Spirituality: a panacea for patients coping with heart failure

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

role of nurses in coping process of family caregivers of vegetative patients: a qualitative study

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

[Spiritual health among nursing and midwifery students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences]

The present study aimed to investigate the spiritual health among nursing and midwifery students at Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2012. This was a cross-sectional study in which all 222 nursing and midwifery students studying at Kerman University of Medical Sciences were recruited to study. Data were gathered using the Palutzian and Ellison questionnaire of spiritual well-being. The obtained data were then analyzed in the SPSS-20 using parametric statistical tests such as independent t-test and Anova. Results showed that spiritual well-being of nursing and midwifery students was in the good range. Except gender, no statistically significant relationships were observed between the mean of spiritual well-being and parameters such as age, marital status, academic year, and field of study. According to the findings, spiritual health among nursing and midwifery students was moderate. It is necessary to promote spirituality among nursing and midwifery students

[ opinions of medical interns about the acquired basic clinical skills]

Establishing centers for clinical skills training in medical schools with the purpose ofimproving students' ability in practical skills has provided an adequate environment for practicing in anexperimental setting and consequently can be effective in decreasing the rate of probable mistakes in realsituations.The aim of this study was to determine the opinions of interns in Kerman University of MedicalSciences about the rate and sources of acquired basic clinical skills through self- evaluation.All available interns of Kerman School of Medicine [including 120 ones] who had passed theclinical skills course participated in this cross- sectional study in 2004. Data were gathered by an investigator-made questionnaire and analyzed by using t-test and ANOVA.Based on the results, most of the respondents [90.8%] believed in the necessity of a specific courseAS clinical skills in medical education program. In regard to the rate of acquired skills, "vital signsmeasurement", "nasogastric tube insertion" and "patient communication skills" got the highest mean scores[18.35, 17.76 and 17.3 respectively] in interns' self-evaluation, while the lowest mean scores belonged to'cauterization", "intubation" and "using surgical set" [9.09, 12.84 and 14.11 respectively]. The percent of self-evaluation total score was 76.7%. In regard to the source of acquiring clinical skills, "clinical skills center" [41%], "self- learning" [29%] and "professors and others" [27%] obtained the highest percents respectively.Considering the low self- evaluation scores in some skills and the highest percent for clinical skills center as source of acquiring clinical skills, improving the quality of training in this center and expanding its activities are necessary

[Evaluation of holding procedure of elementary teaching methodology workshops based on the views of the faculty of Kerman University of Medical Sciences participating in the workshops]

Teaching Methodology workshop aimed at development of education, therefore, it must offer best developed methods of teaching. To determine the quality of the teaching methodology workshops held in Kerman University of Medical Sciences based on the views of the participators. The views of all 171 faculty members participated in six teaching methodology workshops were evaluated using the questionnaire approved by The Ministry of Health and Medical Education. The questionnaire consisted of two sections: demographic features and statements on the views based on a 5 Likert scale [from strongly agree to strongly disagree]. Its validity was 0.9, measured by the views of experts. 67.3 percent of the participators were male and assistant professors 62.6%. 69.5% of the participants were strongly agreed or agreed upon the statements. The most agreement was on "sequential planning of aims" [84%], then "giving introductory information in the beginning" [81%], "sequential outline" [82%], respectively. The least agreement was found on "the facilities". [40.4%], "enough time allocated to individual and group discussion" [47.4%]. A significant difference was observed between the views based on different workshop sessions [P<0.05] so that evaluation results of the 5[th] and 6[th] workshop were better than the 1[st] and 2[nd] results. The success of a workshops depends on planning and facilities to some extent. The teaching methodology workshop holding to improve teaching abilities, should have acceptable characteristics to be efficient. According to the findings, the planning of the workshops was appropriate but facilities have to be improved. Designating more discussion and using more appropriate educational methods is also necessary

[Activities of medical educational development center from the views of the faculty members of Kerman Medical Sciences University]

Background: The necessity of improving academic and higher education quality, particularly in Medical Sciences Universities and increasing the efficiency of Health care and Remedy programs are obvious. Medical Educational Development Centers try to achieve their goals in the areas of curriculum planning, teacher training, continuing education, evaluation and research in education

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the views of the faculty members of Kerman Medical Sciences University about the activities of Medical Educational development center

Methods: This cross-sectional study carried out in 2003. The sample consisted of the faculty members of Kerman Medical Sciences University [N=307] of which about half [n=145] were selected by simple random sampling. Data were gathered through a researcher - made questionnaire that rated by experts for validity and computed internal consistency reliability with cronbach' alpha coefficient of [r=0.79]

Results: According to the results, the most accepted activities of the center were Designing and carrying out clinical skills educational programs for medical students [96.6%], active participation in the revision of medical educational programs [93.1%], cooperation with educational departments in designing lesson plans based on new materials and resources and Holding educational workshops for the familiarization of the faculty members with new medical softwares and their applications [each 92.4%]. While the least accepted activities were providing facility for lectures, access to resources, gathering and symposiums on medical education and taking advantage of the experienced instructors in designing programs for the center [each 61.4%], participation in the evaluation of research projects and dissertations and helping the medical society to have a better understanding of the changing medical needs of the community [each 67%]. In whole by obtaining 78.7% of the total score, the faculty members showed a relatively positive view towards current activities of the center. From all subjects, 87.5% showed tendency for participating in the activities of the center

Conclusion: The positive view of the faculty members towards current activities of the center is a turning point in further expansion of the center and establishing the same units in all colleges to improve medical education goals

[Investigation of correspondence between learning needs and the content of psychiatry and pediatric retraining programs from the participants' point of view]

Background: Learning needs assessment is the first step in educational program development

Objective: The aims of this study were to identify the priorities of educational needs and to clarify the correspondence between educational needs and contents of two retraining programs held in Kerman Medical Educational development center from the point of view participating physicians

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 physicians [50 pediatricians and 50 psychiatrists] participating in psychiatry and pediatric retraining programs. Subjects were asked about their learning needs on more than 20 clinical topics and the correspondence between learning needs and retraining program content before and after the program respectively

Results: In both groups 22% were female and 78% were male. Mean age and work experience were 34 and 7 years respectively. In psychiatrists group, the maximum mean scores were attained for substance abuse related disorders [4.43] in learning needs and addiction definitions, factors and prevention [4.36] in correspondence between needs and program content. The minimum mean scores were related to stress disorders [3.48] in learning needs and etiology [3.07] in correspondence between needs and program content. In pediatricians group, the maximum mean score was attained for acute respiratory infection in both learning needs [4.32] and correspondence between needs and program content [4.43]. The minimum mean scores were related to leishmaniosis [3.16] in learning needs and metabolic disorders [3.24] in correspondence between needs and program content. In both groups, there was a significant correlation between learning needs and correspondence of needs and program content [P<0.001]. There were also significant correlations between age and learning needs in pediatricians [r=0.42, P<0.05] and between work experience and correspondence of needs and program content in psychiatrists [r=-0.43]

Conclusion: Positive correlation between learning needs and program content in both held programs is evident of managers' attention to the learning needs and their attempt for planning retraining programs with higher rate of correspondence between learning needs and program content. Evaluation of the present retraining programs for planning more efficient programs is recommended