Advances in Nursing & Midwifery
Volume:21 Issue: 73, 2012

Background and aimToday, stress is a part of life that is unavoidable and is considered one of the risk factors in heart diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stress management training on stress levels of cardiac patients hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital.Materials and methodsThis quasi experimental study was conducted on 60 cardiac patients hospitalized in Imam Khomeini hospital. The sample randomly was assigned in experimental and control groups. The experimental group received stress management training and the control group received usual care. Stress level was measured and compared before and after intervention. Data collected by using questionnaire include demographic profile and SCL 90 (Symptom Check List 90). Face validity and content validity questionnaire was confirmed. The reliability was evaluated. Test-retest 0.78 was confirmed. The resulted data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 16.FindingsThe results showed that the mean and standard deviation of the age in experimental group was 47±9/34. In control group was 47/1±10/96. Based on the results, 53/3% female, 60% in Tehran, 26/7% in high education level and 60% were working. Disease duration of 33/3% in 4-6 years and 86/7% had a history of hospitalization. Mean stress in the experimental group was (before= 146±37,after=95±19/6) and in the control was (before=135/9±54/2, after=132±41) respectively. T test showed that after intervention a significant statistical difference appears between two groups (P=0/000). Age and previous hospitalization were associated with stress levels significantly.ConclusionStress management programs can reduce stress in heart disease. The nurses, who are in close relationship with these patients, can have an important role in educating and supporting them.

Background and aimDiabetes mellitus affects 3-5% of all pregnancies, and because of high perinatal mortality and morbidity global screening appears logical. The aim of this study was to evaluate the screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women without risk factor in Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran.Materials and methodsA screening study with sequential sampling is done on 207 pregnant women without risk factor who were recruited from the antenatal clinic at Taleghani Hospital. All women underwent a 50gm glucose challenge test between 24-28 weeks of gestation. After 1 hour, glucose test was checked. If the glucose test was more than140mg/dl, then the woman was asked to undergo a 100gm oral glucose tolerance test. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus was carried out according to the National Diabetes Data Group Criteria.FindingsThe results showed that a total of 51 females exhibited plasma glucose level R 140mg/dl following the 50gm glucose challenge test. Of the 51 women enrolled for the 100gm oral glucose tolerance test, 13 were diagnosed to have gestational diabetes mellitus (positive OGTT) and 38 were considered oral glucose tolerance test negative. This result showed a prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus of 6.2%.ConclusionThe results of this study showed that glucose challenge test is a valuable test for screening of gestational diabetes in women without risk factor.

Background and aimAlthough drug treatment for hypertension is available, but just 30% hypertensive patients have controlled hypertension. Nowadays non adherence to recommended health regimen is accepted as a nursing diagnosis by American Nurses Association. The aim of this study was to determine correlation between self-concept (according to Roy Adaptation Model) and adherence to therapeutic health regimen in hypertensive outpatients who attended to one of hospitals affiliated to Uremia University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.Materials and methodsIn this descriptive-correlational study, 120 hypertensive outpatients, who had inclusion criteria, were selected by quota purposive sampling method. Data were collected by a demographic and disease related questionnaire, "Self-Concept Questionnaire in Heart Disease Patients based on (RAM)" and "Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale”. Validity and reliability of questionnaires were assessed with content validity and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. Cronbach's alpha coefficients of "Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale" and threat and challenge perception of "Self-Concept Questionnaire in Heart Disease Patients based on (RAM) were calculated 0.71, 0.87, 0.90 respectively. The questionnaires were completed by interview and data were analyzed by SPSS 16.FindingsFindings showed that adherence to recommended health regimen had significant negative relationship to total threat perception with perception of threat of self-concept (P<0.001). Also, Adherence to recommended health regimen had a positive significant relationship with total challenge perception. Similarly, perception of challenge for body sensation, self consistency, self ideal (P<0.001) with self ethical-spiritual of self concept (P=0.027) had a positive significant correlation.ConclusionAccording to the correlation between adherence with threat or challenge perception for dimensions of self concept in this study, nurses need to identify methods that cause patients perceive stimuli as a challenge to self-concept. As it guides person to problem solving ways that should be overcame stressful stimuli and leads to integrated adaptation.

Background and aimNight work creates widespread and complicated problems for nurses that effect on quality of care, nurses’ and clients’ health, Safety and ability of work force retention. The aim of this study was to discover nature and structure of nursing experiences about night workMaterials and methodsThis study has been done with phenomenological method. Data were gathered from 9 night work nurses. Sampling was initiated purposeful and continued until data saturation. Data collection has been done by deep and unstructured interviews and data interpretation has been done through Collizi method. Site triangulation, sampling with maximum variance, Member check used for assurance rigor of this study. Findings In this study, three clusters emerged; different nature of night work, out come of night work, coping with night work: struggle with life normalization were found.ConclusionNight work could effects on health of nurses, safety of patients’ and health systems. Efficient management and precise planning of night work is necessary to decrease negative out comes and effective coping of nurses. Therefore, attention to major role of family and manager is important for nurse’s coping.

