JOURNAL OF BABOL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (JBUMS)
Year:2016 | Volume:18 | Issue:5|Papers Count:11

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sleep disorders in nurses due to rotational shiftwork and diversity of the working time are highly prevalent, which can be improved by aromatherapy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on sleep quality of nurses covered by social security.METHODS: This clinical trial study was conducted in 78 nurses randomly divided into two groups of lavender and sesame oil (placebo). The participants used lavender essential oil and sesame oil for two hours in early hours of their shift for four weeks. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was employed to evaluate sleep quality of both groups pre-intervention and at the end of the second and fourth weeks of the intervention (IRCT: 201407176342N4).FINDINGS: According to the results, mean ages of the lavender and placebo groups were 34.87±4.85 and 36.49±5.38 years, respectively. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding anthropometric variables (i.e., the mean height, weight, and overtime working hours). In addition, the groups were homogenous in terms of gender, marital status, work shift, department, and educational level. The results indicated no significant difference between the lavender and sesame groups regarding the mean scores of sleep quality (7.79±3.78 vs.7.44±4.24); this mean was not significantly different between the groups at the end of the second and fourth weeks, as well.CONCLUSION: In this study, lavender essential oil had no significant impact on sleep quality of the nurses.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic diseases, such as heart failure, have an adverse impact on the life of the patients and their families. Responsibilities of patient care may give rise to tension and anxiety, affecting the mental and physical health of caregivers. Educational interventions have been shown to enhance the quality of care, as well as the mental and physical health of patient caregivers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a designated educational intervention on the improvement of quality of life in caregivers of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 120 family caregivers of CHF patients admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit of Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad, Iran in 2014. Participants were selected via available sampling and randomly allocated to two groups of intervention and control. Designated educational program consisted of face-to-face interviews with the participants in the intervention group, while control subjects only received routine care and training. Data were collected using the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess the quality of life in both groups before and one month after the intervention (IRCT: 2014072118552N1).FINDINGS: In this study, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of demographic characteristics and eight domains of SF-36 at the beginning of the study. One month after the designated educational intervention, total mean score of quality of life was 81.82±2.75 in the intervention group and 75.97±4.36 in the control group, which had a statistically significant increase compared to before the intervention (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, implementation of designated educational programs could improve the quality of life of the caregivers of CHF patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neonatal resuscitation training for healthcare workers can prevent pregnancy-related mortality and reduce disability among birth asphyxia survivors. Since the participation of nurses in workshops is not always possible for recertification, in this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of self-learning, using the new edition of neonatal resuscitation textbook on the improvement of nurses’ skills and knowledge in this area. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 58 nurses at Babol hospitals, who had received the neonatal resuscitation certificate less than two years ago, were provided with the new edition of neonatal resuscitation textbook (published in 2011). Practical training was performed under the supervision of a trained instructor at the skill laboratory. After eight weeks, a knowledge test was performed based on the textbook, and Megacode skill test was carried out, using the skill assessment checklist in the textbook. The scores were rated as follows: poor (<17), acceptable (17-19), and favorable (>19). Afterwards, the mean scores of the previous workshop and self-learning were compared. FINDINGS: The comparison of knowledge scores revealed that 39.4% and 56.9% of the subjects obtained favorable scores in the previous workshop and self-learning (p=0.27), 10.4% and 36.2% obtained acceptable scores (p=0.05), and 44.8% and 6.8% had poor scores (p=0.0002), respectively. Moreover, the comparison of skill scores showed that 48.3% and 34.5% of the subjects obtained favorable scores in the previous workshop and self-learning (p=0.33), 34.5% and 43.1% had acceptable scores (p=0.052), and 17.2% and 22.3% obtained poor scores (p=0.56), respectively.CONCLUSION: Based on the obtained results, self-learning is more effective in improving theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills. Therefore, participation in skill workshops is recommended for the improvement of neonatal resuscitation skills.