HAYAT
Year:2009 | Volume:15 | Issue:1|Papers Count:10

Background & Aim: Physical and psychosocial problems along with the changes in life style, put hemodialysis patients under pressure. It seems that social support decreases psychological stresses and improves quality of life. This study aimed to describe hemodialysis patients' perceptions on their social supports and related factors.Methods & Materials: This descriptive-correlational study is a part of a larger study. All patients (n=202) referred to the hemodialysis units of Iran University of Medical Sciences were recruited to the study during a four-month period. Data were collected using "Personal Resources Questionnaire" (PRQ 85-PART 2) and analyzed using SPSS v.14.Results: Findings revealed that the most patients (64.9%) had perceived social support at high levels. There were significant relationships between social support with economic status, gender and marital status (P<0.05). Findings also indicated that the statements of "I enjoy doing little extra things that make another person's life more pleasant" and, "I belong to a group in which I feel important" had the highest and lowest scores respectively.Conclusion: Regarding the variety of perceptions in hemodialysis patients on social support and its related factors, nurses can prevent social isolation of these patients through identification of high risk groups and can also reduce their stresses and help them to improve their quality of life by providing adequate supportive interventions.

Background & Aim: Dysmenorrhea is a common problem in young women. Although dysmenorrhea is not life threatening, it can have adverse effects on quality of life. Various treatments are offered for dysmenorrhea including vitamin E supplements. This study investigated the effect of vitamin E on primary dysmenorrhea.Methods & Materials: In this before-after clinical trial, 200 female students who suffered from primary dysmenorrhea were recruited to the study at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. First, they filled a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and the pain measurement chart (duration and severity). Then, they were divided into three groups: low, moderate and severe dysmenorrhea groups. Vitamin E (200 mg) tablets were administered to them and they were requested to have them once/day for five days (two days before and three days after the beginning of the menstruation). They filled the pain measurement chart (duration and severity) after two treatment periods. Data were analyzed using t-student, chi-square, and variance analysis tests in SPSS software.Results: The age of the students ranged 19-26 years old. The severity of dysmenorrhea was mild, moderate, and severe respectively in 28%, 60%, and 14% of the students. The mean of painful menstrual days was 2.05 in the first month, and 2.08 in the second month before using vitamin E. After using vitamin E, painful menstrual days were 1.63 in the first month and 1.64 in the second month. Regarding duration of painful days, all of the participants felt pain in the first day of menstruation. After using vitamin E, about one sixth of the participants in the first month and one fifth of them in the second month had no pain at first day. The severity of pain was 5.18 before using vitamin E that decreased to 3.40 after the intervention.Conclusion: Vitamin E administration in women, who suffer from primary dysmenorrhea, significantly reduces the severity and duration of pain. It can be used as an alternative treatment method in affected women.

Background & Aim: Privacy is one of basic rights of the patients. Privacy becomes important for the adolescents when they hospitalize in an unfamiliar environment. This study aimed to compare the perceptions of inpatient adolescents with nurses on the observance of privacy and its importance.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 175 nurses and a convenience sample of 180 inpatient adolescents who had met the inclusion criteria were recruited to the study. Data was gathered using a questionnaire. Man-whitney u and kruskal-wallis statistical tests were used to analyze the data.Results: The results showed that there was significant differences between nurses' and inpatient adolescents` perceptions on the observance of privacy and its importance (man-whitney u, P<0.001). The most important priority regarding the privacy from nurses' point of view was "covering the unnecessary parts of the body while caring"; whilst it was "providing a pleasant decorated environment, telephone, toilet and bath in room, and hospitalization in a room with peers" from the adolescents' point of view. The most observed case about privacy from the nurses' point of view was "taking immediate action to help the teenagers if necessary"; whilst, from the adolescents view, it was "calling them with their favorite names".Conclusion: The mean perceptions of nurses were higher than the adolescences toward observance of privacy and its importance. The results can guide nurses to improve quality of care for this group.

Background & Aim: Blended E-Learning is an educational method which has been used recently in higher education worldwide. So, it seems that it is crucial for the Iranian academic members to accept it as a new educational method. This study was conducted to investigate attitudes of the faculty of Nursing and Midwifery School at Tehran University of Medical Sciences toward blended E-learning.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, all faculty members of Tehran University of Medical Science (n=60) were recruited to the study. Data were gathered using validated and reliable self-designed questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: The response rate was 93.33% (n=56). Most of the respondents (85.7%) were female. The mean age was 44.88 (SD=5.6). The years of teaching ranged from 5-30 years (mean=16.75). The majority of the respondents (66%) had positive attitude toward blended e-learning; thirty four per cent had completely positive attitude and none of them had negative attitudes. About 41% reported that they were eager to provide their course syllabuses according to this approach and 87.5% said that they were willing to attend the blended e-learning education workshops. There were no significant relationships between demographic variables and the attitudes. There was a significant relationship between willing to attend the workshops and positive attitude toward blended e-learning (P=0.012).Conclusion: According to the positive attitude of the respondents toward blended e-learning, it is recommended that further studies take place in order to design and implement the approach in formal education in the school of Nursing and Midwifery of Tehran University of Medical Science.

