HAYAT
Year:2012 | Volume:18 | Issue:5 (SUPPLEMENT ISSUE)|Papers Count:11

Background & Aim: Job stress can interfere with endocrine function and result in dysfunctional menstrual bleeding patterns. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between job stress with menstrual bleeding pattern among midwives.Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 150 midwives working in hospitals and health centers of Mashhad using two-stage sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, Karazek Job Content, a daily diary for menstrual periods to record duration and interval of periods, and the Higham Chart for recording the bleeding amount. The diary was completed for three menstrual periods. Collected data were analyzed using independent t-student, one way ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-squared test, correlation test and linear regression in the SPSS-14.Results: The findings showed that 21.3% of the midwives reported mild job stress, 19.3% had moderate stress and 59.3% reported severe job stress. Mean of the duration of the periods was 7.06 days, the mean interval of the periods was 27.9 days and the mean amount of bleeding was 79.72 cc. There was a significant relationship between job stress and the duration and interval of periods (P<0.001). There was not any significant relationship between job stress with the amount of bleeding.Conclusion: Our study showed that job stress was related to menstrual bleeding patterns among midwives. It is necessary introduce strategies to decrease job stress and provide professional support for midwives.

Background & Aim: Increase in cancer prevalence results in feeling fear of being diagnosed with cancer among individuals. Understanding concerns of patients diagnosed with cancer helps health care professionals to provide appropriate caring plans. This study aimed to understand main concerns of patients who confront cancer diagnosis.Methods & Materials: This was a qualitative study with content analysis approach. Fifteen patients with cancer were selected from a specialized hospital, an oncology clinic, and Emdad Center of Cancer patients in Sari using a purposeful sampling method during May 2011 to June 2012. The sample size was completed regarding data saturation. Data were collected using interviews, observations and recording field notes. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis and the Granhim and Landmann method.Results: Three categories including 485 primary codes were emerged. The derived codes were as follows: 1) sever personal and family disturbance; 2) imagination of despair; and 3) unclear imagination of future. The main code included in all derived codes was life threatening nature of cancer.Conclusion: The findings showed that life threatening nature of cancer is a source of fear that makes the disease frightening. Clinical staff and nurses should pay more attention to concerns of patients with cancer and design their care plan accordingly.

Background & Aim: Recognizing and modifying organizational commitment and its related factors is important. It seems that nurses' attitudes towards learning organizations influence their organizational commitment. This study aimed to determine the relationship between nurses' attitudes towards learning organizations and organizational commitment.Methods & Materials: In this descriptive-correlative study, 719 nurses working in Rasht educational hospitals were recruited to the study. We gathered data using the Porter organizational commitment questionnaire and the Jeong learning organization questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Spearman and t-tests in the SPSS-18.Results: Most of the nurses were female (94.7%) and registered (35.3%). The mean (SD) age of the nurses was 32.13 (6.98). The mean (SD) of the organizational commitment was 27.10 (42.50). The mean (SD) of the learning organization was 92.72 (10.04). The relationship between the organizational commitment and nurses' attitudes towards learning organizations was statistically significant (r=0.482; P<0.0001).Conclusion: It seems improving nurses' attitudes towards learning organizations may result in better organizational commitments.

Background & Aim: Maternal-fetal attachment plays an important role in maternal identity forming. The attachment behavior is different between mothers; and most of the reported studies are from Western countries. The aim of this study was to assess maternal-fetal attachment behavior and some related factors among Iranian mothers.Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 12 health and medical centers, affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Four hundred pregnant women were selected for the study. Data were gathered using two questionnaires. The first one was a self-structured questionnaire and the second one was the maternal-fetal attachment scale. Data were analyzed using the Pearson, Anova and t-test statistical tests. The P<0.05 denoted statistical significance.Results: Findings showed that the mothers had good attachment toward their fetuses (M=84.72). The race, higher maternal age, higher education, gestational age, planned pregnancy, sex of fetus, and assessing health of fetus had positive effects on prenatal attachment (P<0.05). Tobacco use, multiparity, and high risk pregnancy had negative effects on attachment. There were no relationships between attachment and previous marriage, infertility, abortion, number/type of ultrasound, participation in prenatal classes and healthy baby (P>0.05).Conclusion: Understanding maternal-fetal attachment behavior could play an important role in quality of prenatal care. Midwives can assess and promote attachment behavior as well as recognize factors influencing maternal-fetal attachment.

Background & Aim: Preterm birth is the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity; so, prevention of preterm labor is a priority in health care. This study aimed to determine relationship between house works with preterm labor.Methods & Materials: In this case-control study, 150 term pregnant women (control group) and 150 preterm pregnant women (case group) delivered in Izadi hospital in Qom were selected in 2008-2009. The data were collected using the “physical activity in pregnancy” scale. Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared test, t-test, and logistic regression. The P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant level and the adjusted OR was reported for all variables. We used the SPSS- 16 for analyzing the data.Results: According to the findings, there was no significant relationship between house work regarding duration and severity of activity in pregnancy with preterm labor.Conclusion: There was no relationship between house work in pregnancy and preterm labor. Further studies are recommended.

Background & Aim: Pregnancy can conflict with sexual function that can be affected by physical and psychological changes during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to compare sexual functions between nulliparous and multiparous pregnant women referred to health centers in Eastern district of Guilan.Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Guilan during 2009-2010. We used convenient sampling method to select 554 pregnant women. Data were gathered using a questionnaire including demographic characteristics, sexual function and fear of harm to fetus. The SPSS-16 was used to analyze the data by the Mann-Whitney U and Generalized linear models. The level of significance was set at 5%.Results: There was no significant difference between nulliparous and multiparous pregnant women regarding sexual function in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy (P=0.353, P=0.251). There were significant differences between nulliparous and multiparous pregnant women regarding sexual desire (P=0.002), arousal (P=0.01), orgasm (P=0.01), pain (P=0.02) and sexual function total score (P=0.016). There was significant difference between nulliparous and multiparous pregnant women regarding sexual function (P=0.008).Conclusion: Sexual counseling and rehabilitation programs should be compiled as part of the comprehensive care of prenatal care especially for multiparous pregnant women.

Background & Aim: Fatigue is a premature symptom in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study aimed to determine effect of the home-based pulmonary rehabilitation on fatigue among patients with COPD.Methods & Materials: In this clinical trial, 36 patients were recruited among from 100 patients with COPD according to inclusion criteria in Masih Daneshvari hospital in 2010. Participants were allocated into two control and intervention groups using random block sampling. In the intervention group, the pulmonary rehabilitation program was implemented during three educational sessions in three consecutive days. Fatigue was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) before and seven weeks after discharge. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests (Independent and paired t-test, chi-square and covariance analysis).Results: At baseline, the mean scores of fatigue were 47.11 and 47.50 in the experimental and control groups, respectively (P=0.902). After the intervention, the mean scores of fatigue reached 21.94 and 54.64 in the experimental and control groups, respectively (P<0.001).Conclusion: According to results of the study, home-based pulmonary rehabilitation nursing could decrease fatigue in patients with COPD.

The harlequin fetus is the most severe type of congenital ichtyosis in which fetus suffers from chapped thick skin, abnormal face appearance, increased or decreased body temperature, respiratory distress, malnutrition, decreased sodium level, convulsion and infection. It happens once every 300 000 births in both genders. Premature birth and death are among consequences of this disorder. The woman was 31 years old. No abnormalities were reported in sonography. The fetus was delivered via normal vaginal delivery. The infant had a harlequin face appearance. The infant was discharged with consent of the parents after two days and passed away 24 hours after discharge.