Exploring the consequences of nurses' involvement in disaster response: findings from a qualitative content analysis study

BACKGROUND

The presence of nurses during disasters can lead to many consequences. Understanding the nurses' experiences of these consequences can provide valuable insights. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the experiences of Iranian nurses regarding the consequences they faced when being present during disasters.

METHODS

This qualitative descriptive study employed a content analysis approach to examine the topic at hand. 20 nurses working in the emergency units of Kerman hospitals were selected through purposive sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. MAXQDA 10 was used to manage data.

RESULTS

After analysis of the interviews, two main categories were identified: overlapping of job frustrations and acquiring experience in difficult conditions. The main category of acquiring experience in difficult conditions comprised the following subcategories: improved quality of care, experience and dedication in fulfilling the role, reduced stress, occupational motivation and enthusiasm, increased self-confidence, and improved social status. On the other hand, the category of overlapping of job frustrations also consisted of the subcategories of physical strength deterioration, psychological and emotional distress, discontinued from supports, feelings of hopelessness, increased exposure to violence and aggression, and occurrence of family problems.

CONCLUSION

Being present during disasters and obtaining the necessary competencies can have positive consequences that serve as turning points in the personal and professional growth of nurses. Additionally, favorable outcomes can help nurses cope with adverse circumstances. Managers can utilize the findings of this study to develop strategies aimed at reducing negative outcomes and enhancing positive ones among nurses during disasters.

The effect of polyethylene cover intervention on ocular surface disorder of intensive care unit patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Polyethylene covers have been proven to be effective in protecting the eyes in patients with decreased or disappeared blink reflexes, but their advantages compared to other conventional methods are still unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to elucidate the impact of polyethylene covers in the prevention of ocular surface disease (OSD) in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

We searched the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases to identify randomized controlled trial studies. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines and used the Cochrane Collaboration tool to assess the risk of bias.

RESULTS

The findings were expressed as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals. The incidence of OSD in the polyethylene cover group was lower than that in the eye drops group (RR = 0.27; 95% CI (0.07, 1.09), P = 0.07) and adhesive tape group (RR = 0.11, 95%CI (0.04, 0.31), P < 0:0001) but the polyethylene cover group showed no significant difference compared to the eye gel group (RR = 0.79, 95%CI (0.18, 3.51), P = 0.76) and the eye ointment group (RR = 0.85; 95% CI (0.36, 1.99), P = 0.71).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that polyethylene covers, eye gels, and eye ointments had an equal effect on preventing OSD in ICU patients, and eye drops and adhesive tapes were relatively less effective. However, other intervention methods had not been compared due to the small number of articles. Hence, further studies should assess the available methods to choose the best practical method.

The effect of positive thinking training on anxiety and happiness among older adults: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Anxiety and depression are the most prevalent mental disorders associated with aging. Positive thinking training is a way to help older adults cope with anxiety and depression and increase their happiness. This study aimed to determine the effect of positive thinking training on anxiety and happiness among older adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 48 older adults referred to two comprehensive health service facilities in the southeastern Iranian province of Kerman. The intervention (n = 24) and control (n = 24) groups were randomly assigned from a convenience sample of older adults. The intervention group attended eight two-hour training sessions on positive thinking. Data were collected before and one month after the positive thinking training using Beck Anxiety Inventory and Oxford Happiness Inventory. All statistical procedures were performed in SPSS software (version 22), with the significance level set to P = 0.05.

RESULTS

Before the positive thinking program was delivered, the mean anxiety scores in the intervention and control groups were 13.98 ± 8.61 and 19.25 ± 11.67, respectively. After the intervention was completed, the mean scores for the intervention and control groups were 4.50 ± 4.07 and 15.54 ± 9.04, indicating a significant reduction in anxiety among intervention group participants (t = -5.45, P < 0.001). The mean baseline happiness scores in the intervention and control groups were 26.58 ± 12.40 and 37.91 ± 5.57, respectively, which changed to 62.91 ± 4.66 and 35.62 ± 10.62 at the post-test. Positive thinking training improved happiness in a significant manner (t = -4.08, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Results revealed that positive thinking training decreased anxiety and enhanced happiness among older adults. Given the growing elderly population, clinical managers, clinical specialists, nurses in health care centers, and those involved in elderly care facilities can benefit from this non-pharmacological treatment program for older adults suffering from anxiety and depression. It is suggested that preventive programs based on positive psychology be developed to aid in the prevention of people's declining happiness and increasing anxiety as they age.

The effect of service-based learning on health education competencies of students in community health nursing internships

AIM

This study investigated the impact of service-based learning on the health education competencies of students in community health nursing internships. community health nursing internship is one of the areas where students acquire health education competencies. Studies have shown that some students have poor health education competencies, and new educational interventions, such as service-based learning, can help improve their competencies.

METHOD

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2021-2022. The participants were final-year nursing students affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All participants (n = 72) were selected via the census method and randomly divided into intervention and control groups (36 participants in each group). The students in the intervention group attended a service-based learning program for 20 days. The data were collected before and one month after intervention using a 48-item health education qualification questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS22 software.

RESULTS

The results showed that the mean health education competencies scores were lower before intervention in the intervention and control group (165.75 ± 23.09) (170.16 ± 28.58)(p > 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of their mean scores on health education competencies(p > 0.05). The health education competencies score increased significantly for the participants in the intervention group (191.58 ± 28.35) compared to the control group (165.97 ± 28.11) after intervention.

CONCLUSION

Nursing administrators and professors need to take effective steps to empower nursing students as much as possible and incorporate service-based learning techniques in clinical education programs for nursing students.

Nursing students' patient safety competencies in the classroom and clinical settings: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Patient safety is one of the critical indicators of providing qualified and high-quality health care services. Determining nursing students' patient safety competencies will significantly contribute to the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate Iranian nursing students' patient safety competencies in classroom and clinical settings.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study data were collected from 215 nursing of a university of medical sciences between February and May 2022, using a general questionnaire form and the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey. Data analysis was done using descriptive and analytical statistics such as percentage, mean and paired-samples t-test.

RESULTS

The mean scores of nursing students' the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey were 3.50 ± 0.55 in the classroom and 3.45 ± 0.57 in the clinical setting. The highest mean scores of nursing students were in subdimension of "clinical safety" in both the clinical (3.91 ± 1.13) and classroom settings (3.91 ± 0.78). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found in patient safety learning confidence in the classroom versus clinical setting in the "culture of safety" subdimension.

CONCLUSION

It appears that current educational programs provide opportunities to improve nursing students' patient safety, but they are not enough. Nurse educators should apply new teaching methods and evaluate clinical strategies to meet educational needs.

Nurses' challenges for disaster response: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Healthcare providers, particularly nurses, play a critical role in mitigating the impact of disasters on victims and the healthcare system. However, nurses face unique challenges in disasters that may not experience in their daily practice, which can make it harder for them to deal with disasters efficiently. This study aimed to investigate the challenges faced by nurses for disaster response.

METHODS

A qualitative content analysis approach was used in this study. Purposeful sampling was used to select 24 nurses working in the emergency departments of hospitals in Kerman, southeastern Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using MAXQDA10. The conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The analysis of the findings resulted in one major category, insufficient ability of nurses to respond to disasters, and five subcategories: diverse nursing conditions during disasters, inappropriate interactive platform during disasters, the presence of obstacles to teamwork, lack of platform for nurses to acquire adequate disaster risk management competence, and moral tension in complex disaster situations.

