Modern Care Journal
Volume:9 Issue: 4, Dec 2012

Chronic stress can cause irritability and mood instability; and it is an important factor in increasing anxiety and depression. Regarding the importance of decreasing stress، anxiety، and depression using non-medicinal methods the present study aimed at assessing the effect of teaching relaxation on stress، and anxiety of mothers with educable mentally retarded daughters. This randomized case-control field study was conducted on 36 mothers with mentally retarded daughters. In the beginning، the questionnaire «Depression، Anxiety، Stress Scales 21» was filled out for all mothers. Then، they were randomly divided into two case and control groups. Relaxation method was theoretically taught to the cases for 5 sessions together with active exercise. The controls received no education. One month after training sessions، the previous questionnaire was completed for both groups again. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software (V: 13) using statistical tests paired T and independent T at the significant level α=0. 05. Mean score of stress، anxiety and depression before the intervention in both groups was not significantly different. But، at the end of the fourth week after relaxation training total score of stress، anxiety، and depression decreased from 19. 1±10. 4 to 14. 1±7. 6 (P<0. 001)، from 15. 7±9. 9 to 11. 3±6. 9 (P=0. 003)، from 14. 4±10. 6 to 9. 7±6. 5 (P=0. 003); respectively. The difference was statistically significant. Relaxation training is effective in the reduction of stress، anxiety، and depression of mothers with mentally retarded daughters. Therefore، for reduction and prevention of mental disorders recurrence and damage to the patients and families this kind of training must be focused on more by counselors، staffs of abnormal students'' schools،، Anxiety، Depression، Relaxation، Intellectual disabilitymouseover=«function anonymous() {msoCommentShow (''_anchor_1''،''_com_1'')}» onmouseout=«function anonymous() {msoCommentHide (''_com_1'')}» href= «#_msocom_1» name= «_msoanchor_1» > [استنادي. و1]

Nursing education can remain dynamic through innovation and applying new learning and teaching methods. Achieving this goal requires the application of modern teaching methods by university teachers in their teaching plans. The present study was performed to compare the effect of traditional teaching method (based on pamphlets) with lecturing method regarding nursing students'' learning and satisfaction.

This semi- experimental study was done on 28 apprentice nursing students، who were divided into two equal case and control groups، in the pediatric ward of Imam Reza hospital. Educational content was presented in the form of educational booklet in the case group and lecture in the control group. Data collection included a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of four sections including demographic information، learning assessment test، satisfaction assessment of students، and an open question after its reliability and validity (Cronbach α =0. 82). The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software (V: 11. 5)، using descriptive and analytical statistics; at the significant level P<0. 05.

Mean score of posttest in booklet group was 17. 16±1. 18، and in the lecture group it was 15. 66±1. 45، which showed a significant increase compared to pretest (P<0. 001). The rate of learning in pamphlet method was significantly more than lecture method (P=0. 015). Besides، students'' satisfaction with pamphlet method (31. 5 ± 7. 73) was significantly more (P<0. 001).

Regarding that most of specialized nursing courses are clinically presented during apprenticeship، using textual booklet as a student-centered method is recommended.

Learning self-regulation involves a set of strategies that students use to regulate their cognition and increase their academic achievement accordingly. Anxiety، on the other hand، is a main cause of psychological disorder that affects students’ academic achievement. The present paper was conducted to study the influence of teaching self-regulatory learning strategies on students'' academic achievement and anxiety. In this quasi-experimental study، 173 freshmen of psychology were voluntarily given Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). 46 of whom who had anxiety scores above 8 were selected and divided into 2 simple randomized homogeneous experimental and control groups; 23 students in each. The experimental group received eight 100-minute sessions of self-regulatory learning instruction twice a week; the control group had no education at all. The instrument to assess students’ anxiety and academic achievement included BAI and students’ total average scores. The obtained data was fed into SPSS software (V: 17) and analyzed by means of statistical tests (i. e. independent and dependent t-tests، c 2، and covariance) at the significant level P<0. 05. Having applied self-regulatory learning strategies education، findings indicated that، the experimental groups’ mean anxiety score decreased from 18. 26 to 7. 83 which was statistically significant (P<0. 001); while that of the control group was not statistically significant after the intervention. If one takes the fact that students’ academic achievement has a direct relationship with their test anxiety into account، teaching self-regulatory strategies can be suggested for the improvement of students’ academic performance.

