Search

Introduction: Activities of daily living (ADL) refer to the ability to perform the essential self-care activities that are necessary to have a life without dependency. Development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, as age progresses, can affect ADL. Facilitating the return of patients to the ADL and determining the level of care is one of the responsibilities of nurses. Therefore, using Barthel and Katz indexes, this study aimed to assess ADL dependency after discharge from cardiac care unit (CCU). Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 180 patients were selected by the available sampling method. Data were analyzed before and after admission to the CCU using SPSS software version 13. Results: The mean score of the Barthel and Katz indexes, before admission to the CCU, was 92.96 and 5.37, respectively, which changed to 82.85 and 4.57 post-cardiac care unit (P-CCU). Accordingly, ADL dependency increased after discharge from CCU. Conclusion: After discharge from the CCU (in P-CCU), patients do not return to the same level of activities before hospitalization, and the functional status and ability of patients to perform daily activities decrease.

Introduction: Activities of daily living (ADL) refer to the ability to perform the essential selfcare activities that are necessary to have a life without dependency. Development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, as age progresses, can affect ADL. Facilitating the return of patients to the ADL and determining the level of care is one of the responsibilities of nurses. Therefore, using Barthel and Katz indexes, this study aimed to assess ADL dependency after discharge from cardiac care unit (CCU). Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 180 patients were selected by the available sampling method. Data were analyzed before and after admission to the CCU using SPSS software version 13. Results: The mean score of the Barthel and Katz indexes, before admission to the CCU, was 92.96 and 5.37, respectively, which changed to 82.85 and 4.57 post-cardiac care unit (P-CCU). Accordingly, ADL dependency increased after discharge from CCU. Conclusion: After discharge from the CCU (in P-CCU), patients do not return to the same level of activities before hospitalization, and the functional status and ability of patients to perform daily activities decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effect of warm footbath before bedtime on the quality of sleep on patients with acute Coronary Syndrome in Cardiac Care Unit. Methods: This study was conducted on 120 patients admitted to CCU at Mazandaran Heart Center and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. In the intervention group, warm footbath was performed after the second night in hospital before bed time by 41 C water for 20 minutes for three consecutive nights; in contrast, the control group did not receive anything of this sort. The next day, St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire was completed to evaluate sleep quality. Then, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and Friedman, Wilcoxon exact statistical tests. Results: The quality of sleep in the first night of hospitalization was different from the third night after the intervention in both groups and the improvement process of sleep quality was observed in both groups. Most patients had moderate impairments (23-36), which had not changed during the intervention. In intervention groups, 8 patients had severe sleep disorders (greater than 37), which declined to 1 after three nights of intervention. While, in the control group this number fell from 10 patients with severe sleep disorders to 5. Warm footbath had a great positive impact on patients suffering from severe sleep disorders (P

