[Information needs of patients with cardiovascular disease in health information seeking process: a qualitative study]

Introduction: Seeking health information is of salient importance in management of cardiovascular diseases [CVDs]. The present study aimed to explore and reveal the information needs of patients with cardiovascular diseases when seeking healthcare information. Our data sources were patients', family caregivers' and healthcare providers' experiences

Method: In a qualitative research approach, content analysis method was used. There were 31 participants comprising 16 cardiovascular patients, 5 family caregivers, and 10 healthcare providers. Required data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and purposeful sampling, and continued until data saturation. Analysis of data was performed concurrently with data collection and through a comparative method

Results: Four central themes including disease-related, healthcare-related, health system-related and life-related information needs emerged out of content analysis

Conclusion: The results showed that information seeking in patients with cardiovascular diseases is holistic and is beyond physical health and the disease. Some of the important findings of this study are seeking information about prognosis, role playing, mental and sexual health, healthcare system performance, modern medicine, Islamic and traditional medicine. Therefore, providing information through various modes of communication for meeting patient needs, having their participation in decisions for treatment, and optimal management of life is necessary

[ effect of poetry therapy on depression in elderly residents of a nursing home in Arak - Iran]

Considering the aged population development and the prevalence of depression in this group, especially in nursing homes, paying attention to psychotherapeutic approaches, especially in terms of ease and lack of side effects is absolutely necessary. This study investigated the effects of group poetry therapy on depression of elderly people. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 72 elderly living at a nursing home and also were randomly selected and classified in two groups of intervention [n=39] and control [n=33] groups. Poetry therapy group was designed for the intervention group and 12 sessions of 60 minutes were carried out for 6 weeks. Without any special interruption, the intervention group participated regularly in group meetings. The data collection tools were questionnaire, demographic information and geriatric depression scale. To analyze and collect data, chi-square, t-tests and paired t-test were utilized. Our finding showed a significant difference between pre and post intervention, where the elderly depression mean score in intervention group changed from 7.6 to 6.5 [P<0.004] but no significant difference was observed in the control group [P>0.87]. Having considered the results, it can be said that group poetry therapy can be effective to reduce depression in older adults. Therefore, it is recommended to use such an easy and low cost skill in nursing homes or own homes to promote mental health and improve depression symptoms

[Prehospital services by focus on road traffic accidents assessment developed and developing countries]

Prehospital services in road traffic accidents are one of the critical aspects of prehospital services. The goals of these services in traffic accidents is providing services to clients who need to on time interventions, prevention of disabilities and rapid and safe transportation by trained practitioners. The aim of this article was review the prehospital services by focus on road traffic accidents, in developed and developing countries. In this review article for data gathering, data bases of Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL and Science Direct searched by key word strategies. Eventually 43 articles since 1999 to 2012 selected. There are differences in structure, level of services and human resources in prehospital systems that created different patterns in countries. Many countries by strategies such as continuous public and professional education have compensated the weakness of other aspects. Prehospital service systems have several aspects such staffing, education, technology, management and organization. Each country must design their appropriate pattern to provide the best service to community

[Evaluation of clinical skills of medical emergency personnel in Tehran Emergency Center confronting the trauma]

Capability evaluation of medical emergency personnel, which is considered as one of the priorities in confronting the diseases, may provide an appropriate reflection of the performance of pre-graduation training programs and continuous training. The aim of this study was evaluation of clinical skills of medical emergency personnel in Tehran Emergency Center confronting the trauma. This descriptive study has been applied on 536 medical emergency personnel of Tehran Emergency Center. 213 persons were selected via stratified random sampling method. Data were collected through demographic questionnaire and "Clinical Skill Checklist". Content validity of the "Clinical Skill Checklist" has been evaluated and confirmed by 10 lectures and experts. Also reliability coefficient of all skills was equal to 0.803. The researcher observed the medical emergency personnel skills and then completed the "Clinical Skill Checklist". Data was analyzed with SPSS/17, statistical independent T tests, univariante variance analysis, Bonferroni post hoc test and correlation coefficient of Pearson. The results of the study indicated that 62.4% of the medical emergency personnel had good grade in trauma skill but practicing two skills of seated patient's spinal immobilization and traction splint had major skill deficiency. Between age, educational level, field of study, employment records and trauma clinical skill a significant statistical relationship existed [P<0.05]. Although in most skills, the medical emergency personnel had good grade skill, but it is required to provide necessary trainings in two skills that have not obtained sufficient point

[ effect of emotional intelligence education on job conflict in nurses]

