Perceived Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Using Pap Smear Test among Women Attending Saad Abu Al Ella Hospital in Khartoum State, 2022

Background: Cervical cancer is the second common cancer among women worldwide. It is a preventable cancer, and early detection of precancerous conditions through the Papanicolaou cytology screening (Pap smear) is a key aspect of prevention;it is accepted worldwide as an efficient tool for secondary prevention. While the PS test is simple, inexpensive, and relatively reliable as a method of diagnosing cervical cancer, most women do not take the test. Therefore, this study is sought to describe the barriers to pap smear uptake among Sudanese women. Materials and Method: This total coverage observational, analytical and cross sectional, hospital-based study was conducted in Saad Abu El Ella Hospital in April 2022. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire to assess the perceived barriers of 93 participants. All data were computerized using Microsoft Excel’17 and the data were described and analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS23). Results: The findings revealed that the mean age of the participants was 39.5 years and only 3.2% had ever undergone a pap smear test. Identified barriers were lack of information, not knowing where to go, and fear of pain. The majority, 72% are willing to routinely perform a pap smear test if well informed about it. The study also demonstrates that there is a significant correlation between perceived barriers score and willingness to perform the pap smear test (p value = 0.008), and between the perceived barriers score and the sociodemographic factors: Age (p value = 0.006), educational level (p value = 0.028) and occupation (p value = 0.040), but no association with the economic status was found (p value = 0.378). Conclusion: The detection rate is too low compared to the national target of over 70%. Therefore, more work is needed to reduce perceived barriers to cervical cancer screening by providing education/raising for popular awareness;addressing misconceptions and false beliefs;informing women about the necessity and importance of Pap smear;and health promotion using mass media such as national television, social media, radio, billboards, and newspapers and other print media.

Effects of attribution retraining on the perceived career barriers of undergraduate nursing students

Background/purpose:To evaluate the effects of attribution retraining on the perceived career barriers of undergraduate nursing students and to foster positive attributional styles.Methods:Ninety-four undergraduate nursing students were recruited and randomly divided into two groups:the attribution retraining group and the control group.All students were assessed by the perceived career barriers inventory before and after the eight-week study.Results:Attribution retraining significantly influenced the students'perceived career barriers.The mean scores of vocational knowledge,professional knowledge,and social ability of the experimental group were significantly reduced compared to the control group(p<0.05).Conclusion:Attribution retraining provides opportunities for improving the undergraduate nursing students'vocational knowledge,professional knowledge,and social ability.Attribution retraining should be encouraged in undergraduate nursing programs in order to reduce the nursing shortage in China's Mainland.

A causal model of eating behaviors among Thai pregnant women working in industrial factories

Objective:This study aimed to examine the causal model of eating behaviors among pregnant women working in industrial factories.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 participants,attending 4 healthcare centers,at a tertiary care hospital in Chonburi province,Thailand.Data were collected using 7 questionnaires:demographic form,eating behavior questionnaire,perceived benefits of the healthy eating questionnaire,perceived barriers to the healthy eating questionnaire,perceived self-efficacy questionnaire,social support questionnaire,and accessibility to healthy foods questionnaire.Descriptive statistics and path analysis were used for data analysis.Results:The participants had relatively high mean scores for eating behaviors.The final model fitted well with the dataχ^(2)=12.86,df=10,P=0.23;χ^(2)/df=1.29;comparative fit index(CFI)=0.98;goodness-of-fit index(GFI)=0.98;adjusted goodness-of-fit index(AGFI)=0.95;root mean square error of approximation(RMSEA)=0.04.Four factors-perceived benefits(β=0.13,P<0.05),perceived self-efficacy in healthy eating(β=0.22,P<0.001),pregnancy planning(β=0.28,P<0.001),and accessibility to healthy foods in the factory(β=0.12,P<0.05)-positively affected eating behavior,while only perceived barriers to healthy eating had a negative effect on eating behavior(β=−0.24,P<0.001).All the above factors explained 27.2%of the variance in eating behaviors.Conclusions:Nurses or healthcare providers can apply these findings to create an eating behavior modification program,focusing on pregnancy planning,behavior-specific variables,and interpersonal and situational influence,to promote the nutritional status of pregnant women working in industrial factories.

Access to smart devices and utilization of online health resources among older cardiac rehabilitation participants

BACKGROUND Newer models of cardiac rehabilitation(CR)delivery are promising but depend upon patient participation and ability to use technological media including Internet and smart devices.AIM To explore the availability of smart devices,current utilization and proficiency of use among older CR program attendees.METHODS Study participants were enrolled from four CR programs in Omaha,Nebraska United States and completed a questionnaire of 28 items.RESULTS Of 376 participants approached,169 responded(45%).Mean age was 71.1(SD±10)years.Demographics were 73.5%males,89.7%Caucasians,52%with college degree and 56.9%,with income of 40 K$or more.Smart device ownership was84.5%;desktop computer was the most preferred device.Average Internet use was 1.9 h/d(SD±1.7);54.3%of participants indicating for general usage but only18.4%pursued health-related purposes.Utilization of other health information modalities was low,29.8%used mobile health applications and 12.5%used wearable devices.Of all participants,72%reported no barriers to using Internet.Education and income were associated positively with measures of utilization and with less perceived barriers.CONCLUSIONAmong an older group of subjects attending CR,most have access to smart devices and do not perceive significant barriers to Internet use.Nonetheless,there was low utilization of health-related resources suggesting a need for targeted education in this patient population.