Research priorities in Evidence-Based Nursing Cares: A Delphi survey

Introduction: Determining the research priorities in Evidence-Based Nursing Care is considered as a regular method to provide substantive information for developing the nursing science and taking evidence-based practical steps but such research is currently minimal. Therefore, a Delphi survey was conducted to determine the research priorities in Evidence-Based Nursing Care in the North of Iran. Methods: A three-round Delphi study was conducted to identify research priorities in Evidence-Based Nursing Care. The study comprised of research nurses, who have attended a Research Methodology course and did have published research. A Delphi expert panel consists of a group of credible experts within the field attending in consensus meetings to determine the nursing research top priorities. Open-ended questions were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Analysis of questionnaires 2 and 3 entailed an examination of the mean scores for each priority ranked on the five-point Likert scale. Results: Round 1 had 42 themes across 174 topics, identified by analyzing the data. In Round 2, respondents ranked all themes and 30 themes were selected. Finally, in Round 3, the top five research priorities emerged as the following: Assurance in health care, nurse-patient communication, pain management, taking care of the patients under mechanical ventilation and drug care. Conclusions: Determining research priorities in the Evidence-Based Nursing Care would optimize the level of utilization of the results of the studies by nurses and subsequently could improve the delivery of evidence-based nursing services; Prioritization will also help in directing resources to the essential research needs. &nbsp

The Study of Cognitive Function and Related Factors in Patients With Heart Failure

Background: Cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized as a common adverse consequence of heart failure. Both Heart failure and cognitive impairment are associated with frequent hospitalization and increased mortality, particularly when they occur simultaneously. Objectives: To determine cognitive function and related factors in patients with heart failure. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we assessed 239 patients with heart failure. Data were collected by Mini Mental status Examination, Charlson comorbidity index and NYHA classification system. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean score of cognitive function was 21.68 ± 4.51. In total, 155 patients (64.9%) had cognitive impairment. Significant associations were found between the status of cognitive impairment and gender (P < 0.002), education level (P < 0.000), living location (P < 0.000), marital status (P < 0.03), living arrangement (P < 0.001 ), employment status (P < 0.000), income (P < 0.02), being the head of family (P < 0.03), the family size (P < 0.02), having a supplemental insurance (P < 0.003) and the patient’s comorbidities (P < 0.02). However, in logistic regression analysis, only education and supplementary insurance could predict cognitive status which indicates that patients with supplementary insurance and higher education levels were more likely to maintain optimal cognitive function. Conclusions: More than a half of the subjects had cognitive impairment. As the level of patients cognitive functioning affects their behaviors and daily living activities, it is recommended that patients with heart failure should be assessed for their cognitive functioning

The Relationship Between Living Environment and Life Satisfaction in Residents of Rasht City, North of Iran

Introduction: Life satisfaction reflects an individual�s overall feelings about life, influenced by various factors. Objective: This study aimed to identify and introduce the indices related to the living environment that affect life satisfaction. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 1000 residents of 55 neighborhoods of Rasht City (north of Iran) by an analytical cross-sectional method. The participants were chosen with a multistage cluster sampling method. The study data were collected using questionnaires, including the residents� characteristics, indicators of the living environment, and the satisfaction with life scale. The obtained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and inferential statistics, including the Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t test, analysis of variance, and linear regression. Results: Based on the present study results, the Mean±SD age of the subjects in the study was 43.73±15.55 years. The analysis showed that their level of life satisfaction was average Mean±SD: 19.41±7.63, range: 5-35). The regression analysis identified dissatisfaction of facilities (B=-0.366; 95CI: -0.434, -0.298; P=0.001), satisfaction with living in the local area (B=0.248; Cl: 0.123, 0.373; P=0.001), duration of residence (B: -0.364; 95CI: -0.625, -0.102; P=0.006) and gender (women compared to men) (B: 0.896; Cl: 0.011, 1.781; P=0.047) as the predictors of life satisfaction. Conclusion: According to the results, the life satisfaction of our study participants was at a moderate level and was affected by living environment indicators, especially facilities. © 2021, Journal of Holistic Nursing and Midwifery. All Rights Reserved