Introduction: Today, conflict is an inevitable part of human communication in the health structures. One of the most important skills that are characteristic ability in conflict resolution is having emotional intelligence. Present research is an attempted to determine the effect of emotional intelligence training on conflict in nurses

Methods and Materials: The study was conducted using semi experimental applied design with control/trail group. Study sample included 56 nurses based on inclusion criteria sampling and in the next step balanced block randomization sampling was used for assigning 2 groups of: control group [n=29], and Trial group [n=27]. The researchers used 3 questionnaires including: Socio-demographic, Duberin Job Conflict Questioner and Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Questioner to gather data. Content and face validity of the questioners were measured by experts' nurses. The reliability [Cronbach's alpha] coefficients for these scales were: job conflict [85%] and emotional intelligence [95%] confirmed. At the beginning, of this study all participants completed the questionnaires as pretest, then EI skills in 6 hours presented only for trail group, one weeks [each week they got 2 education package] after intervention, all subjects [in 2 groups] again completed questionnaires. The statistical software used was SPSS [v.11.5] for windows. Also paired T, Chi-square and Hapker tested were used

Findings: Findings showed that there were no significant differences between the test and control group in terms of demographic characteristics except of marriage. Findings indicated that there are no significant differences between trail and control group in total and subscales EI score. However, finding indicated that there was a significant differences between before and after findings in trail group total and subscales EI score [p=0.049], and in job conflict [p=0.0001] and conflict score [p=0.000]

Conclusions: According to our findings in the present research, emotional intelligence education has been highly effective on the job conflict in nurses

[ effect of a disaster nursing education program on nurses' preparedness for responding to probable natural disasters]

Nurses, as the pioneers of healthcare in societies, play an important role before, during, and after disasters. Enhancement of their professional skills for the purpose of helping the injured is one of the basic principles in health management in accidents and disasters. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a disaster nursing education program on the improvement of nurses' preparedness. It was a quasi-experimental, single group study. The sample including 113 nurses working in Razi psychiatric hospital were selected by census and asked to fill out the "preparedness for confronting disasters" questionnaire, which was developed by the authors. The preparedness program, which consisted of a one-day workshop on disaster management, top-table maneuver, and an operational maneuver, were performed for the participants. The preparedness of all participating nurses was measured one week and also one month after the program. Data were analyzed ANOVA for repeated measures by SPSS-PC [v.17]. Our results showed that the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and performance improved from 5.55 to 19.88, from 66.18 to 72.41, and from 3.36 to 12.48, respectively in pretest and follow up measurements, which indicated a statistically significant difference [p<0.001]. In addition, the mean score for total preparedness was increased from 75.14 in pretest to 104.77 in follow up, which is statistically significant [p<0.001]. According to the findings in order to promote and maintain the preparedness of nursing staff, inclusion of disaster programs in their academic educational curriculum and as a continued educational program is recommended

[Evaluating the effect of continuous care on quality of life in discharged schizophrenic patients from Sina educational and medical center, Hamedan]

Considering chronic nature of schizophrenia and failure of current plans, developing an effective continuous care model is needed. One of the methods to promote quality of life is applying continues care nursing model. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of continuous care model on quality of life of schizophrenic patients in Hamadan. All 36 patients have been selected based on inclusion criteria [census], and divided randomly in two similar control and interventional groups of research. The data gathered from demographic, [QLS: alpha=0.81] questionnaires and control check list [alpha=0.92]. The orientation and sensitivization phases of the model applied on the interventional group in the hospital [6 sessions of education, A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a sample of 36 schizophrenic patients. They have been drawn from Sina Hospital, among 89 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The participants were allocated to two groups of control and intervention through simple random allocation. Data were collected using questionnaires of Heinrich Quality of Life and self-control check list. Continuous care model was applied for intervention group through orientation and sensitivization [six educational sessions: two times a week] in hospitals, then control and evaluation [6 home visits: two times a week] at their home. Data were analyzed using independent T-test, paired T-test and analysis of variance. There was no significant difference between quality of life mean scores of two groups prior to the intervention [P>0.05]. After the intervention, mean score of quality of life in interpersonal relationship was significantly different [P=0.03] but Independent T-test didn't show any significant differences between groups in spite of increased scores of quality of life and its dimensions in intervention group [P>0.05]. The study demonstrated the effect of continuous care model on interpersonal relationship. Since improving interpersonal relationship is the most important aim of care for chronic patients, and it could consequently have an effect on other dimensions of quality of life, using the model could improve total quality of life and other dimensions. Results of present study and similar studies illustrate the necessity of providing nursing care after discharge for chronically ill patients. It could decrease the relapse rate and hospitalization, besides valuable impact on their quality of life

