The Effect of a Yoga Program on "Health-Related Quality of Life" of Children in Residential Care Centers

Abstract Introduction: Children living in residential care centers are a vulnerable population and have a lower Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). This study explored a yoga exercise program on HRQOL in children living in residential care centers. Methods: In this quasi-experimental, one group before-after study with time series design, all children aged 8 to 13 years, who qualified for the inclusion criteria and were living in governmental residential care centers of Isfarayen were selected, using the census method. The participants took part in yoga classes for 8 weeks. The HRQOL was assessed using Kids Screen Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (KS-HRQOLQ). The gleaned data were analyzed with SPSS21 using repeated measurements analysis. Results: Changes in the total score of HRQOL obtained in five measurements were not statistically significant (P = 0.270). Variations in the score of HRQOL in the dimensions of "mental well-being", "the relations with parents and self-autonomy", "social support and peers", and "school environment" were not significant before to one month after completion of interventions (P = 0.29, P = 0.67, P = 0.16, P = 0.50, respectively). For the physical well-being dimension, the changes were significant frombefore to immediately after completion of interventions (P = 0.013). Changes were not significant in the presence of personal and demographic variables (P = 0.45, P > 0.05). Conclusions: This study indicated that yoga increases life quality only in the physical well-being dimension. Given that life quality reflects the wishes, expectations, and hopes of children and teenagers in relation to their present and future life and this feeling is time-related, culture-dependent, and context-oriented, it appears that life conditions of children in the current study and chronic continuous tension present in residential care centers probably made the effects of yoga different

The Effect of Hand Reflexology Massage on Pain and Fatigue in Patients after Coronary Angiography: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

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Comparison of the Effects of Hand Reflexology versus Acupressure on Anxiety and Vital Signs in Female Patients with Coronary Artery Diseases

Hospitalization in the cardiac care unit can increase anxiety in patients. This study aimed to compare hand reflexology versus acupressure on anxiety and vital signs in female patients with coronary artery diseases. This double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled trial with a pre- and post-intervention design was conducted on 135 female patients with coronary artery diseases. Female patients hospitalized in a cardiac care unit were randomly divided into three groups of hand reflexology, acupressure and placebo (n = 45 patients in each group) using blocking and a table of random numbers. Data was collected using the Spielberger anxiety inventory. Also, their vital signs were measured before, immediately after and half an hour after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in anxiety levels between the groups (p > 0.05). Also, the effects of hand reflexology and acupressure immediately and half an hour later on the reduction of anxiety and vital signs were equal (p < 0.05). Implementation of hand reflexology and acupressure can have positive effects on anxiety and vital signs in patients with coronary artery diseases. They can reduce patients’ anxiety with an equal effectiveness