Search

Background: Virtual social networks are the most important communication tools in the modern era, which have gained remarkable popularity in various communities. The use of social networks by different age groups has been on the rise, especially among adolescents. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess adaptation to motherhood and its influential factors in the first year postpartum in Iranian women. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 students aged 16-18 years during 2016-2017. The research samples were selected by multi-stage method. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires and a researcher-made questionnaire to assess the rate and mode of using social networks. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive statistics. Results: In total, 77.8% of the adolescents were registered in various social networks, and the majority were the users of Telegram (75.6%). Moreover, 58.9% of the participants had been using virtual social networks for more than 12 months, and 19.4% used the networks for more than four hours per day for non-educational purposes. On the other hand, 47.2% of the students used social networks for educational purposes for less than one hour. Conclusion: According to the results, adolescents frequently used virtual social networks, especially for non-educational purposes. Therefore, it is recommended that various scientific channels and networks with greater magnetism be designed for entertaining adolescents.

Background: Fear is an important factor that causes pregnant women to opt for cesarean section. Women with the fear of childbirth consider labor pain to be beyond their power. Basically, these women request cesarean section only to avoid normal vaginal delivery, which indicates their low self-efficacy in normal vaginal delivery. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of couples counseling based on the problem-solving approach on the fear of delivery, self-efficacy, and choice of delivery mode in the primigravid women requesting elective cesarean section in Zanjan, Iran. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 76 pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy and their spouses. The women were eligible for elective cesarean section and met the inclusion criteria. The intervention was based on the problem-solving counseling approach with the couples, which was performed in three weekly sessions at the clinic of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Zanjan, Iran. Data were collected using the questionnaires of knowledge and attitude, Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire, and Louis’ self-efficacy scale at the baseline and after one month of the final session. Data analysis was performed using independent t-test, Chi-square, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Significant differences were observed in the mean scores of knowledge and attitude of women and men, and fear of delivery and self-efficacy of women between the intervention and control groups after counseling (P

Background: Considering the increasing prevalence of psychological problems, complications, and consequences of depression in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD), the application of complementary therapies such as meditation counseling is highly important. Objectives: Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of meditation on depression in patients undergoing HD. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 57 patients who met the inclusion criteria by the convenience sampling method. The participants were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. Those in the intervention group attended three 15-20 minute educational practice sessions weekly offered over an eight weeks while the control group received no intervention. A validated questionnaire assessed depressive symptoms at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks. In addition, the CONSORT statement was adhered to where possible. Finally, t-test, repeated-measures ANOVA, Fisher’s exact test, and Chi-square tests were used to analyze data using SPSS 16. Results: The mean depression score among the patients of the intervention group decreased from 85±1.56 at baseline to 70±1.27 at 8-week follow-up (P=0.003). Further, the mean score of depressive symptoms significantly decreased during eight weeks after the intervention (P

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is considered a common infectious disease in the intensive care units (ICU) and it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, humidifying the artificial airway is important care for patients under mechanical ventilation in the ICU. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the effect of using active and passive humidifiers on VAP in ICU patients. Methods: The samples of this clinical trial included 80 patients under mechanical ventilation who were selected by simple sampling method and randomly assigned to two groups of 40 cases. Active and passive humidifiers were applied in the first and second groups, respectively. In addition, data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) checklist. Patients were assessed for seven days (days one, three, and seven) in terms of VAP incidence rate. Finally, data were analyzed by the SPSS software, version 16 using independent t-test and Fischer’s exact test. Results: The heated humidifier standard (HHS) and heat and moisture exchangers (HME) groups were homogeneous with regard to the rate of VAP incidence, indicating no significant difference on days three (P=0.239) and seven (P=0.370). Further, the number of patients with VAP was clinically higher in the HHS group (52.5%) compared to the HME group (42.5%). Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, no significant difference was found between the research groups regarding VAP incidence. However, humidifiers are suggested to be selected based on the needs of the patents and duration of ventilation.