[Effect of time management training on work-family conflict among hospital nurses]

The present research attempted to investigate the effect of time management training on work-life conflict among two hospitals' nurses. In this randomized trial, we recruited all nurses of two public hospitals [n=106] in Hamadan and Tehran according to the inclusion criteria. We used balanced [permuted] block randomization for assigning the study sample into control [n=53] and intervention [n=47] groups. Six individuals did not participate in the study. Data were collected using two instruments: 1] work-family conflict scale; and 2] time management behaviors scale. For content validity, ten experts in the field of the study commented on the items. The reliability coefficients [Cronbach's alpha] for these scales were 0.86 and 0.75, respectively. All participants completed the questionnaires at baseline. The time management skills were taught in the intervention group for eight hours. One month later, all participants in two groups completed the questionnaires again. Considering the baseline characteristics, the groups were homogenous. Independent sample t-test indicated no significant differences between the two groups in all dimensions before the intervention [P>0.05]. There was significant difference between two groups in the work-family conflict after the intervention [P<0.001]. Also, the paired t-test showed significant difference in work-family conflict before and after the intervention in the intervention group [P<0.001]. According to our findings in the present research, time management training intervention had positive effect on work-family conflict among hospital nurses

Health management in disasters with focusing on rehabilitation

Disasters should never be considered as routine. Disasters of ! any kind-natural or manmade-clearly disrupt the normal 1 functioning of any community and frequently overwhelm both personal and community resources. In the post-disaster context, following the initial shock of the disaster, returning lives and livelihoods to normalcy becomes a primary concern of the affected communities and nations. Traditionally, this has been known as the recovery and rehabilitation phase, where [normalcy] refers to the return of the community to the state it was in prior to the disaster event. Rehabilitation is this process of returning the community to [normal] that may extend for many years and involves the physical, social and economic components of the community. Disasters can take on a life of their own, therefore being prepared is the single most effective way to improve outcomes. Proper pre-event planning and providing mechanisms for resource coordination are critical which will be resulted a successful response. It should focus on increasing the participation of civil authorities in order to reestablish local authorities. In order to develop safer communities with fewer deaths, physical injuries, and psycho-social trauma following disasters, health systems must be capable of providing a coordinated response during disasters and of delivering effective mitigation and preparedness programs before disaster impact. The health sector has a vested interest and a key role in this process. In addition, prior to the occurrence of disasters, national, provincial, and local planning should be blueprinted by managers. The public must be educated regarding the importance of individual and family preparation for disaster

Health care services at time of natural disasters: a qualitative study

The health care services have an essential role in saving human life at the time of disaster impact. Disasters always have prominent effects on health, public health and welfare of affected people. The way throu which health care services are delivered at the time of disaster impact is one of the most important challenges in crisis management. Although he Islamic Republic of Iran is the sixth-most disaster-prone country in the world and average of 4, 000 people have killed and 55, 000 affected annually by natural disasters over the last decade, a few studies about health care services at disasters have been done. Therefore, in this paper that is a part of a greater study, we have tried to explore how well the health care services at the time of disasters have been delivered. This study is developed on the basis of grounded theory. Seventeen participants consisted of 5 nurses, 1 social worker, 1 psychologist, 2 psychiatrists, 1 general physician, 1 health professional, 1 epidemiologist, 1 master in health, 1 nurse aid and 3 Bam residents. All of them have at least one experience at disasters. Of those, 15 were male and 2 were female and their average age was 37. Semi-structured interviews and observational field note were used for data gathering. All of interviews were transcribed verbatim [word by word] and simultaneously constant comparative analysis was used according to Strauss and Corbin's method. The way of delivering health care services is one of the important concepts that implied from collected data of the study. This concept comprises four aspects: quality and quantity of health care services, equipment supplies, personnel situation and management. This concept represents the way of delivering health care services at the time of disasters. Unpleasant personnel situations, insufficient quality and quantity of health care services at the time of disaster, deficiencies of equipment and instrument, poor management and lack of coordination are the most important factors that hindered delivering comprehensive, continuous, accessible and qualified health care services at the time of disaster. Providing enough well educated and experienced personnel, enough and qualified health care services, enough instrument and equipments, and appropriate and coordinated management can facilitate on time, comprehensive, continuous and accessible health care services at the time of disasters. Health sector mission of prevention, investigation and treatment of injured and sick people is more prominent in parallel with greater expectation of community at the time of disaster., Health care services as the most significant foundation of crisis management should be delivered in a suitable and efficient way. Finally, the way of delivering health care services at the time of disaster was emphasized by participants in this study