MILITARY CARING SCIENCES
Year:2017 | Volume:4 | Issue:2 (12) |Papers Count:8

Introduction: One of the risk factors for general health is exposure to traumatic events that can have many harmful effects on human health and interpersonal relations.Objective: This study aimed to examine the role of affective and emotional temperament in predicting mental health among individuals exposed to mine explosion trauma.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 100 individuals with limb deficit due to mine explosion under the auspices of Martyr Foundation of Gilan Gharb City from April to September 2016. Data were collected using the General-Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Composite Affective and Emotional Temperament Scale. Collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression tests with SPSS 20 software.Results: The results showed that the total score of mental health had a negative relationship with affective temperaments including depressive (r=-0.35: P<0.001), anxious (r=-0.33; P<0.001), apathetic (r=-0.41; P<0.001), cyclothymic (r=-0.38; P<0.001), dysphoric (r=-0.38; P<0.001), volatile (r=-0.51; P<0.001), obsessive (r=-0.20; P<0.05), irritable (r=-0.25; P<0.001), disinhibited (r=-0.47; P<0.001) and euphoric (r=-0.46; P<0.001) and positive relationship with emotional temperaments including volition (r=0.37: P<0.001), coping (r=0.22: P<0.05) and control (r=0.21: P<0.05), but negative correlation with anger (r=-0.20; P<0.05), and sensitivity (r=-0.28; P<0.001). According to the results of the regression analysis, affective temperaments predicted a total of 49% and emotional temperaments 32% of the total variance of mental health in individuals exposed to trauma.Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of this study show that affective and emotional temperament of people can play a significant role in determining how people respond to traumatic events and their mental health.

Introduction: War stresses can cause severe problems in individuals; negative experiences and life problems can increase such stresses, which can have negative effects on patients’ relatives and family members. Social support can increase the compatibility of veterans’ spouses.Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and quality of life of spouses of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.Materials and Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 79 spouses of veterans in Ali Abad-E Katoul city using the purposive sampling method in 2016. Data were collected using the social support and quality of life questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (linear regression) by the SPSS 16 software.Results: The mean social support score was 25.19+7.3 and the mean of quality of life was 56.48+12.8. The results showed a significant association between social support and quality of life (P=0.00). Also, the mean scores of the physical and psychological dimensions of quality of life were 28.92+8.2 and 27.75+6.4, respectively.Discussion and Conclusion: Findings of the present study show that increasing social support will increase quality of life of veterans’ spouses. Social support of veterans’ spouses can promote their mental health, well-being and quality of life. Also, social supports can increase compatibility and the ability to deal with problems and pressures of life.

Introduction: The most common occupational health problems are musculoskeletal disorders, depression and anxiety in the workplace that affect the health and productivity of the personnel. Anxiety, depression and musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace have led researchers to carry out extensive research.Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between anxiety and depression with musculoskeletal disorders in military personnel.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 70 military individuals in a military headquarters in 2016 using the census method. Data collection tools were the Cornell standard questionnaire for assessment of musculoskeletal disorders and the Goldberg questionnaire of anxiety and depression. Finally, the data were analyzed using descriptive-analytical statistics including Pearson correlation test and ANOVA test with the SPSS software version 20.Results: The results showed that the most musculoskeletal disorders were in the back (48%), thoracic (41%) and shoulder (37%), respectively. The scores obtained for anxiety and depression were 13.42 (2.05) and 12.74 (1.50), respectively, which showed that they were in a moderate level. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed that there was a significant correlation between anxiety (P=0.01) and depression (P=0.01) with musculoskeletal disorders so that with increased anxiety and depression, musculoskeletal disorders were increased.Discussion and Conclusion: The results of this study show that there is a significant relationship between anxiety and depression with musculoskeletal disorders and necessary measures such as improving the ergonomic status of the workplace should be taken to reduce the anxiety and depression in the work environment.

Introduction: Living with someone who has a post-traumatic stress disorder of war can increase the stress and marital incompatibilities. These pressures can decrease the self-efficacy in veterans’ spouses.Objective: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between self-efficacy and perceived stress in spouses of veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder of war.Material and Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 187 spouses of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder were selected from Kashan city using the simple random sampling method in 2016. The data collection tools were the Sherer self-efficacy questionnaire and perceived stress questionnaire, which were collected by the method of self-report. Then, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Spearman correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney test) by the SPSS 21 software.Results: The rate of self-efficacy was 43.3±7.79 and the rate of perceived stress was 30.64±2.61. The Spearman correlation coefficient test showed a statistically significant correlation between self-efficacy and perceived stress (P=0.001, r=-0.4), so that with increasing self-efficacy, the perceived stress was reduced in veterans’ wives.Discussion and Conclusion: This study shows that with increased self-efficacy, the amount of stress perceived by spouses of the veterans is reduced. Therefore, it is recommended to learn how to increase self-efficacy in coping with stress.

