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Introduction: Hepatitis is a serious danger to heath of delivery room s personnels since direct exposure to the blood occurs in 25 percents of viginal labours.

Materials and Methods:This descriptive study carried out in order to evaluate knowledge about hepatitis B among midwives and midwifery’s students in delivery rooms in hospitals related to Medical Sciences universities in Tehran. The study group consisted of 120 persons (60 midwives and 60 midwifery’s students) and hospitals were selected through cluster sampling and samples selected randomly. Data collected by a questionnaire from June to September 2002. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square test.

Results: Results showed that knowledge were moderate in majority of midwives and midwifery s students. There was no significant difference between knowledge about hepatitis B in three universities.

Conclusion: This research showed that knowledge of midwives and midwifery s students about hepatitis B wasn t adequate hence training courses is recommended in order to increase knowledge of midwives and more attention must be paid to education of midwifery’s students about blood born diseases, especially hepatitis B.

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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: Adolescents have important role in building the societies. Some deficits were observed in students&apos knowledge regarding puberty health. This study aimed to compare the effect of two educational methods (lecture-educational package) on girl students&apos knowledge about puberty health.

Methods & Materials: In this interventional study, 200 students were randomly selected through a multi stage sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire. One group received a self-learning educational package and the other group took part in two lecture sessions which totally lasted about four hours. The post test was taken 6 weeks later. Data analysis was performed using Descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: Results of this study showed that after intervention, both groups&apos knowledge mean scores increased significantly. Also the average of package group&aposs score after the education was more than the other group&aposs score (P<0.001). The difference in knowledge mean scores before and after the intervention was significantly higher in the package group than in the lecture one. The comparison of scores in both groups before and after the education was significantly different (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Both educational methods can be considered to be effective in promoting students&apos knowledge however, the educational package was more effective than the lecture.

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Background & Aim: Modification of unhealthy life style is a preventive method in cardiovascular diseases. It seems that education which results in enhancing knowledge would improve the life style. For developing effective educational plans, it is required to evaluate the knowledge and performance of the patients. So, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the teachers&apos preventive behaviors and their knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors.  

Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted in five zones of Ministry of Education in Tehran. Seven hundred and three teachers participated in the study. Multi-stage sampling was used to gather data using a self-report questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, risk factors of CAD, and related modifiable behaviors. Data were analyzed using Pearson coefficient test to determine correlations.

Results: The results showed that the majority of participants (67%) had good knowledge on cardiovascular risk factors with the mean scores of 15.20±2.63 out of 20. Stress was found to be the most recognized risk factor (95.3%). Knowledge about diabetes (61.2%) and gender (17.6%) were in the lowest level. Regarding prevention, just 27.7% of the participants reported healthy nutrition. Some of the patients (35.6%) exercised regularly and majority of them (77.7%) were not active or passive smokers. Pearson coefficient did not find any significant relationship between knowledge level and preventive behaviors among teachers.

Conclusion: According to our findings, teachers&apos knowledge level on cardiovascular risk factors was good but it did not result in healthy practice. Therefore, providing effective educational programs about healthy life style can improve their daily life practices, as well as it can affect the knowledge and practice of their students about prevention of CAD.

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Background & Objective: Regular and adequate physical activity is a major factor in maintaining good health throughout entire life course. Levels of inactivity are high in all countries. Effective educational interventions are needed to promote physical activity in all populations. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a heath education intervention on physical activity knowledge, attitude, and behavior in health volunteers of Tehran in 2008.

Methods & Materials: All active female health volunteers of Tehran, district 14 (n=100) were recruited for this experimental study. Data were gathered using a questionnaire of knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding physical activity. The questionnaire was completed by all participants in two phases of pre- and post-intervention (four weeks after the intervention). Health education intervention strategies were presented to the intervention group during three educational sessions with one week interval between the sessions. Data were analyzed using related statistical tests.

Results: Findings showed significant statistical differences in knowledge, total physical activity rate per week, and the mean sitting time per day between the control and intervention groups after the intervention (P<0.05). While, these variables were not significantly different before the educational intervention among both groups.

Conclusion: The health education intervention presented in this study was effective in promoting knowledge, total physical activity rate per week, and mean sitting time per day among the female health volunteers.

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Background & Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between nurses&apos knowledge about pain and satisfaction from pain relieving procedures among postoperative CABG patients in selected Tehran medical university hospitals.

Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 100 nurses were recruited from the ICU Open heart. Also, 200 patients were selected from whom underwent CABG in 24 hours after surgery and were extubated using a simple random sampling method. Data were gathered using two questionnaires including 17 question about demographic characteristics of patients and their satisfaction, and 36 questions about demographic characteristics and nurses&apos knowledge about pain and pain control after the CABG. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential methods using SPSS-11.5.

