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Educational institutions strive to achieve their purposes mainly assessing students' performance and abilities; they might use traditional types of assessment or they may be forced to apply electronic assessment in certain situations such as those dictated by the current spread of COVID-19 Pandemic. The current study aims at providing insights into the ways and levels of university students' evaluation of the electronic assessment during the global health crisis whether this evaluation is affected by certain demographic variables or not. A 29-item online questionnaire was developed and conducted by the researchers to survey a large sample of university population. A large number of the students (n=582) responded to the survey. The study results show that the level of students' evaluation of e-assessment is moderate. The researchers also find that an interaction between gender and faculty may influence students' evaluation positively and negatively. The implications of the study suggest that educational institutions should consider all types of assessment mainly e-assessment to keep pace with all advancements and evade unexpected circumstances like pandemics.

In addition to the genocidal actions taking place in Gaza, the Israeli military also conducts large-scale assaults in the West Bank that destroy individuals' homes and communities, and invades Palestinian homes one home and garden at a time. While there are 250 of these invasions per month, they receive little scrutiny. Most of these invasions occur across the 19 refugee camps in the occupied Palestinian territories, where home is viewed as a gendered and temporal space: transient, penetrable, and violable. To analyze home invasion through a feminist lens, interviews were conducted with ten women-identifying refugees who described it as one of many forms of collective punishment that Palestinians experience that determines ability or debility as well as who may live and who may/must die. Interview participants saw home invasion as a type of domestic, gendered, and sexual violence that affects neighbors, kin, and communities and is mitigated through the collective support of women. Work on this article started well before the devastating and horrific events that unfolded after October 7, 2023. The article's scrutiny of the militarized infrastructure across the West Bank brings important context to the state violence in Gaza, and lays bare the vulnerabilities of the West Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delved into the dynamics of perceived challenges, adoption, and assessment of Western values of democracy and human rights among university students in Palestine, particularly in the aftermath of the 2023 War on Gaza. A mixed-methods strategy was used in the research, with a participant pool of 384 students representing a range of demographics. By exploring the impact of geopolitical events, the results revealed a positive link between perceived challenges and the assessment of Western values. Although there is a notable gender and geographic difference in the assessment and adoption of Western values, females and those living in cities and villages are shown to have greater perceived challenges with these values. The qualitative component, including interviews with 12 students, provided valuable insights into the postwar evolution of Palestinian perspectives, highlighting a notable shift in attitudes, initially characterized by belief in the superiority of Western values, followed by a decline in faith during the war. This decline is attributed to traumatic events, biased media narratives, and the contradiction between idealized standards and harsh realities. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted influences on Palestinian perceptions of Western values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Night eating syndrome (NES) is a kind of eating disorder. NES association with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms among university students is still not fully understood. We aimed to determine the relationship between NES and the presence of GERD symptoms among university students at An-Najah National University in Palestine. Methods: This study involved undergraduate students from An-Najah National University. The data were collected through online surveys from November to December 2023. The sampling frame involved voluntary sampling, as the data were collected using a structured questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic variables, medical history, lifestyle habits, nutritional status, GERD risk, and NES. The GERD questionnaire (GerdQ) was used to assess symptoms, while the Arabic version of the validated Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) was used to assess night eating. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (SF-IPAQ), and adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the MEDAS. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were also conducted to assess the study hypotheses. Results: The study involved 554 participants, 59.9% female. A total of 33.4% reported GERD symptoms, with 10.3% having NES. A strong association was observed between GERD and NES and between GERD and physical activity. Night eating syndrome (AOR = 2.84, CI = 1.07–3.19), high physical activity (AOR = 0.473, CI = 1.05–3.19), and non-smoking (AOR = 0.586, CI = 1.27–7.89) were identified as independent predictors of GERD symptoms. Conclusion: This study revealed that 33.4% of undergraduate students were at risk of GERD, with night eaters having a greater risk. GERD risk was negatively associated with physical activity level and smoking status. No associations were found between GERD risk and weight status, Mediterranean diet adherence, sociodemographic factors, or sleep disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transportation plays a significant role in health, community resilience, and access to basic needs such as healthcare, social services, education, and job opportunities. Health and community resilience are, however, impacted by a multitude of complex and unequal factors, such as transportation restrictions exacerbated by the Israeli occupation. The goal of the research was to examine the intricate relationships that exist in Palestine between movement restrictions imposed by occupation, health outcomes, and community resilience. Method: A self-structured questionnaire, devised based on expert conversations and previous literature, was used in this descriptive, quantitative study to explore health and resilience outcomes. Age, gender, marital status, place of residence, and means of transportation were