A study of the relationship between ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence in nursing, anesthesia, and operating room students

When providing healthcare services, healthcare students face a variety of ethical issues and conflicts daily. Such characteristics as ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence are influential in determining an individual’s performance and can prove useful in coping with challenges in life. Given the significance of these two variables in the career prospects and educational and professional lives of students, the present cross-sectional study with 486 students majoring in nursing, operating room, and anesthesia, aims to investigate the relationship between ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence. Data were collected using demographics, ethical sensitivity, and emotional intelligence. The students’ ethical sensitivity level was high, while their emotional intelligence was average. Regression analysis revealed that students’ ethical sensitivity was related to their emotional intelligence and gender. There is also a significant correlation between ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence on one hand and gender on the other: female students possess higher levels of ethical sensitivity, while male students have greater emotional intelligence. Students in nursing schools may benefit from greater insight into the concepts of ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence and ways to enhance them.peer-reviewe

Effects of the Problem Solving Technique in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder, one of the lesser known of whose consequences is cognitive disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of problem-solving technique in type 2 diabetic patients with cognitive impairment. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in the south of Iran between December 2014 and April 2015. 96 type 2 diabetic patients with cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in the intervention group attended classes on problem-solving skills, while the patients in the control group attended the usual classes in the clinic. The quality of life, self-management profile, metabolic indexes of the patients in both groups were measured before and three months after the experiment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Paired t-test, independent t-test, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were used. Results: The differences between the groups’ levels of HbA1c (P=0.02) and HDL (P=0.02) were significant, but the differences between their FBS, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL were not significant (P>0.05). The mean difference of the changes in the quality of life (P<0.001) between the intervention and control groups was significant. The differences between the two groups in the area of self-management were as follows: patient’s anxiety management (P<0.001), patient’s capability in using medicine (P<0.001), healthy eating (P<0.001), weight management (P=0.02), and confidence in one’s ability to manage his/her diabetes (P<0.001). Conclusion: Applying problem-solving technique significantly enhanced self-management, quality of life and metabolic indexes in type 2 diabetic patients with cognitive impairment. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2014041517283N

Critical Care Nurses’ Adherence to Ethical Codes and Its Association with Spiritual Well-Being and Moral Sensitivity

Background. Adherence to ethical codes is a major pillar of nursing care that is affected by various factors. Identifying these factors can lead to better ethical performance. The present study was conducted to determine critical care nurses’ adherence to ethical codes and its association with spiritual well-being (SWB) and moral sensitivity (MS). Methods. In this descriptive-correlational study, data were collected using the moral sensitivity questionnaire (MSQ) by Lützén et al., Paloutzian and Ellison’s spiritual well-being scale (SWBS), and the adherence to ethical codes questionnaire. The study was conducted on 298 nurses working in critical care units of hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in southern Iran in 2019. This study was examined and approved by the Ethics Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Results. The majority of the participants were female (76.2%) and single (60.1%), with a mean age of 30.69 ± 5.74 years. The mean scores of adherence to ethical codes, SWB, and MS were 64.06 (good), 91.94 (moderate), and 134.08 (moderate), respectively. Adherence to ethical codes had a positive correlation with the total score of SWB (P<0.001, r = 0.25) and MS (P<0.001, r = 0.27). A positive correlation was also observed between MS and SWB (P<0.001, r = 0.41). Meanwhile, MS (β = 0.21) had a greater effect than SWB (β = 0.157) on adherence to ethical codes. Conclusion. Critical care nurses showed a good adherence to ethical codes. MS and SWB also positively affected their adherence to ethical codes. Nursing managers can use these findings to devise plans for the promotion of MS and SWB in nurses and thus help improve their ethical performance

