Comparison of the effects of a positive reappraisal coping intervention and problem-solving skills training on depression during the waiting period of the result of intrauterine insemination treatment: a randomized control trial

Background: The outcomes of fertility treatments are unpredictable, and levels of depressive symptoms increase in patients during the waiting period of the result of intrauterine insemination [IUI] treatment

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a positive reappraisal coping intervention [PRCI] and problem-solving skills training [PSS] on depression during the waiting period of the result of IUI Treatment

Materials and Methods: This randomized control clinical trial was done among 108 women undergoing IUI treat- ment. In the control group, the women received routine care. In the PRCI group, women attended two training sessions and were asked to complete coping thoughts cards and fill out daily monitoring forms during the waiting period. In the PSS group, PSS were taught over three sessions. The depression was measured by the beck depression inventory

Results: On the 10th day of the IUI waiting period, there were significant differences between the control group [21.42 +/- 11.42] and the PSS group [12.52 +/- 8.05] and PRCI groups [13.14 +/- 9.7] [P<0.001], but no significant difference between the PRCI group and the PSS group

Conclusion: According to the results of this randomized control trial there is no difference between a PRCI and PSS on depression during the waiting period of the result of IUI treatment. This suggests that both interventions can be used to help infertile women combat depression during the waiting period of the result of fertility treatments

Assessment of midwives' communication skills at the maternity wards of teaching hospitals in Mashhad in 2014

The quality of communication between midwives and parturient women is a determinant of maternal satisfaction with midwifery care. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the communication skills of midwives at maternity wards of Mashhad teaching hospitals in 2014. In this descriptive study, 49 midwives, working at Mashhad teaching hospitals, were randomly selected. All midwives worked rotating shifts at the wards. The midwives' communication skills were assessed by the researcher, using the self-structured observation checklist of communicative performance. The mean age of midwives was 39.11 +/- 9.66 years and their mean work experience was 15.9 +/- 8.77 years. In total, 68.3% of the participants experienced childbirth themselves. 66.7% of midwives were moderately keen on midwifery as a profession. The mean score of the checklist obtained by midwives was 67.9 +/- 10.7. There was no relationship between midwives' communication skills and work experience, childbirth experience, age or interest in midwifery. Considering the inadequacy of midwives' communication skills, which could be the major cause of maternal dissatisfaction with delivery care, it is recommended that in-service training courses be held by applying new teaching methods. Moreover, the educational needs of midwives, including communication skills, should be considered in these training programs

Effect of health education program on promoting physical activity among diabetic women in Mashhad, Iran: applying social cognitive theory

Physical activity regularly is one of the important aspects of healthy life-style, which has an essential role in reducing the burden of disease and death. Diabetes is a typical general health problem. The aim of this study to determine the effect of education based on social cognitive theory on promoting physical activity among women with diabetes II in Iran. In this randomized control study, 82 diabetic females were randomly selected then were assigned into two groups: intervention [n=41] and control [n=41]. Educational intervention was planned then performed during 7 sessions of 60-min in accordance with social-cognitive theory [SCT]. The participants were asked to fill in the questionnaires in educational evaluation before and immediately after intervention and the follow up [10 weeks later]. The data were analyzed through Repeated Measures ANOVA, Friedman, independence t and Mann-Whitney tests. The mean age among the participants was 48.37 +/- 5.67 yr also the body mass index was 28.69 +/- 3.95. In the intervention group, light physical activity and sedentary behavior reduced from 56.1% [23 individuals] to 14.6% [6 individuals] in the following up stage. There was significant improvement across time in the mean of minute's physical activity [P=0.042]. There were significant differences in the mean's constructs of the Social-cognitive theory [SCT] [P<0.05]. Design and execution of training program based on social cognitive theory can lead to promote physical activity among women with diabetes II through changes in the theoretical constructs

[Evaluation of relationship between contrast sensitivity, color vision and visual acuity in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy]

To investigate the discriminative ability of contrast sensitivity [CS], color vision and log MAR visual acuity [VA] in detecting functional losses in diabetic participants with and without retinopathy comparing to the control group. In this cross sectional study in 1388 we examined 105 patients in Mashhad Khatam- Al-Anbia Eye Hospital including 70 diabetic patients [35 with retinopathy and 35 without retinopathy] with 35 control group. Contrast sensitivity was examined by means of CSV-1000 E at 3, 6, 12 and 18 cpd respectively. Color discrimination ability was measured with the Farnsworth D-15 test and log MAR VA by Snellen chart. Contrast sensitivity was significantly lower in the diabetic eyes with retinopathy than in the normal eyes in all spatial frequencies. Comparing to the control group, there was a statistically significant CS loss in spatial frequencies of 3, 6, 18 cpd in the diabetic eyes without retinopathy [p<0.05]. The mean log MAR VA and color vision abnormalities were significantly higher in the diabetic eyes with retinopathy than in the normal eyes or the diabetic eyes without retinopathy [p<0.001]. The sensitivity and specificity of the CS test in 6 cpd were 71% and 82% which were significantly higher than other spatial frequencies. The sensitivity and the specificity of the color vision test and VA [log MAR >/= 0.05, Snellen