Background: Sexual relationships of women with breast cancer are affected by diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess sexual function and sexual behavior in women with breast cancer having sexual distress in Zanjan in 2015-2016. Methods: This cross sectional study was part of a larger study, which was performed on 75 women with breast cancer in the oncology clinic of Valiasr hospital and Mehraneh charity clinic. Sampling was based on a purposeful approach. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Sexual Function Questionnaire (FSFI), and indigenous sexual behavior questionnaire in women of reproductive age (SBQ). Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared and Spearman-Pearson tests. Results: A majority of the women (77.3%) had an undesirable sexual function and orgasm dysfunction (65.3%). Besides, it was found that the majority of women had low to moderate sexual behavior. The correlational analyses related to sexual function and sexual behavior and their sub-scales showed that there was only a significant positive relationship between the sexual capacity subscale and the total sexual function scale (P

Background: Dialysis adequacy is one of the most important factors in determining the survival rate and mortality of dialysis patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dialysis adequacy of patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis at dialysis centers located in the province of Zanjan, located in northwest Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 257 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis with an available sampling method in 6 dialysis centers in the province of Zanjan. The hemodialysis sessions were performed for 3 to 4 hours using via synthetic filters and bicarbonate dialysate. To determine the adequacy of dialysis, serum BUN levels were assessed before and after dialysis. The standard software provided by the Ministry of Health was used to calculate the adequacy of dialysis and Kt/V was considered to be at least 1.2. Results: The most common underlying causes of chronic dialysis were hypertension (41.2%) and diabetes mellitus (35.8%), respectively. Mean Kt/V and URR were 1.26±0.34 and 63.55±9.5%, respectively. The difference among these indexes was significant between men and women (p

Background and Objectives: Dysmenorrhea affects women’s quality of life; moreover it results in physical, mental, social and economical problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupressure at the third point of liver channel (liv3) on quality of life in female students of Tehran Teaching Training (Tarbiat Moallem) Center with primary dysmenorrhea.Methods: This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 194 female students of Nasibeh Tarbiat Moallem center in Tehran who had had inclusion criteria. In the first cycle, the severity and duration of pain and quality of life were determined. Therefore, the participants were randomly assigned to either experimental or control group. In the second, third and fourth cycles, acupressure at liv3 and placebo point during 3-7 days before menstruation for 20 minute were carried out. In the fourth cycle, participants completed SF-36 questionnaire after menstruation again. Data-gathering Instruments used in this study included wrong-Baker faces pain scale,Beck-21 questionarre, SF-36 questionnaire, clock, Acuhealth tens pro 900 set, force guage. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16 and x2 test, Man Whitney U, independent and paired test. P values were set as 0.05(p0.05) but there was a significant difference in mean quality of life dimension between two groups in the fourth cycle (p0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference between two cycles in Role Emotional functioning and social functioning dimensions in experimental group (p>0.05).Conclusion: with regard to the results of this study, acupressure at liv3 point is suggested as useful, effective, cheap and available treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Preterm delivery is a relevant public health problem since it is an important factor determinant of morbidity and the main reason for neonatal mortality. Many publications have pointed at clinical methods, biological, biochemical and ultrasonographic markers, which applied in combination or on their own, aim at predicting spontaneous preterm delivery. Transvaginal sonography is an effective method for the study of uterine cervix during pregnancy since it permits to assess the cervical morphology and biometry in detail with a high degree of reliability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between spontaneous preterm delivery (SPTD) before 35 and 37 weeks of gestational age, in high risk population and the measurement of the cervix length and cervical funneling."n"nMethods: A prospective cohort of 200 women carrying high risk pregnancies were evaluated by transvaginal sonography between 14th and 28th weeks of gestation."n"nResults: Cervical length less than 18mm before 35th and 37th weeks of gestational age and the presence of cervical funneling presented a satistically significant association with spontaneous preterm delivery before 35 weeks. The cervical length with less 18 mm demonstrated a strong association with SPTD before 37 weeks (p

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1":*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus is diagnosed as carbohydrate in tolerance demonstrated for the first time in the course of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the selective screening method for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on: 1- recommendation of the fourth workshop- conference on GDM 2- evaluation of risk factors"n"n Methods: A case- control study was performed on 370 pregnancies inflicted by GDM in Hazrat Zaynab Hospital, Shahed University. The maternal and perinatal outcomes and prevalence of risk factors based on recommendation of the fourth workshop- conference on GDM in these women with GDM were compared with the same data and risk factors of randomly selected 600 pregnant women at the same time and in the same hospital, they all underwent universal testing for GDM, and their OGTT were normal. "n"n Results: The prevalence of all risk factors was significantly higher in the group with GDM, but 45 of these women (12%) had no risk factors. 107 women (29%) with GDM were at low risk and would remain undiagnosed if selective screening method was used. The main neonatal complications in the low- risk group did not differ from the complications in other women with GDM."n"nConclusions: The universal screening of all pregnant women seems to justified whereas the recommendations for not screening low- risk group are doubtful and require further examination.