Multiple Sclerosis is one of the most prevalent diseases of the central nervous system that for some reasons، including occurrence during the youth and not having a definite treatment causes depression in patients associated with disability and recurrence. The present study aimed at evaluating impact of peer education on depression in patients with multiple sclerosis in 2011. In this semi-experimental study، after non- randomized sampling، the selected subjects were randomly assigned into two experimental and control groups. In the beginning، five educational sessions were held for the peer group to prepare them for their job. Then، after the preparation of the peer group، they held six educational sessions for the experimental group during two months. Data collection tools were demographic information، DASS 21، and a self-administered questionnaire. The obtained data was analysed by means of statistical tests c 2، paired t، and independent t at the significant level P<0. 05. Independent T did not show a significant difference in the depression score the two groups before intervention; whereas after intervention a statistically significant difference was observed (P=0. 002). Pair t، too، showed a statistically significant difference in the depression reduction in experimental group after peer group performance (P=0. 001). However، no statistically significant difference was seen in the score of the control groups depression. Since the Peer group education program caused depression reduction in patients with MS the utilization of this program، as an efficient and cost-effective method is recommended.

Mental health is considered as one of the criteria in determining total health of people. Due to high prevalence of impaired mental health in students and its importance the present study was performed to compare general health in athletic and non-athletic students in Birjand Payam-e-Noor University in 2010-2011. In this case-control study، 75 athletic students from Birjand Payam-e-Noor university with a record of 2 years of continuous exercise، as the case group، and the same number of non-athletic students without having any history of continuous exercise from the same university were taken as subjects. The two groups had been selected through census and both were matched for age. Demographic form and GHQ-28 questionnaire were completed by both. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software (version 11) using statistical tests descriptive statistics، independent T، and χ2 at the significant level P<0. 05. Mean score of mental health was significantly higher in athletic students (P=0. 007). It was higher in all four subscale scores than that of non-athletic students.، The difference between the two groups in the subscales of physical symptoms، anxiety symptoms، sleep disturbance، and depression symptoms was significant (P<0. 05). The results showed that athletic students'' mental health is better than that of non-athletic ones

Sedentary living and decrease in muscle strength may predispose to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in type II diabetics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a period of resistance and vibration training on metabolic - cardiovascular risk factors and muscular strength in type II diabetics. Twenty three male diabetic patients aged 51±8. 9 years were divided into 2 groups; a control group and a combined resistance-vibration training group. The training sessions covered 12 weeks combined training held 4 times a week (2 days for resistance training، 2 days for vibration training) each lasting about 60 minutes. Resistance exercises were done with 60-70% intensity of one maximum repetition، and vibration training was performed with frequencies 30-35 Hz. The controls did not take part in any of the exercises. Systolic and diastolic BP، glycosylated hemoglobin، blood glucose، triglyceride، total cholesterol، HDL، LDL، and muscular strength of the knee and the arm were measured employing valid methods. In order to find out the effect of combined resistance-vibration training dependent t-test was used at the significant level P<0. 05. Combined resistance-vibration training caused a significant reduction in the blood glucose (P=0. 01)، percent of glycosylated hemoglobin (P=0. 01)، triglyceride (P=0. 001)، LDL (P=0. 05)، systolic (P=0. 001) and diastolic (P=0. 01) blood pressure، significant increase of HDL (P=0. 05)، muscular strength of lower extremities and upper extremities (P=0. 01 and P=0. 05، respectively) in type II diabetics. Moreover، comparison of mean changes between experimental and control groups showed that there were significant differences between the two groups. A 12 week combination of resistance and vibration training can be beneficial for type II diabetics because they can attenuate metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors.

