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Background & Aim: Sleep is an important physiological process that has deep effects on psychological and physical health. This study carried out to investigate the association between quality of sleep and health-related quality of life in nurses.

Methods & Materials: In this cross sectional and descriptive-analytic study, 127 nurses in Imam Hossein Hospital of Shahroud, Iran, during February and March 2006 were chosen enumeration and then their sleep quality and their quality of life in eight dimensions were measured with using Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) questionnaire and were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software.

Results: Upon to the results of this study, 25.2%, 70.9% and 3.9% of cases were working on morning shift, circulator shift and afternoon/night shifts respectively. Mean of time that they spend in bed were estimated 30.2 minute and 2.1% of subjects declare they get to sleep more than 30 minutes after going to bed. Mean of gotten up time in the morning in was at 6 and 58% of them described that they wakeup 1 hour earlier to anticipation time. According to the results, 35.5% of subjects have taken medicine (prescribed or "over the counter") to help them sleep. Spearman correlation coefficient test revealed a significant correlation (p<0.05) between the mean of Sleep Quality score and the mean of quality of life score in all dimensions in subjects.

Conclusion: According to the results, quality of sleep is poor in majority of nurses and significantly has decreased their quality of life in different aspects, especially in general health, mental health and physical pain.

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Background & Aim: Preterm birth is the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity so, prevention of preterm labor is a priority in health care. This study aimed to determine relationship between house works with preterm labor.

Methods & Materials: In this case-control study, 150 term pregnant women (control group) and 150 preterm pregnant women (case group) delivered in Izadi hospital in Qom were selected in 2008-2009. The data were collected using the "physical activity in pregnancy" scale. Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test, t-test, and logistic regression. The P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant level and the adjusted OR was reported for all variables. We used the SPSS- 16 for analyzing the data.

Results: According to the findings, there was no significant relationship between house work regarding duration and severity of activity in pregnancy with preterm labor.

Conclusion: There was no relationship between house work in pregnancy and preterm labor. Further studies are recommended.

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  Background & Aim: Patients often build their perceptions about the quality of health services on the care provided for them in hospitals by nurses. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the job satisfaction and burnout among nurses with patients' satisfaction in Shiraz hospitals in 2012 .

  Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling . A total of 280 nurses and 560 patients were recruited to the study. Data were collected using the Spector's job satisfaction and the Maslach Burnout questionnaire s. The structural equation modeling and the confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyze the data in the SPSS and AMOS . 

  Results: There were significant relationships between the nurses' job satisfaction and burnout with the patients' satisfaction. Also , there was a negative and significant relationship between the job satisfaction with burnout among nurses (P<0.001) .

  Conclusion: T he factors affecting job satisfaction and burnout among nurses should be considered in promoting health care provided by nurses .

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Background & Aim: Nursing care is an essential part of health care services. Missed nursing care is a new concept referring to any aspect of care, that is omitted or delayed. The present study aimed to assess missed nursing care and its related factors from the viewpoints of nurses working in the hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2017.
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, 300 nurses participated. Two questionnaires on missed nursing care, and its related factors were used for data collection. Data were analyzed through the SPSS software version 20 using descriptive indices.
Results: The mean score of missed nursing care was 32.28±7.41, which was lower than the median (range) of the questionnaire. The highest mean score of missed nursing care and its related factor, respectively were “attending the interprofessional patient care conferences” and “the volume of activities related to patients’ admission and discharge”.
Conclusion: The level of missed nursing care was lower than the median in the present study, which can be lowered by proper management. In addition, by decreasing nurses’ workload, missed nursing care related factors can be reduced.
 

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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
 

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Background & Aim: Self-care education is one of the effective ways to improve the quality of life and health in patients with heart failure. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of applying the specific situation theory on the quality of life in patients with heart failure.
Methods & Materials: In a clinical trial study, 80 patients with class 2 or 3 heart failure, referred to 12 Farvardin hospital in Kahnooj in 2018 were included. Data collection tool included a three-part questionnaire: demographic variables, Left Ventricular Dysfunction Scale to assess patients' quality of life, and Self-care Heart Failure Index. The questionnaires were completed at the first visit and three months after follow-up. Data was analyzed using independent and paired t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation through the SPSS software version 20.
Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the scores of quality of life and self-care between the two groups. After the intervention, the mean score of quality of life and self-care dimensions increased (P<0.001). Regarding self-care after the intervention, the highest score was related to self-care confidence with mean and standard deviation of 21.43 and 3.30 respectively, and the lowest score was related to self-care management with mean and standard deviation of 17.45 and 5.5 (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Paying attention to the dimensions of self-care based on a specific situation theory can lead to a better understanding of these patients’ problems and appropriate planning, and in turn improvement of the quality of life. Since in this study, most of the participants were illiterate, using visual teaching aids, adjusting the schedule according to the patient's conditions and readiness, and if necessary, family involvement can have positive results. It appears necessary to consider the underlying factors in the implementation of self-care programs, especially in people with lower levels of education and income.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20141109019862N6
 

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Background & Aim: COVID-19 as an emerging disease has many psychological effects, including anxiety. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of face-to-face awareness training on anxiety of patients with COVID-19.
Methods & Materials: In this study, 90 hospitalized patients in the hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2020 were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control (45 people in each group). The DASS-21 anxiety and demographic information questionnaire were completed by both groups before the intervention. The face to face awareness sessions were provided during two 30-minute sessions at 24-hour intervals for the intervention group and the DASS-21 questionnaire was completed again by the patients one day after the second session. The control group received the routine information of the ward and completed the questionnaire again. The SPSS software version 21 was used for the data analysis by descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: The results showed that before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean anxiety scores between the intervention (12.71±9.20) and control (14.71±7.08) groups. But after the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the mean scores between the intervention (5.68±5.64) and control (12.75±6.19) groups (P˂0.05).
Conclusion: This study revealed that face-to-face awareness training can reduce anxiety in patients with COVID-19 and can be used in medical centers.

