مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی رفسنجان
سال بیست و یکم شماره 6 (پیاپی 161، شهریور 1401)

Academic performance and factors affecting it as one of the central and fundamental variables in education have always been the focus of researchers and psychologists. The aim of the current research was to determine the mediating role of self-concept in the relationship between executive functions and working memory capacity and the academic performance of the first-year students of Semiram High School.

The present study is descriptive. The investigated sample was 272 first-year female students of Semiram high school in 2020-2021, who were selected using the multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Research participants completed the Barkly Adolescent Executive Function Deficit Scale, the Wechsler Working Memory Test, the Pham and Taylor Academic Performance Questionnaire, and the Yesen Chen Academic Self-Concept Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient test, multivariate regression, and path analysis.

The average scores of executive functions, academic performance, self-concept, and working memory were 63.31, 181.29, 47.2, and 9.45, respectively, with a standard deviation of 6.71, 4.61, 3.89, and 34.4. The results showed that self-concept has a mediating role in the relationship between executive functions and working memory capacity and the academic performance of the first- year students of Semiram High School. Also, the results showed that self-concept, executive functions, and working memory can predict academic performance (p<0.001).

Considering the mediating role of self-concept in relation to executive functions and working memory capacity, it is suggested to be used to improve students' academic performance.

 Pain is frequently reported as an unpleasant feeling during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Using local anaesthetics is one of the common ways to reduce pain. The present study was conducted to determine and compare the effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) with a combined anaesthetic ointment of lidocaine and prilocaine on pain level.

 This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 240 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients at Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah, in 2020. These patients required three procedures including arterial-venous blood sampling and intravenous catheter placement. In each clinical procedure, 80 patients were divided into groups receiving electrical stimulation and anaesthetic ointment in the needle or catheter insertion area. The pain level assessment was done by the visual analogue scale and after the procedures and in 1st, 3rd, and 5th minutes. The time and attempt frequency were also recorded. Independent t-test and two-way repeated measures ANOVA were used for data analysis.

 The pain level in venous and arterial sampling and catheter placement was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The attempt frequency was not statistically significant across different procedures (p>0.05), but the time to perform the procedures was significantly higher in the stimulation group (p<0.05).

 Electrical stimulation can reduce local pain caused by the insertion of a needle or catheter, similar to anaesthetic ointment. Therefore, it is proposed that this method be further investigated in non-pharmacological pain reduction guidelines.

 Although pain is necessary for the continuation of life, this phenomenon often loses its warning and adaptive role and causes various problems. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to design and test the prediction model of adaptation to pain based on attachment styles and ego strength with the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Tehran in 2021.

 In this descriptive study conducted by correlational method, the statistical population included all patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Tehran in 2021. 300 patients were selected from the pain clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital by convenience sampling method and answered the questionnaires of Attachment Styles, Ego Strength, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, and Multidimensional Pain Inventory. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

 The results of structural equation modeling showed that the coefficients of the direct path of attachment styles (β=0.61, p<0.001) and ego strength (β=0.89, p<0.001) to the adaptation to pain were significant. In addition, attachment styles and ego strength had an indirect effect on the adaptation to pain with the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation. 

 The results of this study reveal that attachment styles, ego strength, and cognitive emotion regulation can directly and indirectly affect the perception of chronic pain and ultimately the performance of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and on the other hand, play a dynamic role in adapting to chronic pain. These results can be used in designing preventive and interventional programs of chronic pain.
Key words: Adaptation to pain, Attachment styles, Ego strength, Cognitive emotion regulation, Chronic pain, Rheumatoid arthritis
Funding: This study did not have any funds.

The unbridled release of Covid-19 can affect the mental health of people. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of Covid-19 fear in the relationship between positive and negative affect and post-traumatic stress disorder and spiritual well-being during the limitations of the Corona virus epidemic.

