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Background & Aim: Depression is common among cardiac patients, especially patients with heart failure and leads to a poor prognosis. This study aimed to assess the effect of exercise on depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure, attending the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 60 patients with NYHA class II and III heart failure who referred to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center of Shafa Hospital affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2015 were randomly assigned into two groups of 30 patients. Subjects in the intervention group participated in a supervised 8-week exercise program, 3 days per week, while those in the control group only received standard routine care. Data were collected before and after the intervention by the demographic form and the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-8). Data analysis was done by Chi-Square, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U and Nonparametric ANCOVA tests using the SPSS version 21 and R software.
Results: The two groups were homogeneous in terms of depression score before the intervention. The median and interquartile range of the score of depression were 10 (5.25) in the control group and 8.5 (9.25) in the intervention group which showed a significant difference (P=0.042). By adjusting the variables of the duration of the disease and the pre-test scores of depression symptoms by non-parametric covariance test, the difference between the two groups was also significant.
Conclusion: Exercise can reduce depressive symptoms in patients with heart failure.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT201605107844N10
 

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Background & Aim: Female genital cancers are the third most common type of malignancy among women. Considering the importance of these cancers, the present study was conducted to determine the age-standardized rate (ASR) of female genital cancers in Iran.
Methods & Materials: In this systematic review, six international databases (Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar), and four national databases (Scientific Information Database, MagIran, IranMedex, and IranDoc) were searched in 2017. Thereafter, Persian and English papers referring to the ASR of female genital cancers in Iran were included. The Joanna Briggs checklist was used to evaluate the quality of studies. Data were independently extracted by two reviewers.
Results: A total of 264 papers were found in the initial search of the databases, and 27 papers were included for final analysis. Based on the random-effect model, the ASR was 2.07 (95% CI, 1.83-2.31) for cervical cancer, 3.15 (95% CI, 2.75-3.54) for ovarian cancer, and 1.52 (95% CI, 1.32-1.73) per 100,000 for uterine cancer.
Conclusion: The ASR of female genital cancers in Iran was lower than other countries of the world. It should be noted that the results of this review must be judged with caution because of the high heterogeneity of the studies.
 

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Background & Aim: Falling is a serious problem in the elderly population, with many physical, psychological, social and economic consequences. The fear of falling has been considered an activity limiting condition, which can lead to a reduction in the quality of life of the elderly people. The study aimed to determine effect of fall care behaviors training on fear of falling among the elderly people referred to health centers.
Methods & Materials: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was carried out on 110 elderly people referred to health centers in Ardabil in 2017. Participants were selected by the multi-stage random sampling and divided into intervention and control groups by random allocation. The data collection tools were consisted of demographic questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination: MMSE, Abbreviated Mental Test Score: AMTS and Fall efficacy scale international: FES-I. Data were analyzed using statistical tests on the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of fear of falling in the intervention and control groups before the intervention were 33.91±12.03 and 31.22±14.76, respectively (P=0.29). Three months after the intervention, the mean and standard deviation of fear of falling were 22.32±4.45 and 30.85±15.03 (P<0.001). Also, ANCOVA was used for controlling pre-test scores and level of education compared to the post-test scores in the two groups (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results showed that education on fall care behaviors reduces the fear of falling in the elderly people. Therefore, this education is suggested to be considered in the self-care program for elderly people.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180205038618N1
 

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Background & Aim: Women with cancer face many stresses. Social support can facilitate coping skills and improve active coping strategies. The purpose of this study was to assess perceived stress and its relationship with perceived social support in women undergoing chemotherapy for genital cancers.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive, correlational study was conducted from March to May 2016 on 151 patients undergoing chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers in oncology wards of Alzahra and Shahid Ghazi hospitals in Tabriz. The perceived stress scale (PSS) and perceived social support scale (PRQ-85-part2) were completed through interviews with patients. Data analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation test, one-way ANOVA and independent t-test.
Results: Mean (and standard deviation) total score of perceived stress for women was 42.26 (3.97) in the score range of 0-56. Mean (and standard deviation) total score of perceived social support for women was 127.55 (16.64) in the score range of 25-175. Based on the Pearson correlation test, no statistically significant correlation was observed between perceived stress and perceived social support (P=0.324, r=0.08).
Conclusion: The findings indicated that the perceived stress score for women with genital cancers was high. Nevertheless, no relationship was observed between perceived stress and perceived social support. Therefore, further studies are needed in this area.
 

