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Preventing pressure injuries is a primary objective for care and treatment teams in intensive care units (ICUs). Therefore, the current study aimed to compare the efficacy of Zinc Oxide and Vaseline prophylactic dressings in preventing sacral pressure injuries in patients admitted to the ICU. This clinical trial was conducted in the ICU in 2023. The study population included patients at moderate to high risk for pressure injuries based on the Braden scale criteria. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to one of five groups using random allocation software: (1) the intervention group receiving Zinc Oxide as a prophylactic dressing, (2) the intervention group using Zinc Oxide as a topical application, (3) the intervention group with Vaseline as a prophylactic dressing, (4) the intervention group using Vaseline as a topical application and (5) the control group. Participants were homogenous regarding demographic information in all five groups. The frequency distribution of pressure injuries across the five groups was analysed using the Chi‐square test. The results revealed no pressure injuries were observed in the Zinc Oxide and Vaseline with dressing groups. In contrast, the Zinc Oxide without dressing group had five cases, the Vaseline without dressing group had six cases and the Control group had 14 cases of pressure injuries. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results of this study showed that Zinc Oxide and Vaseline as preventive dressings in the sacral area of patients admitted to ICUs can be considered an effective and affordable strategy for healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to observe how auriculotherapy acts as a nonpharmacological treatment for pregnant women's gestational hypertension. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial. Eighty patients were with gestational hypertension recruited and divided into control (n = 40) and intervention (n = 40) groups. The control group just received the usual perinatal care. The intervention group received one month of auriculotherapy in addition to the usual care. Blood pressure was measured before and 15 minutes after rest in both groups twice a week. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Results: The mean systolic blood pressure, based on the Mann-Whitney test, was not statistically significant between the two groups before the intervention and in the first two weeks after the intervention (p >0.05); however, after the third week of intervention, the mean systolic blood pressure in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p <0.001). As per the Mann-Whitney test, the mean diastolic blood pressure was not statistically significant between the two groups before the intervention and the first week after the intervention (p <0.05). However, after the second week of intervention, the mean diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and this decrease was highest in the fourth week of the intervention (p <0.001). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that auriculotherapy would reduce blood pressure in pregnant women suffering from hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Elderly patients are the largest and fastest growing group of patients under dialysis and their caregivers are faced with high burden care. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the predictors of caregiver burden among caregivers of older patients under hemodialysis residing in Qazvin province, Iran. Methods & Materials This cross-sectional study was conducted on caregivers older patients under hemodialysis in 2020. The caregivers were selected by census method among eligible caregivers of older patients under hemodialysis referring to dialysis centers of Qazvin Province, Iran. Data were collected using the demographic checklists, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) in Care, Bartell Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and Religious Coping Scale (RCOPE). The collected data were analyzed by a multivariable regression model in SPSS software v. 23. Results The mean and standard deviation of the age of 252 caregivers and older patients were 44.9±13.16 and 69.4±7.7 years old, respectively. The results of multivariate analyses showed that significant predictors of caregiver burden were perceived social support (β=0.333, P<0.05), disability (β:-0.137, P<0.05), health status (β=0.154, P=0.010), and financial level (β=0.154, P=0.010). As the caregiver burden was decreased by increasing the social support and decreasing the rate of disability. Furthermore, the caregivers with higher financial levels and better health status reported lower caregiver burden. Conclusion It can be concluded that enhancement of social support and more attention to the health of caregivers as potential patients are important factors for reduction of caregiver burden care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies, especially among developing countries such as Iran, have been conducted on the incidence and risk factors for medical device‐related pressure ulcers (MDRPUs). Given the importance of this issue and the lack of previous studies, the present study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for MDRPUs in Iran. The present descriptive‐analytical study was conducted at three hospitals in Qazvin, Iran, from June 1, 2019, to September 1, 2019. Data collection took approximately 3 months from July to September 2019. Sampling was carried out through a convenience sampling method, and the samples consisted of 404 patients. For data collection, a checklist for demographic variables, a checklist for patient‐connected medical devices, Braden Scale, Glasgow Coma Scale, National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Pressure