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The rate of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is increasing steadily in Sudan, and hypertension remains one of the most common coexisting conditions among the patients. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to answer the review question (what is the prevalence of hypertension among patients with advanced CKD in Sudan?). We applied a guidelines checklist for the literature search about the (PRISMA-P 2015). We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline electronic databases for all articles on CKD conducted in Sudan. Eventually, we identified 23 studies, and only eight were included in the final meta-analysis. Out of the eight articles, there is a total sample of 2682 patients who were presented and diagnosed with advanced stage CKD; among them, 864 were found to be hypertensive, and the overall pooled prevalent rate of hypertension was 32% (95% CI 25% to 39%) with 91% heterogeneity. The lowest rate of hypertension among patients diagnosed with CKD was falling in the range of (14%-21%). We assessed the heterogeneity among studies using the I2, T2, and Q statistics. The results showed a funnel plot with asymmetrical distribution for effect sizes. The literature and evidence-based data on CKD in Sudan are scarce. However, the eight studies reviewed revealed elevated odds of CKD among patients with hypertension. The burden of the increased rate of CKD associated with prevalent hypertension and DM is a call for authorities for urgent interventional response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: High staff turnover among nurses can be caused by a variety of factors, including job dissatisfaction. This study aimed to assess factors influencing job satisfaction and retention among intensive care nurses in three tertiary care hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A multi-centre comparative cross-sectional study was carried out with 326 intensive care nurses working across three hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The Minnesota satisfaction questionnaire and the anticipated turnover scale were used to assess nurses' job satisfaction levels and intention to leave their organisation, with items scored on a 7-point Likert scale. Respondents' sociodemographic characteristics were also collected, including age, sex, nationality, salary, years of experience and shift length. Responses were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 to identify relationships between variables, with P values of ≤0.05 being considered statistically significant. Results: Job satisfaction levels were generally low, with an average score of 58.34 out of 140. There was a significant inverse relationship between job satisfaction and intention to leave (P=0.001). Nurses who were not of Saudi Arabian nationality and those who earned less than 10,000 Saudi riyals had significantly higher levels of job satisfaction than Saudi Arabian nationals and those on higher salaries (P=0.001 and P=0.002 respectively). Other sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with job satisfaction. Conclusions: Job satisfaction needs to be improved among nurses working in intensive care units to prevent high staff turnover rates. Understanding how sociodemographic variables can affect job satisfaction may help healthcare managers and policymakers to implement effective, targeted strategies to improve staff retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate knowledge, attitude and implementation of Skin‐to‐Skin Care (SSC) among nurses and to assess the implementation of SSC in the perinatal setting. Design: A cross‐sectional study design was implemented utilizing survey distributed among critical care paediatric and neonatal nurses. Methods: The data collection form was pre‐structured validated tool consisted of two main sections; socio‐demographic characteristics and Likert scale of 20 items covering four main domains in; knowledge, attitude, education and implementation of SSC. Results: The vast majority of the sample 91 (98%) were females with mean age and mean years of experience 33.5 ± 6.5 and 9.7 ± 6.5 years respectively. Almost half of them 45 (48.4%) work in obstetric and labor and delivery units. Correlation coefficient revealed a significant association between the total educational years of nursing degree and SSC. The results showed nurses with bachelor or master significantly more knowledgeable and skilled in implementing SSC compared to others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The H1N1 influenza pandemic had garnered a large amount of attention. Currently, the most effective preventive measure available is the H1N1 vaccine. We aimed to assess the willingness of our study participants to receive the H1N1 vaccination prior to the annual Hajj season. If any participant declined, we investigated the reasons for vaccine rejection. Findings We conducted a prospective cohort study of National Guard employees during the 1430 (2009) Hajj season. A survey was used as the primary method for data collection. Participants were vaccinated one to two weeks prior to their trip to Mona, and any side effects reported at the time of injection and three weeks post vaccination were recorded. There were 100 male and 26 female participants in the study. In total, 66.7% (n = 84) of the participants were health care workers (HCWs) and 33.3% (n = 42) were non-health care workers (non-HCWs). Less than half of the respondents (46.8%, n = 59) accepted the vaccination. The vaccination acceptance rate was higher among non-HCWs, at a rate of 71.4% (n = 30); HCWs only accepted at a rate of 34.5% (n = 29) (OR 1.103, 95% CI [0.488-2.496]). The most common reason for vaccine refusal was the impression that the disease was not fatal (25.4%, n = 32). Finally, all participants reported pain at the injection site and 18.3% (n = 11) reported swelling. All other side effects were reported in less than 15% of the participants. Conclusions Despite fears of the new H1N1 vaccine, there was a reasonable rate of vaccine acceptance among our study participants. Early health education may increase the rate of acceptance of the H1N1 vaccine. Furthermore, additional research is needed on long-term adverse effects of the H1N1 vaccine.

Objectives: To identify predisposing factors, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, and outcome. Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review that was conducted at a children's hospital at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One hundred twenty-nine children with invasive candidiasis who were admitted between January 2010 and January 2015. Results: The statistical analysis results have revealed a group of risk factors; prematurity in 37 (28.7%) of patients, low birth weight in 42 (32.6%), central venous catheter in 59 (45.7%), malignancy in 21 (16.3%), immunotherapy in 20 (15.5%), and ventilator support  in 60 (46.5%). More than 2-fold mortality rate in patients who had heart vegetation (odds ratio [OR]: 2.9) and patients who had Candida isolated from their blood were more than twice as likely to die as patients with Candida isolated from other sites (OR: 2.2). A total of 48.3% of patients on ventilator died versus 26.1% who were not on ventilator (p=0.009); and 43.8% of patients in the ICU died versus only 24.5% of patients who were not in the ICU (p=0.03). Candida parapsilosis exhibited the highest mortality rate (56.2%).  Conclusion: Candida albicans is the most common isolate among all Candida species. Gender, low birth weight, prolonged ICU stay, presence of vegetation, positive blood culture, and mechanical ventilation as a strong predictive risk factors for death in children with invasive candidiasis, a finding that could be applied as prophylactic indicator in critically ill children especially neonates.