A comparative study about the impact of sensory stimulation performed by family members and nurses on vital signs of patients at ICU: A randomized clinical trial

Some studies have shown the effects of sensory stimulation on vital signs of patients at intensive care unit (ICU). However, little knowledge is available about family role compared to the role of nursing staff in this issue and current results are controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the impact of sensory stimulation performed by family members and nurses on vital signs of patients at ICU. In this study, 9669 patients were categorized into two intervention groups and one control group by stratified block randomization method. Dyang sensory stimulation was provided by family members and nursing staff. No intervention was performed for control group. Sensory stimulation was performed 2 hours a day for 6 consecutive days. The vital signs were assessed 5 minutes before and 30 minutes after intervention. Data analysis was performed by ANCOVA, ANOVA and repeated measures. The results showed that there was significant difference between the experimental groups in terms of vital signs before and after the intervention (p<0.001). Of this aspect, family group was the best, nursing group was the second and control group was the last group in classification. The effect of sensory stimulation on vital signs of comatose patients was greater when provided by family members

The influence of a behavior modification interventional program on body mass index in obese adolescents

Background/PurposeThe prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents is increasing rapidly. The present research was performed to determine the influence of a ‘‘behavior modification’’ program on body mass index (BMI) in obese public high school students in Iran.MethodsIn this study, 152 adolescence and their parents were selected from 12 high schools of Khorram Abad from 2004 to 2006, and they were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control groups. The “behavior modification” interventional program consisted of nutritional education, modifying dietary habits, teaching exercise programs, teaching nutritional facts to the parents, and performing exercises 3 days a week. The height and weight as well as waist, hip, and wrist circumferences of the participants were measured before and after implementing the interventional program. BMI and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The adolescents and parents completed a nutrition knowledge questionnaire. Adolescents also completed the Beck’s Depression Questionnaire.ResultsAdolescent’s mean weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences decreased significantly after implementing the interventional program, in the intervention group (p≤0.001). In addition, the students’ and parents’ nutrition knowledge increased in the intervention group after implementing the interventional program (p<0.046). The symptoms of depression decreased and the frequency of students without symptoms of depression increased in the case group, but it did not reveal a statistically significant difference between case and control groups.ConclusionThe ‘‘behavior modification’’ interventional program is effective in reducing BMI in obese students, and therefore, school principals and planners can play an important role in controlling obesity by implementing this program via the students, their parents, and the school staff

The Appropriateness of Educational Programs\' Objectives for Professional Needs: The Viewpoints of Khorramabad School of Nursing and Midwifery Graduates

Introduction: Evaluating the educational programs from the viewpoints of graduates may identify the weaknesses of such programs and provide the opportunity for their improvement. This study was performed to determine the appropriateness of educational programs for professional needs from the viewpoints of graduates of Khorramabad School of Nursing and Midwifery. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in the years 2006-2007 on 407 nursing and midwifery graduates who had graduated during 1999-2005. A questionnaire containing items about demographic data, appropriateness of educational programs objectives for professional needs, and factors influencing the quality of educational programs was sent to participants by mail and completed by them. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. Results: Most of the nursing (72.9%) and midwifery (72.4%) graduates evaluated their competencies in taking care of patients as high. They also evaluated the training courses more effective on professional efficacy compared to practical and theoretical courses. From the graduates' points of view, the acquired skills during their academic years fulfilled their professional needs moderately, and lacking the essential skills made the nurses more strained than the midwives (37.1% and 22.4%, respectively). Factors affecting the quality of educational programs were reported by the graduates to be qualified faculty members and instructors, facilities for clinical education, educational environment, used teaching methods, educational facilities of the school, and the availability of scientific resources. Conclusion: professional needs of nursing and midwifery graduates are not fully covered by educational programs. It seems necessary to change the educational programs and provide required means and facilities in order to achieve the professional objectives and train skilled and productive human resources

Exploring COVID-19 Patients’ Experiences of Healthcare System Responsiveness during the Disease Course: A Qualitative Study

Background: One of the basic steps to improve the quality of services provided to patients with COVID-19 is to recognize the dimensions of providing such services from the perspective of recipients. Accordingly, this study aimed to explain the COVID-19 patients’ experiences of healthcare system responsiveness during the disease course.Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted using the conventional content analysis method in Iran from April 2020 to April 2021. Participants in this study included COVID-19 patients who were selected via purposive sampling. Data were collected through 34 telephone and face-to-face interviews and analyzed according to the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.Results: Qualitative analysis of the data led to the identification of impaired health system responsiveness as the main theme. The main theme consisted of two categories including the collapse of hospitals (with the subcategories of lack of resources and defects in process management) and providing low-quality care (with the subcategories of providing low-quality nursing services, lack of comprehensive care, and threats to patient safety).Conclusion: To provide quality care services to COVID-19 patients, the health system must consider improving its responsiveness to patient needs, expanding the physical space of healthcare centers, equipping hospitals with the accommodations and amenities required by patients, and providing conditions for the staff to be able to immediately respond to patient needs

Educational needs of general practitioness about brucellosis (Khorramabad–Iran)

