Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Related Risk Factors Among Iranian Nurses

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most occupational problems among nurses and often cause many physical and psychological complications for nurses, and are a financial burden for health-care systems. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence MSDs and their related risk factors among Iranian nurses. Patients and Methods: This descriptive-correlational study included 240 hospital nurses, with a baccalaureate nursing degree, who worked at three public hospitals of the Ilam province of Iran. Data were collected through a validated self-administered questionnaire. Finally, 156 questionnaires were returned (response rate: 65%) and 135 questionnaires qualified for subsequent analysis. The data were analyzed using the SPSS version 15.0 software. Descriptive and inferential statistics (logistic regression) were used. Results: Overall, 97 (71.9%) hospital nurses experienced MSDs in at least one anatomical site within the last year. Low back pain was the most prevalent MSDs (40%) and hip and thigh were the least (11.1%) frequent sites. Most of the nurses with MSDs worked at surgery wards (17.8%), emergency (15.6%) and intensive care units (12.6%). Pain (48.1%) and cramps (31.9%) were the most frequent symptoms of MSDs and loss of limbs control (5.9%) was the least frequent symptom. Bend or twist at waist for performing nursing procedures, patient transfer from and to beds, working with the hands higher than shoulder height and changing position of patients in beds were the most frequent occupational factors that influenced MSDs. Increased age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and gender had no significant association with MSDs. However, being single and involved in any kinds of physical activity were significantly associated with the prevalence of MSDs (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The study findings indicated high prevalence of worked-related MSDs among Iranian hospital nurses. Accordingly, appropriate policies for managing MSDs among hospital nurses should be considered. Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Nurses,Workplace, Ira

STUDY OF THE STATUS OF SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF THE ELDERLY ADULTS

Aims: spirituality as one of the important dimensions of the healthy concept, and is an effective factor on human consistency with the malady. This investigation has been done in order to determine the spiritual health status and its relationship with the demographic characteristics of the elderly adults. Materials and the methods: this investigation was done in a sampling method available on 360 individual adults of 65 years old and upper in Ilam city. Questionnaire of the spiritual healthy from Islam view point was used in order to collecting of the this tool data including four items of the belief system, thought moral system, and life style which its reliability and validity has been confirmed in previous studies. Data have been analyzed by SPSS software using correlation coefficient. Results: findings showed that spiritual health of the most of participants in above investigation, and also spiritual health has had a significant relationship with age, status of the disease addiction, status of the elderly adult life with his/her family and low education. But it had no significant correlation to gender. Concluding: according to the spiritual health role in the individuals' consistency, necessity of the more attention for elderly adults' health and its promotion is necessitate for health care providers. Keywords: spiritual health, dimensions of the spiritual health, Islam, elderly adult age

The correlation of learning and study strategies with academic achievement of nursing students

Introduction: One of the most important problems in student's education is academic failure. Identifying factors that affecting academic achievement and pay attention to these factors is a stride toward success. Students' academic achievement and related factors have priority in education research. This study aimed to determine the relationship between learning study strategies and academic achievement of nursing students in 2013. Materials and methods: This descriptive- analytic study was performed among 85 nursing students of Ilam University of Medical Sciences. By using the learning and study strategies inventory (LASSI), the main three components of study and learning strategies, including items of skill, will and self-regulation were examined. The Pearson correlation was used to measure students' academic achievement correlation with the mentioned above components. Results: The sample consisted of 50.6% female and 49.4% male. The mean grade of nursing students was scored 15.60. Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the three main components of learning strategies and study skills component, respectively skill (P=0.001, r=0.349), self-regulation (P=0.009, r=0.280) and the component of will (P=0.045, r=0.218) with student achievement (mean grade of last term) had a positive and significant relationship. Conclusion: Considering positive and significant correlation between learning and study strategies with academic achievement in nursing students, so, we suggest that students and teachers use these strategies to improve academic achievement and reduce the academic loss of students