[Frequency of academic failure and its associated factors from the viewpoint of students with and without academic failure in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Khoramabad, Iran]

Main task of universities is training efficient and effective human resources. Students annually experience academic failure due to different reasons. Because academic failure of medical students has negative impacts on the community, patients, profession and university, the present study aimed to determine the frequency of academic failure, and to compare its associated factors from the viewpoint of the students with and without academic failure. This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted during the second semester of 2011-2012 academic years on 148 nursing and midwifery students in Khorramabad Nursing and Midwifery Faculty using convenience sampling method. Academic failure was considered 0.2 and more decline in standard score [Z score] of the grade point average of the prior semester compare to the two previous semesters. The instrument was a researcher made questionnaire which included demographic information and 52 questions about influential factors on academic failure. Five point likert scale questions from very high to very low applied to examine the students' agreement with the factors affecting academic failure. The Questionnaires were self-reporting. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test, and independent T test were used for data analysis. 36.5% of the students had academic failure. The most important reported factors of academic failure from the viewpoint of the students with academic failure were death of a close one [4.13 +/- 1.25], faculty members' teaching method [4.11 +/- 1.7], high number of courses per semester [3.89 +/- 0.95], and delivery of theoretical and clinical courses at the same term [3.76 +/- 1.09]. Those of the students without academic failure were faculty members' evaluation methods [4.03 +/- 1.36], faculty members' teaching method [3.81 +/- 1.1], high number of courses in each semester [3.76 +/- 1.09], and educational planning [3.76 +/- 1.14]. There was no significant difference between the viewpoints of students with and without academic failure in the associated factors of academic failure. More than one third of the students had academic failure. Applying some strategies are necessary such as identifying and supporting students at risk of academic failure by consultant faculty members, encourage and support faculty members to apply more effective teaching and evaluation methods, teach correct studying and learning methods to students, and revision in the nursing educational planning

[Prevalence of hemoglobinopathies in premarriage individuals referred to Babolsar, Iran [2006-09]]

According to world health organization statistics, at least 5.2% of world population is carrier for a main hemoglobin disorder. Previous reports showed that more than 10% of people are carrier for beta-thalassemia Northern Iran. This study was done to determine the prevalance of hemoglobinopathies in premarriage individuals referred to Babolsar, Iran. This descriptive study was carried out on 8500 individuals [4200 women and 4300 men] whome were attended the thalassemia counseling program in Babolsar, North of Iran during 2006-09. After performing the CBC test, for those MCV and MCH were less than 80 and 27 respectively, Hemoglobin A2 was evaluated. Subjects whome were volunteers for more comprehensive tests, basic and acidic electrophoresis and genetic tests were applied, subsequently. 1200 [14.11%] subjects had low hematological indexes. 474 [5.57%] subjects had high HbA2 and were classified as beta-thalassemia carriers and 726 [8.54%] had normal HbA2 level and were classified as alpha-thalassemia carriers. 6 [1.2%] subjects were identified with HbF level more than 10 and were identified as carriers for beta-gene cluster deletion carrier. Also, 16 [3.2%] individuals had HbE, 16 [3.2%] had HbS, 4 had HbD and 4 had HbH [0.33% in 1200 and 0.047% in 8500 subjects]. Genetic study of 317 individuals for beta carriers and 145 subjects for alpha-carriers showed IVSII-1G>A [74.5%] in beta-globin and single gene deletion of 3.7 [47.5%] in alpha-globin genes were the most frequent mutations. This study showed that carriers for alpha-thalassemia [8.5%] are more frequent compared with beta-thalassemia [5.57%]. Also other hemoglobin variants included HbS, HbE, HbD or different beta-gene cluster deletions in the region are considerable and should be screened

[Medical staff attitude toward parents' participation in the care of their hospitalized children]

Family-centered care, which has become the cornerstone for pediatric nursing practice, supports the integrity of child and family health. It brings families a unique care and improves child and family health. Families are recognized as an essential part of a specialized child care during illness. They are expected to be skilful in child care both in and out of health care facilities. This study was carried out to determine health caregivers' attitude toward parent participation in the care of their hospitalized children at Madani pediatric hospital- Khoramabad in 2004. This is a descriptive-analytical study. One hundred and sixty nine caregivers were selected through convenient sampling method. Data were gathered using a questionnaire including demographic and parents' attitude questions. The questionnaire had 36-item. The data were analyzed via SPSS computer software and using descriptive and analytical methods. Results indicated that the average of participants' attitude score was 92.28 +/- 12.55. Most of subjects had neutral attitudes toward parents' participation in their children's care. Positive attitude were significantly related with marital status [P < 0.04], having children [P < 0.04] and being a nursing student [in comparison with medical students] [P = 0.04]. The caregivers' attitudes toward parents' participation in the care of their hospitalized children were neutral. The students' and staffs' attitudes should be modified by taking part in continuous training programs

Analyzing the knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding medication error and its prophylactic ways in educational and therapeutic hospitals of Khorramabad

Medication errors are the most common avoidable causes of iatrogenic injuries in patients. One out of every three medication errors occurs when a nurse prescribes drug to a patient. Since medication instructions are among the most important parts in the patient's treatment process, their inappropriate application can lead to many serious consequences such as incomplete or incorrect therapy, as well as legal problems. The present study was carried out to verify the knowledge and attitude of nurses regarding medication error, and its prophylactic ways in educational and therapeutic hospitals of Khorramabad in 2005. The samples of this descriptive cross-sectional study included 85 randomly selected nurses who worked in educational and therapeutic hospitals of Khorramabad in 2005. Data collection instruments were a questionnaire and the structured interview. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software [version13], Chi-square and descriptive statistic test. Analyzing the data indicated that the nurses stated the most important causes of medication errors as follows: inadequate number of nurses[100%], night and repeated long shifts [83.7%], personal problems of the nurses [79%], presence of the patients' attendants and crowded wards [79%], and inappropriate environmental conditions of the wards [73.3%]. Fear of receiving reprimands and punishment [88.45], triviality of errors [57%], and unsupportive attitude of the nursing officials [50%] were the most frequently cited reasons for not reporting the medication errors. Moreover, adequate nurse to patient ratio [98.8%], staff continuing education [96.5%], and adequate information about medications [69.8%] were reported as the most important ways to prevent medication errors. Also 62.8% of the cases had moderate knowledge regarding medication error and its prophylactic ways. The data analysis showed that from the nurses' viewpoints, some interventions including increasing adequate nurse to patient ratio, improving environmental conditions of work, reducing environmental distractions such as interruptions and stressors, increasing staffs' information about medications, increasing the role of clinical pharmacologists, creating medication error reporting systems, supportive attitude of nursing officials, focusing on causes of errors, and improving controlling and supervising systems can have remarkable effects on reducing medication errors. Moreover, both individual and systems have to be taken into consideration when rules and regulation concerning medication error reporting and prevention are made