Background: Brucellosis imposes considerable economical, veterinary and public health devastating effects on society. Considering the high prevalence of brucellosis in Lorestan province in Iran, this study aimed to determine the educational needs of general practitioners about brucellosis in Khorramabad- Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013, Khorramabad- Iran. 140 general practitioners recruited using census sampling method. A researcher made questionnaire of 42 questions having four domains including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow up of brucellosis. Data were analyzed using SPSS16 with Pearson, Chi-square and Mann-withny tests. P value was considered statistically significant ˂ 0.05. Results: The results showed that 28.6% of the general practitioners had educational needs. The highest educational need was in diagnosis domain (78.6%) and the lowest educational need was in prevention area (17.1%). Assessment scores between male and female general practitioners had no statistical significant difference, but physicians, who were working in the village centers, had higher educational needs. Conclusion: Educational needs of general practitioners about brucellosis are moderate. Regarding the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of this disease, it is suggested to pay more attention to this issue in continuing medical education

The outcomes of humanistic nursing for critical care nurses: A qualitative study

Background: Despite the importance and the necessity of humanistic approaches to care, there are limited studies into their outcomes for nurses. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the outcomes of humanistic nursing for critical care nurses (CCNs). Methods: This qualitative study was conducted through conventional content analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 CCNs purposively selected from hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran. Trustworthiness of the data was ensured using Lincoln and Guba's criteria. Results: The outcomes of humanistic nursing were grouped into three main categories, namely personal growth and self-actualization, protection of personal dignity, and greater satisfaction and comfort. Each of these categories had three subcategories which were development of abilities, self-concept and self-worth, spiritual transcendence; greater popularity, improved social status of nursing, appreciation, respect, and support for nurses; and happiness, satisfaction, and motivation, respectively. Conclusion: Humanistic approaches to care help fulfill the needs of both patients and nurses. The findings of this study provide a deeper understanding about how to reinforce humanistic behaviors and can be used in nursing education and practice

Optimization of hospital electronic information system in cardiac care unit: A participatory action research

Background : One of the indices of health care development is the use of HIS, but it is not supporting the nursing process as a scientific method. So, this study was done in order to optimize Hospital Information System (HIS) in cardiac care unit with the approach of “nursing care using scientific method”. Materials and Methods: This study is a part of a participatory action research which was done in CCU of Shahid Madani educational center of Khorramabad in four phases including assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of change programs in 2010-2012. All individuals who were effective in HIS implementation were chosen as participants (44 people). Data gathering method included: open interview, group concentrated discussion, guiding group sessions and observing checklist of bedside nursing care. Nursing cares in SOAPIE method prepared and put in HIS with cooperation of IT unit, and plans implemented and evaluated. Reflection and sharing were used for accreditation. Data analysis was done by constant comparison method and the Wilcoxon test. Results: By HIS optimization, mean of bedside nursing care in different domains and totally increased from 177.40 to 273.06 (p=0.001). Also, the relationship of nurse with patient and care team improved that resulted in: Patient comfort, trust in received cares, trust in nurse, decrease in complaints and increase in patients and relatives, satisfaction. Conclusion: Optimized use of HIS prepared by easy availability to nursing care standards. It is recommended, by enhancing the HIS capabilities and interdisciplinary communication, safe and scientific cares, and accurate and fast record to be provided by technology

The Effect of Family Presence during Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Bedside on Family General Health: a Clinical Trial Study

Background A child's hospitalization in intensive care units causes stress and worry in other family members. This study aimed to determine the effect of family presence during pediatric ICU bedside on family general health. Materials and Methods In this clinical trial study, 46 family members of the pediatrics hospitalized in the ICU in Teaching hospital affiliated with the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in Khorramabad in April to November 2014 were divided into two groups using the stratified block randomization. Family members of the intervention group were present at the bedside of their patients two hours a day for six days, but family members of the control group did not visit their patients during six day. The general health status of the family members in the two groups was evaluated immediately before and after the visit on the first, sixth and twelfth visit, by using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The data was analyzed using the repeated measure tests and independent t-tests. Results Results showed there was a significant difference between the groups in terms of the means of the GHQ scores of the family members before and after the intervention (

The impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on the quality of life of hemodialysis patients in Iran

Hemodialysis contributes to changes in lifestyle and the health status of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of participatory rehabilitation on the quality of life of patients. Methods: This quasi-experimental before and after study was conducted on 30 patients in the hemodialysis center at Hazrat-e-Rasoul Hospital in Javanrood during 2013. The rehabilitation program was executed with participation of experts in the fields of nursing, physiotherapy, and clinical psychology for 8 weeks. The instrument used for data collection was the hemodialysis version of Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI) which was completed by the research assistant by interview before and after the rehabilitation program. Results: The mean age of patients was 55.8 ± 14.3 years, 60% were male, and 93.3% were married. The average duration of hemodialysis was 3 ± 2.4 years. The quality of life score of all patients before the intervention was between 10 and 19 (moderate level), which after intervention, improved to a good level in half of the patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Rehabilitation programs improve the quality of life of hemodialysis patients. By this finding, implementation of rehabilitation programs is recommended in hemodialysis centers with participation of experts from different fields including nurses, physiotherapists, and clinical psychologists