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Background & Aim: Cardiac rehabilitation is one of the most effective ways of secondary prevention in patients with myocardial infarction manifestations. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation on clinical manifestations of myocardial infarction in post-MI patients.

Methods & Materials: In this interventional study, 66 patients (58 males and eight females) with myocardial infarction who were hospitalized in public hospitals of Ahwaz were selected using purposeful sampling. The participants were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. Data was collected using a self-structured valid and reliable instrument. The intervention group participated in an 8-week cardiac rehabilitation program. Data on the clinical manifestations were collected eight weeks later. Data were analyzed in SPSS.

Results: The results showed that there was significant differences between two groups in hypertension crisis (P=0.03), chest pain, dyspnea, fatigue and palpitation after the cardiac rehabilitation (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation program decreased the clinical manifestations of myocardial infarction in post-MI patients. It is recommended to perform this procedure in the post-MI patients.

 

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Background & Aim: Self-care and self-management, as two effective strategies play an effective role in controlling pain and quality of life. Therefore, considering the characteristics and dimensions of these two concepts, this study aimed to compare the effect of self-care education and pain self-management on the nature of pain and quality of life in patients with sickle cell disease.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial study, 75 patients with sickle cell disease, referred to the thalassemia clinic of Baqaei hospital 2 in Ahvaz and Shahid Beheshti hospital in Abadan, were selected and randomly divided into three groups of 25 people (self-care, pain self-management and control groups). The two intervention groups (self-care and pain self-management) were divided into groups of five people, and received specific training during four sessions for three months. The nature of pain and quality of life of patients were assessed four times (before the intervention, one month, two months and three months after the intervention) using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire. The SPSS software version 22 was used to analyze the data.
Results: The results showed that pain self-management and self-care programs were effective in improving the quality of life and pain of patients with sickle cell. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two intervention groups in the nature of pain and quality of life.
Conclusion: Self-care and pain self-management have similar effects on reducing patients’ pain and improving their quality of life.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20160726029086N5
 

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Background & Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system that can adversely affect patients’ sexual lives. This study aimed to compare the effects of counseling based on Leventhal’s self-regulation model and the BETTER model on sexual function and satisfaction in women with MS.
Methods & Materials: This randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups was conducted from April to September 2024 at the Neurology Clinic of Bu Ali Hospital in Qazvin, Iran. A convenience sample of 100 women with MS were randomly assigned to the study groups using a balanced block randomization method with a block size of six. Participants in the intervention groups received three weekly counseling sessions. The control group received educational materials on sexual health after study completion. Data were collected at baseline, and at one and three months post-intervention using the demographic questionnaire, the Female Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and the short form of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS version 26.
Results: There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between the groups at baseline (P>0.05). The analysis showed significant effects of time and group, as well as a significant time-by-group interaction for sexual satisfaction and function (P<0.05). Both the BETTER-model and Leventhal-based interventions produced significant improvements in mean scores on sexual satisfaction and function compared to the control group (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the BETTER and Leventhal interventions in improving sexual satisfaction and function (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Counseling grounded in either the BETTER model or Leventhal’s self-regulation model appears to be effective for enhancing sexual satisfaction and function in women with MS.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20221120056555N1