Journal of Hayat

The effect of inhalation aromatherapy using lavender oil on the severity of headache in hemodialysis patients

Shahram Molavynejad

Background & Aim: Dialysis headache is one of the most common complications of hemodialysis and is often a challenge for nephrologists, neurologists and headache specialists. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy using lavender on the severity of headache in hemodialysis patients.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial, 82 patients from hemodialysis wards of Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz and Shahidzadeh Hospital in Behbahan in 2019 were selected and randomly assigned to either intervention or control groups using the stratified permuted block randomization. For the intervention group, cotton soaked in three drops of lavender essential oil 20% was attached to the collar of the patient and he/she was asked to inhale it for 30 minutes. For the control group, distilled water was used. The intervention was repeated for four weeks (three days per week). The severity of dialysis headache was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale.
Results: In the intervention group, both the severity and the frequency of dialysis headache decreased during 12 sessions of aromatherapy, compared to the control group (placebo), and the decrease was statistically significant (P˂0.001).
Conclusion: Due to the fact that complementary medicine has increasingly become a part of nursing care, aromatherapy with lavender can be used as a complementary measure reducing the severity and frequency of dialysis headaches.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20190718044263N1

Explaining the needs of family caregivers of patients undergoing gynecological surgery for physical facilities and equipment in hospital

Marzieh Hasanpour

Background & Aim: Designing healthcare spaces and physical facilities requires the identification of the patient's family needs, and it is considered an important component of nursing theories. The aim of this study was to explain the needs of family caregivers of patients undergoing gynecological surgery for physical facilities and equipment in hospital.
Methods & Materials: This study is based on the results of the qualitative part of a large hybrid study on the development and implementation of a need-based service delivery program for the caregivers of patients undergoing gynecological surgery in 2017. The selection of participants was purposefully done with maximum variation. The study data were collected using 31 (16 caregivers, 6 nurses, 4 doctors, 3 patients and 2 service workers) in-depth interviews and observations and analyzed by the conventional qualitative content analysis using the Zhang and Wildemuth approach.
Results: Data analysis led to the development of the theme "need for physical facilities", which fell into two categories "need for proper physical structure in the hospital" with the following subcategories: "need for care facilities behind the operating room door", "need to provide welfare facilities in the hospital for caregivers", "need for welfare facilities in the surgical ward", "necessity of allocating rooms to the similar patients", and category "need for appropriate hospital facilities and equipment" with subcategories "caregiver’s need for facilities and amenities", and "caregiver’s need for facilities and amenities for the comfort of the patient".
Conclusion: The results show the importance of having a physical structure tailored to the needs of family caregivers as well as the availability of appropriate facilities and equipment in hospital. One of the limitations of the study was preventing men from visiting patients in the women’s hospital. It is recommended that the needs of male companions and the necessity of their presence according to the cultural context be studied. Also, a new architectural design is suggested to create a suitable therapeutic environment and positive effect on patients’ improvement and increase patient and family satisfaction.

The effect of online support and e-content on communication skills of nurses with patients

Mitra Zolfaghari

Background & Aim: Considering the importance of communication skills in nursing, we aimed to study the impact of online support and e-content on communication skills of nurses with patients.
Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-design, 100 nurses employed in the orthopedic wards of Chamran hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018 were selected randomly and assigned into two groups of 50. Both groups received the electronic content of communication skills. In the intervention group, in addition to receiving educational content, online support was provided through social media for four weeks with the presence of a psychologist, so that by asking real questions and problems or simulated scenarios, appropriate behavior in that situation was discussed. Before and eight weeks after the intervention, communication skills in the both groups were assessed by the Burton Jay's Communication Skills questionnaire, and data was compared using independent t-test and analysis of covariance.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in the communication skills score before the intervention, but eight weeks after receiving the e-content, the participants' scores increased in the both groups. This increase was greater in the online support group (P<0.001). In fact, online support caused a difference (0.637) in the communication skills score between the two groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed the provision of e-content along with online support has led to the improvement of communication skills. It is recommended that in addition to education through e-content, social media be used in the empowerment programs of the treatment team including communication skills improvement, due to their advantages such as ease of use, availability and relatively low cost.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20090127001599N27

The effect of viola odorata syrup on anxiety in postmenopausal women: A randomized clinical trial

Fatemeh Zahra Karimi

Background & Aim: Anxiety is one of the most important psychological problems during the menopausal period. Anxiety can affect the health and quality of life of postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of viola odorata syrup on anxiety among postmenopausal women.
Methods & Materials: This study is a triple blind clinical trial that was performed on 84 postmenopausal women referred to health centers in Mashhad in 2019. In both groups, postmenopausal women received 5 ml of viola odorata or placebo syrup twice a day for one month. Before and after the intervention, anxiety was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale-21. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 25 and Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.
Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in women’s anxiety levels between viola odorata group and placebo group, and the two groups were homogeneous (P=0.084). After the intervention, there was a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.004). The corrected average was 3.61±3.02 (2.9-4.2, CI95%) for the violet group and 7.63±3.60 (6.9-8.3, CI95%) for the placebo group. Also, after the intervention the anxiety score decreased in the viola odorata group, and increased in the placebo group. The Mann-Whitney U test showed a significant difference (P<0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, viola odorata syrup decreased anxiety in postmenopausal women. Therefore, it can be used as a complementary treatment along with chemical therapies to reduce anxiety in postmenopausal women.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180514039660N1

