Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics
Year:2017 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: Undoubtedly, health is one of the most important issues of human life to which different factors can basically contribute. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between death anxiety and spirituality constructs with general health among nursing and midwifery students. Methods: Study population of this cross-sectional study comprised all students of the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in academic year 2015. Of this population, 205 people were selected by random sampling and enrolled in the study. To gather data, 36-item Short Form Health Survey, Death Anxiety Scale, and Daily Spiritual Experience Scale were administered. Data were analyzed by multiple linear regression with stepwise method. Results: According to Pearson correlation coefficient, general health was significant correlation with death anxiety (r=-0. 465, P<0. 0001) and spiritual experiences (r=0. 685, P<0. 0001), and regression analysis indicated that death anxiety and spiritual experiences together explained %45. 2 of the variance in general health (B=-0. 586 and 0. 602 respectively). Conclusion: Because death anxiety and spiritual experiences are predictors of general health, the students' general health can be promoted by relief of death anxiety and enhancement of spirituality.

Background and Objectives: During Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise adhaan to sunset adhaan. This long fasting period can cause change in certain metabolic and hormonal indices and affect eating behaviors and nutrient intake. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess nutrient intake in fasting people in Qom, Iran. Methods: We enrolled 120 fasting people aged 20-45 years old living in Qom in Ramadan, 2014. A dietary records questionnaire was used to survey the nutrient intake. All questionnaires were collected after three days. The nutrient intake was determined by Nutritionist IV software and then data compared with recommended values. Results: Energy and macronutrients intake were higher than the recommended values (carbohydrate, 110%; protein, 139%; and fat, 114% of daily values). Except iron (19. 8 mg or 108% of daily value), intake of all other micronutrients was lower than the recommended values. Conclusion: The nutrient intake of fasting people in Qom is not appropriate, and is characterized by increased intake of energy and energy suppliers. Therefore, given the undeniable role of proper and adequate nutrient intake in health, it seems necessary for fasting people to receive nutrition education to enhance nutrient intake from various food groups.

Background and Objectives: Depression, as one of the common mental disorders, has a main contribution to the burden of diseases. Regarding the adverse effects of depression on different aspects of life, this study was conducted to study association between depression and spiritual health among students. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted on the students of faculties of health and Quranic Sciences in 2015-2016. A demographic questionnaire, Spiritual Health Scale, and Beck's Depression Inventory were used to collect data. Sampling was conducted by census. The data were analyzed by chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman's correlation coefficient in SPSS 16. For all analytical tests, the level of significance was considered 0. 05. Results: Statistically, spiritual health and depression were significantly and inversely correlated among the students (p≤ 0. 001, r=-0. 619). Spiritual health was significantly different between the faculties. Conclusion: High level of spiritual health is associated with relieved depression. Therefore, spiritual health can be used to prevent and control depression.

Background and Objectives: Currently, People worldwide are increasingly turning to spirituality and spiritual issues. Religion and spirituality are considered one of the determinants of happiness in psychology. This study was conducted to investigate the association between spiritual well-being and happiness in male students of Firouzabad County. Methods: Study samples were 200 students in Firouzabad professional schools who were selected by random cluster sampling. Research instruments were Paloutzian and Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Argyle's Happiness Scale. Results: The findings demonstrated that spiritual well-being positively and significantly predicted happiness in the adolescents. Moreover, the components of spiritual well-being, i. e. existential well-being and religious well-being, can predict happiness in the adolescents. Conclusion: Spirituality plays a very significant and main role in the adolescents' life. The adolescents that have cordial love toward and mental belief in God and ahl-ul-bait are happier and experience more academic achievements. In addition, happiness can help the adolescents become industrious and efficient people in the community.