Grading Scale, and Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 were used. Of the 404 patients studied, 20.54% (n = 83) developed some degree of MDRPUs. From those, 61 (70.11%) were in stage I, 17 (19.5%) were in stage II, and 9 (10.34%) were in stage III. Among the nine medical devices that caused pressure ulcers, the most commonly reported ones were nasal oxygen tubes (31 cases), oxygen face masks (23 cases), and endotracheal tubes (17 cases). The mean score of Braden Scale (P =.004), the mean score of NRS 2002 (P =.037), older age (P =.007), male gender (P =.002), the average length of stay in hospitals (P =.001), and having pressure ulcers in body (P =.025) significantly increased the possibility of occurring MDRPUs. In the present study, the incidence of MDRPUs was high. Taking the necessary measures into consideration in order to prevent the MDRPUs is essential in Iranian hospitals. Further studies in this regard are strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies regarding cleansing the area with antiseptic solutions prior to catheterization in premature infants are limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of chlorhexidine 2% and iodopovidone-alcohol solutions on bacterial colonization associated with the peripheral venous catheterization in premature infants. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2016-2017 at a neonatal intensive care unit in Qazvin, Iran. Premature infants (N=106) were assigned to the two groups of "A" treated with chlorhexidine 2% or "B" cleaned with iodopovidone-alcohol 10%. Quantitative culture of the catheters was performed 48 hours after insertion. Results: Our findings showed that the frequency of positive catheter tips culture was 6.6% among all the samples (N=7). Out of the seven positive cultures, five (43.9%) belonged to the iodopovidone-alcohol group and two (3.7%) were from the chlorhexidine 2% group. Although a number of the positive cultures in the iodopovidone-alcohol group was higher than the chlorhexidine 2% group, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.21). Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated that bacterial colony growth may be decreased when using preparatory chlorhexidine 2%, compared with iodopovidone-alcohol at no added risk to infants. We recommend further study in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing practice can be influenced by attitude., Purpose: A study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between critical care nurses' practice, demographics, and attitude regarding pressure injury., Methods: The descriptive-correlational study was conducted from March 14 to June 21, 2019, among nurses working in 3 intensive care units affiliated with Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Using convenience sampling methods, nurses with at least a bachelor's degree in nursing who are involved in pressure injury care were invited to participate. Demographic information (age, sex, work experience in intensive care unit, education level) and pressure injury education information were collected from participants. Each nurse was observed 3 times by a researcher during his or her full work shift and evaluated using the Quality of Nursing Care Related to Pressure Injury checklist, which consists of 85 items categorized in 6 groups: 1) pressure injury risk factor evaluation (23 items), 2) change of patient position (12 items), 3) patient nutrition (16 items), 4) skin examination (25 items), 5) skin care in high-risk patients (5 items), and 6) use of accessories for pressure injury prevention (4 items). Each item offers 3 response options (ie, applied, not applied, applied but not correct). Correct responses on 70%, 69% to 50%, and less than 50% of items indicate good, relatively good, and poor practice, respectively. The Attitude Towards Pressure Ulcer Questionnaire, used to assess nurses' attitudes regarding pressure injury prevention, is a paper-and-pencil questionnaire that is completed by the nurse participants and consists of 11 items, with answers based on a 5-response Likert scale that ranges from 1 (totally agree) to 5 (totally disagree). The total score ranges from 11 to 55. A higher score indicates a more positive attitude. Descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation were used to describe demographic information, and analytical tests including Pearson correlation test were used to determine the correlation between numerical variables. An independent t test was used to evaluate the differences in mean scores of numerical variables between the 2 groups. Significance level was considered as P < .05., Results: The mean quality-of-nursing checklist score was 71.4 ± 13.5, inferring nurses provided good care. The highest and lowest mean scores were related to skin examination (22.8 ± 3.7) and skin care in high-risk patients (4.3 ± 0.8). The mean overall score of nurses' attitudes toward pressure injury was 27.26 ± 5.1, indicating a positive attitude toward providing pressure injury care and prevention. There was a significant and positive relationship between mean years of practice and the mean attitude score (r = 0.195; P = .041) as well as a significant relationship between quality of practice and attitude score (r = 0.195; P = .041) Conclusion: Ninety percent (90%) of critical care nurses demonstrated a good practice and a relatively positive attitude toward pressure injury. Additionally, the findings suggest that nurses with more years of experience and a more positive attitude have better quality of practice. The results of the present study could be useful for improving pressure injury care in the hospital setting and for educating nurses and nursing students. Further research that includes nurses in other wards is warranted.