Implementing labor companionship can improve women's childbirth experiences and outcomes. Organizational structural barriers and non-supportive providers' attitudes need to be addressed to influence hospital practices.

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Dysmenorrhea is a common cause of sickness absenteeism from both classes and work. This study investigated the effect of aromatherapy massage on a group of nursing students who are suffering of primary dysmenorrhea. A randomized blind clinical trial of crossover design was used. In the first treatment phase, group 1 (n = 48) received aromatherapy abdominal massage once daily for seven days prior to menstruation using the essential oils (cinnamon, clove, rose, and lavender in a base of almond oil). Group 2 (n = 47) received the same intervention but with placebo oil (almond oil). In the second treatment phase, the two groups switched to alternate regimen. Level and duration of pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were evaluated at the baseline and after each treatment phase. During both treatment phases, the level and duration of menstrual pain and the amount of menstrual bleeding were significantly lower in the aromatherapy group than in the placebo group. These results suggests that aromatherapy is effective in alleviating menstrual pain, its duration and excessive menstrual bleeding. Aromatherapy can be provided as a nonpharmacological pain relief measure and as a part of nursing care given to girls suffering of dysmenorrhea, or excessive menstrual bleeding.

Women's satisfaction and perceived control in childbirth are important attributes of the childbirth experience and quality of care indicators. This article presents findings from the pre-intervention phase of a multi-centre implementation study in Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, to introduce a labour companionship model in these countries. A sample of 2620 women giving birth in three public teaching hospitals from November 2014 to July 2015 in Beirut and Mansoura, and from November 2014 to April 2015 in Damascus were interviewed by trained field workers. Additional information was abstracted from medical charts. An adapted version of the Mackey Childbirth Satisfaction Rating Scale was used to measure women's satisfaction and the shortened version of the Labor Agentry Scale was used to assess perception of control. The total satisfaction score was high in all sites with the lowest being in Egypt. Perceived control was directly related to satisfaction. Women with low education levels had higher levels of childbirth satisfaction. Women who had fewer children from Egypt and Lebanon, and those who received care by a team including both male and female physicians in the Syrian hospital were more likely to be dissatisfied than their counterparts. Variations in the management and provision of care between the three countries may explain the differences in satisfaction levels observed. Further qualitative research is needed to deepen our understanding of the concepts of control and satisfaction in the Arab culture as well as to establish the factors associated with women's positive childbirth experiences to inform the provision of quality maternity care.

The awareness and attitudes of faculty towards research ethics committees (RECs) and research ethics practices are largely unknown. Accordingly, we conducted a cross-sectional survey study involving various faculties (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Dentistry) from four universities in Egypt. A large majority (> 85%) held positive attitudes towards RECs, but almost a third thought that RECs would delay research. More than half had not received prior training in research or medical ethics, but more than 90% thought that this subject matter should be taught to postgraduates. A large majority recognized the need for informed consent and confidentiality protections in research, but some held attitudes regarding certain research ethics practices that were questionable. We conclude that a curriculum in research ethics should be developed for university faculty and that further qualitative studies should explore the basis of several of the attitudes regarding practices in research ethics.