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In traditional Iranian medicine, use of medicinal herbs is prevalent for the treatment and alleviation of pain and inflammation. Echinophora Platyloba is one of the major medicinal herbs with confirmed anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal effects. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the analgesic effects of E. platyloba hydroalcoholic extracts in male rats.METHODS: In this experimental study, 42 rats were divided into six groups, i.e., control group, extract groups (80, 100, and 300 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection), morphine group (1 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection), and naloxone group (1 mg/kg of naloxone along with 300 mg/kg of the extract). To evaluate the analgesic effects of the extracts, rating, tail flick, and formalin tests were performed.FINDINGS: In the writhing test, doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg of the extracts could decrease the rating score from 43.3±22.61 to 27.31±2.34 (p<0.05) and 29.0±67.91 (p<0.01) in the control group, respectively. In addition, administration of 300 mg/kg of the extract in tail flick test decreased the latency time from 2.84±0.76 to 5.52±1.88 sec in the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, in formalin test, 300 mg/kg of the extract reduced the pain score in both acute and chronic phases from 2.18±0.22 to 0.74±0.13 in the control group (p<0.01).CONCLUSION: According to the present results, E. platyloba hydroalcoholic extracts have central and peripheral analgesic effects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that Cruciferous family plants such as Brassica napus (Colza) are abundant sources of flavonoid compounds that involve in prostaglandin synthesis and may show analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Colza in comparison with morphine, with or without naloxone in mice. METHODS: The male mice weighing 18-26 g were divided into experimental groups (6 mice in each group) and received i.p. injections of 50, 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg of the hydroalcoholic extract of colza and morphine with or without naloxone, respectively. Normal saline was used as control. The hot-plate test was performed to evaluate the analgesic effects of all treatments and pain latency was measured at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 minutes after injection of the drugs. FINDINGS: Pain tolerance of the mice receiving various doses of colza extract was significantly increased compared to the control. Moreover, simultaneous injection of morphine (20 mg/kg) and colza extract (250 mg/kg) increased pain tolerance compared to morphine alone. Also, simultaneous injection of colza extract and morphine at 10 minutes after naloxone (1 mg/kg), increased analgesia in the animals. The highest analgesia was observed after treatment with morphine and colza extract (250 mg/kg) at 30 minutes after the injection (32±2 seconds).CONCLUSION: According to the results, the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of colza induced analgesia In mice during the hot-plate test. This effect may be attributed to the presence of flavonoid compounds in the extract, which confirms the analgesic properties of colza.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Impaired learning and memory are the complications of Parkinson's disease. Moreover, estrogen reduction during menopause may impair memory. Given that genistein has neuroprotective and estrogen effects, this study aimed to investigate the effect of genistein on learning and memory of ovariectomized rat model of Parkinson’s disease.METHODS: In this experimental study, 48 female Wistar rats were divided into six groups of eight, including a Parkinsonism group receiving dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, four ovariectomized groups of rats with Parkinson’s disease receiving dimethyl sulfoxide solvent, genistein (10 mg/kg), tamoxifen (20 mg/kg), and a mixture of genistein (10 mg/kg) and tamoxifen (20 mg/kg) as pre-treatment for a week, as well as a control group. Nigrostriatal pathway was destroyed by 8 mg of 6-hydroxy-dopamine. Learning and spatial memory were evaluated by Morris water maze test.FINDINGS: In training and assessment stages, there was a significant difference between the control group and the Parkinsonism and ovariectomized-Parkinsonism groups (p<0.0001). The mean times the ovariectomized-Parkinsonism and Parkinsonism groups remained in the target quadrant were 4.21±0.26 s and 5.94±0.61 s, respectively, which was less compared to the control group (12.15±0.33). In addition, ovariectomy prolonged acquisition (p=0.002) and reduced probe testing time (p=0.034) in the rats with Parkinson’s disease. The genistein group spent more time in the target quadrant compared to the group receiving genistein and tamoxifen (11.85±0.46 s vs.6.37±0.86 s, respectively; p=0.0001).CONCLUSION: The results showed that genistein improves spatial learning and memory in the ovariectomized rat model of Parkinson’s disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Background: Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection. Nystatin is often used to treating of candidiasis that creates