American University of Beirut

• ​​​​​​​The Lebanese Nurses' Health Study – Samar Noureddine, PhD,RN,FAHA,FAAN and -Nuhad Yazbik Dumit, RN, MA, PhD

COVID-19 affected and is still influencing the lives of populations around the world. Nurses in Lebanon, who work at the frontline caring for the sick, were hit the hardest at the physical, psychological and social levels. The literature is showing long term effects of COVID-19 on various body systems and even the psyche of those affected. This ongoing study examines the health status of nurses working in Lebanon. We aim to describe the personal and professional experiences of Lebanese nurses with COVID-19, determine the prevalence of non-communicable diseases and related risk factors among them; determine the association between their NCD risk factors and work conditions; and identify their attitudes and practices in relation to health risk reduction. This cross sectional survey is being administered using LimeSurvey and the questionnaire includes items based on the publicly available Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Scale by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Nurses' Health Study Questionnaire; the International Physical Activity Questionnaire; the Patient Health Questionnaire; in addition to items regarding COVID-19, work conditions, demographic characteristics and nurses' perceptions related to their role in reducing health risk that were developed for this study. The findings will be used to identify the current health condition of nurses and related factors, and plan future follow up surveys to address unanswered research questions raised by this study.

Resaerch Team: Co-investigator: Myrna Dumit

• ​​Perspectives of Registered Nurses on Refugee Healthcare in Lebanon and Jordan: A multi-site cross-sectional study (Profile​)-Nuhad Yazbik Dumit, RN, MA, PhD

With the disproportionate number of SRs living in Lebanon and their dire needs for healthcare services as evident in the empirical literature, and based on a qualitative study that we did recently, we needed to explore the impact of the increase in the patient population on nurses and nursing practice.

While most recent studies mainly focused on Syrian Refugees (SRs) and host community patients, and healthcare industry, none so far examined its impact on nurse's resilience, health, well-being, and quality of services that can be equally affected. The overall nursing shortage is already severe, and is even more pronounced in areas serving SRs. Nurses are at the forefront of any health care system. Accordingly, the overall aim of this research project is to explore the Lebanese and Jordanian nurses' perspectives on the effect of the influx in healthcare demands due to the protracted Syrian refugee crisis on the health of nurses working in hospitals and primary health care centers in Lebanon and Jordan. Another aim is to examine how this crisis is influencing the quality of their services. 

​Resaerch Team: Co-PI: Gladys Honein-AbouHaidar, Co-Investigators: Ibtisam Al Zaru, Muntaha Gharaibeh, Nancy R. Reynolds, Patricia M. Davidson, Suzanne R. Dhaini​

• ​A Scalable Primary Healthcare Experience - Gladys Honein-AbouHaidar, PhD
  

Primary health is at the forefront of the health care system. A high quality primary health care system is associated with improved general health, reduced hospitalizations, and better health outcomes for individuals living with illnesses. The three pillars of a high quality primary health care include an engaged community, improved access to services, and high quality of services. In Lebanon, primary health care is emerging as a powerful health care system. Yet, there are several challenges to a high quality of primary health care especially after the Beirut blast that ripped through the country's capital and affected neighboring communities.

At AUB, we are leading a community health initiative in response to the blast. The focus of this initiative is to improve on those three pillars of the primary health care system. Our aim is to create a scalable community responsive primary health care model that responds to the specific socio-economic and health care needs of a specific community in Beirut. The implications of this project will include building the capacity of community agents to be able to promote the health of their communities, set the operational plan of this community responsive primary health care model, and establish the best practices that can be scalable to other communities.