HAYAT
Year:2019 | Volume:24 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Background & Aim: Cancer as one of the most common illnesses in the world is associated with mental, physical, social and financial problems, which affects not only the patients, but also the family caregivers and creates a burden of care. Some studies have shown that spiritual well-being is effective in reducing the burden of care. Therefore, this research was conducted to determine the correlation between spiritual well-being and burden of care in family caregivers of cancer patients. Methods & Materials: In this cross-sectional correlational study, 150 family caregivers of cancer patients referred to Taleghani, Shohadaye Tajrish, Masih Daneshvari and Imam Hossein hospitals in Tehran were selected by the convenience sampling method from August to November 2017. The data gathering tool was a questionnaire, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, independent t-test, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis at a significance level of 0. 05. Results: The mean and standard deviation of spiritual well-being score and burden of care were 90. 36± 17. 70 and 25. 54± 11. 79, respectively. There was a significant relationship between spiritual well-being (and its components including religious well-being and existential well-being) and burden of care (r=-0. 421, P˂ 0. 001). The result of regression test showed that spiritual well-being significantly predicted the burden of care. Conclusion: The burden of care is experienced by family caregivers during caring for cancer patients, which is related to their spiritual well-being. Therefore, paying attention to the spiritual well-being of these caregivers is emphasized.

Background & Aim: Women's health is important in middle age, and lifestyle, including healthy eating, has an impact on it. This research was aimed to determine the effect of an educational program based on BASNEF model on nutrition in middle-aged women. Methods & Materials: This clinical trial was conducted on 95 women under coverage of the healthcare centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2016. The demographic characterizes and the BASNEF constructs regarding nutritional behavior were measured by questionnaire before and eight weeks after the intervention. The intervention was performed in three one-hour sessions. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests using the SPSS software version 16. Results: Before the intervention, both groups had not any significant differences in all variables and constructs. After the intervention, in the experimental group, the median and interquartile range were 10± 3 for knowledge, 38± 10 for attitude, 3± 1 for subjective norms and 1± 1 for behavioral intention. But in the control group, the scores were 6± 2 for knowledge, 37± 5 for attitude, 4± 1 for subjective norms and 1± 1 for behavioral intention. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P˂ 0. 05). However, the scores of enabling factors were not significantly different between the two groups of intervention (3± 1) and control (3± 1) (P=0. 4). Conclusion: Designing and implementing the educational program based on BASNEF model not only can improve the knowledge and attitude about healthy nutrition in middle-aged women, but also modify their behavioral intention.

Background & Aim: Active participation of families can be an influencing factor on delirium in patients hospitalized in the ICU. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of scheduled visits on delirium intensity in elderly patients hospitalized in the ICU. Methods & Materials: This clinical trial was conducted on 70 elderly patients hospitalized in the ICU of Ali ibn Abi Talib hospital in Rafsanjan from November 1, 2017 to March 1, 2018. In the intervention group, patients were visited in two out-of-schedule sessions for three days in the morning and night. The control group received routine visits for 3-5 minutes. To assess delirium, the Neecham questionnaire with a scoring scale of 19-30 was used. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version18. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, sex and educational level. Before the intervention and one day after the intervention, no significant difference was observed in delirium score between the two groups. However, on the second day in the intervention group, the median and interquartile range for delirium were 27(3) and in the control group were 25(2) (P<0. 0001). On the third day after the intervention, differences between delirium score in the intervention and control groups were 27(3) and 25(3), respectively (P<0. 0001). Conclusion: Scheduled visits can be considered an effective nonpharmacological method for preventing delirium in elderly patients hospitalized in the ICU.

Harlequin ichthyosis is the most severe form of autosomalrecessive congenital ichthyoses with a high mortality rate. In affected infants, mutations occur in the ABCA12 gene. The ABCA12 gene produces the proteins that are essential for the natural development of skin cells. In this disease, disruption in keratinization of epidermis results in the impaired barrier function and susceptibility of the neonate to dehydration and infection. Recent advances in neonatal care and early administration of treatment have increased the chances of child survival. In this article, we introduced a term female neonate with harlequin ichthyosis, born of a 26-year-old mother, significantly recovered by early treatment using an ointment (composed of Eucerin 88 g, sodium chloride 6 g, and urea 6 g).

