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Background Head trauma can cause decreased consciousness level and reduced ability to respond to the environment, leading to impaired cognitive, perceptual and sensory functions in people. One of the techniques that can help improve the brain function is warm bath. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the effect of warm foot bath on the level of consciousness in patients with head trauma. Methods This is a clinical trial using control group conducted on 50 patients with head trauma having Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 5-12 admitted to the intensive care unit of Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Qazvin, Iran from June to December 2017. They were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and control. Intervention included a warm foot bath for 7 days, once a day for 15 minutes, and their GCS score was recorded before, one hour and three hours after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, chi-square, t-test, and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). Findings The mean consciousness level of subjects in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group after warm foot bath (P

Background Coping strategies play a key role in modulating the physical and psychological burden on caregivers of stroke patients. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between the severity of burden of care and coping strategies amongst a sample of Iranian caregivers of older stroke patients. It also aimed to examine the differences of coping strategies used by male and female caregivers. Methods A total of 110 caregivers of older patients who previously had a stroke participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. The Zarit Burden Interview and Lazarus coping strategies questionnaires were used for data collection. Questionnaires were completed by the caregivers, who were selected using convenience sampling. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson's correlations and independent t-tests. Results The mean age of participants was 32.09 ± 8.70 years. The majority of the caregivers sampled reported mild to moderate (n = 74, 67.3%) burden. The most commonly used coping strategies reported were positive reappraisal and seeking social support. Results of the independent t-test showed that male caregivers used the positive reappraisal strategy (t(110) = 2.76; p = 0.007) and accepting responsibility (t(110) = 2.26; p = 0.026) significantly more than female caregivers. Pearson’s correlations showed a significant positive correlation between caregiver burden and emotional-focused strategies, including escaping (r = 0.245, p = 0.010) and distancing (r = 0.204, p = 0.032). Conclusions Caregivers with higher burden of care used more negative coping strategies, such as escape-avoidance and distancing. In order to encourage caregivers to utilize effective coping skills, appropriate programs should be designed and implemented to support caregivers. Use of effective coping skills to reduce the level of personal burden can improve caregiver physical health and psychological well-being.

Introduction: Due to the chronic and progressive nature of chronic renal failure, the hemodialysis patients’ need for caregivers to carry out daily care increases; as a result of this care, caregivers are also exposed to a wide range of psychological and physical problems. One of the psychological symptoms experienced by caregivers is death anxiety. This study was conducted to determine the predictors of death anxiety in caregivers of hemodialysis patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study (May to Jun 2018), 176 caregivers of hemodialysis patients were selected using convenience sampling method from hemodialysis centers of Qazvin. A demographic characteristics questionnaire and Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS) were used to collect data. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics including multiple linear regression in SPSS 23. Results: The mean score of caregivers’ death anxiety was 48.37±9.18. Multiple regression results showed that gender (b=4.163, P

BACKGROUND: As the second leading cause of death, cancer is among the most stressful life events. It affects not only the afflicted patients, but also their families. Hospitalization of children with cancer faces their parents with many challenges and problems. This study was made to explore the hospitalization-related experiences among the parents of children with cancer. METHODS: This qualitative phenomenological study was made in 2015–2016 in the hematology and oncology care unit of a teaching hospital located in Qazvin, Iran. Sampling was done purposefully and was ended once data saturation was achieved. Consequently, fifteen parents of children with cancer were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were held for data collection. The data were analyzed through the seven-step hermeneutic data analysis process proposed by Diekelmann and Ironside (1998). RESULTS: Two main categories were extracted from the data which included “the shadow of government administration” and “the role of support systems”. The former refers mainly to accommodations in hospital settings and the process of clinical care delivery, while the latter points to the parents’ psychological experiences of presence in hospital settings. These themes came under the overarching main theme of “lump in throat: the suffering of the parents of children with cancer”. CONCLUSION: Study findings reveal that parents’ experiences of hospitalization greatly depend on their perceptions of the environmental conditions of hospital settings. Moreover, the findings showed that negative hospitalization-related experiences could lead to many adverse consequences for patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Background and aims: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) success rate is an important issue for all healthcare facilities. In the present study, success rate and related factors were assessed in a hospital in Iran. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2017. By using the convenience sampling, 156 patients were selected. Variables based on the In-Hospital Utstein-Style were used, which included 3 categories: patients, cardiac arrest and follow-up. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22. Results: Of 156 participants, 92 were male and the average age was 61.4±5.5 years. Most cardiac arrest occurred in night shift (43.6%). The most common cause of cardiac arrest was cancer (33%). Of 156 patients, 102 died. Results showed a significant correlation between success rate, a patient’s sex, rhythm type and medication administered during resuscitation (P

