https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/57670 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:42:41 GMT 2026-04-16T14:42:41Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/68284 Title: Maltese oncology nurses and psychological, work-related stressors Abstract: The aim of this study was to identity whether Maltese oncology nurses experience any degree of burnout and the sources of any psychological stress. This study also looked at the coping mechanisms adopted by the participants and what were the support systems which they perceived as most beneficial to them. A questionnaire was distributed among fourteen nurses working at the two oncology wards at Boffa Hospital. The overall picture given by the results of this study appears to show that nurses experience a low to moderated degree of burnout, mainly due to deaths of young adults, multiple deaths, work overload and lack of communication and co-operation among personnel. It appeared that nurses cope mainly by discussing the situation with a team member. Other coping strategies used by the participants were emotionally focused. As regards support systems the participants said that they need consultation with the multidisciplinary team, regular staff support meetings and a gymnasium for physical exercises and relaxation. Suggestions are made for improvements in the present situation and for further research to be carried out. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/68284 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/68221 Title: Trends in Maltese teenagers' nutritional knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards healthy diet Abstract: Adolescence is a time of rapid change in the life of every human being . The uniform growth of childhood is suddenly altered by an increase in the velocity of growth , which is also associated with hormonal, cognitive and emotional changes. These changes create special nutritional needs. This study was carried out so as to examine the nutritional knowledge, attitudes and behaviour towards a healthy diet of a group of adolescents . The nutritional knowledge and attitudes and behaviour of these adolescents was investigated by a questionnaire. Nutritional knowledge concerning fats, dietary fibre, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins was satisfactory but required some clarifications. Teenagers were observed to be self-conscious of their body weight and body height . The majority of the teenagers were not on a reducing diet. However the adolescents had a tendency for high frequency dieting . 50% of the teenagers had dieted more than twice before. The adolescents which were on a diet were more females than males, indicating that females were more dissatisfied with their bodies than males. The teenagers under study went on a diet not only because of fear of obesity but because they associated dieting with health. This study shows that this association was due to the interest which the teenagers had for sports. Post - dieting symptoms in Adolescents resembled symptoms characterizing anorexia and bulimia indicating that some of the adolescents under study may have a tendency for these eating disorders . A vegetarian diet was not popular among the teenagers. Those following a vegetarian diet were mostly lacto - ovo vegetarian . The food items used by the adolescents under study contained all the nutrients considered to be essential in a vegetarian diet. The majority of the teenagers ate the three meals breakfast, lunch ,dinner. The statistical study indicated that breakfast was more preferred by the males than by the females. It was observed that most of the adolescents, ate snacks and the most popular snack items were not nutritious ones. Fast foods for meals or snacks were popular with teenagers. The study indicated , that most of the food items ate by the teenagers at fast or take -away outlets, were all nutritious. It was observed that alcoholic consumption by the teenagers may not be too alarming. However it was also indicated that some of the adolescents may have an alcoholic problem.Alcohol drinking among the teenagers was found to be influenced by peer pressure and encouraged by some parents . Some of the teenagers have drank their first alcoholic drink when they were eight and even one year old. The study has also revealed that adolescents were also influenced by peers in their eating habits. Teenagers have been found to lack appropriate knowledge on food labelling. Only 17.6% of the teenagers have heard about the Food Label Regulations 1992. It has been observed that the media, magazines, parents and doctors can be targets of nutritional education as they have a great influence on adolescents eating habits. The study has also revealed that teenagers can be reached and knowledge improved through short term promotional campaigns in the mass media. The statistical findings suggested that more education on nutrition should be emphasised in schools. The findings in this study, indicated that nutrition education has an impact on a teenage population only if food in school canteens is nutritious and is hygienically prepared , and also that teenagers should be given a better understanding of what they should aim to eat. The study has indicated that nutrition education must guide teenagers to solve nutrition problems especially problems concerning their eating habits. The Environmental Health professional as a health worker and educator is potentially a resource within the scope of nutrition I health promotion. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/68221 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/67178 Title: Children's opinions and knowledge on drug abuse Abstract: Drug abuse is a very actual and present problem in our society. Misconceptions and the wrong information can only lead to an increase of this problem. This study is an attempt to give insight into pre-adolescent's opinions and knowledge on drug abuse. The data can be used to formulate the content of various drug prevention programmes which need to be specific to the age group being targeted (Mac Donald 1984). Newcombe and Bentler (1989) regard any substance of abuse, used at least once, to be substance abuse in this age group. The answers differed between the genders however the lack of education and misinformation were clearly highlighted in the findings. A confidential questionnaire, was used to collect the data. No information as regards specific drugs and their effects was given. This was done to protect the children. Instead the children were asked to name the drugs and to write down what they thought their effects were. The author recommends that this age group should be included in drug prevention programmes and that the best place to do so is in schools (as school education is compulsory in Malta). The author also recommends that children's queries as regards this area be dealt with and that any request for explanation, help or otherwise, be included in any drug prevention programmes. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/67178 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65446 Title: Orthopaedic rehabilitation : a study of nurses' perception of their role in the rehabilitation of the orthopaedic patient Abstract: This study was undertaken to explore nurse's perceptions of their role in the rehabilitation of the orthopaedic patient. The study took place on the three orthopaedic wards in St Luke's Hospital namely, the female, male and mixed orthopaedic wards. The researcher made use of a questionnaire that was distributed to fourteen Maltese registered nurses working presently in orthopaedic wards. The researcher had a 100°/o response rate. Nurses were asked for their perceptions of the rehabilitation process, of their role in this process and of the involvement of a multidisciplinary team approach to rehabilitation. From the findings was evident that 86% of the Maltese registered nurses believe that rehabilitation should start on admission. They have different opinions about the role of the nurse in the rehabilitation process. However 50% mentioned the co-ordinating role of the nurse as pivotal for the functioning of the multidisciplinary team. In addition 100°/o believed in the importance of including other members of the multidisciplinary team and the most frequently mentioned were: physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social worker. Also this study revealed that the majority thought that there is very little time for patient education and 71°/o agreed' that resources for patient education were available on the ward. The study revealed the need for further research on the area. Description: B.SC.(HONS)NURSING Wed, 01 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/65446 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z