A quantitative study of Iranian nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards pain: Implication for education

It is well documented that pain management and pain assessment is an indispensible part of the nursing care of patients. This study sought to quantify the current knowledge and attitudes of nursing students in Iran about pain management. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a well-validated questionnaire entitled the `Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Pain Tool', previously used to evaluate undergraduate nursing students. Results from the survey questionnaire showed that there was a severe deficit in knowledge relating to pain and its management. It is argued that there is a real need for improving the content of pain and its management in the undergraduate nursing education curriculum, which might improve the delivery of optimal nursing care of patients. The limitations of the study are discussed and some recommendations are made for reforming pain management education for future practice

Effects of healthy lingual local sense on formant frequencies of Persian vowels

Introduction: In order to evaluate the effects of healthy lingual local sense on the phonetic quality of Persian vowels, changes in their main acoustic features were analyzed following local anesthesia the surface and sides of the tongue to partly block the normal neural feedback mechanisms in speech. Materials and Methods: Six Persian vowels (/a/, /o/, /u/, /e/, /i/, /æ/) were prolonged 3 times using habitual loudness with and without lingual local anesthesia (Lidocaine Hydrochloride Oral Topical Solution, USP (Viscous) 2) by 5 male speakers. The formant frequencies of vowels (F1and F2) were analyzed and compared using the Speech Studio Package (Laryngograph Ltd). Results: The difference between mean values of F1 and F2 before and after lingual local anesthesia were not statistically different for the /a/, /æ/ and /u/ vowels (p0. 05). The mean value of F2 for this vowel was decreased to 262 Hz. The difference between the mean values of F1 and F2 before and after local anesthesia were also significantly different for the /e/ and /i/ vowels (p>0. 05). Conclusion: According to our results, lingual local sense has effects on the production of some Persian vowels. Perhaps the healthy local sense of the tongue and normal articulatory models has an important role in the production of vowels

Empathy in Iranian medical students: A preliminary psychometric analysis and differences by gender and year of medical school

Background: It has been well documented that effective empathic communication in the context of patient care is associated with improved health care outcomes. However, the emphasis given to empathy in medical education in Iran is limited, and the state of such teaching is unknown in many countries. Aims: To determine the psychometric properties of an Iranian translation of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) among medical students, and to examine the differences on mean empathy scores by gender and the different years of medical school. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students. Data analysis was based on 181 questionnaires. Principal component analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation was used to identify the number and composition of components constituting the developed constructs. Results: The PCA yielded three factors: Compassionate care, perspective-taking, and the ability to walk in the patient's shoes. No statistically significant differences in the empathy means scores were found by gender and the different years of medical school. Conclusions: The Persian version of JSPE is a psychometrically sound instrument to measure empathy. Cultural backgrounds and pedagogical practice may influence medical students' attitudes towards empathy. Some recommendations are made, and the study limitations are discussed

Immunization following hepatitis B mass vaccination in the 18 years old students in Chaharmahal va Bakhtyari province in Iran

Background and aims: The main objective of immunization by hepatitis B vaccine is to generate adequate concentration of anti hepatitis B antibody (HBsAB) in the serum. This study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination campaign in 18 years old students in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province. Methods: In a cross- sectional study, 360 students with 18 years old (born in 1989) and have taken 3 doses of hepatitis vaccine in national vaccination campaign in 2007, were selected by cluster sampling. This study was performed in 2008 in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province in the central of I.R of Iran. The level of hepatitis B antibody was detected by quantitative ELIZA method using Dialab Kit. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software by X2 and t-test. Results: Of 360 students, 164(45%) cases were male and 174 (48/3%) cases were from urban areas. Just 349 students (96/95%) have acceptable immunization responses, (In those anti hepatitis B antibodies were more than 20 IU/ml). There was no significant relationship between the level of antibody and variables such as: sex, born places, smoking, contact history, previous disease and Hejamat (P>0.05). Conclusion: Considering the results of the present study and previous researches from others countries, we can emphasize that the mass vaccination has been effective in those 18 years old students and we can be sure that the vaccination has been performed perfectly in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province

The involvement of clinicians in medical education research

Background Medical education, like other forms of professional preparation, is a complex and demanding process, which can benefit enormously from careful research. Although such research can be conducted by researchers from outside medical education, there is also a clear need for clinicians to participate in such research and conduct studies that can draw upon their experience and insights. However, despite recent endeavours to involve clinical educators in such research, there are very few published articles reporting research conducted by such individuals. Objective To explore the factors that impact upon clinicians’ engagement in medical education research. Method Interview data, concerning potential involvement in medical education research, were gathered directly from 20 clinicians. A detailed systematic analysis was conducted on the interview transcripts. Results Three general themes emerged from the interviews, all of which relate to clinicians’ engagement in medical education research. They are: (a) effective leadership, (b) promoting professional growth, and (c) all-encompassing support. Conclusion The study shows that there is a need for clinical leaders with inspirational qualities to drive research in medical education. Also, clinicians need better training in educational research methods and more funding is needed to support this type of researc

The effectiveness of fasting on the intraocular pressure in individuals suffering from open –angle glaucoma

