Mean Work Experience Research Articles

Empowerment of volunteer nursing service providers during disasters: A qualitative study

BackgroundVolunteers providing nursing services are among the first individuals to arrive at the scene after an incident; therefore, they must use their skills and capabilities to provide necessary care for the injured to prevent problems from worsening and complications from arising. Consequently, having structured empowerment courses for volunteers before disasters seems essential. This research aimed to determine the dimensions and components of empowering volunteer nursing service providers in disasters.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach. Purposeful sampling with maximum variation continued until data saturation was achieved. The participants in this study were 25 individuals. Data collection was performed using semi-structured interviews. The conventional content analysis approach by Graneheim and Lundman was utilized for data analysis. After each interview, the text was entered into MAXQDA software version 2020, and semantic units were identified and coded, with codes categorized based on their similarities. To ensure the data’s trustworthiness, we applied key criteria including credibility, dependability, confirmability, transferability, and Authenticity throughout the research process.ResultsAmong the 25 participants, 16 were male, and nine were female. The Mean age was 45.2 ± 5.6 years, and the Mean work experience was 19.08 ± 4.5 years. After coding the interviews, 253 initial codes were extracted. By merging these codes, 43 subcategories, 15 categories, and six themes were identified. Extracted themes include Infrastructure Initiatives, Effective management, Research development and knowledge management, Cultural Action Measures, Policymaking and legal affairs, Individual Competency Areas.ConclusionsThis study highlights the various dimensions and components that empower volunteers providing nursing services during disasters. Training and coordination between nursing managers and other leaders in health sectors are needed to ensure that these volunteers are equipped to provide frontline care in emergencies. Healthcare managers and policymakers can use this study’s results to create supportive legislation and training programs to enhance the capabilities of volunteer nursing providers in disasters.

Care intertwined with anxiety and helplessness: the experiences of ICU nurses from COVID-19 disease’s end of life—a qualitative study

ObjectiveDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for end-of-life care has increased. This type of care is different for patients with COVID-19 compared with other patients. This study aims to explain...

The knowledge, experience, and awareness of professionals working with older adults on the auditory-cognitive interactions.

Hearing loss is a commonly occurring condition with dementia. Research already presented a theoretical framework for the auditory-cognitive interactions, though it is still unclear if and how professionals beyond audiologists act upon this interactions in clinical practice. An online 64-item questionnaire was developed and evaluated respondents' work setting as well as their knowledge, experience, and awareness regarding hearing loss, cognitive decline, and the auditory-cognitive link. The questionnaire was sent to Dutch professionals working with older adults. Respondents were surveyed from May to September 2022. Two hundred and six non-physicians with a mean work experience of 16 years (range: 6 months - 42 years) and 25 physicians with a mean work experience of 13 years (range: 8 months - 42 years) filled in the entire questionnaire. There was a prevailing tendency to treat hearing and cognitive impairment as distinct entities, overlooking their coexistence and interactions. Results also showed a deficiency in assessing the hearing and cognitive status of older adults, with most relying on the older adult's self-report or indirect (non)verbal cues. Those strategies are strongly dependent on the professional's awareness and knowledge which were, especially for the hearing-related aspects, considered limited. For example, effortful listening was barely reported by the respondents as an important hearing-related complaint. Last, communication strategies fall short, with professionals adapting general approaches but lacking specificity. Specific information for professionals beyond audiologists regarding the auditory-cognitive interactions as well as guidelines how to acted upon in clinical practice are needed to optimise person-centered care for older adults.

