A Multidisciplinary Work-Related Low Back Pain Predictor Questionnaire: Psychometric Evaluation of Iranian Patient-Care Workers

Study DesignPsychometric evaluation design.PurposePsychometric evaluation of a multidisciplinary work-related low back pain predictor questionnaire (MWRLBPPQ) of Iranians patient-care workers based on the social cognitive theory.Overview of LiteratureHealthcare is one of the professions in which work-related musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent. The chronic low back pain experienced by patient caregivers can negatively impact their professional performance, and patient handling in a hospital is the main cause of low back pain in this population.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study carried out in Qom, Iran from July 2014 to November 2014. A MWRLBPPQ based on nine concepts of the social cognitive theory and existing literature regarding chronic low back pain was developed. Ten patient-care workers first completed the questionnaire as a pilot test, allowing the ambiguities of the instrument to be resolved. Exploratory factor analysis was used to confirm construct validity. This questionnaire was distributed among 452 patient-care workers in hospitals located in different geographically areas in Qom, Iran. Cronbach's Alpha was calculated to assess reliability.ResultsIn all, 452 caregivers of patients with mean age of 37.71 (standard deviation=8.3) years participated in the study. An exploratory factor analysis loaded seven concepts of self-efficacy, knowledge, outcome perception, self-control, emotional coping, and self-efficacy in overcoming impediments and challenges in the environment. All concepts were jointly accounted for 50.08% of variance of behavior change. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed favorable internal consistency (alpha=0.83), and test-retest of the scale with 2-week intervals indicated an appropriate stability for the MWRLBPPQ.ConclusionsThe MWRLBPPQ is a reliable and valid theory-based instrument that can be used to predict factors influencing work-related low back pain among workers who lift and transfer patients in hospitals

A Multidisciplinary Workplace Intervention for Chronic Low Back Pain among Nursing Assistants in Iran

Study DesignInterventional research with a 6-month follow-up period.PurposeWe aimed to establish the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary workplace intervention on reduction of work-related low back pain (WRLBP), using ergonomic posture training coupled with an educational program based on social cognitive theory.Overview of LiteratureWRLBP is a major occupational problem among healthcare workers, who are often required to lift heavy loads. Patient handling is a particular requirement of nurse aides, and has been reported as the main cause of chronic WRLBP.MethodsWe included 125 nursing assistants from two hospitals affiliated to Qom University of Medical Sciences from May to December 2015. There was an intervention hospital with a number of 63 nursing assistants who received four multidisciplinary educational sessions for 2 hours each plus ergonomic posture training over two days and a control hospital with a number of 62 nursing assistants who didn't receive educational intervention about low back pain. The outcomes of interest were reductions in WRLBP intensity and disability from baseline to the follow up at 6 months, which were measured using a visual analog scale and the Quebec Disability Scale. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyze the data.ResultsThe comparison tests showed significant change from baseline in reduction of WRLBP intensity following the multidisciplinary program, with scores of 5.01±1.97 to 3.42±2.53 after 6 months on the visual analog scale in the intervention group (p<0.001) and no significant change in control groups. There was no significant difference in the disability scores between the two groups (p=0.07).ConclusionsWe showed that our multidisciplinary intervention could reduce the intensity of WRLBP among nurse aides, making them suitable for implementation in programs to improve WRLBP among nursing assistants working in hospitals

An Intercultural Translation and Psychometric Analysis of 18-item Spirituality at Work Questionnaire

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objective: Spirituality in job is a new topic but with a limited theoretical-scientific development in organizational literature. The importance of this issue and its impact on work efficiency call for a proper instrument for evaluation purposes. Longevity and incomprehensiveness of some of the questionnaires motivated the authors to provide an Intercultural Translation and psychometric analysis of the standard comprehensive instrument of Spirituality at Work.Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, English version of Spirituality at Work scale, adopted from Val Kinjersk’s study, was used as the main instrument. An attempt was made to complete English-to-Persian translation as well as to provide cultural conformities using the Wild pattern and recursive translation method and retranslation phases, respectively. Afterwards, face validity was performed based on 10 experts’ views and 18 accessible samples and then reliability and validity of the questionnaire were examined and internal correlation was determined in a cross-sectional study on 393 health workers. Construct validity was assessed with a sample size of 268 people through factor analysis. In this study, all the ethical considerations have been observed and no conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Results: To determine construct validity, principal components analysis was performed using Varimax rotation method, in which 70.31% of total variance was explained by two factors. Its face validity was also desirable. In assessing the questionnaire’s reliability using internal consistency method, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was found to be 96%, which ranged from 78% to 91% for the subscales. There was a high correlation among subscales of this questionnaire (0/82-0/97).Conclusion: The questionnaire had good consistency and the high correlation between the subscales is indicative of a god cultural consistency in translation of the questionnaire. The questionnaire of Spirituality at Work, which aimed at  assessing the experience of spirituality in job based on individuals’ experience of spirituality and workplace morale has proper construct validity and face validity.For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Please cite this article as: S, Tavafian SS, Wagner J, Jamshidi AR, Mohammadi-Valadani A. An Intercultural Translation and Psychometric Analysis of 18-item Spirituality at Work Questionnaire. Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va salāmat. 2020;5(4):114-126. https://doi.org/10.22037/jrrh.v5i4.2234