Background & Aim: Prostate cancer is one of the most common causes of death from cancers in men. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on protection motivation theory (PMT) on prostate cancer prevention behaviors in men 50 to 75 years old. Methods & Materials: This study is a randomized controlled trial with control group conducted on 100 men referred to the retirement centers in Hamadan in 2017. Participants were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental (n=50) and control groups (n=50). A self-administered questionnaire including demographic information and PMT constructs was completed by the participants. Educational intervention was administered over four sessions in the experimental group. The questionnaires were completed by the two groups two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software version 16 using independent t-test, Chi-square and the analysis of covariance. Results: Before the intervention, the two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics and the PMT constructs (perceived rewards, perceived response cost, fear, perceived selfefficacy), and cancer screening behavior. The intervention could improve all the PMT constructs in the experimental group compared to the control group. Also, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening behavior was 38(76) in the experimental group and 16(32) in the control group (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that protection motivation theory can be used as a framework for designing educational programs to perform prostate cancer screening.

Background & Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in women and is regarded as a chronic disease with various psychological complications including death anxiety. This study aimed to examine the effect of Benson’ s relaxation technique on death anxiety among women with breast cancer. Methods & Materials: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 patients with breast cancer referred to Velayat Hospital in Qazvin in 2017 were selected using the consecutive sampling and randomly assigned into groups of experimental and control. A questionnaire on demographic information and the Templer Death Anxiety Scale were used. Benson’ s relaxation technique was taught to the patients in the experimental group. Afterward, they were asked to perform the technique for three months and were monthly followed up using checklists. The Templer Death Anxiety Scale was completed again by both groups. Data were analyzed via the SPSS software version 23 using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic variables between the two groups (P>0. 05). Before the intervention, no statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the patients of the experimental group (46. 4± 10. 3) and the control group (49. 6± 10. 07) (P>0. 05). However, after the intervention, a statistically significant difference was observed between the mean scores of death anxiety in the experimental group (44. 5± 10. 2) and the control group (48. 9± 11. 2) (P<0. 05). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that Benson’ s relaxation technique is effective in reducing death anxiety among patients with breast cancer.

Background & Aim: Stoma in children causes physiological and psychological changes and reduces self-esteem and quality of life. The aim of study is to determine the effectiveness of self-care skills training on self-esteem and quality of life in 8-12 year old children with stoma. Methods & Materials: This study is a non-randomized clinical trial with pretest and posttest design, performed in selected hospitals (Mofid, Hazrat Ali Asghar and Medical Center) in Tehran in 2016-17. A total of 36 children aged 12-8 years with stoma, were selected using the convenience sampling method and divided into two groups of intervention (n=18) and control (n=18). Self-care skills training was performed in six sessions of 45 minutes for the intervention group. The control group received routine care. The Cooper Smith questionnaire and the Kindle quality of life questionnaire were used in this study. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using the SPSS software version 16. Results: The repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the quality of life score means over time (P<0. 005) and between the two groups of intervention and control (P<0. 015). Also, there was a significant difference in the self-esteem score means over time (P=0. 004) and between the intervention and control groups (P=0. 004). Conclusion: Self-care skills training for 8-12 year-old children with stoma, has increased their self-esteem and quality of life. Therefore, nurses can use self-care skills training for similar patients.

Background & Aim: Concerns over limited equipment and resources particularly in the intensive care units have raised the issues of medical futility, futile treatment, and futile care. Considering that there is no consensus in the definition of the concept of futile care, this study aimed to explore the concept of futile care, especially in terms of clarifying it with the concept of futile treatment. Methods & Materials: This is a qualitative study conducted using the conventional content analysis approach. In this study, 22 nurses, eight medical specialists, four medical ethics specialists, and one sharia specialist, were purposively recruited with the consideration of maximum variation. Data were collected using individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results: The main theme of the study was “ care is never futile: care as goal” . This theme is consisted of four main categories including: 1. care as an indispensable service; 2. care as an ongoing process focused on human existence; 3. care as a sacred and essential process in Islam; 4. the necessity for differentiating between care and cure: futile treatment instead of futile care. Conclusion: Although, in some cases, and depending on the circumstances, medical interventions may be futile, care is never futile. According to the findings of this study, the terms medical futility and futile care cannot be used interchangeably because interchangeable use of these terms can devalue the nature of care. Thus, it is necessary to use the term of “ futile treatment” instead of “ futile care” .