Background Coping strategies play a key role in modulating the caregiving burden. The present study was aimed to determine the severity of the burden of care and its relationship with coping strategies among caregivers of post-stroke elderly patients in Zanjan City, Iran. Methods A total of 110 caregivers of elderly patients who had previously had a stroke participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. A demographic checklist, Zarit Burden Interview, and Lazarus and Folkman questionnaires were used for data collection. Questionnaires were completed by the caregivers, who were selected using convenience sampling. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson's correlations and independent t-tests. Results The mean age of 110 caregivers participated in the study was 32.09 ± 8.70 years. The most commonly used coping strategies were reappraisal and seeking social support. Results of the independent t-test showed that male caregivers used the reappraisal strategy (t(110) = 2.76; p = 0.007) and responsibility (t(110) = 2.26; p = 0.026) significantly more than female caregivers. Pearson’s correlation showed a significant positive correlation between caregiver burden and emotional-focused strategies including escaping (r = 0.245, P = 0.010) and distancing (r = 0.204, P = 0.032). Conclusions Based on the results, caregivers with higher burden care used more negative coping strategies, such as escape and distancing. In order to encourage caregivers to utilize effective coping skills, appropriate programs should be designed and implemented to support caregivers. Use of effective coping skills to reduce the level of personal burden can improve caregiver physical health and psychological well-being.

Telenursing is a suitable tool for increasing health-related awareness of the caregivers for a better home care. But its efficacy may be affected by several factors. Considering the important complications of head trauma injury and high rate of readmission, we aimed to assess the effect of telenursing on care provided by the family members of patients with head trauma.This randomized controlled trial investigated 72 patients with head trauma, who were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups (36 patients in each group). The caregivers in both groups were provided with 1-hr face-to-face training session on patients' home care and educational booklets. The patients in the intervention group were followed up every week through phone calls by the telenurse for 12 weeks, who recorded the patient's status, as well. Caregivers in the intervention group could call the telenurse any time they desired. The health status of the control group was followed once by a phone call after 12 weeks. Data on patients' readmission and pressure ulcer (based on Norton's scale) rate and time were compared between the groups and analyzed using SPSS software, version 19. Thirty-three patients with a mean ± SD age of 31.12 ± 10.83 years were studied in the control group and 35 patients with a mean ± SD age of 34.11 ± 12.34 years in the intervention group (p = .098). None of the patients in the intervention group were readmitted, whereas 2 patients in the control group were readmitted s(p = .139). Risk of pressure ulcer did not differ between the groups (p = .583). Telenursing had no significant effect in readmission and decubitus prevention for patients with head trauma. Considering the chronic nature of the illness, a longer follow-up period is deemed necessary for an accurate conclusion.

Introduction: Health human resources have a significant role in delivering healthcare services to population. Health planners and policy makers should guarantee that adequate number of workforce wi...

Context Critically ill patients are at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development. Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using eye masks and earplugs on the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development in patients admitted to cardiac surgery intensive care units. Settings and design This is a clinical trial that conducted in intensive care units in Iran. Materials and methods Sample of the present clinical trial consisted of 68 patients undergoing open-heart cardiac surgery that were randomly assigned to two groups. Patients in the control group received the usual care, and patients in the intervention group used eye masks and earplugs during sleep. The risk of post-traumatic stress disorder development before surgery and 2 months after discharge from the intensive care unit was assessed using the impact of event scale-revised. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis: Data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24 software. Results Patients in the two groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics. The mean of the total scores of patients in the control and intervention group before surgery was 10.41 ± 5.25 and 10.71 ± 5.10, respectively (p = 0.82). The mean of the total scores of patients in the control and intervention group 2 months after discharge was 29.50 ± 5.90 and 11.72 ± 6.48, respectively (p

Improvement in the level of consciousness (LOC) is considered as an indicator of recovery among patients with head trauma (HT). musical stimulation is a simple noninvasive intervention with potential positive effects on LOC. This study evaluated the effects of musical stimulation on LOC among patients with HT hospitalized in intensive care unit.This clinical trial was conducted in 2018-2019. Fifty-four patients with HT were purposively and consecutively recruited from two trauma intensive care units in Qazvin, Iran, and randomly allocated to a control (n = 27) and an intervention (n = 27) group. Participants in the intervention group received fifteen-minute musical stimulation once daily for seven consecutive days using an MP3 player and a headphone for their counterparts, the headphones were silent for 15 min without receiving any musical stimulation once daily for seven consecutive days. A demographic questionnaire, the Glasgow Coma Scale, and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale were used for data collection. LOC was daily assessed before and after each musical stimulation session. The SPSS program (v. 23.0) was used for data analysis at a significance level of less than 0.05.There were significant between-group differences respecting the posttest mean score of LOC in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh days of the study intervention (P 0.05)., the posttest mean score of LOC in the intervention group significantly increased in the intervention group (P 0.0001), while it did not significantly change in the control group (P 0.05).musical stimulation is effective in significantly improving LOC among hospitalized patients with HT. Therefore, it can be used as a non-expensive noninvasive intervention to improve treatment outcomes among these patients.

