[Perception and behaviors of HIV/AIDS patients: a qualitative study]

The number of AIDS patients is increasing worldwide including Iran. Patients' risky behaviors play an important role in this arising trend. Assessing the perception and behaviors may facilitate for clarifying and planning to reduce the incidence of the risky behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the perception and the behaviors of the HIV/AIDS patients. This qualitative study conducted in Counseling Behavior Center of Imam Khomeini hospital for ten months. Data were obtained from an in-depth, semi-structured interview with an open - ended questionnaire applying purposeful sampling method. All interviews recorded and typed precisely word by word and transcripts reviewed and checked again. Deducted themes from data coded and categorized. 45 out of 61 participants were HIV positive and 16 were AIDS patients. The age range was 21.24 years and 37.7% were female. Themes described in two sections: the first was perception section, which was about ways of acquiring the disease; and insufficient knowledge about the transmission and prevention of the disease. The second section assessed behaviors, which included a number of high-risk behaviors, non-self disclosure of disease and not using preventive methods. We concluded that more instructions or counseling in the field of transmission and disclosure of the disease is necessary to improve the social support. AIDS instruction focusing on religious beliefs applying health behavioral change theories and endemic models of health education for supporting the community is recommended

[Effect of applying hydrotherapy on fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients]

Fatigue is a common symptom of Multiple Sclerosis [MS] that is purported to cause significant distress and have detrimental effects on daily living functioning, social and occupational obligations, and overall well-being. Complementary therapies are widely used by people with MS and Progressive Hydrotherapy is a form of complementary therapies. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of applying Hydrotherapy on fatigue of Multiple Sclerosis patients. This is a Quasi-experimental study. 50 Multiple Sclerosis patients were selected with convenient sampling according to specific criteria then assigned to experimental and control groups [25 patients in each group] with random allocation. Data collector tools included: demographic questionnaire, Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS], Self report checklists. Hydrotherapy performed for 24 sessions by experimental group during three months but no intervention was done for control group. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS software. There was no significant difference between two groups in mean scores of fatigue before the study but this test showed different significance between two groups, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after intervention [P<0.05]. ANOVA test with repeated measurements showed that there is a significant difference in mean score of fatigue between two groups in 4 times [P<0.05]. The results of this study show that Hydrotherapy is practically feasible and could decrease fatigue of MS patients; so that applying this technique offered to these patients

[Factors defined by nurses as influential upon the development of clinical competence]

Introduction: Competence is acknowledged as a controversial issue in health care settings, which affects many different aspects of the nursing profession such as education, practice and management. Although a number of research and discussion papers have explored the issue of competence in nursing and in particular the meaning and assessment of nursing competence, to date little research has been carried out to survey the factors identified by nurses themselves as being influential upon the development of professional competence in nursing. In this regard, this study attempted to reveal factors that contribute to the formation of competence based on nurses' experience. Once these factors understood, managers and educators might be able to implement appropriated strategies to boost nursing competence development

Objective: This study was conducted to explore and identify factors described by nurses as influential on the development of professional competence in nursing

Materials and Methods: This study is a qualitative study, which was done through content analysis. The sample consisted of fifteen registered nurses who were recruited from two Tabriz university-affiliated hospitals, which were chosen by non-probable sampling and by “sampling based on objective”. Tape-recorded semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method. ?The contents of the interviews were transcribed into statements based on chosen methodology and then analysed

Results: Six interrelated categories were identified from the collected data. These categories, which have some degrees of overlap, include: [I] experience [II] opportunities [III] environment [IV] personal characteristics [V] motivation [VI] theoretical knowledge

Conclusions: Based on the findings obtained, a wide domain of internal and external personal conditions and factors influence achieving clinical competence. An understanding of these factors gives nursing managers and educators a scientific basis for closer dealing with this debatable issue. Nurses need this knowledge to be better able to pursue effective competency development pathways and ultimately to be prepared for providing a high standard of care. Thus the findings of this study could have important implications for nursing practice, management and education