Psychometric properties of Persian version of individual innovativeness scale among nursing students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background One of the basic necessities for fostering innovation in nursing students is to study the level of individual innovation using an appropriate tool. This study was conducted with the aim of translation and psychometric analysis of 20-item individual innovativeness scale (IIS) developed by Hurt et al., among Iranian nursing students. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 140 nursing students between September 2020 and June 2021 in one of the southern cities of Iran. IIS was translated through forward-backward method, and its face validity and content validity were examined quantitatively and qualitatively. Then, its construct validity was measured by exploratory factor analysis, and its stability and internal consistency were examined. Results The evidence of qualitative face validity and content validity of IIS were observed. The impact score was higher than 1.5, content validity ratio was between 0.6 and 1, content validity index was between 0.8 and 1, and SCVI-Average was 0.91. Based on exploratory factor analysis, three sub-scales were extracted that explained 55.49% of the changes in the questions. Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient were 0.880 and 0.949, respectively. Conclusion The Persian version of IIS had acceptable validity and reliability. Therefore, it can be used to assess the level of individual innovation among nursing students and planning interventions in this field. In addition, nursing education researchers can also use this tool for descriptive and interventional studies in the field of individual innovation in nursing students

Professional Capability in Triage Nurses in Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

In Emergency Department, triage nurses play a keyrole in the prioritization of the needs of patients whoare in critical conditions. Accordingly, it is essentialthat the concept of professional capability and its aspectsbe explored in these nurses. The present study aims toidentify Iranian triage nurses&rsquo; perception of professionalcapability. The present study is a qualitative work basedon conventional content analysis. 20 triage nurses participatedin the study. Data were collected using in-depth,semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, andobservation. The collected data were analyzed accordingto Granheim and Landman&rsquo;s method. Analysis of the datacollected from the interviews yielded 3 categories and 9subcategories. In the present study, professional capabilitywas found to be comprised of 3 domains: &ldquo;clinical competence&rdquo;,&ldquo;psychological empowerment&rdquo;, and &ldquo;professionalcommitment&rdquo;. The results of the study helped identify awide range of the dimensions of and factors affecting professionalcapability in triage nurses. Nursing administratorscan use the findings of the study to identify nurses who arequalified to work in triage units and develop programs toenhance triage nurses&rsquo; professional capability

Development and psychometric evaluation of a pneumatic tourniquet work standards scale

Abstract Objective Pneumatic tourniquets are among the most essential equipment for controlling bleeding in orthopedic surgeries. However, incorrect application of pneumatic tourniquets is accompanied by many hazards and complications for patients. Evaluation of surgical teams’ use of pneumatic tourniquets and establishment of protocols can play an important role in improving patient safety, minimizing risks, and increasing the lifetime of this equipment. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a pneumatic tourniquet work standards scale. Methods The present study is a methodological work carried out in two stages. In the first stage, an initial version of the scale was developed based on existing research and panel reviews. In the second stage, the psychometric properties of the scale were tested in terms of face validity (measured qualitatively and quantitatively), content validity (measured qualitatively and quantitatively), item analysis, construct validity, and reliability (internal consistency and stability). Results The initial version of the scale consisted of 91 items. After several meetings of the research team, the number of items decreased to 81. In the course of face and content validity testing, 40 items were eliminated, leaving 41 items on the scale when it entered the construct validity testing stage. For evaluation of construct validity, a sample of 300 operating room nurses was recruited. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results showed a structure supported by seven factors and 41 items. The reliability of the scale was confirmed by internal consistency analysis, with a good Cronbach’s alpha (0.85), and test–retest analysis, with good values of ICC (0.95). Conclusion The present instrument is a reliable and valid scale which fills the gap in assessment of surgical team members’ use of pneumatic tourniquets. The developed scale can be employed by researchers and managers of medical centers to identify hazards in applying pneumatic tourniquets and devise educational programs to eliminate or reduce the existing issues

From disobedience to struggle for adaptation: ​​nursing students’ experiences of attending the clinical learning environment during Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract Background The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the clinical education of nursing students all over the world. Considering the importance of clinical education and clinical learning environment (CLE) in the education of nursing students, identifying the challenges and problems faced by these students during the covid-19 pandemic helps to plan more effectively in this regard. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of nursing students in CLEs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods A descriptive qualitative research was conducted, which used a purposive sampling technique to recruit 15 undergraduate nursing students from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences between July 2021 and September 2022. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. For data analysis, conventional qualitative content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman approach was used. Results The data analysis led to emergence of two themes of “disobedience " and “struggle for adaptation”. The disobedience theme consists of two categories: “objection to attend CLE” and “patient marginalization”. The theme of struggle for adaptation includes two categories: “using support sources” and “applying problem-oriented strategies”. Conclusion At the beginning of the pandemic, the students were unfamiliar due to the disease, as well as fear of contracting themselves and infecting others, so they tried not to be in the clinical environment. However, they gradually tried to adapt to the existing conditions by applying support resources and using problem-oriented strategies. Policymakers and educational planners can use the results of this study to plan for solving the challenges of students during future pandemics and improve the condition of CLE

