Journal of Hayat

A comparative study on pain caused by standard and Z–track method for I.M injection

S Jolaee

Introduction: Pain caused by some therapeutic and nursing procedures has been a major concern of health care providers. Injection pain is a common complaint of patients. Materials and

Methods: This quasi-experimental investigation was conducted to compare the pain intensity caused by standard, and Z-Track method for intramascullar (I.M) injection. The samples were 100 female nursing student volunteers that were selected by convenience sampling. Each sample was injected two times blindly: first by standard and then by Z-Track method, with 24 hours interval. None of them knew the method of injection for each time. The injection solution was 1 ml sodium chloride. Pain intensity was measured by a numerical pain assessment scale and pain experienced by every body was compared with herself.

Results: The results showed that the pain associated with IM injection was significantly decreased when Z-Track method was used.

Conclusion: The researcher can join to other authors stating that Z-Track can be the technique of choice for all I.M injections.

Comparative study of effects of different positions of limbs on blood pressure of hypertensive patients

M Shaban

Introduction: In hypertensive patients M position (sitting, right arm at the level of heart and both plantar surface of foots on the floor) is the standard position for measurment of blood pressure since it reveals the “true” pressure. Materials and

Methods: It is a quaziexperimental study that compares effect of different positions of limbs on blood pressure of hypertensive patients. The sample size was consisted of 100 hypertensive patients. A questionnaire and a check list for systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the patients in different positions were used. One researcher collected all of the data. At first demographic data, weight and hight were recorded. After 5 minutes in sitting position in 3 different comparing positions, M (sitting, right arm at the level of heart and both plantar surface of foots on the floor), A (sitting, right arm hanging beside the body and both plantar surface of foots on the floor) and B (sitting, right arm hanging beside the body and right foot on the left knee), blood pressure was measured and recorded. The study methods included interview and physiologic measurement. The paired t-test for related measure was applied in order to analyse the data.

Results: The results showed that the difference of mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in “A & M”, “B & M” and “B & A” positions was significant (paired t test, p<0.0001) and the mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in “A” position was more than “M” position, “B” position was more than “M” position and “B” position was more than “A” position.

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, “B” position has the greatest effect and “M” position has the lowest effect on increasing the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This research indicated that attention to the limbs position during the measurement of blood pressure is very important.

A survey on knowledge of midwives and midwifery’s students about hepatitis B

M Pakgohar

Introduction: Hepatitis is a serious danger to heath of delivery room s personnels since direct exposure to the blood occurs in 25 percents of viginal labours.

Materials and Methods:This descriptive study carried out in order to evaluate knowledge about hepatitis B among midwives and midwifery’s students in delivery rooms in hospitals related to Medical Sciences universities in Tehran. The study group consisted of 120 persons (60 midwives and 60 midwifery’s students) and hospitals were selected through cluster sampling and samples selected randomly. Data collected by a questionnaire from June to September 2002. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square test.

Results: Results showed that knowledge were moderate in majority of midwives and midwifery s students. There was no significant difference between knowledge about hepatitis B in three universities.

Conclusion: This research showed that knowledge of midwives and midwifery s students about hepatitis B wasn t adequate hence training courses is recommended in order to increase knowledge of midwives and more attention must be paid to education of midwifery’s students about blood born diseases, especially hepatitis B.

Study of medication compliance of patients with coronary heart diseases and associated factors

Z Parsa-Yekta

Introduction: To reduce the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases, patients are emphasized on following the exact prescription order of their antihypertensive and other cardio vascular medications.

Materials and Methods: The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to medication compliance in patients with coronary heart disease. A descriptive analytical study was designed and a total of 150 patients with coronary heart disease were chosen with convenience sampling among patients in one of the cardiovascular clinics affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The instrument included a questionnaire for the demographic data, side effects of the drugs, physical condition, level of cognition and self-reporting of the patients about medication non-compliance A questionnaire which was about attitude evaluation A data evaluation form to calculate the rate of medication compliance Biophysiologic measurments and finally, available documents. The data were collected in two consecutive steps: at the first appointment, the questionnaires were filled. At the second appointment (1 month later) medication compliance rates which was based on counting of pills, were calculated.

Results: The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Fisher’ exact test and Tchoprof coefficient. Only 28% of the patients had met the drug regimens appropriately but 56% of them had a poor record. There was a meaningful relationship between the self – reporting of the patients and counting of the pills (p value<0.005). In addition, some factors such as age, education, occupation, teaching and its sources, duration of acquiring the cardiac disease, number of hospitalization and level of cognition of patients under investigation were assessed as effective elements to use the pills properly.

Conclusion: No meaningful relationship was found between sex, marital status, parenthood status, living arrangement, health insurance situation, health personnel availability, positive family history of cardiac disease, co-existence of another disease, difficulty in providing of the drugs, side effects of the drugs, physical condition and attitude and medication compliance. In conclusion, by providing some educational programs about drug regimens, based on the level of cognition, experiences, capabilities, and also the living style of the patients, medication compliance can be improved.

