The Relationship between Psychological Hardiness and Coping Strategies during Pregnancy

Background & aim: Although pregnancy seems to be a pleasant experience in a women’s life, the accompanied physical and psychological changes lead to high levels of stress in mothers. Prenatal stress widely affects the physical and mental health of mothers and infants; therefore, adopting appropriate coping strategies are highly required. Considering the importance of coping strategies in psychological hardiness, we aimed to determine the relationship between psychological hardiness and prenatal coping strategies. Methods:This correlational study was conducted on 500 pregnant women, referring to the healthcare centers of Mashhad, Iran in 2014. The study subjects were selected via convenience sampling. Data collection tools included Kobasa Hardiness Scale, the Revised Prenatal Coping Inventory and Perceived Stress Scale. For data analysis, Spearman correlation coefficient and regression analysis were performed, using SPSS version 16. The significance level was considered to be 0.05. Results: Psychological hardiness had a significant positive correlation with planning/ preparation (r=0.70,

Self-Care Behaviors of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Treated with Insulin Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior

Background & aim: The prevalence of gestational diabetes during pregnancy is one of the major maternal and fetal complications. Self-care behavior could be an effective method to control gestational diabetes induced by pregnancy. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is one of the popular conceptual frameworks for the study of human action and the prediction and understanding of particular behaviors, including self-care behavior. With this background in mind, this study was performed to evaluate the predictive factors for self-care behaviors based on TPB in patients with gestational diabetes treated with insulin. Methods:This descriptive and analytical study was performed on 60 women with gestational diabetes treated with insulin referring to diabetes clinic of Ommolbanin Hospital in Mashhad, Iran in 2014. The samples were randomly selected and evaluated based on a researcher-made questionnaire of awareness, gestational diabetes self-care behaviors, the variables of the theory of planned behavior theory (TPB) (attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention), and fasting blood glucose and two-hour postprandial blood glucose tests. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.16 using descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation, multiple regression analysis, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and independent t-tests). Results: A direct relationship was observed between intention and perceived behavioral control indices and self-care behaviors. Moreover, attitude affected self-care behaviors through both intention and perceived behavioral control. With regard to total effects of the variables, perceived behavioral control was the second predictive factor for self-care after behavioral intention. Conclusion: TPB emphasizes on behavioral intention and perceived behavioral control, which could be used as a framework to design educational interventions for promotion of gestational diabetes self-care behaviors in mothers

Construct Validity and Reliablity of Evaluation Tools for Midwifery Students at the Final Examination in Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery

Introduction: Inappropriate performance of delivery care team is one of the most important causes of maternal mortality. Lack of objective tools, reduces the opportunity for a systematic valid evaluation in clinical examinations. Therefore, this study investigated the reliability and validity of assessment tools in comprehensive final examination of midwifery students at the end of their education (at the time of graduation). Methods: In this correlational study, founded on existing evaluation tools for final comprehensive exam in Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery, students’ skills in 4 areas of examination (delivery room, gynecological unit, pregnancy care, and maternal and child’s health) were assessed (July 2010). Thirty one students (22 students of 8th and 9 students of 6th semester of midwifery BSc program) were evaluated within 5 consecutive days by 2 examiners. Content validity was determined by field experts. Mean scores achieved in each area of examination were compared in order to appraise construct validity as well as total mean score of students of senior and junior semesters (8 and 6). Alpha Cronbach coefficient was used for reliability analysis. Results: A significant difference of 26 percent between total mean score of students studying at 8th semester with that of students studying at 6th semester in comprehensive final examination, proved the construct validity in evaluation forms of midwifery students based on Royal College of Gynecology and Midwifery Definition in this examination (p=0.01). There was an average to high Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient (0.83 - 0.51) in each area of examination which reveals an internal consistency within the evaluation tools. Content validity was also high (0.8). The lowest and highest reliability of evaluators determined to be 0.82% and 73.5% respectively, according to definitions characterized by Cincinnati University. Conclusion: The tools used for evaluating midwifery students at the final examination in Mashhad School of Nursing and Midwifery met reliability and construct validity criteria and are recommended to be used for evaluationg midwifery students for graduation