[Comparative defense style used by nurses in stressful situations]

Introduction: Nursing is a stressful occupation that its related tensions could affect individual spiritual health. Therefore, defense style against stress is very important for nurses. The aim of this study was comparative defense style used by nursing personnel in stressful situations, in Abadan College of Medical Sciences

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out at the Abadan College of Medical Sciences. The study population consisted of 100 nurses from Abadan and Khorramshahr hospitals' that was selected by purposive Sampling method. Data were collected by questionnaires include demographic data and [Defensive Styles Questionnaire-40] that consist of three parts of mature defense style, neurotic and immature. Cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was 0.82 and data were analyzed using SPSS/18 software. Appropriate statistical analysis such as one way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and t-test were employed to analyze the collected data

Finding: The results showed that 67.3% of Taleghani Hospitals and 67.2% of Vali-e-asr hospitals' Nurses used mature defense style as defense mechanism. The mean score for mature defense style was 11.55???2.4 which illustrates that most nurses used this type of defense style

Conclusion: Although the results of this study showed that most nurses' in front of occupational exposure to stress used appropriate and mature defense mechanisms but around one - third of them used inappropriate defense mechanism. Teaching defense style to nurses to cope with anxiety and stress is suggested for future study work

[Effect of the nursing staff associate model on nursing students' clinical learning]

Clinical education is one of the most important ingredients of nursing curriculum. Inadequacies in nursing skills are main concerns of nursing students. Therefore, the application of new teaching methods is essential to improve the quality of clinical education. The Clinical Education Associate Method [CEAM], using the collaboration of nursing staff is a strategy for clinical education. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the nursing staff associate model on nursing students' clinical learning. This was a quasi-experimental study. 40 nursing students were randomly and equally assigned into two groups. The students in the experiment group were trained by nursing staff during clinical education, while the students in the control group received the routine education. The clinical skills of the students were assessed using a checklist. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The students in both groups were the same in terms of demographic characteristics. The students in the experiment group received better marks in clinical skills such as medication, communication with patients, isolation methods, and dressing in comparison with the students in the control group [P<0.05]. In the nursing staff associate model, students interact with each other and will be able to communication better, and their self-esteem is improved. Moreover, the level of learning in such students is higher in comparison with students taught using the routine method. Therefore, the widespread application of this model in nursing and other healthcare disciplines are suggested

[ effect of peer-led education on depression of multiple sclerosis patients]

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic and degenerative disease related to the central nervous system that causes depression in patients. Peer group can better encourage their peers to select the appropriate behavior. This study aimed to determine the impact of peer-led education on depression of multiple sclerosis patients in 2011. This quasi-experimental study was performed by selecting 110 multiple sclerosis patients and allocation of randomized two groups of tests and control groups [each group included55 patients].The MS Society of Iran was the research environment. After preparing the peer group, six training sessions were held during six weeks by peer group for the test group. Data collection tool was a questionnaire named Beck Depression Inventory [BDI] to assess patients' depression; this was completed by both groups before and4months after the program. The data were analyzed using SPSS v.16 software and chi-square test, paired T and independent T. There was no significant difference in depression score between two groups before intervention but the difference was shown significant between two groups after intervention using independent t test [P=0.001]. Pair t test showed a significant difference in the depression reduction in the test group after peer group performance [P=0.000], whereas the same test showed no significant difference in the control group. Peer-led education caused depression reduction in patients with MS. Hence use of this teaching method in multiple sclerosis and patients with chronic diseases is recommended

[Comparison the effect of two methods, patient controlled analgesia and intramuscular injection after abdominal surgery in patients admitted to Amir Al Momenin hospital in Ahwaz]