INFLUENCE OF AMBIENT TEMPERATURE ON THE CONTROL OF BODY POSTURE STABILITY IN PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

Introduction. Stability of body posture is essential for ensuring safety and achieving highphysical performance. Firefighting, as a high-risk occupation, exposes professionals to factorsthat destabilize balance and posture, increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Extreme thermalenvironments are known to affect postural stability, which relies on dynamic neuromuscularcontrol influenced by vision, body temperature, and psychophysiological state.Objective. This study aims to assess the influence of ambient temperature on the control of bodyposture stability among professional firefighters. Specifically, it examines the role of visual controlin balance maintenance and explores coordination between the nervous and musculoskeletalsystems using posturographic measurements from a force plate (AccuGait). Additionally, thestudy investigates the relationships between posturographic parameters, heart rate (HR), heartrate variability (HRV) and body temperature. The impact of extreme thermal conditions –temperatures exceeding 35C and falling below 0C – on balance maintenance, dizziness, andbalance disorders is also analysed.Material and Methods. Seventeen healthy male volunteers (mean age 35.9 6.1 years, mean workexperience 10.7 5.5 years) were involved in the study. In the first phase, participants completeda survey containing general and detailed questions. They responded with “YES” or “NO” regardingtheir exposure to high temperatures (above 35C) and low temperatures (below 0C). In the secondphase, measurements were taken using the AccuGait force plate (AMTI, USA). Each participantperformed two 30-second trials. The first trial involved standing still on the force plate with openeyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE). Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitoredusing a Polar H7 heart rate monitor and the EliteHRV application. Additionally, infrared photos ofall participants were taken using a FLIR C3X Compact thermal camera.Results. The study revealed that 89.7% of respondents reported experiencing dizziness duringexposure to high temperatures. Force plate testing confirmed excellent postural stability amongfirefighters in both open-eye (OE) and closed-eye (CE) trials. In the CE trial, an 18.9% increase in the average COP velocity (Avg Velocity) and a 19.3% increase in COP path length (Length)were observed. The average heart rate (HR) for the 17 participants was 79.9 15 beats per minute.A correlation was identified between HR and the average COP velocity, COP path length, andthe minimal COP deviation along the Y-axis (AP). The average heart rate variability (HRV) was56.4 8.8 ms, and HRV correlated with the maximum COP value on the Y-axis (AP) during theCE trial. The average corneal temperature was 34.4 1.5C. Statistical analysis was conductedusing Spearman’s rank correlation and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.Conclusions. The risk of balance disturbances is higher when firefighters operate in hightemperatureenvironments (above 35C) as compared to low temperatures (below 0C). Theabsence of visual control does not compromise the stability of firefighters’ posture, reflecting theirexceptional neuromuscular coordination. The dynamics of muscle force activation in maintainingbody balance are influenced by visual control status and heart rate.

Fear of COVID-19 and health-related quality of life: A cross-sectional study among healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) struggled on the front lines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic under unprecedented pressure. Fear was prevailing, bringing additional strain, as well as adverse effects on their mental health. The present study investigated the association between the fear of COVID-19 and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in HCPs from two large peripheral hospitals in Greece during the pandemic (N=224). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19s) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) were self-administered from October 2020 to May 2021. Demographic, occupational, and COVID-related information was also collected. Most participants were females (64.3%), and their mean age was 45.5 (±9.7) years. They were medical doctors and nurses (65.6%), they had a mean working experience of 17.5 (±10.1) years, and they were providing in-person care often or most of the time to COVID-19 patients (85.7%). Most (71.9%) reported adequate knowledge of COVID-19, yet about half (54.9%) scored above the FCV-19s cut-off point, indicating elevated fear. The mean physical health component score was 69.8 (±19.5), and the mean mental health component score was 59.4 (±22.2), suggesting a deteriorated HRQoL. Hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with physical and mental health above and beyond demographic, occupational, and COVID-related factors. The final model accounted for 18.2% of the variance in the physical health component score and 27.4% of the variance in the mental health component score. Results were consistent with previous findings and highlighted the need for targeted interventions to promote the health and well-being of healthcare professionals. In anticipation of future crises and their management, potential interventions for enabling adaptive coping and promoting resilience may be also important.

