Body image before and after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: comparison and its contributing factors.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is among the treatment options for coronary artery disease. However, it is associated with significant physical and psychological problems. This study sought to compare body image before and after the surgery and to determine its contributing factors. METHODS: This comparative study was conducted in 2017 on a sample of 140 patients consecutively recruited from Shahid Beheshti hospital, Kashan, Iran. Body image was assessed before and 4 weeks after the surgery (T1 and T2) using Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire. The independent-sample and paired t tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation test, and multiple regression were conducted for data analysis. RESULTS: Participants' mean score of body image was 139.60 ± 13.21 at T1 and 160.25 ± 7.75 at T2 and the variation was statistically significant (p = < 0.001). At T1, only the three factors of age (p = 0.005), education at high school diploma and higher levels (p < 0.001), and being housekeeper (P = 0.048) could significantly explain BI (R2 = 0.231). However, at T2, none of the factors were significant predictors for BI (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Candidates for CABG have poor body image. After the surgery, their body image improves significantly. Healthcare providers need to employ programs to improve body image among these patients.

A Prospective Study of Survival After In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and its Related Factors.

BACKGROUND: Despite several studies, there is no agreement on factors that affect survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the survival rate of in-hospital CPR and its related factors at Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2014. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted on all cases of CPR performed in Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital during a 6-month period in 2014. Through a consecutive sampling method, 250 cases of CPR were studied. A three-part researcher-made instrument was used. The outcome of CPR was documented as either survival to hospital discharge or unsuccessful (death of the patient). Chi-square test, t test, and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Of all CPR cases, 238 (95.2%) were unsuccessful and 12 (4.8%) survived to hospital discharge. Only 2.6% of patients who were resuscitated in medical units survived to hospital discharge, whereas this rate was 11.4% in the emergency department. Only 45 (18%) patients were defibrillated during resuscitation; in 11 patients, defibrillation was performed between 15 to 45 minutes after the initiation of CPR. The mean time from initiation of CPR to the first DC shock was 13.93 ± 8.88 minutes. Moreover, the mean duration of CPR was 35.11 ± 11.42 minutes. The survival rate was higher in the morning shift and lower during the time of shift change (9.4% vs. 0). The duration of CPR and speed of arrival of the CPR team were identified as factors that predicted the outcome of CPR. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rate after in-hospital CPR was very low. The duration of CPR and the time of initiating CPR effects patients' outcomes. These findings highlight the crucial role of an organized, skilled, well-established and timely CPR team.

Effect of adding the herb Achillea millefolium on mouthwash on chemotherapy induced oral mucositis in cancer patients: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis (OM) is a debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy. It has different complications, including impairment of drinking, eating and even talking, sometimes so severe that physician stops the therapy. OBJECTIVE: Investigating the effect of Achillea millefolium distillate solution in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced OM. INTERVENTIONS/METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 56 cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced OM were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups in similar blocks based on the severity of OM. The experimental group gargled 15 mL of a mixture of routine solution and distilled A. millefolium 4 times a day for 14 days while the control group gargled 15 mL of routine solution. The severity of OM was assessed at three times before, 7 and 14 days after intervention. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: The mean severity score of OM was 2.39 ± 0.875 in both groups at start of the study that was changed to 1.07 ± 0.85 and 0.32 ± 0.54 in the intervention group in days 7 and 14 (p < 0.001). However, the severity of OM was increased to 2.75 ± 0.87 and 2.89 ± 0.956 in the control group respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A. millefolium distillate healed OM much more than the routine solution. Therefore, it is suggested to be used in patients with chemotherapy-induced OM. The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, Number: IRCT2013092214729N1.

A New mouthwash for Chemotherapy Induced Stomatitis.

BACKGROUND: Stomatitis is a disturbing side-effect of chemotherapy that disturbs patients and causes difficulties in patient's drinking, eating and talking, and may results in infection and bleeding. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Yarrow distillate in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted during 2013. The study population consisted of all cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced oral stomatitis referred to Shahid Beheshti Medical Center, Kashan, Iran. The data collection instrument had two-part; a demographic part and another part recording the severity of the stomatitis at the first, seventh, and 14th days of the intervention based on a WHO criteria checklist in 2005. In this study, 56 patients diagnosed with cancer were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups in similar blocks according to their stomatitis severity. The experimental group gargled 15 mL of a routine solution mixed with Yarrow distillate 4 times a day for 14 days while the control group gargled 15 mL of routine solution. The severity of stomatitis was assessed at the beginning of the intervention, and then after 7 and 14 days of the study. Data were analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Friedman tests using SPSS 11.5 software. RESULTS: At first, the median score of stomatitis in the experimental group was 2.50 that significantly reduced to 1 and 0 in days 7 and 14 of the intervention, respectively (P value < 0.001). However, in the control group, the median score of stomatitis was 2.50, which significantly increased to 3 in days 7 and 14 (P value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Yarrow distillate-contained solution reduced stomatitis severity more than the routine solution. Therefore, we suggest using it in patients with chemotherapy-induced stomatitis.