Comparison of the Quality of Life of Addicts Participating in Either Narcotics Anonymous or, Therapeutic Community Group Sessions or Receiving Methadone-Therapy a Cohort Study in Mashhad in 2013

Background: Chronic and prolonged illnesses and disorders, such as addiction, lead to a crisis in the lives of people with disabilities and can lead to a decrease in their quality of life. Therefore, in this study, we decided to compare the quality of life of individuals with substance use disorders who participate in Narcotics Anonymous, therapeutic Community session with Methadone-treated groups. Methods: This cohort study was conducted on detoxified patients attending Narcotics anonymous, therapeutic community sessions and Methadone-treated place. Quality of life of subjects measured at baseline and 1.5 months after the start of treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS19 software using ANOVA, paired t-test, Chi-square analysis. Results: The mean score of quality of life between three groups was not significantly different at the beginning of the study, but the mean score of quality of life among individuals with substance use disorders participating in the sessions of Narcotics anonymous and therapeutic community group increased significantly (P <0.001) 1.5 months after the start of treatment. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the presence of detoxified persons in sessions of Narcotics anonymous and therapeutic community was effective in improving their quality of life. However, this effect is greater in Narcotics Anonymous. Therefore it was suggested that individuals with substance use disorders participate in these meetings

Effect of Instructional Videos on Postoperative Respiratory Function in Patients Undergoing Off-Pump Open Heart Surgery

Background: Respiratory function in patients undergoing open heart surgery is disrupted after surgery.  Patient education on managing complications can reduce occurrence or severity of them. A variety of educational tools has been introduced, but there are controversies about the most appropriate tools. Aim: Determine the effect of instructional videos on respiratory function of the patients after off-pump open heart surgery. Method: This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients undergoing open heart surgery hospitalized at open heart surgery ward of Imam Reza (AS) hospital in Mashhad, Iran, in 2015. The patients were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups of 30 subjects. The instructional video during a 15-minute session was displayed in the intervention group and the control group educated by pamphlet and face-to-face training the day before the surgery. The respiratory function in both groups was assessed before intervention through spirometric variables including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and vital capacity (VC). After surgery, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and PaO2/FiO2 Ratio (PF ratio) were measured 30 minutes after extubation, as well as the variables of FEV1, VC, SaO2 and PF ratio 24 hours after extubation. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, Chi square, paired t-test, Wilcoxon and Friedman using SPSS version 11.5 software. Results: The means age of patients were 57.5±4.8 and 56.2±4.2 years in the intervention and the control groups, respectively. The difference of the PF ratio 24 hours after extubation compared to 30 minutes after extubation in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (

Comparing the Effects of Cooperative Learning to Lecture Trainings on the Motivational Beliefs and Self-Regulating Learning Strategies

Introduction: Self-regulating learning is an important educational and research process which is influenced by the motivational beliefs. Some of the educational methods are more effective on the motivational beliefs and self-regulating. This work was accomplished for comparing the effects of cooperative learning method to lecture method on the motivational beliefs and self-regulating learning strategies among students. Methods: This quasi-experimental research was accomplished on BA students of nursing and midwifery passing their management course in 6th semester in Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (n=50) during the second semester of 2009-2010 academic years. This course was held for 6 sessions and each session took 2 hours. Students were placed into cooperative learning and lecturing training groups based on random block plan. The measuring tools of the study were the demographic information and Pinterich and Degrout’s (1990) reliable and valid questionnaires for motivational beliefs and self-regulating learning strategies (MSLQ). Data was analyzed using t-tests, Mann-Whitney test, K-Square, variance analyzing and covariance analyzing. Results: The average of the subscales of motivational beliefs and self-regulating strategies in the cooperative learning group was significantly more than that of lecture group (p<0.05) and the mean of test anxiety in the cooperative learning group was significantly lower than that of lecture group (p<0.05). Conclusion: With regard to the results of the study, it is suggested apply the active training methods that can ground for more cooperation by students with the educational topics in order to be prepared for increasing motivated beliefs and self-regulating strategies