Unsatisfactory Practice Research Articles

The Relationship Between the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Herders on Hygienic Milking and The Contamination Risk of Milk with Cryptosporidium Oocyst in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Dairy products are consumed by millions on daily basis worldwide and as such the potential for foodborne illness is a major concern. This study investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocyst in cow bulk milk and the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of herders towards hygienic milking in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. A total of 120 milk samples were collected for this study. Detection of Cryptosporidium oocyst in milk samples was carried out by concentration technique using Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4) solution and stained with Modified Ziehl Neelsen method. Sixty (60) structured questionnaires were administered to herders in the study area to identify possible risk factors and assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices toward hygienic milking. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in cow bulk milk was 11.7% (14/120). Questionnaires administered showed that the majority of the respondents had poor knowledge (88.3%), negative attitudes (85.0%) and adopted unsatisfactory practices (95.0%) to hygienic milking. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in cow bulk milk from this study suggests that the dairy cattle in these LGAs have a high potential for transmitting Cryptosporidium to humans. Hence the findings of this study are of great public health significance as these group of animals sampled produce milk for consumption in both urban and rural communities. Therefore, inhabitants of these LGAs should be informed and educated on the need to improve sanitary measures while milking these animals and the need for adequate pasteurization of milk before consumption.

Behavior, attitude, perception, and knowledge regarding fertility preservation among Chinese pediatric oncologists: a survey in China.

Clinical specialists are supposed to inform childhood cancer patients of infertility risk and conduct fertility preservation (FP). However, little is known about whether doctors in China are fully prepared. This study aimed to investigate behavior, attitude, perception, and knowledge regarding FP among pediatric oncological specialists in a nation wide survey, to set the stage for improvements in current clinicalpracticepatterns. This study was conducted on physicians and surgeons specialized in pediatric oncology using a questionnaire through theWeChat platform. The behavior, attitude, perception, and knowledge were assessed by Likert questions and results were quantified to obtainscores. Data were then described and analyzed using R and GraphPad. Totally 373 specialists in pediatric tumors were included in the analysis. Hematologists, oncological surgeons, and reproductive medicine specialists won most trusts to be responsible for FP job. Most respondents did not have habits of delivering FP information or cooperating with FP specialists during treatment though they were well equipped with FP knowledge and desired for uniform national guideline for FP procedures. The severity of illness was regarded as the primary barrier of FP delivery. When a doctor was more educated and experienced, he was more likely to have better performance in FP. The total score, the knowledge score, and the single score concerning frequency of patients' inquiry showed aggregational trend on geographic distribution. Chinese pediatric oncologists demonstrated unsatisfactory practice behaviors based upon this self-reporting survey, although their attitude towards FP was generally positive.

Crowdsourced Comparative Judgement for Evaluating Learner Texts: How Reliable are Judges Recruited from an Online Crowdsourcing Platform?

Abstract Recent studies of proficiency measurement and reporting practices in applied linguists have revealed widespread use of unsatisfactory practices such as the use of proxy measures of proficiency in place of explicit tests. Learner corpus research is one specific area affected by this problem: few learner corpora contain reliable, valid evaluations of text proficiency. This has led to calls for the development of new L2 writing proficiency measures for use in research contexts. Answering this call, a recent study by Paquot et al. (2022) generated assessments of learner corpus texts using a community-driven approach in which judges, recruited from the linguistic community, conducted assessments using comparative judgement. Although the approach generated reliable assessments, its practical use is limited because linguists are not always available to contribute to data collections. This paper, therefore, explores an alternative approach, in which judges are recruited through a crowdsourcing platform. We find that assessments generated in this way can reach near identical levels of reliability and concurrent validity to those produced by members of the linguistic community.

