[Effects of peer education on clinical skills in nursing students, including interns and trainees]

Background: Learning from peers is an authentic way to improve psychomotor skills and to reduce stress, in which monitoring the implementation of clinical skills, doing practice, strengthening sense of responsibility and active participation and privates take responsibility for their learning are performed. It can prepare them for their future roles and has lower cost compared to other methods. The purpose of this study was to define the effects of peer education on learning clinical skills in nursing students [interns and trainees]

Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental study, 71 internship and 84 trainees were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. One researcher- made questionnaire was used to collect data to evaluate the clinical skills [40 questions consisting of two parts 20 questions about the standard of care and 20 questions standard clinical skill] before and after Internships. Content validity was used for testing validity and test-retest for reliability

Results: Mean [ +/- standard deviation] score of clinical skills in intern students were 39.18 +/- 0.628 in the intervention group and 32.23 +/- 3.77 in the control group [P<0.0001]. Mean [ +/- standard deviation] score of clinical skills in the trainees of the intervention group was 36.94 +/- 2.45 and in the control group was 32.73 +/- 4.40 [P<0.0001]

Conclusion: peer education is effective in teaching clinical skills and promotion of clinical education among junior students as well as own peer students

Comparing radiation receiving dose at 50 Cm distance of the source of radiation and nearby room during fluoroscopic percutaneous nephrolithotomy

One of the radioactive sources in operating room is fluoroscopy which is used in a variety of surgical operations. Because the operating room walls are not protected by lead, this study was done to measure the radiation receiving dose at nearby room during fluoroscopic percutaneous nephrolithotomy. After randomization, we measured x-ray in distance of 0.5 m, behind wall [3.50 m], and 30 meter [background dose] in 40 urological procedures in a simultaneous manner for a period of two months by using 12 thermoluminescent chips, and compared the results using independent T test. The total fluoroscopy time was 66.90 minutes and the mean voltage used was 76.38 kV. Mean radiation dose for 40 procedures received at a distance of 0.5 meter was 0.426 +/- 0.188 with minimum of 0.260 and maximum 0.689 mSv, while radiation dose received by a nearby room was zero. There was statistically significant difference between the amount of radiation received at distance of 0.5 meter and the adjoining room [P <0.05]. The amount of radiation received at 0.5 meter was high and safety guidelines should be considered. Furthermore, the dose of radiation received in a neighboring room like the background dose was zero which means that working in adjoining rooms is safe

[Description and relationship between organizational citizenship behavior and procedural justice among nurses affiliated to hospitals of Tehran university of medical sciences in 2012]

Recognizing predictors and correlated factors of organizational citizenship behavior [OCB], as an important agent in productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of organization can finally help to improve quality of patients care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between OCB and procedural justice in nurses. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey, in which 400 questionnaires distributed among nurses among fifteen hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Science [TUMS] using multistage cluster sampling method. A total of 380 questionnaires were returned of which 373 questionnaires were completed and usable for the study. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics, comparison tests and Pearson coefficient were used. Perceived procedural justice had a positive significant correlation with nurse's OCB [r=0.135, p<0.05]. Overall mean score of OCB was 3.84 +/- 0.4 [Partly desirable level], while the respondent' means score of perceived procedural justice was at level of ''partly undesirable''. Male nurses had better perception about existing procedural justice in their hospital compared to female coworkers [p<0.05]. According to finding of the survey, related officials should pay more attention in selection and appointment of head nurses, supervisors as well as matrons in affiliated hospital. Using job training and managerial education help to enhance nurse's organizational citizenship behavior through increasing level of their perceived procedural justice

[ relationship between self-concept and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes]

Diabetes is a serious chronic illness and needs end of life care behavior that its-reflect will be as a physical, mental and social disequilibrium. Also, self-concept is an overall view of him/her-self that encompass all the strengths and weaknesses of individual. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between self-concept and quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes. This descriptive-correlation study was done on 280 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to clinic of diabetes in Imam Khomeini hospital at Ardebil. Data were gathered by questionnaires, including socio-demographic status, Farrell and Grant questionnaires and Beck's self concept test. The data were analyzed using SPSS by descriptive analysis, Chi-square, and exact Fisher tests. Most patients with type 2 diabetes had low self-concept [98 [34.5%]] and low quality of life level [123 [43.9%]]. Results of chi-square test [P=0.001] and Pearson correlation [r=0.91] indicated that there was statistically significant relationship between quality of life and self-concept. Our study showed that self-concept and quality of life have direct and positive relationships. Then, we can modify and enhance the quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes, increase their self-concept until they have a suitable self-care and be prevented the physical, emotional and psychological complications of diabetes