70 percent of patients experience the pain after surgery as the most common complication. Lack of pain relief after surgery can lead to surgical complications, prolonged duration of hospitalization and delayed recovery. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two methods, patient controlled analgesia and intramuscular injection inpatients after abdominal surgery. This clinical trial study was conducted through convenience sampling on 60 patients referred to Amir Al Momenin hospital for abdominal surgery in Ahwaz in 2010. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups [30 in each group] of patient's controlling their pain through infusion pump [intervention group] and intramuscular injection [control group]. For gathering data demographic information form and the visual analog scale VAS were used. Pain severity and analgesic drug consumption was assessed every 6 hours during 24 hours after surgery. The data were analyzed by SPSS 16, repeated measures ANOVA test. There was a significant difference between the two groups in relation to the mean of pain severity and the extent of drug consumption after abdominal surgery, where as the pain level in the intervention group was less than the control group [P=0.03], but the mean of drug consumption in the intervention group was more than the control group [P<0.001]. According to study findings, education of patient controlled analgesia can be effective way to reduce pain after surgery, thus this method will be had a critical role in promotion of quality of nursing care and increasing of patient communication with staff.

[Study of mental health and its relation with quality of life in addicts]

Because of the progressive nature of addiction in all aspects of life, it influences the health of society individuals and has bad effects on psychological, physical, social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive health. In order to investigate mental health and the quality of life of addicts referring to addiction centers in Golestan province, this research was done. A total of 322 patients were selected from the addiction census centers of the province during 2009 and studied in a descriptive cross-sectional analysis. The data included a questionnaire about demographic characteristics and two questionnaires contained the mental health [MHC] and the quality of life [SF17] variables. Of the total, 52 percent reported their mental health to be somewhat favorable and 17 percent reported favorable. On the other hand, 53 percent reported somewhat favorable quality of life and 8 percent had a desirable quality of life. There was significant relationship between mental health and quality of life. Mental health was significantly related to sex and type of material consumption, while quality of life was significantly related to job and type of material consumed. Many addicts can't give up addiction and repeatedly refer to centers. But care team members can identify common characteristics, personality traits and support systems for promoting mental health and the quality of addict's life which facilitate prevention, treatment and rehabilitation

[Evaluation of the knowledge of rural high school students in Yazd about drugs]

Considering high prevalence of addiction, the age range of drug abuse and availability of new synthetic drugs, evaluation of knowledge of adolescents about drugs would be a priority in research. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 517 rural high school students were asked to complete a questionnaire and through SPSS software version 13, collected data was analyzed by chi-square and analysis of variance tests. 7.1% of rural families with at least one boy in high school had an addict family member. 70.2% of high school students had had a contact with an addict and 42.5% knew an adolescent addict. Also, 17.5% had been offered drugs and 37.9% of high school students claimed that there was at least one addict in their family or relations. Considering the frequency of addiction in families and rate of invitation to drug abuse in students, there is a high risk of increment of addiction in high schools and therefore real and urgent need to do an intervention

[Sleep-quality investigation of bus drivers working in the Gorgan's passenger terminal and its relation with the public health in 2008-2009]

One of the most common kinds of human's disorders is sleep disorders which have direct relation with age, gender, physical health status, and occupational activities. Increasing the errors during job activities such as driving is one of the most important complications of sleep disorders. Therefore, this study has been conducted to determine the sleep quality of drivers and its relationship with public health. The under study drivers are from the Gorgan's passenger terminal. In this analytical-partial study, all the drivers working in the Gorgan's passenger terminal were studied using standard 28-question public heath questionnaire and standard 19-question Pittsburg sleep questionnaire. After filling out and collecting all forms, data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS.13, and descriptive analytical statistics. The results showed that the driver's public health is not satisfactory. More than one third of drivers have poor sleep quality and there was a direct and statistically significant relationship between the quality of sleep and general health of drivers [P <0.00 1, r = 0.7]. according to the results of this study, training of drivers is advised such that they have a regular number of shifts, timely and sufficient rests, proper diet which can prevent accidents, conserve passengers, reduce costs due to accidents and irrecoverable damage to other drivers. Also it is important to consider possible age limitation for driving on the road or to allocate a less number of shifts for older drivers