Family care-giving has adverse consequences for mental health and well-being of caregivers. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between aspects of religious coping with depression and burnout in family caregivers. In this descriptive and cross-sectional research، 283 female caregivers were selected through purposive sampling by referring to health-treatment centers in Isfahan. Iranian Religious Coping Scale، Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)، and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used for data collecting. The obtained data was analyzed using Pearson''s correlation coefficient، stepwise regression analysis، and independent t-test. It was found that religious coping with depression and burnout in family caregivers were significantly correlated (P < 0. 01) Besides، well-adjusted caregivers reported higher levels of positive religious coping and lower levels of negative religious coping than maladjusted ones. Based on regression analysis active coping approach، passive religious coping، and negative feelings towards the Lord were powerful and significant predictors to depression in the caregivers (P<0. 0005). The present research، while confirming the role of religious coping in family caregivers، holds that the kind of religious coping used by caregivers is important، too.

Accurate and complete documentation of nursing reports is the precondition for evidence-based care and one of the most important duties of nurses. Besides، it has a decisive r ole in the quality of nursing care and improves the relationship with other health team members. The object of the present survey was to evaluate the structure and content of nursing reports and reasons of incorrect reporting in Kashan Shahid Behashti hospital in 2011. In this cross-sectional study، 140 nursing documents were evaluated. The records were randomly selected from the Intensive care unit، internal medicine ward، and surgery ward. A checklist designed according to the eleven principles of nursing documentation and had 38 items was used in order to evaluate the quality of nursing documentation.. In the checklist، 30 items referred the content and 8 regarded the structure of documentation. To pinpoint barriers in nursing documentation، a previously self-designed questionnaire was applied. The obtained data was analyzed using SPSS software (V: 11. 5) and statistical tests and Chi-square at the significant level P<0. 05. Among the documents 21. 4% had a favorable quality، 53. 6% had moderate quality، while the quality of 25% was weak. In the hospital mentioned، t otal content quality of nursing documents was low but that of structure was acceptable. According to nurses، nursing staff shortage، fatigue، high workload، and the documentation''s lack of impact on employment promotion and nurses'' giving priority to patients'' care rather than documentation، occupational problems، lack of knowledge of the principles of writing correct documentation، and not knowing legal consequences were the most reasons for or barriers against accurate and due documentation. The content of nursing documents was not satisfactory and requires improvement.

Chronic renal failure and hemodialysis affect patients'' ability due to its debilitating nature. It can cause numerous self-care deficits for patients. Promoting self-care behaviors can help patients to maintain their health and well-being. The present study was performed to determine the effect of educational plan based on Teach Back method on hemodialysis patients'' self-care deficits. In this quasi-experimental study carried out in 2012، thirty-six hemodialysis patients were selected through convenience sampling method from the hemodialysis ward of Birjand Vali-e -asr hospital. Necessary data was collected using self-care deficits questionnaire whose validity had been approved. The questionnaire was filled out through live interview، and an educational plan was carried out using teach-back method considering the deficits diagnosed. One month، after intervention، the questionnaire was filled out again. The obtained data was analysed by means of SPSS software (V: 17) using Wilcoxon test at the significant level P<0. 05. The findings showed that mean of patients'' self-care deficits in seven domains before the intervention were 4. 05 ± 1. 85، 2. 19 ± 1. 89، 3 ± 2. 17، 1. 11 ± 1. 23، 2. 97 ± 1. 34، 2. 52 ± 2. 41، and 2. 80 ± 2. 68 in nutrition، skin care، activity and rest، elimination، fluid and electrolytes، drug taking، and mental health; respectively. But، after the intervention mean self-care deficits in the seven domains changed to 1. 97 ± 1. 69 (P<0/001)، 0. 97 ± 1. 59 (P<0/001)، 1. 58 ± 1. 71 (P<0. 001)، 0. 30 ± 0. 66 (P<0. 001)، 0. 91 ± 1. 50 (P<0. 001)، 2. 52 ± 2. 41 (P<0. 001)، and 2. 80 ± 2. 68 (P<0. 001); respectively. The results revealed that the educational plan had been positively effective in patients'' self-care deficits. The present study showed that an educational plan based on Teach-Back method can significantly reduce hemodialysis patients'' physical and psychological self-care deficits. Therefore، nurses can apply this educational strategy to improve their health.