Background and aimAged population is increasing in Iran, thus attention to elderly people’s social needs and relationships are important. These needs have direct effect on their health and well-being. The aim of this study was to determine correlation of social support and health in an elderly population in Iran.Materials and methodsIn this descriptive –correlational study, 180 elderly people were selected by purposive sampling method. A questionnaire with 3 parts: 1- sociodemographic characteristics 2- social support scale 3- Short Form-36(SF-36) Health Survey was used for data collection. Content and face validity was used in this questionnaire and reliability of the instrument was determined by internal consistency (I= 0.91) and test- retest method (K= 0.88) respectively. Data were analyzed with SPSS.FindingsResults showed that the highest and lowest aspects of the SF-36 were social function (82/5%) and physical function (68/75%). Most subjects (74.4%) had good health and just 4.4 percent of them had poor health. In addition, results showed that both genders had strong family support. Furthermore, 61/1% of elders had strong and only 1/7% of them had weak social support. In general, there was a significant correlation between social support and general health and this correlation in vitality dimension was higher than aspects of health status.ConclusionFindings showed that having social support is associated with better health and well-being among older adults. Based on the results of this study, health professionals can enhance social relationship.

Background and aimAdolescence is a period of transience and development from childhood to adulthood and they face risky behaviors. This study aimed to describe and explain the educational predisposing factors on adolescents’ health.Materials and methodsIn this qualitative study, content analysis has been done on educational factors and adolescents perspectives’ on health. Fifty adolescents have purposefully selected and have been interviewed semi-structurally considering ethical issues till data saturation. The interviews recorded and transcript word by word. Several reviews have made to develop the codes and categories. Sliding movement made marginal data deletion.FindingsIn this study, three main categories included two subcategories have been emerged. The difficulties in higher education included (difficult entrance exam, university as mirage), education for life (necessary for healthy knowledge and behavior, extra capabilities), and schools and the great expectations (the exploration of the talented students, the parents-schools relationship).ConclusionKnowing the heath concept from adolescent is useful and leads to better future. For this reason, policymakers and managers are responsible to provide health education for this group so they can face real life situations.

Background and aimThe intrauterine device (IUD) is the most widely used reversible method of contraception.Discontinuation of various contraceptive methods can cause unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.The aim of this study was to determine duration use and causes of discontinuation IUD in Sarvabad in 2005-2008.Materials and methodsThis descriptive study was conducted at medical health center of Sarvabad.The study population were all women who had IUD removal from 2005-2008. Data were collected by interview and medical records review. In this study, socio-demographic characteristics of 524 cases of IUD removal, duration of use and reasons for removal of it were analyzed. Data were analyzed by SPSS 15.FindingsAt the time of IUD insertion, the mean age of the subjects was 29.14 ± 8.1 years, number of children was 2.8 ± 1.33, and mean duration of IUD use was 36.5±31.14 months. Continuation rates at the end of 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 7 years were 92.7, 87, 79.2, 71.6, 65.3, 20.8 and 11.8 per 100, respectively. The reasons for removal were frequently bleeding, desire for conception and expired date. Bleeding was the common side effect of IUD which caused discontinuation (30.5%), thus lower mean duration were found among this group ascomparative to other groups.ConclusionThe present study showed that high discontinuation rate of IUD and the main reason was bleeding. Therefore, more time for consulting about use of other type of IUD and prevention method is necessary.

Background and aimViolence against women is a human rights issue, but it is also a health issue and its physical, mental and social consequences can put women, family and society’s health in danger. This article aims to review domestic violence phenomenon with a psychological and social approach and estimates its prevalence.Materials and methodsThis study is based on literature review and use of databases: Pub med, Google Scholar, Proquest, Elsevier and Springe for Latin articles and Iran Medex, Magiran databases and Scientific Information Database (SID) for Persian articles, accompanied by a library study on violence against women.FindingsThe results show different levels of domestic violence in different parts of the world. But in various studies showed the prevalence is 10-60 percent and 1-37 percent in pregnancy period. In 28 provinces of Iran, as the National Study on Violence against Women shows, the prevalence is 66 percent and various researches have shown that it is high in some cities of Iran, even in the pregnancy period. The effective factors on the domestic violence are such as: personal and familial characteristics, social environment and social class, men’s economical power, supporting institutions, media’s role and supportive laws.ConclusionIn general, women cannot reach their proper statues and overcome violence unless fundamental changes in cultural, social, economical and political structures of all parts of the world are considered.