The Effect of a Spirituality-Based Program on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression of Caregivers of Patients with Mental Disorders in Iran.

One of the important issues regarding caring for patients with mental disorders is the high prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression in their caregivers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a spirituality-based program on stress, anxiety, and depression of caregivers of patients with mental disorders. This clinical-trial study involved 60 family caregivers of patients with mental disorders who were referred to the clinic of Shahid Ayatollah Modarres Psychiatric Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, during 2019-2020. Accordingly, the samples were selected using convenient sampling method and then divided into two groups of experimental and control by simple random allocation. Next, the spirituality-based intervention was performed for the intervention group, and the needed data were collected in both intervention and control groups before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The data collection tool used in this study was DASS-21 questionnaire. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the mean scores of stress, anxiety, and depression (p > 0.05) before the intervention. However, some significant differences were found in terms of the stress, anxiety, and depression scores between the two groups immediately (p < 0.001) and one month after the intervention (p < 0.001). The spirituality-based program seemed to affect stress, anxiety, and depression of caregivers of patients with mental disorders positively. So, it is suggested to perform this intervention as an inexpensive and available supportive method for family caregivers of patients with mental disorders.

The Effect of Emotional Intelligence Training on Self-efficacy in Women with Multiple Sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS), causing progressive nerve damage, has disabling symptoms, and undermines self-efficacy beliefs. Due to the importance of self-efficacy modified in adaptation and coping with stress, this study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of emotional intelligence training on self-efficacy in women with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 70 women referring to the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Kashani Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups through minimization method. In the experimental group, emotional intelligence training was performed within 8 weeks, once a week for 90 minutes, in groups of 8-9 individuals. Data were collected using the Multiple Sclerosis Self-efficacy Scale (MSSS) before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention in both groups. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS. RESULTS: The results of independent t-test showed no significant difference between the groups in terms of mean self-efficacy scores before the intervention (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference between the groups in this regard immediately after and 3 months after the intervention (p < 0.05). Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference in the mean score of self-efficacy and its components between the groups at different times (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It seems that emotional intelligence training is effective on the improvement of self-efficacy of women with MS. Hence, this method can be recommended as an effective and affordable technique.

Effect of Family-Patient Communication on the Incidence of Delirium in Hospitalized Patients in Cardiovascular Surgery ICU.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the world, and cardiac surgery is one of the treatments that have complication for patients. One of the most important current psychological complications after cardiac surgery is delirium. For its prevention and treatment, considerable attention should be paid to the role of family. This study has been conducted for assessing the effect of the relationship between the family and patient on the incidence of delirium in hospitalized patients in cardiovascular surgery intensive care unit (ICU) of Isfahan Shahid Chamran hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a two-group, single-blind (for the questioner) clinical trial that was conducted among 68 patients in the cardiac surgery ICU of Shahid Chamran hospital affiliated to the Isfahan University of Medical Science in 2013. Sampling was convenient sampling, and the patients were allocated to two groups (n = 34 patients) based on random numbers table. The day after the surgery, one of the family members in the intervention group who had received education the day before was allowed to visit the patient in the morning shift. In the control group, patients received routine care. Two groups were assessed for delirium twice a day for a total of three times (two times in the morning and one time in the evening) with use of Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale and Confusion Assessment Method -ICU (CAM - ICU) scale. RESULTS: In the intervention group, 41.18% patients were females and 58.82% patients were males, and in the control group, 29.42% patients were females and 70.58% were males. Mean and SD of patients' age in the intervention group was 55.11 (12.11) and in the control group 54.12 (13.11) years. Based on study results, incidence of delirium in the morning after surgery (second day) in intervention group was 11.76%, and in control group it was 23.53%. In the third day, it was 8.83% in intervention group and 20.58% in control group. Chi-square test showed a significant difference in incidence of delirium during the second (P = 0.04) and the third (P = 0.03) days of surgery in the two groups. In the control group, the incidence of delirium in the evening was 32.35%, which was more than that in the morning. Cochran test showed a significant difference in the morning and afternoon shifts in the control group (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Effective communication between the patient and family, as a nonmedical method, can reduce delirium after cardiac surgery, especially, at the end of the day; nurses should pay more attention to the prevention of delirium.

The association between death anxiety with spiritual experiences and life satisfaction in elderly people.

INTRODUCTION: Death anxiety is a concept with greater importance among the elderly as they approach inevitability of death. Identifying the correlates of death anxiety among old people is important in order to reduce the burden of this problem. Therefore, the present study was performed with the aim to examine the association between spiritual experiences and life satisfaction with death anxiety in this stage of life. METHOD: This cross-sectional study with descriptive-analytical design included 190 elderly people visiting the health and medical centers of Neyshabur city, Iran, during fall and winter, 2016. Participants were asked to complete three questionnaires including a 16-item spiritual experiences scale, life satisfaction index proposed by Wood and Shifor with 13 items, and a 27-item death anxiety scale developed by Aminpour. Analytical statistics (Spearman's correlation coefficient, Pearson's correlation coefficient) were conducted using SPSS software version 22. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of participants were in younger elderly age group with mean age of 68.18±7.13 years and the number of men and women was the same (95). A significant positive association between spiritual experiences and life satisfaction (r=0.2, p<0.05), a significant negative association between spiritual experiences and death anxiety (r=-0.184, p< 0.05) and a significant negative relationship between life satisfaction and death anxiety (r=-0.2, p<0.05) was found. CONCLUSION: Based on results, it seems that reducing stressors in this stage of life including reduction of death anxiety, is possible through use of spiritual experiences and increasing life satisfaction.