among the various factors that were utilized to describe the socio-demographics of the study sample (n = 202). The researchers employed stepwise multiple regression and descriptive statistics for the data analysis. Results: Study findings indicated that transportation restrictions have significant direct and indirect health consequences. A significant direct effect is observed, signifying a negative correlation between restrictions and health; increased transportation restrictions are consistently correlated with a decline in health. The study emphasized how place of residence affects health outcomes, with higher scores for campers and people living in green line areas. It also underscores that public means of transportation are found to be better for health outcomes than private cars. Conclusion: This study emphasized that roadblocks, checkpoints, and military incursions make it difficult for Palestinians to receive medical care, which has a detrimental impact on their health and well-being. It also underscores the need for significant reforms in Palestinian health and transportation systems to enhance infrastructure and healthcare access. The Palestinian Authority should invest in public transportation and community resilience programs to address transportation-related health issues, especially in villages, due to frequent settler attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Antenatal care is an essential component of primary healthcare, providing opportunities to screen, prevent, and treat morbidity to preserve the health of mothers and offspring. The World Health Organization now recommends a minimum of eight antenatal care contacts, instead of four, which is challenging in countries exposed to political violence and structural disparities in access to social, economic and healthcare resources as exist in Palestine. This study examines the compliance of the recommend standard of antenatal care in Palestine. Methods: We analyzed data from the UNICEF's Palestinian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019–2020. The eligible sample consisted of 2,028 women, 15–49 years of age, living in Palestine, on whom data were available on reported antenatal care services received during the most recent pregnancy within the last two years. Outcome variables of interest were the reported frequencies of antenatal care visits, gestational timing of 1st visit, and services received. Potential risk factors were assessed in women attending less than eight versus eight or more antenatal contacts, as recommended by WHO, by estimating prevalence ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals. Results: Overall, 28% of women did not meet the WHO's recommendation of eight or more antenatal contacts, varying from 18% in Central West Bank to 33% in South West Bank across the four areas of Palestine (North, Central, and South West Bank and Gaza Strip). Twelve percent of women reported having had no antenatal contacts in the 1st trimester, and these women were two- to three-folds more unlikely to meet WHO recommendation of antenatal contacts than mothers who initiated the antenatal contact in the 1st trimester. Women who had less than eight antenatal contacts were generally poorer, higher in parity, lived in North and South West Bank, sought ANC from either doctor or nurse/midwife only, and initiated antenatal contact in 2nd-to-3rd trimesters. Conclusion: There were considerable socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in the prevalence of not meeting WHO recommended number of antenatal contacts in Palestine, offering the opportunity to inform, improve and continuously reassess coverage of antenatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Zionist claims to colonize Palestine and the role of Great Britain and prominent European Zionist Jews in the effort to establish Israel. Theodore Herzl, his lieutenants, and supporters personify Hannah Arendt's phrase "the banality of evil" while acting and appearing as respectable statesmen, scientists, journalists, and businesspeople who advocated for freedom, liberation, and combating antisemitism. They deliberately collaborated with known antisemites and worked to dismantle ancient Jewish communities, relentlessly removing Jews out of their countries of origin, colonizing Palestine for the creation of a Jewish state, ethnically cleansing the indigenous people of Palestine, fabricating history, erasing Palestine and its long history, demeaning and oppressing the Palestinian people, and suppressing and appropriating Palestinian culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Process Writing Approach focuses on the process of writing rather than the product. The purpose of the research was to explore the effectiveness of the Process Writing Approach in developing EFL students' paragraph writing skill at Birzeit University/Palestine. After reviewing previous literature on the topic, the researcher decided to utilize this approach in intermediate English (1201) in the first semester 2021/2022. Participants were randomly placed in an experimental group and a control group. A pre/posttest quasi-experimental approach was employed. Experimental procedures of teaching paragraphs lasted 8 weeks, and paragraphs were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the study. The data obtained from the pre/post writing tests were analyzed descriptively by running a t-test to calculate the differences between the mean scores of the two groups. The post-test findings revealed statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental group. Accordingly, employing the Process Writing Approach proved to be extremely helpful in developing paragraph writing of EFL students. The study recommended adopting the same approach to develop intermediate-level students' writing and utilizing it in teaching essays and various genres as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The discussion about breast cancer (BC) causation continues to be surrounded by a number of myths and misbeliefs. If efforts are misdirected towards reducing risk from false mythical causes, individuals might be less likely to consider and adopt risk-reducing behaviors for evidence-based BC causes. This national study aimed to assess the awareness of BC causation myths and misbeliefs among Palestinian women, and examine the factors associated with having good awareness. Methods: This national cross-sectional study recruited adult women from government hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces in 11 governorates in Palestine. A modified version of the Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was used to collect data. The level of awareness of BC causation myths was determined based on the number of myths recognized to be incorrect: poor (0–5), fair (6–10), or good (11–15). Results: A total of 5,257 questionnaires were included. Only 269 participants (5.1%) demonstrated good awareness (i.e., recognizing more than 10 out of 15 BC mythical causes). There were no notable differences in displaying good awareness between the main areas of Palestine, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and Jerusalem (5.1% vs. 5.1%). Having chronic disease as well as visiting hospitals and primary healthcare centers were associated with a decrease in the likelihood of displaying good awareness. Myths related to food were less frequently recognized as incorrect than food-unrelated myths. 