Journal of Caring Sciences
Volume:4 Issue: 1, Mar 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect people who are in the process of quitting smoking. A randomly selected sample of 110 participants in a smoking cessation program (SCP) of a hospital in Thessaloniki Greece. Instruments of data collection were: i) the Demographic Data Lifestyle Questionnaire and ii) the Fragerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. ANOVA tests between the Demographic Data Lifestyle Questionnaire and the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire relating to the smokers’ determination to quit smoking applied. Work satisfaction was related to whether the participants had difficulty to smoke in places that prohibited smoking and to how many cigarettes they smoked per day. If a non-smoker partner was urging the participant to quit smoking, it affected the hours of the day when the respondents smoked more cigarettes. Pressure from a non-smoking spouse was a deterrent from smoking many cigarettes during morning hours. Those participants who consumed alcohol smoked cigarettes containing higher levels of nicotine. Smoking cessation is a difficult process which is influenced by many factors such as educational level, work satisfaction and the presence of a partner.

Family, especially mother, is faced with numerous challenges by experiencing a premature birth. Since knowing about mother’s efforts regarding prematurely born infant helps us in our comprehensive understanding of the impact of this incident on the family system and its performance. The present study was carried out to explore the mothers'' strategies regarding prematurely born infant. In a conventional qualitative content analysis, data was collected through purposive sampling by semi-structured deep interviews with 18 mothers who had prematurely born infant during 2012-2013 in the teaching hospitals of the north and northwest of Iran. All the interviews were recorded, typed, and finally analyzed. Data analysis resulted in the extraction of categories of «asking for help, elevating capacity and reducing personal responsibilities and commitments». These categories were revealed in mothers respectively by the different sub-categories of «religious appeal and relying on beliefs, seeking information from the treatment and caring team, participating in infant’s care, companionship and support of family and friends”, “focusing on positive thinking and imagination, patience and strength» and «ignoring some routine affairs and reducing role-related activities and duties». Considering the uniqueness of the mother''s role in responding to the needs of infants, healthcare system should consider mothers as real target in the intervention strategies in order to promote health and quality of life, so maybe this way, the burden of care and management of critical situations caused by a premature birth on the mother can be reduced.

Nurses'' practice of beyond-the-routine view leads to a better treatment process and higher professional status for nurses. However, most studies show that such care is ignored in nursing. The objective of the present study is to analyze nurses'' experiences with regard to beyond-the-routine care in order to know this type of better care and encourage nurses to practice it. This is a qualitative study based on conventional content analysis. Eighteen nurses participated in the study. Data collection was based on purposive, snowball and theoretical sampling. The data was collected through comprehensive interviews conducted in various wards at the university hospitals of Urmia and Tabriz, Iran. The collected data was analyzed according to qualitative content analysis and by using the software MAXQDA. The results showed that the categories of attempting to identify the patients'' problems and listening to one''s inner voice are effective factors in going beyond the routines in providing care which can in turn lead to more satisfactory care plans. Effective communicative skills, sufficient nursing knowledge, strong religious and professional principles will encourage nurses to provide beyond-the-routine care. Accordingly, it is necessary to emphasize these factors during education in order for nurses to practice this type of caring.

Evidence suggests a high prevalence of calcium and vitamin D deficiencies exists in both pregnant women and babies. Adequate intake of micronutrients has great importance especially during pregnancy and lactation period. Thus, the present study aimed at assessing the effect of vitamin D and calcium-vitamin D on pregnancy and birth outcomes (including duration of pregnancy, type of delivery and infant anthropometric indicators).

A randomized, controlled, clinical, triple-blind trial conducted on 126 pregnant women referring to Tabriz health centers in 2013-14. Subjects were allocated into three groups using block randomization. Interventional groups received vitamin D, calcium-vitamin D and placebo pills daily for 60 days. ANCOVA and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis.

By controlling BMI before and during pregnancy, there were no significant differences between the group in average neonatal weight, height and head circumference, duration of pregnancy, type of delivery and gestational age at the time of delivery.

The results show that calcium-vitamin D and vitamin D have no effect on duration of pregnancy, type of delivery and infant anthropometric indicators.

Based on recommendations from World Health Organization, hand hygiene is the most important way to control the hospital infections. Due to the critical role of nurses in patient care, they should have essential and updated information regarding hand hygiene. So this study aims at determining the knowledge of hand hygiene and its individual and organizational predictors among nurses in neonatal units. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in neonatal units in the hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The participants surveyed in this study were 150 nurses who were invited by census sampling method. A researcher prepared questionnaire that investigated the knowledge of participants about hand hygiene and was used after approving its validity and reliability. The quantitative analysis of this study used Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS version 13 by descriptive statistics and pearson correlation test, independent samples t-test, One-way ANOVA. For multivariable explanation of nurses’ knowledge based on independent variables multiple linear regressions was used. Most of participants have an acceptable level of knowledge regarding hand hygiene. The highest score was for infection control domain and the lowest score was for definition of hand hygiene domain. Multivariable analysis showed that work experience and history of previous training were the most important predictors of participants’ knowledge about hand hygiene. It is recommended that infection control committees should revise their educational methods and give more emphasis on update guidelines regarding hand hygiene. Also, more experienced nurses should be employed in neonatal units.

