Modern Care Journal
Year:2012 | Volume:9 | Issue:3 (35)|Papers Count:19

Background and Aim: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. As the breast plays an important role in female sexuality, cancer diagnosis may evoke negative psychological reactions such as fear, anxiety, and depression; and in treating these complications less dangerous proce4dures must be taken into consideration. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of logotherapy group counseling on reduction of depression in breast cancer patients in Birjand.Mateials and Methods: A quasi-experimental, pretest/post-test control group was used in our study. Statistical population consisted of breast cancer patients in Birjand city between 2010 and the first half of 2011. The sample included 22 breast cancer patients who were non-randomly divided into intervention and control groups, based on DSM criteria (DSMVR) and Beck’s Depression Inventory, achieved grade 13 at least. The experimental group participated in logotherapy with a group counseling approach for ten 2 hour sessions and the control group did not receive any psychological treatments. SPSS software (V: 13) and statistical tests independent and dependent t were; and a=0.05 was taken as the significant level.Results: The rate of depression significantly decreased in the experimental group (8.27±4.7, P<0.001), while it was unchanged in the control group.Conclusion: Regarding the findings of the present study, it is recommended that, in addition to medicinal treatments, logotherapy should be applied to such patients.

Background and Aim: Food additives, such as sodium benzoate (SB), are used in many food products and drugs to postpone the growth of microrganisms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of long term consumption of SB on the growth indexes of Balb/c mice.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female Balb/c mice were divided into 2 experimental (I, II) and one control groups. The experimental groups (I, II) daily received 280 and 560 mg/kg of SB intrapretoneally, respectively. The control group received normal saline in the same way. All injections were done during 10 days before gestation, and then, between the 6th and the 15th of gestational days (GD6-15). The mice underwent cesarean section on GD 18 and their embryos were removed. Then, weighing the embryos and measuring their length were done. The embryos were stained with alizarin red and alcian blue and observed by means of a stereomicroscope. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests one-way variance analysis, Tukey, and X2 at the significant level P<0.05.Result: Mean weight and crown-rump of the fetuses in the experimental group II significantly decreased in comparison with the experimental group I and the control group. The fetal resorption in the experimental groups I and II significantly decreased in comparison with the control group (P=0.04).Conclusion: SB consumption before and during pregnancy can probably induce negative changes of fetal indexes. Thus, it is recommended that pregnant women cautiously use food stuffs containing sodium benzoate, as far as possible.

Background and Aim: Cancer is one of the life-threatening diseases that produces the numerous changes in life including communications and social activities. Cancerous patients have some degree of anxiety. The present study aimed at determining the effects of an educational program on social anxiety in cancerous patients.Materials and Methods: In this randomized case and control research, 52 cancerous patients referring to Seyyedoshohada hospital of Isfahan were selected through sampling method, based on the aim of the study, and were then randomly divided into 2 groups (cases: 28 patients, controls: 24 individuals) The cases filled out the social anxiety questionnaire before the study and one month later. Psychological intervention was made against the experimental (the cases) group. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software (V: 13), descriptive and referential statistics, at the4 significant level P<0.05.Results: Mean of social anxiety decreased from 58.66±17.4 to 47.06±12.03 in the cases. Independent t-test revealed a significant difference, regarding social anxiety, between the two groups (P=0.001).Besides, paired T-test showed a significant difference in social anxiety in the cases before and after intervention (P=0.002). But, a significant difference was not observed between the pre-, post-intervention in the social anxiety of the control group.Conclusions: Psychological intervention, based social anxiety reduction, would be a successful approach in promoting mental health of cancerous patients.

