Iran Journal of Nursing
Year:2008 | Volume:21 | Issue:53|Papers Count:10

Background & Aim: Cervical ripening is one of the methods used for cervical preinduction with the aim of facilitating labor and ending pregnancy. There are various recommendations on using labor inducing methods, but no preferred method has been known. The aim of this study was to compare the results of using folly catheter balloon and oxytocin for cervical induction.Material & Method: It was a randomized clinical trial. Two hundred and seventy pregnant women attending Shahid Akbarabadi center were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the 3 groups. The women in the first and second group were catheterized and their catheters were fixed using 30 cc and 80cc of normal saline respectively. The third group just received 5 units of syntocinon in 1000ml IV solution. Results: There were statistically significant difference between 3 groups in bishop score after cervical preparation (P=0.000M). Moreover, there were statistically significant difference between folly catheter groups and syntocinon group regarding type of labour (P=0.000), the time intervals between induction and the active phase of labour (P=0.000), and induction and labour (P=0.000). the duration of the third stage and time interval between the third stage and labour were much shorter in catheter groups than syntocinon group.Conclusion: Using folly catheter balloon for ending pregnancy is effective and has no risk. Moreover, it has lees complications and more desirable delivery outcomes than oxytocin. Cervical ripening is also effective in the mode of delivery and reduces the need for surgical interventions and also the costs of hospitalization.

Background& Aim: Medication errors in healthcare environment are considered as a serious threat to patients' health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency, type and causes of medication errors of nursing students.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted in Arak University of Medical Sciences. Seventy six students were selected through census method of sampling. A questionnaire, consisting two sections of demographic information and questions about medication errors, was completed by students. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: According to findings, 17.1 % of students reported medication errors and 43.42 % reported impending medication errors. The most common type of error was wrong dose of medication, the most common cause of which was poor pharmacologic knowledge. Heparin, Dopamin, Dubotamin, Vancomycin, Phenytoin and Captoprile were the most prevailing drugs about which the students reported errors.Conclusion: Results showed that the rate of medication errors in nursing student was high. It seems that some causes of medication errors are related to poor pharmacological knowledge, drug calculation and so on. According to the results, it is imperative to realize the weak points of students or educational program and plan to resolve them.

Background & Aim: Elderly is a sensitive period and quality of life in elderly is of great importance that should not be ignored. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between quality of life and status of physical functioning among elderly people in west region of Tehran.Material and Method: This was a descriptive-correlational study. Through multistage sampling method, 410 participants over 60 years old and cognitively intact were selected to participate in the study. The data-gathering tool consisted of a 2-part questionnaire: Short Form Health Survey (SF12) used to measure quality of life, questions related to status of physical functioning which includes activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Results: The result of the study showed that there was statistically significant correlation between quality of life among elderly and their "status of physical functioning (ADLs & IADLs)", "gender", "education', "economic status" and "present health status" (P<0.05). Also, the results showed that the mean quality of life score of the participants was 32.84 (SD=8.89, range 12_48), indicating that they evaluate their quality of life as moderate. The mean score of ADLs was 13.54 (SD=1.53, range 0_14), and the mean score of IADLs was 14.20 (SD=3.717, range 0_18), which indicated total independence.Conclusion: Regarding the results, the quality of life and status of physical functioning are related meaningfully indicating that older people should be considered as vulnerable group. The researchers suggest health authorities to provide this group with programs and facilities for promotion of their physical functioning, and also, suggest prospective studies to be conducted in this issue.

Background & Aim: Content analysis was used first in communication sciences. Today, it is frequently used in media analysis. In other sciences such as nursing, researchers apply this method in their studies. Material & Method: In spite of the importance of this method in nursing research, there was not enough Persian material on the subject. Therefore, this review study was conducted to clarify and describe definitions, classifications, principles and conceptual bases of content analysis. Persian and English foreign articles and books were used in this review study.Results: Most scholars believe that content analysis is a research tool used to determine the presence of certain words or concepts within texts or sets of texts. Some categorize it as a data analysis technique. Texts can be defined broadly as books, book chapters, essays, interviews, discussions, newspaper headlines and articles, and historical documents. Using content analysis, researchers analyze the presence of meanings and relationships of such words and concepts, then make inferences about the messages within the texts, the writer(s), the audience, and even the culture and time of which these are a part.Conclusion: Content analysis can be used in both quantitative and qualitative researches.

