HAYAT
Year:2015 | Volume:21 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:10

Ethnography is a qualitative research method in which researchers study various values, beliefs and cultural meanings in a group of people or society. Critical ethnography puts more emphasis on social groups and individuals' power, prestige, authority and status (1). In ethnographic studies, researchers employing inductive logic focus on interactions between people to discover the meaning embedded in culture. Critical approach attracts researchers’ attention towards individuals who play a minor role in social interactions (2). Madison quoting Thomas contends that critical…

Background & Aim: Psychological and social factors such as attachment styles may influence chronic diseases through self-care behaviors. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between attachment styles and self-care behaviors in patients with heart failure.Methods & Materials: In this correlational study, 180 patients with heart failure hospitalized in CCUs and Post CCUs of educational hospitals in Zahedan in 2014 were selected through convenience sampling. Data collection tools included the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire and Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFIV6.2). Data were analyzed in the SPSS-20 using the descriptive statistics, independent T-Test, Pearson's correlation and regression analysis.Results: The mean and standard deviation of self-care behaviors score of the group with secure attachment style (62.89±12.66) was significantly higher than the group with insecure attachment style (40.43±16.11) (P<0.05). Also, the regression model showed that the score of anxiety, attachment avoidance and age were as predictors of the self-care scores in patients.Conclusion: Regarding the relationship between attachment styles and self-care behaviors; and the low level of self-care in patients with insecure attachment style, psychological interventions should be considered through long-term treatment of chronic heart failure.

Background & Aim: The central venous pressure measurement is a common and important care provided by nurses in intensive units. The measurement should be according to the pre-defined standards. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using a checklist in measuring central venous pressure by nurses.Methods & Materials: This was a nonequivalent group design on 70 nurses working in ICUs. The quality of measurement of central venous pressure by recruited nurses were measured via direct observation in the control (n=35) and experiment (n=35) groups. The intervention group nurses were recommended to use a performance checklist in each measurement of central venous pressure for one month. At the end of the intervention, the performances of both groups were evaluated through observation. Collected data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test, paired and independent test in the SPSS-17.Results: At baseline, the mean scores in both groups were not statistically significant (P=0.7) The mean performance score of the control group at the beginning and one month later were 7.64±2.33 and 7.65±2.28, respectively (P=0.6). In the experiment group, the mean performance score was 7.85±2.29 before the intervention and 9.28±3.16 after the intervention (P=0.001). The difference between the scores before and after the intervention were significant (P=0.001) in the intervention group.Conclusion: Using checklist by critical care nurses could enhance their performances in measurement of central venous pressure. This method can be used as an accessible, inexpensive, and simple method to improve quality of nursing practices.

Background & Aim: Approximately 75% of patients with cancer experience acute nausea and vomiting (24 hours after chemotherapy).The aim of this study was to determine the effect of auricular acupressure in relieving acute nausea and vomiting among women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.Methods & Materials: This study was a posttest only randomized clinical trial conducted on 48 women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy in Imam Khomeini and Hazrat Rasoul Akram hospital.Before chemotherapy and after obtaining informed consent, the patients were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups.Intervention group received routine medications for controlling nausea and vomiting as well as auricular acupressure. Meanwhile, the control group received only the routine medications. The data were gathered using demographic and Morrow Standard questionnaire; and were compared using statistical tests in the SPSS-21.Results: The results showed that using auricular acupressure led to a decrease in the number and the intensity of nausea at acute phases (P=0.001). Acupressure application did not lead to any complications in the patients.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, using auricular acupressure on Shenmen, Point zero, stomach, Brainstem, and cardia points can relieve nausea and vomiting at acute phase of chemotherapy.It is suggested that nurses use this pressure technique as a complementary treatment for relieving nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.

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 -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 satisfaction with the course was significantly higher in the interactive education group (P=0.04).Conclusion: Both interactive and non-interactive electronic educations increased the knowledge of nurses. The nurses were more satisfied with the interactive education. Further studies are recommended.

Background & Aim: Midwives are responsible for providing health services to mothers and infants in crises. The aim of this study was to identify educational needs of midwifery students regarding mother and infant mortality prevention in crisis situations.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, all 235 final-year BSc. and MSc. midwifery students were selected from four medical universities located in Tehran. Informed consent forms were completed and signed by the students. The students completed a researcher-made two-section questionnaire including demographic items and educational needs items regarding mother and child preventive services in crises. Data were analyzed in the SPSS.Results: Mean score of the maternal and neonatal prevention service dimensions were 70±21.5 (out of 105) and 46.7±9 (out of a 65), respectively. Most of the students (86.8%) declared that their academic education did not prepare them for their roles in crises. Only 10.6% of the students had some courses on crisis and 11.5% of them had the experience of dealing with crisis. The students in the BSc. degree had more educational needs in both dimensions compared to the students in the MSc. degree (P<0.046). There were significant relationships between the age of students (P<0.001), their clinical experience (P<0.001), previous educational courses (P<0.001) and experience in crisis (P<0.05) with the educational needs. There was no significant relationship between the educational needs and the students ‘universities (P>0.05).Conclusion: Educational curriculums should be revised regarding actions to be done on prevention of mother and infant mortality in crises.

Background & Aim: Medication adherence affects the outcome of treatment in patients with epilepsy. Non adherence to the antiepileptic drugs in patients may result in exacerbation of seizure frequencies, higher health-care system costs and higher risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the medication adherence and its related factors in patients with epilepsy.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 120 patients with epilepsy from the Iran Epilepsy Association using purposive sampling method. Data were gathered using a demographic checklist and the Morisky’s modified medication adherence questionnaire. Data were analyzed in the SPSS-16.Results: A total of 87.5%, 10.8% and 1.7% of the patients showed high, medium and low adherences, respectively. Being seizure-free for a period of time was the most cited reason of non-adherence (8.3%).There was a statistically significant relationship between the number of drugs and seizures with the medication adherence (P<0.05). The older people had more adherences to their medications. The patients, who had higher adherences, had experienced fewer seizures in the previous three months.Conclusion: The results showed high rates of medication adherences among the patients. Planning and implementing educational programs on medication regimens, emphasizing on necessity of continues use of antiepileptic drugs despite absence of seizures, can be useful in increasing the medication adherence.

Background & Aim: Anxiety is associated with postpartum mood disorder; and is increased with birth of high risk neonates.Foot reflexology is a nursing intervention that can be used to reduce anxiety.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of foot reflexology on anxiety in mothers with high risk neonates after Cesarean sections.Methods & Materials: In this non-randomized clinical trial, 99 mothers having high risk neonates were recruited from the Women’s General Hospital and Valieasr Hospital. The participants were allocated into three groups (n=33/group) using convenience sampling method. The group I received foot reflexology for 40 minutes; group II received leg massage; and the control group received usual care after the Cesarean section.The Spielberger questionnaire was completed at baseline and three days after the interventions by the participants. Data were analyzed using the repeated measure ANOVA and Chi-Squared in the SPSS-16.Results: At the baseline, there were no significant differences between the three groups in terms of demographic characteristics and the mean scores of anxiety. After the interventions, the mean score of anxiety was significantly lower in the reflexology and placebo groups than the control group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the reflexology and placebo groups in terms of the mean scores of anxiety (P>0.05). Comparing the mean score of anxiety between the reflexology (14.7±7.2) and placebo (9.4±8.5) groups indicated that the reflexology intervention was more effective in reducing anxiety.Conclusion: The use of foot reflexology was effective in reducing anxiety. Nurses should use this non-pharmacologic method to control the symptoms of anxiety among mothers.