RESUMO
Background: Although sexual function (SF) and sexual satisfaction (SS) are the essential factors influenced negatively by infertility and may be associated with delaying or disrupting infertility treatment, no systematic review has assessed the results of these studies so far. Objective: The present study aimed to systematically review published interventional research regarding SF and SS among infertile individuals. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, the databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and SID were searched to retrieve the relevant studies in Persian and English languages up to August 2021. Results: 23 interventional studies were included in this systematic review, of which only 2 were low quality based on the critical appraisal skills program checklist. The interventions of the included studies were classified into 2 main categories: educational and psychological interventions for increasing the SF and SS among infertile women or couples. Conclusion: There was no clear evidence to understand the most effective method for increasing SF and satisfaction among couples with infertility. Based on the results of the included studies, all of them showed the effectiveness of the various interventions performed on sexual health dimensions among couples with infertility. This systematic review showed that most SF studies were educational, whereas the SS were more psychologically interventional. Conducting standardized and high-quality randomized controlled trials focusing on SF and SS is recommended.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Since communication is considered to be one of the central concepts in caregiving practices, this study aims to examine the perception of women with breast cancer in terms of their communication needs. METHODS: In this qualitative study, 20 participants (9 women with breast cancer, 10 of health-care professionals, and one family caregiver) were selected through purposive sampling, and a face-to-face semi-structured interview was conducted with each of them. After data collection, all interviews were transcribed and reviewed, and categories were extracted. The data were analyzed with Conventional Content Analysis of Landman and Graneheim using MAXQDA10 software. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in two extracted categories: "therapeutic communication" and "facilitating empathy", and five subcategories: "trust-building therapist", "crying out to be heard," "seeking a soothing presence," "sharing knowledge," and "supportive peers". CONCLUSION: Identifying and promoting the communicative needs of patients could lead to a considerably better care of patients under treatment. Therefore, therapeutic communication, as an integral part, should be incorporated into the care plan for patients with breast cancer and their families in the Oncology and Palliative Care wards.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: To establish a palliative care system (PCS) in Iran, it is necessary to identify the potential barriers. AIM: This study aims to highlight the views of stakeholders to know the challenges of providing palliative care for women with breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews are used with purposeful sampling conducted in Tehran, Iran; from January to June 2015. Twenty participants were included in the study: nine patients with breast cancer and ten health-care providers. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative directed content analysis based on Donabedian model. Data credibility was examined using the criteria of Lincoln and Guba. RESULTS: Based on the pattern of Avedis Donabedian model, two main categories were identified: (1) palliative care services in the health system still remain undefined and (2) lack of adequate care providers. The subcategories emerged from the main categories are: (1) Inexistent home care, (2) specialized palliative care being in high demand, lack of: (a) Rehabilitation program and guidelines, (b) treatment/training protocols, (c) inefficient insurance and out-of-pocket costs, (d) patient referral system, (e) nontransparency of job description, and (f) weakness of teamwork. DISCUSSION: The findings of the study identify views and perceptions of patients as well as the health professionals around the challenges of providing palliative care. To establish a structured PCS, we need to meet the challenges and remove perceived barriers to, including but not limited to, building up knowledge and awareness of health professionals, educating professional, and developing updated, well-defined, and standard treatment protocols, tailored to local conditions.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: During the last two decades, there have been spiritual/religious interventions in cancer patients to prevent or treat a range of physical problems, including managing chronic pain, coping with the disease, boosting hope and mental health. Although societies are of different faiths and belief systems, what they all share is spirituality. OBJECTIVES: Upon this we put forward the hypothesis of changes in gene receptor expressions as a result of spiritual intervention for the first time in the world. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the spiritual intervention was conducted on 57 volunteer females with early breast cancer involvement. Blood samples were collected prior to and after the spiritual intervention to analyze the changes in dopamine gene receptor expressions as the main site of effect. In order to administer the spiritual intervention backed by Quran, Islam and international standards, issues, with emphasis on peace, human growth and perfection, accepting God as an eternal source of power and kindness to build trust and reduce stress, were selected. They included prayer, patience, reliance, self-sacrifice and forgiveness, altruism and kindness, remission and repentance, thankfulness, zikr (mantra), meditation, and death concept. RESULTS: Obtained results from peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples analyzed by real time-PCR showed significant reduction in dopamine gene receptor (DRD1-5) expressions in comparison with those of pre-test scores and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Spiritual intervention based on Islamic principals can bring back mental health, increase hope and quality of life and eventually change dopamine gene receptor expressions resulting in reduction of cell proliferation, thus better prevention and management in breast cancer patients compared to other forms of treatment.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Despite the fact that being exposed to traumatic and stressful events could have severe consequences, studies have shown that even in the wake of negative events such as cancer diagnosis, we see some changes and positive impacts in scheme, philosophy of life and self-perception, a process which is called Post Traumatic Growth (PTG). The aim of the current research is to define share of self-efficacy and perceived social support in the prediction of PTG. METHODS: The research is a correlation type. For this aim, 95 patients with cancer came to Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital, Tehran, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Zanjan, and Mehraneh Charity Institute, Zanjan in 2012 have been selec ted based on available sampling and evaluated regarding self-efficacy, and perceived social support and PTG. RESULTS: Data analysis using Pearson correlation and regression analysis (simple and multiple) showed that self-efficacy and Perceived Social Support in cancer patients have direct significant relation with variable of PTG and explain 13.5%, 10.6% and jointly 20.7% of PTG changes respectively. CONCLUSION: The research findings show that the variables of self-efficacy and Perceived Social Support explain significantly the PTG and these psychological variables can be used to provide improvement plans and mental health and PTG facilities.