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Background & Aim: Nursing prescription is an expanding category with many supporters and critics. The present research attempts to answer three questions: What are the fields of activity of nurse prescribers? What are the challenges of nursing prescription? and what are the positive outcomes of nursing prescription?
Methods & Materials: In the present systematic review, all relevant papers published until March 2017, were examined. Search was done in databases: SID, Iran Medex, Iran Doc, Magiran, Science Direct, Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library and with keywords: nursing prescription, nurse prescribing, nurse prescriber, independent prescribing, supplementary prescribing and their equivalent terms in persian. Inclusion criteria were articles in English or persian, quasi experimental, questionnaire based study, qualitative study and relevant to the objectives of the study. Exclusion criteria were review articles, posters, presentation, and letter to the editor.
Results: A total of 72 articles that were included in the systematic review, showed extensive nurse prescribing activity in the fields of diabetes, mental health, rheumatology, dermatology, primary care, elderly care, epilepsy, pain, asthma, hypertension, constipation, emergency, hemodialysis, glaucoma and elderly. Challenges included: the critical look of the care team and lack of support, lack of attention to professional competence assessment, legal constraints, and lack of community awareness of the role of nurse purscribers. The positive outcomes of nursing prescription were classified in three areas related to the patient, the nurse and the organization.
Conclusion: Nurse prescribing activity is changing, and identifying its challenges and outcomes will help it progress.
 

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Background & Aim: A desirable level of happiness among nurses is related to the quality of nursing care services. This study aimed to evaluate the level of happiness among nurses and its’ relation to some demographic factors in Zanjan province- 2017.
Methods & Materials: In this cross sectional study, 371 nurses employed in the hospitals affiliated to Zanjan University of medical sciences were participated. The Oxford happiness inventory was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test through the SPSS software version 16. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of age of samples were 32.2±7.08. Most nurses were female (86.79%) and married (68.46%). Most nurses had a bachelor’s degree (94.88%) and the rest of them had a master’s degree. The mean score of happiness in nurses was 43.1±13.3 (the range 0-87). Concerning the demographic and occupational variables, a statistically significant relationship was found between job satisfaction and happiness level (P=0.049).
Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, the level of happiness in the nurses was at an acceptable level. Considering the relationship between happiness and job satisfaction, and given the importance of job satisfaction in the motivation and retention of nurses in the profession, it is necessary to pay attention to this matter.
 

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The pre-post test study with control group is one of the most widely used methods to evaluate clinical research and educational designs. The data analysis of this design is done in a variety of ways. However, considering that the interaction between the pre-test score and intervention score is considered a threat for external validity in these types of study designs, the ANCOVA test is recommended for its control. Also, due to the importance of accurately estimating the effect size of intervention, it is necessary to assess the differences in the accuracy of its estimate among conventional methods. In this regard, the ANCOVA test, a common linear model that combines the analysis of variance and regression, estimates the effect size better than other common analyzes. In this article, the data of a hypothetical study were analyzed using these two tests to clarify the different results between the independent t-test and the ANCOVA test. The result showed that the obtained effect size from ANCOVA was greater than that from the independent t-test. Therefore, it is suggested that the ANCOVA test be used to analyze the data and estimate the effect size in the pre-post test designs with control group.
 

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Background & Aim: Women's health is important in middle age, and lifestyle, including healthy eating, has an impact on it. This research was aimed to determine the effect of an educational program based on BASNEF model on nutrition in middle-aged women.
Methods & Materials: This clinical trial was conducted on 95 women under coverage of the healthcare centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2016. The demographic characterizes and the BASNEF constructs regarding nutritional behavior were measured by questionnaire before and eight weeks after the intervention. The intervention was performed in three one-hour sessions. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests using the SPSS software version 16.
Results: Before the intervention, both groups had not any significant differences in all variables and constructs. After the intervention, in the experimental group, the median and interquartile range were 10±3 for knowledge, 38±10 for attitude, 3±1 for subjective norms and 1±1 for behavioral intention. But in the control group, the scores were 6±2 for knowledge, 37±5 for attitude, 4±1 for subjective norms and 1±1 for behavioral intention. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P˂0.05). However, the scores of enabling factors were not significantly different between the two groups of intervention (3±1) and control (3±1) (P=0.4).
Conclusion: Designing and implementing the educational program based on BASNEF model not only can improve the knowledge and attitude about healthy nutrition in middle-aged women, but also modify their behavioral intention.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2016042427566N1
 