Background & Objective: Job satisfaction is the person's attitude toward his/her work. Increasing nurses' job satisfaction result in better quality of nursing care and reduces the number of nurses who leave their job. Conditions of different wards of hospitals can affect nurses' job satisfaction. The aim of this study is to compare nurses' job satisfaction in oncology and delivery wards.Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional comparative study. A total of 144 nurses (94 nurses in oncology and 50 nurses in delivery wards) of Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals participated in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical test (chi-square).Results: Comparison of the global job satisfaction among oncology and delivery nurses, indicated that there was no statistical significant relationship between them from working in a specific ward point of view (P=0.637). Also there was no significant relationship between intrinsic job satisfaction and working in a specific ward (P=0.966). There was statistical significant relationship between extrinsic job satisfaction and working in specific ward (P=0.039).Conclusion: Considering that extrinsic job satisfaction of oncology nurses were low, reconsideration about specific conditions of oncology wards and taking efficient measures in improving nurses' extrinsic job satisfaction (especially oncology nurses) is essential.

ackground & Aim: Performance appraisal is one of the most important duties for nursing managers. This will improve the quality of nursing care, and it needs suitable approaches and effective strategies in nursing services. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of performance appraisal using management by objective approach on nursing care quality. Methods & Materials: This was a quasi-experimental and single-blind study that was carried out in two surgical units of an affiliated hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. 80 patients were selected using a randomized sampling. The quality of nursing care were controlled in both experiment and control units before and after the performance appraisal procedure. The procedure was programmed on the basis of management by objective approach for six months in the experiment unit. In the intervention unit, nursing performance appraisal was done three times and in every time head nurse and supervisors participated in giving feedbacks and recommendations for the nurses. At the end of the intervention, quality of nursing care was assessed in both groups blindly. The results were compared and statistically analyzed. Results: Significant difference was found between quality of nursing care in the experiment and control units (P

Background: Sexual function in women may be affected by their menstrual cycle. Lack of sexual drive is a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity. This study aims at determining the changes in sexual desire during the menstrual cycle and those associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and evaluates sexual desire during the menstrual cycle and the associated changes with PMS. Methods: The sample for this cross-sectional study includes 150 women employed in factories in Tehran. The instruments for data collection were questionnaires and journals of premenstrual experiences.Results: Analysis of the data showed that the mean age of the subjects was 31 years )standard deviation = 8.46(. The most frequent decrease in sexual desire was during the week prior to the start of menstrual bleeding (27.3%) and the least frequent was from the end of bleeding to one week before the next period of menstrual bleeding (5.3%). In 24.7% of the cases, an increase in sexual desire occurred during the middle of the menstrual cycle and 27.3% during the course of menstrual bleeding. Moreover, 10.7% of the subjects had an increase in sexual desire during the week before bleeding. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between changes in sexual desire and PMS (p

Background: Dental amalgam, a mixture of approximately 50% mercury with silver, tin, zinc and copper in varying ratios, is a major source of mercury pollution in the general population not occupationally exposed. The toxicity of mercury is enhanced because it is so readily absorbed, with around 90-100% of mercury vapor being absorbed through the oral mucosa. The aim of the current study is to examine the mercury levels in hair and nails in subjects with amalgam fillings.Methods: For a sample of forty university students reporting infrequent fish consump-tion, with their only known exposure to mercury from amalgam fillings, mercury levels were measured in hair and nail samples using the LECO AMA 254 Advanced Mercury Analyzer (USA), according to the ASTM standard No. D-6722 test method.Results: Mercury concentration in hair ranged from 0.09 to 3.11 mg/kg, and in nail from zero to 1.35 mg/kg. We found that subjects with five or more amalgam fillings had significantly higher levels in their hair than subjects with zero to 5 amalgam fillings (CI 95% P=0.003). However, the number of amalgam fillings had no effect on the mercury concentration in nails in these two groups (P=0.26). There was no significant difference between the levels of mercury of males and that of females tested (P=0.26 for nail and P=0.15 for hair).Conclusion: The mercury amount in hair was 1.5 times as much as that of the nail samples, may be due to the differences in the chemical compounds, particularly those with sulfur, or the deposition of those compounds that would be affected by blood circulation during formation of hair and nails. Although the amounts of mercury found in this study were below the WHO maximum acceptable level of 6 mg/kg for mercury in human hair, the levels were sufficient to warrant the use of other dental materials such as composites in order to decrease the overall rate of exposure to mercury.

