Global Journal of Health Science, Issue: Vol.18, No.2

Burnout and Its Associated Factors among Nurses at a Tertiary Hospital in Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia

afa.199199@gmail.com (Ahmed F. Al-Ahmadi) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:43:33 +0000

Burnout is classified as an occupational phenomenon rather than a medical condition. It is manifested by a triad that includes emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and diminished feelings of personal accomplishment (PA). The study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of burnout among nurses at the Cardiac Center in Madinah. This cross-sectional study was held at the Cardiac Center, Al-Madinah, in May 2024. For burnout evaluation, the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey was used. Independent-samples t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to test for associations between burnout dimensions and independent variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to develop the predictor model for burnout. Out of 320 nurses invited, only 222 responded and completed the survey. Sixty percent of participants scored high on EE, 25 (11.3%) scored high on DP, while 72 (32.4%) scored low on PA. Participants who worked more than 8 hours per day, were Filipino, and had no children showed significantly higher mean EE scores. The mean DP scores were significantly different among the groups of participants who worked more than 8 hours per day. Those who worked 1-8 overtime hours per week had significantly lower mean PA scores. The study found that the majority of the nurses had a high score on at least one of the burnout subscales. Some sociodemographic and work-related factors associated with burnout such as working hours and the number of children.

Quality Improvement of Smartwatch-Based Exercise Monitoring in Hemophiliacs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Resource-Limited Nationwide Setting (Better Hemo-Life)

nawachai@pcm.ac.th (Nawachai Lertvivatpong) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:58:06 +0000

Background: Hemophilia is a rare X-linked bleeding disorder that commonly presents with hemarthrosis. Although the joints bleed easily, exercise is encouraged to support joint function. Unfortunately, some patients avoid exercise due to perceived barriers and a lack of motivation.

Objective: This quality improvement study was conducted over 6 months to promote exercise among hemophiliacs through education, coaching, and monitoring. The primary outcome was improvement in physical fitness, including parameters: maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂ max), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and wall squat (WS). The secondary outcomes were improvements in perceptions and quality of life (QoL).

Study design: A prospective observational study was conducted among hemophiliacs nationwide from April to October 2021, during the pandemic peak in Thailand.

Methods: 35 participants were included, with hemophilia A and B comprising 32 and 3, respectively. The severity of hemophilia was moderate (31.4%) and severe (68.6%). Smart watches were distributed for monitoring and assessment. The primary outcome was measured 3 times and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The secondary outcomes were collected from an electronic questionnaire pre- and post-monitoring and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: A total of 34 male participants were enrolled. The mean age was 25.8±9.3 (12-44). VO2 max means were 60.9±10.3, 46.5±6.5, and 46.5±6.3 ml/kg/min, which declined significantly after 3 months, but did not differ significantly between the 3^rd and 6^th months. Means of 6MWT were 407.9±164.4, 470.8±136.50, 507.5±115.63 meters and increased statistically significantly (p<0.001). The means of WS were 62.6±57.7, 93.2±67.3, 113.9±69.6 seconds, and increased statistically significantly (p<0.001). Exercise perception scores increased statistically significant (3[0-3] vs. 6[6-6], p<0.001) and exercise anxiety scores decreased statistically significant (7[6-8] vs. 4[2-6], p<0.001). QoL scores increased statistically significant (7[5-8] vs 9[7-9], p<0.001).

Conclusions: Exercise monitored via smartwatch showed improvements in 6MWT, reflecting aerobic exercise, and WS, reflecting muscle strengthening. Meanwhile, VO₂ max did not show concurrently, which might be from various factors. Furthermore, participants showed a significant increase in perception and QoL scores after completing the study.