Background and Aim: Organizational commitment subject has been attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years. In health care organizations, increasing of commitment and responsibility in human resources is very important, because customers of health organizations are human resources of other organizations. The present study was done to determine the effect of instruction of reducing work hours on organizational commitment of intensive care nurses.Materials and Methods: In this semi experimental study, all nurses working in intensive care units were samples. Data collection was done by Allen and Meyer’s organizational commitment questionnaires before the implementation of instruction of reducing work hours and six month after it. Data was analyzed by statistical SPSS 16 software in significance level of P<0.05.Results: 65 intensive care nurses participated in the study. The majority of nurses were female (92.3%) and married (70.8%). The mean age of samples in this study was 32.8±7.5 years and mean work history of them was 8.3±7.4 years. The mean total score of organizational commitment before the intervention was 95.2±20.9 and after it was 113.5±16.6 and the changes in the mean total score of organizational commitment and its dimensions before and after the intervention showed a statistically significant difference through increment (P<0.0001).Conclusion: Results of present study showed increment of organizational commitment level by significant difference in organizational commitment score and its dimensions after the implementation of intervention. Considering the critical shortage of nurses in 57 countries and importance of retention of nurses especially in intensive units, nurse managers can achieve this by providing the satisfaction of the income and benefits and good working conditions and supporting and encouraging employees by increasing job satisfaction and organizational commitment and its dimensions.

Background and Aim: Pain is a protective mechanism and it occurs when some tissues are damaged; thus, one is forced to remove the painful stimulus. Pain Intensity is closely related to the rate of tissue damage. The present research was carried out with aim of comparing the effects of Calendit- E cream and expressed breast milk in the treatment of nipple pain.Materials and Methods: This study was a single blind randomized clinical trial one in which 82 breastfeeding women aged over 18 yrs, who suffered from nipple pain, after obtaining written consent, were taken as subjects. They were randomly divided into two treatment groups; i.e. calendit-E cream and expressed breast milk groups. Both groups were instructed in the correct method of breastfeeding and using of cream or expressed breast milk and they were being treated for a week. The nipple pain scores were measured and recorded before treatment, and on the third and seventh days of the study. Data collection was done by means of a demographic questionnaire, pain assessment form, and an evaluation form of breastfeeding. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software, t-test, and paired t-test at the significant level P<0.05.Results: Reduction of severity of pain after treatment was significant in both groups (P<0.001), but a significant difference in the intensity of pain between the two groups on the third (P=0.8) and seventh (P=0.22) days of intervention was not observed.Conclusion: Calendit-E cream and expressed breast milk is both equally effective in reducing nipple pain.

Background and Aim: Nursing practice is naturally a moral one and health care quality is largely dependant on how nurses fulfil their duties. The present study aimed at assessing compliance with professional ethical standards in nursing practice from nurses' perspectives.Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 138 nurses working in selected hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, who were selected through simple randomized sampling method. Data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire about compliance with professional ethical standards. The obtained data was analysed using SPSS 16 software, descriptive- analytical statistics, Pearson's and spearman's correlation coefficients.Results: Most of the nurses (72.5%) had a good performance in the dimensions of responsibility, improvement of patient's care, and respect for patients. This study showed that there was a significant difference between sex and professional ethical performance quality in all the three aspects (P=0.02). Besides, a positive correlation was observed between working shifts and professional ethical performance (r=0.92).Conclusion: Regarding the findings of the present study, it seems that determining nursing working shifts can be effective in improving nurses' professional ethical performance.

Background and Aim: The most important and vital property of health centers is efficient manpower. Since nursing interns are effective members of the patient care team in educational institutions and their efficacy has an important role in the effectiveness of nursing care of patients, it is not clear how clinical settings empower nursing students in an appropriate way. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the empowering condition of the hospitals under the affiliation of BUMS from nursing interns 'point of views in the school of Nursing and Midwifery.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 33 nursing interns in Nursing and Midwifery faculty of Birjand were studied in a census in the spring of 2012. Means of gathering data were the standard questionnaire, Scott & Jaffe workplace empowerment questionnaire consisting of 38 statements and 9 subscales, on Likert 4 scales. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS software (V:17), statistical tests, independent t and Pearson's correlation coefficient at the significant level P<0.05.Results: Mean of total score was 2.26±0.34 and the value of subscales (objective clarity, fair behavior, understanding and appreciation, teamwork, cooperation, workplace health) was at a moderate level. Mean score of communication and education was low. Mean score of empowerment in communication significantly differed with native status (P=0.035). Mean score of fair behavior statistically had a significant difference with residence (P=0.046). Mean score of healthy workplace (P=0.039) and cooperation (P=0.033), too, had a statistically negative relationship with age and health significantly differed with age.Conclusion: The results showed that empowerment of university hospitals was average for students. It sounds that educational managers should make interns aware of the programs and objectives of the hospital and orientate them towards workplace; and make use of their views in group activities and treatment decisions.

