Advances in Nursing & Midwifery

Background and aim

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one or more symptoms from a great combination of physical, psychological and behavioral symptoms, occurring in 70%-90%of women at childbearing age. 95% of women suffer from mild symptoms of PMS while, in 3%-10%, the symptoms are severe and disabling. The aim of this study was identify the severity of PMS and its related factors in students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences & Health Services,.

Materials and methods

In this descriptive study, of 980 students in the dormitories of the university, 85 with PMS were selected by purposive sampling method. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire and a diary form derived from criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-4). Validity and reliability of the tools were determined by content and test-retest (r=0.82) methods respectively. Data collection method was self report questionnaires.

Findings

Means of age and body mass index of the subjects were 22.20 and 22.59 respectively. 58.8%, 38.8% and 2.4% had mild, moderate and severe physical symptoms respectively. The corresponding figures for psychological symptoms were 30.7%, 66.1% and 3.2 respectively.

Conclusion

The severity of symptoms in more than two thirds of the subjects was moderate and mild. A significant relationship was found between the onset of symptoms as well as educational term of the students and syndrome severity.

Keywords: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Student, Menstrual disorders.

^*Corresponding Author: Giti, Ozgoli.  Dept. of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Tehran, Iran

 E-mail: gozgoli@Yahoo.com

Background and aim

Absenteeism cause many problems for managers and other personnel especially nursing staff and leads to decreased quality and quantity of nursing care and, ultimately, health level of society. This descriptive study was conducted to determine the related factors of absenteeism in nursing staff at hospitals affiliated with Tehran Medical University.

Materials and methods

105 registered nurses with at least 1 event of absenteeism at different healthcare centers of Imam Khomeini Hospital were randomly selected. A questionnaire in 3 parts including items for demographics, related factors of absenteeism and an open question asking about the ways to reduce it was used for data collection.Content and test-retest methods were used for validity and reliability of the tool respectively (r=0/87). Such statistical tests as Chi-square and t-student were used for data analysis.

Findings

Most subjects (9.82%) was between 26-39 (mean age=4.30±1.18); 6.78%, women; 6.88%, baccalaureate; 3.74%, married; 1.57% with rental residence and 4.71% with shift rotation. 5.65% considered therapeutic problems as the most effective factor in absenteeism, of which 9.83% named tiredness from work as a reason for them. A significant correlation was found between absenteeism and age as well as sex (P<0.05) and not educational level.

Conclusion

There are many reasons for absenteeism of nurses in different shifts; however, the most important ones include tiredness from work and dissatisfaction from their shifts. Accordingly, by considering available resources, capabilities and limitations, the most appropriate strategies can be applied in this regard.

Keywords: Absenteeism, Shift, Nurse, Hospital. 

^*Corresponding Author: Saeid, Hamidizadeh.  Dept. of Nursing,Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery,Jahrom University of Medical.  E-mail: hamidizadehs@yahoo.com

Background and aim

Nurses make important clinical decisions with a great impact on patient care and their professional performance. Although decision-making is a basic and essential concept of nursing, limited understanding exists regarding the quality of clinical decision-making of critical care nurses and its effective factors. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore intellectual reasoning and clinical decision-making criteria of critical care nurses.

Material and methods

14 nurses in 4 teachinghospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences participated in the study. Data were collected by in-depth semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed concurrently with data collection.

Findings

In general, 6 main themes emerged.3 related to intellectual reasoning included intuition, recognition of similar situations and hypothesis testing and the other 3concerning criteria ofdecision-making were risk-benefit level, organizational requirements and complementary sources of information.

Conclusion

The findings provide a deep understanding of critical care nurses’ experiences regarding intellectual reasoning and clinical decision-making criteria. This can be influential in addition to facilitating more efficient decision-makings on improving the outcomes of independent as well as collaborative nursing interventions.

Keywords: Clinical decision-making, Nurses, Critical care, Content analysis.

^*Corresponding Author: Farhad, Ramezanibadr.  Dept. of Medical-Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran. E-mail: ramazanibadr@zums.ac.ir

Background and aim

Today, women have a tendency for cesarean. One of the reasons is thought to be their belief in the effect of normal delivery on postpartum sexual activities. With respect to the high rate of cesarean in Tehran and lack of enough evidence in this regard, this historical cohort study was conducted to identify a relationship between delivery type and postpartum sexual activity of women referring to selected healthcare centers of Tehran in 2009.

Material and methods

This study is to historical cohort reason of sexual activities of 140 women with vaginal delivery (case group) were compared with 140 women with cesarean (control group). A questionnaire regarding demographics and sexual activities was used for data collection, validated and made reliable by content and test-retest methods respectively. Data were analyzed by different statistical methods with Spss 13.

Findings

A significant relationship was found between income as well as educational level of women and selection of delivery type (P<0.20, P<0.001). A significant relationship was also found between onset of sex and delivery type (P<0.002) as 45% of women with normal delivery and 60.7% of women with cesarean had 3 times or less sex in a month. No significant difference was found between the groups after delivery in terms of changes in sexual desire and satisfaction, orgasm, pain during sex and vaginal dryness compare with antepartum period.

Conclusion

It seems that no significant relationship exists between delivery type and postpartum sexual activities.

Keywords: Delivery type, Sexual activities, Vaginal delivery, Cesarean. 

