Health, Spirituality and Medical Ethics
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Sep 2020

F ollowing the announcement of the Covid-19 epidemic in China and its subsequent outbreak in many other countries, the authorities had different approaches to informing the public about this issue. Many government officials did not disclose this information at all or at the right time. Some of them even misled people or propagated false information. Some government officials have based their management on censorship or miscalculation in order to control the information dissemination and the spread of fear of disease among people. Moreover, some politicians believed that telling the truth could provoke people and arouse their anger (1). However, some people decided to leak information against the decision of the government; for instance, several doctors in China leaked part of the information, which was hidden by their government, through the media (1). This was followed by others in the United States and European countries who disclosed information, such as the news of the outbreak of the epidemic in their countries, the lack of medical facilities, and other material that was of public interest (2, 3). Given that so far one of the best ways to control Covid-19 has been the cooperation of people in following the prevention protocols, the provision of accurate information can be very helpful in this regard. Public health depends on public trust and if people feel misled or misinformed, their adherence to social distancing and health protocols may be reduced which makes it more difficult to control the epidemic (4). In China, some local governments tried to hide the onset of the epidemic for personal gain or political considerations, which prevented many patients from being saved in the early stages of the epidemic and led to widespread public discontent (5). Moreover, at the beginning of the epidemic, the Wuhan Municipality in China denied human-to-human transmission or infection of the medical personnel which resulted in public distrust. Therefore, when the Zhong Nanshan Academy confirmed and announced the human-to-human transmission, people questioned the truthfulness of this information (5). In medical ethics, respect for the authority of the individual is one of the most important rights of the patients which obliges the doctors to provide the necessary and accurate information for them. Accordingly, it seems that during epidemics, people have the right to have access to accurate information at the right time. However, there are different opinions about the truth-telling to patients based on the current policies of countries and the socio-cultural status of the people. From an Islamic perspective, everyone has the right to know the truth about the matters related to them so that they can make informed decisions about their future. Furthermore, honesty and truthfulness are strongly emphasized in the Holy Quran and by the Infallibles (6). Finally, it must be said that the information the governments release in times of crisis, such as pandemics, affects their credibility. In such circumstances, the governments must improve their ability to respond to crises in order to protect their credibility, maintain the public trust, and increase the cooperation of people for the control of the crisis.

The pain and anxiety experienced by burn patients during dressing change cannot be thoroughly controlled by painkillers and anxiolytics. Evidence has documented that reciting the name of God can positively impact the reduction of pain and anxiety caused by aggressive procedures. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of reciting the name of God on the pain and anxiety caused by dressing change in patients with burn injuries.

The present clinical trial study was performed on 71 patients admitted to the burn ward of Nekouei-Hedayati-Forghani Hospital affiliated to Qom University of Medical Sciences in 2017. Patients were selected by the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups using the stratified randomization method. Thereafter, 10 min before dressing change, the patients in the experimental group were asked to recite the name of God, while the cases in the control group received the routine care. Patients' pain intensity was measured before mentioning the name of God and immediately after dressing change. Anxiety caused by burn pain was measured before mentioning the name of God, before dressing change, immediately after dressing change, and 15 min later. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22) using descriptive and analytical statistics (chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test).

The mean age of participants was reported as 44.59±9.13. The result of the independent t-test showed that the mean score of pain immediately after dressing change was found to be lower in the intervention group, compared to the control group (P=0.04). Moreover, the result of pair t-test in the intervention group demonstrated that the mean score of pain-induced anxiety was lower immediately after dressing change, in comparison with the time before reciting the name Of God (P<0.001).

As evidenced by the obtained results, reciting the name of God can reduce the anxiety and pain associated with wound dressing changes in burn patients. Therefore, it is suggested that the name of God be used along with pharmaceutical interventions to control pain and anxiety experienced at dressing change.

The promotion of spirituality and spiritual well-being brings substantial benefits for organizations which encompasses the enhancement of staff productivity toward organizational goals. In recent years, spiritual wellbeing has received increasing attention from managers and employees as a necessity for interactions with organizations and society. Welfare organization of is one of the most important organizations in the country and issues related to its productivity and spirituality are matters of concern to this organization. To date, no research has directly investigated the relationship between spiritual wellbeing and productivity in this organization. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the relationship between productivity and spiritual wellbeing among rehabilitation stuffs of Tehran welfare organization in 2017.

This practical study was conducted based on a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population of this study included all rehabilitation workers in Tehran welfare organization out of whom 256 cases were selected by simple random sampling as the sample size. Finally, 224 people completed the research questionnaire. Data were collected by The Spiritual Well Being Scale (SWBS) developed by Paloutzian & Ellison (1982) and Hersey and Goldsmith's Productivity Questionnaire (1980). Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using spearman correlation test and multiple regression analysis.