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Background & Aim: Active participation of families can be an influencing factor on delirium in patients hospitalized in the ICU. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of scheduled visits on delirium intensity in elderly patients hospitalized in the ICU.
Methods & Materials: This clinical trial was conducted on 70 elderly patients hospitalized in the ICU of Ali ibn Abi Talib hospital in Rafsanjan from November 1, 2017 to March 1, 2018. In the intervention group, patients were visited in two out-of-schedule sessions for three days in the morning and night. The control group received routine visits for 3-5 minutes. To assess delirium, the Neecham questionnaire with a scoring scale of 19-30 was used. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version18.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex and educational level. Before the intervention and one day after the intervention, no significant difference was observed in delirium score between the two groups. However, on the second day in the intervention group, the median and interquartile range for delirium were 27(3) and in the control group were 25(2) (P<0.0001). On the third day after the intervention, differences between delirium score in the intervention and control groups were 27(3) and 25(3), respectively (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Scheduled visits can be considered an effective non-pharmacological method for preventing delirium in elderly patients hospitalized in the ICU.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20150519022320N7
 

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Background & Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women and is regarded as a chronic disease with various psychological complications including death anxiety. This study aimed to examine the effect of Benson’s relaxation technique on death anxiety among women with breast cancer.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients with breast cancer referred to Velayat Hospital in Qazvin in 2017 were selected using the consecutive sampling and randomly assigned into groups of experimental and control. A questionnaire on demographic information and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale were used. Benson’s relaxation technique was taught to the patients in the experimental group. Afterward, they were asked to perform the technique for three months and were monthly followed up using checklists. The Templer Death Anxiety Scale was completed again by both groups. Data were analyzed via the SPSS software version 23 using descriptive and analytical statistics.
Results: There was no significant difference in demographic variables between the two groups (P>0.05). Before the intervention, no statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the patients of the experimental group (46.4±10.3) and the control group (49.6±10.07) (P>0.05). However, after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the experimental group (44.5±10.2) and the control group (48.9±11.2) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that Benson’s relaxation technique is effective in reducing death anxiety among patients with breast cancer.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20170610034435N8
 

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Background & Aim: Stoma in children causes physiological and psychological changes and reduces self-esteem and quality of life. The aim of study is to determine the effectiveness of self-care skills training on self-esteem and quality of life in 8-12 year old children with stoma.
Methods & Materials: This study is a non-randomized clinical trial with pretest and posttest design, performed in selected hospitals (Mofid, Hazrat Ali Asghar and Medical Center) in Tehran in 2016-17. A total of 36 children aged 12-8 years with stoma, were selected using the convenience sampling method and divided into two groups of intervention (n=18) and control (n=18). Self-care skills training was performed in six sessions of 45 minutes for the intervention group. The control group received routine care. The Cooper Smith questionnaire and the Kindle quality of life questionnaire were used in this study. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS software version 16.
Results: The repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the quality of life score means over time (P<0.005) and between the two groups of intervention and control (P<0.015). Also, there was a significant difference in the self-esteem score means over time (P=0.004) and between the intervention and control groups (P=0.004).
Conclusion: Self-care skills training for 8-12 year-old children with stoma, has increased their self-esteem and quality of life. Therefore, nurses can use self-care skills training for similar patients.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20160802029166N2
 

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Background & Aim: Cancer as one of the most common illnesses in the world is associated with mental, physical, social and financial problems, which affects not only the patients, but also the family caregivers and creates a burden of care. Some studies have shown that spiritual well-being is effective in reducing the burden of care. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the correlation between spiritual well-being and burden of care in family caregivers of cancer patients.
Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional correlational study, 150 family caregivers of cancer patients referred to Taleghani, Shohadaye Tajrish, Masih Daneshvari and Imam Hossein hospitals in Tehran were selected by the convenience sampling method from August to November 2017. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, independent t-test, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis at a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of spiritual well-being score and burden of care were 90.36±17.70 and 25.54±11.79, respectively. There was a significant relationship between spiritual well-being (and its components including religious well-being and existential well-being) and burden of care (r=-0.421, P˂0.001). The result of regression test showed that spiritual well-being significantly predicted the burden of care.
Conclusion: The burden of care is experienced by family caregivers during caring for cancer patients, which is related to their spiritual well-being. Therefore, paying attention to the spiritual well-being of these caregivers is emphasized.
 

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Background & Aim: Prostate cancer is one of the most common causes of death from cancers in men. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on protection motivation theory (PMT) on prostate cancer prevention behaviors in men 50 to 75 years old.
Methods & Materials: This study is a randomized controlled trial with control group conducted on 100 men referred to the retirement centers in Hamadan in 2017. Participants were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental (n=50) and control groups (n=50). A self-administered questionnaire including demographic information and PMT constructs was completed by the participants. Educational intervention was administered over four sessions in the experimental group. The questionnaires were completed by the two groups two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 16 using independent t-test, Chi-square and the analysis of covariance.
Results: Before the intervention, the two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics and the PMT constructs (perceived rewards, perceived response cost, fear, perceived self-efficacy), and cancer screening behavior. The intervention could improve all the PMT constructs in the experimental group compared to the control group. Also, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening behavior was 38(76) in the experimental group and 16(32) in the control group (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of the study showed that protection motivation theory can be used as a framework for designing educational programs to perform prostate cancer screening.
 