Real-Time Digitized Visual Feedback in Exercise Therapy for Lower Extremity Functional Deficits: Qualitative Study of Usability Factors During Prototype Testing.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system and can ultimately lead to the need for surgery, such as total knee or hip arthroplasty. Functional movement deficits can be a prognostic factor for osteoarthritis in the lower extremities. Thus, training physiological movement patterns may help in the treatment of such functional deficits. Motivation to exercise frequently is of utmost importance and can be promoted by using digital real-time feedback. This qualitative study aims to gather user recommendations for prototype feedback visualizations in a real-time exercise-feedback system called homeSETT for the treatment of functional deficits. The system provides real-time feedback to participants while performing exercises that focus on functional deficits, such as lateral trunk lean, pelvic drop, and valgus thrust. The findings of this study should help to optimize the prototype feedback visualizations. Thus, the main research questions were how patients, physiotherapists, and physicians evaluate the presented, current state of prototype feedback visualizations for selected functional exercises, and what improvements and variations would be recommended. Testing of the prototype feedback visualizations took place at a movement laboratory using a 3D optoelectronic movement analysis system. Data on usability factors were acquired using the thinking aloud method during and semistructured interviews after prototype testing. Transcribed audio recordings of semistructured interviews as well as scribing logs of the thinking aloud method were examined using qualitative content analysis. Data were analyzed from 9 participants, comprising 2 (22%) patients, 2 (22%) physicians, and 5 (56%) physiotherapists. The mean age of the participants was 45 (SD 9) years and the mean work experience among the participating physiotherapists and physicians was 22 (SD 5) years. Each participant tested 11 different exercise-feedback combinations. Overall, results indicated that participants enjoyed the prototype feedback visualizations and believed that they could be used in therapeutic settings. Participants appreciated the simplicity, clarity, and self-explanatory nature of the feedback visualizations. While most participants quickly familiarized themselves, some struggled to recognize the feedback goals and connect the visualizations to their movements. Recommendations for improvement included optimizing color schemes, sensitivity, and difficulty adjustments. Adding instructional information and game design elements, such as repetition counting and reward systems, was deemed useful. The main study limitations were the small sample size and the use of feedback on performance as the sole feedback modality. The prototype feedback visualizations were positively perceived by the participants and were considered applicable in therapy settings. Insights were gathered on improving the color scheme, sensitivity, and recognizability of the feedback visualizations. The implementation of additional gamification and instructional elements was emphasized. Future work will optimize the prototype feedback visualizations based on study results and evaluate the homeSETT system's efficacy in eligible patient populations.

Nurses' Clinical Practice in Nursing Homes: Depressive Symptoms and Fall Risk Assessment.

Depression and falls are highly prevalent, interrelated concerns for nursing home (NH) residents. Relationships between depression and falls should guide nurses towards developing evidence-based practices for assessing these conditions together. This study aimed to ascertain NH nurses' clinical practices and perceptions regarding the assessment of depression and fall risk. This study was an exploratory descriptive study on the reported practices and perceptions from NH nurses in the canton of Vaud, Western Switzerland. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, nonparametric tests and a content analysis of responses to open-ended questions. The mean age of our 116 responding nurses was 44.6 years old (SD = 11.3), 99 were women and their mean work experience in NHs was 13.1 years (SD = 9.2). The reporting showed that 88.8% of nurses relied on mood observation for assessing depression and 88.8% relied on the history of falls to identify fall risk. Only 75.9% and 61.2% of nurses used validated scales to detect depression and fall risk, respectively. Additionally, 56.9% of participants considered depression to be a significant factor in fall risk. Validated tools to assess depression and fall risk in NHs should be used more widely. Health policies must support and enhance NH nurses' training and skills.

Adoption of quick response codes as a digital microlearning tool among clinical nurses: a quasi-experimental study.

