نشریه پرستاری ایران
پیاپی 119 (شهریور 1398)

The aging process is associated with physical, psychological, and social changes, causing the elderly to lose happiness. Since reduced happiness is a consequence of old age, the present study aimed to assess the effect of reminiscence on the happiness of the retired elderly.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the winter of 2018 on 90 retired men aged more than 60 years, who were selected via convenience sampling and randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. Reminiscence was performed for six sessions twice per week on the intervention group at the Military Board of the Retired Members in Zahedan, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Oxford happiness questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The mean score of happiness in the elderly in the intervention group increased from 48.82±3.51 before the intervention to 56.51±6.14 after the intervention. In the control group, the score changed from 47.66±6.99 before the intervention to 49.68±7.96 after the intervention. Therefore, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of happiness after the intervention between the intervention and control groups (P=0.001).

According to the results, group reminiscence could promote happiness in the elderly. Considering that reminiscence is an appealing, simple, and inexpensive intervention, it could be used to reduce anxiety in the elderly and foster a joyful atmosphere in geriatric healthcare centers.

Parents, especially mothers, play a pivotal role in the sex education of children; therefore, justification of children regarding sex education by the parents is considered essential. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a group educational program on the knowledge, attitude, and participation approach of mothers in the sex education of preschool children.

This randomized, controlled, parallel clinical trial was conducted on 58 mothers with children aged 3-7 years employed at Alborz University of Medical Sciences in Karaj, Iran during May-September 2018.  The participants were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups via drawing lots. Data were collected using a demographic form and researcher-made questionnaire with three sections on maternal knowledge, attitude, and participation in the sex education of preschool children. The participants in the intervention group received three training sessions (90 minutes each) and provided with an instruction booklet. The questionnaire was completed before and one month after the intervention. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 19.

The results of Mann-Whitney U test indicated a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the mean score of maternal knowledge of the sex education of children after the educational program (P=0.007). In addition, the results of independent t-test denoted a significant difference in the mean score of maternal attitude between the intervention and control groups after the training (P=0.007). The results of paired t-test also showed a significant difference in the mean score of maternal participation approach in the two groups before and after the intervention as the score increased after the educational program (P=0.0001; t(24)=8.440). 

According to the results, the mothers reported more participation in the sex education of their children after the educational intervention. Therefore, it is recommended that seminars, workshops, and counseling sessions be provided for parents, as well as caregivers in child care centers.

Heart failure is a prevalent, chronic disease in developing country, and type II diabetes mellitus is considered to be a major cause of heart failure. An effective approach to the control of these diseases is the active participation of patients in self-care. However, the concurrence of heart failure and diabetes is associated with complex and difficult self-care behaviors. Therefore, it is essential to identify the influential factors in self-care behaviors. The present study aimed to assess the correlations between self-care behaviors and anxiety, family support, and disease state in patients with heart failure and type II diabetes. 

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 158 patients with heart failure and type II diabetes mellitus referring to Chamran Hospital in Isfahan, Iran in 2018. The patients were selected via continuous sampling. Data were collected using the European heart failure self-care behavior scale, Charlson comorbidity index, mini-mental state examination social support (family scale), Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t-test and analysis of variance).

The majority of the patients (88.6%) had moderate self-care behaviors, with the mean score estimated at 38.37 ± 4.76. No significant correlations were observed between the demographic characteristics of the patients, their disease state, family support, and anxiety with self-care behaviors (P>0.05).

According to the results, investigations must continue on the influential factors in self-care behavior in order to change the attitudes of patients in this regard, so that heart failure and type II diabetes could be controlled and their complications could be prevented.

Urinary incontinence is a common physical issue in the elderly, which influences their quality of life and causes stress and psychological tension. High stress levels may play a pivotal role in the use of coping, self-care, self-efficacy skills in the daily life of patients. The present study aimed to assess perceived stress and the contributing factors in the elderly with urinary incontinence in 2017.

This cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 125 individuals aged 60-74 years with urinary incontinence referring to Hashemi Nejad Teaching Hospital in Tehran, Iran. The participants were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using the abbreviated mental test (AMT), a demographic questionnaire, and Cohen’s perceived stress scale with acceptable validity and reliability. Data collection was performed during three months via face-to-face interviews (15-20 minutes). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using Pearson's correlation-coefficient, linear regression, and Scheffe test at the significance level of P<0.05.

The mean age of the subjects was 63.92 ± 2.66 years, and the sample population consisted of 53.6% women and 46.4% men. Nearly half of the subjects (43.2%) had high levels of perceived stress. In addition, significant correlations were observed between perceived stress and age, education level, marital and economic status, and duration of urinary incontinence (P<0.05).

Considering that urinary continence affects the daily life of the elderly, planning for the development of community-based nursing interventions, performing educational/counseling strategies for the control and management of stress, and provision of family and social support are recommended in order to enhance the functional capacity of the elderly with urinary incontinence.