Survey study of relationship between woman s experience of orgasm and marital relation satisfaction in health care centers of Arak

A Rezaipour

Introduction: Satisfaction from marital relation is a fundamental factor in stability and maintenance of marital bond. Sexual satisfaction is one of the effective factors in spouse relation satisfaction.

Materials and Methods: This research is a correlation study. A sample of 400 women referring to health care centers in Arak city was selected randomly in 2003. The information collecting tools were questionnaires. To analyze the data, the descriptive statistical, frequency distribution charts, the mean and central tendency as well as inferential statistics (2 test and Kruskal Wallis) have been applied.

Results: According to the results, there was a meaningful relationship between having orgasm and sexual relation satisfaction, nonsexual relation satisfaction with spouse and marital relation satisfaction. Also, there was a meaningful statistical relationship between orgasm experience and variables of age, spouse s age, education, spouse s education, duration of marriage, number of children, and family s income.

Conclusion: There is a relationship between women s orgasm experience and the amount of satisfaction from marital relation. Hence, it was suggested that the health planners and the officials in charge pay more attention to women s sexual problems and a sexual counseling clinic be established in health care centers.

Effects of accupressure on low back pain

M Salsali

Introduction: Low back pain is a very common complaint in communities as about 80% of people experience it throughout their life. Low back pain has negative effects on different aspects of the patients lives. One of the palliative treatments of low back pain is accupressure.

Materials and Methods: A single blind clinical trial study was conducted to evaluate the effects of accupressure on low back pain in Khorram Abad city Tamin Ejtemaei hospital in 2002. Ninety patients were selected by convenience sampling and then they randomly divided into three groups: Experimental (accupressure was applied in real points), plasebo (sham accupressure was applied in four shampoints) and control (without any intervention). The subjects were 36 males and 54 females, ranging in age from 20-50 years. All three groups used Acetaminophen tablet (325 mg) for pain relief. Data were collected by an structured questionnaire, pain assessment numerical scale and three self reported scale.

Results: The results of study indicated that accupressure and sham accupressure could alleviate low back pain severity, but reduction of pain was statistically significant only in experimental group (p<0.0001). Decline in the amount of medication usage in experimental group was statistically significant (p<0.0001).

Conclusion: In conclusion, the study showed use of accupressure was effective on pain relief and it can be used as a safe treatment.

Investigating attitude and amount of contraceptive use during two years postpartum among women referring to health centers of Kermanshah

Sh Golyan Tehrani

Introduction: Anually, 585000 women die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth in the world. Using postpartum contraceptive methods helps to prevent repeated pregnancies.

Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive and analytic cross-sectional study that has been performed among women who refered to health centers of Kermanshah city in 2002 to evaluate contraceptive use during two years postpartum and attitude toward it. In this study, some of health centers of Kermanshah city had been selected with cluster sampling and then 260 married women in fertility ages attending these health centers who had delivered during previous two years were selected, using stratified random sampling. Data collecting was performed by interview using a questionnaire that was consisted of 5 parts the data were analyzed using 2 and Fisher exact test, student T-test, Pearson and Logistic regression. Standard deviation (Sd) was reported for mean values.

Results: The findings of this research indicated that 50.4% of women had a positive attitude toward using contraceptive methods during two years postpartum and 79.2% were using some contraceptive method. Husband education (p=0.036), having sexual activity (p=0.001), the time that has been elapsed from the last delivery (p=0.001), number of pregnancies (p=0.013), tendency to have more children (p=0.037), attitude toward contraceptive use (p=0.001), the type of breast feeding (exclusive or partial) (p=0.001), and quality of menstural cycles (p=0.001) were in relation to use of contraceptive methods during two years postpartum.

Conclusion: According to these findings, attitudes and believes, breast feeding status and quality of menstural cycles play an essential role in postpartum contraception. Therefore, key steps to better family planning services at this time include effective counseling and starting training programs.

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy

Z Taghizadeh

Pregnant women can be infected with TORCH (toxoplasmosis, other virus, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes) which have been linked to fetal or neonatal malformations. Toxoplasmosis is the most common of these infections. Toxoplasma is an intracellular parasite that is found in animals, including sheep and mice. It is transmitted in the feces of cats who have consumed infected mice and in meat from infected animals. The disease in humans may have no symptoms or may cause lymphadenopathy, fatigue, fever, sore throat, eye pain, and rash. It may be mistaken for influenza or mononucleosis. At least half of all pregnant women in the united states have antibodies to toxoplasma. The rate of infection in pregnancy is 1-5 in 1000 birth. When infection does occur, spontaneous abortion, chorioretinitis, anemia, liver damage, CNS abnormalities and prenatal death may result. Pregnant women should be treated for acute toxoplasmosis to prevent fetal malformations. Neonates must also be treated, even if asymptomatic. Midwives and nurses play an important role in home assessment and prenatal teaching to prevent this infection. This preventive advice has significantly reduced the incidence of toxoplasmosis in areas where it has used systematically.