Effects of Performance Appraisal Quality on Employee Performance in Homa Construction PLC Company Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia

The objective of this study was to examine Effects of Performance Appraisal Quality on Employee Performance in Homa Construction PLC Company, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study was used descriptive and which incorporated both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The researcher was employed Stratified Random Sampling Technique techniques to distribute the questionnaire to the respondents. Data was collected by using both closed and open ended self-administered questionnaires and a total of two hundred (200) questionnaires were returned. The results were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS software version 20. The scores are interpreted quantitatively and open-ended suggestions are interpreted qualitatively. The research finding of Correlation analysis was indicated there is positive, strong and significant relationships were existed between (Performance Appraisal Quality and Feedback, Feedback and Employee Performance, and Performance Appraisal Quality and Employee Performance) at r =.896, p < 0.01, r =.851 p < 0.01, and r =.799 p < 0.01 respectively. Linear regression analysis also indicated that at 72.8% variance in Employee Performance can be predicted from the combination of all Performance Appraisal Quality and its Feedback Dimensions. The result also shows that at F=267.047, p<0.05 statistically significant. This indicates that combination of the predictors significantly combined together to predict Employee Performance. In meantime the result from the analysis of an independent-sample t-test was approved that most variables of performance appraisal quality were significantly differentiated in score variance for males and females while the finding result of ANOVA analysis explores there was no a statistically significant difference at the p>.05 level in mean scores between groups in Performance Appraisal Quality [F (1, 198) = 1.189, p=.277]. However, there was statistically significant difference at the p>.05 level in mean scores between groups for both Feedback and Employee Performance based on the Age of Respondents. Furthermore, as the result of finding obtained from descriptive statistical analysis Employee Performance was stated low in all attributes. This also proved for unsatisfactory practice of performance appraisals and its feedback that had seen in most Company projects. Finally, the researcher believes that this paper was not exhaustive that could provide all lists of topic researched. However, it gives a bird-eye view on topic and it is open for further discussion and/or critics.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to dietary salt among older adults in Abha, Saudi Arabia

The need to foster successful aging has intensified with the aging of the global population. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning dietary salt consumption and to investigate the correlations between sociodemographic variables and salt-related KAP. A structured interview was administered to a cohort of 200 older adults in Abha City, Saudi Arabia, recruited through a convenience sampling approach. The evaluation of salt-related KAP revealed widespread low knowledge (91.5%) as participants scored less than 3, negative attitudes (85.5%) scored less than 12, and predominantly unsatisfactory practices (69.5%) with scores less than 26. Noteworthy differences emerged between participants with poor overall KAP (81.5%) and those with good KAP (18.5%). Significantly weak negative correlations were found between age (r=-0.212), marital status (-0.236), and body mass index (-0.243) with overall KAP. Further examination revealed a significantly weak positive correlation between attitude and practice (r = 0.141). KAP scores show a highly significant positive correlation with overall KAP scores (r = 0.169, 0.352, 0.969). The uncovered correlations contribute to a valuable understanding of the complex dynamics surrounding salt-related KAP. This understanding guides the design of targeted interventions, such as health education programs, promoting successful aging and public health outcomes.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices among residents of different slum settlements in a ward of Kolkata: A mixed-methods study.

Access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is the most basic need for mankind. Poor WASH practices are associated with various waterborne diseases, especially in developing countries such as India. The aim of the study was to assess WASH practices among residents of different slum settlements in a ward of Kolkata, identify the factors associated with WASH practice, and explore the barriers faced by the families and municipal staff in providing adequate WASH services to the community. An observational study, cross-sectional in design with a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach, was conducted in different slum settlements in a ward of Kolkata. Quantitative data were collected by face-to-face interview, spot observation, and measuring the living area, door, and window spaces. Key informant interviews were conducted with the medical officer, ward vector-control coordinator, and municipal waste handlers, in addition to in-depth interviews with respondents who had unsatisfactory WASH practices. SPSS version 25.0 was used to analyze the quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using Atlas.ti 22. The overall WASH practices were considered satisfactory in 58.8% of the households. Education of the respondents up to the secondary level, presence of overcrowding, and inadequate ventilation in the house had statistically significantly higher odds of unsatisfactory practice. Poor living conditions, difficulty in collecting and storing water, waterlogging, blocked sewage drains, common toilets for men and women, and lack of motivation were the primary obstacles identified by the residents. Unsatisfactory WASH practices were observed among a high proportion of the slum population. Community engagement and education regarding WASH in communities is strongly recommended along with improvement of infrastructure and capacity building.

Registered nurses' knowledge and practice of preoperative fasting and medication administration.

