Developing a Valid and Reliable Instrument to Predict the Protective Sexual Behaviors in Women at Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Background: One much needed tool to assist with the monitoring and evaluation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention programs is to provide a valid instrument to measure protective sexual behavior and related factors. Objectives: The current study aimed to design a valid and reliable instrument to predict the protective sexual behaviors of women at risk of HIV in Iran. Patients and Methods: The current study was a sequential mixed cross-sectional and methodological research. Initially, via a qualitative research, constructs and factors associated with sexual protective behavior of women at risk were identified through 25 indepth interviews. The questionnaire on predictors of protective sexual behaviors in women at risk of HIV (PSPB) was designed based on a qualitative study, and then its qualitative validity, content, and construct validity were evaluated. Exploratory factor analysis was performed and 200 women at risk participated. Results: Seven concepts emerged after exploratory factor analysis of the 48 items. The content validity ratio (CVR) of the questionnaire constructs were 0.55 to 0.76, and content validity index (CVI) structure was 0.86 to 0.95. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire questionnaire was 0.78, and correlation coefficient of the test-retest reliability for the constructs was from 0.73 to 0.89. Conclusions: The current study proved the capability of the predictors of sexual protective behavior in women at risk for HIV questionnaire as a valid and reliable instrument for the Iranian community

Relationship between Oncology Nurses’ Spiritual Wellbeing with Their Attitudes towards Spiritual Care Providing Based on Neuman System Model: Evidences from IRAN

Introduction: Oncology nurses should create a balance in their personal and professional life to provide holistic care to patients. The more the awareness of spirituality in oncology nurses develops, the more obviously it manifests itself in their attitudes toward spiritual care. This study aimed to assess the relationship between oncology nurses' spiritual wellbeing, and their attitudes toward spiritual care based on Neumann’s Systems Model. Methods: This descriptive correlational study tested the relationships of Neuman system-based model constructs, named oncology nurses antecedents, their spiritual wellbeing, and attitudes to spiritual care by using a causal model and path analysis. 130 oncology nurses from 12 Tehran hospitals completed the study questionnaires, having completed written informed consents. The study administration permission was approved by Urmia University of medical sciences ethical committee. The collected data were coded and entered to computer to be analyzed by SPSS 13. We used path analysis and multiple regressions for assessing the relationships among the variables of the hypothesized study model. Results: The model testing revealed, from four antecedents’ predictors’ variables, only age and spiritual wellbeing had a direct and meaningful relationship with oncology nurses’ attitudes towards spiritual care. The nurses’ antecedent and mediator variable, and spiritual wellbeing explained 32.5% of the variance in their attitudes towards spiritual care. Moreover, the nurses’ spiritual wellbeing was found to have a positive relationship with their attitude to spiritual care (β= 0.450). Conclusion: However, the study model and its constructs proved to be quite efficient in indicating oncology nurses’ attitudes to spiritual care-related factors, but it is not a comprehensive model and other studies are required for its empirical testing

Religious responses of ICU nurses to moral distress: A qualitative study

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objectives: Nowadays, intensive care unit nurses face with numerous moral distress. Moral distress causes a series of responses in nurses. With recognizing these responses, strategies can be used for reducing them. This research was conducted to explain religious responses of ICU nurses to moral distress.Materials and Methods: This qualitative study (which is part of a doctoral thesis) with content analysis approach was done in order to describe of ICU nurses’ religious responses to moral distress. In this study, the data were collected by semi-structured and deep interviews with 18 individual and two group interviews with clinical nurses whom working in different cities in Iran. A Purposive sampling and data analysis with conventional content analysis were done.Results: 26 nurses were participated in this study. During the process of content analysis, 5 subcategories, and 2 categories were obtained. These categories of ICU nurses ‘religious responses to moral distress’ included: "religious beliefs", and "Impairment of religious beliefs". Results of this study showed a firm faith in God and trust in him causes positive response. Weakness and insecurity in the faith cause negative response to moral distress. Main theme in this research was religious responses.Conclusion: Results of this study showed that ICU nurses use various positive and negative responses in deal of moral distress. Nurse administrators can help ICU nurses to diminish moral distress, learn the correct religious beliefs, and prevent harmful outcomes. Teaching religious beliefs, during college, empowering and enhancing the religious capacity is necessary for coping with moral distress.Keywords: religious response, nurses, moral distress, ICU, content analysisFor downloading the full-text of this article please click here

Predictors of Quality of Life in Infertile Couples.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted with the aim of examines the quality of life of infertile couples and their relationship with the practical resilience of infertile couples referring to Yazd's centers of infertility. METHODS: This research is a descriptive-correlational study. The research population consisted of all infertile couples who referred to Infertility Centers in Yazd, Iran in the winter of 2016. Sampling was conducted in a non-random and accessible manner. The instrument used in the research included a) demographic information questionnaire, b) Conner and Davidson's Resilience Scale, and c) quality of life infertile couples questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 17 at a significant level of P < 0.05. To describe the data, descriptive statistics methods were used and the inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, regression, independent t test, and variance analysis) were used to test the research hypotheses. RESULTS: People (202 couples) participated in this research. Three variables of resilience (β = 0.04, P = 0.04), gender (β = -0.22, P < 0.001), and education level (β = 0.21, P < 0.001) had a prediction coefficient and there was a significant relationship with quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that resilience, gender, and education predict the quality of life of infertile couples. In the infertile couples counseling program, resilience should be considered as a coping factor. KEYWORDS: Couples; Infertility; Quality of lif

Major and minor criteria for gastric dystemperaments in Persian Medicine: Sari gastric dystemperament criteria-I (SGDC-I)

