Developing and Testing a Spiritual Care Questionnaire in the Iranian Context

Abstract As most research exploring nurses’ perceptions on the topic of spiritual care was conducted in Western countries, these findings may not be applicable in Iran because of cultural and health system differences. Therefore, a new survey instrument was developed for the Iranian context. The study was conducted in two steps: (1) development and validation of items for perception scale and (2) distribution of the questionnaire among nursing students to determine scale reliability and construct validity. The preliminary scale consisted of 50 items designed to measure the participants’ perception of spiritual care. Construct validity of the scale was examined on the remaining 33 items. On interpretation of the items, the following four components were identified: (1) meeting patient as a being in meaning and hope, (2) meeting patient as a being in relationship, (3) meeting patient as a religious being, and (4) meeting patients as a being with autonomy. The results in this paper showed that preserving dignity in the nurses’ practice meant getting involved in interpersonal caring relationships, with respect for the involved peoples’ religious beliefs and their autonomy. Proper education and professionally led supervision with reflection on past and recent experiences may develop student nurses’ and nurses’ perceptions as well as their attitudes toward spiritual care and to achieve a realistic view of the profession

Quality of Life and Mood State in Iranian Women Post Mastectomy

This study was conducted to examine mood state and quality of life (QOL) in patients who had undergone a mastectomy. The study used a descriptive design and was conducted in outpatient oncology clinics in northeastern Iran. Using the Profile of Mood States and the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index, the mood state and QOL of patients who had undergone a mastectomy were examined. The results indicate that participants had low mood state and QOL; in addition, a negative correlation was found between the two. The mood state was a predictor of participants’ QOL. A screening system for patients who have undergone a mastectomy may help nurses evaluate patients’ mood states, identify the symptoms of mood disturbances, and refer patients to the appropriate support services

Nurses’ knowledge about palliative care in Southeast Iran

Objective: Palliative care requires nurses to be knowledgeable about different aspects of the care that they provide for dying patients. This study, therefore, was conducted to examine oncology and intensive care nurses’ knowledge about palliative care in Southeast Iran. Method: Using the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN), 140 oncology and intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ knowledge about palliative care in three hospitals supervised by Kerman University of Medical Sciences was assessed. Results: In PCQN, the mean score was 7.59 (SD: 2.28). The most correct answers were in the category of management of pain and other symptoms (46.07%). The lowest correct answers were in the category of psychosocial and spiritual care (19.3%). Significance of results: These findings suggest that nurses’ knowledge about palliative care can be improved by establishing specific palliative care units to focus on end-of-life care. This establishment requires incorporation of an end-of-life nursing education curriculum into undergraduate nursing studies

Guided imagery effects on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in Iranian breast cancer patients

Background: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of guided imagery on chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients. Design: This was a quasi-experimental study in which a group of sample was evaluated pre and post intervention. A convenience sample of 55 eligible breast cancer patients enrolled to participate in this study after giving informed consent. They completed the Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Vomiting, before and after the intervention. The intervention consisted of listening to the two guided imagery tracks. Findings: After the intervention, patients at the third session of chemotherapy had significantly lower mean scores in the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting pre and post chemotherapy (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Guided imagery, as an inexpensive and noninvasive method, is particularly appealing option to alleviate chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. It can be used in addition to pharmacological strategies and can be implemented by patients independently with sufficient training. Therefore, this therapy will considerably improve severity and frequency of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

Difficulties Felt by Intensive Care Unit Nurses in Providing End-of-Life Care in Southeast Iran

Introduction: Critical care deaths represent most hospital deaths. The difficulties felt by intensive care unit (ICU) nurses providing end-of-life care may cause nurses to experience negative attitudes toward caring for dying patients. This study was conducted to examine the difficulties felt by ICU nurses providing end-of-life care in Southeast Iran. Method: The study used a cross-sectional descriptive design and was conducted in 3 hospitals supervised by Kerman Medical University. Using DFINE (difficulties felt by ICU nurses providing end-of-life care), difficulties felt by critical care nurses providing end-of-life care were assessed. Results: The results indicated that the difficulties that were felt by critical care nurses were moderate (2.64 T 0.65). Among the categories and items, the most difficulties felt by critical care nurses belonged to the category of ‘‘converting from curative care to end-of-life care’’ (3.12 T 0.93) and the item ‘‘life-sustaining treatment is often given excessively’’ (3.49 T 1.14). Conclusions: The study suggests that health care managers should organize systematic and dynamic policies and procedures in dealing with end-of-life care to assist ICU nurses

Meaning of Spiritual Care

Spiritual care is an essential component in nursing practice and strongly influenced by the sociocultural context. This article aimed to elucidate the meaning of nurses’ experiences of giving spiritual care in southeast of Iran. A phenomenological hermeneutic approach influenced by Ricoeur was used. Eleven staff nurses who were currently working in the 3 major hospitals under the umbrella of the Kerman University of Medical Sciences were interviewed. The meaning of spiritual care was comprehensively understood as meeting patient as a unique being. This can be divided into 3 themes: meeting patient as a being in relationship, meeting patient as a cultural being, and meeting patient as a religious being. The results in this study suggest that education about spirituality and spiritual care should be included in the continuous and in-service education of registered nurses. Spiritual and cultural assessment criteria should be included in this education to improve the provision of holistic care. KEY WORDS: Iran, nurse, phenomenology, spiritual care Holist Nurs Pract 2013;27(4):199–20

