فصلنامه پرستاری دیابت
سال سوم شماره 1 (بهار 1394)

Type 2 diabetes is a common disease، which leads to several complications. Recently، promotion of mental health and happiness in type 2 diabetic patients has captured the attention of many therapists. Schema therapy is a popular method used for the promotion of mental health and happiness in different patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of schema therapy on the enhancement of happiness and mental health in patients with type 2 diabetes referring to the health care center of Varamin city، Iran. This quasi-experimental study was performed with a pretest-posttest design. Study population consisted of all the patients with type 2 diabetes referring to the health care center of Varamin city، Iran in 2014. In total، 40 patients were selected using simple random sampling and divided into two groups of experimental and control (20 subjects in each). Subjects of the experimental group received 10 sessions of schema therapy education (each session 70 minutes)، while the control subjects remained in the waiting list. Both study groups completed the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ) and Mental Health Questionnaire (MHQ) as the pretest and post-test، respectively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V. 19 and multivariate analysis of covariance (MONCOVA). In this study، a significant difference was observed between the two study groups، and schema therapy was found to increase the level of happiness and mental health significantly (P<0. 05). According to the results of this study، schema therapy could be effective in the promotion of happiness and mental health among patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore، it is recommended that therapists consider this method in the treatment procedure of diabetic patients.

Gestational diabetes is the most common complication during pregnancy, which could cause acute and chronic disorders in the mother and infant. In the Health System Reform Plan in Iran, health coordinators are responsible for the provision of public health education. Therefore, these coordinators should attain adequate knowledge and awareness of different health aspects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of health education on the knowledge and attitude of health coordinators towards gestational diabetes in Minoodasht city, Iran. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on all the health coordinators engaged in medical centers of Minoodasht city (N=61) willing to participate in the study. Subjects were selected by census sampling and randomly divided into two groups of experimental (N=26) and control (N=35). Data collection was performed using questionnaires, and validity and reliability of the questionnaire was determined using content validity and Cronbach's alpha (α=0.88), respectively. In the experimental group, educational films were used, while the control group received no training. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V.18., using Wilcoxon test, T-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and P<0.05 was considered as significant. In this study, comparison of the mean scores of knowledge and attitude before and after the intervention was indicative of a significant increase in these parameters among the subjects of the experimental group (P<0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in the control group (P>0.05). In addition, comparison of the mean scores of knowledge and attitude between the experimental and control groups was indicative of a more significant increase in these two variables among the subjects of the experimental group (P<0.05). According to the results of this study, health education could effectively increase the level of knowledge and improve the attitude of health coordinators toward gestational diabetes. Considering the key role of health coordinators in raising the awareness of pregnant women about gestational diabetes, it is recommended that educational programs in this regard be carried out on a regular basis.

Quality of life is normally at a low level among diabetic patients, and several studies have confirmed the positive effects of the empowerment program on this parameter among these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the empowerment program on quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes admitted at Kashan Diabetes Center in 2014. This clinical trial was conducted on 100 patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into two groups of control and intervention using a randomized block design. Intervention was performed through educational sessions held twice a week for 4 weeks. In addition, Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire was completed by the subjects of both groups before and two months after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS V.16 and statistical tests, including Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, Fisher’s exact and T-test. In this study, no statistically significant difference was observed between the study groups in demographic variables (P<0.05). However, results of paired t-test indicated a statistically significant difference in the mean score of quality of life before and after the intervention in each group (P≤0.0001). Moreover, independent t-test revealed a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of quality of life between the two groups after the intervention (P≤0.003). According to the results of this study, the empowerment program had a significantly positive effect on the quality of life among diabetic patients. Therefore, it is recommended that this program be considered in the treatment procedure of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Provision of care for elderly patients with diabetes could be difficult due to the complications of this disease, such as underlying medical conditions or general disability. Appropriate care for elderly diabetic patients could significantly affect their physical and mental health. Psychological and social support for these patients could help them manage and control stressful situations and concerns of daily life. This study aimed to determine the relationship between social support and quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes. This descriptive correlational study was conducted on all the elderly residents of the nursing homes in Khorramshahr and Ahwaz cities (73 female patients), Iran. All the subjects met the inclusion criteria and were selected by census sampling. Data collection was performed using demographic questionnaires, SF-36 questionnaire and Diabetes Social Support Questionnaire Family-Version (DSSQ- Family). Data analysis was performed using SPSS V.13. According to linear regression results, there was a significant correlation between social support and different aspects associated with quality of life, including general health (P=0.008) and psychological health (P<0.001). However, no significant correlation was observed between social support and physical or social health of the patients (P=0.49). According to the results of this study, quality of life was significantly lower among the elderly residents of nursing homes compared to other individuals. Therefore, it is recommended that nursing homes attempt to enhance this parameter among the elderly by upgrading their facilities, establishing a friendly environment and encouraging family members to pay regular visits to the residents.