Effect of diet supplementation with live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, caecal ecosystem and health of growing rabbits

[EN] The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the growth performance, caecal ecosystem and overall health of growing rabbits. A control diet was formulated (crude protein: 15.9%; neutral detergent fibre: 31.6%) and another diet obtained by supplementing the control diet with 1 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (6.5×109 colony-forming units) per kg of diet. Ninety 35-d old rabbits were allotted into 3 groups: TT (rabbits offered the supplemented diet from 17 d of age onwards), CT (rabbits offered supplemented diet from 35 d) and CC (rabbits fed non-supplemented diet). Body weight (BW) and feed intake were measured weekly and mortality was controlled daily. At 35, 42 and 77 d of age, 6 rabbits from each group were slaughtered and digestive physiological traits, serum clinical chemistry parameters, fermentation traits, and the composition of caecal microbiota examined. At 42 and 56 d of age, 10 rabbits from each group were injected intraperitoneally with 100 μg/animal of ovalbumin and blood samples were collected for examination of plasma immunological parameters. Throughout the experiment (5-11 wk), weight gain and feed intake (37.8 and 112.6 g/d, on av.) were not affected by yeast, except for weight gain in the first week after weaning, which was the highest in TT animals among the 3 groups (48.1 vs. 43.9 and 44.2 g/d for TT, CC and CT, respectively; P=0.012). This may be due to the increased trend in feed intake (P=0.072) in the TT group (96.4 g/d) compared to the others. Mortality (5/90) was low and did not differ among the 3 groups. Treatments had no effect on slaughter traits at the 3 sampling dates (35, 42 and 77 d). Only the weight of the empty caecum (% BW) was higher (P=0.02) in CC (2.2%) and CT (2.3%) than in TT group (1.8%) at 77 d of age. Treatments did not overtly affect the caecal microbiota, although the number of total anaerobic bacteria and Bacteroides were lower (108 and 107/g caecal digesta, respectively) in rabbits from CC group compared to those of CT and TT groups at 42 d of age (P=0.03). No difference between groups was observed for caecal short chain fatty acids profile, blood traits, or IgG and cytokine profile. In conclusion, supplementation of feed with yeast did not modify growth traits and resulted in only a temporary increase in weight gain and a slightly altered caecal microbiota after weaning.Belhassen, T.; Bonai, A.; Gerencsér, Z.; Matics, Z.; Tuboly, T.; Bergaoui, R.; Kovacs, M. (2016). Effect of diet supplementation with live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on growth performance, caecal ecosystem and health of growing rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 24(3):191-200. doi:10.4995/wrs.2016.3991.SWORD19120024

Smoking cessation: Adherence based on patients’ illness perception after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) is a common treatment for coronary artery disease. The patient’s commitment to modify risk factors is necessary to achieve the desired after surgery outcomes. The current study aimed at determining illness perception of patients after CABG, its relation to smoking cessation, and detecting other predictors of smoking cessation. Methods: The samples of the current cross sectional study were selected from a greater study that was done on patients’ adherence determining for 6 months after CABG surgery. Data collection was performed using a telephone questionnaire with 3 sections: personal and social information, smoking cessation, and illness perception. Data analysis was performed via descriptive statistics, independent t test, and multiple logistic regression analysis through SPSS version 16. Results: The findings showed that 26.6% of the patients had not stopped smoking for 6 months after CABG, and the mean score of illness perception was 83.28 ± 6.11. The relationship between adherence to smoking cessation and illness perception was not significant. Regression logistics via backward selection to detect factors related to smoking cessation adherence after CABG showed only a lack of hypertension history could predict adherence to smoking cessation (OR = 0.199, P = 0.03). Conclusions: Based on the results, about one-third of the subjects smoked cigarettes after CABG; therefore, it is critical to plan rehabilitation programs regarding smoking cessation after this surgery. Keywords: Smoking cessation, Patient compliance, Coronary artery bypas