'Eating burnt food' was the most recognized food-related myth (n = 1414, 26.9%), while 'eating food containing additives' was the least recognized (n = 599, 11.4%). 'Having a physical trauma' was the most recognized food-unrelated myth (n = 2795, 53.2%), whereas the least recognized was 'wearing tight bra' (n = 1018, 19.4%). Conclusions: A very small proportion of Palestinian women could recognize 10 or more myths around BC causation. There is a substantial need to include clear information about BC causation in future educational interventions besides focusing on BC screening, signs and symptoms, and risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical course and severity of COVID-19 vary among patients. This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between the gene polymorphisms of the interferon receptor (IFNAR2) rs2236757 and oligoadenylate synthetase 3 (OAS3) rs10735079 with the risk of COVID-19 infection and its severity among Palestinian patients. The study was conducted between April and May 2021 on 154 participants who were divided into three groups: the control group (RT-PCR-negative, n = 52), the community cases group (RT-PCR-positive, n = 70), and the critically ill cases (ICU group; n = 32). The genotyping of the investigated polymorphisms was performed using amplicon-based next-generation sequencing. The genotypes distribution for the IFNAR2 rs2236757 was significantly different among the study groups (P = 0.001), while no statistically significant differences were found in the distribution of genotypes for the OAS3 rs10735079 (P = 0.091). Logistic regression analysis adjusted for possible confounding factors revealed a significant association between the risk allele rs2236757A and critical COVID-19 illness P < 0.025 . Among all patients, those who carried the rs2236757GA were more likely to have a sore throat (OR, 2.52 (95% CI 1.02–6.24); P = 0.011); the presence of the risk allele rs2236757A was associated with an increased risk to dyspnea (OR, 4.70 (95% CI 1.80-12.27); P < 0.001), while the rs10735079A carriers were less likely to develop muscle aches (OR, 0.34 (95% CI 0.13–0.88); P = 0.0248) and sore throat (OR, 0.17 (95% CI 0.05–0.55); P < 0.001). In conclusion, our results revealed that the rs2236757A variant was associated with critical COVID-19 illness and dyspnea, whereas the rs10735079A variant was protective for muscle aches and sore throat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread worldwide and associated with negative effects on maternal and neonatal health. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D and thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels in the first trimester of pregnancy. Material and methods: This case control study included 200 participants aged (18–40) years divided into two groups; 100 pregnant females at the first trimester as case group, attending the main general clinical centers in Gaza strip, Palestine and 100 apparently healthy non-pregnant females as control group. Vitamin D, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, thyroid stimulating hormone, parathyroid, and the autoantibodies specific for thyroglobulin and thyroid peroxidase in serum were measured in all mothers and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21 software. Results: Serum vitamin D, TSH, anti-TPO, and anti-TG levels were significantly decrease while, parathyroid levels were non-significantly decreased in the first trimester of pregnancy compered to control group. The levels of fT4 were significantly increased and level of fT3 were non significantly increased among pregnant mothers compered to control group. Analyses using Pearson correlation coefficients showed positive correlations between vitamin D with fT4, fT3, Anti-TPO with P -value < 0.05 and negative correlations with mother age, TSH, PTH with P-value < 0.05 in early pregnancy. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency among pregnant women in the first-trimester can be associated with thyroid, parathyroid parameters and thyroid autoantibodies with potential adverse consequences for overall health, emphasizing a routine monitoring and vitamin D supplementation prevention strategies to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We examined the prevalence and nature of comorbid post-traumatic stress reactions and depressive symptoms, and the impact of exposure to traumatic events on both types of psychopathology, among Palestinian children during war conflict in the region. Methods: The 403 children aged 9-15 years, who lived in four refugee camps, were assessed by completing the Gaza Traumatic Events Checklist, the Child Post Traumatic Stress Reaction Index (CPTSD-RI), and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ). Results: Children reported experiencing a wide range of traumatic events, both direct experience of violence and through the media. CPTSD-RI and MFQ scores were significantly correlated. Both CPTSD-RI and MFQ scores were independently predicted by the number of experienced traumatic events, and this association remained after adjusting for socioeconomic variables. Exposure to traumatic events strongly predicted MFQ scores while controlling for CPTSD-RI scores. In contrast, the association between traumatic events and CPTSD-RI scores, while controlling for MFQ scores, was weak. The CPTSD-RI items whose frequency was significantly associated with total MFQ scores were: sleep disturbance, somatic complaints, constricted affect, impulse control, and difficulties in concentration. However, not all remaining CPTSD-RI items were significantly associated with exposure to traumatic events, thus raising the possibility that the association between depression and PTSD was due in part to symptom overlap. Conclusions: Children living in war zones are at high risk of suffering from PTSD and depressive disorders. Exposure to trauma was not found to have a unique association with PTSD. The relationship between PTSD and depressive symptomatology requires further investigation.