&#60;div class="msocomtxt" id="com1" language="JavaScript" onmouseout="msoCommentHide('com1')" onmouseover="msoCommentShow('anchor1','com1')"&#62;Background: Gastric disorders are one of the most common human ailments, which impose a huge economic burden on countries. In Persian Medicine (PM), it is possible to predict the susceptibility to gastric diseases with diagnosis of gastric Mizajes (temperaments) and dystemperaments. The semiology of gastric dystemperaments has been investigated in PM textbooks, although the value of each sign and symptom is not mentioned. Consequently, this research is designed to determine the major and minor criteria for classifying gastric dystemperaments on the basis of valid manuscripts and with the help of PM specialists in the present era. Methods: This was a consensus-based study consisting of four phases. In the first phase, reference PM textbooks were studied. Symptoms and signs of gastric dystemperaments were collected and listed in four groups. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews with a sample of PM experts were carried out. Phase three included a focused group discussion with experts. Eventually, findings were integrated from the three study phases in a two-day meeting in Sari City. Results: Selected criteria included eight major and eight minor criteria for hot-cold dystemperament, as well as six major and eight minor criteria for wet-dry gastric dystemperament. Conclusion: Modern lifestyles and the interfering factors are responsible for some changes in diagnostic signs and symptoms according to PM. This was the first step to coordinate PM diagnostic criteria for gastric dystemperaments. Further studies are recommended to reach a unique protocol in the field of PM diagnostics. The next step includes design and validation of national diagnostic tools. &#160

Self-efficacy and Self-regulated Learning in Clinical Performance of Nursing Students: A Qualitative Research

Introduction: Self-efficacy and self-regulated learning play an important role in applying clinical knowledge and competencies. The aim of this study was to define self-efficacy and self-regulated learning in nursing students' clinical performance during field training. Methods: In a qualitative study, 50 participants were selected through purposive sampling method from Iran, Tehran, and Shahid Beheshti Medical Universities. Then 28 semi-structured and 3 focus group interviews were performed with volunteer nursing students. Data was analyzed using content analysis methods. Results: The definition of self-efficacy and self-regulated learning were categorized in five and three themes, respectively. Self-efficacy in clinical performance based on the viewpoints of participants was equal to acquiring clinical skills, assessing patients, and planning, executing, and evaluating care plans. The experie-nce of self-regulated learning in clinical performance was equivalent to efforts for clinical learning along with self-motivation, and practicing nursing process, as well as for acquiring professional behaviors. Conclusion: Self-efficacy and self-regulated learning affect independent patient care capability and help nursing students to promote their competencies and professional skills in this field

Development of Iranian Computer Attitude Scale

Abstract Over the recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of computer all over the world. One of the factors responsible for this rise is the general attitude of people toward computer. The aim of this study was to develop a scale for the assessment of the attitude toward computer in the Iranian context, and to validate the content and the face of this scale. Four-phase methodology which we used consisted in the initial identification of the pool of items, conducting and analyzing of the interviews and finally testing of the content and face validities. The results of the validity tests have shown that 33 items out of the initial selection of 60 items are valid. We conclude that the developed scale is valid for the use in the Iranian context. Furthermore, the scale is proposed for the use in both organizations and universities to evaluate the attitudes of the students or employees toward computer

Psychometric Evaluation of “Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale” (TSES)

Introduction: Teacher efficacy is the belief of a teacher that he can affect the behavior and academic achievement of learners. Many efforts have been made to measure teacher efficacy but there is no valid and reliable instrument to measure it in Iran. Therefore, this study was performed to translate and psychologically evaluate “teachers’ sense of efficacy scale” (TSES). Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on teachers of school of nursing and midwifery in Tehran. The questionnaire was completed by all teachers (n=140). TSES was translated and then its content, face, and concurrent validity as well as its reliability were measured using internal consistency and test re-test after two weeks. Results: Content validity index of TSES was 0.79 in part of relevancy, 0.62 for clarity, and 0.51 for simplicity respectively. Face validity of the scale was approved according to experts’ opinions and viewpoints of participants. Concurrent validity of teacher’s sense of efficacy scale was measured along with “General Self-efficacy Scale” and a value of 0.71 was calculated for their correlation. TSES scale’s Cronbach's alpha was 0.93 and 0.96 was the value attained for test re-test. Conclusion: The “Teacher Sense of Efficacy Scale” (TSES) is a valid and reliable scale for measuring the efficacy of teachers in Iran

Iranian Elderly Experiences With Myocardial Infarction

Objectives: Awareness of elderly patients' experiences of myocardial infarction can assist to identify their need, problems, as well as promote their quality of lives. However, there is a little information about how elderly people experience myocardial infarction. This study aimed to explore elderly patients experience with myocardial infarction and their coping strategies. Methods & Materials: This paper is a part of a larger grounded theory. Eight old age patients (65+ years) with first time myocardial were interviewed as purposeful and theoretical sampling. Semi-structure interviews were used for data collection. Data collection and analysis were simultaneously conducted using Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory approach. The trustworthiness of data is confirmed through Lincoln and Guba' s criteria. Results: Elderly patient's experiences of myocardial infarction were categorized as two main themes include: living in the shadow of fear, live with limitation, and their coping strategies namely as return to active life. Living in the shadow of fear is consisted of sub themes named fear of death/reinforcing, fear of physical inability, and fear of dependency on others. Live with limitation composed of feeling of physical incapacity, bodily symptoms, and adherence of medical regimen/family. Return to active life includes positive thinking and self-reliance. Conclusions: Elderly people with first time myocardial infarction experience severe stresses and more limitations due to suddenly threatening their lives and health. Adopting positive coping strategies could facilitate return to normal life and promote their quality of life