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Aim: To assess the perception of the nursing profession in Armenia from the perspective of multiple stakeholders, including nurses and the general public. Background: Nurses' role perception is a complex phenomenon defined by multiple stakeholders. Methods: The assessment used a convergent parallel mixed‐methods design, with a dominant qualitative status. We conducted the qualitative phase through focus group discussions and in‐depth interviews with 235 people and collected quantitative data in a cross‐sectional telephone survey with 389 participants. Results: The nursing profession has been influenced by medical hierarchy and subordination, and none of the participants recognized nursing as an autonomous health care profession. The quantitative survey findings were largely consistent with the qualitative results. Our findings highlighted empathy and compassion as inherent qualities of nurses in Armenia. Conclusion: To change opinions about the nursing profession and highlight nurses' meaningful contribution to the provision of health care services, it is important to develop a national definition of nursing and introduce higher educational opportunities for nurses in Armenia. Implications for nursing management: The paper highlights the importance of quality education for preparing highly competent nurse managers who can become role models in promoting nurses' roles in health care systems and improving the professional and public image of nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research over the past 40 years has consistently found that teachers do not report all cases of suspected child abuse and neglect even though they see children on a regular basis. Much of the studies on under-reporting by teachers have focused on public school systems, and there is very little research regarding the impact of cultural values. To address this gap in the literature, the current study examined the determinants of decision-making when it comes to responding to child abuse among a sample of Armenian-American faculty members across several private schools, with a specific focus on cultural values. The results indicated that some cultural values may be important but so too were attitudes toward, and knowledge of, reporting laws. Implications for future research and training for private school teachers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socioeconomically disadvantaged adolescents who are exposed to social norms related to violence against women are more likely to experience or be perpetrators of intimate partner violence. This study evaluated factors hypothesized to be associated with acceptance of wife beating among 240 male and female adolescents aged 10-16 years participating in a World Vision program in Armenia. Acceptance of wife beating was associated with relational victimization, perceived social support, and parent and community boundaries and expectations, but was not associated with overt victimization or aggression. These findings highlight several areas that may be important for violence prevention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research assumes that accuracy of shared historical knowledge of genocide might help new generations cope with the trauma lived by previous generations, while the longer the denial of a genocide the more fragmented the macronarrative and the longer the collective trauma. The Armenian genocide (1915) is generally represented in opposite ways by the Turks and Armenians. The study explores the knowledge accuracy of the 1915 events before and after the centennial commemoration of the genocide and uses convenience samples from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Romania, United States, Venezuela, and a representative sample (Romania, N = 1231). The major findings suggest a very low basic knowledge of genocide, with a few exceptions, despite a significant increase of this knowledge after the 100-year commemoration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the past, several enteric outbreaks in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2003 caused by Salmonella typhi, a Gram-negative bacterium, have occurred in Armenia. This study describes the demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of febrile hospitalized patients with intestinal infections in Armenia. Using a chart review study design, medical data from adult patients who were hospitalized at the Nork hospital during 2010-2012 were reviewed. A total of 600 medical charts were reviewed. Of these, 51 % were diagnosed with intestinal infections. Among these patients, 59 % had an intestinal infection of known etiology, with three main pathogens identified: Salmonella sp. (32 %), Shigella sp. (32 %), and Staphylococcus aureus (18 %). After controlling for the calendar year, age in years, and gender, patients detected with Salmonella sp. were more likely to reported the presence of a family member with similar signs or symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 9.0; 95 % CI 2.4-33.7] and the lack of a water tap at home (OR 3.9; 95 % CI 1.7-9.5). Evidence indicates that Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., and S. aureus as the most common etiologies reported among febrile hospitalized patients. A high percentage of patients had intestinal infections of unknown etiology; thus, improvement in laboratory capacity (enabling more advanced tests, such as polymerase chain reaction) would increase the identification of the enteropathogens causing disease in Armenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the difference of pre- and post-training performance evaluation of continuing medical education (CME) courses in cardio-vascular diseases (CVD) management among physicians at primary health care facilities of Armenian regions we conducted an evaluation survey. 