Novice Nurses’ Perception of Working Night Shifts: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Nursing is always accompanied by shift working and nurses in Iran have to work night shifts in some stages of their professional life. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe the novice nurses’ perception of working night shifts. Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted on 20 novice nurses working in two university hospitals of Jahrom, Iran. The study data were collected through focus group interviews. All the interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using constant comparative analysis and qualitative content analysis. Results: The study findings revealed five major themes of value system, physical and psychological problems, social relationships, organizational problems, and appropriate opportunity. Conclusion: The study presented a deep understanding of the novice nurses’ perception of working night shifts, which can be used by the managers as a basis for organizing health and treatment systems

Compassionate Care Among Iranian Nurses Caring for Candidate Brain Death Organ Donor Patients: A hermeneutic study

Apart of cares provided at the end oflife of patients in intensive care unitsis allocated to the care of brain deathpatients, which is considered under title of one caringunit. Many nurses tend to provide high-quality and compassionatecare. However, studies indicated that almost allpatients do not receive compassionate cares. This researchwas carried out to explain the living experiences of nursesin intensive units providing care for brain death patients.In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, van Manen’smethodology was used. Ten nurses (9 women and 1 man)working in Intensive Care Units were interviewed usingsemi-structured interviews. The data derived from the interviewswas analyzed after recording and transcribing.The main theme of this study, which manifested the importantand innovative aspect of caring the brain deathpatients, was “compassionate care”. It included two subthemesof commitment and devotion with sub subthemesof responsible caring and kindness in caring and sympatheticsupport with sub subthemes of providing emotionalsupport to family and emotional influence.According to the results of this research, it can be concludedthat providing care for brain death patients, whowere candidate for donation, despite imposing psychologicalburden on nurses, has provided a compassionate carefor patient and family. This care is due to commitment,professional responsibility and deep emotional effects inthem. The research results provide the conditions for educationalplanners to train nurses in order to improve theircare provided for the patients and support the nurses

Effects of psycho-educational intervention on health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients with chronic liver disease referring to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are progressive disorder which has a significant impact on the well-being of patients and leads to significant morbidity. CLDs are characterized by disturbances in physical, psychological and social aspects of well-being. It causes significant health-related quality of life (QOL) impairment. Psycho-educational interventions targeting to functional factors could be beneficial for patients with CLDs. METHODS: An interventional study was conducted on 110 patients with CLDs in Shiraz Liver Transplantation Center (SLTC). Subjects with the required CLDs criteria were selected and randomly divided into experimental (55) and control (55) groups. A two part questionnaire with 25 items concerning demographic and general information and 29 items regarding QOL was used. The psycho-educational needs of the experimental group were assessed in a session before the intervention, then the experimental group took part in 3 sessions individually and one session in groups. The questionnaires were filled in again for both groups but the control group did not receive the intervention program. The questionnaires were filled in again for both groups one day and three months after the intervention. RESULTS: Findings revealed no significant differences between the two groups from the view point of demographic characteristics such as marital status, gender, etc... (p > 0.05) and from the point of clinical variables no statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05). Findings revealed statistically significant differences in all domain of QOL in the experimental group three months after the intervention (p = 0.001), while there was no statistically significant differences in the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study revealed that psycho-educational intervention had a significant effect on QOL of patients with CLDs

The effect of peer-led education on the life quality of mastectomy patients referred to breast cancer-clinics in Shiraz, Iran 2009

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancer among women is a relatively common with a more favorable expected survival rates than other forms of cancers. This study aimed to determine the improved quality of life for post-mastectomy women through peer education.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using pre and post test follow up and control design approach, 99 women with stage I and II of breast cancer diagnosis were followed one year after modified radical mastectomy. To measure the quality of life an instrument designed by the European organization for research and treatment of cancer, known as the Quality of Life Question (QLQ-30) and it's breast cancer supplementary measure (QLQ-BR23) at three points in time (before, immediately and two months after intervention) for both groups were used. The participant selection was a convenient sampling method and women were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. The experimental group was randomly assigned to five groups and peer educators conducted weekly educational programs for one month. Tabulated data were analyzed using chi square, t test, and repeated measurement multivariate to compare the quality of life differences over time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For the experimental group, the results showed statistically significant improvement in all performance aspects of life quality and symptom reduction (P < 0.001), while the control group had no significant differences in all aspects of life quality.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this study suggest that peer led education is a useful intervention for post-mastectomy women to improves their quality of life.</p

Mediators of the effect of the psycho-educational intervention on the psychological well-being of caregiving daughters and daughter in-laws of stroke survivors

Background: The objective of this study was to determine whether the randomly assigned intervention is associated with a change in the mediators including threat appraisal, coping behaviors, confidence in knowledge, and preparedness which is in turn accompanied by changes in the caregivers’ psychological well-being. Methods: A total of 96 caregiving daughters and daughter in-laws of stroke survivors participated in the study in which 49 cases were randomly assigned to the intervention and 47 to the control group. Data was collected before, immediately after and 12 weeks following interventions. Results: The results of mixed ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference in psychological well-being score between intervention and control groups. Our findings from the multiple mediator analyses supported the mediating effect for only two of the five hypothesized mediators. The intervention affected psychological well-being indirectly through changes in threat appraisal and perceived preparedness. Multiple mediator models accounted for 34.3% of the variance in the psychological well-being change. Conclusion: The results of this study show the importance of mediators’ evaluation in interventional studies of stroke survivor caregivers

