Psychometric properties of the persian version of the nursing clinical reasoning scale.

AIM: The aim of this study was to translate the Nursing Clinical Reasoning Scale (NCRS) into Persian and evaluate its psychometric properties. DESIGN: This study was a methodological and cross-sectional study. METHODS: This methodological study was conducted in 2020 in a teaching hospital. After obtaining necessary permission from its developers, NCRS was translated into Persian through the method proposed by the World Health Organization. Then, its face, content, and construct validity and reliability were assessed. For construct validity assessment through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, 300 nurses (two 150-nurse samples), who had randomly been selected, completed the instrument. Reliability also assessed through the internal consistency and the stability methods. Data were analysed using the SPSS (v. 20.0) and the AMOS (v. 5.0) software. RESULTS: The content validity indices of NCRS and its items were 0.97 and more than 0.79, respectively. Exploratory factor analysis revealed an assessment and confirmation factor and an implementation and reflection factor for the scale which together explained 57.30% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed this two-factor structure (χ2 /df = 2.11, NNFI = 0.952, RMSEA = 0.053, CFI = 0.91, GFI = 0.94, IFI = 0.95, and NFI = 0.96). The Cronbach's alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient values of the scale were 0.96 and 0.94, respectively. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The Persian NCRS can help nursing policy makers and mentors identify the need for developing nurses' and nursing students' CR skills and implement need-based educational courses to improve these skills. Moreover, it helps determine whether the educational programmes are effective in improving nurses' CR skills and clinical competence.

Effects of green tea (Camellia sinensis) mouthwash containing 1% tannin on dental plaque and chronic gingivitis: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Iranian green tea mouthwash containing 1% tannin on dental plaque and chronic gingivitis. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded, parallel, controlled clinical trial, 40 volunteer dental students with a gingival index ≥1 were enrolled. At baseline, gingival, plaque, and bleeding indices were recorded and all the participants received dental polishing. Based on random allocation, 20 participants used the test and 20 used chlorhexidine mouthwash with no change in regular toothbrushing methods. The participants were asked to use 15 mL of the respective mouthwash for 1 min, twice a day for 28 days. All indices, as well as stain index, were recorded after 1 and 4 weeks post-rinsing. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni tests. RESULTS: Significant in-group differences, but not between-group differences, were observed in all indices after 1 and 4 weeks compared to baseline. The test mouthwash resulted in significantly less tooth staining than the control. CONCLUSION: The 1% tannin green tea mouthwash could be a safe and feasible adjunct to mechanical plaque control. The tested green tea mouthwash could be considered a good alternative for chlorhexidine in contraindicating situations.

Translucency and masking ability of various composite resins at different thicknesses.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Optical properties of the composite resins, concerning their translucency and thickness, are affected by discolored tooth structure or inherent darkness of the oral cavity. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the translucency parameter (TP) of five different composite resins in different thicknesses and to evaluate their masking ability in black backgrounds. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Five brands of composite resins; Gradia (GC) and Crystalline (Confi-dental) in opaque A2 (OA2), Vit-l-escence (Ultradent) in opaque snow (OS), Herculite XRV (Kerr) and Opallis (FGM) in dentin A2 (DA2) shades were selected to enroll the study. Color coordinates of each composite were determined at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mm thicknesses on a white backing, the backing of material itself and a black backing were calculated by using a spectrophotometer to evaluate the translucency parameter (TP) of the study materials. The masking ability was also calculated from the specimens on the material itself and on black backing. The values under 2 were estimated as imperceptible. One-way ANOVA, T-test and Tukey HSD were employed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The masking ability values, recorded for the 1.5 mm-thick specimens, were in the range of imperceptible except for the Herculite. There was no difference in TP values of the materials at 1.5 mm thickness. Opaque snow shade of Vit-l-escence and opaque A2 shade of Gradia showed lower TP values in comparison with the other 1 and 0.5 mm-thick materials and this difference was statistically significant (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: In relatively thin thicknesses (≤1mm), these opaque/dentin shade composite resins could not mask the black background color.