Knowledge of fasting or Nil Per Os (NPO) guidelines is an essential component of nursing care in the preoperative period. To describe registered nurses' (RNs) knowledge and management of the preoperative NPO period. Selected surgical wards in a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. Quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional study utilising a structured questionnaire. The population consisted of RNs working in selected surgical wards. Convenience sampling was used and adequate knowledge was determined as ≥ 90%. The response rate was 100%. Of the 68 participants, 48 (70.6%) held a diploma and 20 (29.4%) held a degree as the highest academic qualification achieved. Sixty-one (89.7%) participants knew the correct reason for keeping patients NPO. Sixty-five (95.6%) knew the correct answer for the NPO time for solids while only 27 (39.7%) knew the correct answer for clear fluids. Only 30 (44.1%), 26 (38.2%) and 33 (48.5%) participants, respectively, answered the questions about oral analgesia, oral antibiotics and chronic medication administration during the NPO period correctly. Significantly more degree participants knew the correct answer for the fasting time for non-human milk (p = 0.005) and more diploma participants would administer chronic medication during the NPO period (p = 0.037). Inadequate knowledge of NPO times for various fluids and unsatisfactory practice of medication administration for oral and chronic medication require attention. This study highlights the importance that ongoing education is needed to ensure that patients receive the most up-to-date evidence-based care during the NPO period.

Knowledge and practice towards intravenous fluid therapy in children among nurses in the pediatrics emergency department of selected public hospitals

Morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients can be increased due to errors that are caused by inadequate knowledge and unsatisfactory practice of intravenous (IV) fluid therapy among healthcare workers. The knowledge and practice of nurses are very critical to IV fluid therapy because they are the cornerstone of a subject. This study assessed nurse's knowledge and practice of IV fluid therapy. A cross-sectional study design was employed at four selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 112 nurses using a structured questionnaire for knowledge and using an observational checklist for practice. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 computer programs. Most respondents (67%) were males; the mean age of respondents was 31.2 ± 4.3. Among participated nurses, 42% (95% CI 32.8, 51.2) and 56.3% (95% CI 47.1, 65.6) had inadequate knowledge and satisfactory practice regarding IV fluid therapy in children, respectively. A significant association was observed between nurses' intravenous fluid therapy knowledge and in-service training that nurses who had training on fluid therapy in children had 4 times adequate knowledge than those who had no training (P = 0.01), an educational qualification that master degree holders had 4.8 times adequate knowledge than first-degree holders (P = 0.04) and training institution that nurse who had taken training in governmental teaching institution had 4 times adequate knowledge than who had taken training in private teaching institution (P = 0.011). No statistically significant association was found between practice level and independent variables regarding IV fluid therapy. Nurses’ knowledge of IV fluid therapy was inadequate and practice was relatively satisfactory. Continuous education and training of nurses on IV fluid therapy should be conducted regularly to improve their knowledge and practice. Further research should be employed involving other hospitals and focusing on risk factors for knowledge and practice inadequacy that are not discussed in this study.

Social partnership in law enforcement: theoretical and methodological aspects of the research

The relevance of the research topic is determined by the search for the reasons for the unsatisfactory practice of building social partnerships in the law enforcement sphere. The main problem of the current state of affairs, according to the author, is the presence of an axiological barrier in the minds of the intended subjects of interaction: internal affairs bodies and public law enforcement organizations. The length of time it takes to overcome the axiological barrier, as well as the lack of progressive dynamism in building an effective system, are burdened by a lack of understanding of the nature of the phenomenon of social partnership. This circumstance contributed to the dominance of a predominantly normative basis for mobilizing the movement of «social activists» and predetermined the administrative-command methods of stimulating public activity «from above.» This has given rise to simulation and over-centralized practices that exclude the value content of the communication process, initiative, interest, independence, personal responsibility and other mandatory attributes of a partner form of interaction.The purpose of the research is to determine the essential characteristics of social partnership, systematization and accounting of which will allow us to propose a conceptual basis for its formation in the law enforcement sphere. The research method is abstract situation modeling where the development of partnerships is analyzed through a system-activity approach. It makes possible to study both the systemic properties of social partnership and the specifics of the activity content of the analyzed model, which generates successful joint actions of subjects in the process of building a social partnership.The results and key conclusions of the research have made it possible to describe the essential features of the partnership form of interaction, present the author’s definition of social partnership in the law enforcement sphere and propose the main directions for its activation in order to build truly partnership practices.