CONCLUSIONS

Determining the challenges that nurses face during disasters is essential for improving disaster response efforts, promoting disaster preparedness, ensuring appropriate care for patients, and reducing emotional fatigue among nurses. Finally, nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers and governments should use these findings to better support the nursing workforce in disasters.

Designing, implementing, and evaluating a mobile app-based cultural care training program to improve the cultural capacity and humility of nursing students

BACKGROUND

Given the growing cultural diversity among healthcare clients, it is crucial for nursing education to have a clear mission: to effectively train future nurses by incorporating cultural care curricula. The goal is to equip them with the necessary cultural capacity and humility. This study focused on designing, developing, and evaluating a mobile app-based cultural care training program, with the aim of enhancing the cultural capacity and humility of nursing students.

METHODS

This experimental study utilized the five steps of the ADDIE instructional model (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) to design a mobile app-based cultural care training program. The first three steps involved designing and developing the program, drawing upon Purnell's model for cultural competence and Foronda's rainbow model of cultural humility. In the fourth step, the cultural care training program was implemented in 16 modules among 80 internship nursing students. These students were randomly assigned to either the intervention or control groups, with 40 students in each group. Finally, in the fifth step, the effectiveness of the mobile app-based program was evaluated by administering the Cultural Capacity Scale, and the Foronda Cultural Humility Scale before and one month after the cultural care training. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS22, employing techniques such as paired t-test, chi-square test, and independent samples t-test.

RESULTS

A total of 76 students completed the study, with 39 students in the intervention group and 37 students in the control group. Prior to the mobile app-based cultural care training program, there were no significant differences in cultural capacity and humility scores between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, following the completion of the program, the intervention group exhibited higher scores in cultural capacity and humility compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the mobile app-based cultural care training program had a positive impact on the cultural capacity and humility of undergraduate nursing students. These results indicate the importance of nurse educators designing comprehensive training programs that incorporate innovative approaches to enhance cultural capacity and humility among nursing students at all academic levels.

The effect of scenario-based training on the Core competencies of nursing students: a semi-experimental study

INTRODUCTION

Competency is defined as the variety of skills and knowledge required to perform a specific task. Due to the specificity of pediatric nursing, students face some challenges in acquiring core competencies. Therefore, the use of new training methods in pediatric nursing is necessary. One of the modern learning methods is learning based on clinical scenarios. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of scenario-based education on the core competencies of nursing students.

METHOD

This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test and post-test design. All participants (n = 72) were selected via the census method and randomly divided into intervention (N = 33) and control groups (N = 40). The data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire and the Nursing Students' Clinical Competencies Questionnaire. Before the intervention, both groups completed the pre-tests. After one month, the students in both groups completed post-tests.

RESULTS

The average score of core competencies for the students in the intervention group after the training (247.05, SD = 36.48) increased compared to before the intervention (229.05, SD = 36.58) (P > 0.05). The average score of the core competencies for the students in the control group after the training was 240.76 (SD = 35.36) compared to 235.56 (SD = 27.94) before the intervention, with no significant difference (P < 0.05). The independent t-test did not show a significant difference between the control and intervention groups before and after the intervention (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The results indicated the effectiveness of scenario-based training on the core competencies of students in the intervention group. Accordingly, nursing administrators and professors are recommended to incorporate new scenario-based teaching and learning methods in educational programs of universities. It is also necessary to conduct more research into the effectiveness of this method in combination with other training methods like team-based and problem-based training.

Effectiveness of an online training program for improving nurses' competencies in disaster risk management

BACKGROUND

Nurses' incompetency in disaster risk management can have many negative consequences during disasters, so it is important to prepare nurses and improve their competencies in disaster risk management. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of an online training program to improve competencies in disaster risk management.

METHOD

This interventional study was conducted on nurses working in a specialized trauma hospital affiliated with the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in southeastern Iran in 2023. Eighty-one nurses were randomly assigned into two interventions (n = 42) and control groups (n = 39). The intervention group received an online training program in four sessions, and both groups electronically completed the demographic questionnaire and the nurses' perceptions of disaster core competencies scale (NPDCC) before and one month after the intervention.

RESULTS

The study results showed no significant difference in disaster competency scores between the two groups before the intervention (p < 0.51), but the NPDCC score in the intervention group was statistically significant after the intervention compared to before the intervention (p < 0.02) and no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups after the intervention (p < 0.16).

CONCLUSION

While the online training program was found to significantly improve the NPDCC score of nurses in the intervention group, this increase was not significant when compared to the control group. Therefore, we suggest continuous practical exercises and maneuvers to improve nurses' perception of the competencies required for effective disaster management.

Experiences of family caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities from rural areas in southeastern Iran: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Caring for people with intellectual disabilities can be a challenging task, but it can also bring about positive experiences for family caregivers. The present study aimed to explore these positive experiences and shed light on the ways in which family caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities can find meaning and fulfillment in their roles.

METHODS

This qualitative study used conventional content analysis to explore the positive experiences of family caregivers of people with intellectual disabilities. Sixteen family caregivers from rural areas in southeastern Iran were purposively selected to participate in the study. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using the method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman.

RESULTS

The data analysis resulted in the emergence of a single theme, which was achievements of providing care for people with intellectual disabilities. This theme was comprised of four main categories: a new outlook on life, family caregivers' peace of mind, strengthening of family ties, and improvement of social status. The provision of care for people with intellectual disabilities created positive changes, affecting family functioning and care provision for people with intellectual disabilities.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that families of people with intellectual disabilities focus on these positive experiences and share them with other families who may be struggling with a recent diagnosis of intellectual disability in their child.

Iranian nurses' perceptions of core competencies required for disaster risk management

BACKGROUND

With an increase in the incidence and severity of disasters, disaster risk management receives an important priority in the health system. Nurses at all levels of healthcare play an important role in disaster risk management and they must have core preparation and competencies to respond to disasters. This study aimed to evaluate Iranian nurses' core competencies required for disaster risk management.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 277 nurses working in three hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2022. The demographic information questionnaire and the nurses' perceptions of disaster core competencies scale (NPDCC) were used to collect data, and SPSS21 was used to analyze data.

RESULTS

Nurses' competencies in disaster risk management were favorable (3.67 ± 0.77), with the subscales of technical skills and special diagnostic skills receiving the highest (3.91 ± 0.65) and the lowest mean scores, respectively (3.46 ± 0.87). The results found a significant difference between the scores of nurses' competencies in disaster risk management in terms of education level, age, work experience, employment status, participation in training courses related to disaster risk management, work experience in incidents and disasters.

CONCLUSION

The study results suggested nurses' high level of competency in disaster risk management, but indicated gaps in their core competencies. The study results recommend authorities provide various training courses related to disaster risk management for all nurses.

A virtual training program for improving cultural competence among academic nurse educators

BACKGROUND

Everyday, nursing students interact with culturally diverse clients. Nursing education recognizes that cultural competence is a necessary outcome of nursing programs. Nurse educators expect all nursing students to provide culturally congruent care to multicultural clients. Therefore, nurse educators must be culturally competent in order to prepare culturally competent nursing students for clinical practice. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of virtual training program on the cultural competence of academic nurse educators.

