Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent one of the most common occupational problems in nursing. MSDs can negatively impact one's quality of life. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between MSDs, job demands, and burnout among emergency nurses. The researchers hypothesized that increased job demands were associated with more MSDs and consequently higher levels of burnout. The study was conducted on a convenience sample of 58 nurses working in the emergency departments of Zagazig University Hospital and Al-Ahrar, Hospital Egypt from October to December 2010, using a cross-sectional analytic design. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that included the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, the Job Content Questionnaire, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The results revealed that 32.8% of the nurses were overweight and 17.2% were obese. The most common sites of pain were the neck (67.2%), shoulder (65.5%), and lower back (63.8%). Lower back pain was the most common site affected (72.4%) with a mean 5.1 on a scale ranging from 0 to 13. A positive correlation existed between the scores of job demand and burnout (r = 0.340, p < 0.01), and the number of reported MSDs with the score of job demand (r = 0.33, p < 0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis identified the score of job demand and the severity of lower back pain as positive independent predictors of the burnout whereas the job demand score was the independent predictor of the number of MSDs. This study documents an increased prevalence of MSDs among emergency nurses, as predicted by increased job demand and associated with a higher level of burnout. Hence, it is important for hospital and nursing administrators to address the factors contributing to job stress and burnout, with emphasis on job satisfaction and work organization to alleviate the burden of psychosocial factors in this setting.

Aim of the study: This study aimed to measure health Promoting lifestyle behaviors and related risk factors among female employees in Zagazig City. Subjects and Methods:A cross sectional research design was selected to achieve the aim of the current study. The study was carried out on females employed in the governorate building in Zagazig city. Study participants:The study sample is a convenience sample of 200 females recruited from Zagazig Governorate administrative building. The inclusion criteria included females, aged 25 to 55, working in any administrative department for any duration and willing to participate in the study. The exclusion criteria were females not suffering from hypertension, diabetes mellitus. Results:Results revealed that about one fifth of the studied sample (20%) was hypertensive, while 26% and 68.5% respectively were diabetic and obese. No statistically significant relation between chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes and obesity) and healthy promoting lifestyle behaviors among study sample. Conclusion:Results suggest that participants do not consistently include health-promoting behaviors into their lifestyle, especially exercise, health responsibility and stress management.Recommendation: Develop a process to promote worksite wellness programs, to complete health assessments, and to support behavioral changes intended to promote healthy lifestyles.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a leading cause of disability in older adults. Conservative non-pharmacological strategies, particularly exercise, are recommended by clinical guidelines for its management. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of acupressure versus isometric exercise on pain, stiffness, and physical function in knee OA female patients. This quasi experimental study was conducted at the inpatient and outpatient sections at Al-kasr Al-Aini hospital, Cairo University. It involved three groups of 30 patients each: isometric exercise, acupressure, and control. Data were collected by an interview form and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) scale. The study revealed high initial scores of pain, stiffness, and impaired physical functioning. After the intervention, pain decreased in the two intervention groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001), while the scores of stiffness and impaired physical function were significantly lower in the isometric group (p < 0.001) compared to the other two groups. The decrease in the total WOMAC score was sharper in the two study groups compared to the control group. In multiple linear regression, the duration of illness was a positive predictor of WOMAC score, whereas the intervention is associated with a reduction in the score. In conclusion, isometric exercise and acupressure provide an improvement of pain, stiffness, and physical function in patients with knee OA. Since isometric exercise leads to more improvement of stiffness and physical function, while acupressure acts better on pain, a combination of both is recommended. The findings need further confirmation through a randomized clinical trial.

Epilepsy is a serious and a common neurological condition of which the medical, psychological and social implications are far-reaching and there is still a paucity of research in the psychology and social issues in epilepsy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of progressive relaxation technique in reducing epileptic seizures among adolescents. The study was carried out on a convenience sample of 28 secondary school students attending the school health insurance center Beni-Suef city using a quasi-experimental design with pre-post assessment. Data collection tools included an interview questionnaire for the personal and disease characteristics; stress level was assessed using Cohen's (1994) 10-question tool. After a pretest, the researchers trained the participants in applying a stress management exercise, and asked them to practice it at home and to document the frequency and duration of daily practice using a diary for eight weeks. The post-intervention stress level was assessed using the same tool. The results revealed statistically significant changes in all ten items of the stress scale, with a median post-pre total difference of -0.3 (p < .001). The number of seizures decreased from a median of 3/week to one seizure in the last four weeks of follow-up (p < .001). A statistically significant weak negative correlation was found between the frequency of seizures and the number of progressive relaxation techniques practiced. The study findings indicate the effectiveness of a simple technique in improving the life of adolescents having epilepsy. However, the small sample size could not show the correlation between the practice of this relaxation technique and the frequency of the seizures. A randomized controlled clinical trial is recommended to confirm the findings.