Patients’ Experience of Living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Hermeneutic Phenomenology

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with a wide range of effects on the individual’s quality of life, emotional state, and identity. Given the lack of knowledge about patients’ perceptions of life with irritable bowel syndrome, this study aimed to describe and interpret patients' experience of living with irritable bowel syndrome Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach on 15 patients with irritable bowel syndrome who referred to three central clinics. The data were collected through in-depth semistructured interviews with the participants who were selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was carried out using Van Manen’s six-step methodological framework as a guide. Besides, MAXQDA software was used for data management. Results: The analysis of the data yielded four themes and eight subthemes. The patients’ experiences of living with IBS were manifested through the themes of “crisis and transient release” (with “storm in the corporeality” and “relief” subthemes); “surrender and harassment” (with “mandatory submitting” and “feeling of helplessness” subthemes); “looking for adaptation” (with “struggle in obtaining insight” and “seeking help from coping strategies” subthemes); and “different selfperceptions” (with “threatened self” and “deep self-knowledge” subthemes). Conclusion: Understanding the life experience of IBS patients can be effective in improving the interdisciplinary medical-care programs and reducing their psychological, social, and physical problems. Therefore, carrying out more studies to promote the quality of life of IBS patients is suggested

Exploration of the Quality of Life in Iranian Morbid Obese People: A Qualitative Study

Background: Morbid obesity (body mass index≥40 kg/m2 or >35 kg/m2 with co-morbidity) is an important factor in reducing the quality of life which is influenced by the characteristics of the individual, his social, cultural, and environmental conditions; also, each disease has unique effects on it. Although most of the studies have been conducted on obesity (25>BMI>40), how to prevent it and improve life quality, there is lack of knowledge about what morbid obese people really experience about their life quality. Thus, this qualitative study aimed to explore the viewpoints of morbid obese people about life quality. Methods: In this conventional content analysis, data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 20 morbid obese patients who were referred to nutrition and obesity clinics of Shiraz and Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Purposeful sampling was processed from May 2016 to January 2017. The sampling continued until data saturation. Each interview was recorded by audio recorder and typed in the MAXQDA10 software. Data were analyzed after each interview. The meaning units were encoded and the codes were categorized. This trend continued until the main and sub-categories emerged. Results: Data analysis indicated 1835 codes, 76 sub-subcategories, 26 subcategories and 6 main categories including physical changes, psychological experiences, socio-personal dysfunction, negative body image, financial pressure, and change in the spirituality. Conclusion: Final results indicated that life quality had a special definition in morbid obesity and includes very different dimensions. This study can promote health care providers’ knowledge (nurses) for supporting obese people and improving their quality of life by community-based care approaches

Caring for Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Introduction: Gradual and inevitable deterioration of mind and self causes wide ranges of somatic, emotional, and financial needs in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Nurses have a main role in preparing a suitable environment and care for patients. The aim of this research was to understand caring experience and perspective of staff in nursing homes. Method: In a qualitative study, 10 female and three male caregivers in Iranian nursing homes were selected based on purposeful sampling. The subjects were interviewed and data was analyzed using content analysis method. After data immersion, interview texts were transcribed verbatim and initial codes were extracted. These initial codes were re-evaluated and categorized. Results: Nearly 850 initial codes were extracted and categorized as three main themes of aspects, bases, and characteristics of care. In addition, 17 sub-themes were identified. Conclusion: Caring for patients’ with Alzheimer’s disease consists of physical routines. Other aspects of care receive limited attention and are provided unprofessionally, based on common sense and personal experience. Employing and continuous education of trained staff in assessment and caring of patients with Alzheimer’s disease can improve the environment of nursing homes, the quality of the provided care, and patients’ quality of life.. Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Care, Nursing home, Qualitative research, Experienc

A qualitative study of nursing student experiences of clinical practice

BACKGROUND: Nursing student's experiences of their clinical practice provide greater insight to develop an effective clinical teaching strategy in nursing education. The main objective of this study was to investigate student nurses' experience about their clinical practice. METHODS: Focus groups were used to obtain students' opinion and experiences about their clinical practice. 90 baccalaureate nursing students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery) were selected randomly from two hundred students and were arranged in 9 groups of ten students. To analyze the data the method used to code and categories focus group data were adapted from approaches to qualitative data analysis. RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the focus group data. From the students' point of view," initial clinical anxiety", "theory-practice gap"," clinical supervision", professional role", were considered as important factors in clinical experience. CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that nursing students were not satisfied with the clinical component of their education. They experienced anxiety as a result of feeling incompetent and lack of professional nursing skills and knowledge to take care of various patients in the clinical setting