 

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Background & Aim: Reducing pain after surgery, especially cesarean section is one of the most important factors for maternal and infant health. Choosing the way of reducing pain with fewer complications has drawn the attention of researchers. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Hugo point pressure and auricular seed acupressure on pain after cesarean section.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 168 pregnant women who were candidates for cesarean section, referred to the educational and medical centers of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2020, were selected through purposive sampling and randomly divided into three groups: Hugo point pressure, auriculotherapy, and control. In the Hugo group, massage was applied on the li4 point (between the thumb and forefinger) for 10 minutes. 24 hours later, the intervention was repeated. Before and after the intervention, pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). In the auriculotherapy group, earrings were placed on the Shenmen point located in the earlobe. Pain was assessed by the VAS 20 minutes after the intervention and 24 hours later. No intervention was performed for the control group and only the researcher was present next to the studied subjects for 10 minutes. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 20 using paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The average pain score in the Hugo group was 6.70±1.55 before the intervention and 6.20±1.78 after the intervention (P=0.026). In the auriculotherapy group, the average pain score before the intervention was 5.99±1.75 and after the intervention was 4.66±2.01 (P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in the average score of pain intensity on the first day between the two groups, before the intervention (P=0.062). But the average score of pain intensity on the first day after the intervention was lower in the auriculotherapy group compared to the other two groups (P<0.001). On the second day, there was a significant difference in the average pain score between the three groups after the intervention (P=0.009).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that both auriculotherapy and the Hugo method are effective for reducing pain after cesarean section; but the continuance of pain reduction after auriculotherapy was more than Hugo point pressure. These methods can be used along with other pharmaceutical methods to reduce pain after cesarean section.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20131228015965N17

 

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Background & Aim: Considering the use of aromatherapy as a non-pharmacological method of pain control and a scarcity of studies in this area, the aim of the study was to compare the effect of breast milk odor and Rosa damascena aroma on pain and crying due to blood sampling in neonates.
Methods & Materials: In this cross over clinical trial study, 40 neonates hospitalized in the NICU of Ali Ibn Abitalib hospital in Rafsanjan were divided into two groups (breast milk odor and Rosa damascena aroma). In the first step, tree minutes before blood sampling until its completion, cotton soaked in 2 cc of breast milk was placed at a distance of three centimeters from the neonate’s nose. In the next step, cotton soaked with two drops of rose essential oil was used, similar to the method of breast milk. For the second sample, the order of interventions was changed. The pain was calculated with the NIPS instrument and crying with a stopwatch by a person who was blinded to the groups. The data were analyzed by STATA software version 14.
Results: The mean score of pain for two periods in two groups were 3.75±2.33 and 4.30±1.70 respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.415). The mean score of crying for two periods in two groups were 16.98±16.21 and 15.03±9.99 respectively, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.650).
Conclusion: The breast milk odor and rose damascena aroma have a similar effect in reducing the pain of neonates. Thus, according to the conditions, each of these methods can be used.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20150713023190N11

 

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Background & Aim: Eating disorders manifest numerous psychological and social consequences for both individuals and society. The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in alleviating COVID-19-related anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and depression among women diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.
Methods & Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The research population consisted of women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in Tehran in 2022. Thirty participants were selected through convenience sampling from psychological clinics in the 6th and 8th districts of Tehran, and were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=15) or the control group (n=15). Questionnaires assessing eating attitudes, COVID-19-related anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, and depression were administered to both groups. The intervention group received a total of eight 90-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance through the SPSS software version 24.
Results: The results of the study showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy led to a significant reduction in mental anxiety related to COVID-19 (P<0.001, F=36.41), physical anxiety related to COVID-19 (P<0.001, F=39.15), fear of negative evaluation (P<0.001, F=41.92), and depression (P<0.001, F=47.48) in women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy demonstrated efficacy in alleviating psychological disorders among women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Given the potentially severe impairment of mental health experienced by numerous individuals with anorexia nervosa, it is imperative to implement measures for identifying and providing psychological interventions to vulnerable groups.

 

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Background & Aim: With advancements in treatment and an increase in the prevalence of diseases, the number of patients requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care units (ICUs) continues to rise each year. The ABCDE bundle is a multi-component, evidence-based approach designed to improve patient outcomes in the ICU. This study aimed to determine the effect of the ABCDE bundle on the risk of pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis and delirium in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation.
Methods & Materials: This randomized, single-blind clinical trial was conducted between September 2021 and January 2022. The sample included 100 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the ICU department of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, who were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group using block randomization. The intervention group received the ABCDE bundle over a period of 7 days. The control group received routine care. The criteria for assessing complications included the risk of pressure ulcers and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), evaluated at the end of the intervention and on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7. The study utilized several assessment tools: the COMHON Index for pressure ulcers, the Wells Deep Vein Thrombosis Scale, and the Delirium Evaluation Tool in the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20, employing chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and independent t-tests.
Results: A decrease in the average pressure ulcer risk score was observed in the intervention group on day seven (P<0.05). In this group, the incidence of delirium fell decreased from 64.4% to 13.3% (P<0.05), indicating a statistically significant reduction. Additionally, the risk score for deep vein thrombosis in the control group significantly increased on day seven compared to the intervention group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of the ABCDE bundle significantly reduces the risk of pressure ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, and delirium in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation and represents an effective strategy that can be implemented by nurses and other trained healthcare professionals.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20190625044000N1