The rapid growth of technology forced enormous changes in the provision of healthcare services. Different strategies are used to keep nurses up to date with rapid changes in health systems. Microlearning is one of the new methods of teaching professional skills to health workers. This method is effective in care settings that have many limitations in terms of time and place. However, it is very important to test the acceptability of this method among nurses before practical measures are taken for its widespread use. This study aimed to determine nurses' acceptance rate of quick response code as a microlearning tool in workplace. This is a cross-sectional study was conducted in medical and surgical wards in hospitals affiliated to Guilan University of Medical Sciences. 185 nurses participated in the study. A number of selected medical devices were labeled with quick response codes containing educational content. The eligible nurses were instructed how to use the QR codes. After two months, they were asked to complete a questionnaire adapted from the technology acceptance model 3. SPSS 21 software was used to analyze the data. 166 nurses and 19 head nurses with mean age of 34.26 ± 8.17 years and mean work experience of 10.46 ± 7.64 years completed the questionnaires. Most participants were female, married, with a bachelor's degree, worked on rotating shifts, in medical wards. The findings showed that the acceptance of the quick response code as a learning tool was at a moderate level (M = 66.1, SD = 16.6). Statistically, there was no significant relationship between nurses' demographic characteristics and the total acceptance rate (P > 0.05). However, the analyses at the multivariate level, using multiple linear regression, showed a significant superiority of the total acceptance score in head nurses compared to nurses (b = 7.97, P = 0.047) and in nurses who had previous experience of using quick response codes, compared to colleagues without such experience (b = 5.18, P = 0.036). Based on the coefficient of determination, only 6.1% of the changes in the total acceptance score of quick response codes of nurses are explained by their personal-occupational characteristics (R2 = 0.061). The provision of QR code requirements such as necessary infrastructure and training by the health authorities could increase the acceptance of this tool as a microlearning measure.

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Working Conditions and Efficiency of Radiographers at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences' Radiology and CT Scan Imaging Centers

Background: Radiographers are highly skilled imaging technology users who work directly with COVID-19 cases. Objectives: This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the working conditions and efficiency of radiographers and their level of satisfaction with personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies, and facilities during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted among radiographers registered in the radiology and CT scan imaging centers of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and some private centers between June and October 2022. A questionnaire with 28 multiple-choice questions was used to collect information. The questionnaire consisted of two sections; the first part contained demographic information. In the second part, participants answered questions about changes in working conditions, such as changes in stress level, work efficiency, the need for more rest, imaging time, use of equipment, and personal protective equipment at work, based on their experiences and observations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data analysis was performed using Statistical Product Service Solutions (SPSS) software, version 26.0, with statistical significance assumed at a P-value < 0.05. Results: One hundred and fifty radiographers completed the questionnaire. The mean age and mean work experience of participants were 33.2 ± 8.3 years and 9 ± 7.2 years, respectively. The results showed that most participants of both sexes agreed that they needed more rest (P-value < 0.05); their work efficiency had not decreased significantly during the COVID-19 epidemic. The stress level of participants had significantly increased compared to before the epidemic. There were significant differences between government-owned hospitals and private radiology centers regarding the presence of a COVID-19-related protocol, the compulsory use of masks, the existence of decontamination instructions, the type of air decontamination, the contact with imaging equipment manufacturers, the timing of decontamination, and the type of decontamination applied to the imaging equipment (P-value < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the reduction in work efficiency among radiographers was not significant compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the study's results, radiographers' working conditions underwent numerous adjustments over the course of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Effect of Ergonomic Intervention on Cognitive Function of Office Workers.

Different domains of cognitive function are important in some jobs, such as office work. Ergonomic risk factors may affect cognitive function. This study was designed to assess the effect of an ergonomic training intervention on the cognitive function of office workers. This was a before-after study performed in 2020 in Yazd, Iran on female office workers. Cognitive function (working memory, attention, and response time) was assessed by Wechsler working memory and Stroop tests before and after the intervention. Ergonomic intervention consisted of an ergonomic modification of the workstation and a training program about ergonomic principles of office work. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 24) using paired t-test and the multiple regression linear model. Mean age and work experience of the participants were 35.38 ± 1.60 and 8.54 ± 1.24 yr., respectively. Forward visual memory, response time, and interference time were significantly changed after the intervention, but the change in other aspects of cognitive function (i.e., memory span, backward visual memory, and interference score) was not statistically significant. Marital status, age, and working hours significantly affected working memory, test duration and response time, and number of errors, respectively. This study showed that ergonomic intervention (modification of workstation and training) may significantly affect some aspects of cognitive function in office workers.

