ABSTRACT
Background: Chronic nature of thalassemia causes changes in different aspects of life in patients, including their self-efficacy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of family-centered empowerment program on the self-efficacy of adolescents with Thalassemia major
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed on adolescents with thalassemia major in 2013 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. The participants were divided into intervention and control groups, respectively. Research instruments included demographic data questionnaire, need assessment self made questionnaire, general self-efficacy scale, and sickle cell self-efficacy scale. After collecting the data from the pre-intervention step, family-centered empowerment program was implemented for the intervention group and secondary test was conducted six weeks after the intervention and the results were analyzed by statistical SPSS-21 software, using independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test, and descriptive statistics. A significance level of P<0.05 was considered as significant
Results: The mean and standard deviation of the adolescents' age were 16 +/- 1.9 in the intervention group and 15.2 +/- 2 in the control group. Independent t-test showed a significant difference between the two groups after the intervention for both self-efficacies [P<0.01 and P=0.02]. In the control group, the results of general self-efficacy scores after six weeks' time were reduced compared to the previous one while disease-related self-efficacy scores in the same group after six weeks' time increased and paired t-test indicated a significant difference in the mean scores for both self-efficacies in both groups
Conclusion: Implementation of family-centered empowerment program for patients with thalassemia major is practically feasible and it can increase self-efficacy in these patients. It is suggested that the program should be used in comprehensive care protocols of children and adolescents
ABSTRACT
Assisted reproductive technologies [ARTs] are complicated and stressful techniques and the social and cultural norms are major obstacles against their use. Many qualitative studies have been done in the field of women's experiences of infertility, but less is known about the experiences of infertile women seeking assisted pregnancy. The aim of this study was to understand and describe the experience of women who have used assisted reproductive technologies for their current pregnancy. This qualitative study was conducted based on a content analysis approach. With purposive sampling, 12 pregnant women who were using ART were recruited from Avicenna Fertility Center in Tehran. Women were selected purposefully and with maximum variation. Interviews were performed after a positive test of pregnancy and women were introduced to researchers in their first visit of pregnancy in the prenatal clinic. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed concurrently. Semi-structured interviews were coded, categorized and the themes were also identified. Four main themes were uncovered which included struggle to achieve pregnancy, fear and uncertainty, escape from stigma and the pursuit to achieve husband satisfaction. It is essential for these women to be counseled and prepared by their health care providers after the use of ARTs. Distress can be reduced for infertile women seeking assisted pregnancy when they are prepared for possible failures, empowered to deal with stigma, and have their partners' involvement in counseling sessions
ABSTRACT
Background: In this clinical trial, we examined whether or not expressive writing as a psychological intervention reduces psychological distress in vitiligo patients receiving phototherapy
Methods: A total of 139 adult vitiligo patients were asked to complete the GHQ-28 in order to identify their psychiatric disturbances. The GHQ-28 scores showed that 78 patients [56.5%] had psychiatric distress. They were later enrolled in this randomized controlled clinical trial conducted during June 2009 until Dec. 2009 at Razi Hospital in Tehran. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group A underwent the routine treatment protocol. Group B did the same, but they were also instructed to practice 'expressive writing'. The intervention continued 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, patients in both groups were re-evaluated using the GHQ-28
Results: The overall GHQ-28 scores and sub-scores were significantly reduced in both groups A [47.9 +/- 11.71, P=0.000] and B [48.94 +/- 10.69, P=0.000] after 4 weeks of intervention. However, no statistically significance difference was found between the two groups in terms of their overall scores [P=0.7] and their sub-scores
Conclusion: The effect of expressive writing on reducing psychological distress in patients with vitiligo remains equivocal. Nonetheless, further studies with larger sample sizes and of longer duration especially in non-western cultural contexts are recommended
ABSTRACT
Background: Today's nursing graduates value ability to creatively solve problems and make decisions, as these skills assist them with recognizing and evaluating situations that require prompt attention. This study aimed to determine and compare nursing student's perceived levels of own problem solving skills in various years of their 4-year program
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. All undergaraduate nursing students [350] included in this study. A total of 322 undergraduate nursing students participated in this study. The study setting was Nursing School of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The problem solving inventory [PSI], a widely used measure to assess one's perceived ability, was used for data collection. Low scores indicated the strong judgment ability and high scores a weak judgment ability. Students involved in the study signed the informed consent forms
Results: Findings showed that the mean score of total problem solving skill was 89.52 +/- 21.58. The mean score of this skill in fourth year students [84.18 +/- 27.47] was less than other students i.e. the fourth year [senior] students judged their own problem solving abilities stronger than other students