Adolescence is one of the most important periods and adolescents are among the most vulnerable social groups. The emergence of strong emotions following physical، psychological، and cognitive changes in them can lead to aggression. The present study aimed at exploring the relationship between demographic characteristics and aggression in secondary school students. This study was a descriptive-analytical one done on 750 secondary school students in Birjand in 2009، which were selected through classified randomized sampling. For data collection a demographic questionnaire and Buss and Perry’s aggression questionnaire were used. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software (V: …….) using descriptive and analytic statistics including independent T، and variance analysis test.. According to the present study، 54. 1% of males and 52. 8% of females were aggressive. There was a significant relationship between mean aggression and sex (P=0. 007). But، no significant difference was observed between aggression of the students and order indexes considered in this study such father’s and mother’s occupation، father’s and mother’s education، average in the previous term، and one''s birth order. There was a significant relationship between the length of time of using computer and watching television، and aggression (P<0. 001). There was also a significant relationship between aggression and girls'' menstrual cycle. It was found that aggression was higher in the students who spend more time watching television. The results should be considered in planning appropriate mental health intervention.

Many studies have shown that one of the most common complications of people suffering myocardial infarction (MI) is anxiety and depression. Psychological problem such as depression and anxiety about probable future cardiac attack endangers imperlis and mental health of patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with myocardial infarction in Birjand. In this semi-experimental study، we selected 24 patients with acute myocardial infarction (12 patients with anxiety and12 patients with depression). Patients were treated by cognitive-behavioral therapy in 12 sessions of 1. 5 hours. Beck depression test (BDI-II) and Beck Anxiety Scale to (BAI) were used. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 15 using statistical tests of Student-t test at the significant level of P<0. 05. After treatment، depression in the patients decreased from 19. 08±5. 63 to 7. 66±3. 62، P<0. 001 and anxiety decreased from 30±11. 33 to 12. 16±7. 62، which were statistically significant Cognitive-behavioral group therapy plays a positive role in decreasing depression and anxiety in patients with myocardial infarction. It is recommended that this type of psychological therapy to be considered for patients with myocardial infarction

Self-medication is an important part of peoples’ medical Behavior. The prevalence rates of self-medication are high all over the world. The aim of this study was to survey prevalence of self-medication amongst university students and the factors affecting it. 1048 students participated in this cross-sectional and descriptive study in Birjand (Medical Sciences، Birjand، Islamic Azad and Payame-Noor) Universities. The samples were selected randomly by self- designed questionnaire. The obtained data analyzed by SPSS software (V. 15) using descriptive- analytical statistics test and logistic regression. The prevalence of self-medication was 86. 7%. The most common reason for self-medication was previous experience (77. 2%)، the most common type was tablet (88. 7%)، the most common drug was palliatives (81. 7%) and the most common symptoms were allergy (36. 1%). The findings of the logistic regression analysis showed that Payame-Noor University students were less likely to use drugs for self-medication than the Medical Sciences students (P=0. 002). The students who had Tamin Ejtemaei and Military insurance were more likely to use drugs for self-medication than those who hadn''t any insurance (P<0. 05). Prevalence of self-medication is high in the educated youth، despite majority being aware of its harmful effects. It is necessary to pay more attention to the promotion of drug use continuing education، increase access to health services، including strengthening the role of the family physician and medical consultation universities and educational، especially for the young and vulnerable students and their motivation to correct the systematic treatment of the disease increased.

In 2003، a vaccination campaign was conducted to immunize the individuals aged 5 -25 years old against rubella infection. The present study aimed at investigating the extent of immunity to rubella in premarital women five years after the campaign. This descriptive study was conducted on 298 premarital women who had been vaccinated during the national rubella vaccination campaign (2003).، The anti rubella antibody (IgG) titer of the women referred to provincial health office in Birjand was evaluated through simple randomized sampling، using ELISA method. The antibody titer above 10 IU/ml was accounted protective. Mean age of the participants was 21. 7 ±4 years ranging from 14 to 30 years. Most of them (68. 7%) were living in urban areas. The majority of them (51. 2%) were school fellows or university students Only one participant''s antibody titer against rubella virus was less than 10 IU/ml. According to this study، mean antibody titer was 99. 77±58. 8 ranging from 5. 2 to 333. 5. Regarding the immunity of 99. 7% of the subjects، the risk of «congenital rubella syndrome» in our society seems to be low. However، low titers of antibodies in a small percent of the cases prompts the worry that there will likely be a reduction in immunity in the following years. Thus، it is recommended that the present study should be repeated in the following 3 or 4 years.