Investigating the relationship between physical, cognitive, and environmental factors of ergonomics with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders: A case study in a car-parts manufacturing industry.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) is a multi-factorial disorder in most occupational setting and it has increased significantly in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical, cognitive, and environmental factors of ergonomics with the prevalence of WRMSDs in a car-parts manufacturing industry. This cross-sectional study was performed among 220 workers in a milling unit of a car parts manufacturing company in 2021-2022. The prevalence of WRMSDs was assessed using the Extended Version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Noise exposure was evaluated using dosimetry method. Mental and physical workload were evaluated by the NASA-TLX and key index methods (KIM-MHO and KIM-LHC), respectively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. The subjects' mean age and work experience were 36.3±6.5 and 8.35±6.41 years, respectively. Eighty-five percent of the subjects reported WRMSDs in at least one area of the body. The results of mental workload assessment revealed a high workload mean range (73.23±14.89) in all of the subjects. Mean score of KIM-LHC and KIM-MHO were 738.18±336.42 and 201.86±36.41, respectively with odds ratio of 1.32 for KIM-LHC in creating the WRMSDs. There was a significant relationship between the noise exposure, mental and physical workload and the prevalence of WRMSDs (p-value < 0.05). The results of the present study revealed that environmental, physical and cognitive factors can simultaneously be effective in the prevalence of WRMSDs. Therefore, performing effective control measures requires comprehensive attention to physical, environmental, and cognitive ergonomics in the algorithm of ergonomics management in the workplace.

The correlation between job stress, burnout, and cognitive performance in Iranian firefighters: A cross-sectional study.

Appropriate cognitive performance is vital for a firefighter, but many occupational factors can negatively affect it. This study assessed the correlation between job stress, burnout, and cognitive performance in firefighters. This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in three fire stations in Iran in 2023 with 61 participants, including 34 firefighters in the exposed group and 27 office workers in the control group. After ensuring the confidentiality of the obtained information and completing the demographic information checklist, Job stress and burnout levels were measured using standardized questionnaires, and cognitive functions were assessed using two computerized tests: Stroop and continuous performance. The mean age and work experience of firefighters were 33.29±9.44 and 10.42±3.51 years, respectively. The firefighters' job stress and burnout levels were, on average, 163.12±9.18 and 88.89±4.28, respectively, significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The results of the Pearson correlation test revealed a strong correlation (r = 0.719) between job stress and burnout. Pearson correlation coefficient (r = -0.512-0.757), yielded from psychological tests, demonstrated that firefighters' job stress and burnout had moderate to strong associations with certain indicators of Stroop and continuous performance tests. According to the obtained results, it is recommended to take fundamental measures to reduce occupational stress and burnout of firefighters as a factor affecting cognitive performance.

Musculoskeletal disorders and related risk factors among Iranian farmers: applying Protection Motivation Theory

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the main occupational health problems worldwide. Among different careers, the farming profession is highly prone to MSDs. A variety of factors to prevent MSDs can be named such as preventive behaviors. To determine the factors in health-related behaviors, protection motivation theory (PMT) is widely accepted as a framework. Therefore, the present study is an attempt to determine the MSD preventive factors using PMT in farmers in rural areas of Tuyserkan County. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 285 farmers living in Tuyserkan County in 2021. The farmers were selected through cluster random sampling from 54 health houses affiliated with the health center of the county. In the next stage, the participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data gathering was done online using a questionnaire of the constructs of PMT and a Nordic questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS 24 using linear and binary regression tests. Results: The mean work experience of the farmers was 22.11 years, and the activity in 81.8% of the participants was in standing and sitting positions. In addition, 55.4% of the participants had at least one of the MSD symptoms and the most common symptoms were back pain (67%) and pain in the knee area (35.5%). The majority of farmers did not observe MSD alleviation behaviors. The variables perceived susceptibility, fear, self-efficacy, and behavior had protective effects against MSDs in the farmers; while, monthly income, age, work hours per day, and type of activity had intensifying effects on MSDs. Conclusions: Farming is recognized as a risky job for health and several evidences show a relationship between failure to perform preventive behaviors and the prevalence of MSDs. Given the paucity of studies using health education theories and models to examine the factors in MSDs, the present study employed the PMT framework to examine MSD factors in farmers.