METHODS

This randomized controlled study included nurse educators working in six nursing schools affiliated with medical universities of Kerman province in southeastern Iran. Sixty-nine nurse educators were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 35) and control (n = 34) groups. The training program consisted of three 2-hour sessions for a month. Cultural Diversity Questionnaire for Nurse Educators Revised (CDQNE-R) was used to evaluate the cultural competence of educators before and one month after the virtual training program.

RESULTS

Both the intervention (3.29 ± 0.58) and control (3.24 ± 0.58) groups demonstrated a similar level of cultural competence before the training program (t = 0.05, p = 0.95). After the training, the intervention group showed a significant increase in cultural competence (3.80 ± 0.7) compared to the control group (3.23 ± 0.67). This improvement resulted in culturally competent participants becoming culturally proficient, as evidenced by a large effect size (t = -4.76, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The virtual training program had a positive impact on the cultural competence of nurse educators. Given the importance of cultural competence in nursing education, continuing education programs that focus on strengthening the cultural competence of nurse educators should be prioritized. The experiences gained from implementing virtual training programs can serve as a valuable resource for nurse educators seeking to enhance their cultural competence.

Active aging needs from the perspectives of older adults and geriatric experts: a qualitative study

Introduction

With an increasing rate of population aging and its consequences, preparation for active aging based on older adults' needs is an unavoidable priority. Active aging needs must be identified to help strategic planning for older adults' health and wellbeing. This study aimed to explore the active aging needs from the perspectives of older adults and geriatric experts.

Methods

This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was conducted in four provinces with the oldest populations in Iran. Semi-structured and focus group interviews were conducted with 41 participants (20 older adults and 21 geriatric experts), who were chosen through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using the conventional content analysis.

Results

This study identified three themes and thirteen categories from the data: (1) basic individual needs with three categories of physiological, psycho-emotional, and spiritual needs; and (2) managerial needs with seven categories of political-legal, socio-economic, and cultural-spiritual infrastructures, academic strategies, an age-friendly environment; technological services, and provision of specialized services and daycare for older adults, and (3) educational needs with three categories of training self-care and self-efficacy, empowering the health care workers; and empowering the family.

Conclusion

The results revealed personal, managerial, and educational needs for active aging and could assist policymakers and geriatric experts to promote and meet active aging needs successfully.

Nurses' perceptions of critically ill patients' eye care: a qualitative study in Iran

BACKGROUND

Despite the high prevalence of ocular complications in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), eye care, as an important component of the care plan, has not received much attention from nurses. To improve the quality of eye care, the challenges and concerns of ICU nurses should be studied deeply. Thus, the present study aimed at exploring the challenges faced by ICU nurses in taking care of patients admitted to the ICU.

METHODS

The present conventional qualitative content analysis study was carried out on 11 nurses and 3 head nurses selected purposefully by observing the maximum variation. The data were collected through face-to-face, in-depth, and semi-structured interviews. All data were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the conventional content analysis method proposed by Graneheim and Lundman (Nurse Educ Today 24:105-12, 2004). The Max Q Data software 2020 was run to record the interviews and extract codes from the transcriptions.

RESULTS

The participants' mean age was 37.14 ± 6.41 years and their average work experience in ICU was 10.29 ± 7.63 years. The core category that emerged from data analysis was "the lack of an evidence-based approach", which was subdivided into five categories: "education, the missing link", "nurses' inadequate professional competence", "unsafe nursing care", "organizational requirements", and "difficulty in eye care evaluation".

CONCLUSION

Evidence-based practice plays a minor role in the field of eye care in Iran, despite its critical importance. Thus, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran is recommended to adapt the clinical guidelines so that more attention is paid to this field.

Improving the Hope and Happiness of Patients With an Ostomy: Effects of Group Cognitive Therapy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of group cognitive therapy (GCT) on hope and happiness in patients with ostomy.

DESIGN

A single-group before-after study.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING

The sample comprised 30 patients living with an ostomy for at least 30 days. Their mean age was 64.5 (SD 10.5) years; most were male (66.7%, n = 20).

METHODS

The study setting was a large ostomy care center in the city of Kerman, located in southeastern Iran. The intervention was 12 GCT sessions, each lasted 90 minutes. Data were collected before and 1 month after GCT sessions using a questionnaire designed for purposes of this study. The questionnaire queried demographic and pertinent clinical data, and incorporated 2 validated instruments: the Miller Hope Scale and the Oxford Happiness Inventory.

RESULTS

The mean pretest score on the Miller Hope Scale was 121.9 (SD 16.7) and the mean score on the Oxford Happiness Scale was 31.9 (SD 7.8); posttest mean scores were 180.4 (SD 12.1) and 53.4 (SD 8.3), respectively. Scores on both instruments significantly increased in patients living with an ostomy following 3 GCT sessions (P = .0001).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that GCT enhances hope and happiness in persons living with an ostomy.

Using mindfulness-based stress reduction group therapy to reduce perceived stress of vulnerable women in south of Iran

Provision of educational and health services to vulnerable women in drop-in centers can reduce their traumas. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group therapy is a psychological intervention to reduce perceived stress these women. This quasi-experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR group therapy in the perceived stress of 63 vulnerable women who referred to two drop-in centers in southeastern Iran. The participants were assigned into the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 33) groups. The intervention group members were required to attend the MBSR intervention held in eight 90-minute sessions. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered to collect data before and one month after the MBSR. Based on the findings, the pre-test scores of perceived stress were not significantly different between the intervention (38.16 ± 6.04) and control (39.06 ± 5.30) groups (t = -0.62, p = 0.53). However, the perceived stress scores reduced significantly in the intervention group (30.20 ± 2.89) than the control group scores (37.96 ± 4.18) in the posttest (t = -8.35, P = 0.001). Given the significant reduction of perceived stress in participants after attending the MBSR group therapy, expert counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists are recommended to conduct this therapy to reduce perceived stress in vulnerable women.

Psychological wellbeing, family cohesion, and purposeful life in male prisoners: A cross-sectional study

Background

Psychological wellbeing, family cohesion, and purposeful life are important determinants of the prisoners' overall wellbeing and health; therefore, their evaluation is extremely important in prisoners as a vulnerable group.

Objective

This study evaluated psychological wellbeing, family cohesion, purposeful life, and their correlations in male prisoners.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used simple random sampling to select 259 male prisoners. Data were collected using questionnaires of Ryff psychological wellbeing, Fischer family cohesion, and Crumbaugh and Maholick purpose in life.

Results

Majority of (78%) the participants were 20-40 years old and married (59%). The mean scores of psychological wellbeing, family cohesion, and purposeful life of the male prisoners were moderate. Psychological wellbeing was directly correlated to family cohesion in male prisoners, but it had no significant correlation with a purposeful life. Family cohesion was not significantly correlated to a purposeful life.

Conclusion

Regarding the moderate level of psychological wellbeing in prisoners, it is suggested to pay more attention to educational and supportive programs in prisons for promoting such indicators in prisoners.

