The Role of Professional Behavior to Improve Patient Safety Culture in Clinical Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Safety culture is one of the most important determinants of patient safety in hospitals. Due to the increasing prevalence of medical errors, increasing public attention, and public opinion pressure on this issue as well as the limitations of studies in this area, the current study was conducted to identify the role of professional behavior to improve patient safety culture in clinical nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 230 nurses in Shahroud Iran. Data collection instruments included a demographic information form, the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire, and the Nursing Professional Behaviors Scale. Stratified random sampling was used and data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics (linear regression analysis). Results: Participants’ mean scores of patient safety culture and professional behavior were 132.51 ±15.97 and 109.57±18.01, respectively. A high score of nurses' professional behavior was directly associated with a higher level of patient safety culture. In addition, the number of working hours per week and change in the workplace were significantly related to patient safety culture level (Pvalue=0.002). Conclusions: Professional behavior is an effective factor in enhancing safety culture in nurses. Therefore, paying attention to the training and proper application of professional behavior in nurses can improve the level of patient safety culture. Keywords: Nurse, Patient safety, Professional behavio

The Relationship between Spiritual Intelligence and Job Performance among Clinical Nurses

Nurses are among the most important human resources of hospitals. Nurses’ performance is affected by several factors including their spiritual intelligence. Spirituality can lead to higher commitment, productivity, and quality improvement in health services. This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual intelligence and job performance among nurses in southeast of Iran in 2017. In this cross-sectional study, 204 nurses working in teaching hospitals of Zabol city were assessed. The nurses were randomly selected by cluster sampling. The demographic characteristics were obtained by a checklist. The Job performance Scale and Spiritual Intelligence Scale were further used to assess the intended outcomes. The data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multinomial regression. The multinomial regression in Enter mode demonstrated that spiritual intelligence (r=0.14), being married (r=2.17), and educational level (r=3.41) directly and significantly affected nurses’ job performance. On the other hand, higher age (r=-0.24) negatively influenced nurses’ job performance. Considering the impact of spiritual intelligence on the job performance among nurses, it is necessary to implement practical measures to upgrade spirituality in nurses

The Relationship between Spiritual Intelligence and Job Performance among Clinical Nurses

Nurses are among the most important human resources of hospitals. Nurses’ performance is affected by several factors including their spiritual intelligence. Spirituality can lead to higher commitment, productivity, and quality improvement in health services. This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual intelligence and job performance among nurses in southeast of Iran in 2017. In this cross-sectional study, 204 nurses working in teaching hospitals of Zabol city were assessed. The nurses were randomly selected by cluster sampling. The demographic characteristics were obtained by a checklist. The Job performance Scale and Spiritual Intelligence Scale were further used to assess the intended outcomes. The data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multinomial regression. The multinomial regression in Enter mode demonstrated that spiritual intelligence (r=0.14), being married (r=2.17), and educational level (r=3.41) directly and significantly affected nurses’ job performance. On the other hand, higher age (r=-0.24) negatively influenced nurses’ job performance. Considering the impact of spiritual intelligence on the job performance among nurses, it is necessary to implement practical measures to upgrade spirituality in nurses

The Relationship between Caring Burden and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Taking care of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes exerts great tiredness and stress on the caregivers. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of the caring burden and its relationship with the quality of life of caregivers of diabetic patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 154 caregivers of patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Imam Hossein hospital in Shahroud city were evaluated. The data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, SF-36 standard quality of life questionnaire, and Novak & Guest care burden questionnaire. The accessible sampling was used and the data were collected by self-reporting. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis). Significant level was set at 0.05. Results: The mean age of caregivers was 41.86 ± 12.78 years old. The mean scores of care burden and quality of life of the participants were 53.21 ± 49.61 and 61.02 ± 20.71 respectively. There was a significant inverse correlation between the mean score of care burden and caregivers’ quality of life. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, providing social and informational support for caregivers is recommended to reduce the care burden and subsequently improve the quality of life. Key words: Caring pressure, Quality of life, Diabetes, Caregiver

Evaluating the Effect of Slow-Stroke Back Massage on the Anxiety of Candidates for Cataract Surgery