We aimed to assess the effect of telenursing on referral rates of patients with head trauma and their family's satisfaction after discharge. Seventy-two patients with head trauma were randomly allocated to equal intervention and control groups. The caregivers in both groups were provided with 1-hr face-to-face training on patients' home care and educational booklets, 2 days before discharge. The cell phone numbers of the telenurse was given to the caregivers of the intervention group. Then, the patients in the intervention group were followed up every week through phone calls by the telenurse for 12 weeks and the patient status checklists were completed. Caregivers in the intervention group could call the telenurse any time they desired. The health status of the control group was followed once by a phone call after 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 19. Ultimately, 33 patients with a mean ± SD age of 31.12 ± 10.83 years were studied in the control group and 35 patients with a mean ± SD age of 34.11 ± 12.34 years were studied in the intervention group (p = .098). The 2 groups differed significantly with respect to referral rates; 39.4% of the participants in the control group referred to physicians whereas only 25.7% of the patients in the intervention group needed to refer to physicians (p = .017). Also, the mean times of referring to a physician differed significantly in both groups. In general, 53.8% of the caregivers were satisfied with the telenursing program. Follow-up programs using telephone calls were effective and would lead to higher caregiver satisfaction.

Background: Bedsores are injuries to skin and underlying tissues caused by prolonged pressure. Although, some methods like frequently changing position and using particular tools are used for preventing and caring of pressure ulcers, their prevention would still be as a vital urgency. Olive oil is an herbal product with potential preventive effects to prevent bedsores because of its numerous medical properties. The major aim of this study was to determine whether topical olive oil can prevent the risk of developing bedsores in I.C.U. patients. Methods: This clinical trial was accomplished in 2014 with 60 patients who were selected by simple random sampling method into intervention and control groups. During three weeks, the control group had received routine skin care, while the intervention group had received topical Olive oil in addition to the routine care. Statistical analysis, including Chi-square, T-test and Fisher’s tests, were performed with SPSS version 20 software. Results: The intervention group had contained 19 male and 11 female, with an average age of 60.46 ± 18.06 and the control group had contained 20 male, 10 female, with an average age of 50.96 ± 21.38. Five patients (16%) who received routine care plus topical olive oil had developed bedsore after an average of 18.73 ± 5.36 days and twelve patients (40%) who received routine care only had developed bedsore after an average of 15.46 ± 7.40 days. The risks of developing bedsores between two groups were statistically significant (P=0.03). Conclusions: Our study has revealed potential effects of topical olive oil to prevent bedsores in I.C.U. patients.

Objectives Concerning the high prevalence of insomnia disorder in the elderly population and its effect on their quality of life, this study aimed to examine the effect of Holy Quran recitation on the quality of sleep of older adults in nursing homes. Methods & Materials The participants of this clinical trial study were 65 older people from a nursing home in Malayer City, Iran. They were randomized to either the experimental (n=33) or the control (n=32) group. The participants in the experimental group listened to Holy Quran recitation for 20 minutes before sleep every night for 4 weeks. The data were collected using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and were analyzed using parametric (dependent and independent samples t-test) and non-parametric (Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney) tests and covariance analysis. Results The Mean±SD ages of the older people were 73.97±9.91 years in the experimental group and 64.53±12.75 years in the control group. The results of covariance showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups after listening to the Holy Quran recitation (P

Many vital processes of wound healing are oxygen-dependent, and therefore oxygen-based therapeutic strategies for damaged tissues should be based on an understanding of the area with anoxia, hypoxia, and normoxia. The authors discuss hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) for wound healing and its advantages, topical oxygen and topical hyperbaric oxygen (THBO), and transdermal continuous oxygen therapy (TCOT). The use of oxygen in the treatment of different chronic ulcers such as diabetic foot ulcers is very effective. Its application for patients with pressure ulcers requires further studies, although all the few studies on the effect of oxygen in the treatment of pressure ulcers indicated that this method will accelerate the healing process of pressure ulcers.