Two-sided perspective on tele-speech therapy: Experiences of stuttering patients, and their parents

The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits and challenges of the tele-speech therapy from the perspective of patients who stutter, and their parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients and three parents in two rehabilitation centers. Data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. Seven categories were determined: accessible treatment, motivation of comfort in tele-speech therapy, challenges of tele-therapy, satisfaction, virtual competency, lower quality compared to face-to-face therapy, and uncertainty about the effectiveness of tele-speech therapy. The participants had a two-sided perspective regarding tele-speech therapy. Positive experiences included benefitting from more qualified therapists at multiple locations, faster access to treatment, and saving cost and time. Negative experiences and challenges consisted of low-quality of technology infrastructure for rehabilitation including low quality of shared images and videos, ineffective communication, insufficient sympathy, indirect communication, and technology incompetency. Findings showed that the participants were interested in the application of tele-speech therapy, as this method could increase their accessibility and provide the opportunity to choose proper therapists. The determined benefits and challenges can provide the policy-makers with beneficial information to implement tele-speech therapy.

Improving psychiatric nurses' competencies in spiritual care and integration of clients' religion/spirituality into mental healthcare: outcomes of an online spiritual care training program

BACKGROUND

Religion/spirituality (R/S), which is associated with individuals' well-being and psychological health, plays a significant role in most clients' lives in healthcare systems. Although clients in mental healthcare settings prefer their R/S to be employed in nursing care, R/S has neither been adequately integrated into mental healthcare nor discussed in the assessment and nursing interventions of mental healthcare. Evidence shows that most psychiatric nurses receive little or no training in spiritual care (SC) and are unable to integrate clients' R/S into mental healthcare. To address this gap, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of an online SC training program on psychiatric nurses' competencies in SC and the integration of clients' R/S into mental healthcare.

METHODS

This experimental study was conducted with nurses working in a psychiatric hospital affiliated with a large University of Medical Sciences in southeast Iran. Random sampling was performed and 95 nurses were assigned to the intervention (n = 50) and control (n = 45) groups. Online SC training was conducted for the intervention group in four sessions over four weeks. Data were collected using the Self-Assessment of Spiritual Care Competency and R/S Integrated Practice Assessment Scale before and one month after the training program.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups before training (p > 0.05). After the training, nurses in the intervention group obtained significantly higher scores in competencies in SC and integration of clients' R/S into mental healthcare compared to the control group, with a considerable effect size (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The online training program positively affected psychiatric nurses' competencies in SC and the integration of clients' R/S into mental healthcare. Since SC is a critical need for clients, specifically in mental healthcare settings, nurses must receive continuous education to provide SC to various clients.

Workplace Violence Against Prehospital Paramedic Personnel (City and Road) and Factors Related to This Type of Violence in Iran

Medical personnel such as those working in emergency medical systems are in direct contact with the patient or the injured and are exposed to workplace violence. This study aimed to determine workplace violence against prehospital paramedical personnel and factors related to this type of violence in Iran. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 72 prehospital emergency centers affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Using a researcher-made questionnaire, we assessed workplace violence and factors associated with this type of violence in prehospital paramedical personnel with a census method (N = 308). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation (SD), frequency, percentage, and analytic statistics, such as the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, ANOVA, t test, and multiple linear regression tests. The results of this study showed that the most frequent types of workplace violence were verbal violence (47%), physical violence (32.50%), cultural violence (16%), and no violence (4.50%), respectively. From the perspective of paramedical personnel, the total mean score of workplace violence was at a moderate level (52.19 ± 10.72). The most important factors affecting workplace violence from the perspective of paramedical personnel were "lack of awareness of people about the duties of emergency medical personnel" and "lack of specialists in prehospital (city or road) bases." Majority of the paramedical personnel believed that "no reaction and observance of patients and their families' rights" were the most important types of reactions. They also believed that violence was normal at the workplace and should not be considered in emergency medical services. Results suggest that national and local policies in Iran should provide prehospital paramedical personnel with various training courses about how to decrease the rate of workplace violence, promote public health, and decrease their psychological stresses and occupational burnout.

Identifying the content, functionalities, and features of a mobile application for contact lens wearers

BACKGROUND

Lack of attention to end-users' requirements and preferences may lead to the failure of health information technology (IT) interventions. Identifying users' needs for designing a mobile application can lead to the development of an acceptable intervention. This study aimed to determine the requirements for designing a mobile application to educate and provide needed information to contact lens (CL) wearers.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted on 24 CL wearers and nine eye care practitioners from the three CL clinics in Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the conventional content analysis proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. Lincoln and Guba's criteria were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the data.

RESULTS

The three main categories that emerged from the interviews were mobile application content, mobile application functionalities, and mobile application features. Ten subcategories and 57 sub-subcategories were also identified. It was determined that mobile content should focus on advice and information for optimizing the CL wearing experience and training regarding the use of CLs. Entering information required for self-care, computational capability, interactivity, updates, and reminders were determined as needed functionalities. The participants recommended features for the structure and user interface of the mobile application and information presentation methods.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the information needed to develop a mobile application for CL wearers. This also provides insights regarding required functionalities when applying IT interventions. These findings can be used by CL clinics, developers of health information systems, policymakers, and health planners to design better CL-related care and compliance interventions.

Improving Cultural Competence and Self-Efficacy Among Postgraduate Nursing Students: Results of an Online Cultural Care Training Program

INTRODUCTION

Since nurses and nursing students interact with culturally diverse clients in health care settings, training programs are required to improve cultural competence and self-efficacy among them. This study aimed to investigate the effect of an online cultural care training program on cultural competence and self-efficacy among postgraduate nursing students.

METHODS

The present interventional study used random sampling to allocate 80 postgraduate nursing students into the intervention and control groups. Cultural care training program was held for the intervention group.

RESULTS

No significant difference in cultural competence and self-efficacy scores was found between the intervention and control groups in the pretest. However, the intervention group scored higher in terms of cultural competence and self-efficacy after the intervention.

DISCUSSION

Given cultural diversity and prevalence of medical tourism, nursing instructors need to pay special attention to cultural care education at all academic levels.

Using a model to design, implement, and evaluate a training program for improving cultural competence among undergraduate nursing students: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

Due to changing population, culturally diverse clients with different perceptions of illness and health are present in healthcare settings. Therefore, it is increasingly important for nursing students to have high levels of cultural competence in order to meet diverse client needs. A training program is essential to enhance students' cultural competence. This study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a cultural care-training program to improve cultural competence of undergraduate nursing students.

METHODS

This exploratory mixed methods study used six steps proposed in the Talbot and Verrinder model to design a training program. In the first step, a conventional qualitative study was conducted and 18 participants were interviewed using purposive sampling. In the second and third steps, literature review and the classic Delphi technique were used for initiation and finalization of the program. The fourth, fifth, and sixth steps were completed by implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the cultural care program (five two-hour sessions) among 73 nursing students using a quasi-experimental design. Finally, effectiveness of program was evaluated through the cultural care inventory before and 1 month after the program. Data were analyzed via SPSS25, independent samples t- test, paired t- test, chi-square test, analysis of covariance, and multivariate linear regression tests.

RESULTS

A systematic model was used to identify key elements of a cultural care program, including main topics, educational objectives and contents, assignments and activities for students, teaching and evaluation methods. The curricular objectives and educational contents were implemented in five sessions to produce measurable results. The quantitative step showed that nursing students' cultural competence in the intervention group (184.37 ± 22.43) improved significantly compared with the control group (153.19 ± 20.14) (t = 6.24, p = 0.001) after intervention.