Barriers to ethical treatment of patients in clinical environments: A systematic narrative review

Abstract Background and Aim It is essential that healthcare providers display ethical behavior toward their patients. Despite development of codes of ethics for clinical practice, the occurrence of unethical behaviors toward patients is alarmingly high. The present study was conducted to identify the barriers to ethical treatment of patients in clinical environments. Methods Through systematic narrative review, the present study investigated the barriers to ethical treatment of patients. This study was carried out in line with Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 and Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Results Ethical challenges in clinical environments can be classified into two categories: “organizational factors” and “personal factors.” Organizational factors consist of three domains: managers and regulations, organizational environment, and human resources. Personal factors consist of two domains: factors related to patients and their families and factors related to care providers. Conclusion Research shows that encouraging healthcare teams to adopt ethical behaviors through education and having them persistently observe ethics in their clinical practice will not completely bridge the gap between theory and practice: it seems that the clinical environment, the personal characteristics of healthcare team members and patients, and the organizational values of the healthcare system pose the greatest barrier to bridging this gap. Accordingly, in addition to raising healthcare providers’ awareness of the existing issues in clinical ethics, measures should be taken to improve organizational culture and atmosphere

Prevalence of burnout and related factors in nursing faculty members: a systematic review

Purpose The current study aimed to identify the prevalence of burnout and related factors in nursing faculty members through a systematic review of the literature. Methods A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database was conducted via keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings, including burnout and nursing faculty, for studies published from database inception to April 1, 2022. The quality of the included studies in this review was assessed using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. Results A total of 2,551 nursing faculty members were enrolled in 11 studies. The mean score of burnout in nursing faculty members based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was 59.28 out of 132. The burnout score in this study was presented in 3 MBI subscales: emotional exhaustion, 21.24 (standard deviation [SD]=9.70) out of 54; depersonalization, 5.88 (SD=4.20) out of 30; and personal accomplishment, 32.16 (SD=6.45) out of 48. Several factors had significant relationships with burnout in nursing faculty members, including gender, level of education, hours of work, number of classroom, students taught, full-time work, job pressure, perceived stress, subjective well-being, marital status, job satisfaction, work setting satisfaction, workplace empowerment, collegial support, management style, fulfillment of self-expectation, communication style, humor, and academic position. Conclusion Overall, the mean burnout scores in nursing faculty members were moderate. Therefore, health policymakers and managers can reduce the likelihood of burnout in nursing faculty members by using psychosocial interventions and support

The Relationship between Spiritual Well-Being and Resilience in Patients with Psoriasis

Psoriasis skin disease affects the patients’ health and quality of life to a great extent. Given the chronic nature of the disease, identifying the factors affecting adaptation to the disease can provide guidelines required for helping these patients deal with their problems. This study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the relationship between spiritual well-being and resilience in patients suffering from psoriasis. The present study is a descriptive-analytical work conducted in the largest city in the south of Iran in 2019. 150 patients diagnosed with psoriasis completed Ellison and Paloutzian’s Spiritual Well-Being Scale and Connor and Davidson’s Resiliency Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS v. 20, descriptive (frequency distribution, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson, regression, and t-test). The significance level was set at 0.05. The obtained mean scores were 54.84 ± 13.25 for resilience and 73.22 ± 11.13 for spiritual health. Spiritual health predicted 43% of the variance of resilience, and all resilience-related factors had a significant positive relationship with spiritual well-being-related factors (P>0.05). An analysis of the relationship between demographic variables on the one hand and resilience and spiritual well-being on the other indicated that an increase in the patients’ academic status, duration of the disease, and age correlated with an increase in their resilience and spiritual well-being. Also, male patients and married patients were found to possess higher levels of resilience and spiritual well-being. According to the findings of the present study, spiritual well-being correlates with resilience in patients with psoriasis. Considering the chronic nature of the disease, it is recommended that more attention be paid to promoting spiritual health in the care plans of these patients