The effects of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory on the protective behaviors of emergency ward nurses against occupational hazards: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Emergency ward nurses face a variety of occupational hazards due to the nature of their occupational and professional duties, which can negatively affect their health. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of an educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory on the protective behaviors of emergency ward nurses against occupational hazards in Tehran, Iran, in 2023. METHODS: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted with two intervention and control groups, using a pretest-posttest design. A total of 124 nurses working in the emergency wards of four hospitals (two hospitals for the intervention group and two hospitals for the control group by random assignment) were selected by multistage sampling method. The educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory was implemented for the intervention group for three weeks. The nurses of both groups completed a demographic questionnaire and the scale of emergency ward nurses' protective behaviors against occupational hazards before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential methods. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics at the baseline (p > 0.05). Protective behaviors of emergency nurses against occupational hazards and their sub-scales (physical, chemical, biological, ergonomics, and psychosocial hazards) were higher in the intervention group than in the control group immediately and one month after the educational intervention. In addition, the measurement over time also showed the positive effect of time and educational intervention on the protective behaviors of emergency nurses against occupational hazards and their sub-scales in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: These findings showed that the educational intervention based on the protection motivation theory can be effective and helpful in improving the protective behaviors of emergency ward nurses against occupational hazards and their sub-scales. Future studies can focus on a more specific design of this kind of intervention based on the type of occupational hazards and needs of nurses in different wards.

Experiences of Mothers Receiving Donated Embryos.

Background: The efficacy of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs) or technologies used to treat infertile couples has been approved. One such technique is embryo donation. However, there is insufficient knowledge of the experiences of mothers receiving donated embryos. Thus, the present study was conducted with the aim to determine the experiences of mothers receiving donated embryos. Materials and Methods: This qualitative conventional content analysis study was conducted in 2018 for 8 months (from February to September). The research setting was Royan Institute. Mothers receiving donated embryos were selected from among those who were pregnant or were at the postpartum stage using the purposive sampling method. A total of 15 interviews were performed with 13 participants. The qualitative data were collected using deep unstructured interviews and analyzed using the Graneheim and Lundman (2004) method in (version 10; VERBI GmbH, Berlin, Germany) software. Results: Data analysis resulted in 412 open codes that were then categorized into 7 main categories and their subcategories. The main categories were as follows: sociocultural constraint, feeling of insecurity in personal and family identity, protection of personal and family identity, confounded support, pressure and hardship, and achieving relative tranquility. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the mothers who underwent embryo donation experienced feelings of insecurity regarding both individual and family identities, were confronted with sociocultural difficulties, and faced various pressures. It is suggested that future care plans be focused on the identity crisis of these families and the children resulting from these methods, and that future plans balance the socioeconomic pressures resulting from the use of these methods.

'Development and psychometric evaluation of the safety feeling scale in adult patients at hospital: Exploratory sequential mixed method'.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop and examine psychometric properties of the safety feeling scale (SFS) in adult patients to assess their sense of safety during a hospital stay. DESIGN: Mixed methods design. A SQUIRE checklist was used. METHODS: This is a study with two phases of scale development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the scale. In the first phase, the concept of 'safety feeling' was analysed using a hybrid model. Thus, a systematic review and then a qualitative study with hospitalized patients (n = 31) were conducted by conventional content analysis. In the psychometric phase, factorial validity, reliability, feasibility, and responsiveness of the scale were evaluated by different tests in various samples. RESULTS: After integrating the results of the systematic review and qualitative study, a scale item pool with 84 items was developed. In the psychometric phase, 12 items with four factors were specified; 'effective care,' 'confidence in the healthcare team,' 'emotional enrichment' and 'hygienic facilities,' explaining 51% of the total variance of the scale. They were confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency and stability of the scale were satisfactory. Feasibility and responsiveness were also acceptable.

Application of Rasch Analysis for Development and Psychometric Properties of Adolescents' Quality of Life Instruments: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Due to the importance of assessing quality of life (QoL) in healthy and ill adolescents, the evaluation of psychometric properties of these questionnaires is important. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of Rasch analysis in psychometric assessment studies on adolescents' QoL instruments, and to evaluate the quality of reporting Rasch parameters in these studies. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted by searching for papers in electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus until December 2018. RESULTS: After screening 122 papers, 31 remained in the study. Around 68% of the studies used the Rasch analysis for instrument testing and 32% for the development of new instruments. In 77.4% of studies, both classical and Rasch methods were used parallel to data analysis. In 32.2% of studies, healthy adolescents were the main target group. The most commonly used instrument in Rasch studies was, KIDSCREEN, administered in different countries. Six Rasch parameters were reported with a higher percentage in the studies. Major reported parameters of Rasch analysis were application of the software program (96.7%), test of item fit to the Rasch model (93.5%), unidimensionality (80.6%), type of the identified mathematical Rasch model (74.1%), threshold (58%) and differential item functioning (54.8%). Based on the psychometric evaluation of the QoL instruments, 71% of studies showed acceptable results. CONCLUSION: The application of the Rasch model for psychometric assessment of adolescents' QoL questionnaires has increased in recent decades. But, there is still no strong and commonly used critical appraisal tool or guideline for the evaluation of these papers.

Sexual satisfaction in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome after surgical and non-surgical techniques: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The treatment and mental support of patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome are very important. Many of these patients seek treatment to improve their sexual relationships and the quality of their sexual life. This systematic review sought to evaluate the sexual satisfaction of patients with MRKH syndrome following various types of vaginoplasty and non-surgical procedures over the past 10 years. METHODS: A systematic review of studies published in English during 2008-2018 was performed. Electronic databases and valid sites, including PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, Ovid, and ProQuest, were searched for articles published from the beginning of 2008 to February 2018. Literature restricted to women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome who underwent vaginoplasty surgery or a non-surgical technique was reviewed. Of 195 papers identified, 45 articles were analyzed. All studies that reported sexual and functional outcomes following various vaginoplasty procedures and non-surgical procedures were selected. RESULTS: Greater vaginal length and higher sexual satisfaction were observed following surgical procedures than after non-surgical techniques. A range of complications was reported following the use of different surgical approaches. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) was the most commonly applied tool to measure sexual satisfaction, but its results were not always in agreement with the findings of other research tools. Finally, women who underwent surgical techniques had higher sexual activity levels than those who received non-surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: The reviewed studies highlighted the need for further quantitative and qualitative research on the sexual performance and outcomes of patients with MRKH syndrome. REGISTRATION NUMBER: None.