The effect of Rosmarinus herbal tea on occupational burnout in Iran Chemical Industry Investment company employees.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is one of the most important problems that the employees encounter. Many health problems arise due to burnout which is to be dealt with by the employees and the owners in the industry. Among many different ways of dealing with this problem, herbal therapy seems to be a promising solution. The present study intended to investigate the effect of Rosmarinus officinalis (RO) on burnout in employees who work in industrial environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An experimental study was performed to see whether RO has an effect on burnout or not. A total of 66 employees, aged between 20 and 60 years, who had worked for at least 1 year in the technical wards of Iran Chemical Industry Investment Company took part in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups of control (n = 33) and RO (n = 33). The RO group received 4 g of Rosemary in 150 cc water per day for 2 months. The control group, on the other hand, did not receive anything. The data were collected via Geldard (1989) Burnout Inventory before and after the treatment. A t-test was performed to analyze the collected data. RESULTS: The results of statistical tests showed that after intervention, the score of occupational burnout in RO group was better, and a significant difference was found between the control and experimental groups (P = 0.03), in favor of the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study revealed that Rosmarinus had a positive effect on burnout in employees in this study. Further studies in this field are suggested.

Effects of needs-assessment-based psycho-education of schizophrenic patients' families on the severity of symptoms and relapse rate of patients.

BACKGROUND: Family psycho-education is one of the most effective interventions for preventing relapse in patients with schizophrenia. We evaluated the efficacy of a needs-assessment-based educational program in comparison with a current program (textbook based) in the treatment of schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with schizophrenia and their families (N = 60) were allocated to needs-assessment-based education (treatment) and textbook-based (control) programs; both included 10 sessions of education within about 6 months. Symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) prior to intervention and every 3 months for a total of 18 months. A 25% decrease or increase in total PANSS score was considered as response or relapse, respectively. RESULTS: Forty-two cases completed the study. The total PANSS score was significantly decreased in both groups with more reduction in the treatment group. Positive and negative scale scores were reduced in the treatment group, but not significantly in the control group. Response rate was higher in the treatment group and relapse rate was lower (15% vs. 27.2%, P = 0.279). In logistic regression analysis, needs-assessment-based psycho-education was associated with more treatment response. CONCLUSIONS: Needs-assessment-based psycho-education is more effective than textbook-based education for treating schizophrenia. We recommend psychiatric care centers to conduct needs-assessment and develop their own program for family psycho-education.

The effect of yoga on coping strategies among intensive care unit nurses.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, it has been known that individuals handle coping strategies when faced with stressful events. These strategies play an important role in individuals. Nurses are exposed to high stress, which directly affects their job satisfaction and the quality of their services. Therefore, the present study tried to investigate the effect of Yoga on stress coping strategies among nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 34 female nurses working in ICU who were qualified to enter the study were selected. Yoga exercises were administrated two sessions a week for 8 weeks in the study group. CS-R questionnaire was filled before and after intervention. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential (t test) statistical tests. RESULTS: The results of statistical tests showed that the highest application of stress coping strategies was for inconsistent stress coping strategy. There was a significant difference in the mean scores of coping strategies of stress focus, emotion focus, and ineffectiveness after Yoga exercises compared with those before the yoga sessions. DISCUSSION: With regard to the findings, 8 weeks exercises of Yoga can be considered as a complementary treatment to amend stress coping strategies. Further studies in this field are suggested.

Effects of cognitive behavioral counseling on body Image following mastectomy.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Surgical treatment of breast cancer may cause body image alterations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of cognitive behavioral counseling on body image among Iranian women with primary breast cancer. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental designed study, 72 patients diagnosed as breast cancer and surgically treated were enrolled in Isfahan, Iran. The patients were entered the study by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided in two groups of intervention (n = 32) and control (n = 40). The intervention group received consultation based on Ellis rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) method for 6 sessions during 3 weeks. The control group did not receive any consultation Paired t-test was used to compare the changes in groups and independent t-test was conducted to compare two groups. The average values represented as mean ± standard deviation. RESULTS: Before the study, the body image score was not significantly different between the intervention (16 97 ± 5 44) and control (15 95 ± 4 66) groups (t = 0 86, P = 0 395). The body image score was significantly lower in the interven-tion group (9 03 ± 6 11) compared to control group (17 18 ± 5 27) after the intervention (t = -6 07, P < 0 001). CONCLUSIONS: Since a woman's body image influences her breast cancer treatment decision, oncology professionals need to recognize the value of a woman's favorite about appearance and body image. This study emphasizes the importance of offering consultation in breast cancer patients.