212 medical records were surveyed on assessment of performance before and after the training courses through a self-employed structured questionnaire. Analysis of survey revealed statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05) in a number of variables: threefold increased recording of lipids and body mass index ( p = 0.001); moderate increased recording of comorbidities and aspirin prescription ( p < 0.012); eightfold increased recording of dyslipidemia management plan, twofold increased recording for CVD management plan and fivefold increased recording for CVD absolute risk ( p = 0.000). Missing records of electrocardiography and urine/creatinine analyses decreased statistically significantly ( p < 0.05). Statistically significant decrease was observed in prescription of thiazides and angiotensin receptor blockers/angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors ( p < 0.005), while prescription of statins and statins with diet for dyslipidemia management showed increased recording ( p < 0.05). Similarly, we observed increased records for counseling of rehabilitation physical activity ( p = 0.006). In this survey most differences in pre- and post-evaluation of performance assessment may be explained by improved and interactive training modes, more advanced methods of demonstration of modeling. Current findings may serve a basis for future planning of CME courses for physicians of remote areas facing challenges in upgrading their knowledge, as well as expand the experience of performance assessment along with evaluation of knowledge scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research suggests that since the collapse of the Soviet Union there has been a sharp growth in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in some former Soviet countries. However, as yet, comparatively little is known about the use of CAM in the countries throughout this region. Against this background, the aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of using alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in eight countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU) and to examine factors associated with their use. Methods: Data were obtained from the Living Conditions, Lifestyles and Health (LLH) survey undertaken in eight former Soviet countries (Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine) in 2001. In this nationally representative cross-sectional survey, 18428 respondents were asked about how they treated 10 symptoms, with options including the use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the treatment of differing symptoms by such practitioners in these countries. Results: The prevalence of using an alternative (folk) medicine practitioner for symptom treatment varied widely between countries, ranging from 3.5% in Armenia to 25.0% in Kyrgyzstan. For nearly every symptom, respondents living in rural locations were more likely to use an alternative (folk) medicine practitioner than urban residents. Greater wealth was also associated with using these practitioners, while distrust of doctors played a role in the treatment of some symptoms. Conclusions: The widespread use of alternative (folk) medicine practitioners in some fSU countries and the growth of this form of health care provision in the post-Soviet period in conditions of variable licensing and regulation, highlights the urgent need for more research on this phenomenon and its potential effects on population health in the countries in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Evidence from the Early 2000s quantified limited coverage of household water supplies in countries of the former Soviet Union. The study objectives were to measure changes in access to piped household water in seven of these countries between 2001 and 2010 and examine how these varied by household economic status. Methods Cross-sectional household sample surveys were conducted in 2010 in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine. Data on household piped water were compared with a related 2001 study and descriptive, regression and relative risk analyses applied. Results Increases in access to piped water in the home between 2001 and 2010 were recorded in urban and rural areas of all countries, except Kazakhstan. Access remains lower in rural areas. The relative risk of urban households not having piped water in 2010 compared with 2001 diminished by one-third for households with a bad/very bad economic situation [rate ratio (RR): 0.66] and by half for wealthier households (RR: 0.48). In rural areas, the declines were 15% for households with a bad/very bad economic situation (RR: 0.85) and 30% for wealthier households (RR: 0.69). Conclusions Despite encouraging increases in access to piped water, there remain significant gaps for rural and poorer households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed the level of patient satisfaction at selected primary health-care facilities in Lori and Shirak provinces of Armenia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 684 recent clients at primary health-care facilities. The majority of patients were satisfied with their provider (mean satisfaction score of 1.75 out of maximum 2). Most patients (89.0%) would visit the same provider again, and would recommend the provider to friends (85.6%). Satisfaction with other aspects of care, including waiting time, accessibility of services, confidentiality and cleanliness of the facility, was also high (mean score of 1.70 out of 2). Seventy-eight percent of respondents considered the care they received to be 'excellent' or 'good'. The less educated and those in rural areas were more likely to be satisfied with the provider's quality. Despite the fundamental problems now challenging the Armenian primary health-care sector, patient satisfaction remains high. Given the high level of reported satisfaction, more focused satisfaction research tools and alternative approaches to patient assessments of care are needed to inform quality improvement in the Armenian setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]