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Objective: To explore the influence of demographic factors and flourishing on workplace distractions in a cross‐country analysis of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Methods: This cross‐sectional comparative study was conducted in two government hospitals: one in eastern Saudi Arabia and the other in northern Jordan. Data were collected from the nurses using convenience sampling. The required sample size was determined using the G∗Power software, with a target of 242 nurses per country, resulting in 484 participants. Ultimately, the final sample consisted of 437 nurses: 222 from Saudi Arabia and 215 from Jordan. Two online instruments were used to collect data on the distractions and flourishing. Results: The study found that "using the Internet" and "using the phone" were the most time‐consuming distractions among nurses, while "watching TV" was the least time‐consuming. There were significant associations between demographics and distractions, with participants from Saudi Arabia having lower distraction scores than participants from Jordan. Younger participants were more distracted than older participants, whereas male participants were more distracted than female participants were. Smokers and individuals with less expertise exhibit higher levels of distraction. Furthermore, degree of education was associated with higher levels of distraction. Nurses in Saudi Arabia experience a much greater loss of productivity due to distractions than their Jordanian counterparts. Regression analysis revealed that experience, "Mental and Physical Health" domain scores, smoking status, and educational level all highly predicted distraction levels among Saudi Arabian and Jordanian nurses, accounting for approximately 9.6% of the differences in distraction. Conclusion: In this cross‐country study on workplace distractions among Saudi and Jordanian nurses, "using the Internet" and "using the phone" emerged as the most time‐consuming distractions. Younger age, male sex, smoking, and less experience are associated with higher distraction levels. Additionally, higher education levels were linked to increased distraction. Implementing employee flourishing activities can help reduce distractions and enhance productivity. This study offers valuable insights into improving nurses' performance and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of poly(vinylalcohol- co-ethylene- graft-acetylsalicylic acid) hydrogel (H i) of different acetylsalicylic acid (AcSa) contents were prepared by grafting of AcSa groups to poly(vinylalcohol- co-ethylene) in an esterification reaction and then crosslinking with oxalic acid. The H i was characterized by the solubility test, DSC, NMR, and SEM analyses. The AcSa released by retroesterification of H i at 37°C and at different pHs during 92 h. The results revealed that the amount of AcSa released from H i depended on the initial content of AcSa in H i and the pH of the media. In general, the results revealed that the PEVA- graft-AcSa (H2), which contained initially 1.59 mg of AcSa, released at pH 1 a lower amount of AcSa (0.08 ± 0.02 wt % of AcSa/h), stable during the longest period (85 h). On the reverse H3 which contained 2.05 mg of AcSa presented a highly efficient release rate at pH 7. This hydrogel was able to release 0.80 ± 0.05 wt % of AcSa/h, stable for about 60 h. From the first view, this finding seemed to be very important in the drug-release domain, because the hydrogel prepared in this work was able to release a greatest amount of aspirin directly into the intestines (neutral pH). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]