Nursing and Midwifery Studies
Volume:12 Issue: 3, Jul -Sep 2023

University education has been held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, students were confused and anxious while attending college, both because they were exposed to a new environment and fearful of coronavirus infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 360° virtual tour of the college physical environment on the anxiety of newly arrived students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was conducted between January and February 2021, with 80 nursing, midwifery, and surgical technology students from the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Students were randomly allocated into an intervention group and a control group, each with 40 students. Students in the intervention group received a 360° virtual tour of the college physical environment to be familiarized with the college environment. Students in the control group, on the other hand, were personally familiarized with the physical environment of the college. Students' anxiety levels were measured before and after the intervention using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Independent samples t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. The mean anxiety score in the intervention group decreased from 48.2±2.66 to 37.7±3.03 after the intervention (P<0.001). However, the mean anxiety score did not change significantly in the control group (P=0.59). A 360° virtual tour can reduce the anxiety of newly arrived students before entering the college environment.

Childhood fever is very discomforting and most parents are usually anxious when children exhibit fever, leading to unnecessary visits and admissions into pediatric emergency centers. This study aimed to determine the effects of simulation-based education on parents’ knowledge, attitude, and management of fever in children. A non-randomized quasi-experimental study using convenient sampling was conducted to recruit parents of children aged 3 months to 8 years admitted to the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Tamale, Ghana. The study was conducted from July to September 2019. Eighty parents were equally assigned into an intervention group and a control group and respectively educated using simulation-based and routine education approaches on childhood fever. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, independent samples t, and paired t tests as well as analysis of covariance. Except for the mean baseline knowledge (P< 0.0001), there were no significant differences between the two groups in mean pretest scores. The mean scores of fever knowledge, attitude, and management of parents in the simulation-based education group were 21.63 ± 2.40, 28.48 ± 6.03, and 25.15 ± 4.23 at baseline and increased to 26.38 ± 4.36, 28.48 ± 6.03, and 32.33 ± 5.18, respectively (P< 0.0001). All mean scores on the posttest were better than on the pretest in both groups.  However, at the posttest, mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and management were significantly higher in the simulation-based education than in the routine education group (P < 0.05). Compared with routine education, simulation-based education was more effective in improving parents’ knowledge, attitude, and management of fever. We therefore, recommend the use of similar simulation-based methods in educating parents regarding caring for acute fever in their children.

Improving patient satisfaction and safety is a critical goal for hospitals around the world. Healthcare providers have increasingly recognized the importance of strategic initiatives and the impact they have on patient outcomes. This study examines the effect of intentional nurse rounding and the call system's response times on patient satisfaction, patient complaints, falls, and hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI). This descriptive study was conducted between December 2017 to August 2018 in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates. The Intentional Nurse Rounding (INR) and Prompt Response to Call System (PRTCS) were introduced in December 2017. It comprised of: (1) hourly nurses’ rounds between 07:00 hours to 23:59 hours and 2 hourly rounds between 24:00 hours to 06:59 hours daily, (2) measurement of nurses’ response time to call bells, (3) leadership rounds to assess patient satisfaction. The outcomes were patient satisfaction, patient complaints, fall rates, and HAPI rates. Baseline data were collected through retrospective reviews of the data on these outcomes in December 2017. The second period of data collection was conducted over eight months after the initiation of the system, from December 2017 to August 2018. The Chi-square test was used to detect significant differences in outcomes pre and post intervention. The overall adherence to the “Intentional Nurse Rounding and Prompt Response Time to Call System” was 91% while the overall patient satisfaction rate was 97% in August 2018. The average response to call time was 1.2 minutes. Patient complaints decreased from 0.75/month to 0.125/month between December 2017 to August 2018. During the same period, the rates of patient falls and HAPI decreased from 1.17/month to 0.38/month and 0.35/month to 0.24/month respectively. Though the observed differences were not statistically significant, there was a promising difference in patient complaints pre and post intervention (P=0.08). Integrating nursing-led strategic initiatives such as intentional nurse rounding and reduced response time to the call bell system can positively impact patient satisfaction, complaints, and clinical outcome.

The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer put women at risk of altered body image and quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between resilience, QOL, and body image in women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 on 172 women with breast cancer referring to the chemotherapy department of Omid Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic data form, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Hopwood Body Image Scale (HBIS). The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation, Spearman’s correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis. The mean total QOL score was 53.70±18.94. In addition, the mean resilience score was 69.83±14.52. The mean body image score was 8.23±6.65. Resilience was directly correlated with QOL (r=0.491, P<0.001). The psychological-spiritual dimension of QOL was a significant predictor for resilience (P<0.001). Resilience was inversely correlated with body image (r=-0.37, P<0.05). The psychological-spiritual dimension of QOL was a significant predictor for resilience. Improving women’s resilience during chemotherapy can reduce their psychological symptoms and improve the QOL and body image of these patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the lives of older adults. However, the functional independence (FI) and the life satisfaction (LS) of older adults have received less attention.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between FI and LS in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021. Participants were 479 community-dwelling older adults randomly selected from public healthcare centers in southern Tehran, Iran. Data collection instruments were a demographic questionnaire, the activities of daily living (ADL) scale, the Instrumental ADL (IADL) scale, and the Life Satisfaction Index-Z. The Pearson correlation coefficient, independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, and regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

