No abstract

Background: Nurses are the corner stone in cancer care and the main roles of them are safe administering the therapy, managing side effects, educating patients and their families on the adverse effects of chemotherapy, and providing emotional support to patients through the process. Aim: This study aimed to assess oncology nurses' knowledge and practices regarding safe administration of intravenous chemotherapy. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: This study was conducted at Damanhur Oncology Center. Subjects: A convenience sample of 35 nurses. Tools: Tool I: Oncology Nurse's Knowledge Questionnaire. Tool II: Oncology nurse's practices regarding safe administration of intravenous chemotherapy observational checklist. Results: Knowledge level of more than half (60%) of the studied nurses regarding safe administration of intravenous chemotherapy was good. All the studied nurses had unsatisfactory nursing practices before and after administration of intravenous chemotherapy and the majority of them had unsatisfactory practices level regarding verification of the patient and chemotherapy, administration of intravenous chemotherapy and during the administration (82.9%, 88.6%, 94.3% respectively).There were positive statistical significant differences between nurses' knowledge and sex, working shift and attendance of training workshops about patient safety where p = (0.022, 0.012, 0.046 respectively).There was positive statistical significant difference between nurses' practice mean scores and age, working department and attendance of training workshops where p = (0.021, 0.001, 0.016 respectively). Conclusion: Nurses' knowledge and practice regarding safe administration of chemotherapy were noticed to be good knowledge and unsatisfactory practices. Recommendation: In-service education programs for nurses.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS), is one of several complications that patients on hemodialysis suffer from, it is a neurological sensory motor disorder, causing sleep disturbances, and other problems, which lead to daily functioning impairment. Progressive muscle relaxation is one of the complementary therapies that have been shown to provide benefits, including relieved restless legs syndrome, reducing patients' stress, pain and anxiety. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of progressive muscle relaxation on the severity of restless legs syndrome among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Research design: A quasi experimental (time series) research design was utilized, included control comparison group. Setting: The research was carried out at the hemodialysis unit, Al -Moassat Alexandria University Hospital. Subjects: A purposive sample of 60 adult patients, diagnosed with end stage renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis, and suffering from restless legs syndrome were selected. They were equally divided into two groups of 30 patients. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used for data collection; Hemodialysis patients Structured Interview Schedule (tool I), International Restless Legs Syndrome Severity Rating Scale (tool II), and Restless Leg Syndrome Assessment Sheet (tool III). Results: The severity of restless legs syndrome significantly decreased in the study group, with a percent reduction of 38.89% at the 6 th session and 61.11% at the12 th session, such decrease was not found among the control group patients. In addition to, there was a percent reduction and improvement of sleep pattern, physical activities, emotional well-being and social activities among the study group patients after completion of 12 th PMR session (46.67 %, 57.78 %, 63.33 % ,55.56 % respectively). Conclusion: Progressive muscle relaxation technique had high statistical significant positive effects on severity of restless legs syndrome, improving sleep pattern, physical activity, emotional wellbeing and social activities. Recommendations: Progressive muscle relaxation must be implemented in the therapeutic routine management to help alleviate the severity of restless legs syndrome symptoms among patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

No abstract

No abstract