Preventive Care in Nursing & Midwifery Journal
Volume:14 Issue: 1, Spring 2024

 Clinical self-efficacy and psychological empowerment are two key factors in clinical nursing education.

 This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between clinical self-efficacy and psychological empowerment (PE) in nursing students.

 This descriptive correlational study was conducted on 198 nursing students of the Zanjan University of Medical Sciences in 1402. The students were selected by census sampling. Data collection instruments included a demographic information form, the self-efficacy in clinical performance (SECP) questionnaire (designed and validated psychometrically by Cheraghi et al.), and Spitzer’s Psychological Empowerment Instrument (SPEI). The data were analyzed using the independent samples student t-test, Pearson’s correlation, and ANOVA in SPSS v.22 software.

 Among the nursing students, the mean (SD) of the total SECP score was 108.7 (15.03), and the mean (SD) of the total PE score was obtained at 37.3 (5.8). The results showed that all dimensions of SECP showed a statistically significant correlation with PE in nursing students (P<0.001). Among demographic variables, SECP showed a statistically significant relationship with marital status and clinical experience. Also, PE showed a statistically significant relationship with the academic semester (P<0.05).

 Considering the direct correlation between SECP and PE among nursing students, as well as the importance of these parameters in achieving goals, managing stressors, and providing safe and quality care, nursing education program managers can adopt appropriate approaches to enhance the sense of independence and the ability to make correct independent decisions of nursing students in the clinical setting and during theoretical training courses, thereby increasing these students’ clinical competency and enabling them to deliver quality clinical care and upgrade their clinical self-efficacy.

 Various factors are known to influence psychological well-being and professional identity, both of which can subsequently affect the optimal performance and efficiency of nurses.

 The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between professional identity and psychological well-being among nurses.

 The current research was a descriptive correlational study conducted on 242 nurses in 2021. The hospitals of Birjand City were selected by cluster sampling based on the inclusion criteria. The data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, the Ryff psychological well-being questionnaire, and Hao's professional identity questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 19 software using the independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square, Pearson correlation, and Spearman correlation.

 The results showed that the mean (SD) score of professional identity in nurses was 58.49 (10.09), and the average score (SD) of psychological well-being among the nurses was 69.74 (10.96). There was a positive and significant relationship between psychological well-being and professional identity, meaning that with the improvement of professional identity, the level of psychological well-being also increased among nurses (sig=0.005, α=0.185).

 By promoting professional identity, it is possible to upgrade psychological well-being among nurses. This can be achieved by implementing stress-coping measures such as optimization of the work conditions and work indicators, which can promote nurses’ professional identity and, subsequently, psychological well-being.

 COVID-19 originated from China and causes pneumonia and respiratory, digestive and many other symptoms. The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes may increase in pregnant women infected with this virus.

 This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes and health indicators of newborn born in two periods before (the first 6 months of 2019) and after (the first 6 months of 2020) the COVID-19.

 In this cross-sectional study, 2303 newborns were studied. Of these, 1195 were born in the first 6 months of 2019 and 1108 were born in the first 6 months of 2020. The data collection tool was a checklist that was extracted from the integrated health system (SIB) of the Iranian Ministry of Health. The SPSS26 was used for data analysis.

 The newborns born in these two periods before and after COVID-19 pandemic had no statistically significant differences in terms of maternal age, gestational age, birth weight, height and head circumference at birth (P-Value>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of gender, stillbirth and twins or multiples variables in the two time periods before and after COVID19 (P-Value>0.05). Cesarean section rate after the COVID19 pandemic in the first 6 months of 2020 (60.8 %) was higher than before pandemic in the first 6 months of 2019 (56.7 %) (P-Value<0.05). In addition, the birth rate in rural areas after the COVID-19 pandemic was higher than before pandemic (P-Value=0.005).

 Caesarean section rate after the COVID-19 pandemic has increased significantly compared to before.

