KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-EFFICACY ON EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG WORKING WOMEN IN JERANTUT, PAHANG Providing essential nutrients to support healthy growth and development in young infants is commonly achieved through breastfeeding, a traditional means of nourishment. In Malaysia, even though more awareness campaigns on the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) remain low than the rate recommended by WHO. This study was done to determine level of knowledge and self–efficacy on exclusive breastfeeding among working women in Jerantut. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the community of working women in Mukim Pedah with the involvement of 375 respondents by convenient sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect data on the respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, breastfeeding knowledge and Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale – Short Form (BSES-SF). 93.1% of respondents had high level knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, and high level of self-efficacy (83.7%). There was a statistically significant association between breastfeeding education with knowledge level in exclusive breastfeeding (p <0.05). There was a statistically significant association between age, education level, parity, breastfeeding education and experience in breastfeeding with self–efficacy (p<0.95). Exclusive breastfeeding benefits the health of both mother and child; having good knowledge and confidence in EBF may encourage mothers to breastfeed their babies for extended periods.

DETERMINING THE IMPACT OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND JOB SATISFACTION ON NURSES' PERFORMANCE IN TEACHING HOSPITALS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY Nursing is a noble profession that involves caring for disabled patients. The demanding nature of nursing work has an impact on their work-life balance (WLB). Workplace stress also negatively affects work-life balance, job satisfaction, and performance. This research aims to determine the impacts of work-life balance and job satisfaction on nurses’ performance in a teaching hospital. This cross-sectional survey, employing purposive sampling, involved 205 registered nurses across diverse departments at Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (HSAAS), UPM. This study utilized the Work-life Balance Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale, and Job Performance Scale as research instruments to measure work-life balance, job satisfaction, and job performance among nurses. The finding revealed a moderate to high level of WLB among nurses in teaching hospitals (M = 54.39, SD = 9.439). The relationship between work-life balance and the performance of nurses was reported to be significant (p < 0.000). There is a positive correlation between job satisfaction and job performance in nursing (p < 0.001, r = 0.574). Additionally, the research revealed a significant association between nurses’ work hours and their degree of work-life balance (p = 0.01). In addition, nurses’ service duration was also associated with their work-life balance (p < 0.001). The findings indicate that WLB and job satisfaction significantly influence nurses’ performance. The findings also emphasize the necessity of work-life balance and job satisfaction strategies to achieve high performance in nursing.

EMPATHY, PROFESSIONAL VALUE AND PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES OF LIFE AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN SELANGOR Work stress and burnout are common among healthcare workers, including nursing students, due to heavy workloads and long-term exposure to patient care. Adaptation of empathy and professional values can affect the quality of life among nursing students. This study aimed to determine the relationship between empathy, nursing professional value, and professional quality of life (ProQOL) among nursing students at a public university in Selangor. A cross-sectional study was done using purposive sampling, and 128 nursing students from UiTM Puncak Alam were recruited to participate in this study. Students completed a self-report online questionnaire that included the Jefferson Scale of Empathy, the Nursing Professional Values Scale, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale. The finding shows that students reported a higher level of nursing professional value, an average level of empathy, and a medium level of ProQOL. A fair, positive correlation exists between empathy and nursing professional value (r = 0.309, p < 0.01). Empathy and professional values are essential for fostering resilience and reducing burnout among nursing students in clinical settings. Self-awareness and a firm grasp of these values help mitigate compassion fatigue and negative workplace patterns, promoting emotional well-being and high-quality care.

Introduction: Sleep promotion in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) should be a priority because interruptions may prevent patients from getting enough sleep. Inadequate sleep might lead to delirium, anxiety, increased hospital stays, and higher mortalities. Critical care nurses with good knowledge and attitude towards sleep promotion interventions benefit critically ill patients’ quality of care and life. Critical illness, pain, mechanical ventilation, surroundings, and nurses’ activity at night contribute to sleep disturbances in ICU patients. The aim of this study was to determine critical care nurses’ knowledge regarding the physiology of sleep, interventions to promote sleep,attitude towards sleep, and sleep promotion. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a self-administered questionnaire and purposive sampling method was conducted among 109 critical care nurses at the ICU of a teaching hospital. Results: The mean score knowledge of critical care nurses was 4.72 (± 1.92), attitude towards sleep was 18.57 (± 3.56), and intervention towards sleep promotion was 70.00 (± 12.00). A significant correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05, r = 0.22) and between attitude and intervention (p < 0.05, r = 0.32), indicating a modest correlation. Moreover, a significant association was noted between years of experience and attitude and intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Critical care nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and interventions were poor; hence, they need to improve their knowledge, attitude, and interventions. The significance of sleep promotion and factors leading to critical care nurses in Malaysia not promoting sleep among ICU patients needs to be rectified.

Background: In Malaysia, the rates of mothers practising breastfeeding exclusively among babies at six months of age still do not achieve the Global Nutritional Targets 2025 which is 50%. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of breastfeeding intervention in improving breastfeeding outcomes. Method: A quasi-experimental design was used involving a purposive sample of 96 primigravidas (intervention group (IG) = 48, control group (CG) = 48) recruited at Hospital USM. Data were collected using the Breastfeeding Assessment Questionnaire. Mothers in IG received the current usual care and two hours of an additional education programme on breastfeeding, breastfeeding booklet, notes from the module, and postnatal breastfeeding support in the first week of postpartum. Mothers in CG received the current usual care only. The mothers were assessed on the first and sixth week and then the fourth and sixth month of postpartum. Results: The results indicated that there was a statistically significant difference between the groups on the fourth month postpartum (X2 = 5.671, P = 0.017) in practicing full breastfeeding. The breastfeeding duration rates of the IG were longer than those of the CG. However, the results showed only two follow-up weeks that were significant (week 6, X2 = 5.414, P = 0.020, month 4, X2 = 7.515, P = 0.006). There was a statistically significant difference between IG and CG as determined by one-way ANCOVA on the breastfeeding duration after controlling age and occupation, F (3, 82) = 6.7, P = 0.011. The test revealed that the breastfeeding duration among IG was significantly higher (20.80 ± 6.31) compared to CG (16.98 ± 8.97). Conclusions: Breastfeeding intervention can effectively increase breastfeeding duration and exclusivity outcomes among primiparous mother