Patient safety culture is a key element for the improvement of patient safety in the healthcare system, which plays a pivotal role in the quality of nursing care. The present study aimed to assess the patient safety culture in the viewpoint of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 nurses employed in the ICUs and critical care units (CCUs) of four teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran in 2019. The subjects were selected via stratified sampling with proper allocation. Data were collected using the demographic and patient safety culture questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

The mean score of the patient safety culture in the viewpoint of the nurses was 144.33±10.98. Among the dimensions of patient safety culture, the highest rate of positive responses was observed in 'non-punitive response to error' (67.5%), while the lowest rate belonged to 'supervisor/management expectations and actions promoting patient safety' (28%). Moreover, 60% of the participants reported no errors during the past year. The majority of the nurses (63%) described their hospital as acceptable in terms of the patient safety culture. The results of independent t-test were also indicative of a significant correlation between gender as a demographic variable with the patient safety culture (P=0.013).

According to the results, comprehensive assessment of the positive responses of supervisor/management expectations and actions to promote the patient safety is essential. In addition, it is suggested that nursing managers and policy makers recognize the elements involved in the patient safety culture and promote a supportive organizational atmosphere for the reporting of errors in hospitals.

Grandmothers play a key role in the success of breastfeeding. The positive attitude of grandmothers toward breastfeeding largely influences the length of breastfeeding. The present study aimed to assess the effect of the education of grandmothers on their attitude toward breastfeeding.

This clinical trial was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group was conducted on 64 maternal grandmothers referring to Amir Al-Momenin Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2018. The maternal grandmothers who met the inclusion criteria were selected via continuous sampling until the completion of the sample size and assigned to the groups of intervention (n=32) and control (n=32) weekly. In the intervention group, the maternal grandmothers attended two one-hour sessions of breastfeeding education with their primiparous daughters in weeks 1-34 and 35-37 of gestation, respectively. In the control group, the maternal grandmothers received no training, while they were provided with the educational contents after the two sessions. Data were collected using Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) before and immediately after the educational intervention. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Independent t-test showed no significant difference in the mean score of the breastfeeding attitude between the intervention and control groups before intervention. However, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of the breastfeeding attitude immediately after the intervention between the control (60.12±7.53) and the intervention groups (74.21 ± 1.36) (P<0.001) as the obtained mean score was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. In other words, the education of the grandmothers significantly increased the score of the breastfeeding attitude in the intervention group.

According to the results, breastfeeding education of grandmothers could improve their attitude toward breastfeeding. Therefore, the presence of grandmothers in breastfeeding educational sessions could effectively enhance the attitude toward breastfeeding, thereby promoting exclusive breastfeeding.

A major problem faced by healthcare providers is lack of adherence to treatment in patients with chronic diseases, especially in adolescents. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of training based on coping styles on the treatment adherence of adolescent patients with congenital heart disease.

This experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design and a control group on 70 adolescents aged 9-19 years with congenital heart disease at Shahid Rajaee Heart Center in Tehran, Iran in 2018. The patients were selected via continuous sampling and divided into two groups of intervention and control via simple random sampling. In addition to routine care, the subjects in the intervention group received training based on stress coping styles in the form of educational contents. Data were collected using Folkman and Lazarus ways of coping questionnaire, and the control group received routine care within the department. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using independent and paired t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test.

Independent t-test indicated a significant difference in the mean score of treatment adherence between the groups, and the score was observed to be higher in the intervention group (P=0.002). In addition, the mean score of treatment adherence had a significant difference in the intervention group before and after the training (P>0.001).

Considering the positive effect of training based on stress coping styles on the treatment adherence of adolescents with congenital heart disease, it is recommended that healthcare providers incorporate these styles into the treatment protocol of these patients in the form of consultation and educational courses.

Hospitalization of a family member (especially in the emergency department) causes anxiety and other psychological problems in the other family members. Interaction of nurses with the patients and their family members may play a key role in the control and management of their anxiety. The present study aimed to determine the correlation between the anxiety of the family members of the patients referring to the emergency department and their views on the communication skills of nurses.

This cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 263 family members of the patients referring to the emergency departments of two teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran in 2019. The subjects were selected via continuous sampling based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using Beck's anxiety inventory (BAI) and health care communication questionnaire (HCCQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 using Pearson's correlation-coefficient, independent t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal-Wallis test at the significance level of 0.05.

The mean score of the communication skills of emergency department nurses was low (36.74±7.3), and 75.3% of the family members of the patients had mild anxiety. However, no significant correlations were observed between the communication skills of nurses and the dimensions with the anxiety level of the patient companions. Anxiety was associated with the education level (P=0.039), economic status (P=0.033), and family relation with the patient (P=0.001). Moreover, the mean score of anxiety was significantly higher in the children of the patients compared to their spouses (P=0.008), and patient triage level was also significantly correlated with anxiety (P<0.001).

According to the results, the family members of most of the patients referring to the emergency department experienced mild anxiety. In the viewpoint of the subjects, emergency department nurses had poor communication skills. Although no significant association was denoted between the anxiety of the patients’ family members and their views on the communication skills of nurses, the poor communication skills of nurses from the perspective of the subjects requires special attention. Our findings could provide the necessary background for planning to improve the communication skills of nurses, as well as their skills to control the anxiety of patient caregivers through in-service training or other incentive mechanisms.