Tinnitus is a common complaint with potentially negative impact on quality of life. Prevalence of tinnitus ranges from 5 to 43% worldwide. This variation could be due to the heterogeneity of tinnitus assessment. This has limited the progress in understanding tinnitus. Therefore, we employed a standardized and a validated assessment method to determine the prevalence and related risk factors of tinnitus among Palestinians for the first time. This is a cross-sectional study in which we questioned a representative sample of 618 subjects in one-to-one interviews. The prevalence of any tinnitus was 30.6% among adult Palestinians. Participants from the oldest age group were almost five times more likely to have tinnitus. Moreover, participants with head and neck pain syndrome, severe hearing impairment, sleeping disorders or frequent complaints of vertigo were approximately two times more likely to have tinnitus. Our study provides novel information regarding tinnitus in Palestine and improves our understanding of tinnitus. This will improve the diagnosis and consequently will contribute in reducing the prevalence and perhaps in preventing tinnitus. As tinnitus still has no known cure, further investigations of modifiable risk factors and causes of tinnitus are crucial to prevent it in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to detect fungi contamination in agricultural mushroom samples Agaricus bisporus which was taken from some areas of Baqubah district in Diyala governorate. It was shown that all the samples were contaminated 100%, total colony formation ranged 3.264×10-3 to 5.596 ×10-3, the results recorded 253 fungal isolates. The Canaan region recorded the highest number of fungal isolates, which was 84 isolates, followed by the regions of Buhruz, Khan Bani Saad and Baqubah, which were 66, 54 and 49 fungal isolates, in that order. The results of the study also showed that the fungal isolates that were isolated from the white agricultural fungus belonged to 3 fungal genera, called by Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Penicilium. The genus Aspergillus was superior in the number of species belonging to it since 6 species were recorded at a rate of 75% compared to the genus Rhizopus for which one species was recordedonly Rhizopus spp. The genus Penicillium recorded one species with a rate of 12.5 % each. The total species that were isolated and diagnosed were 8 fungal species: Aspergillus niger, A. parasiticus, A. nidulans, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus, A.ochraceus, Rizopus spp. and Penicillium verrucosum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burnout is a psychological syndrome that involves physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of burnout among unmatched trainees and residents in surgical and nonsurgical specialties in Palestine. Additionally, this study also sought to identify the associated variables and predictors of higher burnout scores. Methods: This study was conducted in a cross-sectional design using a questionnaire in the period between October 2020 and March 2021. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic characteristics of the residents and trainees in 18 different training centers/hospitals. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used to determine burnout among the residents and trainees. Pearson's correlations, analysis of variance, Student's t-test, and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: The study tool was completed by 250 residents and trainees in surgical and nonsurgical specialties (response rate = 83.3%). Of all participants, 203 (81.2%) reported a moderate-severe degree of burnout in the personal domain, 188 (75.2%) reported a moderate-severe degree of burnout in the work-related domain, and 97 (38.8%) reported moderate-severe degree of burnout in the client-related domain. There was a moderate and positive correlation between personal and work-related burnout scores (Pearson's r = 0.69, p-value < 0.001), and client-related burnout scores (Pearson's r = 0.52, p-value < 0.001). Similarly, there was a moderate and positive correlation between work-related and client-related burnout scores (Pearson's r = 0.57, p-value < 0.001). The multiple linear regression model showed that higher burnout scores were predicted by being married, not having another paid employment, inability to financially support oneself, frequent consumption of tea/coffee, dissatisfied with the training/job, thinking to change the profession, and long working hours. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that burnout was highly prevalent among residents and trainees in surgical and nonsurgical specialties in Palestine. Decision-makers in healthcare authorities, hospital managers, professional groups, directors of residency programs, and educators/trainers should consider addressing burnout and improving the well-being of residents and trainees in surgical and nonsurgical specialties in Palestine. Future studies are still needed to determine which interventions could be effective in reducing burnout among residents and trainees in surgical and nonsurgical specialties in Palestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study proposes a model of the effect of financial and non-financial performance measures on nonprofit organizations' (NPOs') effectiveness where internal stakeholders' trust play an intervening role in the aforementioned relationships. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from 218 employees working at the largest Palestinian NPOs. The perceptions of these employees were used to measure the variables, and structural equation modeling was used to examine the hypotheses. Findings: Results suggest that the use of financial and non-financial performance measures was positively related to NPOs' effectiveness. Internal stakeholders' trust showed a significant mediating effect between the use of performance measures and NPOs' effectiveness. Practical implications: This study may be of value for NPOs' managers due to the positive effects performance measurement (PM) can have on NPO effectiveness. Managers and boards should seek to enhance their internal stakeholders' trust to achieve higher levels of effectiveness. Originality/value: This study has three main contributions. First, it is one of the very few papers which empirically examines the links between PM and NPOs' effectiveness, rather than providing conceptual lens. Second, the paper investigates the role of stakeholders' trust as a mediating mechanism in the proposed model, a topic that has been neglected by NPOs governance researchers. Finally, the study uses data from the Palestinian context, contributing to the PM literature by providing evidence on the relationship between performance measures and NPOs' effectiveness from a non-Western context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Timely presentation and diagnosis of cervical cancer (CC) are crucial to decrease its mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries like Palestine. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of Palestinian women about CC warning signs and determine the factors associated with good knowledge.Methods: This was a national cross-sectional study conducted between July 2019 and March 2020 in Palestine. Stratified convenience sampling was used to recruit adult women from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces of 11 governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the validated CC awareness measure (CeCAM) was used to assess women's knowledge of 12 CC warning signs.Results: Of 8086 approached, 7223 participants completed the CeCAM (response rate = 89.3%). A total of 7058 questionnaires were included in the analysis: 2655 from the Gaza Strip and 4403 from the West Bank and Jerusalem (WBJ). The median age [interquartile range] for all participants was 34.0 [24.0, 42.0] years. Participants recruited from the WBJ were older, getting higher monthly income, and having more chronic diseases than those recruited from the Gaza Strip. The most frequently identified warning sign was 'vaginal bleeding after menopause' (n = 5028, 71.2%) followed by 'extreme generalized fatigue' (n = 4601, 65.2%) and 'unexplained weight loss' (n = 4578, 64.9%). Only 1934 participants (27.4%) demonstrated good knowledge of CC warning signs. Participants from the Gaza Strip were slightly more likely than participants from the WBJ to have a good level of knowledge. Factors associated with having good knowledge included having a bachelor or postgraduate degree, being married, divorced, or widowed as well as knowing someone with cancer.Conclusion: The overall awareness of CC warning signs was low. Educational interventions are needed to increase Palestinian women's awareness of CC warning signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate how e-health system characteristics (information quality, system quality, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness) contribute to the enhancement of medical staff performance, patient care, and doctor–patient relationships at UNRWA-Gaza healthcare centers. It aims at testing an integrative single model comprising Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), D&M model and e-health system utilization. Design/methodology/approach: This study followed the quantitative methodology and the deductive research approach. Data were collected from 241 medical staff who use the system employed in 19 different healthcare centers across the Gaza Strip. Partial least square/structural equation modeling technique was used to analyze the collected data and to test study hypotheses. Findings: Study concluded that information quality of the adopted Health Information System (HIS) has both direct and indirect positive impact on staff performance, only direct positive impact on patient care and only positive indirect impact on doctor–patient relationship. System quality, on the other hand, was found to have negative direct impact and positive indirect impact on staff performance and has both direct and indirect positive impact on both doctor-patient relationship and patient care. Research limitations/implications: Noteworthy that HIS has availability, speed and error detection and error prevention issues. It is recommended that these shortfalls be addressed together with improving user perception towards ease of use and usefulness of the system. Practical implications: Management should also work to raise confidence in its medical staff to improve the effect of HIS on medical performance and patient care. It is also recommended that UNRWA should implement crowed management techniques such as queuing systems and on-phone booking to minimize patient waiting time. Originality/value: The importance of the study stems from its context being conducted in a developing region (Gaza Strip-Palestine) which has a fragile economic, political and social environment with many other complexities. It is also conducted at United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) healthcare centers, which provide medical services to Palestinian refugees. In addition, this study is among the few studies that address the impact of individual e-health success factors on both doctor-patient relationship and patient care constructs. Most previous studies concentrated on the impact of health system adoption as a whole on these two subject variables and one can hardly ever stop at studies that address effect of individual success factors on them. It also integrated both D&M system success model and TAM model with some additional amendments creating and tested a new model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infants and young children 6-24 months of age are the most nutritionally vulnerable groups, as their needs for vitamins and minerals are high relative to the amount of food they consume. This study determines the effect of Micronutrient Powder Supplementation (MNP) on growth and hemoglobin of infants in Gaza Strip, Palestine.Method: This was a two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted in two health care clinics of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) at the Middle Area governorate of Gaza Strip, Palestine. A total of 200 healthy infants aged 6-month-old were recruited and randomized to receive 3 sachets/week of MNP for 12 months alongside with the National Micronutrient Supplement (NMS) (n = 100) or NMS alone (n = 100). Weight, length, blood hemoglobin, and dietary intakes were measured at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 (3 months after the end of intervention) months of age. Analysis was by intention to treat.Results: The experimental group had a higher concentration of hemoglobin at 12 and 15 months than did the control group, and a significant difference (p <  0.05) was observed at 15 months only. Significantly greater weight, length, weight-for-age, length-for-age, and weight-for-length z-scores were observed in the experimental group than that in the control group at 12 and 15 months (p <  0.05). The prevalence of anemia (18% vs. 52%) and stunting (1% vs. 11%) were higher in the control than the experimental group, respectively. After controlling for sex, similar findings were reported.Conclusions: Addition of MNP to the existing NMS program improved the nutritional status of young children. The potential benefits of MNP supplementation on physical growth and hemoglobin should be considered in the existing NMS program.Trial Registration: ISRCTN57594793 ; Date of registration: 20-03-2018 (Retrospectively registered). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low-income countries rarely report infection control measures although they are key to reducing mortality and morbidity in healthcare. This audit examined healthcare personnel's adherence to infection control measures before entry to the NICU and in both minor and major procedures' bundles. Furthermore, it examined the effect of subsequent authorization and dissemination of infection control guidelines followed by education and training sessions on the adherence of healthcare personnel to infection control policies.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in two NICUs at two separate hospitals in the Gaza-Strip, Palestine. The initial observation period was June-August 2016 during which healthcare professionals' adherence to infection control policies was assessed by direct observation. This was followed by NICU feedback dissemination and on-site educational and training sessions. Then, the reaudit, following the same protocol, was carried out throughout February 2017.Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the adherence to infection control measures among healthcare personnel. Significant improvements were found in both minor and major procedure infection control protocols' adherence rates. However, when comparing the general neonatal handling adherence rate between both audits, no significant change was noted.Discussion: This study highlights the effectiveness of using audit feedback and on-site educational and training sessions in the enhancement of adherence to infection control policies, demonstrating significant improvement in areas covered by the staff training program. Therefore, including regular infection control training combined with feedback in the curriculum of healthcare professionals can improve the sustainability of infection control programs. Further studies must examine the impact of such training also on the incidence of healthcare-associated infection rates as well as morbidity and mortality within neonatal units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Drawing from theory of organizational creativity, servant leadership (SEL), social exchange and social learning theories, this paper aims to propose a research model where climate for creativity mediates the influence of SEL on management innovation and innovative behavior. The model also investigates the linkage between innovative behavior and management innovation. Design/methodology/approach: Data collected from Arab hotel employees in Palestine were used to gauge the aforesaid linkages through structural equation modeling. Common method variance was checked through an unmeasured latent method factor. Findings: The results reveal that climate for creativity mediates the impact of SEL on management innovation and innovative behavior. Successful SEL practices enable the organization to have climate for creativity, which, in turn, leads to management innovation and innovative behavior. Furthermore, hotel employees' innovative behavior fosters management innovation. Practical implications: Top management should have a high level of commitment to the SEL philosophy, which boosts climate for creativity and innovative behavior. It should also capitalize on climate for creativity to activate management innovation. In such an environment, management has to ensure that the supervisors are servant leaders and non-managerial employees are the potential servant leaders. Once employees are trained, empowered and rewarded in an environment which highlights effective SEL practices, they will be more eager to contribute to the company by exhibiting innovative behavior at elevated levels. Originality/value: Despite a number of studies in the current literature, evidence concerning the effect of SEL on management innovation and innovative behavior simultaneously is scarce. There is still a dearth of evidence pertaining to the underlying mechanism through which SEL fosters management innovation and innovative behavior. In addition, evidence appertaining to the impact of innovative behavior on management innovation is scarce. The study fills in these voids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hebron University Research Journal (Humanities) is the property of Hebron University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of human resource management (HRM) practices on organizational commitment in Palestinian universities, and to examine the mediating effect of work engagement as a black-box mechanism that defines HRM practices–organizational commitment relationship. Design/methodology/approach: The source of the data is from 237 employees (academics and administrative staff) from Palestinian universities. The authors used structural equation modeling to verify the hypotheses. Findings: The results reveal that HRM practices have a significant impact on employee organizational commitment in higher education. In addition, work engagement showed a significant mediating effect between performance appraisal and organizational commitment on the one hand, and between rewards and compensation and organizational commitment on the other hand. Practical implications: The study suggests university managers to capitalize on HRM practices as vehicle to trigger positive work-related attitudes. Originality/value: The study contributes to the literature by examining the impact of HRM practices on organizational commitment through the mediation role of work engagement in higher education of a non-western context. The study is one of the few studies that is conducted in the middle east. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Theoretical Educational Science / Kuramsal Eğitimbilim Dergisi is the property of Afyon Kocatepe University, Faculty of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: As volunteering research in nonprofit organizations is growing significantly, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of volunteering drivers and work engagement on volunteer continuation will. Design/methodology/approach: Building on empirical and theoretical perspectives, the authors hypothesized that work engagement mediates the relationship between volunteering drivers and volunteer continuation will. To verify our hypotheses, we examined data collected from 372 active volunteers from Palestinian nonprofit organizations. The authors conducted structural equations modeling (SEM) analyses using the AMOS 24 platform to investigate direct and indirect effects. Findings: The results of the study show that work engagement is a significant predictor of volunteer continuation will; mediates the relationship between career driver of volunteering and volunteer continuation will; and mediates the relationship between the protective driver of volunteering and volunteer continuation will. Research limitations/implications: The research design limits establishing cause and effect relationships among the examined variables. Practical implications: The results of the current study may be of use for nonprofit organizations managers formulating effective recruitment and training policies to retain their volunteers. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the limited empirical body of the volunteering research. The study is novel as it is one of the few studies conducted using data coming from a non-western context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the energy management criteria that local contracting firms operating in the Gaza Strip apply in construction processes. To achieve the objective of this study, a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to identify the energy management application criteria followed by a structured questionnaire survey. The study showed that contracting organisations in the Gaza Strip do not strictly apply energy management to their projects, as many of these organisations have not considered energy issues seriously. The results showed that energy issues are not a predominant consideration of clients when the conditions and specifications for conventional local construction projects are being prepared. The findings of the survey provide useful knowledge to contractors and project managers in energy management requirements in order manage energy on construction projects. This study takes a novel perspective in the subject area as it is considered the first study to investigate energy management aspects in the local construction industry. The findings of this study will be valuable to construction practitioners in terms of saving energy and promote sustainable construction. Although this study is specific to Palestine, its results can be applicable to other developing countries. It is recommended to expand this study using qualitative method and involving other construction parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of building proportions and orientations on the thermal performance of housing units located in the Mediterranean climate of the Gaza Strip. The study is carried out using computer programs, namely, ECOTECT and IES. The study concluded that the surface to volume ratio of buildings is considered the main geometrical parameter affecting the thermal performance of different geometric shapes. About 39% of energy consumption can be reduced through choosing the optimum building width to length ratio (W/L), which is 0.8. The roof to walls ratio has a considerable influence on the thermal response of buildings. Using the (roof/ walls) ratios, which range between 0.4 to 0.6 is preferable for both cooling and heating requirements. The horizontal arrangements of residential apartments are thermally better than the vertical arrangements of the same (S/V) ratio. Therefore, the study recommends to apply passive solar design strategies, especially with regard to geometric shape and orientation of buildings in the first stage of the design process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyzed data on different types of violent incidents against women in the Palestinian society. The study was based on two surveys carried out in 2005 and 2011 by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) on violence in the Palestinian society. The aim of the study was to analyze all types of violence against women in the Palestinian society and to compare the results of the analysis in those two years, part of a period that witnessed drastic changes in political and socioeconomic circumstances in the Palestinian governorates. The goal was to study the effect of socioeconomic variables as risk factors on the prevalence rates of different types of violence against women in the Palestinian society. The target population of this study consisted of currently and previously married women aged 15 years old and above residing in the Palestinian territories. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to each year’s data to predict categorical placement in different categories of violence based on socioeconomic indicators. Results of the two models in both years were assessed and compared using ROC curves and odds ratios. The results indicated that the “region” variable has a highly significant effect on the dependent variable, with a reverse trend between the two years. Among other significant variables were type of locality, economic status, and educational attainment of husband, wife and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess the prevalent patient safety culture in Palestinian public hospitals. Design A cross-sectional design, Arabic translated version of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used. Setting All the 11 general public hospitals in the West Bank. Participants A total of 1460 clinical and non-clinical hospital staff. Intervention(s) No. Main Outcome Measures Twelve patient safety culture composites and 2 outcome variables (patient safety grade and events reported in the past year) were measured. Results Most of the participants were nurses and physicians (69.2%) with direct contact with patients (92%), mainly employed in medical/surgical units (55.1%). The patient safety composites with the highest positive scores were teamwork within units (71%), organizational learning and continuous improvement (62%) and supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety (56%). The composites with the lowest scores were non-punitive response to error (17%), frequency of events reported (35%), communication openness (36%), hospital management support for patient safety (37%) and staffing (38%). Although 53.2% of the respondents did not report any event in the past year, 63.5% rated patient safety level as ‘excellent/very good’. Significant differences in patient safety scores and outcome variables were found between hospitals of different size and in relation to staff positions and work hours. Conclusions This study highlights the existence of a punitive and blame culture, under-reporting of events, lack of communication openness and inadequate management support that are key challenges for patient safe hospital care. The baseline survey results are valuable for designing and implementing the patient safety program and for measuring future progress. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: There is little information about meal patterns and food consumption of adolescents in Palestine. The objective of this study was to describe the association between sociodemographic factors and food intake, and meal patterns among Palestinian school adolescents (12-15 year) in North Gaza Strip. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2002 comprising 944 subjects in 10 schools in Gaza city, Jabalia village and Jabalia refugee camp. Self-administered questionnaires were filled in by students and parents to obtain data on frequency of meals, food intake and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: High household socioeconomic status (SES) was associated with the increased number of meals and the increased intakes of many nutritious foods such as; animal food items, fruits and vegetables and dairy foods. The percentage of adolescents having breakfast daily of high and low SES was 74.5% vs 55% in boys and 65.6% vs 45% in girls. The percentage of girls with refugee status who had lunch was higher (90.2%) compared to the local citizen girls (83.9%), (p = 0.03). Girls were less likely to skip daily lunch (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.36-0.87, p = 0.01) compared to boys. Risk of skipping lunch was three times higher among adolescents living in the village compared to Gaza well-off area (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.72-6.31, p < 0.001). Adolescents who were having lunch daily were less likely to skip breakfast or dinner. Only 11.6% of boys and 16.2% of girls consumed fruits daily. In multivariate analysis, SES was positively associated with food frequency intake scores in both genders. Boys from the refugee camp and the village had a significant higher consumption of fruits and vegetables than boys from high and low income area in Gaza City, while it was the opposite in girls. Conclusion: Meal skipping is common, particularly among those of low SES and the intakes of many nutritious foods such as animal food items, fruits and vegetables and dairy foods seem to be low among adolescents of low SES. The results of this study could be used as an important baseline for future monitoring of the nutritional situation of adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how the Bedouins acquired the milled colonial Spanish coins, and how the symbols on the reverse of these coins were integrated into the folk culture of the Bedouin and Fellahin in southern Palestine during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The said coins served as more than a simple medium of exchange. They came to be used as medicinal talisman by the people during the Ottoman and British Mandate periods. For the Kingdom of Spain, the coins were both a currency and a propaganda tool for showing the wealth and power of the Empire and its colonies.

This paper, based on personal interviews, analysis of Egyptian administrative regulations, and observation of practice of international and regional agreements on refugees, considers the effects of displacement on the Palestinians' legal status and hence on the way they have conducted their livelihoods in Egypt. While Arab countries have offered to provide temporary protection to Palestinian refugees, as a result of political developments, including relations between the PLO and the host states, the rights afforded to Palestinians in Arab host states have varied greatly over time. Palestinians in Egypt, since 1978, do not receive assistance from the government of Egypt and do not have access to any of its public services. Palestinians also do not receive any assistance or protection from UN bodies in charge of refugee issues. Both regional and international pledges and agreements have not been respected. The ambiguous legal status of Palestinians has affected their livelihoods in many ways. It has rendered their residence insecure and in many cases illegal. This has affected employment and education opportunities, as well as freedom of movement and association. The deprivation of rights and the unstable legal and economic conditions of Palestinians in Egypt has placed them in a state of "limbo." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine antimicrobial drug resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes, we analyzed isolates from blood cultures of sick children residing in the West Bank before initiation of pneumococcal vaccination. Of 120 serotypes isolated, 50.8%, 73.3%, and 80.8% of the bacteremia cases could have been prevented by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Serotype 14 was the most drug-resistant serotype isolated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reviews the report `Masterplanning the State of Palestine: Suggested Guidelines for Comprehensive Development, Preliminary Presentation,' foreword by Rami S. Abdulhadi.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious viral disease and the most significant intestinal pathogens affecting dogs as well as puppies, making these infections a real danger on dog population worldwide. Therefore, this study was to elucidate and detect canine parvovirus strains circulating in Palestine. This was achieved by molecular analyzing of VP2 gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the current study, a total number of 25 dogs suffered from severe watery bloody diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy were examined serologically to confirm parvovirus antigens. Complete Blood count (CBC) was also involved to assess the effects of the virus on the hematological parameters of each dog. The PCR positive samples were evaluated by Sanger's sequencing method to characterize the virus and to obtain the essential information about the genotypes and nucleotide polymorphisms of CPV strains circulating in Palestine. The partial nucleotide sequences of VP2 gene were compared with reference VP2 gene sequences of CPV recorded in GenBank database. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that 24/25 (96%) of the sequences belonged to serotype CPV-2c and 1/25 (4%) belonged to serotype CPV-2b. The current obtained sequences were registered at the GenBank database under the following accession numbers: OQ924950-OQ924974. To our knowledge, this report is considered the first one to investigate the molecular characterization of CPV-2 in Palestine. This finding could be useful for commercial vaccine companies to select the suitable strains of CPV that include the prevalent antigenic types of the field virus, to enhance the immunity against CPV in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]