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This is a quasi - experimental study, made with the objective of a comparsion between the impacts of two methods of training in characteristic signs ,symptoms and risky factors of increased intracranial pressure in head injury patients upon the cognitive domain of a number of nurses serving at some selected hospitals of Tehran Medical Sciences University in 1375 . The samples were made of 74 male and female nurses from CCUs and / orsurgery wards , who were divided randomly into two groups of 35 and 39 nurses respectively . The training approach concerning the former group was made through lectures, while that of the latter used computers .The data collection tool was a questionnarie consisting of two parts . The first part dealt with individual demographies and the second part included 40 questions . 25 of which were multiple choice and the remaining 15 were matching questions about the characteristic signs, symptoms and risky factors of increased intracranial pressure . The questionnaries werefdled in by the samples in two pre - test and post - test stages , while the researcher was present. The collected data were organized into 24 tables and are analized throughdescriptive and inferential statistic methods . Absolute , relative and mean indicatots , mean standard deflation , mean variation, standard deriation of mean variation , as well as McNemar, paired and student tests were used for the analysis. The findings demonstrate that the number of those filling in the questionnaries increased following the application of lecture and computerized training methods..The statistic results of the paired test in relation with the lecture method ( t~12.312 , of - 34 ) show a meaningful difference in comparison with the computerized method ( t=q.528 , of- 35) atp< 0.01 level. The results of thestudent test, however, did not reveal a significant statistic difference when the impacts of the two approaches are compared. The study results, also make it clear that in lecture approach , the mean variation of the grades given to the cognitive domain shows a significant increase in terms of all the variables excluding those of : not obtaining information during education , in - service training courses , and other cases and records of serving at CCUs or neurology surgery wards for more than 48 months. At the conclusion , the applications of the results of this study are mentioned, and suggestions are made - on the basis of the findings here - to bring the findings and results of the study to Completion and also to make further studies.

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This research is a descriptive- analytic study which has been conducted inorder to determine the degree of tuberculous patients knowledge of their tubereulosis disease and its relation to therapeutic regimen in Tehran TB control centers.In this research , 120 tuberculous patients calling on tuberculosis control centers in Tehran andbeing under drug therdpyfor about 2-9 months were selected as subjects in this research . sampling hasbeeneasyaswellashaphazardlydatawasgatheredthroughaquestionnaire. the questionnaire used in this research includes 3 section . After gathering the data, descriptive and deductive statistics used in order to analyse the data more over, chi-square and fisher Exact Test used to study the relation between the knowledge variables and therapeutic regimen in accordance with demographic characteristics and chouporof coefficient used to determine correlation intensity.Research results concerning units under investigation showed that the majority on insufficient knowledge of their disease which the minority (%18) had a sufficient knowledge, the majority (%62) had a proper drug therapy while the minority (%1) did not the majority (%72) did not Take a efficient diet while the minority (%2) took a proper diet, the majority (%58) medium personal Health care while the minority (%15) folllowed a good personal health care, and generally the majority (%47) had a medium therapeutic regimen while the minority (%11) did not have sufficientRegarding the relation between the degree of knowledge and thrapeutic therapy which was the main objective in this research,the result ofperson,s correlation coefficient (z= 7.88, r-o.62 jshowed a direct correlation in such a manner that the degree of knowledge will increase with quality of therapeutic regimen.

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Background & Aim: Primary dysmenorrhea is highly prevalanet and causes much work loss and discomfort. Regard to critical role of women in family and society it is necessitate that to betaken proper investment for improving their mental and physical health.

Methods & Materials: In this study 100 student suffer from primary dysmenorrhea were selected by targeted sampling and take their in two equal groups, case (acupressure group) and control (sham group) randomly. Initially in addition to personal identity, we recorded their history of menstruation, physical activity, vital signs, menstrual pain intensity. Treatment was given during two consecutive menstrual cycles coincident with pain and bleeding by acupressure in case group, and pressure in control group in two time of 15 minutes and 30 minutes interval during 6 hours after onset of dysmenorrhea in each cycle. In case group the treatment was given on lumbar, abdomine, foreleg and ear points, and in control group on placebo points by single blind method. Pain rating was done with use of V.A.S (Visual Analgesic Scale) in 30 min, 1 hr, 2hr and 3hr interval after treatment.

