Attitude toward Spirituality, Spiritual Care, and its Relationship with Mental Health among Intensive Care Nurses

Background and Objectives: Spirituality and spiritual care, as essential components of holistic nursing care, are widely recognized, while spiritual aspect is still overlooked. Spirituality has been associated with the caregiver’s sense of well-being and ability to cope. The aim of this study was to determine attitude of intensive care nurses toward spirituality and spiritual care and its relationship with mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 55 nurses working in the Intensive Care Units of educational hospitals in Qom, 2014. Tools of study include measures of Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, and ANOVA in the statistical software SPSS, ver. 16. Results: There were 10.2% male and 89.8 % female nurses; age ranged from 21 to 46 years, with a mean age of 29 (SD=2.67). Mean and standard deviation attitude score of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing were 55.95 and 7.66, respectively. Among the demographic variables of age (r=0.491), and work experience (r=.496) were significant correlation with the perception of spirituality and spiritual care. Also, there were significant and direct correlations between spirituality and spiritual care and general health (r=0.348). Conclusion: Our finding indicated that attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care in the intensive care nurses were moderate. According to the direct relationship between attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care and mental health, there should be a significant focus on strengthening spirituality in nursing care in intensive care, education, and acculturation in the area of religious and spiritual activities among nursing students. &nbsp

The Assessment of Illness Perception and Adherence to Therapeutic Regimens among Patients with Hypertension

Background and Objectives: Illness perception is an important predictor for adherence to therapeutic regimens. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between illness perception and adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two teaching hospitals in Qom, Iran. A convenience sample of 140 patients was performed in this study in 2016. Data was collected using a questionnaire which included three parts: socio-demographic and clinical variables, brief illness perception questionnaire, and Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. Descriptive and analytical analyses and linear regression analysis were performed for statistical assessment in SPSS-16. Results: The mean age of the patients was evaluated 60.4 (SD = 11.21) years and 57% of them were female; 35% of patients showed higher than mean scores in adherence to therapeutic regimens. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that personal control and disease understanding were associated with more adherence to therapeutic regimens with β = 0.25 and 0.22, respectively. Conclusions: According to the findings, it is to strengthen patients’ illness perceptions, especially personal control and disease understanding, as an important strategy in educational interventions in order to increase adherence to treatment

The Relationship between Motivation and Academic burnout in Nursing and Paramedical Students of Qom University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background and Objectives: Academic burnout leads to poor performance in students. On the other hand, motivation has direct relationship with academic performance of students. In this study, the relationship between motivation and academic burnout among nursing and paramedical students was investigated. Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study on nursing and paramedical students of Qom city in the second semester of 2014-2015. A total of 264 students were randomly selected from nursing and paramedical students. Data collection tools were demographic information form, academic burnout questionnaire, and academic motivation scale. Data were analyzed using regression and Pearson&rsquo;s correlation coefficient. The significance level was considered p<0.05. Results: The mean and standard deviation of academic burnout scores of the students was 28.52&plusmn;15.84. All academic motivation subscales had significant relationship with academic burnout. There were significant relationships between a motivation (OR=1.17, CI=1.08-1.26) and intrinsic motivation (OR=0.92, CI=0.88-0.95) with academic burnout. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that a significant percentage of the students are experiencing academic burnout, and student with intrinsic motivation have lower academic burnout. Therefore, improvement of this personal trait in the students can reduce their academic burnout

Evaluating Spiritual Experiences and Some Psychological Components in Medical Students

Background: Spiritual experiences seem to be an important component in Religious and spiritual life of some one. Aim of the present study was to determinate relation between daily spiritual experiences, and psychological variables in students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, 138 students of the Qom University of Medical Sciences were selected via random sampling methods. These students completed the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Data were analyzed in SPSS16 software environment utilizing descriptive statistics and the Independent t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: Mean and standard deviations of daily spiritual experiences scores was 28.27(4.90). &nbsp;The daily spiritual experiences was associated with mental health (r = -0.22, P-value = 0.01) depression(r = -0.25, P-value = 0.005), and stress (r = -0.23, P-value = 0.01). Conclusion: The findings indicated that spiritual experiences were respectively the most important religious - spiritual components which may affect psychological health in students

Needs of Family with Hospitalized Infant in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Comparison between Mothers’ and Nurses’ Viewpoint

Background and Objectives: Medical conditions required intensive care usually occur suddenly. Hospitalization of a family member in these wards is a stressful event for all members of family and causes new immediate needs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs of family members with a child hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit from the perspective of mothers and nurses working in these wards.   Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted in 2017. A total of 24 NICU nurses of Hazrate Masoume hospital, were studied using census method and 38 mothers that had a hospitalized child were studied by random method. In this study, 42-item version of Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) was used to assess the family needs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests and independent t-test.   Results: From the mothers’ point of view (97.6 percent) most of the needs on the CCFNI were rated as very important (mean > 3) and from the nurses' viewpoint, 59.5% of the family's needs were very important. The mean score of the importance degrees of importance of total needs among NICU nurses, were lower than mothers, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).   Conclusion: The findings of this research revealed that family members, specially mothers have specific identifiable needs. The gap between mothers’ and nurses’ viewpoints on family needs is significant and this finding could provide proper insight in nurses working in NICUs to meet the family need

