Development and psychometric properties of [Iranian Diabetic Adolescent Girl's Quality of Life] questionnaire

Diabetes with permanent changes in a person's lifestyle may influence diabetic adolescent quality of life [QOL] negatively. Studies conducted on diabetic patients are increasingly measuring patient-centered outcomes such as functional status and health-related QOL [HRQOL]. The development of a HRQOL questionnaire with an optimal measuring performance provides nurses with a standardized assessment tool in order to determine the impact of the disease on diabetic adolescent girl's activity daily living. This study aimed to develop and assess psychometric properties of [Iranian Diabetic Adolescent Girl's QOL [IRDAGQOL]] questionnaire. The items and content of [IRDAGQOL] questionnaire were generated from themes and items extracted from a qualitative study using content analysis approach with the participation of 20 adolescent girls with diabetes. Face validity of questionnaire with the participation of 10 adolescent girls and content validity by 15 experts, was approved. Convergent and discriminant validity of questionnaire confirmed. Exploratory factor analyses using principal component extraction method was performed to determine the questionnaire domains. The Cronbach's coefficient alpha was calculated to determine the instrument internal consistency in 250 samples. In 30 samples, using SPSS statistical package, test re-tests after 2 weeks confirmed questionnaire reliability. The patient interviews allowed for the identification of 50 items in the final questionnaire. Principal components analysis revealed the presence of five components that jointly accounted for 79.945% of the variance. The face and content validity processes resulted in an approved and valid questionnaire. Reliability analysis showed satisfactory result [Cronbach's alpha = 0.870]. The findings showed that the [IRDAGQOL] questionnaire presented in this study is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used for measuring adolescent girl's QOL

[Communication strategies for nurses facing culturally diverse patients]

Objective [s]: To determine how nurses manage intercultural communication with their patients

Methods: The type of this qualitative study was content analysis. 21 nurses were participated in this study. Sampling was purposeful. They have a diversity of age, sex, clinical experiences and different positions. Data were collected via unstructured interview. Content analysis and constant comparative analysis method was used for data analysis. The strategies of prolonged engagement, peer debriefing, member checking and journal writing were used to establish the trustworthiness of the study

Results: Data analysis showed that various strategies were used for inter cultural communication such as: member of family, secretaries of ward, nonverbal communication, using the previous vocabulary, and also translators. Different strategies such as relatives, bilingual and bicultural nurse, orderly, secretary of the ward, nonverbal language, use of previous words and translators are used

Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that nurses when patients are facing cultural diversity, based on their professional and moral obligation, use a combination of strategies to provide complete and effective care

[Spiritual beliefs and quality of life: a qualitative research about diabetic adolescent girls' perception]

Spirituality is an important aspect of health of people with chronic health conditions such as diabetes. Awareness from adolescents' perception about life quality and its effective factors is useful for controlling blood glucose in adolescents and causes motivation in adolescents for self care. The aim of this study was to explore spirituality effects on life quality in diabetic adolescent girls. A qualitative design using content analysis was applied in order to seek the purpose. Data were collected using in-depth semi structured interviews and focus groups with participation of 28 adolescent girls with type 1diabetes. The participants were recruited by purposeful sampling of "West Azerbaijan Diabetes Association" members as well as some patients' referral to Urmia city hospitals diabetes clinics. Following data analysis, participants in this study were categorized in four general groups; people with religious attitude and satisfied from their life, people who perform religious etiquettes and satisfied from their life, people with spiritual beliefs and adaptation with diabetes, and finally people with spiritual beliefs and self care. Spirituality is an important factor that influences on the life quality of diabetic adolescent girls. In addition, spirituality helps adolescent girls with diabetes to cope with stressful situations and needs to be considered in management and care from these patients

[ effect of family counseling on performance scales of quality of life of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy]

In women with cancer, the quality of life and their performance level would be affected, thus awareness about patient quality of life helps the nurses to lead their care for improving the patients' quality of life. Despite of majority of performed studies, the emphasis is on patients' problems rather than families, So it is necessary for improving the patient quality of life to take into consideration those factors which are important for family The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of consultation with family on performance scale of women's quality of life with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. This research is a semi-experimental study, 70 married women aged 30-55 years old who had at least 1 child older than 15 year, undergoing chemotherapy with previous record of mastectomy and they have been referred to clinics located in two cities, Qazvin and Zanjan, were included in the study. Participants were allocated in two -experiment and control-groups. For subjects in experiment group 8 consultation sessions with family was designed, the sessions were held with the presence of patient, spouse and children .The patients' quality of life in both groups was measured at the beginning and at the end of final consultation session. Quality of life was assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC QLQ-C30] and its supplementary breast cancer measure [QLQ-BR23] The data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Results showed that quality of life of patients who had participated in consultation sessions was improved [P<0/05].The improvement was seen in physical functioning, emotional, role functioning, cognitive and social functioning subscales of quality of life measure, and in body image, sexual functioning, sexual enjoyment and future perspective subscales of BR 23 questionnaire. With respect to present research's findings which demonstrate the effect of consultation with family on improvement of patients' performance level, hence the family can have a particular position on protecting patients and improvement quality of life, therefore it is offered the designed program of taking consult with family would be applied as an affective way on improvement quality of life for these patients

study of the effects of group discussion with male high school students on their parents' hypertension control