CONCLUSION

A cultural care training program can be designed by the model applied in this study in order to improve cultural competence of nursing students. This training program will be effective if students' learning needs, appropriate assignments, and acceptable teaching methods are addressed. Therefore, nurse educators can design comprehensive training programs to improve nursing students' cultural competence in different cultures and contexts. This training program is highly efficient because it is applicable in many disciplines of nursing education.

Evaluation and comparison of errors on nursing notes created by online and offline speech recognition technology and handwritten: an interventional study

BACKGROUND

Despite the rapid expansion of electronic health records, the use of computer mouse and keyboard, challenges the data entry into these systems. Speech recognition software is one of the substitutes for the mouse and keyboard. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of online and offline speech recognition software on spelling errors in nursing reports and to compare them with errors in handwritten reports.

METHODS

For this study, online and offline speech recognition software were selected and customized based on unrecognized terms by these softwares. Two groups of 35 nurses provided the admission notes of hospitalized patients upon their arrival using three data entry methods (using the handwritten method or two types of speech recognition software). After at least a month, they created the same reports using the other methods. The number of spelling errors in each method was determined. These errors were compared between the paper method and the two electronic methods before and after the correction of errors.

RESULTS

The lowest accuracy was related to online software with 96.4% and accuracy. On the average per report, the online method 6.76, and the offline method 4.56 generated more errors than the paper method. After correcting the errors by the participants, the number of errors in the online reports decreased by 94.75% and the number of errors in the offline reports decreased by 97.20%. The highest number of reports with errors was related to reports created by online software.

CONCLUSION

Although two software had relatively high accuracy, they created more errors than the paper method that can be lowered by optimizing and upgrading these softwares. The results showed that error correction by users significantly reduced the documentation errors caused by the software.

Concerns and Challenges of Living Donors When Making Decisions on Organ Donation: A Qualitative Study

Background

Mental concerns of living donors can be a solid barrier to logical and informed decision-making for organ donation. The present study explores living donors' mental concerns and problems during the process of decision-making for organ donation.

Materials and Methods

present study was performed using qualitative content analysis. Twenty-one participants were selected by purposive sampling. The data were collected and recorded through semistructured interviews and analyzed by MAX Qualitative Data Analysis software 12, based on Graneheim and Lundman's contractual content analysis method.

Results

Data analysis extracted 425 codes, 13 subcategories, 3 main categories, and 1 core theme (conflict between doubt and certainty). The three main categories were individual barriers and concerns (faced by the donor), interpersonal concerns and barriers (experienced by the family), and socio-organizational concerns and barriers (at the community).

Conclusions

Based on the results, donors have significant concerns and face major problems when deciding on organ donation. Therefore, health-care professionals should take into account organ donors' concerns, raise awareness of donor associations, and formulate policies to increase living donors' satisfaction.

Effectiveness of resilience training on social self-efficacy of the elementary school girls during COVID-19 outbreak

Children, especially girls, are more vulnerable during crises, who need to acquire skills such as social self-efficacy to meet the challenges of the environment. Given that, much progress has been made in e-learning; its capabilities can be used to promote children's health. This study aimed to determine the effect of virtual resilience training on the social self-efficacy of elementary school girls. This experimental study was performed on primary school girls aged 9-10 years in southeastern Iran. Students were selected by convenience sampling and divided into intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 37) groups by using randomized allocation. The Children's Social Self-Efficacy in Peer Interaction Scale was used for data collection before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. No significant difference was found between the two groups of intervention and control in the score of social self-efficacy before the intervention. However, the score of students in the intervention group improved immediately and one month after the intervention, and a significant difference was observed between the two groups (p = .0001). Virtual resilience training has improved the social self-efficacy of elementary school girls and facing challenges is inevitable in today's world, so resilience training seems necessary to prevent social and psychological harm in such children.

The Experience of Healthcare Professionals Providing Mental Health Services to Mothers with Postpartum Depression: A qualitative study

Objectives

This study aimed to describe the experience of healthcare professionals in providing mental health services to women with postpartum depression (PPD).

Methods

In this qualitative study, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five physicians, five midwives and five psychologists from 14 urban healthcare centres in Kerman, Iran, from April 2019 to September 2019. Purposeful sampling was used to select the participants. Data were qualitatively analysed using a content analysis approach.

Results

Data analysis revealed the main theme of the study: ‘the long way ahead for comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health services’. This theme included four categories: ‘postpartum depression challenges’, ‘social and personal factors’, ‘structural challenges’ and ‘need for change in mental health services’. The participants described that depression diagnosis is difficult due to insufficient knowledge among healthcare providers and the hidden signs of PPD. They also described how different factors such as economic and cultural factors, personality traits, a community’s lack of knowledge, negative attitude towards depression and limited family support might cause depression. Moreover, providing mental health services involves certain challenges, such as limited human resources, insufficient financial resources and incomplete or inefficient policy-making.

Conclusion

Although measures have been taken to provide mental health services, there are many challenges regarding providing mental health services to mothers. Therefore, serious measures should be taken to improve mental health services and re-define the existing measures. Informing the community, empowering the healthcare providers and attempting to change the community’s attitudes and beliefs can affect the mental healthcare of women with depression.

The association between body mass index and health literacy in high school Students: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Obesity and overweight in children and adolescents have become a global problem in recent years. Adolescence increases the likelihood of obesity in adulthood and associated illnesses. Nowadays, health literacy is one of the greatest determinants of the health. This study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and health literacy in high school students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this descriptive-analytical study, 430 high school students were enrolled in a multi-stage random method in Yazd city in the center of Iran. The data were collected through The Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents and calculate BMI with measurement of height and weight of adolescents. The data were then analyzed using SPSS 25 and descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and multivariate regression).

RESULTS

The results showed that the mean score of BMI (21.76 ± 3.76) was in a normal range. The score of health literacy was at the borderline level (58.44 ± 13.79). BMI was not significantly correlated with health literacy (P = 0.09). BMI was significantly different in terms of age, high school grade, school type, and health status. School type and health status predict 37% of the variance of BMI (R ² = 37%) and the best predictor was health status (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study showed that BMI was not correlated with health literacy and student health literacy was at the borderline level. It is necessary to carry out further studies on the causes and facilitators and the barriers to increasing health literacy. Furthermore, educational interventions are needed to prevent the increase of BMI in adolescents and identify determining factors.

Empowerment of nurses for integrating clients' religion/spirituality into clinical practice: outcomes of an online training program

Background

Integration of clients’ religion/spirituality (R/S) into nursing practice can have effective outcomes in clients’ health. In this regard, nurses’ lack of competency can disrupt this process and interfere with the treatment process. Limited studies examined the impact of training programs on nurses’ competency in spiritual care and integration of clients’ R/S into clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the impact of an online training program on nurses’ empowerment for integrating clients’ R/S into clinical practice.

Methods

In the present interventional study, 80 nurses were selected by stratified sampling from two hospitals in the southeastern Iran. Nurses were randomly divided into the intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. An online training program was performed for the intervention group in four 2-hour sessions during three weeks. Data were collected from all participants using the R/S Integrated Practice Assessment Scale (RSIPAS) before and one month after the intervention.