Psychiatric disorders are common among different groups of patients and could have adverse effects on their social functioning. Specific populations, such as diabetic patients, are known to be more vulnerable to psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms among diabetic patients. In this study, 100 diabetic patients were selected using convenience sampling. For comparison, a population consisting of 100 non-diabetic patients was selected, and samples were matched in terms of age, education status and socio-economic status. The two groups were evaluated using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), consisting of 90 items for the diagnostic assessment of psychiatric disorders. In the Iranian population, cut-off point of SCL-90-R has been reported to be 0.4. According to the theoretical observations of this study, psychiatric symptoms are more prevalent among diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic ones. In addition, scores of different psychiatric scales were higher in diabetic patients, with the highest and lowest scores belonging to anxiety (2.66±0.88) and psychosis (0.99±0.67), respectively. According to the results of this study, high frequency of psychiatric symptoms in diabetic patients is indicative of the vulnerability of these individuals to mental disorders. Therefore, it is recommended that regular assessments and timely referrals for treatment be performed in order to implement accurate mental health interventions for these patients.

Diabetes, being the most common chronic metabolic disease, is one of the greatest challenges of the twenty fist century. Metabolic disorders of diabetes mellitus cause pathological disorders in numerous organs which can bring about various problems for diabetic patients and community’s health system. Nurses, as the largest diabetes treatment group should have comprehensible knowledge of diabetes. In this cross-sectional study, 267 hospital nurses, working in hospitals affiliated to Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, were selected through stratified random sampling. Using a self-regulated questionnaire, the nurses’ knowledge was evaluated and classified into three levels, i.e., low, moderate and good. SPSS, version 16 was used for performing t-test, one-way ANOVA and chi-square on the obtained data. The obtained results showed that 4.1%, 86.9% and 9% of nurses had low, moderate and good knowledge about diabetes, respectively. The level of knowledge was not correlated with gender, marital status and position of the nurses. The results demonstrated that the majority of nurses had a moderate amount of knowledge. Therefore, to promote awareness of medical staff, holding continuous training courses seems to be necessary.

Complications resulting from diabetes have a large impact on patients’ quality of life and their families and impose significant costs on both the patients and social economy. Marital relationship is affected by chronic diseases. Therefore, affliction with diabetes may also affect family relationships. In this study, we aimed to review the family problems of patients with type II diabetes. Scientific databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, SID and Iran Medex were searched in order to identify articles published during 1992-2014, using the following keywords: “diabetes patients” and “family problems”. Finally, 40 articles were examined, among which only 22 articles were considered relevant to the purpose of the present study. According to the results of this study, family support is effective in controlling the disease in diabetic patients. Also, it helps patients accept the consequences of their condition. This can have positive impacts on family conditions of diabetic patients. According to the findings, diabetes is the main cause of reduced family satisfaction in affected couples. In total, family plays an important supporting role in determining the quality of life in these patients.