HAYAT
Year:2008 | Volume:14 | Issue:2|Papers Count:11

Background & Aim: Today, quality of life measurement is important in health care systems especially for patients with chronic diseases. Heart failure has several complications that affect patients' lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life and its dimensions in patients with heart failure.Methods & Materials: It is a cross-sectional study. Two hundred and fifty patients with heart failure referred to Tehran medical centers were selected using convenience random sampling method. Data were collected using "Ferrans and Powers quality of life Index". Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Pearson correlation coefficients.Results: The study findings showed that 76/4% of the participants possessed undesirable and less desirable levels of quality of life. There was significant statistical relationship between quality of life with age, gender, education, marriage status, and ejection fraction, length of heart disease, co-morbidity, and readmission.Conclusion: Cardiac heart failure has negative effects on quality of life. So, it seems that if assessing the QOL of these patients becomes one of the nurses' duties, it will promote the major caring goals.

Background & Objective: Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease which results from gradual destruction of bone mass. Prevention of osteoporosis should be started from childhood by getting adequate calcium and doing weight-bearing exercises. Participating of mothers in health education interventions is likely to promote longer-lasting health behaviors in their daughters. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous education of mothers and daughters on osteoporosis preventive behavior among high school female students.Methods & Materials: In this interventional study, 400 female students were randomly selected via a two-phased sampling method. At first stage, four schools were selected randomly. At the second stage, 400 students were divided randomly into two groups. Their osteoporosis preventive behaviors were measured using a two-sectioned questionnaire: demographic section, and osteoporosis preventive behaviors assessment section. The first group participated in the educational programs with their mothers and the other group participated without their mothers. The educational program had two sessions, each one lasted 45 minutes. The second stage of the study was performed three months later. Data analysis was carried out using t-test and chi squared test.Results: Results showed that in both groups, osteoporosis preventive behaviors scores increased significantly after intervention. It was higher in case group (P<0.001). Eating behavior was significantly different in two groups (P=0.003).Conclusion: Results showed that simultaneous educational program for mothers and daughters promotes eating behavior in the girls.

Background & Aim: Anxiety is one of the emotional conditions among patients scheduled for surgery that can result in increasing postoperative pain, increasing analgesic and anesthetic requirements and prolonging hospital stay. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of acupressure (acupuncture without needle) in reducing patients' anxiety before abdominal surgeries.Methods & Materials: In this randomized, blinded, sham controlled trial, 70 patients who were scheduled to undergo abdominal surgery in Tehran University of Medical Sciences' hospitals were selected using convenience sampling method. The patients were randomized to an acupressure group (n=35) or a placebo group (n=35), receiving acupressure either at the right points (Yintang and Shen men) in acupressure group or at sham points in the placebo group for 10 min. Anxiety was recorded on a Visual Analog Scale (0-10). Vital signs were measured before and after pressure application in both groups.Results: The anxiety was decreased in both groups following pressure application for 10 min (P<0.001). The amount of anxiety was significantly different between the groups (P<0.001). The heart rate, respiratory rate, and diastole/systole pressure (P<0.001) were decreased in the case group. Only heart rate (P=0.016) and respiratory rate (P=0.007) were decreased in the placebo group. Changes in respiratory rate and systole pressure following pressure application were statistically significant between two groups.Conclusion: Acupressure at the right points can decrease anxiety before abdominal surgeries but it has no clinical effect on vital signs.

Background & Aim: Post cesarean ileus is a common complication that induces abdominal distention, delays feeding, and increases hospitalization. Multiple studies showed that false nutrition increases the bowel movement. This study aimed to investigate the effect of gum chewing as false nutrition on the bowel movement and prevention of post cesarean ileus.Methods & Materials: In this randomized controlled trial, a total of 400 patients who were hospitalized in Mashhad Zeinab hospital were divided into two 200-patient groups. The groups were matched for age, gravity and duration of surgery. In the intervention group, gum chewing was started after surgery, 3 times/day until the regular diet was initiated. In the control group, patients underwent routine care by restricting oral intake until the bowel function was returned. The outcomes were time of the first bowel sound, flatus passage, defecation, ambulation of patients post cesarean, initiation regular diet, and hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired t-test and fisher's exact probability test.Results: The mean age, parity and operation time were similar in the two groups. All patients in the intervention group tolerated gum chewing immediately after surgery. The results showed the followings among the intervention group vs. control group, respectively: post operative time intervals to bowel sounds (14.7 hours vs. 16.6 hours; P=0.569), time intervals between surgery and abdominal distention (16.59 hours vs. 14.21 hours; P=0.01), first post operative defecation (28.16 hours vs. 32.21 hours ; P=0.000), post operative time interval to onset diet (19.3 hours vs. 16.54 hours; P=0.000), post operative time interval to ambulation (20.14 hours vs.17.58 hours; P=0.000), post operative lengths of ileus (31.13 hours vs. 30.35 hours; P=0.5), hospitalization (1.84 days vs. 1.92 days; P=0.02).Conclusion: Gum chewing after cesarean section is safe and well tolerated and reduces post operative ileus, shortens mean duration of first defecation, decreases the time of returning to regular oral diet, shortens the time of patient ambulation and hospital discharge. Gum chewing is offered as a physiologic and inexpensive method to prevent or reduce post cesarean ileus.