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the effect of warm footbath before bedtime on the quality of sleep on patients with acute Coronary Syndrome in Cardiac Care Unit. Methods: This study was conducted on 120 patients admitted to CCU at Mazandaran Heart Center and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. In the intervention group, warm footbath was performed after the second night in hospital before bed time by 41 C water for 20 minutes for three consecutive nights; in contrast, the control group did not receive anything of this sort. The next day, St Mary's Hospital Sleep Questionnaire was completed to evaluate sleep quality. Then, the obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and Friedman, Wilcoxon exact statistical tests. Results: The quality of sleep in the first night of hospitalization was different from the third night after the intervention in both groups and the improvement process of sleep quality was observed in both groups. Most patients had moderate impairments (23-36), which had not changed during the intervention. In intervention groups, 8 patients had severe sleep disorders (greater than 37), which declined to 1 after three nights of intervention. While, in the control group this number fell from 10 patients with severe sleep disorders to 5. Warm footbath had a great positive impact on patients suffering from severe sleep disorders (P<0.05). Conclusion: Although warm footbath did not improve the quality of sleep in all patients, it reduced the number of patients who had severe sleep disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Discharges against medical advice (DAMA) is a common problem of hospitals that could lead increasing the complications and readmission. For this, the aim of this study is to investigate the frequency and effective factors of DAMA in patients with cardiovascular disease in hospital cardiac care units (CCU) of East Azerbaijan, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed, in 2013, in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Required information was extracted using valid and reliable forms of medical records of 2000 patients admitted to 20 CCU in 17 hospitals of East Azerbaijan, by two trained interviewers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, percentage, etc.), chi-square test, and linear regression model using the SPSS software. The tests were considered a statistically significant level of 0.05%. Results: The results showed that 272 patients (13.6%) were DAMA from the hospital. The frequency of DAMA was in men more than women. The most frequency of discharge has occurred in the range of 40-80 years old. Results of linear regression showed that there was a significant correlation between DAMA and type of insurance, history of myocardial infarction (MI), comorbid disease, cause of hospitalization, location of hospital, and staying < 48 hours (P < 0.050). Conclusion: In this study, the rate of DAMA was relatively high compared with similar studies and it is considered as a concern problem that should study the reasons and its effective factors and plan effective interventions to reduce them.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are among the most prevalent chronic diseases leading to high degrees of mortality and morbidity worldwide and in Iran. The aim of the current study was to determine and develop appropriate indicators for evaluating provided service quality for cardiovascular patients admitted to Cardiac Care Units (CCU) in Iran. Methods: In order to determine the indicators for evaluating provided service quality, a four-stage process including reviewing systematic review articles in premier bibliographic databases, interview, performing two rounds of Delphi technique, and holding experts panel by attendance of experts in different fields was adopted. Finally, after recognizing relevant indicators in resources, these indicators were finalized during various stages using ideas of 27 experts in different fields. Results: Among 2800 found articles in the text reviewing phase, 21 articles, which had completely mentioned relevant indicators, were studied and 48 related indicators were extracted. After two interviews with a cardiologist and an epidemiologist, 32 items of the indicators were omitted and replaced by 27 indicators coping with the conditions of Iranian hospitals. Finally, 43 indicators were added into the Delphi phase and after 2 rounds of Delphi with 18 specialists, 7 cases were excluded due to their low scores of applicability. In the experts’ panel stage, 6 items were also omitted and 10 new indicators were developed to replace them. Eventually, 40 indicators were finalized. Conclusion: In this study, some proper indicators for evaluating provided service quality for CCU admissions in Iran were determined. Considering the informative richness of these indicators, they can be used by managers, policy makers, health service providers, and also insurance agencies in order to improve the quality of services, decisions, and policies.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are among the most prevalent chronic diseases leading to high degrees of mortality and morbidity worldwide and in Iran. The aim of the current study was to determine and develop appropriate indicators for evaluating provided service quality for cardiovascular patients admitted to Cardiac Care Units (CCU) in Iran. Methods: In order to determine the indicators for evaluating provided service quality, a four-stage process including reviewing systematic review articles in premier bibliographic databases, interview, performing two rounds of Delphi technique, and holding experts panel by attendance of experts in different fields was adopted. Finally, after recognizing relevant indicators in resources, these indicators were finalized during various stages using ideas of 27 experts in different fields. Results: Among 2800 found articles in the text reviewing phase, 21 articles, which had completely mentioned relevant indicators, were studied and 48 related indicators were extracted. After two interviews with a cardiologist and an epidemiologist, 32 items of the indicators were omitted and replaced by 27 indicators coping with the conditions of Iranian hospitals. Finally, 43 indicators were added into the Delphi phase and after 2 rounds of Delphi with 18 specialists, 7 cases were excluded due to their low scores of applicability. In the experts' panel stage, 6 items were also omitted and 10 new indicators were developed to replace them. Eventually, 40 indicators were finalized. Conclusion: In this study, some proper indicators for evaluating provided service quality for CCU admissions in Iran were determined. Considering the informative richness of these indicators, they can be used by managers, policy makers, health service providers, and also insurance agencies in order to improve the quality of services, decisions, and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]