of Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan, from February 2, 2023 to March 6, 2023. The study included 397 participants recruited from the clinic’s waiting area. A validated survey questionnaire was used to collect data on demographics, previous skin cancer history, sunscreen allergies, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to sunscreen use. The data were analyzed using SPSS v. 26. Statistical significance was established at a p-value of <0.05. Results: The majority of participants were female (67.0%) and aged 18–25 years (53.7%). Only 24.9% of participants reported using sunscreen regularly, while 34.0% reported never using it. Participants with higher education levels and income were more likely to use sunscreen regularly. The main sources of sunscreen recommendations were family and friends (48.1%), followed by dermatologists (32.7%). The most common reason for not using sunscreen was forgetfulness (40.1%). Conclusion: The study revealed that knowledge and practices related to sunscreen use among Jordanian dermatology patients are insufficient, and that there is a need for increased patient education regarding the importance of sunscreen use.

Behind the designs: An exploration of sustainability attitudes among interior design students in Jordan

This research is an attempt to understand where interior design students in Jordan and the Middle East Region stand in the sustainable thinking process through education and practice and if their education on sustainability and environmental issues is enough or if it needs more development in terms of interior design programs curriculums to be more effective sustainable interior designers. The survey instrument was used to assess the attitudes of interior design students toward ecological responsibility and environmental sustainability; a modified New Ecological Paradigm Scale (NEP) was used in this research. Students enrolled in interior design programs at a Northern Jordanian university were surveyed. The sample comprised 160 interior design students from different levels of an interior design program at a public university in Jordan. In the study’s sample, the students showed more interest in the negative effect of human usage of many of the planet's resources and how this will impact the planet's ecological system. This attitude provides insight into the students’ minds regarding where they have those ideas. As design students, this can motivate them to take a proactive stand toward sustainability, which may be done through their projects in the future. However, many participants did not understand sustainable practices and strategies. This can be due to the lack of sustainability training at the university level.Based on the NEP score distribution in each section, it can be concluded that students support the concept of sustainability and reject the destruction happening to the planet. This data shows an increased awareness of environmental and ecological problems, which can positively push design students and future designers to adapt sustainable design strategies to their projects.

Single Incision Sling Surgery for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Retrospective Cohort Single-Institution Study.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects around 35% of adult women and has a significant impact on quality of life. A single incision sling (SIS), such as Altis®, was introduced to improve original slings and avoid complications. The present study aimed to evaluate the SIS Altis® subjective and objective cure rates of women with SUI, mixed urinary incontinence (MUI), recurrent SUI, and SUI with concomitant prolapse and report its complications from one single medical center. Methodology: A retrospective cohort, unsponsored study was conducted at the Jordan University Hospital. All women patients were treated with the SIS Altis® procedure, and prolapse procedures were also completed as necessary. The chi square analysis for the cure rates was conducted between the subgroups. Results: From June 2016 to June 2019, 111 women patients with a mean age of 48.0 ± 11.3 years underwent a SIS Altis® procedure. The overall outcome resulted in 81% and 85% of patients being subjectively and objectively cured. The subjectively cured MUI patients were significantly fewer than SUI patients (70% versus 86%, p < 0.05), and patients with recurrent SUI had significantly lower rates (56% for subjective and objective cure rates; p < 0.01 and 0.001). Of the 44 patients who underwent SIS Altis® and concomitant vaginal repair surgery, no significant differences in subjective and objective cure rates were observed. Only 2.7% of women had mild pain, 2.7% had vaginal tape erosion, and 9% had to be re-operated on. Conclusions: The Altis® procedure is effective in women who suffer from SUI for a 19-month follow-up period. However, recurrent SUI patients had lower subjective and objective cure rates than primary SUI patients. Further research is needed with a larger sample size in a prospective study design to determine the effectiveness of single SIS in patients with recurrent SUI.

Social Motives Towards Illegal Immigration from the Perspective of Graduate Students from Jordanian Universities

Social Motives Towards Illegal Immigration from the Perspective of Graduate Students from Jordanian Universities

Psychological Stress and Its Relationship to Marital Compatibility Among Women Working in Jordanian Universities Considering the Corona Pandemic

Psychological Stress and Its Relationship to Marital Compatibility Among Women Working in Jordanian Universities Considering the Corona Pandemic

Predictive factors for readmission after bariatric surgery: Experience of an obesity center.

