effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and stress in nursing students at the beginning of the internship program

Anxiety is a complicated process appearing from low to high which may reduce the learning ability. It is common among nurses as they struggle to cope with increasingly complicated stressors such as examinations, article preparation and practical experiences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of muscle relaxation on reduction of anxiety in nursing students before starting the internship program. In this study, 40 nursing students who were going to start their internship program were randomly divided into two equal groups. Before starting the internship program, all students were asked to fill a questionnaire [Spielberger Test Anxiety] to measure their anxiety. In addition, physiological parameters [blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature] were collected before and after the study in both groups. During a 45-min session, muscle relaxation training was given to the test group. Muscle relaxation practice was continued three times per day for two weeks. Two weeks after starting the internship, Spiel Berger Test Anxiety and physiological parameters were collected again in both groups. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and t tests. The average age of the students in both groups was 22.7 +/- 2 [range=21 to 25 years] and the majority of the students were female [75%]. No significant difference was observed between two groups for willingness to the nursing profession, birth rank and the average scores of the students from the previous years. The average anxiety score in control group before and after the study was 27.5 +/- 10.2 and 28.3 +/- 8.8 respectively [P > 0.05]. Average anxiety score in test group before and after the study was 25.4 +/- 19.5 and 29.2 +/- 14.1 respectively [P < 0.05]. To alleviate stressors associated with practical practice and create a healthy work environment for practice, it is recommended that nursing students have some progressive muscle relaxation before entering practical environments

[ effect of occupational therapy on positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients]

Poor social, self-care, and vocational functioning are criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia in most diagnostic systems. Consequently, improving the social behaviors of persons with schizophrenia has been a key target of psychiatric rehabilitation. The occupational therapy is a non organic therapeutic that causes elevated self stem, foppishness and strengthening of occupational behaviour. The aim of this survey is the effect of occupational therapy on the positive and negative symptom's of schizophrenic patients with bear out their symptoms. This survey is an experimental study that, positive and negative symptom's of schizophrenic patients assessed with scale for the assessment of positive and negative symptoms. Then the samples consisted of schizophrenic patients divided randomly into case [30] and control [30] groups. Occupational therapy was performed in case group within a period 20 hours in week for 6 months, then patiants assessed repeatly with SAPS.SANS. Quantative analysis of data was undertaken by using paired and dependent t students tesats and Willcoxon test .Results demonestrated the mean of the total score of negative symptom 72.5 +/- 19.5 and posetive symptom 112 +/- 32.57. Also occupational therapy effected on the posetive and negative symptom's of schizophrenic patiants. In posetive symptom occupational therapy effected on the hallusination and bizzare behaviour [P<0.001], for all noeffected on dellusions and thought. In negative symptom occupational therapy effected on the apathy and involition, attention disorders, anhedonia and thought disorders [P<0.001], for all noeffected on inappropiate affect. The occupational therapy is a non organic therapuitic that causes elevated self steem, foppishness and strengthening of occupational behaviour

[ survey on quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction, referred to Shahrekord Hagar hospital in 2005]

Myocardial infarction [MI] is a common and dangerous disorder that threat people life and affects their quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess quality of life in patients with MI were referring to Shahrekord Hagar hospital. In this descriptive and analytical study, 150 patients who suffered from MI, were selected as sample from CCU patients in Shahrekord Hagar hospital. Via interview and referring to patients files data were collected using two sectional questionnaire that included demographic characteristic and standard questionnaire [SF36]. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Mean age of the patients was 55.7 +/- 10.5 and quality of life in majority of subjects under investigation was fairly favorite [53%]. Quality of life in majority of samples in general status [62%], social and occupational [65%] or sleep [61%] status was favorite. However, physical activity in 62% of samples was unfavorite. There was a meaningful correlation between period of diseases and quality of life [P<0.05]. But there was no relation between other demographic variations such as: age, gender and marital status, occupational or economical status and the quality of life. Also there is a meaningful relation between general status, social status, sleep status or physical activity with quality of life [P<0.05]. Medical staffs, especially nurses should pay attention to all dimensions of quality of life in planning care in MI patients. Because unacceptable attention to all these dimensions may cause disturbance in patients' quality of life