Iran Journal of Nursing
Year:2014 | Volume:27 | Issue:90-91|Papers Count:15

Background & Aim: The occupational nature of health profession is such that employees in these occupations are exposed to various stressors which threaten their mental health. We aimed to investigate the influence of stress management and communication skills training on the improvement of mental health of nurses and hospital staff.Material & Methods: It was a quasi-experimental study. The sample included 32 nurses and other hospital staff of Baqiyatallah hospital in Tehran that were first recruited by voluntary sampling and then were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Stress management and communication skills training program based on the cognitive-behavioral theory was performed during a 16 hours period. Data was collected by Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) before and after the intervention and was analyzed by descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance using SPSS-PC (v. 18).Results: The results of the analysis of covariance indicated that the intervention has significantly reduced stress and anxiety in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.01). However, no significant difference was seen in terms of depression (P=0.861).Conclusion: By reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety, stress management and communication skills training based on cognitive-behavior theory can improve mental health of nurses and hospital staff. Accordingly, using this program by health managers to improve mental health of their staff is recommended.

Background & Aim: Childbearing is one of the purposes of marriage and having no child could have a negative impact on various aspects of women's lives. The aim of this study was to compare the self-esteem of fertile and infertile women.Material & Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was carried out among 200 fertile and infertile women (100 fertile and 100 infertile) referred to the Research Centre for Reproductive and gynecological clinic of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 2013. Sampling in the fertile and infertile women was done by purposive and cluster random method respectively. Self-esteem was assessed by Cooper Semite’s inventory. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics (Independent t -test, Chi-square, ANOVA and Pearson correlation test) using SPSS-PC (v.21).Results: Mean score of self-esteem in fertile and infertile group was 81.09±24.6 and 69.83±21 respectively (p=0.001). There was a significant relationship between self-esteem and age, duration of infertility, education, income, and housing in infertile group (p=0.001).Conclusion: The findings revealed that infertile women had lower self-esteem than fertile women. It seems that healthcare providers, in addition to handling the physical dimensions of health, should pay attention to the psychological aspects of this group of women.

Background & Aim: Physical activity has an important role in the length of life of hemodialysis patients. Some complementary interventions such as relaxation technique might be effective on the level of physical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Benson’s relaxation technique on physical activity of hemodialysis patients.Material & Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial that was carried out in the hemodialysis units of Shiraz University of Medical sciences. Eighty six hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to Benson’s relaxation technique group (n=43) and control group (n=43). The technique was performed in experimenmtal group for 20 min, twice a day for 8 consecutive weeks. Physical activity was assessed by the "Daily Living Activity (ADL)" and "Instrumental Daily Living Activity (IADL)" scale in both groups at baseline and 8 weeks after intervention. Data were analyzed with independent and dependent samples t-test, and chi-square using SPSS-PC (v.16).Results: Before the intervention, the mean score of ADL in intervention and control groups was 12.53 (2.54) and 12.30 (2.78), respectively. However, at the 8th week of the intervention, the mean score of ADL in the intervention group was 13.42 (1.44) and in the control was 11.74 (3.45). The results of independent samples t-test showed a significant difference between ADL of the groups (t=2.83, P=0.006). In addition, the mean score of IADL at the beginning of study in intervention and control group was 14.36 (4.36) and 12.04 (6.01) and at 8th week of intervention, it was 15.62 (3.77) and 12.00 (5.77), respectively. A significant difference was observed between two groups regarding the IADL scale at the 8th week of the intervention (t=3.29, P=0.001).Conclusion: The findings suggest beneficial effects of Benson’s relaxation technique on the improvement of physical activity in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, teaching relaxation techniques could serve as a resource for improving the levels of physical activity.

Background & Aim: The Achievement Motivation is the cause of successful behavior and efforts in students. This study aims to determine the relationship between achievement motivation and self-efficacy of clinical performance in nursing students.Material & Methods: This descriptive-Correlational study was conducted on 115 internship nursing students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The sample was recruited by census. Data was collected by Hermans’ Achievement Motivation Questionnaire and self-efficacy in clinical performance scale and analyzed by descriptive, non-parametric tests and Spearman correlation coefficient using SPSS-PC (v. 16).Results: There was a significant relationship between achievement motivation and self-efficacy in clinical performance (r=0.61, P<0.01). Also an increase inachievement motivation and self-efficacy in clinical performance were significantly associated with student work experience and its duration, and students’ total grade average (P<0.01).Conclusion: Regarding the findings, adoption of suitable educational strategies in line with promotion of achievement motivation and clinical self-efficacy is of high importance.

Background & Aim: Caring is the nature of nursing and plays an important role in the promotion of patients’ health level, process of recovery and their satisfaction. Difference in the performance and behavior among circadian types may influence nurses’ performance such as caring for patients. Accordingly, this study aims to determine the relationship between circadian types and nurses’ caring behaviors.Material & Methods: This is a descriptive-correlational study. A total of 573 nurses were selected from different wards of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences through cluster sampling. Data was collected by Morningness Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and Caring Behaviors Inventory (CBI) and analyzed by Spearman test and partial correlation using SPSS-PC (v. 16).Results: The findings showed that most of the sample (%57.9) was of intermediate type. Subscales of professional knowledge and skill, and positive connectedness from CBI had the most and least scores respectively. After adjustment for age and work experience, there was no significant association between circadian types and caring behaviors.Conclusion: The results did not provide enough evidence regarding the existence of a relationship between circadian types and nurse caring behaviors. Accordingly, conducting a same study by controlling the variables of age and work experience is recommended.

