Comorbidity of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Depressive Symptoms among Obstetric Nurses with Perinatal Death Exposure.

Background: Mental health and well-being among obstetric nurses after perinatal death is understudied. The primary goal of this study is to explore the comorbidity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and depressive symptoms among obstetric nurses. In addition, we explore associations between personal resources - coping self-efficacy and active social support - and comorbidity symptoms.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Ethical and Professional Dilemmas in a Psychiatric Hospital Under Missile Attacks.

Background: Israeli hospitals must continuously develop various mechanisms to protect both patients and staff against the physical threat of missile attacks during war situations.

Objectives: To examine the difficulties and dilemmas with which the staff of a psychiatric hospital had to deal during missile attacks.

Design: A quality improvement project consisting of three stages (1) establishment of a steering committee; (2) execution of a staff nurses' focus group; and (3) categorization of issues raised and suggestions for care improvement in future emergencies.

Ocular anterior segment changes in pregnancy.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes occurring in the cornea, anterior segment anatomy, and intraocular pressure (IOP) in pregnant women.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.

Design: Prospective single-center comparative study.

Perceived knowledge of blood-borne pathogens and avoidance of contact with infected patients.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between nurses' knowledge of blood-borne pathogens (BBPs), their professional behavior regarding handwashing, compliance with standard precautions (SPs), and avoidance of therapeutic contact with BBP-infected patients.

Design: This cross-sectional design study took place in a regional medical center in Central Israel during 2003.

Methods: Of the 180 participants, 159 (88.

Physicians' and nurses' views on infected health care workers.

This study investigated 204 doctors' and nurses' perceived knowledge of bloodborne pathogens and their attitudes towards bloodborne pathogen-infected health care workers. A structured questionnaire examined: (1) their perceived knowledge of bloodborne pathogens; (2) their attitudes towards bloodborne pathogen-infected personnel; and (3) their opinions on limitation of employment of bloodborne pathogen-infected personnel and restrictions on performing clinical procedures. The levels of HIV-related knowledge were significantly higher than for hepatitis C and B viruses.