The Effect of Religion Intervention on Life Satisfaction and Depression in Elderly with Heart Failure

The elderly suffering from heart failure is facing with some problems such as lowering of life satisfaction and depression. Regarding a lack of information in this issue, the current study was conducted to determine the effect of religion intervention on life satisfaction and depression in the elderly with heart failure, in Ilam-Iran. In a clinical trial study conducted on the elderly with heart failure disease in Ilam-Iran, the patients were randomly allocated into two experimental (46) and control (47) groups. The used instruments were a demographic checklist, life satisfaction questionnaire of LSI-Z and Beck depression inventory. The intervention done for test group was a religion-spiritual program designed based on the Richards and Bergin model, and according to Islam and Shia regulations and conducted during six sessions, each 30-45 min. The tools were completed before and after intervention. Gathered data were entered into SPSS software and analyzed by descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and inferential (independent t test and ANOVA) statistics. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the mean (SD) of life satisfaction in the experimental group 5.47 (3.37) and control 5.85 (3.92) before the intervention (P = 0.62) but after the intervention. The mean (SD) of life satisfaction of the test group 8.08 (4.36) was higher than that of the control group 5.55 (3.96) (P = 0.006). Also, no significant difference between the mean (SD) of depression in the experimental group 47.80 (10.48) and control 49.87 (11.40) before the intervention (P = 0.62) but after the intervention. The mean (SD) of depression of the test group 28.28 (14.78) was lower than that of the control group 50.44 (14.02) (P = 0.006). Regarding the positive effect of religion-spiritual program in depression and life satisfaction of the elderly with heart failure, it is suggested this program will be educated to these patients by health-care workers

Knowledge, attitudes and barriers pain management by nurses in Iran: A systematic review

Introduction: Pain is a phenomenon that may be experience d every human being. Pain is one of the symptoms of the disease that has negative effects on patients and causes challenges in medical personnel. The aim of the present systematic review was to determine the knowledge, attitude, and pain management status in Iranian nurses. Methodology: This is a systematic review carried out according to systematic review articles checklist (PRISMA). The search was conducted by two researchers separately. In case of inconsistency, the search was examined by a third researchers. In this study, articles that met the inclusion criteria and published between 2000 to June 2019, were included. The search process was carried out in Iranian and international databases. Data were reported in using a descriptive method using Excel 2007 software. Result: According to result 180 articles were extracted in the initial search, of which 50 were excluded from the study, and finally 19 articles entered the data extraction phase. The extracted articles were classified into 4 dimensions of knowledge, attitude, and practice in pain management, nurses'understanding of pain management, nurses' problems in pain relief, and the extent of pain management implementation and assessment, which are described as follows. Conclusion: Nurses' knowledge, attitude, and management regarding pain management is not in an excellent condition and many studies in Iran should include educational interventions for nurses to help improve their knowledge, attitude, and pain management

Clinical features of novel coronavirus 2019-infected cases with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, disaggregated by gender

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical features of 68 coronavirus 2019-infected cardiac cases on gender basis. Methodology: Clinical, laboratory and electrocardiographic data of 68 COVID-19 patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, analyzed and compared by gender-wise. Results: Dry cough (78 of male, 80 females) and fever (62 of male, 75 females) were the most common symptoms. Out of these 97 of them needed O2 supplementation. O2 saturation in patients with O2 therapy was 85; 31 of men and 11 of women experienced intubation. The most common laboratory abnormalities, were neutrophilia, leukocytosis, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, decreased hemoglobin level, increased creatinine and urea, in men and women. Troponin level was different between male and female. Pneumonia was found in 86-87 patients. Approximately, Males and female, respectively53.10 and 52.8, shown sinus tachycardia (ST arrythmia). PVC arrythmia was found in 2.9 of total patients. BBB arrythmia was found in 31.20 of males vs. 11.10 of females. The mean systole/diastole blood pressures respectively were 130±4/79.7 ±2 in males and 134±4/81±3 in females. Heart axis changes was identified in 43.8 and 27.8 of males and females respectively. Conclusion: Severity of symptoms and outcomes of COVID-19 in cardiac patients showed some differences between men and women which could be associated with differences in immune responses, respiratory tract properties, renin angiotensin system, sex hormones and lifestyle. However, more studies to categorize gender differences are required. © 2017 Pakistan Cardiac Society. All Rights Reserved