Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences
Volume:17 Issue: 6, 2013

Low back pain is a common complaint in communities which has negative effects on different aspects of life. An effective method for reduction of low back pain complications is foot reflexology. Foot reflexology has a positive effect in reduction of complications in low back pain. Foot reflexology reduces respiratory rate، blood pressure and pulse rate. This study is an investigation of the influence of foot reflexology on physiological parameters in patients with low back pain.

In this quasi- experimental study، 150 men with low back pain who were visited in Baghiatallah hospital in Tehran were selected by purposive sampling. The patients were randomly allocated into three groups: experimental (foot reflexology was applied in real points once a week for three week)، control and sham (massage was applied with lower pressure in all points once a week for three weeks). Date was collected by stethoscope and sphygmomanometer; the content validity and reliability of tools was confirmed. For analyze of data، SPSS 18 and kruskal- wallis and chi- squre tests were used.

The results indicated that mean of physiological parameters before intervention in 3 groups were not significantly different (p>0. 05) but after the intervention، mean blood pressure and respiratory rate reduced in all three groups (p<0. 05).

The study showed that foot reflexology reduces physiological parameters; thus it is recommended that nurses use this method for patient relief.

One of the most important accelerating factors in recovery process is patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between patient satisfaction of treatment process with psychiatrist's emotional intelligence.

Eighty-eight patients and forty-eight psychiatrists were selected by multistage sampling from governmental hospitals. The cases answered a bar-on emotional intelligence (EQ) test and a patient satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistic methods, t test and Pearson correlation, using SPSS 16 software.

There was a significant correlation between patient satisfaction with emotional intelligence of psychiatrists (p<0.01). The EQ was not not significantly different among male and female psychiatrists. Patient satisfaction did not have any significant difference between men and women. Emotional intelligence of psychiatrists is average and patient satisfaction is lower than average.

For increasing satisfaction of patients, EQ skills and renewal of medical services are necessary.

Human being is embedded with a variety of relationships. Satisfactory social support is crucial for having physical and psychological wellbeing. The purpose of the present study was to assess the correlation between perceived social support and loneliness with life satisfaction.

In this cross-sectional study، 226 students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. They were assessed using demographic questions، Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support، Life Satisfaction Scale، and Loneliness Scale. Using SPSS (16) software and Pearson correlation test، the data were analyzed.

120 male and 106 female students filled the questionnaires. 91% of the students were single and 95% were residents of university dormitories. There was a significant correlation between life satisfaction with loneliness in the subjects (p<0. 05). Higher social support from the family and friends was correlated with more life satisfaction and less loneliness (p<0. 05).

Findings suggest that، appropriate social support can reduce loneliness and increase life satisfaction. It is also one of the wellbeing predictors. Therefore، the universities should provide strategies to facilitate social support from family and the significant others. Empowerment of the students by teaching social communication skills may also be helpful.