HAYAT
Year:2008 | Volume:14 | Issue:1|Papers Count:12

Background & Aim: Youths are the most at risk group for HIV/AIDS in the world and education of the preventive measurements is the most effective way for decreasing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among them. Due to ever-increasing cases of HIV and the importance of education, we compared the effects of three educational methods (peer education, education by physician and giving pamphlets) on knowledge of female high school students’ of Kerman shah on HIV/AIDS.Methods & Materials: One thousand and five hundred female third grade students were recruited from 21 high schools using stratified random sampling method. An average of 73 students were selected from each school and participated in a pre-test exam using a questionnaire. Of 1500 students, 498 and 502 students were taught by general practitioners and peers, respectively. Pamphlets were presented to 500 other students. Twenty days after the educational intervention, the participants were contributed in a post-test exam using the very questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics via SPSS version 11.5.Results: The students’ mean age was 16.78 (SD=0.7). The mean scores of pretests and post-tests in all 3 groups were significantly different (P<0.001). The mean score for the group taught by general practitioners (10.7±3.6) was higher than the scores of other two group scores (8.8±3.4 and 7.3±3.9, respectively for peer education and pamphlet groups) after the interventions. Bonferroni statistical test showed the significant difference (P<0.001).Conclusion: Education presented by general practitioners seems to be more effective than the other two ways in increasing students’ knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

Background & Aim: Nowadays, mechanical ventilators are being used for some patients in ICUs due to various physiological and clinical causes. Keeping endotracheal tube clean and open is necessary in order to improve the patient’s oxygenation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of open and closed system endotracheal suctioning on vital signs of patients in ICU.Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 patients from Shariaty Hospital’s ICU were selected using convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a record sheet. The sheet consisted of demographic characteristics and vital signs including blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage. Endotracheal suctioning was done randomly in 90 minute intervals once using closed method and once using open method. All patients were hyper oxygenated by Ambo bag for 2 minutes before and after the procedures. The patients’ vital signs were checked and recorded using SIEMENS 680 2xi monitor before, and 2 minutes and 5 minutes after the procedures. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.Results: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and heart rate showed higher increase 2 and 5 minutes after the open method compared to close method (P<0.001). Arterial blood oxygen saturation percentage reduced in the open method more than in the closed one 2 and 5 minutes after the procedure (P<0.001). No significant difference was seen in the patients’ respiratory rate in two methods (P>0.05).Conclusion: Closed endotracheal suction system results in lower disturbances in the vital signs than the open system. Therefore, for better results, the closed endotracheal suctioning is suggested.

Background & Aim: Infertility leads to sexual dissatisfaction in women who believe that their inability to conceive have serious negative effects on their life, particularly their sexual relations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of counseling on sexual satisfaction among infertile women referred to Tehran Fertility Center.Methods & Materials: It is a controlled clinical trial. One hundred infertile women were recruited in the study using convenience sampling method. Then they were randomly allocated in case and control groups. Data were gathered in two phases: before the intervention and 3 month after the intervention. The intervention group participated in two-hour counseling sessions for about 2 weeks. Data were collected using a 2-sectioned questionnaire; including demographic characteristics, and sexual satisfaction questions. Data were analyzed using χ2, Mann Whitney U, and Willcoxon statistical tests.Results: Results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in sexual satisfaction before the intervention (P=0.401). There was significant difference between two groups 3 months after the intervention (P=0.019). Also, there was significant difference between women’s sexual satisfaction in the counseling group before and 3 month after the intervention (P=0.002).Conclusion: Sexual counseling improves sexual satisfaction of infertile women.

Background & Aim: Due to the fact that family centered care have a crucial role in pediatric nursing, it seems compatibility of nurses’ and parents’ perception about parents’ needs can lead to deliver higher quality care. The aim of this study was to compare parents’ and nurses’ perceptions about needs of hospitalized children’s parents.Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional survey. One hundred and fifty parents and 80 nurses were selected using convenient sampling method. Data was gathered using Kristjánsdóttir’s "parental needs of hospitalized children" questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical (Chi-squared & Mann-Whitney U tests) methods.Results: Research findings showed that there was significant difference between both parents’ and nurses’ perceptions about parents’ needs (P=0.012). Both groups believed that parents’ needs are met partially in hospitals. There was not meaningful difference between the parents’ and nurses’ perceptions concerning meeting parental needs (P=0.666). Based on their perceptions, understanding of parents’ needs help them to meet their requirements in health care facilities. There was a significant difference between parents’ and nurses’ perceptions regarding parents’ need (P=0.018).Conclusion: Parents and nurses recognized all of the parents’ needs to be important; there were also deficits in meeting these needs. Therefore, parents’ cooperation with health care team is necessary to facilitate the recovery of sick children as well as meeting parents’ needs.

