The effect of education based on PEN-3 cultural model on students' menstrual health behaviors: a mixed method study.

Menstruation is a natural process in girls, but sometimes it is accompanied by beliefs and behaviors with cultural roots that result in poor health consequences; this study aimed to consider perceptions of individual, families and community to current cultural beliefs, and to determine the effect of education based on the PEN-3 cultural model on students' menstrual health behaviors in Iran. Study had a mixed method design. In the qualitative phase, data were collected from students, their mothers and teachers through focused group discussion and in-depth interviews. In the quantitative phase, training was done in four 2-h sessions for intervention group. The data were collected immediately and 2 months after the training by a questionnaire and they were analyzed by Friedman and Wilcoxon non-parametric tests. Training was effective on all of the model structures and significantly increased mean score of the health behavior after training and 2 months later by 8.74 and 13.86, respectively, in intervention group (P<0.05). The perception and behavior of the others and access to sanitary services and products, especially cultural factors affect girls'' menstrual health behaviors, therefore, it is necessary to design the health plans regarding each of these factors, and the cultural context of each community.

The Relationship Between Spiritual Health and Religious Coping with Death Anxiety in the Elderly.

The elderly is a period of life when a person reaches the age of 65 years. This study aimed to determine the relationship between spiritual health and religious coping with the death anxiety in the elderly people. The study is a descriptive cross-sectional study: 180 Elderly according to similar studies. Data gathering tools are Paloutzain and Ellison SH questionnaire, religious coping questionnaire and death anxiety questionnaire. SPSS16 and descriptive and analytical tests were used; there was a relationship between religious health and religious coping with the anxiety (p < 0.05).The M(SD) religious health is 39.25 (11.67), existential health is 40.50 (11.29), total spiritual health is 79.75 (22.03), and also the M(SD) religious coping is 23.84 (5.02). Considering the relationship between RC and SH with DA in the elderly, it is necessary to make the necessary spiritual-religious arrangements to reduce DA.

Effective factors on menstrual health among female students in Bam city: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Menarche is an independent puberty event in a girl's life, and is associated with physical growth, ability in marriage and fertility. Therefore, poor menstrual health can be a major determinant of morbidity, as well as physical, mental and social problems in this age group. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effective factors on menstrual health among female students in Bam city. METHODS: The qualitative study was conducted using content analysis approach in 2017. The participants were 32 individuals consisting of 13 students, 10 mothers of the same students, 9 school associates and health educators of 5 secondary schools in Bam city, who were selected based on an objective-oriented approach. The sampling was done until data saturation. Data collection methods were semi-structured and in-depth interview. Data analysis was performed using the steps suggested by Graneheim and Landman. RESULTS: There were two categories (easy interaction and inappropriate adaptation to changes in health behavior), 13 sub-categories and 52 initial codes. The positive factors included easy access to sanitary pads, appropriate school education, easy access to health and therapeutic services and school flexibility on menstrual issues, while the negative factors included inadequate facilities for sanitary pad disposal, lack of access to informed people about menstrual issues, insufficient attention to menstrual problems, feeling ashamed, the high cost of menstrual health, self-medication with traditional medicines, inadequate self-directed education, lack of awareness and trust in health center staff, and following family and teachers in menstrual problems. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study indicated that economic, social, cultural and educational factors affect menstrual health. Therefore, the identification of each of these factors helps planners to apply the most appropriate methods and strategies for menstrual health improvement.

Agreement between Heart Failure Patients and Their Primary Caregivers on Symptom Assessment.

BACKGROUND: To decrease the readmission rate of heart failure (HF) patients, patients and their caregivers (CGs) should participate in symptoms assessment. This study aimed to assess the agreement between HF patients and their CGs on symptoms assessment. METHODS: Using a correlational design, 100 HF patients with their CGs (100 dyads) were recruited from Department of Cardiology, Iranshahr, during August-December 2014. Data were collected using modified Heart Failure Symptom Survey (HFSS).Pearson and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to analyze the degree of agreement within HF dyads, using SPSS16. The level of significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: The most frequent and severe symptom assessed equally by partners was shortness of breath (SOB). Dyads had a good agreement on assessment of extremity swelling (r=0.87, P≤0.01, ICC=0.861 CI: 0.798-0.901), SOB at rest (r=0.83, P≤0.01, ICC=0.775, CI: 0.680-0.845), SOB with activity (r=0.81, P≤0.01, ICC=0.795 CI: 0.711-0.858), and feeling depressed (r=0.77, P≤0.01, ICC=0.769, CI: 0.675-0.838). 28.6% of HF dyad had a good, 50% had a moderate, and 21.4 % had a poor agreement in assessment of HF symptoms. CONCLUSION: Most of the HF dyad members did not agree with each other on the assessment of symptoms. Knowledge, skills and ability of each dyad in HF symptoms assessment should be included in the patients' discharge planning and nurses must modify their misunderstanding or inability.

Elderly peoples' experiences of nursing homes in Bam city: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of elderly, especially in recent decades, transfer to nursing homes and the number of centers has also increased but experiences and problems of elders in these centers is less considered. So, the goal of this study is to explore the Elderly peoples' experiences of nursing homes. METHODS: The current research was performed using a phenomenological approach in 2016. Participation in the study is comprised of the elderly residents in a nursing home in Bam city who were selected based on an objective-oriented approach. The sampling was done until data saturation. Data collection methods were observation and an unstructured and in-depth interview. Data were analyzed using seven-stage Colaizzi process. RESULTS: In total, fifteen 68 - 82 years old people participated in our study and 52 primary and conceptual codes that were eventually categorized in five main themes (sense of rejection, sense of daily routine, impaired of communications, sense of hardship and mental obsession) and ten sub-themes emerged. CONCLUSION: Overall, most of the elders were not satisfied with the conditions. It seems that helpful, community and family education to acculturate respect for the elderly in the community, teach proper coping strategies, use the elderly's experiences, and consultation with them could be a way to maintain a sense of usefulness, independence and to prevent them from sensing monotonous and routine rhythm of life.