Based on the obtained results, staff productivity was positively correlated with existential wellbeing and religious wellbeing. The correlation coefficient between spiritual wellbeing and productivity was obtained at 0.459, and the highest correlation was between spiritual wellbeing and validity, while the lowest was observed between spiritual wellbeing and compatibility. The mean scores of spiritual wellbeing and productivity were reported as 90.76 and 2.68. Finally, the results of regression analysis indicated that 27% of the variance in total changes in the productivity of rehabilitation workers in Tehran welfare organization is related to spiritual wellbeing components (existential wellbeing and religious wellbeing), and religious wellbeing had a stronger effect.

As evidenced by the results of the current study, there was a significant relationship between employees' spiritual wellbeing and their productivity. In other words, as the spiritual wellbeing of employees increases, so does their productivity. Therefore, it is possible to increase staff productivity by planning to promote their spiritual wellbeing.

Addiction is a disaster with social and psychological aspects that if remaining untreated and neglected it results in terrible consequences. The present study aimed to compare religious beliefs and impulsivity in normal and addicted individuals in Tehran, Iran.

This descriptive correlational study was performed on a total of 100 normal and addicted individuals referring to drug rehabilitation centers in Tehran within January 2019 to February 2019. The study participants were selected through the convenience sampling method. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, Religious Attitudes Questionnaire, and Barratt Impulsiveness Inventory. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 21).

The findings of the present showed that the total mean scores of the addicts’ religious attitudes and impulsivity factor were 57.87±13.48 and 65.32±11.93, respectively. In addition, the total mean values of the normal individuals’ religious attitudes and impulsivity factor were 13.74±5.76 and 64.92±6.87, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the religious attitudes of the addicted and normal individuals (t=3.24; P=0.002).

Strengthening religious attitudes among drug users causes them to display behaviors related to their wellbeing and justify them leading to a significant improvement in their quality of life.

The decreased level of self-esteem and life satisfaction is prevalent among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an Islamic approach to hope therapy on the promotion of self-esteem and life satisfaction in comparison with its conventional approach in patients with CAD.

The study was conducted in a quasi-experimental control group pretest-posttest design. The participants were 60 patients with CAD selected by convenience sampling method from one of Qom hospitals. Data collection tools included the Self-Esteem Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Hope State Scale. After collecting pre-test data, participants were divided into three peer groups, and the intervention was performed in eight sessions each lasting for 90-minute. An experimental group was exposed to Islamic hope therapy and the other received conventional hope therapy, while the control group received a stress management package. Finally, all the groups undertook the same posttests and the data obtained were analyzed in SPSS22 software using the Covariance test.

Both Islamic and conventional hope therapy increased hope (7, 10.5), life satisfaction )9, 12.8), and self-esteem (7.5, 13.9) of the patients with CAD significantly. Moreover, it was found that Islamic hope therapy was more effective in the enhancement of self-esteem and life satisfaction, compared to conventional hope therapy.

Islamic hope therapy outperformed the conventional hope therapy in terms of increasing the self-esteem and life satisfaction of patients with CAD. Therefore, it is recommended to use Islamic hope therapy for patients with CAD and other similar chronic diseases.

Pornography in cyberspace is one of the emerging and multidimensional challenges in society. Each discipline offers different criteria, reasons, perspectives and solutions according to their point of view; But this multidimensional phenomenon has involved all aspects of human societies in individual and group dimensions and has left negative consequences. The aims of this study are to analyze and explain pornography from the perspective of spirituality, ethics and medicine. The current legislative approach is challenged by ethical and medical discourse with emphasis on the spirituality of human beings in society.

The present study is a systematic review that was conducted in 2009 in domestic databases such as Mgiran and Normagz without time limit with the keywords pornography, pornography and spirituality, pornography and medicine, pornography and ethics.

Based on various criteria and reasons governing computer pornography, both social and moral, as well as medical criteria, computer pornographers have a deviant and sick personality, contrary to the legal opinion that computer pornography is criminal and Considering the punishment for it, the present article, from a medical point of view and based on the approach of spirituality and health of society, has selected corrective, educational and clinical measures as a desirable action and suggests them to policy makers.

According to the results of this study, computer pornography has more severe and destructive consequences on the moral and spiritual health of a person than a crime; This phenomenon has negative effects on the moral dimensions of individuals and groups at all ages and can actually impair the health of a person in all its dimensions, especially the moral health of the individual. Disorder in the individual health of individuals in a society is equal to the low mental and spiritual health of the society.