Background & Aim: Although pregnancy is one of the loveliest events in the developmental processes of a woman's life, history of previous fetal or neonatal death may have a negative effect on the adaptation of woman for her new pregnancy. It can also have a major influence on development of emotional distress in the attachment between mother and her fetus. This study has been done to assess and compare maternal fetal attachment of primgravidas and multigravidas women with past history of fetal or neonatal death which hasn’t had living child. Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty literate Iranian pregnant volunteer women with the ages of 20-40yearswereselectedby non-randomized sampling method (sequential) during their 3rd trimester of planned current pregnancy. Forty samples didn't have living child, had past history of fetal or neonatal death and 80 samples were primigravidas. The tools of this study that filled in by samples had two main parts of "personal demographics" and "maternal fetal attachment scale" (MFAS).Results: A statistically significant difference was found in 5 subscales of the MFAS between the primigravidas and multigravidas women with past history of fetal or neonatal death. The average score of every subscales of maternal fetal attachment in primigravidas women was higher in comparison with multigravidas women. The independent t-test also showed a statistically significant difference between average of total score of maternal fetal attachment between two groups (P=0.000).Conclusion: Due to lesser maternal fetal attachment in the multigravidas women with past history of fetal or neonatal death it is necessary to plan supportive, educational, and counseling program for this vulnerable group. The researchers suggest replicating the study during the first and second trimester of pregnancy and postpartum period of women with past history of fetal or neonatal death and also, in clients referred to the other clinics.

Background and Aim: Mood changes and high perceived stress are considered as the controversial side effects of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) consumption. The belief that OCPs cause mood changes and depression could be a significant factor to discontinue OCP use in women, the event that inevitably leads to increase the rate of unwanted pregnancies with high costs on the families and society. Therefore, providing stress management educational programs could improve mood and perceived stress during OCP use, thereby, prevents discontinuation of OCPs. The aim of this study was to determine whether stress management education could influence mood and perceived stress in oral contraceptive users.Material and Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on ninety two women who were suitable candidates to use OCPs. Mood state and perceived stress were measured by PANAS and PSS, before intervention (as pretest). Then, all of the subjects were randomly assigned into either experimental or control group. The experimental group (n=46) used OCP for three cycles with routine contraception counseling and concurrently exposed to one session of stress management education, and 3 times telephone counseling. The control group (n=46) received only routine contraception counseling during OCP use for three months. Mood and perceived stress were measured again after educational intervention.Results: Significant reduction in negative mood and perceived stress and improvement in positive mood were found in the experimental group compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings suggest beneficial effects of stress management education and counseling during OCP use that could reduce the rate of discontinuation and subsequent unwanted pregnancies. In addition, the stress management intervention could be considered as a significant factor to improve women's health promoting behaviors and quality of life during OCP use. 

Background and Aim: The research has shown that there is relationship between obesity in childhood and adulthood, and also, there is a direct relationship between obesity of parent, eating style and habit in family, and children obesity. This study was conducted to examine the effects of eating style of child and parent on obesity of school age girls.Material and Method: This research was quasi-experimental study. The sample size included 97 healthy school age geris with BMI percentile above 85% in Shahriar city.They were randomly allocated to either experimental or control group (50 children in the control group and 47 children in experimental group). The samples in experimental group and their mothers received behavioral modification teaching in 7 sessions and 16 week fallow up was accomplished. Before intervention and also after intervention (every month for 3 months), BMI percentile was recorded for samples of both groups. The samples also completed eating style questionnaire before and after intervention and their mothers did so.Result: There was a statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of BMI percentile (P=0.015). There was no statistical significant difference between two groups in terms of eating style of child and mother (P<0.05).Conclusion: Eating style of parent and child has an effect on child obesity and modification of eating style in parent and child is effective in treatment of obesity in children.

Background and Aim: One of the medical procedures causing pain is vaccination. It is associated with increased anxiety, restlessness, and increased parent distress and angry. Therefore, recognition and application of pain control strategies by health care worker is necessary. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of EMLA cream in reducing pain due to DPT vaccination.Material and Method: A randomized controlled trial, double-blind design was selected to conduct the study. One hundred and two infants with age 4 months undergoing DPT vaccination were selected by convenient sampling and randomly allocated to either experimental or control group. Infants in experimental group received EMLA on the skin and those in control group received placebo (Vit A+D) on the skin. Symptoms associated with pain while DPT vaccination measured by (MPBS) and crying time.Results: The results showed that the MPBS scores were significantly lower in the EMLA group (2.08±1.02) compared with the placebo group (4056±1.05) (P=0.03).The duration of crying was significantly lower in the EMLA group (6.00±5.01 sec) than in placebo group (10.42±4.34) (P=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in side effect of intervention between two groups.Conclusions: This study showed that EMLA cream could be effective in reducing pain due to vaccination in infants. Health care workers are recommended to use EMLA cream for relieving pain, facilitating acceptance of parents to multiple injections and Promoting of quality health care.