Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of educational training related to disaster preparedness among nursing students at Karachi Methodology: This quasi-experimental study was performed in Indus College of Nursing and Midwifery in Karachi. The study was carried out from June to November 2019 over a period of six months. Total sample size was 40. Both male and female final year nursing students were included. The participants were approached by using non-probability purposive sampling method. Validated questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Out of total 40 subjects, 19 (47.5%) were males. A large number 23 (57.5%) of respondents’ ages lied between 23 and 27 years. Nearly half 21 (52.5%) of the participants’ educational qualifications were Matriculation. Majority 34 (85%) of participants did not have any formal education of disaster management. On the other hand, few 6 (15%) study participants had training of disaster management. Significance difference was found between pre and post knowledge score of disaster, burns, flood and earthquake practices among study participant and it is also statistically significant. Conclusion: It is concluded that there is an effect of educational intervention on pre and post knowledge of disaster, burns, flood and earthquake practices among study participants.

Background: Nursing is a profession where theory and skills runs vice-versa but advancement and new technology increasing challenges for professionals, to update their-selves for which they required to use self-directed learning (SDL). The SDL has become a key concept in nursing education and is considered as an essential as learning of skill for nursing students and nurses to keep them motivated for lifelong learning, Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the readiness level of nursing students regarding self-directed learning (SDL) currently studying in the BSN program in private nursing institutes. Study Design: Method:  This study used the descriptive cross-sectional study design. Place and Duration of the Study: Study performed in three institutes of nursing, in Karachi, Pakistan, in duration between May to October 2019. Methodology: 384 BS Nursing students of I- IV year were selected by stratified random sampling technique, 203 were females and 181 males participated. Mostly (200) aged between 26-30. The data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire focused on self-directed learning. Result: Out of 384, 200 (52%) participants were between 26-30 years of age, 203 (52.8%) were females. The participants were belong from three different institutes and enrolled in BSN with the year I, II, III, IV. The 324 (84.3%) participants showed a high level of SDL, which indicates effective SDL abilities in students. All the sub-categories like awareness, evaluation, interpersonal skills, learning strategies, and learning activities were applied ANOVA; major difference observed in all sub-categories and participants’ age and total score with age group with P-value = .05. Conclusion: There is no difference in male and female learning abilities. SDL may enhance confidence and empowerment among students. SDL can be equally beneficial in education and clinical area. To increase SDL, various considerations are required like teacher’s role, involvement in curriculum, and other professional or academic bodies that can bring learner-oriented positive teaching-learning environment; hence effective learning strategies can enhance the use of SDL.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a foremost health-related problem worldwide that can lead to morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of cigarette smoking and cessation intentions vary from one country to another. However, smoking cessation is the single most effective preventive strategy for enhancing health and extending life. Objective: (a) To determine the frequency of cigarette smoking; (b) To assess the knowledge, attitude of cigarette smoking and intent to stop it (c) To identify the association of cigarette smoking with demographic variables. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two private nursing colleges in Karachi, from January to June 2019. The study included both male and female Nursing students. The non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to approach the participants. The chi-square test was applied to determine the significant association between cigarette smoking and demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, and language. p-value ≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Out of 150 study participants, the smoking frequency was 16 (10.7%). Eighty-eight (58.7%) of the study participants had a fair knowledge of cigarette smoking in this study. About one-fifth of (18.7%) participants intended to quit smoking. Almost one-fourth (24%) of the study participants verbalized that their friends are smokers, while 15.3% of participants’ parents were smokers. Conclusion: It is concluded that nursing students had some knowledge about adverse health effects of tobacco use, and few participants intended to stop smoking. It is recommended that nursing institutions organize smoking cessation sessions periodically to avoid from detrimental effects of smoking.

Background: Every surgery is associated with different levels of risks and complications. Cardiac surgeries would definitely cause moderate to severe anxiety because cardiac surgeries are riskier than other invasive procedures. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of binaural beats on pre-operative anxiety among patients undergoing for CABG surgery. Methodology: This pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted at Tabba Heart Institute. In this study, total 56 patients were included who were undergoing for CABG surgery. The patients were divided into two groups; interventional group and control group. Blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured before intervention and 30 minutes after the intervention. For the data collection, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire was used to measure the pre-operative anxiety level among CABG patients. Results: Both groups; binaural beats and counseling technique groups comprised 28 patients. Patients in binaural beats group and counseling technique showed significant reduction of anxiety scores after the intervention. Among two groups, a significant difference was seen in mean anxiety scores, with mean score of 52.9±5.5 in control and 48.2±6.7 in intervention group and it was statistically significant (p-value=0.006). A significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate recorded only in the binaural beats group, whereas, no significant difference of vital signs found in counseling technique group. Conclusion: Both, BB and counseling technique proved as factor to decrease anxiety level. Physiologic indicators of anxiety like systolic blood pressure and heart rate were also significantly lower in the binaural beats group over counseling technique.