Nurses' Challenges Regarding Adolescent Behavior in Preventing Early Pregnancy

Early adolescent pregnancy remains a persistent and unresolved phenomenon worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that 16 million girls aged 15-19 give birth annually. Indonesia continues to grapple with high rates of young pregnancy. The consequences of early pregnancy are extensive, ranging from abortion, school dropout, early marriage, and divorce to psychological distress such as stress and depression. Aim:This research contributes to understanding adolescent behaviors aimed at preventing early pregnancy. Methods:Employing a quantitative research design with a descriptive approach, the study sampled 225 female students through simple random sampling. Avalidated questionnaire was utilized for data collection, and analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 software. Results:The findings reveal that most respondents demonstrated commendable behaviors in preventing early pregnancy, with 193 individuals (85.8%) exhibiting good prevention practices. Nevertheless, some respondents displayed moderately positive behaviors, while others exhibited unsatisfactory practices. Conclusion:To address the behavior of adolescent females and its impact, community health nurses should intervene promptly. This intervention should focus on educating and coaching adolescents to raise awareness and promote effective prevention strategies, with the goal of reducing the prevalence of early pregnancy.

Nurses' Challenges Regarding Adolescent Behavior in Preventing Early Pregnancy

Background: Early adolescent pregnancy remains a persistent and unresolved phenomenon worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that 16 million girls aged 15-19 give birth annually. Indonesia continues to grapple with high rates of young pregnancy. The consequences of early pregnancy are extensive, ranging from abortion, school dropout, early marriage, and divorce to psychological distress such as stress and depression. Aim: This research contributes to understanding adolescent behaviors aimed at preventing early pregnancy. Methods: Employing a quantitative research design with a descriptive approach, the study sampled 225 female students through simple random sampling. A validated questionnaire was utilized for data collection, and analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 software. Results: The findings reveal that most respondents demonstrated commendable behaviors in preventing early pregnancy, with 193 individuals (85.8%) exhibiting good prevention practices. Nevertheless, some respondents displayed moderately positive behaviors, while others exhibited unsatisfactory practices. Conclusion: To address the behavior of adolescent females and its impact, community health nurses should intervene promptly. This intervention should focus on educating and coaching adolescents to raise awareness and promote effective prevention strategies, with the goal of reducing the prevalence of early pregnancy.

Factors Affecting Medical Device-Related Pressure Injuries in Intensive Care Units

Context: Medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPI) are a common complication that can occur in critically ill patients and require medical devices in the intensive care unit. MDRPI can occur when pressure from a medical device, such as a ventilator, catheter, or feeding tube, is exerted on the patient's skin for prolonged periods, causing tissue damage and leading to pressure injuries. MDRPI can result in pain, discomfort, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Therefore, preventing and managing MDRPI in ICU patients is crucial to improving patient outcomes.
 Aim: The study aimed to assess factors affecting medical devices related to pressure injury in intensive care units.
 Methods: A descriptive and exploratory research design was employed to fulfill the objectives of this study. The study included two distinct samples: a purposive sample of 157 adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit and connected to various medical devices such as NGT, EET, CVC, UC, and CPAP masks, as well as a convenience sample of 50 nurses working in the intensive care unit who provided care to the same group of patients. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, nurses' practice observational checklists, patient assessment records, and medical device assessment records.
 Results: The findings from this study reveal that 40% of the nurses under investigation demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge concerning Medical Device-Related Pressure Injuries (MDRPI). In comparison, 68.8% exhibited unsatisfactory practice in this area. Moreover, 56% of the nurses displayed a negative attitude towards factors associated with pressure injuries caused by medical devices in intensive care units. Concurrently, 58% of the patients in the study were found to have pressure injuries linked to medical devices, with 48% of these cases being attributed to CPAP masks. Furthermore, a highly significant statistical correlation was identified between the total knowledge scores of the nurses and their overall practice.
 Conclusion: The current study's conclusions indicate that the highest percentage of the participating nurses possessed an average level of knowledge, displayed inadequate practice, and harbored negative attitudes regarding factors contributing to medical device-related pressure injuries in intensive care units. Consequently, it is recommended that an educational training program be implemented to enhance nurses' competence in preventing medical device-related pressure injuries in intensive care units.