Results

Prior to the intervention, scores of integrating clients’ R/S into clinical practice were not significantly different between the intervention and control groups (t = 0.23, p = 0.81). However, after the training program, these scores increased significantly with a very large effect size compared to the control group (t = 4.31, p = 0.001). Although the control group scores improved significantly after the intervention compared to the pre-intervention stage, the effect size was very small (t = -2.55, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The online training program had a positive effect on nurses’ competency for integrating clients’ R/S into clinical practice in the intervention group. Due to the importance of integrating clients’ R/S into clinical practice, nurses’ competency should be strengthened in this area. Managers are suggested to consider appropriate strategies in order to empower nurses in integrating clients’ R/S into clinical practice. Nurse educators can benefit from our experiences in application of online training programs in nursing schools.

Determining the information needs of contact lens wearers for better education and more support: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Designing educational interventions tailored to the needs of Contact Lens Wearers (CLWs) are important and necessary. The present study aimed to determine the information needs of CLWs to educate and provide information to them to increase their knowledge and reduce complications and non-compliance behaviors.

METHODS

A qualitative approach was applied and semi-structured interviews were conducted in three contact lenses (CL) clinics in Iran among all their practitioners and 24 purposively selected patients. Data were analyzed using the Lundman and Graneheim conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

The qualitative analysis revealed knowledge and skill themes as two main categories. The knowledge category includes five subcategories of basic information for the CLWs, acquaintance with the CL, caring for CL, hygiene and vigilance of CL, and challenges of using CL. The skill category consists of two subcategories, including handling/insertion and removal of the CL, and stabilization of learned information. Moreover, 36 sub-subcategories emerged from these seven subcategories that reflected the information needs of CLWs.

CONCLUSIONS

A clear understanding of CLWs' information needs can help to design and develop appropriate educational approaches to overcome training barriers such as physicians' time constraints and high workload. Moreover, it can help deal with CLWs' insufficient knowledge and provide the required information simply and practically with the possibility of enough repetition.

Gender Matter, Social Phobia and High-Risk Behaviors in Young Medical Students

Background

Young is one of the most sensitive stages of human life. Social phobia and high-risk behaviors are factors that enhance young crises. This study aimed to determine the relationship between gender role, social phobia and high-risk behaviors among young medical students.

Methods

In this descriptive correlational study, 400 students were selected by quota sampling method from a medical university in Southeastern Iran. For data collection, the demographic information questionnaire, Gender Trait Index (GTI), Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), and Iranian Adolescent and Young Risk-Taking Scale (IAYRS) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and SD and analytic statistics such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests using SPSS 25 and p ≤ .05.

Results

The mean scores of masculinity and femininity gender roles were 38.98 ± 7.92 and 44.12 ± 7.76, respectively. Also, 70.5% of the students had dominant feminine traits, and the gender identity was high in 58.8% of the students and moderate in 40.2% of them. Social phobia (37.12 ± 12.61) and high-risk behaviors (81.77 ± 26.08) were moderate. A significant inverse relationship was found between masculine traits and social phobia (p <0.001). Another significant inverse relationship was observed between feminine traits and high-risk behaviors (p <0.05).

Conclusion

Given the poor relationship between gender role, social phobia and high-risk behaviors, it is essential to conduct further studies to determine the predictors of social phobia and high-risk behaviors in medical students.

The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on resilience of vulnerable women at drop-in centers in the southeast of Iran

Background

Female sex workers and addicted women are among the vulnerable groups who impose high costs on the health system of every society. They are prone to psychological problems such as anxiety, stress, and reduced resilience due to their lifestyles. Since mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been applied frequently by many psychotherapists to treat stress and anxiety, the present study investigated the effectiveness of MBSR on resilience of the vulnerable women.

Methods

The statistical population of this quasi-experimental study consisted of all eligible women who referred to the drop-in centers in Kerman in the southeast of Iran. Followed by random sampling, 63 vulnerable women were randomly assigned into the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 33) groups. The MBSR intervention was conducted for the intervention group in eight 90-min sessions. Demographic information questionnaire and Connor-Davidson resilience scale were administered to collect data prior to and one month after the MBSR intervention.

Results

The pre-test resilience score was not significantly different between the intervention (53.40 ± 10.49) and the control (54.5 ± 9.27) groups (t = 0.43, p = 0.66). However, the posttest resilience score in the intervention group (60.66 ± 6.71) was significantly higher than the control group (53.88 ± 7.54) (t = 3.58, P = 0.001). Moreover, a comparison between the pretest and posttest scores revealed a significant decrease in resilience scores of the control group (t = 2.81, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

Since MBSR intervention increased resilience of the vulnerable women in the intervention group, researchers, managers, counselors, community health nurses, and psychiatric nurses are suggested to implement related interventions to promote the health of women, especially vulnerable ones.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-021-01390-6.

Improving nurses' readiness for evidence-based practice in critical care units: results of an information literacy training program

BACKGROUND

One of the most important prerequisites for nurses' readiness to implement Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is to improve their information literacy skills. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a training program on nurses' information literacy skills for EBP in critical care units.

METHODS

In this interventional study, 60 nurses working in critical care units of hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences were randomly assigned into the intervention or control groups. The intervention group was provided with information literacy training in three eight-hour sessions over 3 weeks. Data were collected using demographic and information literacy skills for EBP questionnaires before and 1 month after the intervention.

RESULTS

At baseline, the intervention and control groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics and information literacy skills for EBP. The training program significantly improved all dimensions of information literacy skills of the nurses in the intervention group, including the use of different information resources (3.43 ± 0.48, p < 0.001), information searching skills and the use of different search features (3.85 ± 0.67, p < 0.001), knowledge about search operators (3.74 ± 0.14, p < 0.001), and selection of more appropriate search statement (x2 = 50.63, p = 0.001) compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses can learn EBP skills and apply research findings in their nursing practice in order to provide high-quality, safe nursing care in clinical settings. Practical workshops and regular training courses are effective interventional strategies to equip nurses with information literacy skills so that they can apply these skills to their future nursing practice.

Mothers and nurses' perceptions of the family-centered care barriers in pediatric departments of an educational hospital in Iran

PROBLEM

Family-centered care (FCC) is a concept used to describe an approach to caring for children and their families within health services. This study compared mothers and nurses' perceptions of barriers to FCC.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in an educational hospital affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences at the southeast of Iran in 2019. Using a researcher-designed questionnaire, we assessed mothers' and nurses' perceptions of barriers to FCC with a census method (60 nurses and 82 mothers).

FINDINGS

Mothers (49.8 ± 21.1) and nurses' (49.2 ± 16.4) mean scores of the perception of FCC barriers were at a moderate level. No significant difference was found between mothers' and nurses' perceptions of barriers to FCC. A significant relationship was observed between age, child's admission history, and the perception of FCC barriers in the mothers' group.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that national and regional policies of educational hospitals should assess factors contributing to the FCC barriers, focus on how to reduce these barriers, and provide appropriate collaborative care by nurses and the family of patients.

Assessing the effect of virtual education on information literacy competency for evidence-based practice among the undergraduate nursing students

Background

Information literacy competency is one of the requirements to implement Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in nursing. It is necessary to pay attention to curricular development and use new educational methods such as virtual education to strengthen information literacy competency in nursing students. Given the scarcity of the studies on the effectiveness of virtual education in nursing, particularly in Iran, and the positive university atmosphere regarding the use of virtual education, this study investigated the effect of virtual education on the undergraduate nursing students’ information literacy competency for EBP.