The Effect of Religious Care by the Clergyman next to the Patients’ Bedside on their Depression and Anxiety

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objective: The fear of surgery, death, and the debilitating symptoms of the illness make hospitalized patients develop anxiety and depression that may disrupt their performance. Religious care aimed at addressing the religious needs of hospitalized patients can have a significant role in increasing the hospitalized patients’ ability to cope with their illness. Therefore, the researchers aimed to set up a religious-based plan and perform it by the presence of a clergy next to the patients’ bedside and determine its effectiveness on decreasing anxiety and depression of hospitalized patients.Method: In this randomized controlled clinical trial with control group, 142 hospitalized patients were chosen in the form of random sampling in Nekoui hospital of Qom. They were divided into a test and a control group. Then, the demographic questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale were completed by them. The religious-based plan by the presence of a clergy next to the patients’ bedside was performed in the test group. The two groups were followed after the intervention. All ethical issues were observed in this study and the researchers declared no conflict of interests.Results: In terms of overall score of hospital anxiety and depression, the results of ANCOVA showed a statistically meaningful difference between the two groups after the intervention (F=35.75, P&lt;0.001). Also, the results of paired-samples t-test showed a significant decline in the anxiety and depression of hospitalized patients in the intervention group (P= 0.001). In contrast, no measurable difference was observed in the anxiety and depression scores of patients in the control group (P= 0.10, P= 0.48).Conclusion: The presence of special medical teams like responsible clergies who are familiar with health issues and the provision of religious care can decrease patients’ anxiety and depression. Such a religious intervention also has a significant role in boosting patients’ morale and reducing their woes.For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Please cite this article as: ShojaeiS, AbbasiM, RahimiT, Vahedian M, FarhadlooR, Movahed E, Parvaresh-MasoudM. The Effect of Religious Care by the Clergyman next to the Patients’ Bedside on their Depression and Anxiety. J Res Relig Health. 2018; 4(3):45-5

Evaluation of Bacterial Infection of Burn Wounds in a Burn Center, Qom, Iran

Background & Aims of the Study: In spite remarkable progress in the anti-microbial treatment in the last 60 years and despite all the care in the health system, infectious diseases especially burn wound infection is a major problem and one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality for burn patients. Certainly, the identification, review and updating of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistances have an important role in the control, prevention, and correct treatment of burn patients. This study aimed to determine burn wounds and antibiotic resistance in patients hospitalized at the Nekoei Burn Center, Qom, Iran. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on patients referred to a Burn Center in Qom, Iran, for a three-year period (from May 2012 to November 2014). After sampling, the identification of the isolates was done by conventional biochemical tests. Disk diffusion method was performed for testing antibiotic resistance according to CLSI guideline. Results: Among a total of 793 patients, 45 patients (19.82%) were positive culture. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most dominant microorganism in patients (66%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci (16%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12%). In the evaluation of antibiotic resistance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed the most resistant to ciprofloxacin (93.3%) and ceftriaxone (86.6%). Among the used antibiotics, meropenem and cephalexin had a better effect than other antibiotics. Conclusion:  Based on the obtained results, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most isolated common microorganism of burn wounds at our hospital and it seems that treatment of common antibiotics in this center has not enough effectiveness. Thus, it is essential to use effective antibiotics correctly and to prevent the extension of resistant bacteria

Effects of the Health Belief Model (HBM)-Based Educational Program on the Nutritional Knowledge and Behaviors of CABG Patients

Background: Reducing blood pressure through diet decreases the possibility of heart attacks, and lowering blood cholesterol can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of education based on the Health Belief Model on the dietary behavior of patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) at the Heart Surgery Department of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Qom. Methods: In this semi-experimental clinical trial, data were collected on 64 patients, at an average age of 59.9 ± 7.26 years in the intervention group and 58.5 ± 7.6 years in the control group. Seventy percent of the study subjects were male and 30% were female. Intervention and control groups were given a questionnaire, comprising 56 questions in 5 parts. The educational intervention was aimed at creating perceived susceptibility and perceived severity in the intervention group. After 1 month. Both groups were tested, and the resulting data were analyzed to investigate the effects of the educational intervention on the nutritional knowledge and behavior of the patients.  Results: According to the results, educational intervention caused a significant increase in the mean scores of knowledge (p value = 0.001), perceived severity (p value = 0.007), and perceived benefits and barriers (p value = 0.003) in the intervention group but did not cause a significant increase in the mean score of nutritional behavior (p value = 0.390). Conclusion: Education based on the Health Belief Model seems to be effective in improving nutritional knowledge, but more consistent and comprehensive educational programs are necessary in order to change behavior and improve nutritional behavior

