[Treatment seeking behavior and related factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Introduction: Acute Coronary syndrome is one of the most diagnosed and causes of death in the world, and treatment seeking behavior at the time of onset of symptoms and time spend on arriving to hospital is important for these patients, as it effects treatment and prognosis

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine treatment seeking behavior and related factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome referring to Heshmat Educational-Therapeutic center in Rasht city

Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 370 patients with acute coronary syndrome, who were admitted to emergency, CCU and cardiac units chosen by sequential sampling method. The instrument was a 3-part questionnaire consisting of demographic and social information, disease information and questions to determine treatment seeking behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive analytical statistics such as Chi-square, Man-Whitney and logistic regression

Results: The most common appropriate treatment seeking behaviors in the study population were rest [70%] and referring to heart related center [56.2%] and the most common inappropriate behaviors were not calling emergency medical services [85.9], not using sublingual TNG [68.6%] and delay for hours or days [60%]. There was a significant correlation between the most common inappropriate behaviors and sex, place of living, complete insurance, education level, job status, monthly income level, comorbidity chronic disease, kind of disease, severity of pain, length of morbidity, and hospitalization for angina pain, first impression of chest pain, method of referring to medical center and first referred center

Conclusion: In attention to inappropriate behaviors and transfer methods in majority of research samples in this study, educating high risk people is necessary

[Status of self- care ability of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis]

Introduction: today medical world is facing the increase of chronic diseases. Rheumatoid Arthritis as a chronic disease causes pain, fatigue, limited mobility and daily activity, physical function disorder and disability. An important part of controlling chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis is enabling patients to conduct self-care and adjusting to condition of chronic disease

Objective: present study aims to determine self-care ability of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Methods: this is a cross sectional descriptive study which surveyed the level of self-care of 326 patients with rheumatoid arthritis referring to Rheumatology clinic of Razi educational center in Rasht. Data were collected using Health Assessment Questionnaire in order to determine the disability rate and Self-Care Inventory in order to determine the Self-Care ability rate through interview. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistical tests [Kruskal Wallis, Mann Whitney and Multiple linear regressions]

Results: the mean self-care ability of patients was 57.65+/-2.32 which was at a good level. Sex [P<0.0016]], age [P<0.001] marital status [P<0.001], education [P<0.001], jobs [P<0.001], income [P<0.004], duration of illness [P<0.000] and co morbidities [P<0.001] were significantly associated with self-care ability

Conclusion: study findings indicate that baseline factors are effective in controlling rheumatoid arthritis disease; therefore it is necessary for nurses to determine self-care needs considering effective related factors to develop and implement training programs in order to improve patients' empowerment

[Comparison of signs and symptoms associated with acute coronary syndrome in male and female patients]

Cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent cause of human mortality in the world. Although clinical signs are the most important index in coronary artery diseases, they are different in male and female patients. Comparison of signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome in male and female patients admitted to emergency department of Dr. Heshmat and Rasoul-e-Akram hospital in 1389. This study was a descriptive and crosssectional one carried out with 200 patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome admitted to emergency departments of the above-mentioned hospitals. Data collection tools included questionnaires for personal information, spreading region, signs and symptoms in male and female patients in different shifts of morning, afternoon and night which were filled in by the researcher and his or her colleagues. Most studied cases suffered from chest pain [97%] and dyspnea [73%], tachycardia [71%], perspiration [67%], numbness [62.5%], flushing [61%], weakness [59.5%], fatigu e [57%], and nausea [53.5%]. Statistical test X2 showed a significant difference between the two groups of male and female patients in terms of fatigue, headlight dizziness, nausea, indigestion and fear, so that these symptoms were observed more in female than in male patients, while coughing and perspiration were more common in male than in female patients. Considering the different rates of signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome in male and female patients, the appropriate treatment seems to be based on such differences and their rapid diagnosis