Background: The patients under cataract sur-gery often experience anxiety not only during the surgery, but also prior to the surgery.Purpose: We sought to determine the effects of slow-stroke back massage on anxiety in patients undergoing cataract surgery. Setting: The study was conducted in the Amiral-momenin Hospital of Zabol city, south-east of Iran.Participants: A total of 60 candidates of cataract surgery participated in the study.Research Design: The participants were ran-domly allocated to either control or intervention groups. The intervention group received slow-stroke back massages, while patients in control group received routine interventions.Intervention: The slow-stroke back massage was performed on the patients assigned to the interven-tion group. The intervention was performed in the morning of the surgery day at 30 minutes before the surgery. The researcher performed each mas-sage session in a sitting position. The duration of each massage session was 15 minutes. Main Outcome Measures: Anxiety was assessed in the both groups in the morning of the surgery, before and immediately after the intervention. In-dependent samples Student’s t test, paired samples Student’s t test, and chi-squared test were used to analyze the data.Results: Anxiety was not significantly different between the two groups before and after the mas-sage (p = .816). On the other hand, paired samples Student’s t test showed a significant difference comparing the anxiety scores before (49.7±5.43) and after (45.16±3.89) the massage in the interven-tion group (p < .001). Conclusions: Based on our results, slow-stroke back massage, which is a low-cost and safe method, reduced anxiety in patients who were candidates for cataract surgery

One-year changes in the prevalence and positive psychological correlates of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical science students in northeast of Iran

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a significant psychological burden on many across society especially students studying medical sciences. This study intended to investigate the one-year changes in the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among medical science students. A cross-sectional study in Shahroud, Iran administering a convenience sampling method (January to February 2021). Online self-reported questionnaires included Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Paloutzian-Ellison Spiritual Well-Being Questionnaire, Diener's Satisfaction with Life Scale and the University Student Depression Inventory. Data analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Independent t-test and Multiple Regression Analysis). A total of 306 medical science students were investigated in this study. The mean scores 1 year after the outbreak of COVID-19 were for depression (81.25 ± 26.04), spiritual well-being (80.98 ± 18.06), self-esteem (26.89 ± 2.20), and life satisfaction (19.68 ± 6.81). The results indicated that depression mean score was significantly higher in post outbreak assessment (71.92 ± 22.94 vs 81.25 ± 26.04) (P < .001). Fifty percentage of changes in depression can be predicted by studied variables. A high score of depression was directly associated with a higher level of self-esteem. Moreover, increased interest in the field, scores of spiritual well-being, and life satisfaction were inversely and significantly associated with depression. Iran's education system has been significantly affected, with the addition to the COVID-19 pandemic imposing a psychological burden such as depression, exacerbating this within medical science students compared to a year ago. Spiritual well-being and life satisfaction as positive psychology constructs were recognized as protective factors against depression during the pandemic. Spiritual and social support should be integrated in psychological interventions within university settings for medical science students.Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Grant/Award Number: 998

The Role of Professional Behavior to Improve Patient Safety Culture in Clinical Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Safety culture is one of the most important determinants of patient safety in hospitals. Due to the increasing prevalence of medical errors, increasing public attention, and public opinion pressure on this issue as well as the limitations of studies in this area, the current study was conducted to identify the role of professional behavior to improve patient safety culture in clinical nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 230 nurses in Shahroud Iran. Data collection instruments included a demographic information form, the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire, and the Nursing Professional Behaviors Scale. Stratified random sampling was used and data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics (linear regression analysis). Results: Participants’ mean scores of patient safety culture and professional behavior were 132.51 ±15.97 and 109.57±18.01, respectively. A high score of nurses' professional behavior was directly associated with a higher level of patient safety culture. In addition, the number of working hours per week and change in the workplace were significantly related to patient safety culture level (Pvalue=0.002). Conclusions: Professional behavior is an effective factor in enhancing safety culture in nurses. Therefore, paying attention to the training and proper application of professional behavior in nurses can improve the level of patient safety culture. Keywords: Nurse, Patient safety, Professional behavio

Psychological distress as a predictor of the burden of care in family caregivers of COVID‐19 patients in Iran: A community‐based cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has profoundly affected millions worldwide, including family caregivers of COVID‐19 patients, in terms of caregiver burden and psychological distress. The present study aimed to evaluate the care burden and psychological distress among family caregivers, caring for a family member with COVID‐19. Methods The present study was performed with a cross‐sectional design in the Shahroud community, northeast Iran using the convenience sampling method. A total of 297 family caregivers of COVID‐19 patients were assessed using self‐report scales including the depression, anxiety, and stress scale‐21 and the Zarit burden interview to assess the symptoms of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) and caregiver burden. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate regression analysis). Results Factors such as self‐reported symptoms of depression (β = 0.920, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.712, p < 0.02) were significantly predicted care burden. Variables such as lower levels of education of the family member and caregivers and also the relationship between the caregiver and family member were additional predictive factors that aggravated the care burden. Conclusion Caregivers of a family member with COVID‐19 suffer significant levels of care burden that also results from psychological distress such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, appropriate psychoeducational interventions are highly recommended