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Background & Aim: Concerns over limited equipment and resources particularly in the intensive care units have raised the issues of medical futility, futile treatment, and futile care. Considering that there is no consensus in the definition of the concept of futile care, this study aimed to explore the concept of futile care, especially in terms of clarifying it with the concept of futile treatment.
Methods & Materials: This is a qualitative study conducted using the conventional content analysis approach. In this study, 22 nurses, eight medical specialists, four medical ethics specialists, and one sharia specialist, were purposively recruited with the consideration of maximum variation. Data were collected using individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews.
Results: The main theme of the study was “care is never futile: care as goal”. This theme is consisted of four main categories including: 1. care as an indispensable service; 2. care as an ongoing process focused on human existence; 3. care as a sacred and essential process in Islam; 4. the necessity for differentiating between care and cure: futile treatment instead of futile care.
Conclusion: Although, in some cases, and depending on the circumstances, medical interventions may be futile, care is never futile. According to the findings of this study, the terms medical futility and futile care cannot be used interchangeably because interchangeable use of these terms can devalue the nature of care. Thus, it is necessary to use the term of “futile treatment” instead of “futile care”.
 

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Background & Aim: Increase in gastric residual volume and abdominal distention are important complications in patients with nasogastric tube feeding. This study aimed to determine the effect of local heat therapy on gastric residual volume and abdominal distention in patients with nasogastric tube feeding.
Methods & Materials: In this double-blind clinical trial, 64 patients with nasogastric tube feeding, were selected using the convenience sampling method according to the inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to either the experiment group or control group. For two groups, a hot pack was placed on the anterior abdominal region in two 23-minute sessions, about 1.5 hours after gavage. The temperature of the hot pack was 50°C for the experiment group and it was equal to the ambient temperature for the control group. The levels of patients’ abdominal distention and gastric residual volume were measured and compared half an hour before and 1.5 hours after gavage. Data collection tools were consisted of a demographic questionnaire and a data sheet for recording digestive function. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 16 through descriptive and inferential statistical tests. The p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: According to the results, 46.9% of the patients were female and 53.1% were male. The age mean for the experiment and control groups were 12.5±72.5 and 15.3±7.8, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics and disease-related information. Abdominal distention and gastric residual volume were similar in the two groups before the intervention, but significantly decreased in the experiment group after the intervention (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the control group.
Conclusion: Local heat therapy reduces gastric residual volume and abdominal distention in patients with nasogastric tube feeding, and its application is suggested in further research.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2015050822163N1
 

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Background & Aim: Assessment of sexual health literacy requires an appropriate tool. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to evaluate the level of sexual health literacy among Iranian adults.
Methods & Materials: This study was designed in two phases in Tehran during 2017-2018. In the first step, the questionnaire was developed by item generation through expert panel and literature review. In the second step, the assessment of psychometric properties of the questionnaire including face, content, and structure validity (exploratory factor analysis) and convergence criterion (using general health literacy questionnaire) were done. Reliability of the questionnaire was assessed by internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 21.
Results: The content validity indices (CVI and CVR) for all items were 0.84 and 0.81, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors including skills of access, reading and understanding, evaluation and analysis, and application of information that explained %68.1 of the variance. Convergent validity of the questionnaire showed a correlation between the questionnaire’s dimensions and general health literacy questionnaire in the range of 0.31 to 0.70. The SHELA showed a high internal consistency reliability with Cronbach’s alpha, ranging from 0.84 to 0.94 and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), ranging from 0.90 to 0.97.
Conclusion: The psychometric assessment of the 40-item questionnaire (SHELA) indicates desirable validity and reliability. This questionnaire is suggested for assessing the level of sexual health literacy of adults in future studies.
 