the problem of drug resistance and side effects. Study was performed to determine the antifungal properties of black and green tea extracts against Candida albicans.METHODS: To do this basic study, at first methylene chloride and methanolic extracts of green and black tea were prepared. Disk diffusion method and measuring the diameter of inhibition zone was used to determine anti-fungal extracts against Candida albicans. The methanolic extract at doses of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg and methylene chloride extracts with concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 mg per disk were used and the results compared in 24 and 48 hours.FINDINGS: Methylene chloride extracts of both type of tea create antifungal activity more than methanol extracts. The maximum antifungal activity 24 hours by a concentration of 1 mg hard methylene chloride extract was obtained and in this concentration with formation of zone inhibition 30.57±4.4 and 34.25±2.7 mm, respectively, for the methylene chloride extract of green tea and black more antifungal effect compared to Nystatin (20±1.06 mm) was established (p<0.01).CONCLUSION: The results have shown that green and black tea leaf extract can create antifungal activity effects against Candida albicans as dose -dependent manner and is more effective in the first 24 hours than the 48 hours.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Performance indicators are important tools for the planning, organization, and coordination of hospital services in geographical regions and utilization of medical facilities within the covered populations. This study aimed to evaluate performance indicators and frequency of patient referrals in the hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2013.METHODS: In this retrospective study, data of 9, 513 patients admitted to the hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences were extracted from medical records using a systematic random approach in 2013. Evaluation of the collected data was performed using the standard forms of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.FINDINGS: In this study, Ayatollah Rohani Hospital had the highest bed occupancy rate (BOR) (82%), while Shahid Rajayi Hospital had the lowest BOR (55%). Mean age of the referred patients to the evaluated hospitals was 40.61±23.56 years. In addition, 26.4% of the patients were residents outside Babol city at the time of the study. The majority of these patients (79.4%) referred to Shahid Rajayi Hospital, while the lowest rate of referrals was reported in Shahid Yahyanejhad Hospital (8.7%). Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the mode of discharge and type of insurance of the patients (p=0.000). However, no significant difference was found in the mode of referral to the hospitals.CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, a significant proportion of patient referrals to the hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences were from the towns and villages in the vicinity of Babol city. Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health and Medical Education allocate the required budget to provide necessary facilities and equipment in these healthcare centers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Abortion is a controversial issue in different religions, medical communities, and ideologies. From the Islamic perspective, with the exception of certain medical circumstances, abortion is considered a criminal guilt. This study aimed to investigate the religious beliefs and attitudes toward abortion among the students and healthcare personnel of the gynecology departments of the hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 186 medical students, interns, midwives, maternity assistants, and healthcare personnel to evaluate the attitudes toward abortion at Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran during 2014-2015. Collected data included the religious beliefs and attitudes toward abortion and demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, and education level), which were obtained via two separate standard questionnaires. Scores of the participants were categorized as follows: negative attitude (mean score:<5.2), moderate attitude (mean score: 5.2-5.3), and positive attitude (mean score:>5.3). Moreover, mean scores of<5.2 were interpreted as inappropriate religious beliefs, while scores of>5.2 were considered as appropriate religious beliefs.FINDINGS: In this study, mean age of the participants was 28.24±7.57 years. In total, 30 participants (16.6%) were male, and 151 (83.4%) were female. Total mean score of attitude and religious beliefs toward abortion in medical students was 2.89±0.43, which was significantly lower compared to the students of other education fields (3.24±0.52) (p<0.001). In addition, a moderate, direct correlation was observed between the attitude toward abortion and religious orientation of the subjects (r=0.537, p<0.001). Among the studied variables, religious beliefs were the only influential factor for the modification of attitudes toward abortion (p<0.001).CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, religious beliefs could be an influential factor to change the attitude of students and healthcare personnel toward abortion. Therefore, higher religious beliefs could be associated with a more favorable attitude toward abortion.