Reinforcement behavior therapy by kindergarten teachers on preschool children's aggression: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Aggression is a kind of behavior that causes damage or harm to others. The prevalence of aggression is 8-20% in 3-6 years old children. The present study aimed to assess the effect of training kindergarten teachers regarding reinforcement behavior therapy on preschoolers' aggression

Methods: In this cluster randomized control trial, 14 out of 35 kindergarten and preschool centers of Mohr city, Iran, were chosen using random cluster sampling and then randomly assigned to an intervention and a control group. All 370 kindergarten and preschool children in 14 kindergarten were assessed by preschoolers' aggression questionnaire and 60 children who obtained a minimum aggression score of 117.48 for girls and 125.77 for boys were randomly selected. The teachers in the intervention group participated in 4 educational sessions on behavior therapy and then practiced this technique under the supervision of the researcher for two months. Preschoolers' aggression questionnaire was computed in both intervention and control groups before and after a two-month period

Results: The results demonstrated a significant statistical difference in the total aggression score [P=0.01], verbal [P=0.02] and physical [P=0.01] aggression subscales scores in the intervention group in comparison to the control group after the intervention. But the scores of relational aggression [P=0.09] and impulsive anger [P=0.08] subscales were not statistically different in the intervention group compared to the controls

Conclusion: This study highlighted the importance of teaching reinforcement behavior therapy by kindergarten teachers in decreasing verbal and physical aggression in preschoolers

Effect of home visit training program on growth and development of preterm infants: a double blind randomized controlled trial

Home visit program can be effective in infants' growth and development. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of home visit program on preterm infants' growth and development within 6 months. It was a double-blind clinical trial study. The study was conducted in Hafez, Hazrat-e-Zeinab, and Namazee Hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran from 2010 to 2011. Preterm infants were divided into intervention [n=30] and control groups [n=30] through blocked randomization. The intervention group received home visit training program for 6 months, while the control group only received the hospital's routine care. Then, the infants' growth indexes, including weight, height, and head circumference, and development criteria were compared on the first day of admission in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and then first, second, third, and sixth months. The data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measures ANCOVA. The mean weight of the intervention and control group infants was 7207.3 +/- 1129.74 and 6366.7 +/- 922.26 gr in the sixth month. Besides, the intervention group infants' mean weight was higher compared to the control group after six months [t=-3.05, P=0.03]. Also, a significant difference was found between the two groups regarding development indexes, such as following moving objects with the head, keeping the head stable when changing the position from lying to sitting, producing "Agha" sound, and taking objects by hand [P<0.05] during six months of age. The results showed that the home visit program was effective in preterm infants' weight gain and some development indexes at the sixth month. Considering the importance of infants' growth and development, healthcare staff is recommended to incorporate home visit training into their programs, so that steps can be taken towards improvement of preterm infants' health

effect of educational program on the quality of life and self-efficacy of the mothers of the infants with congenital heart disease: a randomized controlled trial

Congenital heart disease causes large expenditures as well as mental pressures for the parents and, consequently, endangers the mothers' quality of life and self efficacy. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the effect of educational program on the quality of life and self efficacy of the mothers of the infants with congenital heart disease. The present randomized controlled trial was conducted on 56 mothers who had children with congenital heart disease [28 in the control and 28 in the intervention group] in Imam Reza Clinic, Shiraz, Iran in 2012. The mothers' quality of life and self-efficacy were assessed using SF-36 and Sherer's general self efficacy questionnaires before, immediately and 2 months after the training. The training was performed through four 90-minute sessions in 4 weeks. The data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software and independent t-test, chi-square, and repeated measure analysis of variance. A significant differences was observed between the intervention and control groups regarding the mean of quality of life across the three study periods [F=59.91, P<0.0001]. A significant difference was also found between the two groups concerning the mean of self efficacy at these times [F=114.11, P<0.0001]. According to the results, providing appropriate training for the mothers of the infants with congenital heart disease increased their quality of life as well as self-efficacy.

Olfactory stimulation by vanillin prevents apnea in premature newborn infants

Apnea is one of the most common problems in premature newborns. The present study aimed to determine the effect of olfactory stimulation by vanillin on prevention of apnea in premature newborns. In this randomized controlled trial, 36 premature newborns with the postnatal age of 2 days and weight under 2500 grams referred to the hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, were selected through simple random sampling and allocated into control and experimental groups. The experimental group received olfactory stimulation by saturated vanillin solution, while the control group received no interventions. The newborns of both groups were continuously monitored for presence/absence of apnea and number of episodes of apnea as well as arterial blood oxygen saturation and heart rate for 5 days. The data were analyzed by independent Student t-test and repeat measure ANCOVA. The presence of apnea revealed to be significantly different between the two groups in the first, second, and fourth day of the study [P<0.05]. The number of episodes of apnea during five days was also significantly different between the study groups [t=8.32, P<0.05]. Using olfactory stimulation by vanillin caused a 3.1-fold decrease in apnea and the effect size was 0.72. Moreover, the two groups were significantly different regarding the arterial blood oxygen and heart rate during the study period [P<0.05]. This study indicated the beneficial effect of saturated vanillin solution on apnea; therefore, it may be used for prevention and treatment of apnea in premature infants. Further studies are needed to improve evidence-based practice in this regard

effects of ETT suction education on the knowledge and performance of intensive care nurses

Many neonates require oxygen therapy and mechanical ventilation and endotracheal tube [ETT] suction is a vital protocol for the maintenance of artificial airway patency But suctioning is associated with serious complications including hypoxia. Despite some existing protocols nurses still use it injudiciously in pediatric and neonatal patient groups. Therefore, continuing education has been regarded as a tool to cope with the fast changes in care methods and improving nursing Professional standards. The study was conducted to evaluate the training and educational needs in nurses working with NICUs affiliated to the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences to increase their potential with regards to ETT suctioning. An experimental interventional study. NICUs affiliated to the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz [Iran] during 2006. Sample size was 50 persons caring for neonates with ETTs under mechanical ventilation. Using systematic random allocation, they were divided into study and control groups. Data collection was done by a test with 30 points to evaluate knowledge and a check list with 47 points to evaluate performance. After random allocation, the subjects' knowledge was evaluated. Then, ETT suction education was given to the test group and NICU infection control education was given to the controls. Two days and two months after the intervention, the subjects were re-evaluated. The results were compared. Man-Whitney test showed that the level of knowledge between the two groups at the beginning of the study had no significant difference [p = 0.71], while the average score in the two groups 2 days and 2 months after the intervention [education] had significant difference [p = 0.001]. There was a significant difference 2 days and 2 months after intervention in the performance. It can be concluded that education significantly increases the level of knowledge and degree of performance of neonatal endotracheal tube suctioning; however, with the passage of time, the levels fall, necessitating the need for continued education in this matter