Background and Aim: During the process of labor, women develop important experiences which will always remain with them through their lifetime. Quality of these experiences influences both mother’s and child’s health, their emotional connection and the mother’s sexual function in future. This qualitative study aimed at clarifying the primiparous women’s experiences regarding childbirth.Materials and Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted on the primiparous women referring to the educational hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences selected through purposive sampling. The necessary data was collected through Semi-structured interviews with 17 primiparous women having no complicated vaginal delivery. Demographic information was also gathered using a questionnaire. Interviews were conducted 24- 48 hours after delivery and the obtained data was analyzed applying content analysis.Results: After data analysis, four themes related to labor experience were extracted. The first theme, difference between the experience and the expectation, means that some participants generally experienced their childbirth better than what was expected and to most of them it was worse than expected. The second theme, strategies for dealing with pain, meant that the participants attempted to confront the labor pain through spiritual-religious and physical approaches. The two other themes covered the need for labor support and a new insight into natural delivery.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, women who experience childbirth for the first time may not have a realistic expectation regarding natural childbirth, lose their control in facing labor, and ask for caesarean delivery. Therefore, more attention should be paid to childbirth preparation classes. Besides, more support for laboring women, in addition to concentration over maternal and fetal physical health, is recommended.

Background and Aim: Hospital triage is a necessary function of the emergency department which is done by emergency nurses. There is little available information of students' knowledge about hospital triage in the emergency department. The present study aimed at assessing BUMS' students' Knowledge about hospital triage in Birjand in 2011.Materials and Method: This was a cross- sectional analytical study whose subjects were all the senior students of medicine, nursing, and emergency medical service. The tool for collecting data was a researcher designed questionnaire consisting of 25 questions divided into three sections: demography information, familiarity with hospital triage (15 questions), and making decisions on hospital triage proceedings (10 questions). Total grade of knowledge was 25. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS, statistical tests including and independent t, and one-way variance analysis at the significant level a=0.05.Results: totally, 120 students whose mean age was 23±2.01 were assessed. Their mean knowledge was 7.3±2.4, which shows their weakness in this respect. No significant difference was observed in the mean knowledge of the students regarding sex, field of study, and average.Conclusion: Medical students little knowledge of hospital triage can be due to lack of exclusive triage educational courses and not having emergency departments make evidence- based decisions.

Background and Aim: Nurses’ psychological wellbeing is important determiner in their professional health and it is necessary for effective caring of patients. The present study aimed at describing the role of job burnout, socioeconomic factors, and working environmental conditions in nurses’ psychological well-being.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, 345 nurses were selected, through convenience sampling, from the hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences between March and July 2011. They completed Personal Well-being Scale, Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire, Practice Environment Scale of Nursing Index, and Socioeconomic and Occupational Factors questionnaire. The degree of association between different variables was assessed using correlative and explanatory factors of nursing psychological well-being by means of stepwise multiple regression.Results: There was a significantly positive correlation between frenetic activity, working environmental conditions, age, work hours per week, and income with psychological well-being but there was a significantly negative correlation between lack of job challenge, feeling burn out, and type of employment with psychological well-being (P<0.001). Job burn- out, working environmental conditions, income, frenetic activity, and work hours per week were significant precursors of psychological well-being of nurses (P<0.001).Conclusion: Burn-out and worn-outness, inappropriate working environmental conditions and extended long work hours per week, frenetic activity, and low income reduce nurses’ psychological well-being. The findings emphasize on the importance of more effective intervention in burn-out syndrome and inappropriate job conditions to promote their psychological well-being.