Background & Aim: Adolescents have important role in building the societies. Some deficits were observed in students’ knowledge regarding puberty health. This study aimed to compare the effect of two educational methods (lecture-educational package) on girl students’ 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’ knowledge mean scores increased significantly. Also the average of package group’s score after the education was more than the other group’s 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’ knowledge; however, the educational package was more effective than the lecture.

Background & Aim: Healthy behaviors of teenagers are effective on the community development. This study was carried out in order to compare healthy behaviors of female teenagers living with their families and in orphanage centers in Tehran.Methods & Materials: This was a cross-sectional study. The subjects were consisted of 110 female teenagers that 55 of them dwelled in the orphanage centers and the remaining lived with their families. Both groups were studying at the same schools. Samples were selected using stratified random sampling method. Questionnaire was used to gather data. The data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical methods in SPSS software.Results: There were statistically significant differences between two groups in nutrition (P<0.0003), sleep & rest (P<0.001), physical exercise (P<0.0013), and individual health (P<0.001). Total score of health behaviors were 112.3, and 87.8 in family group and orphanage group respectively (P<0.001).Conclusion: The average score of health behaviors in girls that reside in orphanage centers was lower than the score of them who lived with their families. This shows the necessity of planning educational and managerial tools to improve their healthy behaviors.

Background & Aim: Exclusive breast feeding is highly recommended for children under six months and the best time for starting supplementary food is the end of sixth months. Inadequate feeding can lead to malnutrition. Since infants’ supplementary feeding pattern is influenced highly by the socio-cultural status; it is necessary to study the subject in diverse conditions. This study aimed to investigate supplementary feeding pattern in 6-12 months children referred to Ilam clinics in 2002.Methods & Materials: In this study, 364 mothers with 6-12 months children were selected using convenient sampling method from 10 health care centers. Data were collected using a four-sectioned questionnaire including mothers and their babies demographic characteristics, feeding pattern (frequency, the type of milk), supplementary food (the age of onset and the type of the first supplementary food, the time of starting mixed foods, and the source of information about supplementary food) and mothers’ performance about feeding with supplementary food. The questionnaire was filled via interview.Results: Findings showed that the growth curve in 84.8% of babies was in the health road. About 38% of babies were the first child. In 50.9% of samples, supplementary food was started before 6 months of age and in 49.9% of the cases, it was started after 6 month old. Supplementary feeding accompanied with breast feeding in 83.5% of the infants. The most used supplementary food was rice mucilage (40.8% of the babies). The interval between starting one supplementary food and the other one was 3-4 days in 50.2% of the cases. Also 80.8% of samples started feeding in the amount of one spoon and increased it gradually. The majority of mothers (64%) did not add sugar, salt and spices in order to attract their babies. As well, 75.6% of samples used spoon and cup for feeding and 92.9% knew the safe time for keeping cooked food in the refrigerator. The source of information about supplementary feeding in 65.4% of mothers was health care providers and in 5% were books and booklets.Conclusion: Findings indicated that more than half of mothers began supplementary feeding for their children before 6 months old without pursuing any accepted pattern. It seems that usual educational programs in Ilam were unable to answer all the problems aroused in this issue. Hence, educating mothers using other methods such as visual teaching material is recommended.

Background & Aim: Family-centered care, which has become the cornerstone for pediatric nursing practice, supports the integrity of child and family health. It brings families a unique care and improves child and family health. Families are recognized as an essential part of a specialized child care during illness. They are expected to be skilful in child care both in and out of health care facilities. This study was carried out to determine health caregivers’ attitude toward parent participation in the care of their hospitalized children at Madani pediatric hospital- Khoramabad in 2004.Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive-analytical study. One hundred and sixty nine caregivers were selected through convenient sampling method. Data were gathered using a questionnaire including demographic and parents’ attitude questions. The questionnaire had 36-item. The data were analyzed via SPSS computer software and using descriptive and analytical methods.Results: Results indicated that the average of participants’ attitude score was 92.28±12.55. Most of subjects had neutral attitudes toward parents’ participation in their children’s care. Positive attitude were significantly related with marital status (P<0.04), having children (P<0.04) and being a nursing student (in comparison with medical students) (P=0.04).Conclusion: The caregivers’ attitudes toward parents’ participation in the care of their hospitalized children were neutral. The students’ and staffs’ attitudes should be modified by taking part in continuous training programs.