The effect of slow-stroke back massage on fatigue and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients: A clinical trial study

Shahram Molavynejad

Background & Aim: Fatigue and sleep disorders are the most common physical complaints in hemodialysis patients. It seems necessary to find effective, low-complication and cost-effective treatments to alleviate these problems. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of slow-stroke back massage on the level of fatigue and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized controlled trial, 82 hemodialysis patients hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Abadan in 2018, were selected based on the inclusion criteria and were allocated to either the intervention or control group using permuted block randomization (4 blocks). The intervention group underwent massage therapy for 12 sessions. The numerical rating scale for measuring fatigue and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire were completed 14 times and three times respectively, by both groups. Data were analyzed through the SPSS software version 22 using descriptive statistical tests, independent t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results: The results showed that before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in demographic variables between the intervention and control groups (P>0.05). Significance of group and time interactions for fatigue score showed that the trend of changes in mean fatigue scores was different in the two groups and over the study time period (P<0.001). Also, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the total score of sleep quality and all sleep components except two components (mental quality of sleep and sleep disorders) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: This study showed that slow-stroke back massage improves fatigue and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it is recommended as an inexpensive, effective and uncomplicated method in hemodialysis patients.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20181119041702N1

The effect of targeted and game-based pharmacology ‎education on nursing students' pharmacology scores

Maryam Heidari

Background & Aim: The inadequate level of pharmaceutical knowledge of nursing students carries the risk of medication errors, and this is one of the main concerns of clinical educators. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine the effect of targeted and game-based pharmacology education on pharmacology scores of nursing students.
Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental interventional study was conducted through the census method on third-semester nursing students of Abadan University of Medical Sciences in 2018-2019. The intervention included teaching clinical pharmacology in the form of game during an internship course (including 10 sessions). The first to third sessions included holding the pharmacology theoretical class, the fourth to ninth sessions included playing game, theoretical classes, and clinical practice, and the tenth session included a station review program and a competitive pharmaceutical data pool program. The pharmacology exam was given before and after the intervention. The data was analyzed by paired t-test using the SPSS software version 18.
Results: There were 77 students until the end of the study, of whom 42 were female and 35 were male. Their mean age was 21±2 years, the total average of students was 15.57±3.81 with a mean pharmacology score of 14.74±3.42. According to the test results, the pre-test mean score was 26.06±5.83 and the post-test mean score was 31.58±4.02, which indicated a significant difference between before and after the intervention (P<0.001).
Conclusion: This purposeful educational program increased the level of pharmacology scores of nursing students and can be used as a suitable method to improve students' knowledge and understanding of pharmacology.

Adaptation of clinical guideline for nursing care of secondary brain injuries in adults

Nasrollah Alimohammadi

Background & Aim: Traumatic brain injury management focuses on the prevention and treatment of secondary brain injuries. The aim of this study was to adapt a clinical guideline (CG) for nursing care of secondary brain injuries in adults.
Methods & Materials: This study was carried out through a multi-stage evolutionary study at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2017. Based on the opinions of experts using AGREE tool, the quality of 8 out of 13 CGs for the treatment and care of head injuries was assessed as optimal. These were used in drafting the adaptive CG. In addition, 12 CGs, 13 articles and 5 books were used to complete the recommendations of the mentioned guideline. The CG draft was evaluated using the Delphi method and the panel of experts. Finally, it was presented as an adaptive CG.
Results: The adaptive CG for nursing care of secondary brain injuries was developed in 158 recommendations and five sections; nursing care to prevent and manage the increased intracranial pressure, nursing care to maintain and increase cerebral blood pressure, nursing care to prevent and control seizures, nursing care to prevent and control brain infections, and nursing care to prevent and control secondary extracranial injuries.
Conclusion: The nursing staff of emergency and neurological wards and intensive care units can apply the recommendations of this clinical guideline to address some of the care needs of the injured patients and improve their health conditions.

A comparative study of the effect of Hippophae Rhamnoides ointment and silver sulfadiazine ointment on burn healing period: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial

Saeed Shafiee

Background & Aim: Burns are amongst severe traumas that cause disability, death, and mental illness, as well as high medical costs. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Hippophae-rhamnoides ointment and silver-sulfadiazine ointment 1% on the healing period of second-degree burns.
Methods & Materials: In this triple-blind clinical trial, which was performed in 2016 in Imam Musa Kazem Burn and Accidents Clinic in Isfahan, fifty-five patients with one to ten percent second-degree burns, were selected using the convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into Hippophae-rhamnoides and silver sulfadiazine groups using blocked randomization with blocks of size 4. Hippophae-rhamnoides group were treated with Hippophae-rhamnoides ointment and silver sulfadiazine group with silver sulfadiazine ointment 1% daily until their burns healed completely. The wound healing period was measured in both groups using the standard burn healing checklist. Data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 20.
Results: Data analysis showed that the healing period of second-degree burn wound in the group treated with Hippophae-rhamnoides ointment was 6.71±2.11 days and in the group treated with silver sulfadiazine ointment was 11.22±2.31 days and there was a significant difference in wound healing period between the two groups (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results showed that Hippophae-rhamnoides ointment reduces the healing period of second-degree burns compared to silver sulfadiazine 1% by accelerating the healing process. Therefore, alternatively using Hippophae-rhamnoides ointment by care providers can reduce the burden of caring for patients with second-degree burns.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2015081523623N1