[Effect of family - centered empowerment model on the quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction: a clinical trial study]

Introduction: nowadays, non-contagious diseases have been extended due to the renovation of societies, technology promotion, and density of population on urban zones and tendency of population to unsuitable habits. Cardiovascular diseases are from these failures and are the most widespread cause of death and disability in the most countries as well as in Iran. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of family-centered empowerment model [FCEM] on the quality of life of the myocardial infarction patients

Method: this clinical trial conducted on all of myocardial infarction patients hospitalized in Coronary Care Unit of the selected Hospital [72 persons in intervention and control groups]. Sampling was conducted by convenience sampling and then random allocation. For intervention group FCEM was implemented with four dimensions of perceived threat with group discussion method, self-efficacy with problem solving methods, self-esteem with educational partnership and outcome and process evaluations and usual care was done for control group members. In this study the instruments used were demographic variables, specialty instruments of FCEM, and SF-36 quality of life instrument. To analysis the data, Chi square, independent and dependent t, U man Whitney, Wilcoxon signed rank tests and Pearson correlation coefficient were used

Results: 8 dimensions of quality of life were similar in both groups before the intervention [P>0.05], but after the intervention both groups had significant differences [P<0.05]. But, paired t-test showed significant differences only in the intervention group [P<0.05]

Conclusion: FCEM for myocardial infarction patients was feasible and associated with improvement or modification of patients' quality of life

[ relationship between perceived stress and the top five heart disease characteristics in patients with myocardial infarction]

Stress and stressful situations can be a prelude to fatal diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived stress with five major characteristics of the heart disease in patients with myocardial infarction. In this cross sectional descriptive-analytical study that was conducted from May 2005 till October 2009, a total of 3,200 patients with myocardial infarction, from cardiovascular care unit of Gha'em and Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, were randomly selected. A demographic questionnaire, an instrument for recording laboratory and electrocardiograph finding, and the Perceived Stress Scale were used for data collection. The results of this study show that while 35% of all cases suffer from moderate stress, 65% percent of them suffer from high level of stress. The level of perceived stress in different categories of variables such as gender, educational level, hypertension, history of hypertension, depression, cigarette smoking, exercising, job, level of incoming, location of living, and family history of cardiovascular disease was significantly different from each other. Considering the high levels of stress among patients with myocardial infarction, design and implementation of interventions for identifying stressors, as well as their management seem to be crucial

[ effect of 2% nitroglycerin ointment application on the phlebitis intensity, induced by intravenous catheter]

One of the main problems with intravenous injection is high prevalence of phlebitis. The duration of staying the patients in the hospital and mortality have been significantly reduced in the hospitals with less side effects of intravenous injection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2% nitroglycerin ointment application on the phlebitis intensity, induced by intravenous catheter. This is a single-blind clinical trial study in which 300 hospitalized patients Ghaem hospital in Mashhad city, Iran were selected by purposive-sampling method. Patients were randomly divided into two experimental [150 patients] and control [150 patients] group. In experimental groups, after intravenous insertion of catheter, we applied 2% nitroglycerin ointment [0.5 inch] in the distal part of the catheter and in control group, we did not use nitroglycerin ointment. The catheter areas were evaluated for phlebitis every 12 hours after catheter insertion in both groups. In experimental group, replacement of nitroglycerin ointment was repeated after 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours. Data were statistically analyzed using student-t test, Chi-square analysis and Fisher test. Result: The phlebitis intensity in experimental group was less than control group [P<0.001]. According to the MADOX criteria, the degree of "0" [for no phlebitis] and "1" of phlebitis intensity was significantly more in the experimental group compared to the control group [P<0.05]. On the other hand, the degree of "2" of phlebitis was significantly more in control group than the experimental group [P<0.05]. The results of this study suggest that the local application of 2% nitroglycerin ointment can reduce the phlebitis intensity, induced by intravenous catheter

[Comparison of depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life in dormitories students of Tarbiat Modares university]

Students are the future managers of each country and in our country because of having a young population pyramid; the importance of them in managing country future is more outstanding. Therefore physical health especially their psychic condition is directly related to the community health in future. The purpose of this study was to compare depression, anxiety, stress and quality of life [QOL] of female and male students resident in Tarbiat Modares University dormitories. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study which used DASS21 and SF-8 questionnaires completed by subjects to measure the mentioned variables in 223 female and male dormitory students of Tarbiat Modares University. The subjects were selected using cluster sampling method. The results of this study showed that 51.6% of students suffer from depression, 39.5% from anxiety and 71.7% from stress. The level of depression, anxiety, and stress in male students showed to be higher than females. Student's QOL was moderate in 33.2% and poor in 4.9% of them. The relation between education level [MSc vs. PhD] and the main variables was not significant. Stress, anxiety and depression had a direct relation together and an inverse relation with QOL. Regarding to the results of this study, it is concluded that academic study is accompanied by a high level of depression and anxiety and lower level of QOL because of the presence of high levels of stress. So every society which thinks about its health and its future generations is expected to investigate on predisposing factors of stress, depression, as well as anxiety and remove them in order to ensure its future goals