Results: There was not significant relationship between the nurses&apos pain knowledge and the patients&apos satisfaction. However, there were a significant relationship between the knowledge of the nurses about pain control after the CABG and the patients satisfactions (r=0.209, P=0.037).

Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, there were some significant relationships between the nurses demographic and pain knowledge with the pain control after the CABG. There was also significant relationship between patients&apos satisfaction and some of them demographic characteristics.

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Background & Aim: Lack of knowledge about coronary angiography may cause anxiety and stress in patients. Implementing appropriate educational methods can be effective in decreasing the level of anxiety among these patients. This study aimed to compare the effects of face-to-face with group education on anxiety and knowledge of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Shaheed Rajaie Cardiovascular Center affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Through consecutive sampling method, 84 hospitalized patients who were candidate for coronary angiography were selected and allocated into two educational groups. Data were collected using a demographic data sheet, the knowledge assessment questionnaire, and the Spielberg state-trait anxiety inventory. Patients in both groups received same educational content. The patients&apos knowledge and anxiety were assessed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test and paired t-test.

Results: The finding showed that both face-to-face education and group education were effective in enhancing the knowledge of the patients. However, group education was more effective than the face-to-face education in reducing the patients&apos anxiety (P=0.049).

Conclusion: Health professionals, particularly nurses, can use group education as an effective and appropriate strategy to improve patients&apos knowledge and to reduce the anxiety among patients undergoing coronary angiography.

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  Background & Aim: Nurses’ hands are important channels of micro-organisms transmission and hospital acquired infections. This study aimed to investigate knowledge, beliefs and practices of nurses regarding hand hygiene .

  Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012. All nurses (n=282) working in three hospitals of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences participated in the study. Data were gathered using a demographic form, social desirability questionnaire, and hand hygiene knowledge, belief and practice questionnaire. Data were analyzed through descriptive and statistical tests (Independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson Coefficient) in the SPSS-PC (v.21.0). The level of significance was set at below 0.05 . 

  Results: The mean scores of nurses’ hand hygiene knowledge, beliefs and practices were 4.6±2.00, 3.8±0.40, and 4.33±0.50, respectively. Nurses washed their hands after contact with patients more often in compare with prior to contact with patient. There was a statistically positive and significant correlation between nurses’ practice in required situations and nurses’ beliefs regarding hand hygiene .

  Conclusion: According to the results, nurses’ knowledge regarding hand hygiene was low and hand hygiene practice in required situations was undesirable. Many nurses had negative and false beliefs regarding hand hygiene. Based on these results, it is necessary to plan programs to increase nurses’ knowledge, belief and practice regarding hand hygiene .

  

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  Background & Aim: Virtual education can be delivered via different routes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of interactive and non-interactive virtual educations about brain death and organ transplantation on knowledge and satisfaction of education among intensive care nurses .

  Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on intensive care nurses of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2014 . Participants were selected through a convenient sampling method and were assigned into two groups with 32 participants in each. The first group participated in an interactive electronic education while the second group received a non-interactive education about brain death and organ transplantation . Knowledge of both groups was measured before and after the education. The satisfaction of participants with the course was measured using a questionnaire. The scores were compared within and between groups using the paired and independent t-test, respectively . 

  Results: The knowledge of both groups increased significantly after the intervention (P<0.001) however, there was no significant difference between the mean scores of the two groups after the education (P<0.05). The s atisfaction with the course was significantly higher in the interactive education group (P=0.04) .

  Conclusion: B oth interactive and non-interactive electronic educations increased the knowledge of nurses. The nurses were more satisfied with the interactive education. Further studies are recommended .

  

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Background & Aim: Pressure ulcers are a common complication in patients hospitalized in intensive care units. This complication continues to be a major problem in all health care systems and reflects the quality of nursing care in hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between nurses’ knowledge and quality of nursing care for prevention of pressure ulcers in intensive care units.

Methods & Materials: This was a descriptive correlational study on a purposive sample of 92 nurses employed in intensive care units of four hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Data were collected through a questionnaire containing demographic and occupational information, the Pieper’s nursing knowledge questionnaire, and a checklist to assess the quality of nursing care for prevention of pressure ulcers. Descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test and Pearson’s correlation) were used to analyze data on SPSS software v. 21. The level of significance was considered at P≤0.05.

Results: The study results showed that the average score of nurses’ knowledge of pressure ulcers prevention was a total of 75.7±6.9. The quality of nursing care in more than half of cases (54.3%) was relatively favorable. There was no significant correlation between nurses’ knowledge and the quality of nursing care for pressure ulcers (P=0.86, r=0.01).

Conclusion: In addition to inadequate knowledge of pressure ulcers prevention, the nurses did not fully implement what they knew in clinical practices. Therefore, a more accurate evaluation is recommended in this regard.