Avoidable readmissions after bariatric surgery are a major burden on the healthcare systems. Rates of readmission after bariatric surgery have ranged from 1% up to 20%, but the factors that predict readmission have not been well studied. The objective of this study was to determine readmission rates following bariatric surgery and identify factors that contribute to early (within 90 days of surgery) and late readmission. A retrospective cohort study of 736 patients undergoing either Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy or Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Jordan University Hospital from 2016 to 2019. Demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, and readmissions were extracted from their medical records and analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which factors predict readmission. A total of 736 patients had bariatric surgery (Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy 89% vs Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass 11%) during the study period. Thirty-day readmission rate was 6.62% and an overall readmission rate of 23.23%. Common reasons for early readmission (within 90 days of surgery) were nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. Late readmissions were mainly caused by gallbladder stones. Three risk factors were identified that independently predicted readmission: the type of procedure being performed (P-value = .003, odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-3.49), depression (P-value = .028, OR 6.49, 95% CI 1.18-52.9) and preoperative body mass index (P-value = .011, OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05). Several factors were identified that cause patients to represent and subsequently admitted into hospitals. Early readmission was usually due to nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, whereas late admissions were mostly due to biliary complications. Preoperative body mass index and depression were independent risk factors for readmission.

The role of strategic agility in achieving organizational excellence in Jordanian universities

The role of strategic agility in achieving organizational excellence in Jordanian universities

Proposed Instructional Model for Using Mobile Learning in Universities of Jordan

This study aimed to develop a proposed instructional model for the use of mobile learning in jordanian universities. The study followed the qualitative curriculum as required by the nature of the study, the number of study members for the qualitative aspect (19) faculty members for the academic year (2023-2024), the interview questions were built to explore the facts about the standard levels to be available in the instructional model. The results of the study revealed the stages of the proposed instructional model, and showed that the educational design obtained the highest percentage of standard levels to be available in the proposed instructional model. The study also concluded with a number of recommendations, the most important of which are: studying the effectiveness of the proposed instructional model using mobile learning among jordanian university students, and conducting a study similar to the current study of public and private schools.

The degree to which parents practice the methods of giving examples, lessons, and sermons in Islamic educational thought from the children’s point of view, University students

The study aimed to identify the degree of Parents’ practice of methods of setting examples, lessons, and sermons included in Islamic educational thought from the point of view of university children. This is related to some variables, such as gender, academic specialization, and study stage, where the researcher followed the Descriptive analytical method. By applying the questionnaire consisting of (15) items, which served as a tool for the study and which was applied to (2500) male and female students from various Jordanian universities in the second semester of the academic year (2023/2024), the study concluded, after conducting appropriate statistical treatments, to the level of parents’ practice of educational methods in general. He came with a degree high on the scale as a whole, with an arithmetic mean of (3.94) and a standard deviation of (0.64). The results also showed that there were no statistically significant differences attributable to the variables of the study, namely the variables of gender (males, females), the variable of the type of student’s academic specialization (scientific, humanities), and the academic stage variable. For students (intermediate diploma and bachelor’s degree).

Investigation of daylight availability in university dining halls: A case study at the University of Jordan

This study evaluates the availability of daylight inside a university’s dining halls over two days (one sunny and one cloudy) using light meters in real-life sittings. Quantitative monitoring was conducted for horizontal and vertical illuminance levels (HILs and VILs) derived from daylight inside of the dining halls and outside under an unobstructed sky, along with monitoring of the illuminance levels of the artificial light inside. The results are discussed in relation to the minimum recommended HIL value in dining halls of educational buildings (150 lux) set by the Jordanian National Construction Constitution’s lighting code. Further, a questionnaire was conducted with 239 students and employees to evaluate daylight and artificial light from the user’s perspective of the dining halls. HIL, as a dependent variable, was found to vary between the two examined halls, which had different façade fenestrations and hall characteristics. The analysis found that, within the halls, only the area within a 2-metre distance from the north- and west-oriented windows complied with the recommended value, except at breakfast time on a cloudy day. The middle and deepest areas of both halls were significantly lacking in daylight on both cloudy and sunny days. The subjective mean evaluation corresponds with the daylight VILs but contradicts the artificial illuminance levels. As such, subjective needs and preferences may not correspond with objective measurements. This study opens a new path of daylighting research for a largely neglected space: foodservice halls in educational buildings.