Hypertension is one of the most important preventable causes of premature morbidity and mortality in developed and developing countries. Raising family knowledge and involvement of family members in care delivery can help to promote positive hypertensive patient behaviors, such as appointment keeping, compliance with therapy, and better hypertension control. The present study seeks to assess the effect of group discussion with male high school students on their parents' hypertension control. This study is a quasiexperimental research. We selected 61 high school students who had parents with hypertension and divided them in intervention and control groups. We provided the intervention group with group discussion in several sessions. For four months, the blood pressure of the parents in intervention and control groups was measured weakly. Results of the data analysis demonstrated that systolic and diastolic blood pressures of parents in intervention and control groups reduced. Our findings also emphasized that rate of controlled hypertension in intervention and control group was42.5% and 16.7%, respectively [P<0.026]. Consequently, education in form of group discussion with male high school students effectively leads to decrease and control of hypertension of their parents.

Perception of care among Syrian women with breast cancer under chemotherapy in 2010

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in women worldwide. This study was conducted to explore perception of care among Syrian women with breast cancer. In a qualitative research, we purposively selected 17 participants consisting of women with breast cancer [N= 11] and their husbands [N= 3] as well as2 nurses and a physician in Nuclear Medicine Center in Latakia city between June and September 2010. Using semi-structured interviews, we collected the data. Analysis the transcripts was guided by qualitative content analysis. We found three care categories consisting of "care in a painful environment", "inadequate education", and "need for a lot of special care". According to our findings, understanding the women's experiences concerning the care would be a way for recognizing and resolving potential stressor factors of the care process. It seems solving these factors could improve the women's quality of life.

[ effect of education based on health belief model on preventive factors of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women]

Osteoporosis and the fractures associated with are a major public health concern, because of related morbidity and disability, diminished quality of life, and mortality. Evidence suggests that to adopt changes on some life styles can prevent or delay development of osteoporosis. Most important modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis are receiving inadequate calcium intake and not doing weight-bearing exercises such as walking. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an educational program based on health belief model on preventive factors of osteoporosis among postmenopausal women. This study was a quasi-experimental research with two groups, experimental [n=43] and control [n=41] selected from 4 mosques situated in ray city. The subjects in experimental group participated in a 6-week educational program [each session 60-90 minutes] based on health belief model. Data collection tools included demographic information form, knowledge questionnaire, health belief scale and food frequency questionnaire which were completed by the subjects of two groups before and after intervention. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. Before intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups regarding demographic characteristics, knowledge, health belief constructs, calcium intake and walking. After intervention, t-test showed a statistically significant difference between two groups in perceived susceptibility and severity [P<0.0001], barriers of calcium intake [P<0.0001], and barriers of exercise [P<0.0001]. Perceived benefits of calcium intake and exercise were not significantly different between groups after intervention [P=0.06]. Dietary Calcium intake increased to 906.55 +/- 282.45 mg/day in experimental group, but there was not statistically significant difference between two groups [P=0.40]. Changes in frequency of weekly walking was statistically significant [p=0.005] between groups, but the total time of walking wasn't statistically significant between them [P=0.07]. Educational program based on health belief model was effective in increasing health belief constructs and walking frequency but not in dietary calcium intake

[ experiences of nursing students, instructors, and hospital administrators of nursing clerkship]

Most studies concerning clinical education of nursing students have been performed qualitatively. This study was performed to more deeply investigate the students' education at nursing clerkship and explore the experiences of nursing students, instructors, and hospital administrators from the clinical education of nursing students. In a qualitative study a semi-structured interview was done with 8 nursing students at the end of clerkship, four nurses working as ward administrators, an education supervisor, and two supervising instructors. Qualitative content analysis was employed for analyzing the data. Six central variables were realized [emerged] including lack of readiness for entering into clinical learning environment, undesirability of student assessment process, lack of advantageous relationship between the nursing school and the hospital, ideal planning for clerkship shifts, deficiency in clinical education, and the effects of clerkship on hospital and patients' affairs. According to the findings of the study, it is necessary for the nursing administrators to place more effort to resolve the present problems specially the relationship between the nursing school and the hospital, and to renovate hospital into a favorable learning space to meet educational goals of nursing clerkship

[ effect of adolescents' participation on sanitary collection and disposal of Garbage]

One of the important factors in health maintenance and promotion is correct garbage disposal, The aim of this study was to examine the effect of adolescents' participation on the sanitary collection and disposal of garbage. In his quasi-experimental, before-after study, the research population consisted of all adolescents of 102 families living in Rostam-Abad village, located in Buein-Zahra region. At first, training sessions based on the research objectives were established for the adolescents and then, each of them took charge of a few families for education and follow up. Findings indicated that the mean of sanitary status of garbage bin and sanitary disposal. Before intervention was 3.2 +/- 0.88, whereas, immediately after intervention, it was increased to 4.3 +/- 1.6. Paired T-Test showed a statistically significant difference between before/ after intervention [P<0.0001]. Two months after the intervention, the mean was 4.29 +/- 1.6. Repeated measurement type of Anova with Wilks test also indicated a statistically significant difference [P<0.0001]. Based on these findings, the rural adolescents' participation can develop the sanitary collection and disposal of garbage