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPIRITUAL CONSISTENCY AND SPIRITUAL WELLBEING IN THE PATIENTS WITH THALASSEMIA REFERRED TO SPECIAL DISEASES CLINICS IN ZAHEDAN IN 2014

Background and Objectives: Thalassemia is the most common genetic disorder in the world. Several intervention procedures are used to reduct the Talassemia related symptoms. Spiritual health and coping strategies, including spiritual coping as important resources to cope with chronic diseases are considered. This study was aimed toinvestigate the relationship between spiritual health and spiritual coping In patients Suffering from thalassemia in Zahedan in 2014-2015. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, study population included all patients with thalassemia referring to specific diseases clinic in Zahedanin 2014-2015. 150 available patients were evaluated by several questionnaires included demographic, spiritual health and spiritual coping. Data analysis was done with the SPSS softwareversion21byusingthePearson correlation coefficient, independent and ANOVA. Results: The mean score of spiritual health was 81/05, which is in the range of medium spiritual health and the majority of patient shada high level of spiritual health. The results showed a significant positive relationship between spiritual coping and spiritual health. Conclusions: According to the research findings, treatment and care team should try to take measures for preserving the spiritual health in these patients

The Relationship between Health Literacy, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Care Behaviors in Diabetic Patients

Background: Neglecting self-care behaviors is considered an important factor contributing to mortality among diabetic patients. According to Bandura’s Social-Cognitive Theory, there is a close relationship between individual performance and self-efficacy. Moreover, access to health-related information or health literacy can affect health status. Aim: To investigate the relationship between health literacy, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors in diabetic patients. Method: This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 400 patients with diabetes referred to a diabetes clinic during 2015. The participants were selected through convenience sampling. The data collection tools included Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults, Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities. To analyze the data, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent t-test, and one-way analysis of variance were run in SPSS, version 19. Results: The mean age of the participants was 55.1±10.1 years and 74.75% of them were male. The mean scores of self-care behaviors, health literacy, and self-efficacy were 61.94±14.35, 63.6±20.7, and 146.3±22.9, respectively. Moreover, the results of Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed a significant direct correlation between health literacy and self-efficacy (P=0.03, r=0.1), as well as health literacy and self-care behaviors (P=0.04, r=0.1). Furthermore, self-efficacy had a significant direct correlation with self-care behaviors (

Factors Associated with Addiction in Children in Kerman City

Introduction Addiction is one of the major crises in the world which has many victims and imposes serious damage on the family and society, especially among children who are the most vulnerable social stratum. The aim of this study was to determine the probable causes of drug addiction among children in Kerman. Methods This case-control study was conducted after a qualitative study. Ninety children aged from 6 to 16 years were enrolled. The case group included 30 addicted children supported by the Welfare Organization. The control group included two groups of 30 children, one selected from the Welfare Organization and the other from across the city. All participants were male and groups were matched for age. Then, the probable causes of addiction were compared between these two groups. Data were analyzed using the SPSS22 and by chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results The mean age of children was 10.8 &plusmn; 2.4 in the case group, 11.4 &plusmn; 1.8 in the park control and 12.8&plusmn;1.5 in the welfare center control group. All participants were male.The results indicated that there were significant statistical differences between the addicted and non-addicted children in regard to parent&rsquo;s religious beliefs, parent imprisonment, history of addiction in families, visiting the park alone and parental employment. Conclusion Strengthening religious beliefs of parents, teaching life skills to children and their parents, parental control on children, tracking and monitoring the peers; and promoting collaborations between the policymakers, the Welfare Organization, the Municipality, the Universities of Medical Sciences and the Police Force can help reduce and control addiction among children. &nbsp

Family environment, parental stressors, and post-traumatic stress disorder in the parents of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: The birth of premature infants and their admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) causes emotional stress in parents and in the whole family. This event can affect the interaction between family members and disrupt the family’s environment. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to estimate the family environment, the parental stressors and the level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the parents of premature infants admitted to NICU.  Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted in the two NICUs of a Specialized and Educational Hospital in South-East of Iran. A total of 140 parents (70 mothers and 70 fathers) were enrolled in the study using convenience sampling method. The data collection tool included a demographic questionnaire of parents and neonates, a Family Environment Scale (FES), a Parental Stressor Scale (PSS), and the Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R). Data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation co-efficient in SPSS® ver. 18.  Results: The family environment was evaluated at the moderate level by mothers and fathers in the FES, with mean scores of 97.48 ± 11.46 and 98.70 ± 10.50, respectively. The mean score of parental stressors in the PSS was moderate in mothers (2.90 ± 0.86) and low in fathers (2.55 ± 0.90). Also, the mean PTSD score in the IES-R was moderate in fathers (35.10 ± 18.79) and in mothers (43.01 ± 17.14). The results showed no significant relationship between family environment and PTSD in mothers (r = 0.11, p = 0.36) and fathers (r = 0.04, p = 0.75), but a significant relationship was found for both parents in terms of parental stressors and PTSD (mothers: r = 0.48, p = 0.0001; fathers: r = 0.59, p = 0.0001).  Conclusion: The results revealed that family environment scores and PTSD scores in parents of premature infants were at the moderate level. The parents who experienced stressors without adequate support were at risk for PTSD. In this regard, parents should be considered as patients by the healthcare team who, recognizing signs of parental stress early, could play an important role in preventing adverse effects of stress on parents themselves and on the infants. Educational and counseling interventions by NICU nurses can help parents to adapt to NICU environment and to use coping strategies to manage stress, promote family cohesion, and reduce the risk of PTSD