[Nursing students' perceptions regarding actual and expected Iran university of medical sciences clinical learning environment]

Introduction: Clinical learning environment have an important role in clinical learning of nursing students. Any differences between expected and actual clinical learning environment of nursing student result in reduce the interest of nursing students to clinical environment and decrease their clinical performance. The aim was to comparison the perception of nursing students regarding expected and actual clinical learning environment in medical-surgical wards

Method: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional and conducted in first semester of 2009-2010 educational years. In this study 217 baccalaureate nursing student from Iran nursing and midwifery faculty participated. The researcher appeared in the student's clinical learning placement at last day, and after produce necessary information about purpose of study, both of versions of questionnaire give to students contemporaneously, and collected after completion. For data collection, clinical learning environment inventory was used that contain 42 item in six areas. Data was analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistic

Results: The paired t test showed that there were statistical differences between actual and expected perception on nursing students regarding clinical learning environment

Conclusion: The results of this study showed, nursing students haven't positive perception of the clinical learning environment and their perception of actual clinical learning environment to differ from expected clinical learning environment

[Effects of a nursing intervention on improving selfefficacy and reducing cardiovascular risk factors in patients with cardiovascular diseases]

Patients adherence to medical recommendations requires new and effective strategies. Promoting self-efficacy is considered as an important measurement to help patients to participate in their own treatment protocol. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a nursing intervention on improving self-efficacy and reducing cardiovascular risk factors in patients with cardiovascular diseases in a public hospital in Urmia. In this single group before/after study, 81 patients with at least two cardiovascular adjustable risk factors were recruited. The self-efficacy intervention was presented to the patients and one of their family members. The self-efficacy was scored before, immediately and one month after the intervention. The Cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and one year after the intervention. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA with repeated measures, paired t-tests, and McNemar test were used to analyze data. Overall self-efficacy scores and its sub-groups were significantly improved after one month. There were significant differences in the mean BMI, HDL, LDL, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and weight before and one year after the intervention. The number of smokers and patients with hyperlipidemia were significantly decreased one year after the intervention. However, there were not significant differences in the number of overweight patients and patients with hypertension before and after the intervention. Results showed that our intervention to improve self-efficacy had positive effect on the overall self-efficacy score and the scores of its subgroups. Our intervention was also effective in controlling cardiovascular risk factors and in reducing the frequency of smokers and patients with hyperlipidemia. It seems that combination of medical orders with selfefficacy improving interventions on patients and their families are influential in controlling cardiovascular risk factors

[ effect of spinal postural abnormalities on spirometric indices]

Postural abnormalities are one of the factors influencing on respiratory flow and Lung capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Postural abnormalities on spirometric indices in students. 36 volunteer students [19 males and 17 females] with age ranged 15-19 years old through simple non-probability sampling were selected and their Lumbar Lordosis [from 12[th] thoracic vertebrae spinal process to 2nd Sacral vertebrae spinal process] and thoracic kyphosis [from 4- 12[th] thoracic vertebrae spinal process] degrees measured via flexible ruler Model Mrak Kidos. Subjects Spiro metric indices such as [PEF, FEF[25%], FEF[25%-50%], FEF [75%], FVC, FEV[1]] measured via spirometer Model Spiro lab II. One way ANOVA and POSTHOC TUKEY were used for statistical analysis. Results showed that subjects with kyphosis abnormality have the lowest respiratory flow and Lung capacity and subjects with normal posture have the highest respiratory flow and Lung capacity. Spirometric indices such as PEF[1], FEV, FVC were statistically significant differences between kyphosis and lordosis abnormality groups [p=0.004, p=0.002, p=0.002 respectively], but there weren't significant differences between other indices [FEF[25%] [p=0.114], FEF[25-75%] [p=0.112], FEF[50%] [p=0.112], FEF [75%] [p=0.130] respectively]. Based on this study results, we concluded that the spirometric indices changed with different Postural abnormalities

[Incidence rate of acute reactions in transfusion of blood and its products prepared by Urumia Blood Refinery Center]

"Blood transfusion is one of essential and important but dangerous parts of today's medicine in which if appropriate measures have not been done, fatal reactions may occur. Acute hemolytic reactions, febrile reactions, and allergic reactions are among the most important and most prevalent transfusion reactions that happen shortly after its beginning and can lead to considerable mortality and morbidity. The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the prevalence of acute reactions of blood and its products prepared by Urumia Blood Refinery Center. 3880 blood product units transfused to 1261 patients were studied by convenience sampling method. Various instruments and methods such as sphygmomanometer, thermometer, urine analysis, interview and observation were used for data gathering. Collected data were documented in special forms designed for this purpose. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Among the blood recipients, 604 were female and 657 were male. The most frequent complaints of patients were coldness [22.5%], pruritus [20.1%] and chills [18.1%]. The prevalence of acute hemolytic reaction, febrile reaction and allergic reactions were 0.52, 6.2 and 11.1 per 1000 transfusions respectively. In spite of improved blood refinement techniques, acute transfusion reactions can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, physicians', nurses' and midwives' meticulous attention to early symptoms and signs of acute reactions to transfusion of blood and its products have an important role in preventing adverse outcomes of this life-saving remedy