Experiences of Academic Women in Jordan on Their Return to Work After Childbirth

ObjectiveTo describe the experiences of women living in Jordan returning to work at their academic positions after giving birth to their first newborns. DesignQualitative descriptive phenomenological design. SettingVarious schools within a governmental university in Jordan. This study describes the challenges women in academia experience in the context of Jordan’s Arabic patriarchal communities. ParticipantsA purposive sample of 15 women returning to their academic positions. MethodsUnstructured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews of women returning to their academic positions within 3 months after giving birth to their first newborns. The recorded interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis process. ResultsThree major themes emerged: Living in Chaos, The Urgent Need for Transitional Time, and Calling for Help andSupport. Participants described their return to work as a period marked by a sense of chaos and instability, in which they felt a loss of control over their lives. They expressed a pressing need for a transitional period before resuming full-time academic roles, highlighting the importance of a gradual return. Finally, participants shared their struggles with the extra demands added to their daily routine. As working mothers, participants experienced extreme distress while attempting to fulfill their daily responsibilities. They emphasized the lack of adequate support in this challenging period. ConclusionWomen returning to their academic work after giving birth to their first newborns need to be prepared physically and emotionally for the changes and responsibilities of their new life. A longer period of maternity leave or a transitional period may help women working in academia to manage the demands of multiple maternal roles alongside their professional commitments. These findings highlight the absence of formal policies needed to support women in academia in their return to work after maternity leave.

An inquiry smart chatbot system for Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan

Chatbots are important in artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP). The development of the chatbot is viewed as a continuous issue in the field. This is suitable for Arabic chatbots that are not widely available. This study aims to fill the gap in Arabic chatbot development by creating an Arabic chatbot system for university admissions. The system uses a deep neural network model and a manually constructed dataset for conversation pairings, utilizing the Jordanian Arabic dialect from Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan’s (ZUJ) website. The system efficiently answers most user queries, improving the counseling experience and reducing workload in the admissions department. The adoption of this system also minimizes website traffic congestion. The study contributes to the improvement of Arabic chatbot technology by creating a deep learning-based system optimized for university admissions, demonstrating its potential impact in the Arabic-speaking context. Future research can further enhance the system’s capabilities and its applicability in other disciplines.

Impact of social media on violence reduction in sports stadiums

This study aimed to identify the role of sports media based on social media in reducing the phenomenon of violence in stadiums from the viewpoint of Sports Science Faculty students at the University of Jordan. A descriptive method was employed, and a sample of 190 students (120 males and 70 females) participated. A comprehensive review of relevant research and collection of pertinent information led to the development of a tailored questionnaire. The instrument consisted of four axes and 24 items, answered using a five-point Likert scale. Statistical data processing was conducted using the SPSS program. The results indicated that, from the students' perspective, the role of sports media based on social media in reducing violence was moderate. Additionally, statistically significant differences (p&lt;0.05) were found according to gender across all study axes, where males achieved higher arithmetic averages. Significant differences (p&lt;0.05) were also observed according to academic year in the axis of professional commitment to sports media, with second-year students showing higher arithmetic averages. The researchers recommend that sports media based on social media adopt a balanced language when describing matches.

Proverbs Translation Techniques from English into Arabic among Jordanian University Students

Proverbs are essential component of everyday language, and they offer a fascinating insight into cultures. They are short sayings of public wisdom with cultural origin and figurative meanings, known by native speakers and used in specific situations. The reason behind the importance of translating proverbs precisely is that they are an effective and powerful instrument for the transmission of culture, social morality, manners, traditional wisdoms, historical incidents, and thoughts of people from one generation to another. The main difficulty in translating proverbs lies in their metaphorical nature, as they are culture-bound expressions and carry an implicit meaning that goes beyond the literal meaning. This study aims to investigate the translation techniques used by the students of translation at Jordanians universities in translating English proverbs into Arabic. The study is qualitative by nature, but a quantitative analysis was carried out to calculate the frequencies of the employed techniques. In this case study, forty students were engaged as participants using a purposive sampling method. They were given a translation test to recognize the employed techniques in translating 10 proverbs. The analysis revealed that the used techniques in order were using a proverb of similar meaning but different form, using a proverb of similar meaning and form, and translation by paraphrase came in the last position. The study is significant in raising the students’ awareness of the best techniques in translating proverbs for future translation works. The study has implications on translators to give emphasis on the language and cultural perspectives in translating culture-bound expressions to achieve successful communication between cultures.

Evaluating women’s knowledge about dietary supplement use during pregnancy

PurposeDietary supplements are important in improving maternal health and birth outcomes during pregnancy. This study aims to assess women’s knowledge about the benefits, sources and proper intake of dietary supplements during pregnancy.Design/methodology/approachThis cross-sectional study was conducted among women at Jordan University Hospital in Amman, Jordan from July to October 2023.FindingsA total of 448 women completed the questionnaire. Analysis of the results showed that among all questions, participants perceived sufficient knowledge about dietary supplements' beneficial effects. Around 50% of the participants did not recognize the importance of vitamin B12 and vitamin A. Most participants identified that iron supplements should not be taken with dairy products, coffee, tea, calcium and antacids. Most participants did not know the source of vitamin A (82.1%), and only 44% knew the correct source of vitamin B12. Less than half of the participants recognized the appropriate administration time for each dietary supplement.Originality/valueThe knowledge level of the interaction between iron and food, natural sources of vitamins and their benefits was high, less than half of the participants showed poor knowledge about the proper time to take the dietary supplement. Patient education and counseling is important to improve health outcomes.