Background and Aim: Sleep habits affect childhood health. Paying no attention to sleep problems can have a negative effect on children's health and performance, both at home and school. Sleep disorders have a relationship with illnesses, imperfect operations, decrease of life quality, and increase in living costs. The purpose of the present study was to pinpoint sleep pattern and sleep disorders in elementary school children in Birjand.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and comparative study, 620 elementary students, who did not have any underlying diseases and had no history of taking psychogenic drugs, were selected through multi-stage randomized sampling were assessed. Assessment tool for sleep disorders in children (Bear's questionnaire) was filled out by parents. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS software (V: 15); and statistical tests t and X2 at the significant level P<0.05.Results: Out of 620 students, 302 (48.7%) were boys and 318 (51.3%) were girls. Mean age of them was 9.08±6.1 yrs. The most common sleep problems in children were: resistance to going to bed (20.5 %) and chatting while sleeping (11.1%). Sleep duration (in girls), resistance to sleep, enuresis, and noisy breathing (in boys) had a higher relative frequency.Conclusion: The most prevalent sleep problems in children were resistance to going to bed and chatting while sleeping which require attention, following up, and treatment in order to prevent probable following complications.

Background and Aim: Suitable nutritional pattern plays an important role in girls' health. One of the priorities of Health, Treatment, and Medical training Ministry is training proper feeding during puberty. Understanding the proper feeding pattern for this age group will be advantageous in planning and performing nutritional menus. The present research was conducted to determine proper nutritional pattern in Birjand girls' secondary schools.Materials and Method: In this descriptive- analytical and cross-sectional study, 385 students from Birjand girls' secondary schools were chosen applying random sampling. Means of gathering data consisted of a three sectional questionnaire including demography, a 24-hour food reminder, and frequency of consumption during the previous week. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software, statistical tests X2 and one-way variance analysis at the significant level P<0.05.Results: Findings showed daily breakfast consumption by 141 students (36.6%). Frequency of consumed between meals during the previous week was 4.55±3.1 and the mostly used between meal was bread and cheese by 44.7% (i.e.by 172 students).The least used between meal was chips and puffy candy by 8.3% (i.e.32 individual).Mean intake of foodstuffs during the 24 hours included 4.92±2.27 units of bread and corn(recommended dose=6-11 units), 4.46±2.17 units of fruits and vegetables (recommended dose=5-9 units), 2±1.14 units of dairy(recommended dose=2-3 units), and 2.9±1.5 units of meat and meat substitutes(recommended dose=2-3 units). It was found that there was a significant relationship between daily meat consumption and father's job/occupation; and between daily fruits and vegetables consumption and mother's. Besides, a significant difference was observed between some foods daily consumption, place of education, and either of parent's education level.Conclusion: Regarding the findings of the study, it is advisable to instruct the students in order to match their food habits with the food pyramid.

Background and Aim: Delegation is one of the most required skills for managers in order to give authority to their efficient subordinates to carry out different tasks and take responsibility in their absence. The aim of the present study was to find out the attitude of nursing managers about delegation in Karaj social security clinics and hospitals in 2010.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and cross-sectional study done in 2010 fifty-four nursing managers were selected through convenience sampling, from three hospitals and four clinics of social security of Karaj, in 2010. Necessary data was collected from self-report. Instruments used included: a demographic questionnaire and an attitude one about delegation. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS statistical software (version 14) using descriptive statistics, t- test, and Pearson's coefficient correlation at the significant level of P<0.05.Result: It was found that 74.1% of nursing managers had a neutral attitude about delegation. There was a significant statistical difference between the degree of attitude about delegation, regarding acquaintance with delegation presented in management subjects during the educational curriculum (P=0.031) and the cases' participation in in-service educational programs on management (P=0.005).Conclusion: Most of nursing managers had a neutral attitude about delegation and their awareness of leadership skills and management principles, including delegation, was related to the nursing managers' attitude about delegation.