Sadra Medical Sciences Journal
Year:2017 | Volume:5 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:6

Background: Quality of life is an important issue in health care and one of the major objectives to enhance health. Because of the special needs of the elderly, their quality of life can be threatened easily. Therefore, attention to quality of life seems necessary in old ages. This study aimed to compare the quality of life among elderly people living in homes and nursing homes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on all elderly people in nursing homes selected through multi-stage sampling. The data were collected using Leipad Elderly Quality of Life Questionnaire. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software. Results: This study was conducted on 96 elderly individuals in Lar. The mean (SD) score of overall quality of life was 73. 98 (18. 16). Besides, quality of life was significantly higher among the elderly living in homes compared to those living in nursing homes (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The elderly who lived in nursing homes had a considerably lower quality of life compared to those living in homes. Therefore, these individuals’ quality of life has to be examined and necessary strategies have to be taken to improve it.

Background: Infertility is one of the important issues related to reproductive health, which can cause a lot of problems in family life. Assisted reproductive techniques have played an important role in treatment of infertility during the past three decades. One of these methods is surrogacy, which has caused many challenges in relationships and personal lives of those involved. This study aimed to investigate the attitude of infertile women towards surrogacy and its probable challenges. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 160 infertile women referring to Shahid Motahari clinic in Shiraz selected through convenience sampling. The study data were collected using a 20-item questionnaire that assessed infertile women’ s challenges and concerns about surrogacy. Finally, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 14. Results: The results showed that 72. 5% of the infertile women had negative attitudes and the rest had positive attitudes towards surrogacy. Indeed, the women’ s main concerns about using this method were incompatibility with culture and religion, child’ s potential problems, surrogate mother’ s probable abuse, threats to relationship with one’ s husband, and decreased sense of belonging to the child. Conclusion: The study results showed that nearly two thirds of the women had negative attitudes towards surrogacy. The main concerns included incompatibility with culture and religion, child’ s potential problems, surrogate mother’ s probable abuse, threats to relationship with one’ s husband, and decreased sense of belonging to the child. Therefore, educational workshops are recommended to be held to improve women’ s attitudes towards this issue.

Background: Radiation dose to orthopedic surgeons does not usually reach the secure threshold during mini C-arm fluoroscopy guided surgeries. However, there are concerns about complications of chronic ionizing radiation, especially in radiology physicians and personnel. This study aimed to evaluate orthopedic surgeons’ radiation exposure, determine its relationship with duration of surgeries, duration of fluoroscopy use in these surgeries, and surgeons’ experience, determine the role of these factors in radiation exposure, and compare the results to standard thresholds. Methods: Orthopedic surgeons, residents, and radiology personnel of Chamran Hospital underwent radiation dosimetry using TLD method for one workday. During surgeries, fluoroscopy was used. Besides, dosimeters were attached to five standard locations, namely chest, left hand, right hand, gonad, and thyroid. Results: The mean of accumulative radiation exposure to chest wall, left hand, right hand, gonad, and thyroid was 0. 183, 0. 716, 1. 76, 0. 616, and 1. 69 mrem, respectively. Discussions: According to the results, radiation exposure was not beyond the standard threshold for any of the participants. In addition, no significant relationship was found between the surgeons’ experience and radiation exposure (p>0. 05).

Background: Detection of horizontal root fracture is a clinical difficulty that can only be detected through radiography in most cases. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of reverse contrast option of digital radiography in detection of horizontal root fracture. Methods: In this ex. vivo study, 85 permanent maxilla single root central teeth were mounted in a dry skull alveolar socket. Conventional periapical and digital radiographs were taken in two vertical angles (40 and 55 degrees). Then, horizontal fractures were created in the middle-third of the roots using a hammer and the two pieces were stuck to each other. Afterwards, the fractured teeth were mounted in the dry skull alveolar socket and all radiographs were repeated in the same position. Digital images were processed with reverse contrast option. All radiographs were assessed by two radiologists and one endodontist. Two weeks later, 10% of the radiographs were assessed by one radiologist. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (p>0. 05). Results: There was no significant difference between digital and reverse contrast images in detection of horizontal root fractures (p>0. 05) and both were better than conventional radiographs (p<0. 001). Indeed, diagnostic accuracy of the 40-degree vertical angle was better in detecting horizontal root fractures compared to the 55-degree vertical angle (p<0. 001). Conclusion: The reverse contrast option and digital radiography showed equal diagnostic accuracy, which was higher compared to conventional radiography. Additionally, 40-degree radiographs were better compared to 55-degree ones.

Background: Evaluation, as a continuous quality improvement tool, determines the strengths and weaknesses of training programs. The outcome of this evaluation, therefore, can lead to the reinforcement of program’ s positive aspects and modification of its insufficiencies. As a result, this study aimed at evaluating the quality of undergraduate nursing education program in Ahvaz in 2015-2016. Methods: CIPP model-based-self-constructed questionnaire was administered to 60 nursing students. The questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part recorded students’ demographic data and the second part evaluated nursing program’ s value in terms of content, input, process, and output. Score of the questionnaire categorize into non desirable, desirable, and relatively desirable. Data were analyzed by conducting descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: According to the participants, the context, input, process, and output of this undergraduate nursing education program were desirable. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between four areas of context, input, process and output (p=0. 01). The highest score among the four aspects of CIPP was related to the “ process” with an average of 49. 38 ± 10. 79 and the lowest score was related to the “ output” with an average of 14. 25± . 3. 05. Conclusion: Although, in general, nursing students were satisfied of this undergraduate program, in order to achieve the optimal result, the school and university officials should try to enhance the quality of the educational programs through revising course materials, upgrading instructors’ knowledge of teaching methods and assessment techniques and improving instructors’ communication skills.

Background: Teamwork training is the most common method of strengthening teamwork in healthcare delivery system. Therefore, the current study aimed to review the studies in the field of teamwork education in the healthcare delivery system. Method: In this review study, scientific texts with the key-words of teamwork, inter-professional practice, teamwork training, knowledge, skills, and attitudes were searched in Google scholar, PubMed, Scientific Information Database (SID) and Magiran. Results: A variety of classroom-based, demonstration-and simulation-based methods are used for teamwork training. Various studies indicated that skills such as assertiveness, error management, and coordination as well as the knowledge of teamwork skills and attitudes towards teamwork are taught in healthcare delivery system. Specifically, "Team strategies and tools to enhance performance and patient safety" is an evidence-based systematic approach that teaches applicable techniques that can be implemented in clinical settings. Furthermore, for the purpose of educational evaluation, the following tools have been used: assessment of individuals’ knowledge and attitudes, their team behaviors and processes and evaluation of patients’ outcomes through self-report, and observation. Conclusion: Different training methods can be effective on team processes and patients’ outcomes. However, methods that integrate teamwork into team’ s daily activities are more effective. Considering the differences in the nature of work in different wards, it is necessary to design training programs tailored to their requirements.