A retrospective analysis of the pharmacovigilance data registry in a tertiary teaching hospital in Jordan.

The study aims to analyse adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting patterns at Jordan University Hospital to enhance pharmacovigilance practices. Retrospective analysis of ADR data from February to August 2023 was conducted. Data included patient demographics, drugs implicated, seriousness criteria, and system organ classes affected. Among 1340 ADR reports analysed, females accounted for 67.4% of cases, with adults aged 18 to less than 65 years comprising 95.3% of reports. The majority of ADRs were non-serious, with only 2.1% resulting in hospitalisation or prolonged hospital stay. The most frequently reported ADRs included abdominal pain (8.3%), nausea (6.9%), headache (4.7%), and dizziness (4.7%). Notably, cardiovascular system drugs (16.4%) and alimentary tract and metabolism drugs (16.2%) were commonly associated with ADRs, followed by musculoskeletal system drugs (9.0%). Additionally, among all reported drugs, 99.9% were considered suspects, (suspected ADR cases include patient treatment cases for which a likelihood of being related to a drug therapy was scored as 'possible', 'probable', or 'certain' after causality assessment (by the WHO-UMC system in 2017), with oral administration being the predominant route (89.5%). The study highlights a notable increase in ADR reporting during the study period compared to historical data, indicating heightened awareness and understanding among healthcare providers. Enhanced pharmacovigilance practices, particularly involving pharmacists, are essential for detecting and reporting ADRs effectively. Further investigation into factors contributing to prevalent serious ADRs is warranted to improve patient safety and health outcomes.

Assessing pressure injury knowledge among Jordanian and Turkish nursing students: A cross-cultural comparison

AimPressure injuries, a prevalent issue in healthcare settings, have profound physical and emotional implications for patients and healthcare providers. However, further evidence is needed regarding the level of nursing students’ knowledge of pressure injuries in the Middle East, a region where healthcare is rapidly evolving. This study examines the knowledge levels regarding pressure injuries among nursing students in Jordan and Turkey. Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study collected data from a randomly selected sample of 282 nursing students studying in two private and two Public Universities in Turkey and Jordan. Data was collected using a demographic survey and the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT 2.0). ResultsThe overall knowledge scores among students were alarmingly low, with significant differences between Jordanian and Turkish cohorts, with Turkish students scoring higher. Moreover, a significant difference was observed between students' knowledge levels from public and private universities in Jordan, but no difference was found between students of the two Turkish universities. ConclusionThe knowledge gap among nursing students regarding pressure ulcers is a critical issue that needs immediate attention. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved educational strategies and standardized competencies in this aspect. This study strongly advocates for changing teaching strategies and incorporating evidence-based pressure injury prevention education into nursing curricula, interprofessional education initiatives, and continuous professional development for faculty. These measures can significantly enhance nursing students’ knowledge and improve patient care.

The Reality and Effects of Using Duolingo to Develop English Language Skills for EFL Learners in Jordan

This research attempted to know the reality and effects of using Duolingo to develop English language skills for EFL learners in Jordan. The descriptive analytical approach was used to describe and analyze the phenomenon being investigated. Moreover, the sample included 500 first year EFL learners who were randomly selected from the Jordanian universities. They were asked to respond to the questionnaire items, by selecting the option that better describes the degree of their agreement or disagreement regarding each item of the questionnaire. The results reflected that the Jordanian EFL learners are aware of the effectiveness of Duolingo in developing their English language skills. The arithmetic means related to the effects of using Duolingo to develop English listening, reading, writing and speaking skills ranged between 3.09 and 4.01.

Energy and time characterization of the newly acquired clover detector in Jordan

A comprehensive overview of the Balqarad clover detector acquired by Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan is given in detail. The detector consists of four high-purity germanium crystals, accompanied by a composite scintillation active shield. Through meticulous testing involving a range of radioactive sources such as 137Cs, 60Co, and 241Am, we evaluate the performance of the clover detector. The associated digital data acquisition system incorporates specialized and unconventional time registers, operating in event-by-event mode. Our objective is to elucidate the energy and time characteristics exhibited by the new system under different operational modes, employing specifically designed offline software. Our findings encompass vital aspects. These aspects include the determination of the optimal time window value for processing data obtained from gamma detection measurements. Another issue that has been considered is the analysis of hit pattern distribution within each individual crystal. Additionally, we calculate the addback factor for the 60Co source, accounting for gamma energies of 1173 keV and 1332 keV while also considering the influence of time window increment.