Analysis of cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes among critically ill patients at a university hospital, Kafr-El-Sheikh Governorate

Background Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a vital intervention in managing critically ill patients experiencing cardiac arrest (CA). Understanding the factors influencing CPR outcomes is crucial for optimizing resuscitation strategies and improving patients’ survival rates. Aim To analyze the outcome of CPR among critically ill patients. Research questions To fulfill the aim of this study, four research questions were formulated. Design A descriptive exploratory research design was used. Setting Three ICUs affiliated to a university hospital in Kafr-El-Sheikh, Egypt. Sample A purposive sample that included 69 CA patients for 7 months, and a convenience sample of 97 members of the emergency response team working at the above-mentioned setting. Tools Three tools were formulated. Results The highest age category (31.9%) of CA patients was of 61–70 years. Over 7 months, the frequency of CA among critically ill patients was 7.61%. Regarding ICUs’ preparedness, institutional factors affecting emergency readiness had an unsatisfactory practice level (mean±SD=17.04±2.10), and crash cart preparedness was at mean±SD=30.42±4.32. The study showed unsatisfactory practice levels related to International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation 2020 guidelines for total advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) performance with a mean score and SD of 87.81±18.19. Patient outcomes showed a 10.1% overall survival rate at ICU discharge, 82.6% experiencing return of spontaneous circulation, and 89.9% experiencing brain death. Clinical high-risk scores against National Early Warning Score 2 were 98.2 and 88.2% on the first and last days, respectively. Poor cerebral performance category outcome scores were found at 96.5 and 88% on the first and last days, respectively. However, there were insignificant statistical correlations (P>0.05) between different patients’ outcomes and total adult ACLS role during CA based on International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation guidelines 2020. Conclusion CA among critically ill patients creates a significant burden for healthcare facilities and continues to be associated with a high mortality rate. The institutional factors affecting CPR outcomes among CA patients concerning preparedness level have a significant influence on survival. Conversely, the majority of resuscitated patients experienced return of spontaneous circulation, indicating successful initial efforts with severe neurological disability. Recommendations Hospital preparedness for CA situations has to be severely considered through implementing and regularly reviewing institutional policies and ensuring the availability and functionality of necessary resources. Update regular continuous educational programs toward enhancing the performance of emergency response team focusing on ACLS guidelines. Replication of this study on a larger probability sample from different geographical locations in Egypt is recommended.

Enhancing knowledge and practices toward Vitamin D deficiency through implementing awareness programs among medical science female students

Objectives Vitamin D (VD) deficiency has widespread prevalence worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, it is the most common form of public health problem with regard to malnutrition. This is because there is insufficient knowledge about negative VD practices. The current study aimed to evaluate VD deficiency knowledge and practices before and after the implementation of an awareness programme. Methods A quasi-experimental design was used for the study, which was conducted at the College of Applied Medical Science at Al-Baha University. A convenience sample encompassing all the female students in the Public Health Department was used ( n = 83 students). Two tools were used for data collection; the first was an intervention questionnaire to assess the students’ knowledge, and the second was a questionnaire concerned with students’ practices in preventing VD deficiency. Results The mean age of the students was 20.75 ± 7.85 years. Of the study’s subjects, 45.8% suffered from VD deficiency and 72.3% had a family history of VD deficiency. The study showed that there had been significant progress in students’ VD knowledge and behaviours following the programme. While 59% of the students had poor knowledge and 95.2% had unsatisfactory practices pre-intervention, 86.7% and 48.2% showed exemplary knowledge and a positive attitude towards VD, respectively, post-intervention. The scores achieved by the students had significantly changed ( p ≤ .01); compared to the knowledge and practice scores of 24.43 ± 7.21 out of 53 and 24.29 ± 5.23 out of 48, respectively, before the intervention, they were elevated to 46.89 ± 9.93 and 29.39 ± 14.23 following the awareness programme. Conclusion This type of health education programme can raise VD deficiency knowledge and improve practices. This study highlights the importance of holding public health awareness campaigns and recommends the creation of specifically designed booklets and leaflets for medical students and patients/visitors to hospital and public places.