The mean scores of participants’ LS, FI in ADL, and FI in IADL were 11.94±5.11 (in the possible range of 0–26), 15±2.32 (in the possible range of 0–16), and 11.28±3.72 (in the possible range of 0–14), respectively. Around 55% of participants had low LS and only 2.5% of them had high LS. LS had a significant correlation with independence in ADL (r=0.133; P=0.004) and IADL (r=0.213; P<0.001). Independence in IADL and income significantly predicted 30% of the variance of LS (P<0.05).

Older adults had optimal levels of FI in ADL and IADL and a low level of LS. Healthcare authorities can improve older adults’ LS through strategies to promote their FI; such as formulating health policies, amending health system laws, and establishing insurance coverage to reduce costs.

Several studies in Iran have examined nurses’ caring behaviors (CB) or emotional intelligence (EI). However, no study in Iran investigated the relationship between EI and CB among Iranian nurses. This study examined the correlation between EI and CB among nurses. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on a sample of 223 nurses working in Shahid-Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. A demographic questionnaire, the Caring Dimension Inventory-25, and the Siberia Schering's EI questionnaire were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Totally, 202 nurses completed and returned the study questionnaires. Most of the nurses were female (66.8%), married (77.2%), and had a bachelor's degree in nursing (84.7%). The mean age and work experience of the participants were 31.17±6.59 and 2.11±2.06 years, respectively. The mean EI and CB scores of the nurses were 100±17.99 and 43.87±10.14, respectively. Although no significant correlation was found between the nurses' overall CB and EI scores (r=0.065, p=0.358), a significant correlation was found between the scores of "psychosocial care" subscale and all components of EI. Nurses demonstrated moderate EI and low CB. A significant relationship was observed between the scores of psychosocial caring behaviors with the total score of EI and its dimensions. It is suggested to design and implement programs to promote nurses' EI. Hope that these programs will improve CB in nurses.

Nurses working in intensive care units (ICU) have experienced numerous challenges while caring for patients with COVID-19.

The aim of this study was to explore ICU nurses’ experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19.

This research presents part of a qualitative study conducted using a grounded theory approach. Participants consisted of nurses and physicians from the selected hospitals in Sabzevar, Neishabour, and Mashhad, Iran. Data collection was performed using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Participants were enrolled via purposive sampling during 2022–2023. A total of 21 participants were interviewed. The method of Corbin and Strauss (2015) was used to analyze the data. We used Guba and Lincoln’s four criteria of credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability to ensure data trustworthiness.

Four main categories emerged from the data that collectively reflect the experiences of Iranian ICU nurses in caring for COVID-19 patients. These categories included ward overcrowding, changing patterns, complexity of care, and feeling exhausted. All of these categories show that Iranian ICU nurses were under intense pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study showed that taking care of patients was very exhausting for nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital authorities and nursing administrators have a responsibility to support nurses and provide them facilities to feel less stress and uncertainty, while caring for patients with COVID-19.

Pandemic conditions increase nurses' workload, trigger stress, decrease motivation, and influence nurses' performance. This study analyzed the relationships between workload, stress, motivation, and performance of nurses working in the Emergency Department of Public Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional study. Closed-response questionnaires were used to collect data in this study. The sample consisted of 77 respondents. Data were processed using the chi-square test with a significance of 0.050 and the multiple logistic regression analysis. Nurses were primarily between 30 and 35 years old (64.9%); 70.1% were women, and 70.1% possessed a bachelor's degree. Nurses’ performance was significantly associated with workload (P=0.015) and motivation (P=0.019). Trigger stress was not related to the nurses' performance (P=0.066). Workload and motivation are associated with nurses' performance. High motivation from hospital management can significantly affect the nurses' performance by 5.921 times.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects about 10% of adolescent girls worldwide. However, a study found that almost half of the women had poor knowledge about PCOS. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of Iraqi adolescent girls about PCOS. A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2022 on a convenient sample of 60 adolescent girl students at the Economic and Administration College of the University of Kerbala, Iraq. Data were collected using a specific questionnaire and analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. The mean score of participants knowledge about PCOS was 2.05±1.4 (range:0-7), and all of them had poor knowledge about PCOS. Most participants had no information about PCOS and the remaining received information about PCOS from media (21.3%), educational courses (3.3%), and health institutions (8.2%). Iraqi adolescent girls had low knowledge about PCOS. Counseling and education programs can be established for all women of childbearing age, and especially adolescent girls and university students, to increase knowledge about polycystic ovarian syndrome.