experience of social stigma in AIDS patients: a phenomenological study

Background: AIDS is one of the most challenging diseases in recent years that can influence quality of life and even survival rate of AIDS patients due to the wrong thoughts and social stigma that exists among society in relation to these patients. This study aimed to describe the social stigma experienced by AIDS patients

Materials and Methods: In this qualitative study, the phenomenological procedure was utilized. The population under study was 13 AIDS patients who were selected on a purposebased sampling approach, and selection continued until saturation of the data occurred. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi procedure. The validity and reliability of study was based on its real value, practicality, continuity and reality

Results: After analysis of interview transcripts, the most extracted sub-concepts were as follows: inappropriate labels, rejection, worthlessness and lack of support which all named under the main concept of stigma

Conclusions: This study showed that AIDS patients experience a wide range of problems after the other people find out about their disease and also due to the social stigma about them. In the process of caring of AIDS patients, it should be taken into consideration not only the physical needs, but also the spiritualmental and social needs of these patients. Being familiar with the stigma experienced by AIDS patients helps the nursing team to present necessary cares and instructions, and promote the quality of life and survival rate of AIDS patients. Raising society's awareness and changing of the attitudes regarding AIDS patient should be taken into account as essential and undeniable issues

[Evaluation of analgesic effects of intrathecal eugenol in male rats]

Eugenol, the most important substance of clove plant [Eugenia caryophyllata] extract, has been widely used as a local relief for pain and inflammation in dentistry. To our knowledge, the beginning time and duration time of intrathecal injection of eugenol were not determined. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate the analyesic effects of intrathecal injection of eugenol regarding the beginning and duration time, using thermal pain method [water: 52°C] in male rats. In this experimental study, 51 male Wistar rats, were divided into three groups of eugenol [5, 10 and 15 microl] and three groups of normal saline [5, 10 and 15 microl]. Lumbar intrathecal catheters were implanted under anesthesia. Five days later, different volumes of eugenol and normal saline [5, 10 and 15 microl /rat] were administrated intrathecally and the withdrawal tail responses to high temperature [51°C] water [tail immersion] at different times intervals [pre-catheterization, pre-administration, 10, 30, 180, 360, 720, 1440 minutes after eugenol administrations] were evaluated. Data were analyzed using one and two way ANOVA and LSD post hoc tests. Eugenol induced analgesia dose-dependently. Furthermore, eugenol at higher doses induced longer analgesic effect [P<0.05]. Higher doses of eugenol caused long term paralysis and immobility. The beginning time of analgesia was 10 minutes after injection of eugenol and maximum analgesia was seen after 30 minutes [P<0.05]. The observed analgesic effect of intrathecal eugenol can be helpful in the clinical use at the future

[Quality of Life in heart failure patients referred to the Kerman outpatient centers, 2010]

Background and aims: Heart failure is a clinical syndrome which may have causes negative effects on quality of life. Nowadays, improvement of quality of life in these patients has become as an objective and a part of treatment programs that is a useful direction for promotion of care quality. It is necessary for nurses to gain essential knowledge to improve the patient's quality of life. The aim of this research was to study the quality of life in heart failure patients referred to the Kerman Outpatient Centers

Method: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 200 patients [100 men and 100woman] suffered from heart failure who were referred to the outpatient centers in Kerman. Samples were selected by purposive method. Short From heath survey 36 items [SF[36]] was used for studding the quality of life. Data were analyzed using Chi- square, independent t-test and ANOVA

Results: Findings showed that the patients mean age was 64 years and most of them were in the second degree of heart failure. The quality of life score was found 42.36 in men and it was 40.65 in women [P>0.05]. The comparison of quality of life dimensions in women and men showed that physical function [P=0.005] and mental health [P=0.01] was significantly higher in men than women

Conclusion: The results indicated that the heart failure patients had poor quality of life and the women have weaker physical function and worse mental health than men. Therefore, controlling some amendable variables among these patients is suggested