Background & Objective: However, pregnancy is a common event among reproductive-age women, it is often stressful. Physical and emotional changes can alter the ability of women to carry out their usual roles. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life in pregnant women and its related factors.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 600 pregnant women referred to the prenatal clinics of Kashan University of Medical Sciences were selected randomly. Then they were asked to complete the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) to assess the quality of life. The results were analyzed using t-test, c2, and ANOVA in SPSS.Results: Results showed that the mean of quality of life in pregnant women was 61.18 13.21 (27.96-92.62). A higher score represented a better health status. Statistically significant differences were found in all of the quality of life dimensions in pregnant women except for social functioning (P<0.005). Quality of life was correlated with age (P=0.002), gestational age (P=0.017), gravidity (P<0.001), number of deliveries (P<0.001), income (P<0.001), husband's support (P=0.017) and life satisfaction (P=0.011).Conclusion: Results of this study showed that the quality of life in pregnant women was low. Thus, it is important for primary care providers to be aware of the changes in health status of pregnant woman to help them to promote their quality of lives.

Background & Aim: Health systems are challenging with increased health demands and limited economic status; whilst, nurses shortages is a worldwide issue. Job dissatisfaction among nurses is a main cause for work leaves. The aim of this study was to assess job satisfaction among Iranian nurses and its related factors.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 1058 nurses were selected randomly during 1384-5. A two-sectioned self-report questionnaire was used which included demographic data and job satisfaction scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 12.0.Results: Findings showed that only about one third of nurses were satisfied (satisfied & very satisfied) with their jobs (34.30%). In this study, main factors of job satisfaction were job safety (44.5%) as well as working environment and facilities (44.26%). On the other hand, nurses were dissatisfied with their job because of the described job duties (74.75%), managers' way of communication (70%), and their social position (70.3%).Conclusion: Increasing the salary and payment, job equity, modifying working time and shift plans, providing opportunities for the nurses to further their carriers, and continuing education are important issues in increasing job satisfaction.

Background & Aim: The Clinical Teaching Partner model (CTP) integrates theoretical knowledge with professional skills and brings the reality to workplaces. Closing educational and practical aspects in nursing discipline has been a challenging goal for nursing which requires cooperation between faculty instructors with nurse practitioners; such collaboration will led to development and promotion of nursing discipline. Therefore selecting an effective and efficient approach in order to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experiences would be crucial for nursing profession. This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of CTP on nursing students' clinical skills outcome.Methods & Materials: A quasi experimental, only post test design was applied. Study sample consisted of 1) three faculty instructors, 2) seven registered nurse practitioners who were staff nurses in three pediatric wards and voluntarily participated in the study and 3) fifty two nursing students which were in the 5th semester of nursing B.Sc. program and had eligible criteria to enter the study. Students were allocated randomly to the intervention (n=28) and control (n=24) groups. Participants in the control group, initially started their internship period in 3 pediatric wards and were evaluated by faculty instructors regarding their clinical skills at the end; students in the intervention group, then started their clinical training course in the same ward as control group, but their clinical education was conducted by the nurse practitioners who voluntarily participated in the study and trained initially in the nursing faculties' skill lab. Students' clinical skills were evaluated by nursing mentors via some instruments at the end of the educational period; in addition, clinical education outcomes and nursing students' satisfaction of achievement to apprenticeship goals were assessed at the end of the training period. Data were analyzed using the statistical tests including Chi square, Fisher exact test, Mann-Whiney U, and t-test in SPSS.Results: Considering students demographic characteristics, both groups were homogenous. There was a significant difference in the students' clinical skills between two groups (P<0.001). A significant difference was shown in the nursing mentors and faculty instructors' satisfaction of application of cooperative education method between both groups (P=0.004). No significant differences were found between students' satisfaction of reaching to educational outcomes between both groups (P=0.058). There were also no statistical differences between nursing mentors and faculty instructors' satisfaction of achieving to clinical education outcomes (P=0.109).Conclusion: According to this study, CTP is an effective approach in clinical education and development of clinical skills for nursing students; therefore, application of this method is recommended in clinical nursing education.

Background & Objective: Assessment of mental health is one of the most important aspects of assessing health status. Entering to the university is a challenging life event for young adults; because students encounter with changes in social communication, expectations and roles. As a result, they are susceptible for experiencing stress and anxiety that could affect their functions. The aim of this study was to determine the mental health status and related stressors among Hamadan Medical Sciences University Students.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, 180 medical sciences' students were selected using stratified sampling method. Data were collected using the Stressor questionnaire and the SCL90. Data were analyzed by SPSS.Results: The study showed that 57.1 percent of the students were female. The ages ranged 18-22. Most of the students (94.8 percent) were single. Most of the students had no mental disorders (66.1%). Mild and moderate mental disorders were 29.4 and 4.4%, respectively. Mean of mental health score was 72.99 (±46.02). Mental health status was correlated with marital status, concerns about family, changes in religious activities, concerns about the future, working in the hospitals, problems with friends, sexual problems, and the number of experienced stressors (P<0.05).Conclusion: Experiencing stressors threatens students' mental health status and provide a potential cause for mental disorders.