A qualitative exploration of experts’ views about multi-dimensional aspects of hookah smoking control in Iran

BackgroundThe related literature has primarily addressed cigarette smoking control. It seems that researchers have failed to explore the determinants of hookah smoking (HS) control. In an attempt to fill this gap, the present study explores experts’ views about aspects of HS control in Bandar Abbas, a city in the south of Iran.MethodsThe present qualitative study, conducted in 2022 and 2023, used a content analysis. To this aim, 30 experts in tobacco prevention and control were invited to participate in the research. Twenty seven accepted the invitation. In-depth, semi-structured, and face-to-face interviews were held with the experts. A purposive sampling was used and the data collection continued until data saturation. The interviews lasted between 18 and 65 min. MAXQDA 10.0 was used for data management and analysis.ResultsThe expert interviewees had a mean age of 44.77 ± 6.57 years and a mean work experience of 18.6 ± 6.8 years. A total number of six main categories were extracted from the data, including usin influential figures to control HS, controlling HS by alternative activities, changing beliefs and attitudes toward HS, taking administrative and regulatory measures, and facilitating HS cessation.ConclusionThis qualitative study explored the multifaceted ways people adopt to quit HS. Using influential figures to control hookah smoking, promoting alternative activities as a means of control, changing beliefs and attitudes, enforcing administrative regulations, and facilitating quit attempts all play an important role in tackling the prevalence of hookah smoking. These findings emphasize the importance of a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to integrate various interventions to effectively address hookah smoking behavior.

Emergency physicians' and nurses' perception on the adequacy of emergency calls for nursing home residents: a non-interventional prospective study.

A considerable percentage of daily emergency calls are for nursing home residents. With the ageing of the overall European population, an increase in emergency calls and interventions in nursing homes (NH) is to be expected. A proportion of these interventions and hospital transfers may be preventable and could be considered as inappropriate by prehospital emergency medical personnel. The study aimed to understand Belgian emergency physicians' and emergency nurses' perspectives on emergency calls and interventions in NHs and investigate factors contributing to their perception of inappropriateness. An exploratory non-interventional prospective study was conducted in Belgium among emergency physicians and emergency nurses, currently working in prehospital emergency medicine. Electronic questionnaires were sent out in September, October and November 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the overall results, as well as to compare the answers between emergency physicians and emergency nurses about certain topics. A total of 114 emergency physicians and 78 nurses responded to the survey. The mean age was 38 years with a mean working experience of 10 years in prehospital healthcare. Nursing home staff were perceived as understaffed and lacking in competence, with an impact on patient care especially during nights and weekends. General practitioners were perceived as insufficiently involved in the patient's care, as well as often unavailable in times of need, leading to activation of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and transfers of nursing home residents to the Emergency Department (ED). Advance directives were almost never available at EMS interventions and transfers were often not in accordance with the patient's wishes. Palliative care and pain treatment were perceived as insufficient. Emergency physicians and nurses felt mostly disappointed and frustrated. Additionally, differences in perception were noted between emergency physicians and nurses regarding certain topics. Emergency nurses were more convinced that the nursing home physician should be available 24/7 and that transfers could be avoided if nursing home staff had more authority regarding medical interventions. Emergency nurses were also more under the impression that pain management was inadequate, and emergency physicians were more afraid of the medical implications of doing too little during interventions than emergency nurses. Suggestions to reduce the number of EMS interventions were more general practitioner involvement (82%), better nursing home staff education/competences (77%), more nursing home staff (67%), mobile palliative care support teams (65%) and mobile geriatric nursing intervention teams (52%). EMS interventions in nursing homes were almost never seen as necessary or indicated by emergency physicians and nurses, with the appropriate EMS level almost never being activated. The following key issues were found: shortages in numbers and competence of nursing home staff, insufficient primary care due to the unavailability of the general practitioner as well as a lack of involvement in patient care, and an absence of readily available advance directives. General practitioners should be more involved in the decision to call the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and to transfer nursing home residents to the Emergency Department. Healthcare workers should strive for vigilance regarding the patients' wishes. The emotional burden of deciding on an avoidable hospital admission of nursing home residents, perhaps out of fear for medico-legal consequences if doing too little, leaves the emergency physicians and nurses frustrated and disappointed. Improvements in nursing home staffing, more acute and chronic general practitioner consultations, and mobile geriatric and palliative care support teams are potential solutions. Further research should focus on the structural improvement of the above-mentioned shortcomings.

