The effect of clinical guideline education on the knowledge and practice of nurses for peripheral intravenous catheter placement based on short message service: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) placement is the most common invasive clinical procedure, often performed by nurses in hospitals worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effect of clinical guideline education on the knowledge and practice of nurses for PIVC placement based on short message service (SMS). METHODS: In a quasi-experimental study with parallel groups, 66 nurses working in two general university hospitals in Iran were enrolled. Data was collected from 2017 to 2018. PIVC placement was assessed before, immediately, and 4 weeks after educational intervention based on SMS (twice a day for 10 days). RESULTS: Nurses' knowledge score immediately after intervention versus before intervention was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (4.48 vs -0.70; p < 0.001). Nurses' knowledge score in 4 weeks after intervention versus immediately after intervention was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (0.03 vs 0.42; p = 0.014). Nurses' knowledge scores 4 weeks after intervention versus before intervention was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (4.52 vs -0.27; p < 0.001). Nurses' practice score immediately after intervention versus before intervention was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (0.57 vs -0.18; p = 0.174). Nurses' practice score 4 weeks after intervention vs immediately after intervention was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (-0.10 vs -0.38; p = 0.046). Nurses' practice scores 4 weeks after intervention versus before intervention was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (0.47 vs -0.56; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Educational intervention by SMS had a significant effect on increasing the knowledge and practice of nurses toward clinical guidelines for PIVC placement. Therefore, it is suggested that educational intervention by SMS be conducted to improve nurses' knowledge as an effective educational method.

Lower reactive oxygen species production and faster swimming speed of human sperm cells on nanodiamond spin-coated glass substrates.

The sperm selection stage is what assisted reproductive technologies have in common and is crucial as it affects the success of the treatment cycle. The employment of microfluidic platforms for sperm selection has emerged showing promising results. In microfluidic platforms, sperm cells encounter micro-confined environments meanwhile having contact with channel walls and surfaces. Modification of contact surfaces using nanoparticles leads to the alteration of surface characteristics which in turn affects sperm behavior especially motility which is an indicator for sperm health. In this article, we present the results of investigating the motility parameters of sperm cells in contact with surface-modified glass substrates using nanodiamond particles. The results show that the sperm swimming velocities are significantly improved within the range of 12%-52% compared to the control surface (untreated). Reactive oxygen species production is also decreased by 14% justifying the increase in swimming speed. Taken together, bonding these modified surfaces to sperm selection microfluidic devices could enhance their efficiency and further improve their outcomes offering new solutions to patients facing infertility.