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Background & Aim: Nowadays, home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) program is one of the major methods that can improve the quality of life of patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a HBCR on the quality of life of patients following CABG.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 104 inpatients at Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz in 2017, based on permuted-block randomization were assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received four training sessions for four days at the hospital and then six sessions of home-based cardiac rehabilitation (at 2-week intervals for three months). The Mac-New quality of life questionnaire was completed by the intervention and control groups before the surgery and three months after CABG surgery. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The postoperative mean scores for quality of life subscales and for overall quality of life in the intervention group were greater compared to the control group (P<0.001). The obtained effect sizes were 1.17 for the emotional, 1.42 for the physical, and 1.91 for the social subscales and 1.67 for the overall quality of life. The Eta-squared value (0.408) indicated that the effect of the home-based cardiac rehabilitation program on the quality of life was significant (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: The study findings suggest that the home-based cardiac rehabilitation program has positive effects on the various subscales of quality of life. HBCR is recommended as a cost-effective care model for all patients attending heart surgery centers.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20171114037468N1
 
 

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Background & Aim: Pain and inflammation caused by needle insertion into the fistula is a common problem in hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical application of Rosemary essential oil on inflammation and pain severity caused by needle insertion into arteriovenous fistula in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 60 hemodialysis patients from the hemodialysis ward of Golestan hospital and Imam Khomeini hospital in Ahvaz were randomly assigned to two groups using block randomization. The intervention group received rosemary essential oil, while the control group received distilled water applied to the needle insertion site 5 minutes before each hemodialysis session. Pain severity was assessed using the VAS scale and inflammation severity was determined using the Phlebitis checklist at baseline and during six sessions. Data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square test and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on SPSS software version 22.
Results: The results showed that the mean score for pain increased in the control group from 5.13±1.74  to 5.93±1.67, while it decreased in the intervention group from 5.83±1.53 to 3.77±1.43 (P=0.003). Additionally, the mean score for inflammation increased during the sessions in the control group, ranging from 1.27±1.20 to 2.07±1.08. However, in the intervention group, the mean score for inflammation decreased from 2.57±1.92 to 1.33±1.44. Nevertheless, this difference was found to be statistically insignificant (P=0.267).
Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that the topical application of rosemary essential oil had a significant effect on reducing pain resulting from needling. However, its effect on reducing the severity of arteriovenous fistula inflammation in patients undergoing hemodialysis was not statistically significant. Based on these results, it is recommended to provide training to nursing staff and hemodialysis patients regarding the use of rosemary essential oil as a means to alleviate pain experienced during the procedure. Further research is required to investigate its potential for reducing the severity of fistula inflammation.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2019102804526N1