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Background & Aims During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination is necessary for pregnant or lactating women which can prevent them from infection to severe case of disease. The present study aims to determine the factors related to the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant or lactating women in Zahedan, Iran using the health belief model (HBM). Materials & Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Participants were 260 pregnant or lactating women referred to comprehensive health service centers in Zahedan city in 2022. Sampling method was done as a convenience sampling method. Data collection was done using a demographic form and a HBM-based questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed based on Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.7. Moreover, the content validity index value was 0.81 and the content validity ratio was 0.77. The data were analyzed using non-parametric Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman correlation test, and regression analysis in SPSS software, version 22. Results The results of the regression analysis showed that the demographic variables explained 12.6% of the variance in vaccine acceptance behavior, where only the effect of age and educational level was significant, (P<0.05). The BM constructs along with age and educational level predicted 26.3% of the variance in vaccine acceptance behavior, where only age, self-efficacy and perceived benefits had a significant effect (P<0.05). Overall, the mentioned variables predicted 38.9% of the variance in vaccine acceptance behavior. Conclusion The factors of young age, high educational level, and the HBM constructs of self-efficacy and perceived benefits can predict the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance behavior of pregnant or lactating women in the South East of Iran. These findings can help policymakers and health care providers to use this model in designing program for improving vaccination acceptance of these high-risk groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Due to the effects of COVID-9, health care workers, including nurses, faced many psychological challenges, including death anxiety. This study aims to determine the death anxiety level of nurses working in the intensive care units (ICUs) for COVID-19 patients in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2020. Materials & Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted on 179 nurses working in the ICUs for COVID-19 patients in two hospitals located in Tehran and Qom cities. Continuous sampling method was used for their selection. Data collection was done using a demographic form and Templer's 15-item death anxiety scale. Results The mean death anxiety score of nurses was 8.74±2.007 out of 15, which is higher than the median score (i.e., 7.5). The results of one-way analysis of variance showed that the death anxiety score was significantly different between nurses only in terms of age (P=0.000). Tukey's post hoc test showed that the mean DAS score in nurses aged 30-39 was lower than in nurses aged ≥40 years and <30 years. There was no statistically significant difference in death anxiety between nurses in terms of other demographic factors (P>0.05). Conclusion The nurses working in ICUs experienced a high level of death anxiety during the COVID-19 in Iran. It is necessary that the policy makers and educational, medical or hospital managers develop educational and interventional programs including online in-service programs or educational booklets to help nurses overcome the COVID-19-related conditions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Caring for a patient undergoing hemodialysis is a stressful experience that causes a heavy care burden. With the outbreak of COVID-19, family caregivers of these patients had increased worry about the risk of infection in the dialysis centers. This fear can make their care burden heavier. This study aims to investigate the impact of coping skills training on the care burden experienced by family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials & Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2020 on 60 family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Comprehensive Treatment Center for Special Diseases in Birjand, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received coping skills training in six sessions. All participants completed the Zarit burden interview before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSSsoftware, version 19. Results The two groups were homogeneous regarding demographic information (P>0.05). Both groups had a moderate to severe care burden before the intervention. A significant difference was reported in the care burden score of the intervention group after training (P<0.001). Conclusion Coping skills training can reduce the care burden of the family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, coping skills training can be used by nursing managers to reduce the care burden of family caregivers of patients with hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims One of the goals of providing training to the anesthesia care team is to train staff with theoretical and functional abilities to deal with clinical challenges. However, there is a gap between the existing and desired performance levels of personnel in anesthesia procedures. This study aims to assess the competence of anesthesia personnel in Kashan, Iran, and find its related factors. Materials & Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 95 anesthesia personnel of hospitals in Kashan, Iran, in 2023, who were selected using a census method. The data collection tools were a demographic form and the Anesthesia Nursing Competence Scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS v.22 software using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, standard deviation), Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman’s correlation test, Point-Biserial correlation test, and regression analysis. Results The mean age of the participants was 34.57±10.1 years. The overall competence level of anesthesia personnel was at a high level (84.84±53.11). Their competence had a significant relationship with their sex and marital status (P<0.05). Conclusion The competencee of anesthesia personnel in Kashan is at a high level in all fields, except for the patient’s risk care. It is recommended to empower personnel in this area to prevent adverse events and improve the quality of medical services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Patient care is the basis of the nursing profession, and the theoretical principles of nursing are based on understanding caring behaviors. Self-compassion can be a powerful source for these behaviors. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-compassion and caring behaviors of Iranian nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials & Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 124 nurses working in selected hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences from March to May 2022. They were selected using a convenience sampling method. Data collection was done using a demographic/occupational form, Wolf’s caring behaviors inventory (CBI), and Neff’s self-compassion scale (SCS). After collecting the data, they were analyzed in SPSS software, vesion 22 using Spearman’s correlation test, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression analysis. Results The mean total score of CBI was 82.06±7.76, which is a relatively high score. The highest score was related to the dimension of knowledge and skill. The mean total score of SCS was 79.74±12.73. The results of the Spearman correlation test showed that the relationship between self-compassion and caring behaviors was positive and significant (P<0.05). Also, the linear regression model showed a significant and direct linear relationship between the two variables. Conclusion Self-compassion of nurses has a significant relationship with their caring behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the increase of self-compassion, their caring behaviors improve. It is recommended to teach nurses self-compassion skills to improve their caring behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused many psychological and social problems in people around the world, especially nurses. The present study aims to investigate and compare post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burnout, and psychological disorders in nurses with and without COVID-19. Materials & Methods This is a causal-comparative study. The study population includes all male and female nurses of non-government hospitals in Tehran from July to September 2021. Of these, 220 nurses (110 without COVID-19 infection and 110 with COVID-19) voluntarily participated in the study. The questionnaires were the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale. Finally, data analysis was performed using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance in SPSS software, version 16. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of PTSD, burnout, and psychological disorders (P<0.05). Nurses with COVID-19 had higher scores in PTSD (F=96.38, P<0.001), emotional exhaustion (P<0.001, F=12.45), depersonalization (F=15.49, P<0.001), depression (F=92.97, P<0.001), anxiety (F=37.94, P<0.001) and stress (F=47.6, P<0.001). The nurses with no COVID-19 had higher score in personal accomplishment. Conclusion Nurses who were infected with COVID-19 had lower psychological health compared to noninfected nurses. For this purpose, it is necessary to take measures to identify and provide psychological treatments to improve the mental health of vulnerable nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Risk management in academic research, courses, and degrees is crucial in universities. However, there is no evidence for risk management in most aspects of university management. This study was conducted to determine the risk management Evaluation from the Staff's Perspective of Iran University Medical Sciences In 2021. Materials & Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The research samples were 224 staff of the Iran University of Medical Sciences selected by the available sampling method. The data collection tool was a risk management questionnaire. Risk management was classified into six dimensions. The first dimension is related to the level of employees' knowledge of risk management. The second dimension of risk management status. The third dimension includes policies and procedures. The fourth dimension is related to training status. The fifth dimension was the position of risk management, and finally, the sixth one was monitoring, analysis, evaluation, and risk control. In total, the questionnaire was examined in 45 questions on a 5-point Likert scale and was classified into three levels: poor (score less than 3), moderate (score 3 to 4), and good (score more than 4). The data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 26. The numerical indices of minimum, maximum, Mean±SD for the quantitative variables of the research were used. Friedman test was used to examine the relationship between domains and independent t-test, and analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between individual variables and risk management. Results The results showed that most employees (59.4%) were women and the majority (48.7%) were 45- 36 years old. The majority of employees (72.8%) were married. Most of the participants (54.4%) worked in administrative headquarters. More than half of the employees (53.1%) had a university degree at the undergraduate level, and only 12.5% of them had completed risk management courses. The results showed that the total score of risk management was 2.44±0/82. The Friedman test result showed a statistically significant relationship between employees' knowledge of risk management and all areas of risk management (p = 0.00). Statistical tests showed that risk management had a statistically significant relationship with the variables of gender (P = 0.02), risk management (P<0.001), and education (P=0.02). The mean score was higher in men than women, and also in employees who had passed the risk management course was higher than other employees. Two-to-two Tukey comparison also showed that the average score obtained by employees with master's degree education was significantly higher than an associate degree (P=0.03). At other levels, this difference was insignificant. Conclusion The results showed that, generally, from the perspective of the Iran University of Medical Sciences staff, risk management at this university is poor. In this regard, the development of educational programs, the adoption of policies and procedures, and the establishment of monitoring programs to implement risk management should be seriously pursued at the university. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]