[Tracheal intubation without muscle relaxants in patients under coronary artery bypass surgery]

Although the conventional technique in coronary artery bypass surgery [CABG] consists of using long-acting opioids and muscle relaxants, but in some situation usage of long acting drugs may be hazardous. Administration of remifentanil followed by propofol provides adequate conditions for tracheal intubation without muscle relaxants. This study was performed to evaluate intra thracheal intubation without muscle relaxants in CABG. This double - blind clinical experimental study was done in the cardiosurgery department of Imam Reza Hospital in the year 2004. Intubation conditions and hemodynamic and ST changes in premedicated patients, candidate for CABG surgery was compared. 90 patients with New York heart association class I-II were assigned to one of three groups [n=30]. After prehydration with ringer solution, sufentanil l micro/kg or remifentanil 2 or 4 micro /kg was injected followed by 1.5 mg/kg propofol. Ninety seconds after administration of the propofol, laryngoscopy and intubation were attempted. Intubation conditions were assessed using a four-point scoring system. ST changes, heart rate and mean arterial pressure measured invasively before induction to five minutes thereafter [6 time point]. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi 2 and T tests, and frequency distribution tables. Tracheal intubation was successful in all patients without any problems. Intubation conditions were also clinically acceptable in all groups. Mean arterial pressure, HR and ST changes were not different between the groups significantly. It is concluded that varying doses [2-4[micro/kg] of remifentanil administered before propofol provides acceptable tracheal intubation condition and hemodynamic changes comparing to conventional technique in patients with coronary artery disease

Association of variable number of tandem repeats in endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene with coronary artery disease

Endo-derived nitric oxide [NO] is synthesized from L-arginine by endothelium nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]. Since reduced NO synthesis has been implicated in the development of coronary atherosclerosis; we hypothesized that polymorphisms of NOS gene might be associated with increased susceptibility to this disorder and coronary artery disease [CAD]. We studied the 27 base pair tandem repeat polymorphism in intron4 of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase [eNOS] gene in 141 unrelated CAD patients with positive coronary angiograms in Shahid Rajaee Heart Hospital and 159 age matched control subjects without a history of symptomatic CAD. The study protocol was approved by the Iran University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee. The eNOS gene intron4a/b VNTR polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. The plasma lipids levels and other risk factors were also determined. The genotype frequencies for eNOS4b/b, eNOS4a/b and eNOS4a/a were 68.8, 29.1 and 2.1% in CAD subjects, and 81, 18.4 and 0.6% in control subjects, respectively. The genotype frequencies differed significantly between the two groups [X[2]=6.38 P=0.041]. The frequency of the allele was 16.7% in CAD subjects and 9.8% in control subjects and was significantly higher in the patients [X[2]=6.18 P=0.013, odds ratio=1.84]. Plasma lipids, except HDL-C were also remarkablely increased in CAD group

[Personality characteristics and occupational success in senior managers of a governmental organization]

Background and Aim: Some personality characteristics have been associated with success orientedness and may play a role in eliciting, organizing and perpetuating behaviors which pave the way toward success. Also personality characteristics have been found to influence in tendency to and capacity of group directorship and management. Little is known about those relationships in our socio-cultural background. This study aimed to examine the relationship between personality characteristics and occupational success in the managers of a governmental organization

Method and Materials: Eighty managers were selected among senior managers of a governmental organization through simple randomization. Occupational Success Scale were administered and based on their scores on this scale, participants were then assigned to two 30-person groups of namely successful and unsuccessful managers. Cattle Personality Scale as well as Occupational Success Scale was administered to all participants

Findings: The mean age of participants was 40. Most of them had a bachelor's degree of education. No correlation was found between demographic characteristics and occupational success. Successful managers had a significantly higher mean score of self-control and non-significantly higher mean scores of warmth, emotional stability, superego strength, social assertiveness, delicacy and self-efficiency. They also had a significantly lower mean score of dependence. Both groups of managers had high mean scores of extroversion and this was non-significantly higher in successful managers. Both groups had also low mean scores of anxiety

Conclusion: Some personality characteristics like self-control and lower levels of dependency are associated with occupational success in managers. These factors can be considered in the process of managers' employment and also in their continuous education programs

Study of zinc deficiency in pregnant women

Zinc is one of the elements necessary for growth and health in human. Some evidences indicate that the zinc deficiency is one of real difficulties for the public health in developed and developing countries. Since the pregnant women are more at risk by the zinc deficiency, and this can cause many problems, in this study we tried to find out the rate of zinc deficiency in pregnant women within the region. This research project was analytical-descriptive study which was done on the 400 pregnant women whom referred to Zahedan Ghods hospital. A questionnaire was set up for each case which contained the following items, mother age, pregnancy age, numbers of deliveries, education, and consumption of iron tablet during pregnancy. The serum zinc level in each mother in this project was determined by atomic absorption technique. Prevalence of zinc deficiency among the pregnant women was 49%. Statistical analysis indicated that zinc deficiency had correlation with mother age, term of pregnancy and iron consumption. But zinc deficiency showed no correlation with numbers of deliveries and education