Assessment of Nursing Faculty Members' Knowledge Toward Research: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and aim In the context of contributing to healthcare and the well-being of a nation and its communities, nursing research plays a vital role in advancing the discipline of nursing science. Nursing research is essential for improving the quality of nursing care. This study aims to examine the research knowledge level of faculty members at the College of Nursing, University of Raparin, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 43 nursing faculty members at the University of Raparin. The survey was distributed using convenience sampling in April 2024. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (released 2019, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Continuous variables were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, while categorical variables were analyzed using frequency and percentage distributions. The association between knowledge scores and demographics was tested using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, and post-hoc tests. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to determine the variables that influence the knowledge score. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Results A total of 43 participants were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 32.56 ± 4.75, with 69.8% of participants being male. In terms of educational attainment, 48.8% held master's degrees, 39.5% held bachelor's degrees, and only 11% possessed PhDs. The mean work experience was 5.40 ± 4.04 years, and the mean knowledge score toward research was 3.09 ± 1.97 out of 7. Demographic variables, such as age, marital status, and gender, showed no significant associations with knowledge levels (p > 0.05). However, significant associations were found for education level (p = 0.004) and years of experience (p = 0.011). In the stepwise regression analysis, we observed a significant positive correlation between the level of education and knowledge score (F =10.787, p = 0.002). However, variables, such as age, gender, marital status, years of experience, and participation in research courses, did not demonstrate statistical significance (p-values > 0.05). Conclusion This study highlights a significant lack of research expertise among nursing faculty members, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions and instructional activities in nursing education programs. It is crucial to address this knowledge gap in order to support the professional growth of faculty members and promote the advancement of nursing research and evidence-based practice.Policymakers should also consider implementing mentorship programs that strategically pair less experienced faculty members with seasoned researchers. This initiative aims to cultivate a collaborative learning environment and enhance research skills.

Lived experiences of Iranian prehospital emergency technicians in facing women’s emergencies: a phenomenological study

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the work problems and challenges of male prehospital emergency technicians when faced with female medical emergencies. Given that qualitative research has not been done in this field, planning to find the weak points and improve the quality of prehospital emergency as the first line of treatment for female emergency patients, which is considered an important part of the health care system, is considered important and valuable. Therefore, this phenomenological study was conducted in 2023.MethodsThis study was conducted using a qualitative method of phenomenology in 2023. The environment of the research was urban and road prehospital emergency centers in Iran and the data were collected through interviews with EMS technicians. The collected data were analyzed using Smith’s approach to explain the lived experiences of EMS technicians facing female emergencies or women’s emergencies in Iran.ResultsAll the 15 participants were men. Their mean age was 35 years, with a range of 25 to 45 years, and with a mean work experience of 10.54 years with a range of 4 to 20 years. The lived experiences of 115 emergency technicians in facing women’s emergencies in Iran were placed in four main themes cultural-social factors, organizational factors, human resources-related factors, and administrative-legal factors.ConclusionEMS personnel face various obstacles in carrying out missions related to women’s emergencies, Considering the critical nature of women’s emergencies, it is recommended that policymakers and clinical educators improve the level of community culture, communication skills, theoretical and practical training, respecting privacy, hiring female personnel, adding specialized equipment, amending and changing laws, removing road-traffic obstacles and to support personnel, patients and their families psychologically to optimize performance in women’s emergencies.

UK midwives delivering physical activity advice; what are the challenges and possible solutions?

