[Comparison of routine education and video CD on anxiety level before general surgery]

Anxiety is one of the psychological problems before surgery. Providing information and training of patients are vital components of nursing care for reducing anxiety level. This study was performed aiming at comparing routine education and Video CD on anxiety level before general surgery. In this study, 60 surgery candidate patients were randomly assigned into three 20 person groups. All patients completed demographic data and Spielberger questionnaires in their admission day. Then, Patients' education was performed by two methods of lecture and video CD in the day before surgery. Then, patients again completed Spielberger questionnaire two hours before surgery. Data were analyzed using t-, ANOVA, and Tukey tests. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. The mean total score of anxiety in three groups, in the day before surgery had no significant difference [p=0.51], but, a significant difference was seen among the three groups, in terms of anxiety 2 hour before surgery [p < 0.032]. Also, Tukey test showed a significant difference between the education and control groups [p < 0.01]. The results of this study showed that both routine and video CD educations decrease anxiety level before surgery. It is suggested that these educations to be placed in nursing care before surgery

[Frequency of use of potentially inappropriate medications and its associated factors in elderly people in Qom city, 2012, Iran]

Today, use of potentially inappropriate medications [PIM] by the elderly is a serious concern. This study was done with the purpose of determining the frequency of use of potentially inappropriate medications and its associated factors among the elderly in Qom city. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 1240 elderly people were selected using systematic cluster sampling from nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and Kamkar, Nekoei, and Shahid Beheshti Hospitals in Qom city in 2012. Data were collected by demographic questionnaire and Beers criteria [updated in 2003], and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t-tests. In this study, 31% of the elderly were using PIM. Digoxin [7.9%], alprazolam and Bisacodyl [6.1%], and chlordiazepoxide [4.6%] were the most common potentially inappropriate medications used by the elderly. The frequency percentage of PIM use was significantly associated with education, cause of drug use, and number of medications used by the elderly [p<0.05]. The frequency percentage of the use of PIM in outpatient centers were more than other centers. Also, more than a quarter of elderly subjects used at least one potentially inappropriate medication. The frequency percentage of PIM use in outpatient treatment centers, illiterate people, subjects with cardiovascular and musculoskeletal disorders, and those who took more than 5 drugs were more than other groups. Nurses can prevent the development of side-effects in elderly subjects by review of drugs used in patients. Therefore, it is suggested that a study be conducted to determine the effect of training about PIM use on the incidence of adverse effects, drug interactions, frequency of hospitalization and mortality rate in elderly people

[Evaluation of health status of elderly in Qom city, 2011, Iran]

Health is an important component of active old age, and an old age without disabilities, and along with physical and mental health and active participation in social activities can be known as successful old age. Economic, social, and psychological components as well as cultural factors, such as positive social relationships affect health status. This study aimed to determine the health status of elderly in Qom city. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 elderly were selected by systematic-cluster sampling from Qom city in 2011. The study tool was health related quality of life questionnaire for the elderly. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and multiple linear stepwise regression tests. Significance level of tests was considered less than 0.05. Mean and standard deviation of the total score of health-related quality of life of elderly was 0.83 +/- 0.12. Sleep [0.76] and vitality [0.75] domains had the lowest mean score, and domains of speaking [0.94] and mental status [0.93] had the highest mean score. Also, health-related quality of life had a significant correlation with age, marital status, education, economic status source of income occupation of men, and chronic disease [p<0.05], but had no significant correlation with gender and occupation of women [p>0.05]. The results of this study showed that due to poor mental health compared to the physical condition in elderly, their mental health should be evaluated along with their physical health, and also factors related to health status, such as personal characteristics, sources of support, and leisure time activities