Exploring men's struggles with infertility: A qualitative content analysis.

AIM: To investigate the experiences of men struggling with infertility. DESIGN: This is a qualitative study, and the report follows the COREQ checklist. METHODS: A team of nurse researchers conducted this research in Iran to examine the experiences of 11 men with primary infertility. The participants were selected through targeted sampling and underwent in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data collected was analysed using the conventional content analysis method outlined by Krippendorff. To ensure the study's accuracy, it followed the criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba. RESULTS: The central theme, "the threat to masculinity," was identified upon analysis. It comprises six categories: psychological pressure of confronting reality, frustration, discomfort with others, holding out against ridicule, tolerating unwanted opinions and advice and concealment of infertility and therapy. CONCLUSION: This study brings attention to the challenge to masculinity that men with primary infertility face as their central struggle. It highlights the importance of culturally sensitive care from healthcare professionals, emotional support, counselling services and public awareness to reduce the stigma surrounding male infertility. It can be valuable to evaluate and enhance infertility care in various settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND PATIENT CARE: To provide the best possible care for infertile men, it would be beneficial for nurses to pay more attention to sociocultural factors. Fertility care should be respectful of patients' beliefs and backgrounds. IMPACT: WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Infertility care has been the subject of recent research, focusing on the impact of sociocultural factors. Male-factor infertility is often overlooked in clinical care literature. There is a correlation between cultural background and men's acceptance of reproductive healthcare. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: Male infertility is often avoided in discussions due to its perceived threat to masculinity. Multiple factors, including societal norms, cultural expectations and personal experiences, influence the nature of men's struggles with infertility. Providing emotional support and counselling services is crucial so that men can openly discuss their fertility challenges and seek treatment without feeling ashamed or judged. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: Raising public awareness and providing education about male infertility is crucial. Nurses must exhibit cultural sensitivity while caring for men experiencing infertility. Policymakers need to implement strategies to reduce the stigma surrounding male infertility. REPORTING METHOD: The study is reported using the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No public or patient involvement.

Designing a need-based program for relieving psychological distress of family caregivers of leukemia patients: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: The family of leukemia patients, due to their caring role, often feels psychological distress. A practical need-based program carefully considers the set of requirements of nursing service recipients. This paper illustrates the efficacy of a designed family-need-based program on relieving stress, anxiety, and depression of family caregivers of leukemia patients. METHODS: In this controlled trial, sixty-four family caregivers of leukemia patients referring to a medical center in Iran were recruited by convenience sampling and randomly divided into study and control groups. The study group attended a designed need-based program. The control group did not receive the intervention. Stress, anxiety, and depression of both groups were simultaneously measured and compared in three time-points using the scale of stress, anxiety, and depression (DASS-42). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Before the program, the average scores of stress, anxiety, and depression were 31.16 ± 4.14, 21.37 ± 6.31, and 27.56 ± 4.24 for the study group and 31.09 ± 4.48, 20.34 ± 6.56, and 28.78 ± 4.72 for the control group. After the program, the average scores of stress, anxiety, and depression were 10.56 ± 3.37, 6.75 ± 2.99, and 7.37 ± 2.76 for the study group and 34.87 ± 2.51, 23.65 ± 4.96, and 32.56 ± 3.49 for the control group, respectively. Results of the independent t test indicated no considerable difference before the program (P > 0.05) and a significant difference after the program (P < 0.001) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This family-need-based program can decrease the level of stress, anxiety, and depression of the family caregivers of leukemia patients and may potentially alleviate the psychological distress of family caregivers over their caring role.

To compare the effect of sea buckthorn and silver sulfadiazine dressing on period of wound healing in patients with second-degree burns: A randomized triple-blind clinical trial.

Burn injuries can be associated with the incidence of disability and death, yet their management remains a costly difficult problem. We conducted this clinical trial to evaluate the period of wound healing with sea buckthorn dressings for the second-degree burns and compare the results with 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) dressings. This randomized triple-blind clinical trial was conducted in a hospital in Isfahan, Iran. Fifty-five patients suffering second-degree burns were recruited through convenient sampling and randomly divided into two groups and treated with either sea buckthorn cream or 1% SSD. Wound dressings were done until complete wound healing was attained. The process of healing burns was monitored using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool; complete healing was determined by using the standard burn healing checklist. It was deduced that the period of healing second-degree burns in the group treated with sea buckthorn cream was shorter than the group treated with 1% SSD (p < 0.001). The results demonstrated the greater clinical efficacy of sea buckthorn cream over 1% SSD for healing second-degree burns. It was concluded that using sea buckthorn dressing by reducing the period of wound healing can shorten the course of treatment of second-degree burns as well as reduce the burden of care in health care services.

Investigation effect of oral chamomilla on sleep quality in elderly people in Isfahan: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Elderly people often suffer from sleep disorders. Chamomile due to the many health benefits such as sedation may be effective in improving sleep quality in elderly people. This study aimed to determine the effect of Matricaria chamomilla extract on sleep quality in elderly people admitted to nursing homes of Isfahan in 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a quasi-experimental clinical trial. The study population was 77 cases of elderly hospitalized in nursing homes. Participants were selected through random continuous sampling and divided into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 400 mg oral capsules of chamomile twice daily, after lunch and after dinner for 4 weeks. The control group did not receive the intervention. Sleep quality in older adults before and after intervention were compared using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t- and independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance and liner regression analysis, using SPSS software version 17. RESULTS: Before intervention, the mean score of sleep quality both experimental and control groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). After intervention, the mean score of sleep quality was a significant difference between experimental and control groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of chamomile extract has sedative properties in sleep quality of hospitalized elderly patients in nursing homes. Therefore, it can be used in similar cases and nursing care.