 Pregnancy brings significant changes in the marital relationship of couples, especially new first-time parent. Marital relationships change during pregnancy under the influence of psychological and physiological changes of pregnancy.

 The aim of this study was to determine the marital satisfaction status and its related factors in pregnant women in Semnan, Iran.

 In this cross-sectional study, 281 pregnant women referred to the health centers of Semnan (Iran) were examined in 2019 using a cluster sampling method. ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) questionnaire was used to collect data which higher score indicated higher marital satisfaction. Data were analyzed by SPSS26 using independent sample t-test and ANOVA.

 The mean (SD) of age was 28.96 (4.75) years. Only 11.4% of them had academic education and 31.7% were employed. The mean (SD) total score of marital satisfaction was 59.98 (25.9). Among the factors related to marital satisfaction, the items of personality issues, communication and conflict resolution received the highest mean scores with 48.6, 38.7 and 38.4 respectively. Also, 14.9% of women had very low marital satisfaction, 8.9% low, 24.2% moderate, 19.2% high, and 32.7% very high marital satisfaction. There is no statistically significant relationship between age, education and employment status with marital satisfaction (P-Value>0.05).

 This study showed that the status of marital satisfaction in half of the pregnant women was moderate or low. Therefore, it seems necessary to carry out psychiatric interventions along with holding classes on marital communication skills, conflict resolution and sexual relations.

 The available literature shows the positive effect of self-management programs on the quality of life of patients with chronic diseases; however, this effect has not been investigated in patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery.

 The present study aimed to determine the effect of a web-based self-management training program on the quality of life of patients undergoing heart valve replacement.

 This research was an experimental study with a control group, which was conducted on 80 patients undergoing heart valve replacement surgery at Shahid Rajaei Cardiovascular Educational, Research and Therapeutic Institute in Tehran, Iran. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups by the block randomization method. The control group received the routine care. The experimental group received the web-based self-management training program in 5-7 people groups. The educational content of the sessions included medication management, emotional management, role management, decision-making and problem-solving skills, use of resources, communication with caregivers, and an activity program. The questionnaires included the demographic information form and the 12-Item Short Form Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-12). Data were analyzed using the independent sample t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS 18 software.

 The mean score of quality of life after the intervention showed a significant difference between the control and experimental groups (P=0.014). Comparison of the mean score of the quality of life of patients undergoing heart valve replacement in the experimental group before and after the intervention showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001).

 According to the results of this study, it seems that self-management programs can improve the quality of life of patients undergoing heart valve replacement.

 Epidemic diseases such as Covid-19 can adversely affect job security and social status, thereby leading to psychological distress.

 The aim of the present study was to predict psychological turmoil among nurses working during Covid-19 pandemic based on job security, spiritual intelligence, and social acceptance.

 This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 210 nurses working at the Hazrat-e-Valiasr (AS) Hospital of Zanjan City between Farvardin and Khordad 2021. The participants were recruited by convenience sampling, and data were collected using Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Nissi’s job security questionnaire, the spiritual intelligence scale developed by Naseri et al., and Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC–SDS). Data analyses were conducted in SPSS software v. 23 using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression.

 The research findings indicated that nurses’ psychological distress amid Covid-19 pandemic significantly and inversely correlated with job security (r = 0.42, p<0.01), spiritual intelligence (r = 0.43, p<0.01), and social acceptance (r = 0.47, p<0.01). Also, social acceptance (r = 6.27, p < 0.01), job security (r= 4.71, p < 0.01), and spiritual intelligence (r = 4.29, p < 0.01) were able to predict psychological distress among nurses.

 Based on the results of the present study, it is suggested that the authorities of medical education organizations consider programs to familiarize nurses with Iran’s subcultures (such as religious beliefs, rituals, and obligations) to promote their cultural sensitivity, job security, and social acceptance. This can furthermore ensue with positive consequences such as the improvement of nurses’ quality of life, well-being, physical and mental health, job satisfaction, and life condition.