Introduction: Suitable nutritional support is very important in all hospitalized patients, especially those who are hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Delayed gastric emptying is one of the most common problems in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation and receiving nutrition via a feeding tube. This complication can lead to serious problems such as pneumonia and malnutrition.Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of body change position on gastric residual volume in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation hospitalized in the ICU.Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 36 patients undergoing mechanical ventilation hospitalized in ICUs in Be’sat Military Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 2016-2017. Patients were selected using the convenience sampling method and randomly allocated into two groups. After gavage, patients in groups A and B were placed in semi-sitting and right lateral positions respectively for three hours. Then, their gastric residual volume was measured based on the Australian guideline. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software version 21.Results: The mean of gastric residual volume in the base position was 51.50±15.80 in group A and 61.88±19.17 in group B (P=0.085). The mean of gastric residual volume three hours after placing in the semi-sitting position was 49.50±15.50 in group A and after placing in the right lateral position was 59.77±19.68 in group B (P=0.091). The results of paired t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the gastric residual volume between group A (P=0.011) and group B (P=0.002) after three hours.Discussion and Conclusion: The results of the study show that body change position is effective on gastric residual volume in patients hospitalized in ICUs. So, changing position of the patients is suggested in order to reduce complications such as increasing gastric residual volume in these patients. Also, further similar studies in this field are recommended.

Introduction: Applying evidence-based care is essential to improve the skills of nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs). Nurses should know more about recent research evidences and put them into practice.Objectives: This study aimed at assessing the effects of an evidence-based nursing education on knowledge of ICU nurses working in the hospitals of armed forces.Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, two hospitals affiliated to the armed forces were selected purposively in 2016. Ninety ICU nurses were selected from the two hospitals using the convenience sampling method and divided into two equal groups of experimental and control (n=45). In the experimental group, a two-day workshop was held to provide theoretical and practical interventions and the control group received no intervention. Data collection in both groups before and after the test was performed using a valid and reliable questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, chi-square, independent t-test, Fisher’s exact test and descriptive statistics with the SPSS software version 19.Results: Results showed that the mean score of knowledge of the ICU nurses before the intervention in the case group was 11.2 ± 3.6 and in the control group was 11.3 ± 5.1 (P=0.943). After the intervention, the mean score of knowledge was 21.02 ± 2.3 in the experimental group and 11.4 ± 5.1 in the control group. Also, the results of an Independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the level of knowledge between the two groups (P=0.0001).Discussion and Conclusion: Due to the positive impact of evidence-based nursing education on knowledge of the ICU nurses, training the nurses in theoretical and practical forms (training workshop) regarding the concepts of evidence-based practice is recommended.

Introduction: Open heart surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the world for cardiovascular patients. Physical and psychological dysfunctions are the most common complications of this surgery that lead to rehospitalization and increasing depression in the patients.Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of the telephone follow-up care on rehospitalization and depression in the patients undergoing an open heart surgery in the 502 Military Hospital.Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on all adult patients underwent an open heart surgery in the 502 Military Hospital during 2015-2016. The patients were recruited by the convenience sampling method and randomly allocated into the two groups of intervention and control. The Beck depression questionnaire was used to collect the data. The telephone follow-up care was performed in patients in the intervention group. Data were analyzed by the SPSS 19 software.Resuls: The results of the Fisher’s exact test showed that the telephone follow-up care was effective in reducing the rate of rehospitalization in the patients (P=0.035). Also, the results of an independent sample t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the mean score of depression between the intervention (33±9.68) and control (39.27±11.43) groups after the intervention (P=0.026).Discussion and Conclusion: Telephone follow-up care reduces a short-term depression after the heart surgery and decreases the rehospitalization of patients undergoing a heart surgery. So, it is suggested that the telephone follow-up care be used in these patients.

Introduction: Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for cancer that is associated with many side effects. These side effects may force the patients to stop the procedure of treatment due to lack of knowledge and negative attitude about the effects of chemotherapy.Objective: This study aimed to examine the effect of training based on training needs of patients on their knowledge and attitude about chemotherapy side effects in Aja (army) Hospital in Tehran.Material and Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 50 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The patients were selected using the convenience sampling and randomly allocated into the experimental and control groups (n=25, each group). Before intervention, researcher-made questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and attitude of participants in both experimental and control groups. Then the training intervention was implemented based on the training needs of the patients in different domains affected by the chemotherapy for the intervention group and it was conducted during two cycles of chemotherapy face-to-face and individually. At the end of the second period, the questionnaires were completed again by both groups. Data were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistical tests by the SPSS software version 22.Results: The mean scores of knowledge and attitude of patients about the chemotherapy side effects before the intervention were 94.68±9.41, and 22.32±4.28 for the experimental group and 94.08±8.68, and 20.60±3.01 for the control group respectively. After receiving the intervention, the mean scores of knowledge and attitude were 119.68±3.71, and 33.28±2.88 for the experimental group and 98.88±7.44, and 21.08±3.44 for the control group respectively. The independent statistical t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups in attitude and knowledge scores about the chemotherapy side effects in the pretest stage (P>0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the two group, experimental group and control group, in attitude and knowledge scores about chemotherapy side effects in the post-test stage (P<0.001). Before and after the intervention, the paired t-test showed a significant difference in attitude and knowledge scores between the two stages in the experimental group (P<0.001).Discussion and Conclusion: Implementing training programs based on training needs of patients can be effective on their knowledge and attitude about the chemotherapy side effects.