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Background & Aim: Maternal request for caesarean section due to fear of normal vaginal delivery (NVD) is one of the main reasons for the high rate of caesarean section. This study aimed to compare the fear of NVD and type of delivery between two groups of pregnant women attended childbirth preparation classes (CPC) and women received routine prenatal care (RPC).

Methods & Materials: In this prospective cohort study, 202 Primigravid women attended healthcare centers for prenatal care services in the East of Guilan were selected using convenient sampling in 2013-2014. Fear of NVD was assessed using a childbirth attitude questionnaire at two stages (before attending CPC or receiving RPC, then at the third trimester of pregnancy). Both groups were followed up to the delivery time. Data were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics (Chi square, paired t-test, ANOVA, t-test) through SPSS v.16. P<0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: There was no significant difference (P=0.23) in the mean score of fear of NVD between two groups before attending CPC (35.59±8.78) and receiving RPC (37.08±9.08). The comparison of the mean score of fear of NVD between two groups at the third trimester of pregnancy showed a significant reduction (P<0.001) in the first group (32.30±8.31) than in the second group (37.29±9.55). A significant difference was also observed between two groups in the rate of NVD (P=0.002).

Conclusion: Results confirm the importance of CPC in decreasing fear of NVD and increasing the rate of NVD in primigravid women attended these classes. Therefore, women’s attendance at CPC is recommended to be encouraged.

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Background & Aim: Sedation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery can prevent the side effects of the treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of controlled sedation based on the Richmond scale on the duration of mechanical ventilation and the changes of blood pressure in patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Methods & Materials: In a single blind randomized clinical trial (IRCT2017050517693N2) from June to August 2017, a convenience sample of 80 patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Heshamat Center, Rasht, were selected and randomly allocated into two groups (each group=40). Sedative drug dose was determined using the Richmond agitation sedation scale in the intervention group and determined routinely (based on hemodynamic changes) in the control group. Pain as a confounding variable was evaluated using CPOT tool. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA using the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The mean age of samples was 59.89±7.53 and 66.7% of them were male. There was a significant difference between two groups in the duration of mechanical ventilation (P<0.04), the changes of patients’ blood pressure (P<0.05), need for a vasopressor drug (P<0.05) until extubation and need for the first administration of sedatives (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Utilizing the Richmond tool can reduce the patient’s dependence on ventilator and changes in arterial pressure. Also, using this tool can prevent unnecessary and early administration of sedative and vasopressor drugs in patients.
 
 

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Background & Aim: Self-care plays an important role in the management of care for patients with chronic renal failure. In order to provide effective education, it is necessary to identify problems, concerns and challenges in this group of patients. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges of self-care in the patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Methods & Materials: This study is part of a research project on adherence to treatment regimen in hemodialysis patients referred to hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Patients with the highest and lowest mean (SD) scores of self-care were selected by the purposeful sampling method and finally, 22 in-depth semi-structured interviews were performed with 18 interviewees. All data were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using the conventional content analysis approach proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.
Results: Findings from the data analysis included four categories: "the mismatch between the view of patient and the view of nurse", "missing loop training", "culture: a double sword ", and "dual role of religious beliefs".
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that patients undergoing hemodialysis faced many challenges in self-care. They had difficulty in understanding the meaning of self-care and its implications. There is a need to plan for educating these patients and also changing their religious and cultural beliefs.
 

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Background & Aim: Imbalance and risk of falling is one of the most common problems in the elderly. Various interventions have been suggested in order to improve the elderly’s physical performance and balance. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Tai Chi Chuan exercise on the balance status of elderly men.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial study, 40 elderly men referred to Golabchi health center in Kashan in 2021 were selected by the convenience sampling. Using blocked randomization with the block size of four, they were assigned into intervention or control groups. First, the balance status of the participants was assessed by Fullerton test. The maximum score of this test is 40 and has a direct relationship with the quality of the balance state. Then, the Tai Chi Chuan exercises were performed in the intervention group for 20 sessions of 30-40 minutes. The control group continued their routine visits. Two weeks after the intervention, the balance test was performed again. To compare the demographic variables between the two groups, t-test and Chi-square tests or their non-parametric equivalents were used. ANCOVA test was used to compare the balance status between the two groups using the SPSS software version 20. The significance level was considered less than 0.05.
Results: The results showed the two groups were not significantly different in demographic variables. Although the comparison of the median of two groups before the intervention had no statistically significant difference (P=0.988), ANCOVA showed that considering the scores before the intervention as a covariate, the Fullerton scores after the intervention were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: This study showed that Tai Chi Chuan exercises can improves the balance of the elderly men, and its use is recommended for elderly patients to reduce the possibility of falling and related problems.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20200108046058N1