Despite physical activity (PA) providing specific health benefits during pregnancy and the postpartum period, many women report decreased PA during this time. Provision of PA advice has been found to be lacking amongst midwives due to a range of barriers. This study aimed to evaluate United Kingdom's midwives' current role and knowledge regarding the provision of PA advice to pregnant and postpartum women and identify the barriers and potential solutions. Ten UK midwives (mean work experience ± SD: 15.5 years ± 10.2) participated in semi-structured interviews between May and July 2023. Data were analysed using a deductive thematic approach following Braun and Clarke's six steps. Demographic data were collected by Microsoft Forms then summarised using Microsoft Excel. Six themes with 25 subthemes were identified as barriers and solutions in delivering PA advice. The role of midwives in providing PA advice during pregnancy; the role of midwives in providing PA advice postpartum; intrinsic barriers that limit PA advice provision (confidence, safety concerns, knowledge, and midwife's personal body habitus); extrinsic barriers that limit PA advice provision (lack of time, education, PA not a priority in care); solutions to allow midwives to promote PA (including formal PA education, and dissemination of resources); and optimising delivery of PA advice (personalized approach, interprofessional collaboration, and linking to mental health benefits). Midwives consider themselves ideally placed to provide PA advice to pregnant women, with many aware of the benefits PA provides. Despite this, there is a lack of PA advice provision and knowledge of PA guidelines. Postpartum PA advice appeared to be considered outside the remit of midwives, due to limited contact. Further research is needed to determine the current level of PA advice provision for pregnant and postpartum women and explore the role of other healthcare professionals involved in maternity care.

A survey on occupational injuries and related factors among emergency patients of Mashhad teaching hospitals over a year.

Occupational injuries (OI) are a - significant source of social and economic costs. They can cause prolonged absences from work, loss of limb, and worker disability, among other negative consequences. In light of this, the present study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with OI in trauma centers affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. This cross-sectional study was carried out among patients admitted to the trauma ward of four teaching hospitals in Mashhad during 2019-2020. Patients' data was collected in a checklist and trauma severity was assessed based on injury severity score. The Epworth questionnaire was completed for patients. Data was analyzed by SPSS 20.0. Out of a total of 13660 patients who were referred to the emergency department of four hospitals of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 683 (5.15%) individuals suffered occupational trauma and entered the study. The mean (±SD) age and work experience of the participants were 34 (±10) and 10 (±9) respectively. Most of the participants were in the age group of 20-40 years. the most common mechanism of trauma was falling (p=0.00) and the most injury frequency was among manual working (p=0.01). There was not a significant association between trauma severity and demographic characteristics. Those who had falling or electric accidents had more severe trauma compared to other injured patients. (p=0.00) CONCLUSIONS: In general, the most burden of occupational accidents and in fact, the most serious injuries were related to men and manual workers. Also, most of the injuries happened through falls and cuts. The results of this study showed the need for serious policies to reduce occupational injuries.

The process of challenge formation in Iranian nursing education: A grounded theory study with model presentation.

Nursing education faces many challenges that must be identified and removed to improve nursing education and promote the quality of nursing care. Identifying the challenges of nursing education helps to solve or correct the weaknesses and achieve educational goals, which ultimately help to train skilled professionals capable of providing higher quality care to patients. The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the experiences of nursing tutors in regard to the process of challenge formation in nursing education in Iran. This is a qualitative study with a grounded theory approach that was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, which took about 9 months, 18 experienced nursing tutors with managerial positions were selected by purposeful sampling from universities across the country. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes, observation, and memos. Data analysis was done by Corbin and Strauss method through MAXQDA software version 10. In the next step, using the method of Walker and Avant (2011), concepts and statements were gathered within a whole and a model was presented. Twelve male university tutors and six female tutors participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 45.38 ± 2.1 years, and their mean work experience was 18.66 ± 3.8 years. The findings showed that the challenges of nursing education could be categorized into three categories (defective educational cycle, efforts to restore the educational structure, and learning is a member of educational family), and 12 subcategories. After analyzing the data, trying to provide a need-based education was determined to be the central theme of this study. The components of model developed in this study were presented in the three axes of improving the tutor's teaching skills, managing the situation and educational facilities, and facilitating student's participation in the education process and decision-making. Identifying barriers and facilitators of need-based education in health policy making can enable nurses to build a better future for their nursing position. To provide need-based education, it is necessary to create a suitable ground and platform for proper education. Such platform and ground are a necessity of educational, therapeutic, and community environments. To achieve this goal, it is recommended to improve the professional capabilities of tutors and support educational organizations.