Religious Care by Clergymen at the Patients\\\' Bedsides: Its Impact on Spiritual Health

Disease is a matter with which each person may face in his life. If caregivers want to provide real and complete health care services, comprehensive attention to the spiritual needs of a patient is indispensibe. Since many people obtain spirituality through religion, appropriate religious care can promote spiritual health of patients. This research aimed at examining religious care program and determining the impact of religious care on spiritual health of hospitalized patients provided by the clergymen at the patients' bedsides. In this clinical trial, 142 patients hospitalized in Qom Nekuoei hospital were selected randomly and divided into experimental and control groups. After completing the questionnaire on demographic information and spiritual health questionnaire by the participants, religious care program was implemented in the experimental group and then the two groups were followed after intervention. The two groups had no statistically significant difference before intervention in spiritual health score and its domains (religious health and existential health) but after intervention there were statistically significant differences. Spiritual health score and its domains increased after the intervention (P<0.000). Religious care provided by clergymen at the patients' bedsides increases patients' spiritual health and their ability to cope with illness as well as reduce complications of the disease

Promotion of Preventive Behaviors of Cardiovascular Diseases Using Health Belief Model in Women Referring to Health Centers in Qom, Iran

Background and Objectives: The increasing trend of non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular disease in Iranian women, reveals the need for preventive educational interventions. This study aimed to promote preventive behaviors of cardiovascular diseases using Health Belief Model in women referring to health centers in Qom city. Methods: In this intervention, 80 women referred to health centers in Qom city, were assigned to two groups of experimental and control. Sampling was performed using cluster sampling method. The intervention consisted of 6 training sessions in the experimental group. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire before and 3 months after the intervention. Data analysis was carried out using independent and paired t-tests. Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.91&plusmn;6.90. Three months after the education intervention, the mean score of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, cues to action and preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease showed a significant increase in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, the mean score of perceived barriers significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: Educational interventions play an important role in the promotion of preventive behaviors of cardiovascular disease in women and can help to reduce the incidence of disease

Spiritual Health of Men Hospitalized In Qom Trauma Center: Association with In-Hospital Anxiety and Depression

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, spiritual health, as one of the health aspects, can better respond to the current conditions in being faced with anxiety, tension, and restlessness due to injury and disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the spiritual health of inpatients and its association with in-hospital anxiety and depression. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 142 inpatients in Qom Nekoei Hospital were enrolled by stratified random sampling. Demographics and hospital information questionnaire, Paloutzian & Ellison Spiritual Well-Being Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were completed by the participants. Data were generated and analyzed by SPSS. Results: Linear regression results showed that the score on spiritual health was statistically significantly associated with the level of depression and anxiety such that with 1-point increase in spiritual health score, the mean score on depression and anxiety decreased by 0.145 (p=0.000). In addition, spiritual health score was moderate in the participants (88.44&plusmn;20). The participants&rsquo; religious well-being score (48&plusmn;8) was higher than their existential well-being score (40&plusmn;10). Conclusion: Because anxiety and depression levels were lower in the inpatients with higher levels of spiritual health, it can be concluded that people with greater spiritual tendency develop lower levels of anxiety and depression when they are ill, and are comparatively more successfully in coping with suffering due to disease. &nbsp

Beliefs of Pregnant Women in Qom City about Exclusive Breastfeeding until 6 Months of Age, Iran

Background and Objectives: Exclusive breastfeeding is the most effective way of feeding infants until 6 months of age. The present study aimed to determine the beliefs of pregnant women in Qom city about exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age based on constructs of theory of planned behavior. : In this descriptive cross-sectional study, after designing a questionnaire to measure the constructs of theory of planned behavior, including behavioral, normative, and control beliefs, and also determining its validity and reliability, 240 pregnant women in Qom were selected using cluster sampling and completed the questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: More emotional relationship with infants was the most important positive behavioral belief, and belief in breast malformation and fatigue was negative behavioral beliefs about exclusive breastfeeding among the pregnant women. The opinion of physicians and health care providers about exclusive breastfeeding was reported as the most important normative belief, and urging of relatives, especially mother or mother-in-law to use sweet water or powdered milk was the most important control beliefs among the mothers, which made exclusive breastfeeding difficult. Conclusion: Promoting positive beliefs and correcting wrong beliefs about exclusive breastfeeding, along with consideration of the role of health care providers and husband would help pregnant mothers to accept the choice of exclusive breastfeeding until the end of 6 months of age