زمینه و هدف: فشار داخل چشم یکی از ریسک فاکتورهای قابل درمان در گلوکوم است و کانون اصلی درمان را تشکیل می دهد. تغییر در میزان فشار داخل چشمی بویژه در افراد مبتلا به گلوکوم در اثر روزه داری از جمله سوالاتی است که هنوز پاسخ قاطعی به آن داده نشده است. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی تاثیر روزه داری در ماه مبارک رمضان بر فشار داخل چشمی در افراد مبتلا به گلوکوم زاویه باز انجام شد. روش بررسی: این مطالعه به صورت کوهورت خود شاهدی در طی ماه رمضان 1388 بر روی بیماران داوطلب بالای 45 سال مبتلا به گلوکوم زاویه باز انجام شد. فشار داخل چشم 50 چشم از بیماران که حداقل 25 روز از ماه مبارک را روزه گرفته بودند درچهار نوبت قبل از ماه رمضان، روز پنجم، پانزدهم و بیست و پنجم ماه مبارک ثبت شد. بیماران حداقل دو هفته قبل از ماه رمضان و در طول دوره مطالعه داروهای خود را به صورت معمول مصرف نمودند. اطلاعات با استفاده از آزمون آماری آنالیز واریانس مشاهدات تکراری مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته ها: میانگین سنی بیماران 31/10±16/65 سال و 65 مرد بودند. فشار چشم بیماران نسبت به قبل از ماه رمضان روند کاهش داشت و در روز بیست و پنجم نسبت به قبل از ماه رمضان (37/0±08/16 میلی متر جیوه) معنی دار بود (001/0

The effects of ethanol extract of berberis vulgaris fruit on histopathological changes and biochemical markers of the liver damage in diabetic rats

Various studies have shown that the diabetes is associated with liver failure. The objective of this study was determining the effects of Berberis vulgaris fruit on histopathological and biochemical markers of liver in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 60 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g with free access to water and ad libitum were randomly divided to five twelve-membered groups including healthy control (group 1), diabetic control (group 2, this two groups received distilled water), treated diabetic positive control (group 3) using dose 150 mg/kg/day metformin, and two groups treated with doses 200 (group 4) and 600 (group 5) mg/kg/BW of B. vulgaris extracts via gavage feeding for 8 weeks. Diabetes mellitus was experimentally induced by one dose injection of alloxan 120 mg/kg. This pre-clinical study was performed on 120 mg/kg alloxan induced diabetic rats. Results: The hepatic steatosis status, liver cholestasis and fibrosis were not changed in group 4 and 5. Glycogen deposition changed mildly and polymorphonuclear neutrophils infiltration changed moderately at group 5. Liver hepatitis changed mildly and severely at group 3 as well as group 5, respectively. Glucose, serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase were lower in high dose group compared to other groups. Conclusion: Results suggested that B. vulgaris extract can decrease liver damage by influencing hepatic histopathological and biochemical markers in diabetic rat

Biochemical and histopathological changes in kidney of diabetic rats treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Centaurea cyanus

Background and purpose: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disease, currently affecting more than 280 million people worldwide. Centaurea cyanus known as cornflower has antioxidant properties and is used in traditional medicine in lowering blood sugar. This study aimed at determining the biochemical and histopathological changes in serum and the kidneys of diabetic rats treated with hydroalcoholic extract of Centaurea cyanus. Materials and methods: In this study, 60 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n= 12 per group). Diabetes was induced by alloxan. The diabetic rats were treated for 8 weeks with hydro alcoholic extract of C. cyanus at two concentrations (400 and 800 mg/kg). Finally, the animals were anesthetized and the serum levels of glucose, creatinine and urea and kidney tissue catalase level were measured. The kidney tissue slides were histopathologically examined. Results: Histopathological examination showed that similar to the control group, there were no significant changes in histolological features of the group receiving 800 mg/kg extract of the C. cyanus. In the group treated with 400 mg/kg of the extract there were mild tubular changes. Biochemical examination showed higher levels of creatinine in the group receiving the extract at 800 mg/kg. The level of urea in the group receiving the extract at 400 mg/kg, was significantly higher compared to that of the control group. (P<0.05). Conclusion: Consumption of Centaurea cyanus extract at 800 mg/kg could prevent kidney tissue injuries in diabetic rats, but further investigations are required before its use in treatment of patients with diabetes. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Engineering. All rights reserved

Renal biochemical and histopathological alterations of diabetic rats under treatment with hydro alcoholic Morus nigra extrac.

Introduction: Morus nigra fruit is known to have antioxidant effects and used to control the blood sugar level in traditional medicine. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the biochemical and histopathological changes in the serum and kidneys of diabetic rats treated with hydroalcoholic M. nigra extract. Materials and Methods: In this study, 60 male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of 12 each. After induction of diabetes with alloxan, the diabetic rats were treated with hydroalcoholic extract of M. nigra at different concentrations. Then, the animals were anesthetized and the serum levels of glucose, creatinine, and urea as well as kidney tissue catalase level measured. The kidney tissue was also histopathologically examined. Results: Milder glomerular damage was seen in the group treated with 800 mg/kg of the M. nigra extract compared with diabetic and positive controls, and no difference in the expansion of mesenchymal tissue into renal glomerular vessels observed between the group treated with 800 mg/kg of M. nigra extract and diabetic and positive controls. Furthermore, creatinine levels were significantly higher and urea levels significantly lower in the group treated with 800 mg/kg of M. nigra extract than healthy and positive control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Administration of M. nigra extract at 800 mg/kg can prevent kidney tissue damage in diabetic rats and this fruit seems to be beneficial to patients with diabetes