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This research is a descriptive study in order to assess barriers and facilitators of research utilization among nurses working in teaching hospitals in Tabriz, year 2001. The aim is to identify causes of low extent of utilization and also to assess barriers and facilitators of researches. This study was conducted upon 304 nurses working in 12 teaching hospitals of Tabriz, which were selected by random sampling. Instrument used for study was questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS (10). The results of this study showed that three major barriers for research utilization included: 1) inadequate facilities for implementation, 2) Physicians will not cooperate with implementation and 3) the nurses do not have sufficient time to read researches. Facilitators which nurses suggested, emphasized on the role of education in enhancing their knowledge and skills of research evaluation.

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Background & Aim: Operating room personnel are always exposed to blood-borne infections because of Needlestick Injuries (NSIs). Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention to promote NSIs preventive behaviors among the operating room personnel based on the health belief model (HBM).
Methods & Materials: This is an interventional study with a pre-test/post-test, control group design, conducted on 90 operating room personnel (45 personnel in each group) from four hospitals in Hamadan City in 2018. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire including demographic and professional variables and HBM constructs. The intervention included four educational sessions held for the experimental group within one month. Both groups were followed up for three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 18 using independent t-test, chi-square, Fisher exact test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).
Results: The results showed that before the educational intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores of HBM constructs between the experimental and control groups (P>0.05). However, after the educational intervention, both the experimental and control groups had a statistically significant difference between before and after changes in the mean scores of knowledge, perceived vulnerability, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, and NSIs preventive behaviors (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results, applying the educational intervention based on the HBM is an appropriate and effective approach in preventing NSIs among the operating room personnel.
 

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Background & Aim: The important aspects of maternal postpartum adjustment are readiness in caring for the family, newly-added member and self as well as return to pre-pregnancy functional status. The aim of the study was to determine the predictors of postpartum maternal functioning.
Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 422 newly delivered mothers attended the healthcare centers of Bonab in 2016 using the cluster random sampling method. Data were collected through a socio-demographic characteristics form, the Edinburgh postpartum depression scale, and the functional status questionnaire. The multivariate linear regression model on the SPSS software version 21 was used to determine the predictors of functional status.
Results: Mean (SD) of the functional status total score was 2.3 (0.24). The maximum and the minimum scores were in the subdomains “infant care” [3.64 (0.32)], and “social activities and society” [1.43 (0.41)], respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between postpartum depression and total score of functional status, self-care and social activities and society subscales. According to the general linear model, postpartum depression, spouse’s age and job, economic status, mother’s education level and the number of pregnancy were the predictors of mothers’ functional status during postpartum period.
Conclusion: Postpartum depression and some socio-demographic characteristics are among the variables influencing maternal functional status. Therefore, the early diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression and consideration of the mothers’ socio-demographic characteristics, can improve maternal functional status and result in better maternal postpartum adjustment.
 

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Background & Aim: Nurses constitute the majority of the workforce in the healthcare system. The use of digital technologies, including mHealth applications, is essential and effective in improving the quality level of healthcare services provided by nursing staff. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to investigate the use of mHealth applications for professional purposes by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods & Materials: This is an applied study conducted using the descriptive, cross-sectional method in 2021. The study population was nurses in four public hospitals in Isfahan. The sampling method was a one-stage cluster sampling. The data collection tool was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability was assessed. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics on the SPSS software version 26.
Results: The data of 93 questionnaires were analyzed. About 63 percent of nurses answered (with a reason) that they did not use these applications. This study showed that the use of mHealth applications is not common among the nurses. They need the training to use the applications. There were concerns regarding the mHealth applications' quality. The nurses believed that using a mHealth application would help them perform their nursing duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion: Based on the study results, planning for the development of mHealth applications tailored to the nurses' needs and training nurses to use the applications in clinical settings are recommended. There is also a need to provide and develop specialized evaluation tools and working groups to review and report on the quality of mHealth applications.

 

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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: Osteoporosis is a common problem in menopausal women, and adopting preventive behaviors is crucial in addressing this issue. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention based on the health belief model (HBM) on promoting osteoporosis-preventive behaviors in menopausal women.
Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study with a control group was conducted on 64 menopausal women referred to Urmia urban health centers in 2023. Participants were selected using random sampling and then randomly allocated into two groups: control (32) and intervention (32). The data collection instruments included questionnaires comprising demographic information, knowledge assessments, Health Belief Model constructs, food frequency, and physical activity items. Following pre-test evaluations and needs assessment, a training program was designed and delivered to the intervention group. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26.
Results: The mean scores for knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, and cues to action in the intervention group significantly increased compared to both the pre-intervention assessment and the control group. Conversely, there was a significant decrease in the mean score for perceived barriers (P<0.05). These changes resulted in a significant increase in the mean score for osteoporosis preventive behaviors within the intervention group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Education based on the HBM has been effective in shaping the knowledge and health beliefs of menopausal women concerning osteoporosis and its preventive behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended that health educators incorporate the approaches and findings of this study when developing educational interventions related to osteoporosis.