Background and Objectives: Spirituality is a concept that has found its position in the field of psychology for years. The purpose of present study is to examine that spirituality and demographic characteristics to what extent can predict death anxiety and to determine how to use spirituality as a frame and supportive source against the difficulties like death anxiety. Methods: Methods this descriptive study was correlational. Statistical society of the present study was consisted of older adults of retirement homes that from them 245 (121 female and 124male) older adults were recruited via accessible sampling method and responded to Death anxiety Scale (DAS) and Spiritual Assessment Inventory(SAI). Data of research were analyzed by enter regression analysis by using SPSS Software. Results: The results showed that among the spirituality components, disappointment and instability were predicators of the death anxiety. It means that the increases in these two components lead to the increase in the death anxiety. None of the demographic characteristics in this study could predict the death anxiety. Conclusion: The result indicates that the spirituality components can significanty predict death anxiety. So it can be concluded with the raising spirituality components among the older adults, their death anxiety rate decreased.

Background and Objectives: In today's world, the role of spirituality and its components in the prevention and treatment of public health and health issues is being taken into consideration. Given the importance of nursing and midwifery, this study was conducted to determine correlation between spiritual health and health locus of control in nursing and midwifery students. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 300 nursing and midwifery students in 2015. Spiritual health was measured by Paloutzian and Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale and locus of control measured by Walston's Multidimensional Measure of Health Locus of Control. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS 16. Results: The students' mean score for spiritual health was 92. 28± 16. 35 of total score 120. The mean score for religious and existential well-being was 48. 54 and 43. 74, respectively. There was a significant and positive correlation between spiritual health and internal health locus of control, and a significant and negative correlation between spiritual health and external health locus of control. Conclusion: Spiritual health was significantly correlated with health locus of control. Therefore, planners are recommended to take necessary measures to promote nursing and midwifery students' spiritual health so that their health loci of control can be improved.

Background and Objectives: Medical confidentiality and maintenance of patient personal privacy are considered two important moral obligations in medical ethics with a long history in medicine. To be efficient, a healthcare system needs active participation of and appropriate cooperation between the recipients and providers of healthcare services. This study was conducted to investigate healthcare service recipients' perceptions regarding observance of patient privacy and medical confidentiality in teaching healthcare centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study that was conducted in 2015-2016, 380 patients referred to teaching healthcare centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences were enrolled according to randomized sampling. Data were gathered by a researcher-developed questionnaire according to Patient Rights Charter and analyzed by descriptive and nonparametric statistics test in SPSS 16. Results: Patient privacy and confidentiality were not observed from the perspectives of 26. 3% of them, partly observed from the perspectives of 50%, and fully observed from the perspectives of 23. 7%. Alongside observance of patient privacy, the most important item, from the healthcare service recipients' perspectives, was observance of client orientation, which was observed from the perspectives of 24. 5% of them, partly observed from the perspectives of 50. 4%, and not observed from the perspectives of 25. 1%. Conclusion: From half of the patients' perspectives in the healthcare centers affiliated with the Qom University of Medical Sciences, patient privacy and medical confidentiality were partly observed. Therefore, the authorities can take necessary steps to set priorities and appropriately plan for improving observance of the patient privacy and medical confidentiality as well as to respect the patients' territory and rights in all areas, especially nursing, administrative, educational, and research.

Background and Objectives: The present study was conducted by the aim of predicting the role of religiosity in job stress and marital conflict among married nurses of medical education centers in Hamedan. Methods: The present research is a descriptive-analytic one. The population of the research included all the married nurses in medical education centers in Hamedan at 2014-2015, which were over 270 individual. 155 individuals were selected through available sampling method. Data gathering was done by using Osipow Job Stress Questionnaire, Sanaee Marital Conflict Questionnaire and Religiosity Questionnaire of Glock and Stark. For analyzing the data, statistical tests of Pearson Correlation and step-by-step multivariate regression were used, and data analysis was conducted by SPSS18. Results: Results of Pearson correlation indicated that there is a significant and negative correlation between religiosity and its components with job stress and marital conflict among nurses. Step-by-step regression analysis showed that religiosity can predict job stress and marital conflict among nurses. Also, among the components of religiosity, two components of consequences and belief could predict job stress by 0. 24% and two components of affective and consequences could predict marital conflict by 0. 21%. Conclusion: Since religiosity plays a determining role in job stress and marital conflict, providing some educations in the field of religious teachings can be considerably effective for this group of society.