Search

Objective: To determine the effects of the implementation of the telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) program on the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).Methods: In this prospective study, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) dispatchers and all bystanders attending to patients with OHCA were included. The consensus sampling was carried out based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data collection tool was consisted of a demographic questionnaire for patients and bystanders accompanied by a checklist for CPR outcomes. Data were collected 6 months before and after the implementation of the T-CPR program and analyzed using SPSS version 18.Results: The results revealed that the percentages of successful and unsuccessful CPR cases before the implementation of the T-CPR program were 28.1% and 71.9%, respectively. However, in total, 32% and 67.8% of the CPR cases were successful and unsuccessful, respectively, after the implementation of the mentioned program. The survival rate increased from 56.5% in the pre-intervention phase to 72.4% in the post-intervention one. In terms of the outcomes, brain complications decreased from 40% in the pre-intervention phase to 32.1% in the post-intervention one; however, the Chi-square test showed no significant difference in terms of CPR outcomes in the two time periods (p=0.797).Conclusion: According to the results, it is recommended that T-CPR programs be developed and dispatchers be trained in the area of this research. The results could be regarded as a guide to EMS managers, healthcare professionals, and the basis for further studies on this subject.

Background: Many patients with heart failure grapple with related problems that threaten their feeling of well-being and quality of life. Patients look for ways to cope with the new situation. The present study aimed to explore religious coping from the perspective of patients with heart failure Methods: This qualitative study used the content analysis of the semi-structured interviews. The data were collected from 18 participants referring to training hospitals in Kerman University of Medical Sciences in southeastern Iran. The data were analyzed using Lundman and Graneheim qualitative content analysis. Results: The main theme of “Spiritual coping, a dominant strategy” was extracted with two categories: 1- “religious belief” having the sub-categories of “inner faith” and “search of meaning” 2- “connection to God as the supreme power” with sub-categories of “seeking healing through supplication and rituals”, “worship as a barrier to the flood of problems”, and “submission to and trust in God”. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a spiritual strategy helps the patients effectively to cope with heart failure. Patients learn to use religious beliefs and faith to accept the reality of the disease and its stages and to manage their condition with patience, tolerance, and hope calmly and confidently for a bright future.

Background: Vegetative state (VS) occurs through return of the brain stem after coma state. After hospital discharge, responsibility of caring for VS patients is transferred to their families, which causes a high burden on them. Nurses have an important role in helping the family caregivers to meet their needs and cope with difficulties. To explore the role of nurses during coping process of family caregivers of VS patients. Methods: This study is a part of a larger qualitative study which was performed in Kerman province, Iran during 2014- 2015. Purposive and theoretical sampling was used. 14 caregivers participated in the study. Data were gathered using face-to-face in-depth interviews and managed by MAXQDA 10 software. Analysis was done through constant Comparative Method. Results: Three themes of “nurse as a pursuer teacher”, “nurse as a compassionate caregiver”, and “nurse as a supporter” were derived from analysis that represent various roles of a nurse in the coping process of family caregivers of vegetative patients during the care process. Conclusion: Nurses can play an effective role in improving the caregivers’ well-being by considering the importance of training at discharge time and during home care, helping families in providing care and support them during care process.