Comparison of the Effects of Concept Mapping and Conventional Teaching Methods on Critical Thinking of Nursing Students‏

Introduction: Development of critical thinking and Procedural skills has remained a serious and considerable challenge throughout the nursing educational system in Iran. Conventional methods of teaching such as lecture, as the dominant method used in higher educational systems, is a passive style which ignores critical thinking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of instruction by concept-mapping and conventional methods in fundamentals of nursing on critical thinking skills in Tehran nursing students in 2014. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 70 nursing students, who were selected through convenient sampling method, then divided randomly into two equal experimental and control groups, in the Clinical Skills Center of Tehran Nursing and Midwifery School. Educational content was presented in the forms of concept-mapping for the experimental group and lecture in the control group. Data collection included a demographic information and California Critical Thinking Skills (form B) questionnaire; They were filled at the beginning and end of the fourth week of the Instructional period. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (v. 21), using descriptive and analytical statistics, at the significance level of 0.05. Results: Before the intervention, the mean of the total critical thinking skill score was 9.71 ± 2.66 in the concept mapping group and 9.64 ± 2.14 in the lecture group, and the difference was not significant (P = 0.121); but, after the intervention, the critical thinking skill score was 15.20 ± 2.71 in the intervention group and 10.25 ± 2.06 in the control group, which had a significant difference (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Using concept mapping strategy in the education of nursing students may lead to developing critical thinking skills as one of the important missions of higher level education. Therefore, it is recommended to employ this method in clinical nursing education. Keywords: Concept mapping, Critical Thinking Skills, Fundamentals of Nursing, Nursing Student

Assessment Relationship between Body-esteem and perceived Social Support in Patients with Ostomy

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a progressive gastrointestinal disease that leads to the insertion of an ostomy for patients. On the other hand, the manifestations and complications caused by the insertion of the ostomy cause many physical and mental problems for the patient. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body-esteem and perceived social support in patients with ostomy in the Iranian Ostomy Association. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was performed on 350 patients with ostomy referring to the Iranian Ostomy Association in Tehran. The Convenient method was used for sampling. The data collection tool was a Body-esteem Scale and Nortous social support questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16 and independent t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and Tukey test. Results: The mean and standard deviation of Body-esteem and perceived social support of patients were 42.57 ± 10.24 and 131.17 ± 15.45. According to the findings of this study, the mean score of Body-esteem and social support in patients with ostomy was moderate. There is a direct and significant relationship between social support and Body-esteem (r = 0.13, P = 0.006). Conclusions: Since the perception of social support has considerable effect on Body-esteem, it is recommended that nurses, by identifying high-risk groups in terms of receiving and understanding social support, continuously examine the patient's support needs and improve their level of Mental health and also by connecting patients with the community, families and groups of friends pay attention to this psychological dimension. Keywords: Ostomy, Body-esteem, Social Support, Colorectal Cance

The The Effects Of Crocin Supplementation On Sleep Quality, General Health, And Happiness In Elderly Population: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial: : crocin supplementation on sleep quality, general health, and happiness

Background: Old age is a period of human life in which general health, especially happiness and hope, might impair. Also, general health, sleep quality and happiness of the elderly in this stage of life start a reducing trend. The present study aimed to determine the effect of crocin of saffron on sleep quality, general health and happiness in elderly population. Methods: This triple-blind randomized clinical trial recruited elderly referred to the health centerl in Kashan, Iran, at 2020 (n = 70). The study samples divided into intervention and control groups using computer-generated random numbers to receive either 30 mg/day crocin (2 plus crocin tablet, 15 mg BID) (n = 35) or placebo (2 tablets per day, 15 mg BID) (n = 35), one hour after taking food, for 4 weeks. The sleep quality, general health and happiness was evaluated on the at study baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t and repeated measures ANOVA tests. Results : The two groups matched for demographic characteristics (P>0.05). Independent t-test showed no significant difference between the two groups on the baseline (Sleep quality p = 0.55; General health p=0.060 and happiness p=0.83) while there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups on the post-test (P=0.001) and follow-up for three variables. Conclusions: taking crocin by elderly people had beneficial effects on sleep quality, general health and happiness. Given that the efficacy of psychological drug is more critically considered, health‑care professionals can used natural medications such as crocin to increase the psychological parameters of elderly population.   Trial registration: The trial was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials as IRCT20200616047800N1