Background & Aim: Patient education, one of the most important nurses responsibilities, depend on their motivation therefore, this study was performed and the purpose of the study was for determining the nurses motivating factors related to the patients education . Methods & Materials: A descriptive cross sectional research was carried out among the nurses in the hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of medical science. Sample population was 214 nurses selected by stratified & cluster sampling. Data was collected by questioner through self reporting. The data were analyzed by SPSS computer software. Descriptive statistic and 2 Test, Fisher Exact Test, Exact Test Mont Carlo were used. Results: Data of motivating factors categorized in 3 levels, high, moderate, low with Lickrate scale showed that in nurses’ opinion salary and payment (48%), facilities (49.5%), supervision (57.5%), have average effect on their motivation related to the patient education. Job security (68%), respect & appreciation (76%), career development (74%), work-interest (81.5%), knowledge (85.5%), professional responsibilities (90%) have much effect on their motivation related to the patient education. Statistical test showed a meaningful relation between demographic variables and motivating factors. Conclusion: According to the findings, Job security, respect & appreciation, career development, work-interest, knowledge, professional responsibility have much effect on the motivation for patient education.

Introduction: Attention to psychological abuse of old women as a vulnerable group and its complications are important issues. We performed this study to determine the effect of family counseling program on prevention of psychological abuse of elderly women. Methods and Materials: This is a semi-experimental study. We selected 30 old women referring to clinics of an educational hospital in Tehran by simple randomization. Data collecting instruments included demographic sheets about old person and family members and a questionnaire about psychological abuse, which were completed by interview. An observational checklist about behavioral symptoms was completed at 3 interview sessions by family and old person at home. Then 6 counseling sessions were established. Duration of every session was 1:30 up to 2 hours. After two months and in the last three sessions, final evaluation was conducted by again completing data collecting instruments. Results: study results showed that 90% of abusers were woman and family dysfunction was the reason of abuse in 43.3% of cases. Mean score of psychological abuse showed a significant decrease after counseling, using dependent t-test and Wilcoxon test (p

Introduction: It has been estimated that 335 million elderly, about 13 percent of general population, live in developing countries. It has been predicted that in 2040, this percentage will rise to 20 percent. Psychophysical complains are common in elderly and investigation of quality of life (QOL) in these samples of population is very important. Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive analytical study carried out to investigate the QOL of elderly residents of Zahedan city. In this study a short form questionnaire (SE 36) of QOL was used. Estimated required number of the samples was 200 that were selected with random cluster sampling. Results: Average age of studied population was 72.3 years and their mean number of children was 6.7. Mean scores of the general health perception, physical activity, physical role function, bodily pain, social function, emotional role function, vitality and mental health were 38.6, 42.7, 36.8, 37.8, 43.9, 45,46.7 and 42.7, respectively. Conclusion: Since currently there are no sound data for elderly QOL in Iran, considering mean QOL score of 50 and standard deviation of 10, all observed QOL scores (in eight dimensions) were low. These findings show importance of attention to QOL in elderly clients.

Objective(s): To validate Persian version of the FSFI and to determine its diagnostic cut off score.Methods: This was a descriptive analytic study. To fill in the Persian version of the FSFI. In addition clinical interviews were carried out by a psychiatrist on DSM-4 criteria. Women divided in two age and educational matched groups: the control group (n=28) who have not sexual dysfunction and the case group (n=53) who have sexual dysfunction.Data were analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha and validity was assessed by comparing mean scores of two groups. Optimal cut off score determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.Results: The findings showed satisfactory results for full scale and each subscale with Cronbach’s alpha ranging from 0.66 or above for sexually dysfunctional sample and 0.70 or above for sexually active sample. Discriminant validity confirmed the ability of both total and domain scores to differentiate between active and inactive women. On the basis of sensitivity and specificity analyses we found that the optimal cut off score was found to be 28 for differentiating women with and without sexual dysfunction.Conclusion: The findings showed that the Iranian version of Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring sexual function in women.