[Effect of simulated training course on preparedness of nurses to do pre-hospital triage]

Introduction: The key to successful management of large number of victims with limited resources is triage, which without preparedness of nurses seem to be impossible

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of simulated training course on preparedness of nurses to do pre-hospital triage at Razi psychiatric hospital

Materials and Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study on 60 nurses in Razi psychiatric hospital who according to the inclusion criteria and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups equally by 30. The study tools developed by the researcher included [Knowledge of Disaster Triage Test] that contains 30 questions of four-choice

The [Accuracy of Disaster Triage Test] also contains 30 questions with four-choice. Face validity and content validity has been evaluated

Reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha for the [Knowledge of Disaster Triage Test] 0.75 and for the [Accuracy of Disaster Triage Test] 0.78. A day workshop [Disaster Triage Simulation Method] was arranged for intervention group and two groups were assessed by study tools before and after intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS/16

Findings: The mean score of nurses preparedness regarding triage training [Knowledge and accuracy] in the intervention group were significantly different before and after the intervention [p<0.001]

The mean difference of nurses preparedness triage training [Knowledge and accuracy] there were significantly different between the two groups respectfully [p<0.001]

Conclusion: The results of the study showed, using the simulation method on triage training improved the nurses preparedness to do disaster triage. Therefore it is recommended to do this training program for nurses' to improve their preparedness for disaster triage

[Comparison of amitriptyline pain relief with carbamazepine in patients with diabetic neuropathy in patient reffered to diabetic clinic of Ahvaz Golestan]

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common diseases in general population. Its prevalence is 5-8 percent in Iran. The disease has symptoms such as neuropathy. The prevalence of neuropathy is equivalent to 7 percent at onset of the disease, but as the underlying disease advances the prevalence of neuropathy can reach to as much as 50 percent. In some patients with neuropathy, the neuropathic pain can affect their daily functioning and quality of life. The subjects of this clinical trial were 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who referred to diabetes clinic of Ahvaz Golestan hospital. After proving painful neuropathy, and according to their history, physical examination and EMG-NCV, and considering their inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study, they were randomly divided into two equal groups. The study was accomplished in a double blind method. One group was treated with amitriptyline [50 mg / d] and the other group was treated with carbamazepine [200mg TID]. Based on brief pain inventory quantitative scale amount of pain was scored before and six weeks after the beginning of study. Both drugs were found effective, but no significant difference in pain relief was noted. Hb A1C in patients who received carbamazepine was found lower in comparison with other group. If the glucose declining effect of carbamazepine would be proved in the future, it can be administered as an adjunct therapy

[Diagnosis of rotavirus and adenovirus type 40/41 in children with acute diarrhea by immunochromatography in Mofid Children Hospital]

Acute diarrhea is one of the leading causes of worldwide mortality and morbidity; four millions annual deaths. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of rotavirus and adenovirus among children with acute diarrhea and to evaluate their clinical and laboratory findings. 199 children aged 1 to 168 months with acute diarrhea were studied in "Mofid" Children Hospital for a one year period. Clinical and laboratory findings including stool culture and WBC and RBC counts in their stool samples were analyzed. From 199 children with diarrhea, 14 cases [7%] were positive for viruses; 11 [5.5%] rotaviruses and 3[1.5%] adenoviruses. In Rotavirus and adenovirus, male to female ratio were 1.2/1 and 2/1, and the mean age were 40.8 and 20.4 months, respectively. Clinical findings comprised frequency, dehydration, fever, vomiting and watery diarrhea. Stool culture was negative and no RBC and WBC were detected. High prevalence of rotavirus and adenovirus in former studies and low prevalence of rotavirus in this study seems to be caused by the diagnostic method we used. Since a fast laboratory process is necessary for immunochromatography, other methods as EIA and PCR are recommended

Comparison of enzyme immunoassay, immunochromatography, and RNA-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis for diagnosis of rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis

Human rotavirus is a major etiologic agent for infantile diarrhea worldwide. It is responsible for up to 3.3 million deaths per year in children in developing countries. Various rapid and sensitive techniques have been developed to readily diagnose rotavirus gastroenteritis. In the present study, we compared the sensitivity and specificity of immunochromatography and RNA-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis [PAGE] methods with enzyme immunoassay [EIA] for diagnosis of group A rotavirus infection in 200 stool samples from children younger than 5 years old with acute gastroenteritis. Rotavirus was detected in 57 [28.5%] samples by EIA, 52 [26%] samples by ICG and 52 [26%] samples by RNA-PAGE. There was no significant difference between the three methods [P=0.8] nor between EIA and ICG [P=0.57] and EIA and RNA-PAGE [P=0.57]. Furthermore, in comparing these methods with age variables, the present study found that the sensitivity and specificity of ICG and RNA-PAGE compared with EIA were 87.7%, 98.6% and 91.2%, and 100%, respectively [P>0.05]. Results of the present study demonstrate that the sensitivity and specificity rates for ICG and RNA-PAGE were as high as EIA. It seems that all the three methods are reliable and suitable for detection of group A rotavirus infection in children affected by enteric diseases

[Measles antibody in previously two dose immunized and reimmunized in school age children]

The aim of this study was to determine measles antibody titer in children who received two doses of vaccine and were reimmunized at 7 years of age. The school children were randomly choosen from various areas of Tehran who had received two doses of measles vaccine at 9 and 15 months of age and reimmunized at 7 years of age. Measles antibody was measured in children aged 7 years and 4-6 weeks after reimmunization by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. A total of 339 children were evaluated. Antibody titers in 132 [38.9%] children were more than 10 IU/ml [mean 68.3 IU/ml] and 207 [61.1%] less than 10 IU/ml. Antibody titers in 32 of 42 children who had been reimmunized were less than 10 IU/ml. In two [6.3%] of 32 children antibody titers did not rise after reimmunization and the mean antibody titer in remainder [30] of the children was 71.3 IU/ml. Antibody titers in 10 [23.8%] of 42 children before and after reimmunization were 58 and 168.5 IU/ml respectively. After reimmunization, the mean antibody titer in children with high titer before reimmunization was higher than those with low antibody titer. This study indicates that children with two dose measles immunization before and after the first year of age are still immunologically resistant against measles at 7 years of age. Immunization is the most efficacious and cost effective intervention available to improve the health and wellbeing of children and prevention of the infectious disease