Caring behaviors of clinical teachers is one of the most important and influential factors in the process of clinical instruction, so far has not been paid enough attention. In other words, there has been so little research done in this area, so that the researchers couldn''t present the clear image of caring dimensions. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine nursing students’ perception of instructors’ caring behavior. This descriptive study was performed on 240 nursing students in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The participants were selected through stratified random sampling method. The data were collected using Wade’s inventory for nursing students’ perception of instructor caring (NSPIC). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS13 software. The level of nursing instructors'' caring behavior during teaching students was medium to high with the mean and standard deviation of 4.65 (0.93), as the highest level belonged to the respectful sharing, and then respectively, instill confidence through caring, appreciation of life meanings, supportive learning climate, and control versus flexibility. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that there is a gap in some dimension in order to achieve optimum about instructors'' caring behaviors. Examining and identifying the influential factors in this regard, and applying effective strategies by relevant authorities will be effective in qualitative promotion of clinical teaching.

Psychological disorders are associated with maternal and neonatal morbidities. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Lavender cream with or without foot-bath on depression, anxiety and stress of pregnant women.

In this trial, 141 women at 25 to 28 weeks gestation were randomly assigned into three groups (47 at each group); receiving Lavender cream with foot-bath, only Lavender cream, or placebo, 2g every night for two months. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed at baseline, and 4th and 8th weeks after intervention, using DASS-21. General linear model was used to compare the groups.

There were three losses to follow-up at the 4th and one more at the 8th week. Scores of all three outcomes in both Lavender and foot-bath and only Lavender groups were significantly lower than those in the placebo group at the 8th week; adjusted difference of depression score -3.3, 95% confidence interval -4.6 to -1.9;-2.4, -3.7 to -1.0, respectively, anxiety score -1.4, -2.6 to -0.2; -1.7,-2.9 to -0.5 and stress score -3.1, -4.7 to -1.5; -2.7, -4.3 to -1.1. At the 4th week, only score of anxiety in the lavender group (-2.3, -3.9 to -0.8) and stress in the both groups (-2.3, -4.1 to -0.5; -1.9, -3.7 to -0.1) were significantly less than those in the placebo group. There were not statistically significant differences between the two experimental groups in terms of the outcomes.

Lavender cream with foot-bath or alone can be used for pregnant women for reducing their stress, anxiety and depression.

Parental attitude is an important factor in prediction of child abuse. Awareness of people''s attitudes is important in the prediction of their behavior and controlling it. This study was conducted to determine the mothers'' attitudes toward child abuse. In this cross-sectional study, 261 mothers referred to the 13 health centers of Tabriz with children aged 2-12, they were selected by a multistage method and their attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire within 2 months. Higher score were representing more negative attitudes. The results showed that the mean score of total attitude toward child abuse was significantly higher than the middle and was significantly associated with mothers'' educational level, employment status, attendance status, number of children they have, and economic status. The results showed that although the mothers'' attitudes toward child abuse were negative, because of the relationship between mothers'' attitudes with their demographic characteristics, it is necessary to enhance mothers'' quality of life, and their social and spiritual support to improve their attitudes and prevent the child abuse.

Patients with chronic renal disease (CRD) deal with many potential problems with hemodialysis for all their life. Regarding the importance of preventing dialysis adverse effects, which are in close connection with lack of knowledge and report on how to train the patients? This study aims at comparing the impact of two methods of face to face training and training pamphlet on complying and informing of hemodialysis treatments. This clinical trial study was conducted on 58 hemodialysis patients who visited Shahid Rahnemun Teaching hospital, Yazd, Iran, and had required conditions of the research. Data were collected through a questionnaire including personal-social information, several questions to assess the level of compliance and to inform the treatment method. The quantitative analysis of this study used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS version 13 and descriptive (frequency, mean, standard deviation) and inferential (Chi-square, paired t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA) statistics were employed. The mean scores for informing both groups (face to face and training pamphlet) were significantly increased. The mean score for adherence to treatments was also significant. In this research, face to face training was found to be more effective than training pamphlet. It seemed to have more strong effect on increasing the level of information and adherence to treatment. To train these people, face to face training should be, thus, preferred.