Methods

This interventional study was performed with two groups of intervention and control and a pretest and posttest design. Seventy-nine nursing students were selected and assigned to the intervention or control groups by random sampling. Virtual education of the information literacy was uploaded on a website in the form of six modules delivered in four weeks. Questionnaires of demographic information and information literacy for EBP were used to collect data before and one month after the virtual education.

Results

The results showed no significant difference between the control and intervention groups in all dimensions of information literacy competency in the pre-test stage. In the post-test, the virtual education improved dimensions of information seeking skills (t = 3.14, p = 0.002) and knowledge about search operators (t = 39.84, p = 0.001) in the intervention groups compared with the control group. The virtual education did not have any significant effect on the use of different information resources and development of search strategy with assessing the frequency of selecting the most appropriate search statement in the intervention group.

Conclusion

Virtual education had a significant effect on information seeking skills and knowledge about search operators in nursing students. Nurse educators can benefit from our experiences in designing this method for the use of virtual education programs in nursing schools. Given the lack of effectiveness of this program in using different information resources and development of search strategy, nurse educators are recommended to train information literacy for EBP by integrating several approaches such as virtual (online and offline) and face-to-face education.

Spiritual Well-Being and Purpose in Life Among Conscripts: A Case Study in Iran

BACKGROUND

Spiritual Well-Being (SWB) is an important aspect of health. Since soldiers, as members of community, are faced with numerous spiritual, psychological, and physical problems, belief in spirituality can play an important role in explaining their purpose in life (PIL). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate SWB, PIL, and the relationship between these two concepts in conscripts. In this cross-sectional study, 301 soldiers were selected by available sampling method from one of the military barracks in Iran 2019. Data were collected using the demographic, SWB, and PIL questionnaires. The results showed that SWB of the soldiers were at the high level (100.6 ± 12.30) and their PIL were at the moderate level (112.92 ± 13.70). Furthermore, a direct and intermediate relationship was observed between the soldiers' SWB and PIL (P <0.001, r = 0.50). Based on the findings, increased SWB enhanced PIL in soldiers and vice versa. To increase generalizability of the data, studies over a larger statistical population are recommended in different cultures. Findings of this study can also identify the interventional strategies to increase the soldiers' purpose in life.

Promoting the psychosocial and communication aspects of nursing care quality using time management skills training

BACKGROUND

Although using time management skills is a major component of nursing professional practice, they have not received much attention. Time management training can improve the psychological and communication aspects of nursing care quality. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of time management skills training on the psychosocial and communication aspects of nursing care quality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This semi-experimental study was conducted at Valiasr Hospital of Shahr Babak City, Kerman Province, in the Southeast of Iran, during 2018. The study population consisted of 100 nurses who were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: an intervention group or a control group. To identify and measure the outcomes, nurses' perceptions of the psychosocial and communication aspects of care quality were first assessed by the Quality Patient Care Scale (Qualpacs) at pretest. Then, the intervention group received the 2 days of training on time management skills for 12 h. The posttest outcome data were collected from both the groups 1 month after the intervention.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to the total mean scores of nursing care quality and its psychosocial and communication aspects before the intervention (t = 1.96, P = 0.09). However, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in this regard after the intervention, and the mean nursing care quality scores and its related aspects were improved in the intervention group (t = 5.76, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The time management skills training could significantly improve psychosocial and communication aspects of nursing care quality. Health-care managers should allocate facilities to clinical training programs so that health-care professionals can acquire the time management skills. The higher effectiveness of time management training can be determined by its application in diverse domains of health care.

The Effect of Patient Safety Education on Undergraduate Nursing Students' Patient Safety Competencies

Patient safety is influenced by a set of factors in various levels of the healthcare system. One of the factors affecting patient safety is safety competencies of the nursing students. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of patient safety education on patient safety competencies of the nursing students. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest deign. The levels of patient safety competencies of 50 nursing students were investigated in a nursing school affiliated to large university of medical sciences in the south of Iran in 2019. Data were collected using Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey (H-PEPSS). The data were analyzed in SPSS 21 using descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA. The three investigated intervals were significantly different in terms of the total H-PEPSS dimensions, while the lowest was attributed to the dimension "managing safety". Mean scores of "how broader patient safety issues are addressed in health professional education" and "comfort speaking up about patient safety" significantly increased during the follow-up periods. The educational intervention was partially effective in improving patient safety competencies of the nursing students over long term.

Effect of information, motivation, and behavioral skills model on adherence to medication, diet, and physical activity in HIV/ADIS patients: A health promotion strategy

BACKGROUND

Adherence to treatment is one of the major challenges in patients with HIV/ADIS. If the patients do not adhere, they will face recurrent consequences, such as disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of information, motivation, and behavioral Skills (IMB) model on medication adherence, diet adherence, and physical activity in HIV/ADIS patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This interventional study was conducted on 122 patients with 20 years of age and over with HIV/AIDS in Kerman City, Iran, in 2018. A total of patients were selected by census method and categorized into the intervention and control groups. Later, a researcher-made questionnaire on IMB was used before and 3 months after the intervention to assess medication adherence, diet adherence, and physical activity .The intervention study consisted of at least 8 training sessions (90 min) over a 12-week period.

RESULTS

In adherence to medication, information (P = 0.034) and personal motivation (P = 0.003) constructs and in adherence to diet, information (P = 0.025), personal motivation (P = 0.001), self-efficacy (P = 0.010), and skills (P = 0.011) were significantly different between the two groups after the intervention (P = 0.011). However, regarding the adherence to physical activity, no significant difference was found between the two groups after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The IMB model can be effective in promoting the diet adherence in HIV/AIDS patients. In this regard, more qualitative and quantitative studies are recommended on the adherence to medication and physical activity.

Nurses' experiences and viewpoints about the benefits of adopting information technology in health care: a qualitative study in Iran

Background

Information technology (IT) plays an important role in nursing practice. Hence, nurses’ experiences and viewpoints about IT integration into healthcare help improve nurses’ adoption of IT. This study aimed to explore the nurses’ experiences and viewpoints about the benefits of IT integration and adoption in healthcare.

Methods

This study was conducted with a qualitative research approach. Participants included 14 nurses from four hospitals affiliated to a large medical university in Iran, who were selected using a purposive sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the conventional content analysis of Lundman and Graneheim.

Results

Six categories in the study reflected the nurses’ experiences and viewpoints about the benefits of integrating IT into health care. These categories included improving the quality and efficiency of medical services and care, facilitating the communication management in the technological environment, improving information documentation, management, and monitoring, improving resource management, improving management performance and policymaking, and facilitating pathways of organizational and professional growth.

Conclusions

Lessons learned in this study can help overcoming the barriers of IT adoption, and developing appropriate strategies to familiarize nurses with the benefits of IT in healthcare settings. Healthcare managers are recommended to investigate the experiences of nurses with IT in their hospitals and organize courses to orient hesitant nurses toward adopting IT.

