pilot projects

Abstract Using an effective method to enhance nurses’ knowledge of ECG interpretation is one of the most essential requirements for nursing managers. Self-directed learning approaches can help to introduce lifelong learning in learners, especially in clinical settings. This study purposed to detect the effect of the implementation of the clinical teammate nurse program on the critical care nurses’ knowledge of ECG interpretation on cardiac arrhythmia.  A pilot study was performed by a quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group. The participants were 32 critical care nurses divided into two groups: the clinical teammate nurse program and control groups. The data were collected by a knowledge assessment questionnaire that measured nurses’ knowledge of ECG interpretation of cardiac arrhythmia. The nurses’ knowledge was measured three times: initial study, one month, and six months later. The mean and standard deviation of age of participants was 32.38±7.03 years. There was a significant difference between three scores of repeated measurement of nurses’ knowledge (p<0.001), as the nurses’ knowledge one month after the study was significantly higher than in the initial test six months later. Also, pairwise comparisons showed that nurses in the clinical teammate program had higher knowledge scores than the control group (p<0.001).  The clinical teammate nurse program can be used as an easy and economical way to improve nurses’ knowledge in interpreting ECG. This method can also be an excellent alternative to formal and traditional methods such as lecturing programs in continuing education programs.

Researchers have examined the association between self‑esteem and obesity in past studies. However, most studies have focused on pediatric or adolescent populations. In this pilot study, we aim to explore the association of self‑esteem with weight status in young adults, a group of individuals in a significant and pivotal period of their lives whose needs and challenges have received little attention in previous studies.

Exactly 127 college juniors and seniors in the Midwest participated in late 2017. For our survey, we collected the following information: body weight, height, self‑esteem score from the state self‑esteem scale, grade point average, risk of eating disorders, sleep quality, nutritional behavior, lifestyle (smoking, frequency of exercise, alcohol drinking, average daily time watching television, playing video games, and social media use), and demographic and socioeconomic background. We used logistic regression for our analysis.

The logistic regression indicates that a one‑point increase in the self‑esteem score was negatively associated with a young adult’s odds of having an unhealthy weight (being overweight or obese) by approximately 3%. Furthermore, soda drinking is a statistically significant factor associated with weight status.

This finding suggests self‑esteem is positively associated with a healthy weight in young adults. A larger‑scale study should be conducted in the future to validate this relationship and better understand young adults’ needs.

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in exploring self-compassion as a related and complementary construct to mindfulness. Improved self-compassion may predict clinical outcomes after implementing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) approach and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT). This pilot study compared the impact of MBSR and CFT on self-compassion in people living with HIV, utilizing implicit and explicit instructions, respectively.

The present quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design was conducted among people living with HIV referred to the Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran in which 54 patients were selected by convenient sampling. The interventions based on CFT and MBSR were applied to two experimental groups (18 people in each group) while the control group included 18 people who received no interventions and were placed on a waiting list. The experimental groups received the two interventions for 10 weekly sessions. Patients’ self-compassion was assessed at three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a self-compassion scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics (analysis of covariance) were used to analyze the extracted data.

The results showed that both interventions based on CFT and MBSR were effective in enhancing self-compassion of people living with HIV (p<0.05), and this effect remained consistent even during the follow-up stage (p=0.021). The changes were observable even three months after the treatment (p< 0.05).

This study demonstrated that MBSR and CFT can be effective in improving self-compassion among HIV positive patients. Besides, they can be helpful in developing preventive interventions.

Ozone can be used as a single technology or in combination with other processes to improve the coagulation- flocculation or biodegradability in order to remove pollutants in natural water treatment. In this study, the effects of pre-ozonation with coagulant substances on the quality parameters of drinking water were investigated using humic acid, kaolin, clay, and green algae in a pilot scale. This study was conducted under laboratory conditions (at both acidic and alkaline pH in different dosages of ozone and coagulant at ozone contact time with simulated water sample (5-20 minutes) in different scenarios). The highest removal efficiency of parameters in the state of pre-ozonation alone and preozonation with a coagulant was observed at contact time of 20 minutes, ozone dosage of 5 g/h, coagulant dosage of 25 mg/L, at alkaline pH along with a decrease in temperature. So that, the average removal rate of turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC), color, and chlorophyll a in contact time of 20 minutes was 76.9%, 52.8%, 66.6%, and 85%, respectively. However, compared to ozonation under similar conditions, the reduction in turbidity, TOC, color, and chlorophyll a was 36.13%, 24.4%, 32.13%, and 79.6%, respectively. Also, it was revealed that pre-ozonation with coagulant could effectively improve the removal of parameters. However, since pre-ozonation can be effectively used to improve the coagulation efficacy in the drinking water treatment, the pre-ozonation combined with coagulation is proposed as an alternative to conventional coagulation to improve the process of drinking water treatment plant.

A major concern when performing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) is potential postoperative renal dysfunction. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of LPN with selective renal parenchymal clamping (SRPC) (LPNSRPC) and LPN using microwave tissue coagulation (MTC) (LPNMTC) on postoperative renal function. This study included 12 patients (5 men and 7 women) who underwent LPNSRPC (n = 6) or LPNMTC (n = 6) for exophytic tumors. Renal scanning with technetium- 99m diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA) was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month in all patients. The mean tumor size, surgical duration, and intraoperative blood loss were similar in both groups. In the LPNMTC group, although not significant, the mean postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) values in the affected kidneys were decreased compared to the preoperative values. When evaluating the affected renal function by split function (SF), the mean postoperative SF in the affected kidneys was significantly decreased compared to the preoperative value. In the LPNSRPC group, the mean postoperative GFR and SF in the affected kidneys were not significantly changed compared with the preoperative values Our preliminary experience demonstrates that LPNSRPC facilitates maximal nephron-sparing surgery without collateral thermal damage causing renal impairment.

Trans-pedicular screw placements have been an increasingly popular procedure in many neurosurgery and orthopedic departments. Any mistake at performing the technique could be followed by irreversible neurological deficit and damage of Para spinal vital structures as well as less stability for future fusion.. In this study we tried to show the benefits and capabilities of a new device, Transpedicular Screw Insertion Guidance Device (TSIGD) for best possible correct transpedicular screw placement..Patients and This study is a quasi-experimental study performed in 2010 in Isfahan at Al-Zahra General hospital. The study was based on the application of a new device, which is named Transpedicular Screw Insertion Guidance Device (TSIGD) that leads the neurosurgeon to find the Proper Pedicular Angle (PPA).. 10 patients were enrolled in this study, all of them with the waiver of consent. A total of 54 screws were assigned to evaluate the capability of the TSIGD for correct screw placement by PPA (Proper Pedicular angle) and SA (Screw Angle). Only 2 screws (5.5%) were identified as medial pedicular breach on postoperative CT scans without any neurological deficit. The mean Proper Pedicular Angle (PPA) was 26.15 (± 0.4) that was calculated based on axial CT scan performed before the operation and mean screw angel (SA) that was calculated based on axial CT scan after the operation was 25.79 (± 0.8), (P ≥ 0.05).. Not only this method is less expensive for the patients but it also saves time during surgery in contrast to CT based surgery. Also, this device is useful for neurosurgical assistants and young surgeons to reduce misplacement of pedicular screw..