The Relationship between Daily Spiritual Experiences and the Dimensions of Spiritual Care Competence in Nursing Students: The Dimension of Professionalization and Improvement of the Quality of Spiritual Care.

Background: Daily spiritual experiences and spiritual care competence have positive health effects on patients and form an integral part of the nursing profession. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between daily spiritual experiences and the dimensions of spiritual care competence in nursing students. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 nursing students in their last year of the program. The participants were selected from nursing schools in Tehran Province, Iran, in the academic year 2019-2020. The required data were extracted using a demographic information questionnaire, the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES), and the Spiritual Care Competence Scale (SCCS). The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software at the significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean (SD) of daily spiritual experiences and total spiritual care competence was 67.15 (16.33) and 101.77 (16.26), respectively. The personal support and patient counseling dimensions had the highest mean (SD) [22.10) 4.80)]. Among all these dimensions of spiritual care competence, only professionalization and improvement of the quality of spiritual care were predictors of the students' daily spiritual experiences (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The professionalization dimension of spiritual care competence was identified as a predictor of daily spiritual experience in nursing students. Therefore, the researchers recommend the highlighting of this dimension in nursing programs to promote the students' spiritual care competence.

The correlation between emotional intelligence and clinical competence in nurses working in special care units: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Emotional intelligence and clinical competence are essential skills of the nursing profession to elevate the quality of nursing services and patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the correlation between emotional intelligence and clinical competence in nurses working in critical care units of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study with a correlational design. SETTINGS: Special care units (SCUs) of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. PARTICIPANTS: The research subjects included 200 nurses working in the Special care units SCUs of hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, selected via convenience sampling. METHODS: Data were collected using three questionnaires, including a demographic information questionnaire, the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i), and Benner's Nurse Competence Scale (NCS). The questionnaires were completed from October to December 2019. Data were analyzed using SPSS-18 software at a significance level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: The emotional intelligence of nurses participating in the study had the highest mean (SD) of 17.31(3.34) in the self-expression dimension and the lowest mean of 12.04(3.40) in the empathy dimension. There was a significant direct correlation between emotional intelligence and clinical competence (P = 0.05). There was also a significant relationship between the total clinical competence and its dimensions (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Communication skills and accountability significantly impact the provision of optimal care, and the proper training of staff in responsibility, accountability, and communication skills will have many benefits for promoting nursing services and can be considered one of the strategies to improve the quality of nursing services. They are therefore recommended to be considered in designing and implementing continuing education programs for nurses.

Application of the theory of planned behavior in the design and implementation of a behavior-based safety plan in the workplace.

BACKGROUND: Many accidents in industries occur due to unsafe practices and unsafe conditions. Occupational accidents endanger the health of workers and impose excessive costs on the employers. This study was designed and conducted to evaluate and implement a behavior-based safety approach in an industrial workplace based on the theory of planned behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a quasi-experimental study performed on 90 supervisors of an industrial workplace. Behavior-based safety interventions were performed based on the components of the theory of planned behavior using nine strategies of health education and health promotion, including skills training, participation, and social support. The data collection tool consisted of a researcher-made questionnaire that was answered by the supervisors before and 6 months after the intervention. The collected data were evaluated using SPSS 22 software. The significance level was considered 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that the constructs of subjective norms, attitude, and perceived control of behavior predict the safe behavior of supervisors. After behavior-based safety interventions, significant changes were observed in subjective norms, intention, attitude, and perceived control of behavior (P < 0.001) compared to before the intervention. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed the improvement of safe behavior of supervisors in the workplace due to behavioral-based safety interventions using the theory of planned behavior. Accordingly, this theory can be used as a suitable theoretical framework for designing and implementing interventions to promote safe behaviors of employees in the workplace.

Health-related quality of life and related factors among pregnant women.

CONTEXT: Quality of life is significant in all stages of life, including within pregnancy. The hormonal, emotional, psychological, and physical factors specific to pregnancy can affect and threaten the quality of life of pregnant mothers. AIMS: This study sought to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors among pregnant women. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This cross-sectional study was performed on 300 pregnant women who were in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy without any risk of high-risk pregnancy covered by a community health center in Yazd, Iran, between 2018 and 2019. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The required data were collected using demographic questionnaire and HRQoL (SF-12v2) questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 software and ANOVA statistical tests (P < 0.05). RESULTS: Physical dimension of quality of life of pregnant women had the mean and standard deviation of 43.7 ± 7.3 and that psychological dimension had the mean and standard deviation of 31.5 ± 11.8. Physical dimension of quality of life was significantly correlated with maternal age, gestational age, body mass index before 12 weeks of pregnancy, mother's education and job as well as spouse's level of education (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the psychological dimension of quality of life was significantly correlated with gestational age, mother's education and occupation as well as spouse's level of education (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings, attention to physical and psychological aspects of quality of life of pregnant women and demographic factors affecting it is essential for improving maternal and child health during and after pregnancy.