Background & Aim: Moral intelligence is linked with doing right work and adherence to ethics. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between moral intelligence and quality of work life of nurses in Tabriz hospitals.Material & Methods: It was a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. The study population consisted of all nurses working in hospitals of Tabriz in 2014. Using stratified random sampling, 186 nurses were recruited as the research sample. Lennick and Kiel’s (2005) moral intelligence questionnaire and Brooks and Anderson’s (2005) quality of work life survey were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistical methods including Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis using SPSS-PC (v. 20).Results: According to findings, there was significant positive relationships between the elements of moral intelligence and quality of work life - home, quality of work context and quality of work world (P=0.001). There was no significant relationship between moral intelligence and quality of work design. The regression analysis showed that moral intelligence could predict the quality of work life/home life, the quality of work context and the quality of work world. However, it did not have a significant role in the prediction of quality of work design.Conclusion: Considering that the quality of nursing work life is predictable through moral intelligence, it seems that appropriate levels of moral intelligence could lead nurses to play a significant role in hospitals. Meanwhile, approaches such as encouraging moral behavior would improve the present situation.

Background & Aim: Students’ attitude towards their field of study could affect quality of health care. This study aims to determine the attitudes of operating room students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences towards their field of study.Material & Methods: It was a descriptive, cross- sectional study. The subjects were all operating room students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in their second semester of academic year 2013-2014. Data was collected by student's attitude questionnaire and was analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics methods (Chi-Square test) using SPS-PC (v. 18).Results: The findings showed that 61.4% of students were female and 86.8% were single and mean score of their age was 20.87. Of all students, 51.8% had a positive attitude towards their field of study. According to the results, there was a significant relationship between marital status and education semester and students' attitude towards their field of study (P=0.037 and P=0.004 respectively).Conclusion: Regarding the clinical training problems in operating rooms, providing an appropriate environment in operating rooms to improve students’ attitude is recommended.

Background & Aim: Diabetes because of its numerous complications has an extensive effect on patients’ quality of life. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between metabolic control indexes and quality of life of patients with type II diabetes in Shahroud-Iran.Material & Methods: It was a descriptive-correlational study. A total of 156 patients with type II diabetes were recruited by convenience sampling in 2013. Data was collected by diabetes-specific quality of life questionnaire. Indexes of metabolic control (hemoglobin A1C, fasting and non-fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and HDL) were also controlled. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and chi-square tests using SPSS-PC (v.16).Results: In this study the mean score of quality of life was 164.53±63.21 and the mean score of HgA1C was 8.65±1.55. A significant relationship was found between quality of life and all indicators except LDL (p<0.05). There was no significant relationship between the mental aspect of quality of life and triglycerides (p=0.06), cholesterol (p=0.06) and LDL cholesterol (p=0.13) indexes and also social aspect of quality of life and cholesterol (p=0.07) and LDL (p=0.09) indexes.Conclusion: According to the findings, better control of metabolic indexes is associated with higher quality of life. Accordingly, approaches to control metabolic indexes would lead to improvements in different dimensions of quality of life in patients with diabetes.

Background & Aim: Clinical practice is an important part of the educational curriculum of nursing students. Effective and dynamic interactions among the students, health care providers, instructors, and the clinical environment and its elements affect their professional development. The aim of this report as a part of a more extensive research is describing the negative experiences of nursing students in the clinical environment.Material & Methods: It was a qualitative study. Data was collected by purposeful sampling from two new graduated staff nurses and 12 undergraduate nursing students in two large nursing and midwifery schools through in-depth semi-structured individual interviews during their clinical placements and after graduation. The data was analyzed using the Strauss and Corbin version (1998) of grounded theory method.Results: Vertical violence was emerged as one of the significant findings of the study. Its manifestations included humiliation, blaming, not being accepted, exploitation, discrimination, bullying, limited learning opportunities and lack of support in the clinical environment. The main origin of these behaviors was mostly nurses and clinical instructors.Conclusion: The findings revealed the non-supportive climate of clinical settings. Nursing students were vulnerable during learning in the clinical setting. Identification and proper management of the issues and challenges faced by nursing students in the clinical environment can provide a welcoming climate for younger colleagues of the profession.

Background & Aim: Restless leg syndrome is a common disorder among hemodialysis patients which decreases the quality of life of these patients. This study aims to determine the effect of stretching exercises on the quality of life of hemodialysis patients with restless leg syndrome.Material & Methods: It was a randomized clinical trial. The sample consisted of 36 hemodialysis patients who were selected from the hemodialysis ward of one of the hospitals of Tehran using restless leg syndrome screening questionnaire. They were randomly assigned to either control (n=18) or experimental groups. Intra dialysis stretching exercises were applied three times a week for eight weeks and each time for half an hour on the patients ‘legs. Data was collected by SF-36 before intervention and the end of the fourth and eighth weeks and was analyzed by Fisher, Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests using SPSS-PC (v.16).Results: After eight weeks of intervention, the changes of the mean score of quality of life were significantly different in the intervention group compared with control group (P<0.001).Conclusion: According to the results, applying stretching exercises for eight weeks could increase the quality of life of hemodialysis patients by reducing the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Accordingly, applying these exercises to improve the quality of life of hemodialysis patients with restless leg syndrome is recommended.