In the current descriptive study, the statistical population included all the employees and professors of the state universities of Gorgan in 2021, out of which 360 people were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling. The research instruments included Watson’s Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Marmar and Weiss’s Impact of Event Scale-Revised, a Covid-19 fear scale, and Ellison and Paloutzian’s Spiritual Well Being Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling.

The results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between positive emotion and fear of covid-19 (r=-0.370 and p<0.001), and between positive emotion and post-traumatic stress disorder (r=-0.321 and p<0.001), and a positive and significant relationship has been obtained with spiritual well-being (p<0.001 and r=0.440). The fitting results of the model showed that positive affect due to fear of covid-19 has an effect on reducing spiritual well-being (p<0.001), and negative affect due to fear of covid-19 can increase post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (p<0.001).

The continuous fluctuations in its epidemic status can indicate a source of re-emergence of a stressful event that may reduce this fear by strengthening positive emotions and the spiritual dimension. Key words:

The unbridled release of Covid-19 can affect the mental health of people. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of Covid-19 fear in the relationship between positive and negative affect and post-traumatic stress disorder and spiritual well-being during the limitations of the Corona virus epidemic.

In the current descriptive study, the statistical population included all the employees and professors of the state universities of Gorgan in 2021, out of which 360 people were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling. The research instruments included Watson’s Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Marmar and Weiss’s Impact of Event Scale-Revised, a Covid-19 fear scale, and Ellison and Paloutzian’s Spiritual Well Being Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling.

The results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between positive emotion and fear of covid-19 (r=-0.370 and p<0.001), and between positive emotion and post-traumatic stress disorder (r=-0.321 and p<0.001), and a positive and significant relationship has been obtained with spiritual well-being (p<0.001 and r=0.440). The fitting results of the model showed that positive affect due to fear of covid-19 has an effect on reducing spiritual well-being (p<0.001), and negative affect due to fear of covid-19 can increase post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms (p<0.001).

The continuous fluctuations in its epidemic status can indicate a source of re-emergence of a stressful event that may reduce this fear by strengthening positive emotions and the spiritual dimension.

 Pre-hospital emergency staff face stressful environments. Job stress management can make employees stay in their occupations and provide appropriate services to patients as soon as possible. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of determining job-related stress and its management methods among pre-hospital emergency staff in Iran.

 In this systematic review, published English and Persian studies without time limitation were searched and reviewed electronically in Persian and English databases from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SID, Magiran, and Google scholar using related keywords. After removing duplicate and unrelated articles, the quality of the articles was evaluated by the authors based on the Strobe checklist. Finally, the narrative synthesis method was used to combine the data.

 After screening, among the 113 studies, 12 studies reached the final synthesis stage based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies reported moderate levels of occupational stress. Individual, occupational, organizational, and environmental factors were effective in the occupational stress of employees.

 Pre-hospital emergency workers face stressful situations on average in Iran. Using strategies such as educational intervention programs, gratitude programs, and management measures such as reducing work shifts and improving comfort facilities can help reduce the occupational stress of employees working in pre-hospital emergency centers.

Collaboration in health science research is one of the most important issues that helps young researchers to take steps in their research activities that are impossible without collaboration. Collaboration also helps mature researchers to broaden their horizons and discover new areas of research. Finally, collaboration allows senior researchers not only to bring young researchers to scientific maturity, but also to create new achievements of human knowledge, especially in interdisciplinary fields. Considering the importance of collaboration in health science research, in this article we will define and explain its various aspects, including the definition of collaboration, its different types and benefits, and important points to create it.

 The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its related factors in the survivors of Covid-19.

 In this descriptive study 413 patients who had a history of hospitalization due to covid-19 disease were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by binary logistic regression.

 Out of 402 participants, 148 participants (36.8%) had PTSD. In addition, suffering from coronary heart disease (OR=1.80, p<0.001) and adverse mental health status (OR=1.21, p<0.001) increased the odds ratio of PTSD by 80% and 21%, respectively.

 This study showed that more than one-third of the survivors of Covid-19 have PTSD. Therefore, it is recommended mental health status screening be integrated into the discharge plans of these patients.