Background & Aim: Stress is a main problem among nurses which affects their professional performance and personal life resulting in conflict between work and life. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stress management on work-family conflicts.

Methods & Materials: In a quasi-experimental two-group study, 64 medical nurses were selected randomly to the study from Shahid lavasani hospital in Tehran. Data were gathered using a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, work-family conflict items, and nursing stress scale. Then, the experimental group participated in a 2-day stress management course. The questionnaire was completed by the participants one month later. Data were analyzed in the SPSS v.18.

Results: The mean work-family conflict score was 3.97 in the experimental group at baseline. It declined after the intervention to 3.357 (P<0.001). There was statistically significant difference between the two groups on work-family conflict after the intervention (P=0.007). There was a significant decrease in the job stress from baseline (46.52) to the post-intervention measurement (35.61) in the experimental group (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the mean of job stress after the intervention (P=0.014).

Conclusion: Stress management education declined work-family conflict and job stress among nurses. This education should be used in nursing clinical and educational training programs.

  Background & Aim: Mothers often feel anxious about giving care to their premature babies. This maternal stress is associated with negative attitudes and behaviors towards babies. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Kangaroo mother care on stress among mothers with premature babies .

  Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 46 pairs of mothers and their premature babies hospitalized in the ICUs of Shahid Sadooghi and Tamin Ejtemaee hospitals. The participants were selected using convenience sampling method and were assigned into two intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, the Kangaroo mother care was provided to the babies after breastfeeding for about 30 minutes once a day for four weeks. Maternal stress was measured using the Parental Stress Scale before and immediately after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney test . 

  Results: The mean of stress score in mothers of the intervention and control groups were 102.0 ± 17.02 and 174.52 ± 18.25, respectively (P<0.001). The stress score was significantly different before and after the intervention among mothers of the intervention group (P<0.001) .

  Conclusion: The Kangaroo mother care decreased stress score among mothers who had premature babies. The Kangaroo mother care is strongly recommended to be used by mothers with premature babies .

Background & Aim: One of the non-pharmacological ways to reduce labor pain is husband’s attendance during childbirth. So, the present study aimed to evaluate couples' attitudes toward husband’s attendance in delivery room.

Methods & Materials: This study was a descriptive-analytical survey conducted on 259 pregnant women and their spouses who referred to Alzahra hospital in Rasht, in 2014. Samples were selected by convenience method. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and assess attitudes of mothers and their husbands toward husband’s attendance in delivery room. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 17.

Results: The mean age for mothers was 26.42±5.59 years and for their husbands was 30.69±5.71 years. The mean score of mothers' attitudes toward husband’s attendance in delivery room was 102.99±13.47 which 97.3 percent had positive attitude, 1.9 percent had neutral attitude and 0.8 percent had negative attitude. The mean score of husbands’ attitudes toward husband’s attendance in delivery room was 100.88±14.36 which 91.9 percent had positive attitude, 5.8 percent had neutral attitude and 2.3 percent had negative attitude. Also, linear regression determined that there was a significant relationship between mother's education level and attitude score, so that attitude score increased about 0.19 with increasing level of education.

Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of couples’ positive attitudes toward husband’s attendance during labor and delivery, it is suggested that these findings be taken into account when designing essential facilities and measures for the implementation of mother-friendly hospital program and the promotion of natural delivery.