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Background & Aim: The goal of asthma treatment and management is its control. Yoga is one of the complementary treatments which is used to control asthma. This study aimed to determine the effect of yoga breathing exercises on asthma control in 5-11 year-old children with asthma.
Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 84 children with asthma, aged 5-11 years, referred to Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Aliasghar hospital, were included in the study in 2018. The participants were selected through continuous sampling and non-randomly allocated to an experiment- or a control group (42 in each group). The Childhood Asthma Control Test (C_ACT) was used to collect the data, before and after the intervention. The intervention included yoga breathing exercises. The researcher trained the children and their parents at the clinic and these exercises were performed by the children for two months, with parental supervision at home. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 21 using independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square and Fishers exact test.
Results: The mean of age was 8.42(1.96) for the experiment group and 8.11(1.8) for the control group. In the experiment group, 76.2% were male, and 23.8% were female. In the control group, 73.8% were male and 26.2% were female. Before the intervention, the mean of asthma control score was 17.81±4.42 for the experiment group and 18.38±4.24 for the control group but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.54). After the intervention, the mean of asthma control score for the experiment group and control group was 21.69±1.6 and 19.83±2.4, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P˂0.001).
Conclusion: Yoga breathing exercises improved asthma in children. According to the results, yoga breathing exercises are suggested as scientific, simple and refreshing techniques in children with asthma.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180501039489N1
 

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Background & Aim: Pregnancy is one of the enjoyable and evolutionary aspects of women’s life, which is often associated with many stresses and concerns. Counseling is one of the most appropriate interventions to reduce concerns and increase the decision-making power of pregnant women. This study aimed to determine the effect of solution-focused group counseling on pregnant women’s worries.
Methods & Materials: A randomized clinical trial was conducted on 108 pregnant women with gestational age of 6 to 19 weeks and a score of worry ≥55, from May to September 2017 in health centers of Sabzevar University of Medical. The intervention group received a solution-focused counseling and the control group received routine prenatal care. Concerns of pregnant women were evaluated before, after, and two months after the intervention using the Farsi version of Cambridge Worry Scale. The data were analyzed using t-test, chi-square, and repeated measure analysis of variance through the SPSS software version 22. A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean score of worry before the study was 58.9±5.9 for the intervention group and 58.8±4.37 for the control group, and no significant difference was observed. After the intervention, these values for the intervention group and the control group were 34.6±13.3 and 57.7±8.78, respectively. Two months after the study, these values were 31.1±10.1 and 54.6±10.9, respectively. The analysis of variance with repeated measurements showed that pregnant women’s concerns about childbirth, fetal health, maternal health, and family relationships were significantly reduced after the intervention and two months later (P<0.001). Women’s worries about socioeconomic issues were not significantly reduced after the intervention and two months later in comparison with the control group (P=0.563).
Conclusion: The solution-focused counseling is an effective way to reduce pregnant women’s concerns about maternal and fetal health, family relationships and childbirth. It can be used in conjunction with pregnancy care.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20180123038485N1
 

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Background & Aim: Many patients with cardiovascular disease suffer from some degree of anxiety after admission to the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU). Anxiety adversely affects patients’ recovery. High levels of anxiety increases mortality risk up to three times. This study aimed to determine the effect of pre-operative supportive care plan on anxiety of patients with acute coronary syndrome after admission to CCU.
Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 74 patients with acute coronary syndrome, admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit of Vasei hospital of Sabzevar in 2016. Participants were selected via convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The control group only received routine nursing care. For the intervention group, besides routine care, the supportive nursing care was delivered on the intellectual, emotional and physical domains. The Beck Anxiety Inventory questionnaire was completed by both groups before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test using the SPSS software version 16.
Results: Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed in the anxiety score between the intervention and control groups (P=0.162). After the intervention, the anxiety score in the intervention group was lower than in the control group (P=0.023).
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, supportive care plan reduced anxiety in the intervention group compared to the control group. Therefore, supportive care plan is recommended for reducing anxiety in these patients.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT2015123025767N1
 

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Background & Aim: Pregnancy during adolescence is in conflict with the identity structures of adolescents, that can have a negative effect on maternal mental health, and especially cause stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of neonatal care education on perceived stress in adolescent mothers.
Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 116 adolescent pregnant women referred to Zahedan health centers in 2016. Samples were selected by the convenience sampling method and assigned into two groups of 58 people each. The pre-test was performed before the first session using demographic and perceived stress questionnaires. The intervention group received three educational sessions on neonatal care and stress reduction methods. Routine prenatal education was provided to the control group. A post-test was performed at 38 week of pregnancy and 30 days after delivery. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney, Monte Carlo and Fisher tests through the SPSS software version 21.
Results: Before the intervention, the stress score for the intervention group was higher than that for the control group (P=0.007), but the mean score of perceived stress for the intervention group significantly decreased at the 38th week of pregnancy and 30 days after delivery, compared to the control group. According to the Mann-Whitney test, the decrease was significant (P˂0.001).
Conclusion: Considering the effect of the neonatal care education on reducing stress in adolescent mothers, it is recommended that this type of educational intervention be integrated into care program for adolescent pregnant mothers.