Results: The results showed that mean pain scores before (8.21.6) and after (2.61.3) in case group have significant difference. Also there is significant difference between mean pain score before and after treatment in case and control groups (p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study showed that acupressure at specific points in lumbar, abdominal, ear reduce the pan intensity and psychic and mental due to primary dymenorrhea. Therefore acupressure could be used as a non-medicament, inexpensive and safe method in decrease of pain of dysmenorrhea in girl and women.

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Background & Aim: Pulse Oximeter monitoring technology has become so common in intensive health care settings over the last decade that blood oxygen level is now considered as the fifth vital sign. However, it seems that medical and nursing staffs are not specially educated to operate with the devices. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge of medical assistants (residents), nurses and anesthesia technicians of pediatric intensive care units regarding Pulse Oximetery.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional study. The study population consisted of all nurses, first year to third year medical assistants, and anesthesia technicians who working in intensive care units in Pediatric Center. A questionnaire was used for data gathering that had three sections: the first section as demographic data (occupational condition, record of service in pediatric unit, having the experience of using Pulse Oximetery, having enough knowledge about Pulse Oximetery, and its educational program type) the second section (eighteen short answer questions) in order to determine the participants knowledge about Pulse Oximetery and the third section (four imaginary clinical scenarios) evaluating the participants interpretation on Pulse Oximetery reports and its changes in patients. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (Fisher exact test) by SPSS v.15 and EPI6 computer softwares.

Results: The analyses showed that 77.4% of the participants did not pass any educational course regarding Pulse Oximetery, also 67.9% of them correctly identified what Pulse Oximeter measures, and 47.2% of the subjects correctly identified how a Pulse Oximeter works, and 13.2% identified its normal range, but only 26.4% had a correct understanding of the Oxhemoglobin dissociation curve and explained it completely true. It was found that the majority of the participants were wrong in their answers about Pulse Oximeter monitoring. They made mistakes in interpretation of the imaginary clinical scenarios.

Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the majority of pediatric intensive care unit staffs have little knowledge regarding Pulse Oximeter monitoring, then with attention to the vast usage of the technology the necessity of formal educational programs in colleges and retraining courses during employment about the device for health care providers is apparent.

 

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Background & Aim: Youths are the most at risk group for HIV/AIDS in the world and education of the preventive measurements is the most effective way for decreasing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among them. Due to ever-increasing cases of HIV and the importance of education, we compared the effects of three educational methods (peer education, education by physician and giving pamphlets) on knowledge of female high school students&apos of Kerman shah on HIV/AIDS.

Methods & Materials: One thousand and five hundred female third grade students were recruited from 21 high schools using stratified random sampling method. An average of 73 students were selected from each school and participated in a pre-test exam using a questionnaire. Of 1500 students, 498 and 502 students were taught by general practitioners and peers, respectively. Pamphlets were presented to 500 other students. Twenty days after the educational intervention, the participants were contributed in a post-test exam using the very questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS version 11.5.

Results: The students&apos mean age was 16.78 (SD=0.7). The mean scores of pretests and post-tests in all 3 groups were significantly different (P<0.001). The mean score for the group taught by general practitioners (10.7±3.6) was higher than the scores of other two group scores (8.8±3.4 and 7.3±3.9, respectively for peer education and pamphlet groups) after the interventions. Bonferroni statistical test showed the significant difference (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Education presented by general practitioners seems to be more effective than the other two ways in increasing students&apos knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

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Background & Aim: Considering the importance and high prevalence of hepatitis C among substance abusers, especially injection drug users, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C in self-introduced substance abusers in Farabi Addiction Hospital in Kermanshah in 2007.

Methods & Materials: A total of 263 drug addicts&apos medical files were assessed during the study. Data (individual characteristics and results of serological tests) were gathered through the files. Data were analyzed by measuring frequency of correlation between the variables (Chi square test and logistic regression).

Results: The mean age was 31.82±9.18 years mean duration of drug abuse was 121.7±29.1 months for prisoners. From 263 individuals in the study, 22.1% were infected with HCV. The most common ways of substance use were injection (33.1%), and fumigation (32.3%). There was no history of imprisonment in 74.9% of individuals and 52.9% had no history of drug injection. There was a history of physical or mental disorder in 25.5% of individuals. The Chi square statistical test showed significant relationship between HCV infection and substance abuse, and the way of consumption and the t-test showed significant relationship with average daily consumption frequency. The highest relative risk ratio was for positive history of physical or mental illness (OR=8.33), and positive history of imprisonment (OR=5.94). Having multiple sexual partners increased the risk of being infected with the HCV (OR=2.92).