Knowledge and Practice of Nurses Regarding Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis among Critically ill Patients Admitted in ICU In Pubic Tertiary Care Hospital

Deep vein thrombosis is the major cause of disability and death worldwide and it is a major preventable contributor. There is a wide range of literature reported about DVT. Objective: To find out the association between education and duration of working experience of nurses with their knowledge and practice. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design was conducted on 56 nurses. Purposive sampling technique was used to recruiting study participants. Data were collected through international tool. Data were analyzed through SPSS VS-24. P-value ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Majority of the participants was females (96.4%) of mean age 33.41 ± 5.30 years and 53.6% of nurses had poor knowledge. Out of the total 56 nurses, 02(3.6%) were male and 54(96.4%) were females. Most of the nurses included in the study had a BS Nursing diploma of 23(41.1%), a general nursing diploma of 22(39.3%), and a post-basic 11(19.6%). About fifty percent (46.4%) participants had poor practices. There was a significant association between nurses’ knowledge and experience of nurses in the field (p-value<0.05). Conclusions: Nurses had good knowledge of the prevention of DVT and somehow of the practices of DVT. It was also found that, nurses have low levels of general knowledge of DVT, risk factors of deep vein thrombosis, and unsatisfactory practices about the prevention of DVT.

Knowledge and practice of caregivers for the management of their febrile children: Bangladesh perspective

Background: Fever is the most common pediatric symptom and one of the most prevalent public health issues, which warrants frequent visits to the doctors. Evidence-based practices are widely lacking due to a scarcity of knowledge regarding the management of febrile children. Objective: This study aims to determine caregivers' knowledge and practices for managing their febrile children and to assess the factors influencing these practices. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at two military hospitals in Bangladesh. The study subjects comprised a convenient sample of 350 caregivers attending the OPD with a feverish child under twelve years. Results: Knowledge about fever management was deficient in the majority of participants, in terms of fever definition, the Paracetamol dose, and frequency. Most of the participants were worried about febrile convulsions. Unsatisfactory practices were observed in regards to faulty temperature measurement, giving inadequate fluid to febrile children, and preferring antibiotics to reduce body temperature. Maternal age, education level of the mother, income of the family, number of children, occupation of the mother, type of family, and history of recurrent illness in children were found to be significantly associated with the knowledge and practice level of parents. Conclusion: Poor knowledge and unsatisfactory practice of the parents regarding the management of their febrile children lead to undue concern, which increases the burden on healthcare facilities. It provides insight for healthcare providers to enhance parental expertise by offering evidence-based information and spreading awareness in the community to augment the general outcomes of febrile episodes in children.

Effect Of Educational Programme On Patients With Bronchial Asthma Regarding Self -Care Management.

To evaluate the effect of educational programmes on patients with bronchial asthma regarding self-care management. The quasi-experimentalstudy was conducted at the El-Fayoum University Hospital, Egypt, from August 2021 to January 2022, and comprised patients of either gender aged >20 years who had a history of asthma attacks in the preceding 6 months. Data were collected through three questionnaires adapted from the literature regarding patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, their knowledge regarding asthma and self-care management, and their practices as noted through an observational checklist. After evaluation as a baseline, the subjects were given training through 30-minute sessions twice a week for a total of 10 sessions. They were also provided with a self-care management booklet in the Arabic language. The post-intervention evaluation was at the end of the 10-session programme and then again 3 months after the first evaluation. The collected data were statistically analyzed using the statistical package forsocialscience (SPSS) version (20), percentage (%), the arithmetic mean (),standard deviation (SD), and chi-square (X2 & p-value). Of the 100 patients with a mean age of 31.5±7.41 years, 34(34%) were in the 30-40 years bracket, 63(63%) were males, 70(70%) could read and write, 94(94%) lived in urban areas, 50(50%) were smokers and 81(81%) said asthma attack was triggered by consumption of certain foods. At baseline, 69(69%) patients had unsatisfactory knowledge and 72(72%) had unsatisfactory practices regarding self-care management. Post-intervention, there was a highly significant improvement in knowledge and practice scores (p=0.001). The educational intervention improved patients' knowledge, practice, and self-care management.