Conclusion: Educating should help students reach the high levels of problem solving skills by allowing them to acquire and practice these abilities in the field. Nursing students with advanced problem solving skills are essential for this changing society
ABSTRACT
The nature of clinical practice has altered in recent years. It has been affected by different kinds of problem-solving models' so, the problem-solving skill is necessary in practice for nurse practitioners. Besides assertiveness is a critical element which persuades nurses and nursing students to establish good relationships and use their knowledge and professional skills effectively. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between problem solving and assertiveness skills among undergraduate nursing students. This was a descriptive correlational study. The study was carried out in the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Iran University of Medical Sciences. The study population included all students enrolled in the four-year nursing program in 2009-2010. Data were collected using the Heppner and Petersen's problem solving inventory and Rathus assertiveness schedule. Data were analyzed using the ANOVA, independent sample t-test and Pearson Correlation Coefficient tests in the SPSS. Three hundred and twenty two students participated in this study. The students' problem-solving skill [mean=89.5] and assertiveness [mean=12.1] were moderate. The study showed that last year students reported higher assertiveness skill than the freshmen [F=2.85 P<0.037]. The level of assertiveness was correlated with the level of problem-solving skill. Educational programs should provide opportunities for nursing students to enhance life skills such as problem solving and assertiveness skills. Nursing schools should improve students' skills in clinical approaches to be better care professional
ABSTRACT
Mothers' perception of their ability to parenting [maternal parenting self-efficacy] is a critical issue that influences their interactions with their preterm neonates. For better support of these mothers, a robust tool is needed which can measure mothers' perception of their ability to understand and care for their preterm neonates as well as being sensitive to the various levels and tasks in parenting. This study aimed to translate and test the face validity of Persian version of Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy [PMP S-E] tool with Iranian mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates. The translation and validation was done in some steps. Forward translated by three independent translators and backward translated by two other translators who were blind to source version. Then, the face validity was evaluated by 10 mothers and the expert panel. At last, the tool adapted and approved by an expert committee. The Persian version of PMP S-E tool demonstrated good face validity regarding its items' relevancy and clearance. The PMP S-E was successfully translated and adapted into Persian with good face validity. However, further study is needed for evaluating its reliability in Iran and for Iranian mothers of hospitalized preterm neonates
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Parenting , Infant, Premature , Validation Studies as Topic , Mothers , Perception , FaceABSTRACT
This study aimed to understand the learning strategies of parents of preterm infants, hospitalized in NICU. This study was performed by qualitative research approach. Twelve participants including nine parents whose infants were admitted in NICU, two nurses and one physician, all selected by purposive sampling method were interviewed by a female expert occupational therapist. Data were gathered by semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed by inductive content analysis approach. Three subcategories emerged from data analysis expressed learning strategies of parents of preterm infants hospitalized in NICU. These subcategories were: Asking question, Getting help, Learning caring skills. Preterm infants' parents stated that they do not have enough ability and knowledge for managing their feelings and needs. So, they seek for resources of help and apply some special strategies for playing parental roles correctly
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Male , Adult , Parents , Infant, Premature , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Child, Hospitalized , Evaluation Studies as TopicABSTRACT
The hospitalization of premature newborns in neonatal intensive care unit causes the family to experience a sense of loss and to disturb the emotional connection of the mother with the newborn. The present study aimed to determine the effect of empowerment programs on mother-infant interaction and the weight gain of premature infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit. In this clinical trial, after obtaining written consent, a total of 140 mothers with infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The empowerment program was performed on mothers of the experimental group and then mother-infant interaction was assessed through the observation form of attachment behavior and the measurement of neonate weight in both groups and the data were analyzed by SPSS-16 software. The mean of the total maternal attachment behaviors in the experimental and control groups were 52.01 +/- 6.65 and 36.28 +/- 28.09, respectively. The result of the independent t-test [p=0.001] showed that there was statistically a significant difference between the two groups and the mean weight of infants two months after the intervention were 3620 +/- 877.31 and 3200 +/- 824.85 grams in experimental and control groups, respectively. The result of the independent t-test [p=0.005] showed that there was statistically a significant difference between the experimental and the control groups. Regarding the increase of mother-infant interaction and the weight gain of premature infants, it is recommended to provide the necessary training to parents, especially to mothers, in order to appropriately confront and communicate with the newborn and to empower mothers in order to care for premature neonates.