Background: Pressures in nursing can affect family life and marital problems, disrupt common social problems, increase work-family conflicts and endanger people’s general health. Aim: To determine marital satisfaction and its relationship with job stress and general health of nurses. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done in 2015 in medical educational centers of Qazvin by using an ENRICH marital satisfaction scale and General Health and Job Stress questionnaires completed by 123 nurses. Analysis was done by SPSS version 19 using descriptive and analytical statistics (Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, regression line, multiple regression analysis). Results: The findings showed that 64.4% of nurses had marital satisfaction. There was significant relationship between age (p=0.03), job experience (p=0.01), age of spouse (p=0.01) and marital satisfaction. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between marital satisfaction and general health (p

Background There are some mediators that affect physical activity such as knowledge and attitude. Some barriers such as lack of time, bad environments may impede doing physical activities. It sounds that lack of time is a common barrier to do physical activity in nursing and midwifery students. Since they encounter some factors that affect their health, this knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) study may be helpful to maintain and improve their health. Objectives The current study aimed to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice related to physical activity in nursing and midwifery students. Patients and Methods By simple randomized sampling method, 200 subjects were enrolled in the study. Based on the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), a standard checklist was used to gather the related data. Then, the data were analyzed by SPSS software in 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Mean and standard deviation of subjects’ attitude was 5.9 ± 3.1 (minimum: -3, maximum: 14, median: 6). There was no significant difference in the means of knowledge and attitude between genders, and also between nursing and midwifery students. There was significant difference only regarding walking (P = 0.017), stretching (P = 0.050) and body building (P = 0.040) between the students in 95% CI. Conclusions Based on the current study finding, planning is needed to increase KAP of the students regarding physical activity. Some types of physical activity are more attractive than others for males and females separately, yet it is important to encourage the nursing and midwifery students to examine a variety of physical activities and help them find suitable activities.

Background: Although healthcare quality has considerably improved in many countries, pressure ulcer is still a major health challenge worldwide. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of TWOT on the healing of pressure ulcers. Patients and Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial, and the convenient sample including 100 patients hospitalized in two university-affiliated medical-surgical intensive care units and one neurology unit located in Qazvin, Iran were studied. Patients with stage II-IV pressure ulcer on the sacral or ischial areas were randomly assigned to either the control or the experimental groups. The experimental group received a 12-day transdermal wound oxygen therapy. Wound status was assessed seven times before the intervention, as well as two, four, six, eight, ten, and twelve days after the intervention. Results: After 12 days of wound oxygen therapy, the number of patients with complete wound healing in the experimental group was significantly greater than that of the control group. Moreover, the total mean of wound area in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. Conclusions: Transdermal wound oxygen therapy can effectively promote wound healing in patients with pressure ulcers.

Background: Pain and stress of hemodialysis are experienced by more than 50% of patients who are suffering from renal disease; hence decreasing a part of these adverse effects can be effective on individual’s long term coping with hemodialysis. The current study was done to determine the effect of warm footbath with vibration on arteriovenous fistula puncture-related pain in hemodialysis patients.Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 31 hemodialysis patients in 2014. The patients were selected by simple random sampling method and placed in one group. First, the pain intensity of all patients was measured in the six frequent hemodialysis sessions without any intervention (control method). After two weeks, the intervention of warm footbath with vibration was done on all patients and the pain intensity was measured for six frequent hemodialysis sessions (intervention method). The patients were received 40±2 °C footbath with vibration by foot massage spa machine for ten minutes; then, fistula needles were placed and the pain intensity was assessed by using a numerical rating scale. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and T test.Results: The study group had contained 20 males (64.5%), 11 females (35.5%), with an average age of 44.16±14.85 and a range of 18 to 65 years old, which shows that the pain intensity of the warm footbath with vibration method was lower than the control method (P< 0.05).Conclusions: Warm footbath with vibration can be used as an effective palliative method to reduce pain of hemodialysis patients.

Aim: One of the most important factors contributing to staff shortage is nurses’ ineffective coping with transitions. Changes in nurses’ official positions are usually associated with varying degrees of transition. Identification of affecting factors on nurses’ coping in responding to transition can promote quality of nursing activity and prevent nurses’ shortage. So the aim of this study was to explore factors affecting nurses’ coping with transitions. Methods: The participant of this exploratory qualitative study consisted of sixteen nurses that were work in medical wards of four hospitals in Qazvin, Iran. Data collected by semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis approach. Results: The main theme of the study was ‘inadequate preparation for transition’. This theme consisted of six categories including “staff training and development”, “professional relationships”, “perceived level of support”, “professional accountability and commitment”, “welfare services”, and “nursing staff shortage”. Conclusion: Nursing managers and policy makers need to pay special attention to the affecting factors on nurses’ coping with transition and develop effective strategies for facilitating it.