Perceptions, Knowledge, and Experiences of Using Face Masks among Egyptian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Using face masks appropriately is important for preventing the community spread of respiratory infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge level and experience of using face masks between healthcare teams to protect them and limit the spread of COVID-19 infection. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 228 healthcare members in July-December 2021. It was divided into two sections and consisted of 29 questions for a total possible score of 0 to 29. The first section was related to perceptions and knowledge about face masks (13 items); the second was related to the experience of using face masks (16 items). The average score of this questionnaire was 23.21/29 with respect to the knowledge about face masks and their proper use techniques. The healthcare team studied had satisfactory knowledge about face mask use techniques, and the study shed light on their unsatisfactory practices. Following instructions is very vital to protecting the person wearing the mask and preventing the spread of infection during health care by blocking droplets produced by speaking or coughing. Providing the healthcare teams with knowledge and experience about how to use face masks during the pandemic is critical to increase their awareness and practice in using face masks and prevent the infection from spreading.

Deepening Analysis on Factors Related to the Mothers’ Practices and Acute Respiratory Infection Disease in Children Under 5 Years Old in The Rural Area, Viet Nam

Objective: The study aimed at identify some factors related to practices of mothers and acute respiratory infection disease in children under 5 years old in rural area, Vietnam. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on among 194 mothers and their children under 5 years old in the rural area of Vu Ban District, Nam Dinh province, Vietnam from October 2020 to June 2021. The questionnaire includes 16 items and 3 technique checklists was used which was comprised of sociodemographic factors and information about practices of mothers in prevention and caring for children with acute respiratory infection. The questionnaire and diagnosis of acute respiratory infection (ARI) was based on the revised WHO guidelines. Then the data was collected, analyzed and entered into the SPSS 25.0 program. Using Chi-Square statistics and the odds ratio OR with 95% CI confidence to analyze and determine the relation factors between the two variables in the study. Results: Unsatisfactory practices of mothers in prevention and caring for children with ARI accounted for high percentage (61.9%). In addition, the incidence of ARI in children under 5 years old was 43.8% (85/194 children). There were some relationships between the mothers’ education level, receiving counseling information, number of children, the incidence of ARI in children and mothers' practices about ARI. The difference was statistically significant with p <0.05. There were some relationships between the mothers’ education level, receiving counseling information about ARI, mothers’ practical skills in caring and the incidence of ARI in their children. The difference was statistically significant with p < 0.01. Conclusions: The practices of mothers in prevention and caring for their children with ARI were low. The study revealed that some factors related to practices of mothers and ARI disease in children under 5 years old.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on menstrual hygiene and associated factors among grade 10 schoolgirls in the district of Kalutara, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Menstruation is a natural phenomenon that occurs with sexual maturity of females. However, the topic is taboo for most female adolescents leading to improper practices on menstrual hygiene (MH) management. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on MH and associated factors among Grade 10 adolescent girls in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The final sample size computed was 720, applying a design effect of 3.8. As the cluster size decided was 15, 48 clusters/classes were selected using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling applying probability sampling techniques. A validated self-administered questionnaire was administered using Sinhala and Tamil versions. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted to determine the associated factors. Results: Response rate at the time of recruitment was 100%. Satisfactory level of overall knowledge was observed in 25% (95% CI: 21.9, 28.3), attitudes in 67.2% (95% CI: 64.0, 70.9) and practices in 17.3% (95% CI: 14.7, 20.3). Unsatisfactory knowledge was associated with menstrual information not provided by a science teacher (ScT) (p<0.001) school types 1C and 2 combined (p=0.002) and mothers having less than tertiary education (p=0.03). Unsatisfactory attitudes were associated with menstrual information not provided by a ScT (p<0.001) and lack of premenarcheal awareness (p=0.009). Unsatisfactory practices were associated with school types IC and 2 combined (p<0.001), residing in urban sector (p=0.004) and having extended families (p=0.034). Conclusions & Recommendations: Overall knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene related practices were poor, whereas attitudes were satisfactory. School type, maternal educational level, lack of premenarcheal awareness, menstrual information not being provided by a science teacher, residing in urban sector and living with extended family were the factors associated with unsatisfactory knowledge, attitudes and practices.