RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Spiritual care should be considered an important part of holistic and multidisciplinary care and it has not been given much importance so far. We should begin with student nurses, who will soon be clinicians, to find out about potentiality of the nursing profession to put spiritual care into practice. Little has been known about spiritual well-being, spirituality, and spiritual care perspectives among nursing students. In this study, a comparison has been made in spiritual well-being, spirituality, and spiritual care perspectives between the first and fourth year baccalaureate nursing students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive-comparative study that was carried out among 283 nursing students. All the students were Iranians studying in the universities of Iran, Tehran, and Shahid Beheshti medical sciences. They volunteered to participate in the study. There were 105 first year students and 178 fourth year students. The questionnaires used were on Spiritual Well-being (SWB) Scale, Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS), and Nursing Spiritual Care Perspective Scale (NSCPS). The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software, version 10. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (distribution frequency, mean, and standard deviation). Mann-Whitney test was to compare each item and independent t-test to compare the mean values of two groups. RESULTS: Regarding spiritual well-being, there were no significant differences between the two groups. 98.8% of the first year students and 100% of the fourth year students were in the category of moderate spiritual well-being. Neither were there any significant differences between the two groups in spiritual perspective and spiritual care perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: The scores of fourth year nursing students were similar to those of first year students in spiritual well-being, spirituality, and spiritual care perspectives, though the fourth year students had already undergone 4-year nursing course. Including spiritual care in the curriculum of nursing students' courses will add to their understanding and provision of spiritual care. This will fill the present gap evident in the system in Iran. At present, the educational system here does not make use of spiritual care as part of its comprehensive curriculum.
RESUMO
Most people with stroke are being cared for at home by family caregivers. Giving care is stressful, and family caregivers are predisposed to care-related complications such as life changes and depression. This article is a report of a study that examined the relationship between the perceived care-related life changes and depression in family caregivers of people with stroke, and it identified predictors influencing depression and perceived care-related life changes. A convenience sample of 60 family caregivers completed one demographic data sheet and two questionnaires: Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Data were collected in a 1-month period in 2008. According to the findings, the mean score of the subjects on the Bakas Caregiving Outcomes Scale was -5.70, representing an overall negative change related to the caregiving role. The prevalence of people at a risk of depression or being depressed was 40%. Correlation analysis showed that, as perceived life changes score decreases (change for the worst), the score for the feeling of depression increases (r = -.692, p ≤ .001). Stroke survivors' functional disability significantly predicted both perceived care-related life changes and depression in caregivers. Assessment of caregivers of people with stroke for depressive symptoms should be incorporated in the initial nursing assessment process. The perceived life changes among caregivers should be closely monitored, and follow-up meetings should be planned to support caregivers. The functional disability in people with stroke could be a valuable criterion for planning care for their caregivers.