Emphasizing Science: Black Pastors Encourage Awareness of Medical Information about COVID-19 Vaccine

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:18:10 +0000

Church leaders have used scripture to encourage congregants to reflect on their health choices. Still, this study focuses on Black pastors who used other approaches to prompt awareness about COVID-19 and vaccination. The purpose of the study is to explore how Black posters use medical information and scripture to discuss COVID-19 vaccination within the communities they serve. This study uses a phenomenological design; ten Black pastors in South Carolina were recruited through snowball sampling to learn about their information dissemination practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study describes their rhetoric, foregrounding medical facts and supporting them with biblical passages. The pastors who participated in semi-structured interviews presented scientific information to the church community and encouraged members to "follow the science.” Two central themes emerged from the study: 1) Stand by the science to educate the Black community about COVID-19 vaccines, and 2) Balancing science and scripture to reinforce positive COVID-19 vaccine messaging. The study's implication demonstrates how Black pastors are instrumental in providing a narrative of factual health information in a spiritual setting.

Evaluating Culturally Tailored Digital Health Engagement Among African American Women

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:31:02 +0000

Digital health technologies are increasingly promoted as scalable strategies for addressing persistent disparities in chronic disease prevention and management. Yet limited research has examined how historically underserved populations interpret and evaluate culturally tailored digital environments. This study examined how African American women engaged with and assessed a culturally tailored nutrition and physical activity portal. A cross sectional mixed methods design was used with 206 African American women who completed structured survey measures and open ended responses after reviewing the portal. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and backward stepwise multiple regression to identify predictors of portal evaluation, while qualitative responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Regression analyses indicated that lower educational attainment, higher self perceived weight status, and stronger endorsement of the importance of website design features were associated with more favorable portal evaluations, although the model explained a modest proportion of variance. Qualitative findings identified five interrelated themes: trust through clarity and tone, representation as relatability, usability as respect, cultural alignment beyond imagery, and desire for expanded functionality with cultural integrity. Participants evaluated the portal not only on informational content but also on whether the design conveyed recognition of lived realities, avoided stigmatizing language, and reflected culturally relevant contexts. Findings suggest that engagement with digital health resources among African American women is shaped by interpretive processes involving trust, representation, and contextual relevance rather than access alone, indicating that culturally grounded digital design may serve as an important mechanism for supporting equitable engagement and sustained health behavior change.

Perceptions of School-Based Cancer Education Among Parents with Cancer and Their Children in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

abe0204@hs.akita-u.ac.jp (Yuko Akagawa) — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:19:58 +0000

BACKGROUND: Cancer education has been a core element of Japan’s National Basic Plan for Promoting Cancer Control since 2012. As school-based programs expand, it becomes increasingly important to understand how such education is perceived by families affected by parental cancer. While cancer education is expected to promote accurate knowledge and reduce stigma, it may also pose unique challenges for children whose parents have cancer. This study explores the perceptions and experiences of cancer education among parents diagnosed with cancer and their children, and it identifies key educational considerations from the perspective of those directly affected.

METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted between February and September 2020 among elementary- to high-school-aged children (grades 4–12) with a parent diagnosed with cancer and their parents. Participants were recruited through a nonprofit organization that provided support to families whose parents had cancer. Data were collected by mail and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic categorization of free-text responses.

RESULTS: Valid responses were obtained from 55 children and 65 parents. Among them, 30.9% of parents and 32.3% of children reported having received cancer education at school. Although more than 80% of parents and 93% of children perceived cancer education as necessary, the reasons differed. Parents emphasized the importance of fostering communication within the family and preparing children for the future. In contrast, children valued the role of education in promoting social understanding, reducing prejudice, and ensuring fair access to information. Parents expressed concerns about the emotional impact of cancer education on their children, requesting notice and emotional support before and after the lessons. However, the children expressed relatively few requests for special considerations, and some appreciated the opportunity to engage in conversations with their parents about cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Both parents and children acknowledge the importance of school-based cancer education. Parents focused on emotional protection and family dynamics, while children emphasized social understanding and educational equity. These findings demonstrate the value of integrating both perspectives when designing inclusive, sensitive, and flexible cancer education programs in collaboration with families, schools, and healthcare professionals.