Considering the importance of prayer and its effect on personal characteristics, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship of attitude and practical commitment to prayer with interpersonal communication skills among students of Sanandaj universities, Iran.

This descriptive-analytical study was carried out in 2019 in Sanandaj, located in the west of Iran. The statistical population of the study (n=686) was selected through simple random sampling of students from Sanandaj universities. The instrument utilized in the research was a three-part questionnaire, including demographic information, attitude and practical commitment to prayer, and interpersonal communication skills. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 21) using independent t-test, correlation, and logistic regression.

Based on the results of the regression test, a one-unit increase in attention to and practice of mustahabbat, commitment to perform prayers, and the effectiveness of prayer in individual and social life increased the possibility of having interpersonal communication skills with the odds ratios of 1.6, 1.11, and 1.09, respectively.

It can be concluded that attitude and commitment to prayer played an important role in interpersonal communication skills. However, practical attitude and commitment to prayer and interpersonal communication skills were higher in students in lower semesters.

Lifestyle modifications pertain to all aspects of life, including physical, mental, and psychological domains. Therefore, the achievement of any kind of health, especially mental health, has come into special focus. The current study aimed to investigate the Islamic lifestyle and its relationship with depression and anxiety among the students of Qom University of Medical Sciences.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. They were selected by cluster random sampling among all students of Qom University of Medical Sciences. To assess the relationship of Islamic lifestyle with depression and anxiety among students, the following instruments were utilized: Kaviani Islamic Lifestyle Survey Test- short form (ILST), Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Goldberg Depression Questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS software using the Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression test.

Based on the results of the present study demonstrated that the Pearson correlation coefficient between lifestyle and depression was obtained at R=-0.15; moreover, this value was calculated at R=-0.12 for lifestyle and anxiety. Moreover, people with a better lifestyle experience less anxiety and depression and vice versa Furthermore, anxiety, and depression were not significantly correlated with such demographic variables as age, grade point average, gender, place of residence, and marital status, as compared to the Islamic lifestyle.

As evidenced by the obtained results, anxiety and depression can predict people's lifestyle. Therefore, it is recommended that standard educational programs focus on the Islamic lifestyle in order to promote better health in the students.

The challenges faced by the mothers of children with behavioral problems underline the necessity of improving psychological characteristics, especially quality of life, in this group. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to predict the quality of life in terms of spiritual intelligence and resiliency in mothers of children with behavioral problems in 2018.

This descriptive-correlational research was performed on 100 mothers of children with behavioral problems referring to the counseling centers of Neyshabour, Razavi Khorasan, Iran, in 2018. The participants were selected using the multistage random sampling technique. The data collection was performed using three questionnaires, namely the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF, and spiritual intelligence. Then data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 23).

Based on the obtained results, quality of life showed a positive and significant relationship with spiritual intelligence (r=0.59, P<0.01) and resiliency (r=0.63, P<0.01). Furthermore, the results of the regression analysis showed that 66% and 68% of the variance in quality of life were explained by spiritual intelligence and resiliency, respectively. In this prediction, resiliency was more significant than spiritual intelligence (P<0.01).

The findings showed the importance of resiliency and spiritual intelligence variables in predicting the quality of life in mothers having children with behavioral problems. Therefore, it is suggested that counselors and psychologists consider the quality of life in this group. Additionally, they are recommended to apply spiritual intelligence and resilience strategies in their educational programs and treatments to increase the quality of life in mothers having children with behavioral problems.

 Marital satisfaction is one of the factors that are related to mental health and occupational stress in nurses. Many studies have shown that religiosity is associated with greater stability and higher quality of marital life. In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the modulating role of religiosity on occupational stress in female nurses and their marital satisfaction.

 This descriptive-analytical research was performed on female nurses working in hospitals in the west of Tehran, Iran. In total, 230 people were randomly enrolled in this study according to Morgan table. The research instruments in this study were the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Inventory developed by Olson et al. (1989), Religiosity Questionnaire developed by Khodayarifard (2009), and Occupational Stress Questionnaire (HSE) (2009). Finally, the collected data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation test and regression analysis.

 According to the findings, the mean values of religiosity, marital satisfaction, and occupational stress were 454.89±63.46, 158.58±32.85, and 143.97±33.45. Moreover, the results revealed a significant negative correlation between occupational stress and marital satisfaction in female nurses (P=0.01, r=-0.21).

 The results indicated that religiosity cannot affect the relationship between occupational stress and marital satisfaction. However, there was a significant negative correlation between occupational stress and marital satisfaction in female nurses. Therefore, the increase in occupational stress leads to the decline of marital satisfaction.