[ association between quality of sleep and health-related quality of life in nurses]

Sleep is an important physiological process that has deep effects on psychological and physical health. This study carried out to investigate the association between quality of sleep and health-related quality of life in nurses. In this cross sectional and descriptive-analytic study, 127 nurses in Imam Hossein Hospital of Shahroud, Iran, during February and March 2006 were chosen enumeration and then their sleep quality and their quality of life in eight dimensions were measured with using Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI] and 12-item short form health survey [SF-12] questionnaire and were compared. The data were analyzed using SPSS 11.5 software. Upon to the results of this study, 25.2%, 70.9% and 3.9% of cases were working on morning shift, circulator shift and afternoon/night shifts respectively. Mean of time that they spend in bed were estimated 30.2 minute and 2.1% of subjects declare they get to sleep more than 30 minutes after going to bed. Mean of gotten up time in the morning in was at 6 and 58% of them described that they wakeup 1 hour earlier to anticipation time. According to the results, 35.5% of subjects have taken medicine [prescribed or "over the counter"] to help them sleep. Spearman correlation coefficient test revealed a significant correlation [p<0.05] between the mean of Sleep Quality score and the mean of quality of life score in all dimensions in subjects. According to the results, quality of sleep is poor in majority of nurses and significantly has decreased their quality of life in different aspects, especially in general health, mental health and physical pain

[ study of nurses' knowledge and attitudes regarding cancer pain management]

Knowledge of nursing is necessary for caring people suffering from pain. Regarding pain management and nursing role in order to put into practice exact pain management and availing comfort, possessing knowledge and positive attitude toward nursing care in this population have an important role. This descriptive [cross- sectional study] determines cancer nurses knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management in hospitalized patients in related wards in Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Total of 113 nurses [from 132 questionnaires were sent, 113 of them were completed] who work in cancer wards in Tehran University of Medical Science hospitals were selected by convenience sampling [accidental sampling]. For data gathering, questionnaires were used. Statistical analysis was performed using chi[2] test, t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. To compare results and for describing the results, descriptive analysis were used. Results indicates that knowledge and attitude of samples is in a high school [level of knowledge 76% and level of attitude 86.6%]. The correlation between knowledge and attitudes is [R=0.350], [p=0.000] that means there is a direct relation between nurses knowledge and attitudes and by increasing one of them, the other will increase. Some of features like level of education, taking part in continuing education, working in chemotherapy and radiotherapy ward, operating room and facing to cancer patients, influence on nurses knowledge and attitudes