Improving the informatics competency of critical care nurses: results of an interventional study in the southeast of Iran

BACKGROUND

Nursing informatics (NI) along with growth and development of health information technology (HIT) is becoming a fundamental part of all domains of nursing practice especially in critical care settings. Nurses are expected to equip with NI competency for providing patient-centered evidence-based care. Therefore, it is important and necessary to improve nurses' NI competency through educational programs for effective using of HIT. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a training program on NI competency of critical care nurses.

METHODS

This interventional study was conducted in 2019. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 60 nurses working in critical care units of three hospitals affiliated with a large University of Medical Sciences in the southeast of Iran. These nurses were assigned randomly and equally to the control and intervention groups. NI competency was trained to the intervention group in a three-day workshop. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire and the adapted Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment Tool (NICAT) before and 1 month after the intervention. Rahman in the US (2015) developed and validated the original NICAT to assess self-reported NI competency of nurses with 30 items and three dimensions (Computer literacy, Informatics literacy Information management skills). The NICAT is scored on a five-point Likert scale and the overall score ranges from 30 to150. Two medical informatics specialists and eight nursing faculty members approved the validity of the adapted version of NICAT and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha (95%).

RESULTS

All 60 participants completed the educational program and returned the completed questionnaire. Majority of participants in the intervention and control groups were female (83.30%), married nurses (70.90, 73.30%) aged 30-40 years (51.6, 35.5%). In the pretest stage, both intervention and control groups were competent in terms of the NI competency and its dimensions, and no significant difference was observed between them (p = 0.65). However, in the posttest, the NI competency and its dimensions in the intervention group significantly increased with a large effect size compared with the control group (p = 0.001). This difference showed that the intervention group was proficient in the posttest stage. The highest mean difference in the intervention group was associated with the informatics literacy dimension and the lowest mean difference was associated with the informatics management skills dimension.

CONCLUSIONS

The improved scores of NI competency and its dimensions after using the training program implied the effectiveness of this method in enhancing the NI competency of nurses working in the critical care units. The application of the training program in diverse domains of nursing practice shows its high efficiency. The project is fundamental for improving nurses' NI competency through continuous educational programs in Iran, other cultures and contexts.

The effect of anger management skills training on anger status of the people with HIV

PURPOSE

This study investigated the effect of anger management skills training on the anger status of people with HIV.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This interventional study was conducted on 60 people with HIV. The intervention group was trained on anger management skills. Data were collected using Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-II.

FINDINGS

The intervention group's training on anger management skills showed a significant reduction in mean scores of the state-trait anger, and anger expression as well as a significant increase in mean scores of anger control-out and anger control-in.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Expert counselors, psychologists, community health, and psychiatric nurses are recommended to train anger management skills to people with HIV.

Outcomes of Effective Integration of Clinical Risk Management Into Health Care From Nurses' Viewpoints: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this study was to explore nurses' experiences and viewpoints about the outcomes of effective integration of clinical risk management (CRM) into health care. This qualitative study was conducted using purposive sampling and semistructured interviews with 19 nurses from three hospitals affiliated with a large medical university. Data were analyzed by the conventional qualitative content analysis method proposed by Lundman and Graneheim. Data analysis reflected the following concepts: improving the quality of services and promoting health, preserving and protecting patient safety, increasing satisfaction, improving staff morale, and improving organizational awareness and vigilance. According to the results, CRM with its positive outcomes can help the development of a patient-oriented culture. The results can be a starting point for further quantitative and qualitative research to explore other strategies, potentials, and capacities of quality improvement activities such as CRM in other contexts and cultures.

Nurses' perceptions of systems thinking and safe nursing care: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To assess nurses' perceptions of systems thinking, safe nursing care and the correlation between them.

BACKGROUND

Systems thinking and safe nursing care are the key elements of quality improvement approaches, such as accreditation and patient safety programmes. However, these two variables have not been well studied in different health care settings.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 300 nurses were selected using the stratified random sampling method. The data were collected using a demographic data form, systems thinking scale and assessment of safe nursing care questionnaire.

RESULTS

The scores of nurses' perceptions of systems thinking (63.25 ± 9.20) and safe nursing care (4.13 ± 0.60) were above average. A positive correlation was found between systems thinking and safe nursing care (r = .66, p < .001), and its dimensions: nursing skills (r = .61, p < .001), psychological needs (r = .56, p < .001), physical needs (r = .51, p < .001) and teamwork (r = .56, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Regarding the correlation between systems thinking and safe nursing care, nurses and other medical professionals, especially novices, are recommended to strengthen their systems thinking skills to improve the safe nursing care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nurse managers should deal with organisational condition and factors affecting some poor aspects of systems thinking and safe nursing care. They must lead, support and allocate resources to the foundations of systems thinking to achieve safe nursing care.

Promoting drug abuse preventive behaviors in adolescent students based on the health belief model

Background Nowadays, drug abuse is one of the most important health problems that can affect the quality of life of people in mental, psychological, physical, and social dimensions. Theory-based education can help the adolescents to promote their drug abuse preventive behaviors. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of education based on the health belief model (HBM) on drug abuse preventive behaviors in adolescent students. Methods This study was an interventional quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design conducted in two high schools in the southeast of Iran. A two-step cluster sampling method was used and 120 students were randomly selected and categorized into the control (n = 60) and intervention (n = 60) groups. The intervention group participated in an education program based on the HBM in four 75-min sessions. Data were collected using demographic and drug abuse preventive behavior questionnaires based on the HBM. Results In the pre-test stage, the mean scores of drug abuse preventive behaviors and its dimensions were not significantly different between the intervention and control groups (t = -2.597 p = 0.641). In the post-test stage, the mean scores of the intervention and control groups were significantly different; the drug abuse preventive behaviors and its dimensions improved in the intervention group (t = 14.57, p < 0.001). Conclusion The findings showed that education based on the HBM had a significant effect on drug abuse preventive behaviors and its dimensions. Therefore, educational packages based on the HBM are recommended to improve these behaviors in adolescents.

The effect of transactional analysis on the self-esteem of imprisoned women: a clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The imprisoned women usually have low self-esteem and suffer from various physical and mental complaints; they may suffer from feelings of emptiness, isolation, and depression. Transactional analysis (TA) is part of a comprehensive system attributed to the individual and social psychiatry for personal development of self-esteem among the imprisoned women. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of TA group-training on the self-esteem of imprisoned women.

METHODS

This clinical trial was conducted among the imprisoned women in a prison in Southeastern Iran using pretest-posttest design. In this regard, 76 women were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 35) and control (n = 41) groups. The TA group-training program was held for eight 90-min sessions for the intervention group. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Rosenberg's self-esteem scale (RSES). Later, all participants were evaluated before and 1 month after the intervention.

RESULTS

In pre-test, the mean scores of self-esteem were 11.8 ± 4.67 and 7.97 ± 4.52 for the intervention and control groups, respectively. These scores showed low levels of self-esteem and the difference between the two groups was significant (p = 0.001, t = - 3.61). In the post-test, the mean scores of self-esteem improved to the moderate level (22 ± 2.52) in the intervention group compared to the control group (8.92 ± 4.04). This indicates the significant improvement of self-esteem in the intervention group (p = 0.001, t = 17.15).

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that TA group-training had a significant effect on self-esteem. Therefore, the experienced and expert counselors and psychologists are recommended to hold transactional analysis group-training courses to enhance self-esteem among women prisoners.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20170725035289N5 Date registered: 25/08/2018.