An Investigation of the Relationship between Spiritual-Religious Well-Being and Mental Health in Students

Background and Objectives: Religious and spiritual components play an important role in well-being and health of people, and their evaluation seems to be necessary. The present study was carried out to determine the correlation between different domains of religious-spiritual well-being and mental health in the students of Qom University of Medical Sciences as well as the predictive power of different domains of religion and spirituality for students&rsquo; health level. Methods: The present study was carried out as a descriptive-correlational study on 158 students of Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Samples were selected using random sampling method. The research data were collected by Multidimensional Inventory for religious-spiritual well-being and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. Results: The means of religious-spiritual well-being and mental health variables in the students were 24.63&plusmn;2.07 and 12.62&plusmn;6.39. There was a significant correlation between religious-spiritual well-being and mental health (p<0.05). Among the variables entered in the regression model, hope for the future, religiosity, and age had significant effect on mental health. Conclusion: The findings indicated that hope for the future and religiosity were, respectively, the most important religious-spiritual components, helping to improve mental health in students

The Amount of Research Interest in the Students of Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2016 (Iran)

Background and Objectives: Research is one of the important factors in the development of communities and interest in research activities is effective in the tendency to carry out activities in this field. The current study aimed to determine the amount of research interest in the students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. &nbsp; Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 343 students were selected randomly. Data collection tool was Bishop & Bieschke research interest questionnaire. Data were analyzed using independent t- and Pearson correlation coefficient tests. The significance level was considered 0.05. &nbsp; Results: The mean total score of research interest was obtained 51.73&plusmn;13.49. The highest level of students&rsquo; interest was in designing a research, implementing a research project and cooperation in its implementation, on the other hand, the amount of interest in the field of data statistical analysis, providing a complete report of data analysis, and participating in statistical analysis training courses was at a low level. &nbsp; Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that generally the amount of research interest among the students was moderate. Therefore, Planning and providing practical strategies to strengthen students&rsquo; weaknesses, seems to be necessary. &nbsp; &nbsp

Correlation among academic stress, academic burnout, and academic performance in nursing and paramedic students of Qom University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background and Objectives: Learning is a stressful experience of human life; reduced adaption to stressors causes academic burnout which is a reason for academic failure among students. This study investigated the correlation among academic stress, academic burnout, and academic performance in nursing and paramedic students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, 264 nursing and paramedic students were randomly selected. Demographic characteristics checklist, academic burnout questionnaire, and academic stress scale were used to gather data, and grade point average was considered to be the indicator of academic performance. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The level of significance was considered to be p<0.05. Results: The mean score for students' academic burnout was 28.52&plusmn;15.84. Univariate regression analysis showed that the students' employment, years of education, academic performance, and all academic stress subscales had a significant correlation with academic burnout. According to multivariate regression analysis, having a field of study-related occupation was a protective factor and academic stress a risk factor for academic burnout. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that a large proportion of students experienced academic burnout, and students with higher levels of stress experienced more severe academic burnout and had poorer performance. Therefore, training ways to cope with stress can cause reduction in academic burnout and improvement of performance

The Tendency to Leave Nursing Profession and Some Related Factors at the Therapeutic and Educational Centers of Qom City, (Iran)

Background and Objectives: The tendency to leave nursing profession can exacerbate the shortage of nursing workforce and ultimately will have negative effects on the quality of health care provision. The aim of this study was to determine the tendency to leave nursing profession at the therapeutic and educational centers of Qom city.   Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on nurses working in therapeutic and educational centers affiliated to Qom University of Medical Sciences. After preparation of the list of nurses, 207 nurses were selected by simple random sampling method from 6 therapeutic and educational centers. First, the participants completed the demographic information questionnaire, then, the tendency to leave nursing profession was assessed as one question. Descriptive statistical indexes and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis.   Results: The tendency to leave nursing profession among the participants was 54.6%. The rate of tendency to leave nursing profession among male nurses was 2.5 times higher than that of females (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.03-6.31). Moreover, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that working in the fix morning shift in internal-surgical ward, having less than 10 years of work experience, and having overtime significantly increases the tendency to leave nursing profession.   Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, tendency to leave nursing profession in therapeutic and educational centers of Qom city is significant; therefore, given the variables affecting the increase of this phenomenon among nurses, a comprehensive program should be designed to improve this variable and its consequences