Conclusion: The risk of HCV infection was independently increased with having a history of imprisonment, having multiple sexual partners, presence of physical or mental illnesses, and consumption methods in substance abusers.

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Background & Aim: Several factors have been reported to be influential in development of the premenstrual syndrome. There are no studies available on relationship between premenstrual syndrome with body mass index in Iran. This study aimed to determine this relationship among university students.

Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on a random sample of 500 students living in the dorms of Arak University of Medical Sciences. The participants had not stress, anxiety and severe depression on the basis of the DASS21. Data were gathered using Social Status Questionnaire, including demographic, menstrual status, reproductive and eating habits and body mass index measurement items. The participants completed the abbreviated form of premenstrual syndrome evaluation within seven days of bleeding up to two days after onset of bleeding for one cycle. Using logistic regression analysis, the association was assessed by adjusting for confounding variables.

Results: A majority of the students had normal BMI (<25) (90.8%). The results showed that the risk of premenstrual syndrome in the participants with high BMI was 2.43 times more than the participants with normal BMI (OR=2.43 CI=8.33-1.66).

Conclusion: High BMI increased the risk of premenstrual syndrome. Interventions to decrease the BMI should be designed and implemented in overweight and obese patients with premenstrual syndrome.

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Background & Aim: Moral sensitivity has various dimensions including personal sentiments, scientific competency, and reasoning and decision making capabilities. To achieve this, some personal traits and educational preparedness are needed. The aim of this study was to determine nurses’ moral sensitivity and its relationship with demographic and professional characteristics in hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted on 198 nurses working in the medical wards of hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2016. Census sampling method was implemented. Data were collected through a demographic and professional characteristics form and the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ). The data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 13 using descriptive statistics, T test, Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA.
Results: The mean score for nurses’ moral sensitivity was 4.84±0.48 (out of 7). The highest scores were related to the domains of “Interpersonal orientation” and “following the rules”. The lowest scores were related to the domains of “experiencing moral conflict” and “modifying autonomy”. There was a significant and inverse correlation between age and “modifying autonomy” (P=0.008, r=-0.193) and also between age and “following the rules” (P=0.034, r=-0.156). Moreover, there was a significant and inverse correlation between work experience and “following the rules” (P=0.009, r=-0.187).
Conclusion: Given that the nurses gained a low score in the domain of “modifying autonomy”, it is suggested that client centered care and patient’s autonomy be emphasized in developing nursing curriculum and in service training programs.
 

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Background & Aim: Insufficient health literacy is a major barrier to self-care in patients with heart failure. The purpose of this study was to determine relationship between health literacy and self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure.
Methods & Materials: In this correlational study, 100 patients with heart failure who were referred to teaching hospitals in Qom were selected through the convenience sampling method in 2017. The data collection tools were the heart failure-specific health literacy scale, the self-care of heart failure index (SCHFI) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple liner regression analysis on the SPSS software version 16.
Results: More than half of the patients had a moderate level of self-care. The highest and lowest health literacy scores were respectively related to critical health literacy (10.47±2.56) and functional health literacy (9.14±3.74). The result of multiple regression analysis showed that only functional health literacy was a better predictor of self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure (β=0.30, P=0.014).
Conclusion: The findings showed that functional health literacy was an important predictor of self-care behaviors among patients with heart failure. It seems necessary to design effective interventions in order to improve patients’ skills for analyzing functional information and decision making in self-care.
 

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Background & Aim: Today, COVID-19 has become a serious threat to global health. Due to their certain conditions, hemodialysis patients are more at risk than others. Therefore, self-care in these patients is more necessary. We aimed to assess the self-care of hemodialysis patients against COVID-19 disease and the factors influencing self-care.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 219 patients referred to the dialysis ward of selected public hospitals in Lorestan province, were selected by the census method and examined. Patients' information was collected by a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire on self-care against COVID-19. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22, with the significance level of 0.05.
Results: The mean score of self-care against COVID-19 in patients was 186.33, and most patients had a good level of self-care. There was a significant relationship between the self-care score and place of residence (P<0.001), and comorbidity (P=0.044). Among the multiple sources of information, there was a significant difference in the self-care score between cyberspace (P=0.047), and family and relatives (P<0.001). Also, comorbidity, urban residence, and academic education level significantly predicted self-care.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, developing proper training programs is suggested considering the factors influencing self-care. Also, capacities such as cyberspace and patients' families should be used to make the training more effective.