The Effects of Intravenous Hydration on Amniotic Fluid Volume and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Term Pregnancy and Oligohydramnios: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Amniotic fluid is an important factor in the prediction of fetal survival. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of intravenous hydration of mothers on amniotic fluid volume and in turn on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: The current single blind controlled clinical trial was conducted on 20 pregnant mothers with amniot-ic fluid index of lower or equal to 5 cm and gestational age of 37-41 weeks. The subjects were divided into two groups of case and control through simple random sampling. Am-niotic fluid index was measured in all participants. The case group received one liter of isotonic saline during 30 minutes by the bolus method. Reevaluations of amniotic fluid index in both groups were made 90 minutes after baseline measurement. Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to compare the two groups and mean amniotic fluid in-dex before and after treatment, respectively. Results: Hydration of mothers significantly increased the amniotic fluid index in the case group (mean change: 1.5 cm; 95%CI: 0.46 - 2.64; P = 0.01). The mean change of amniotic fluid index in the control group did not significantly increase (P = 0.06). The elevation of amniotic fluid index in the hydra-tion group (32%) was significantly higher than the control group (1%) (P = 0.03). Conclusion: In this study intravenous hydration increased amniotic fluid index of mothers with term pregnancy and oligohydramnios. Since it caused no complications for the moth-er and the fetus, it can be used as an effective method in management of oligohydramnios

Service Quality of Delivered Care from the Perception of Women with Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery

Background: Our aim was to determine the service quality of delivered care for people with Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 people who had caesarean section and normal delivery in Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital in Tabriz, north western Iran. Service quality was calculated using: Service Quality = 10 – (Importance × Performance) based on importance and performance of service quality aspects from the postpartum women‟s perspective.A hierarchical regression analysis was applied in two steps using the enter method to examine the associations between demographics and SQ scores. Data were analysed using the SPSS-17 software. Results: “Confidentiality”, “autonomy”, “choice of care provider” and “communication” achieved scores at the highest level of quality; and “support group”, “prompt attention”, “prevention and early detection”, “continuity of care”, “dignity”, “safety”, “accessibility and “basic amenities” got service quality score less than eight. Statistically significant relationship was found between service quality score and continuity of care (P=0.008). Conclusion: A notable gap between the participants‟ expectations and what they have actually received in most aspects of provided care. So, there is an opportunityto improve the quality of delivered care

ursing Students’ and Instructors’ Viewpoints Regarding Professional Abilities of Students in Internship Program at Tabriz University of Medical Science

Introduction: Most of previous studies have focused on factors affecting learning during nursing educational program, and a few researches have been conducted on students’ achievements. The present research aimed to determine nursing students’ and instructors’ viewpoints regarding the level of skills gained by students during internship in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive study conducted in 2003, 74 bachelor nursing students attending internship program and 33 instructors were selected using census method of sampling. A researcher made questionn-aire with five point Likert scale and including 96 questions was distributed as self-administered. The questionnaire covered a variety of dimensions such as providing services for patients, patient care, patient safety, management skills, quality improvement, and patient education. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using frequency distribution, and Chi2. Results: The achieved professional abilities in all dimensions were not satisfactory. There was a significant difference between students’ and instructors’ viewpoints, on the level of professional skills in patients’ services, patient care, management skills, quality improvement, and patient education. Conclusion: Students’ professional abilities during internship program were not optimum. The gap is probably due to the absence of good, supportive and incentive environment, or due to the lack of appropriate stewardship and management mechanisms