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' 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' 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.

Background & Aim: Recent studies suggest that patients' perceptions might be more important than objective clinical assessments in determining quality of life (QOL) in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to determine QOL in patients experiencing ESRD and its related factors.Methods & Materials: In this descriptive-correlational study, we recruited 202 hemodialysis patients from Iran University of medical sciences' hemodialysis units using convenience sampling method. Data were collected using "Ferrans and Powers quality of life Index- dialysis version" instrument and analyzed using SPSS-14.Results: Findings showed that the patients had a high perceived QOL. Lowest satisfaction mean scores were for the items "your health" (M=3.80, SD=1.74), "being able to take care of your financial needs" (M=3.31, SD=1.85), "achieving your personal goals" (M=4.02, SD=1.63), and "your family's happiness" (M=4.96, SD=1.27). It was reported that "probably you will get a kidney transplant" (M=4.22, SD=2.15), "neighborhood" (M=4.32, SD=2.09, "personal appearance" (M=5.67, SD=0.91), and "your spouse"(M=5.84, SD=0.61) also had lowest mean score for importance from patients point of view. Financial status, educational levels, marital status and number of children were all associated with the QOL (P≤0.05). There were no relationship between age, sex, occupational status, with duration of dialysis treatment (P>0.05).Conclusion: This study denoted financial status, educational levels, marital status and number of children is related to QOL of hemodialysis patients. So, these factors that affect quality of life may promote health and wellbeing and may increase survival in hemodialysis patients. The findings of this study can assist providers in planning and implementing educational and support programs for patients and their family.

Background & Aim: Diabetes education does not assure adherence to diabetic regimen. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nurse-led telephone follow ups (Tele-Nursing) program on adherence to diabetic diet among type 2 diabetic patients.Methods & Materials: This was a quasi experimental study. Sixty patients who were registered at Iranian Diabetes Society were selected using convenience sampling method. Data gathering instruments included a data sheet to record glycosylated hemoglobin and a questionnaire. Data were gathered at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention. First, all participants attended in a three-day self-care education and dietary consultation program at Iranian Diabetes Society. Then, they were randomly assigned to the experiment and control groups. Telephone follow ups were applied in experiment group for 3 months, twice a week for the first month and then weekly for the second and third months. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 13.Results: Results showed that there were significant statistical differences between control and experiment groups in adherence to diabetic diet (P=0.035). There were significant differences in glycosylated hemoglobin between control and experiment groups after the intervention (P<0.000). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it is concluded that the nurse-led telephone follow ups can improve HbA1c and diet adherence in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background & Aim: Choosing proper method for contraception can help to reduce prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortions. IUD is one of the most trustable; effective, and long-term contraceptive methods. The periodical study for recognition of the discontinuation factors is important in family planning and population control. Thus, the study was designed to determine the factors influencing the IUD discontinuation among women referring to Tehran' south health care centers.Methods & Materials: In this descriptive study, 400 women attending to the health care centers in south Tehran in order to discontinue their IUDs were selected randomly. Data were gathered using questionnaires and analyzed using statistical tests such as chi-square and T-test.Results: The mean IUD duration usage was 29.5±27.88 months. The main complication was bleeding that was reported by 44% of the clients. Infection 36.5%; spotting 20.5%; pain 12.3% and explosion 11.3% were the other causes of discontinuation, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the discontinuation and complications (P<0.001), husbands' education level (P=0.01), and usage duration (P=0.04). Conclusion: The study showed that the most common reason for IUD removal was its side effects. It seems considering appropriate policies could decrease the complications and increase the usage duration.