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Background & Aim: Patients’ assessment is fundamental to nursing practice and the more precise assessment nurses can perform, the better outcomes patients can achieve. Better practice requires suitable knowledge, skills and attitude regarding the importance of physical assessment. This study aimed to determine correlation between knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessment in nurses employed in hospitals.

Methods & Materials: In this descriptive correlational study, 300 nurses employed in the medical, surgical, ICU and CCU wards of hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of medical sciences, were chosen conveniently in 2016. The data collecting instrument included demographic data, knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessment items. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 19 using correlation coefficient test, linear regression and ANOVA.

Results: The mean score of knowledge-skill was 3.14(±0.74) and the median (mode) score of importance was 4(0.52). There was a significant and positive correlation between knowledge-skill and the importance of physical assessment. The nurses had higher knowledge-skill scores for those skills that they had considered more important. The most effective variable on the correlation between knowledge-skill and importance was education.

Conclusion: Nurses’ self-assessment of their skills in performing physical assessment was at a low level but they considered all skills important. Effective educational programs can fulfill the nurses’ needs for physical assessment skills.

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Background & Aim: Diabetes is the most common metabolic disease that needs self-management. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of loss- and gain-framed messages on knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management in diabetic patients.
Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial (IRCT2016122931653N1), 112 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the 17th Shahrivar Diabetes clinic in Borazjan in 2017, were divided into three groups including loss-framed message, gain-framed message, and control. The data were collected by questionnaires in three steps; before, one week and three months after intervention. Chi-square test, one way analysis of variance and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data on the SPSS software version 22.
Results: Before the intervention, mean scores for knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management in loss-framed messages group and gain-framed messages group were lower than control. One week and three months after the intervention, mean scores for knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management in both the loss-framed messages and gain-framed messages groups showed a significant increase compared to the control group (P<0.001). One week after the education, self-management score in the gain-framed messages group was 102.26±11.20, in the loss-framed messages group was 111.53±13.73 and in the control was 88.75±11.41. Three months after the education, self-management score in the mentioned groups were 105.58±11.80, 108.72±15.39 and 88.49±13.51, respectively.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that designing and implementing educational programs based on loss-framed messages and especially gain-framed messages can improve knowledge, self-efficacy and self-management behavior in diabetic patients.
 
 

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Background & Aim: Child marriage is a violation of human rights and children's rights. Since most of these marriages take place without the informed consent of children, and parents are the final decision makers. Therefore, the mothers’ attitude towards the marriage of girls can have an undeniable effect on the early marriage of their daughters. The aim of the present study was to determine the knowledge and attitude of mothers with teenage daughters towards early marriage, its causes and consequences.
Methods & Materials: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 270 mothers with teenage daughters in Tabriz in 2020-2021. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test through the SPSS software version 21.
Results: More than half (55.2%) of the mothers had a good level of knowledge about early marriage. The majority of mothers (87.0%) were against marriage before the age of 18. There was a statistically significant relationship between mothers' knowledge and attitude towards early marriage (P<0.001). The emotional, social, intellectual and economic maturity of girls were the most important reasons for the decrease in early marriage, and one of the most important reasons for the increase in early marriage was not reaching intellectual-psychological maturity. The most important consequence of early marriage from the mothers' points of view was the high possibility of family involvement in married life and decision-making.
Conclusion: Despite the negative attitude of mothers towards early marriage, nearly half of them had poor and moderate levels of knowledge regarding early marriage. Therefore, raising the level of knowledge of mothers with teenage daughters about the consequences of early marriage, creating a culture to correct social misconceptions, passing appropriate laws to prevent child marriage, can reduce the severity of this harm.

 

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Background & Aim: Stroke, as the primary and most critical cerebrovascular condition, is known as a leading cause of disability and mortality. Timely and appropriate care plays an important role in reducing death and associated complications. The purpose of this research is to assess the knowledge and adherence of emergency nurses to tissue plasminogen activator guidelines for patients with stroke.
Methods & Materials: In this descriptive study, a random quota sampling method was employed to select participants. A total of 170 emergency department nurses in Tabriz hospitals in 2023 self-administered knowledge and adherence scales. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: The mean (SD) age of the nurses was 34.24±6.57 years, with a majority (101 nurses, 59.4%) having completed courses on the process and activation of Code-724. The mean scores for nurses' knowledge and adherence to tissue plasminogen activator guidelines were 52.67±10.37 (range score: 0-100) and 68.14±5.18 (range score: 15-75), respectively. A positive yet weak relationship was observed between nurses' knowledge and adherence to the guidelines (r=0.263, P=0.332). No significant association was found between nurses' socio-demographic characteristics and their knowledge and adherence scores (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The findings revealed suboptimal scores in nurses' knowledge and adherence to tissue plasminogen activator guidelines for stroke patients. Given the importance of adequate knowledge for adherence to guidelines, it is suggested to implement essential training and supervision measures for nurses.