[Determining learning style and its relationship with educational achievement in nursing and midwifery students]

The health care system and the method of teaching are very dynamic. Awareness of students learning styles provides information for teachers to observe the variation in training methods and help students to facilitate learning. The purpose of this study is to determination of the learning styles of nursing and midwifery students and its relationship with their educational achievement. In this cross-sectional study, the undergraduate nursing and midwifery students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in third and first academic year were investigated in 2008. Data were collected through the learning style questionnaire and demographic information. Gathered data were analyzed by statistical tests included t-test, ?2 and kruscal - valis through SPSS software The dominant learning styles of students, is the diverging style. Significant relationship between their learning style and educational achievement was not observed. There was significant correlation between their learning style and average scores in general courses [P=0.045]. Considering the dominant diverging styles and diversity in learning styles of nursing and midwifery students under study; consideration of individual differences and different learning styles of students in designing various methods of teaching using the existing infrastructure facilities and information technology is proposed

[Effect of education on midwives' knowledge, attitude and practice about non-pharmacologic labor pain relieving methods]

Management of labor pain is one of the main goals of maternity care. Non-pharmacologic approaches toward this goal are consistent with midwifery care and the method of choice for many women. Midwives have a pivotal role in using different pain relief approaches. This study was designed to evaluate the role of education on midwives' knowledge, attitude, and practice towards pain reducing approaches during labor. This was a quasi-experimental study carried out at labor wards within the hospitals affiliated to Gilan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data were collected using a questionnaire confirmed by a panel of experts and test-retest method for its validity and reliability, respectively. A total of 59 midwives were chosen by quota sampling and participated in a one-day workshop. Pretest and post-test questionnaire were completed before and four months after education. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inference statistical methods using SPSS. Results showed that the midwives' knowledge, attitude and practice about pain relieving methods changed significantly following workshop [p<0/005]. No significant difference between the mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores and demographic characteristics was found. Although education caused a significant effect on knowledge, attitude, and practice of midwives in using different labor pain relieving approaches as well as a positive attitude towards these approaches nevertheless the health manager's support plays an important role in regular practice of such approaches in labor wards

survey of association between occupational factors and preterm childbirth

Socio-economical changes have increased the women's opportunity to take job in recent decades. The increased levels of women in work places, has resulted in a high interest in the potential adverse effects of work on pregnancy outcome. This study was conducted in order to surveying the association between occupational factors and preterm childbirth. It is a cross-sectional study. Samples consisted of nurses and midwives [518 person] who working in Tehran's universities of medical sciences hospitals. Also they delivered newborns in gestational age more than twenty weeks [term or preterm] in years 2001-2006. The subjects were selected using a multi stage sampling method. Data gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. Occupational factors labeled as fatigue score and working hours. The relation between Occupational factors and preterm birth was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics [Chi-squared, t-test and Mann-Whitney U test] by SPSS software. Based on the study findings, the prevalence of preterm labor was 17.2% [95%CI=0.14-0.20]. Although the proportions of unfavorable working conditions include: working at acute clinical wards, standing up more than 3h per each working shift, physical exercise, working in cold or hot weather, working in busy environment with continuous noise, being checker of visual and aural monitoring signals, working hours equal or more than 40 hours per week, and working fatigue score equal or more than 3 were higher in preterm group; but it didn't show any significant relation with preterm birth. According to the research findings, it seems that occupational factors do not have explicit effect on preterm childbirth. Therefore more investigations are recommended

relation between postpartum depression with total serum cholesterol changes before and after child birth

Postpartum depression is a severe and pervasive sadness with labile mood that affect 8-15% women after delivery. It can negatively impress mother-infant bonding. There are a lot of factors which make women vulnerable to postpartum depression so that controlling them can prevent from the postpartum depression incidence. Several researches have shown an association between serum cholesterol reduction and depression. The aim of present study is to determine relation between postpartum depression with total serum cholesterol changes before and after child birth in Lahijanian women in years 2006-2007. This research sought a descriptive-analytical design. Samples consisted of healthy Primigravidia women [101 persons] with normal labor, normal delivery at term, married, and a medium to high socio-educational level, without history of a depressive disorder, and metabolic disorders or hyperlipidemia. The excluded were the women with maternal or fetal complication before delivery, having problem with accepting infant gender, fetal death and being depressed during pregnancy. All women were visited in two stages: 3 weeks before the expected delivery and also 6 weeks after delivery. On both visits the Beck depression inventory and serum cholesterol registration questionnaire were completed. Data were collected using a questionnaire which had three sections: demographic characteristics, the Beck depression inventory and laboratory tests. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics [Spearman correlation coefficient and t-test] by SPSS computer software. Findings indicated that serum cholesterol declined considerably in the postpartum period, also it was shown that there was a significant correlation between reduced serum cholesterol and postpartum depression [r=-0.331, P<0.001]. Serum cholesterol reduction has a relation with postpartum depression

[ impact of training on the application of palliative methods for labor pain reduction]

The severe pain of labor is the important cause of fear and anxiety in pregnant women. This study has been performed to evaluate effect of education on midwives practice. This is a quasi-experimental study. That was done 59 midwives in the labor wards of non-educational of Guilan University of Medical Sciences Hospital. Data gathered by a questioner, which its validity was done by panel of experts and reliability by test-retest. 59 midwives were chosen by quota sampling and participated in a one-day workshop. Pretest and post-test questioner completed before and after four months of education by all midwives. Data analyzed by descriptive and inferencing statistical methods with SPSS. The paired t-test results showed that midwives practice about pain relieving methods changed significantly after workshop [p<0.005]. Analytical methods demonstrated that there was no significant difference between mean practice scores and demographic characteristics of midwives. This study showed that teaching through workshop can improve the use of pain-relieving methods by midwives in labor wards especially more simple and efficacious methods