Effect of quality of life improvement on type 2 diabetes patients' self-esteem

To study the effects of the quality of life [QoL] improvement on their QoL and self-esteem. This was a random controlled clinical trial study on 123 type 2 diabetes patients admitted to the Diabetes Clinic in Imam Khomeini Hospital at Ardebil, Iran from April 2009 to June 2010. The 30-70 years old participants are afflicted with type 2 diabetes, and randomly divided into 2 groups [experimental group n=61, and control group n=62]. The questionnaires were composed of sociodemographic status, Parrel and Grant, and Rosenberg's self-esteem questionnaires and the quality of life [QoL] improvement plan was codified to educate and evaluate them. A p<0.05 was considered significant. Our study showed that subjects in the experimental group had low self-esteem [13%] before QOL training, and they had moderate self-esteem after the intervention [39%], however, the control group had moderate self-esteem [62.5%] in the pretest, and changed to low self-esteem [12.9%] in the post-test, and there was significant difference in the previous and next intervention [p<0.05]. The QoL improvement had positive effects on diabetic's self-esteem, and QOL as improved may help to reduce the side effects of type 2 diabetes process

[Mental health analysis and stress coping strategies in families caring for patients with epilepsy referring to Iranian association of epilepsy]

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent diseases in all countries. A family having a patient with epilepsy subjects itself to self regulation in order to organize their roles and rules, and attempt to develop consistent patterns of interaction. This is necessary for epileptic patients and their families in promoting mental health and using effective interactive skills. In this descriptive- correlation study, 150 families of epileptics referring to the Iranian association of epilepsy selected using a Systematic Sampling. For obtaining further information, a questionnaire was used. The first part indicated the demographic specifications of the patient's family, the second part showed the general health questionnaire [GHQ] and the third part indicated stress coping strategies Carver-Sheier-Weinrub questionnaires. The majority of the epileptic patients' families [56.7%] were not in an appropriate mental health condition. The majority of epileptic patients' families [92%] were employing stress coping strategies on a medium level, majority of epileptic patients' families who had medium mental health [93.8%] were using stress coping strategies in a medium level [S=0.3, P<0.0001]. The result may help promoting more mental health in the family of the epileptic patient and using of stress coping strategies in a more suitable level

[Burnout of nurses employed at Tehran psychiatric hospitals and its relation with social supports]

Nurses' burnout, not only results in serious psychological disorders, but also reduces the quality of patients' care because of increased absence, reduced energy and diminished effectiveness. This study was designed to determine burnout of nurses employed at Tehran psychiatric hospitals and its relation with social supports. This is a descriptive- correlative study, in which 93 nurses employed at psychiatric hospitals affiliated to medical Universities of Tehran and Iran, and Welfare and Rehabilitation University were randomly selected. Data were gathered by a questionnaire, including demographic information, Maslach and Jackson job burnout questionnaire and the Haus and Wells support sources questionnaire. 69.9% and 64.5% had average degree of frequency and intensity of burnout, respectively. 67.70% and 81.70% had a low frequency and intensity of emotional exhaustion and 75.30% and 71.00% of them had a low frequency and intensity of depersonalization, respectively. Instead, most nurses had high frequency and intensity of reduction in personal success [50.5% and 53.80%, respectively]. Pierson coefficient of correlation statistics documented reduction of frequency and intensity of emotional exhaustion by increasing support of head nurse, decreasing the frequency of emotional exhaustion and intensity of depersonalization by increasing spousal support, and lowering intensity of emotional exhaustion by improving familial support. However, no significant relationship was noticed between colleague support and burnout. According to physical, mental and social problems of burnout, most authors emphasize on preventive methods. So, establishment of powerful supporting system in working environment and its outside is recommended