^*Corresponding Author: Masoomeh, heidari.  College of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran E-mail: heidari@shahed.ac.ir

Background and Aim

The concept of hopefulness in adolescents and its role in the health of this group are very important. Therefore, a valid and reliable tool to measure this concept is essential. This methodological study was performed to identify psychometric properties (validity and reliability) of “Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents” (HSA) in high school students of Tehran.

Materials and Methods

In this methodological research, 1918 girl and boy students from districts 3, 5, 9, 10 and 18 of Education Organization in Tehran were selected by random cluster sampling method. The subjects were asked to complete the scale along with a demographic questionnaire and Self-efficacy scale of Sherer et al. as a criterion scale. Construct and criterion validities were identified for the validity of the scale and internal consistencies as well as test-retest were measured for its reliability. Data were analyzed by calculation of factor analysis, coefficients of correlation and Cronbach’s alpha.

Findings

Construct validity was measured by exploratory factor analysis and revealed 2 factors, namely, optimistic and pessimistic thinking toward future. Coefficient correlation (r) of scores between the scale and Self-efficacy scale of Sherer et al. was 0.588 (P<0.001). Cronbach’s alpha and correlation (r) of scale scores in 2 times were 0.834 and 0.445 respectively.

Conclusion

Hopefulness Scale for Adolescents has satisfactory validity and reliability and can be used to measure hopefulness in this group.

Keywords: Psychometric evaluation, Scale, Validity, Reliability, Hopefulness Scale for

                   Adolescents (HSA).

^*Corresponding Author: Dr. Maryam Rassouli, Dept. of Pediatrics, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti. University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: rassouli.m@gmail.com

Background and aim

Asthma is a chronic condition affecting on quality of life (QOL) of afflicted children and their families. Nurses and other healthcare workers need a valid and reliable tool to mesure these effects. The aim of this study was to Development and psychometric evaluation of "Quality of Life Scale for Asthmatic Children” (QOLSAC).

Materials and methods

This research is a methodological study. A review of literature and semistructured interviews with 13 asthmatic children were carried out to develop 81 statements of “Quality of Life Scale for Asthmatic Children (QOLSAC).”The content of the scale were then validated by asking 30 professionals in pediatric medicine and nursing, asthma, tool development and QOL based on relatedness, clarity and simpleness. Statements with 75% validity or more were retained. Face validity of the scale was also identified. Construct (factor analysis) and criterion validitieswere identified by distributing the scale to 136 asthmatic children and comparing with Kindel’s QOL questionnaire respectively. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and stability (test-retest) measurements were performed for the reliability of the scale.

Findings

Factor analysis showed 5 domains (factors) in the scale and criterion validity revealed 0.89 correlation between the 2 tools. The range of Cronbach’s α (coefficient of correlation) in the 5 domains was between 0.81 and 0.92 and test-retest measurements indicated 0.93-0.98 correlations in the domains.

Conclusion

The results showed that QOLSAC with 61 statements is valid and reliable, using Likert measurement scale. With respect to the importance of this scale, applying it to assess the quality of life of asthmatic children is recommended.

Keywords: Scale development, Psychometric evaluation, Quality of life, Asthmatic children.

Background and aim

Low birth weight is one of the important problems in many societies especially developing ones. The survival rate of infants has a direct relationship with their birth weight. The aim of This cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence and etiologies of Prevalence and etiologies of macrosomia and low birth weight in 1000 neonates of low birth weight (LBW) as well as macrosomia and their possible etiologies.

Materials and methods

1000 neonates were sequentially selected by nonrandom sampling method over 6 months in 2006 at Javaheri hospital in Tehran. By reviewing their medical records, the birth weight of the subjects and other variables of the study were assessed. Independent T and Qui-square tests were used for data analysis.

Findings

In this study cross sectional- study mean weigh of the neonates was 2957±910 gr. 7% of the subjects suffered from low birth weight (mean=2371±260) and 3% had macrosomia (mean=4247±240). A significant relationship was found between birth weight and gestational age of the neonates. 10% of mothers having neonates with macrosomia had gestational diabetes. The etiology of macrosomia was not known in most cases. The most common causes of low birth weight included premature rupture of membranes, twin gestation, fetal distress and maternal conditions.

Conclusion

Appropriate gestational care, risk factor detection before pregnancy and improvement of quantity as well as quality of maternal child health services can reduce the number of low- birth-weight infants.

Keywords: Macrosomia, Low birth weight, Prevalence, Etiology.

Background and aim

Spirituality as the essence of human existence and a healing factor in mankind has been increasingly emphasized in recent years. Spirituality along with three other domains of holistic care, namely biological, psychological and social has a particular importance.Holistic view provides a suitable approach for health professionals including nurses to focus on all aspects of human. World Health Organization (WHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN), ethical codes of universities worldwide and most theorists of nursing have emphasized on the instruction of spirituality and spiritual care in the frame of holistic approach. Since nurses are responsible to provide physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual care, they need to know how to respond to spiritual needs of their patients. This review article is intended to reveal the importance of spirituality and spiritual care instruction in nursing and focuses on legal as well as ethical requirements for its incorporation in educational planning as a challenge in baccalaureate nursing curriculum in Iran.

Materials and methods

A comprehensive review of literature in the Internet was performed to cover all material from 1980 to 2009. Keywords of the review included nursing, spirituality care education and spiritual care in domestic as well as international databases such as IranMedex, Irandoc, PubMed, ScienceDirect, ERIC, ProQuest and Ovid.

Findings

The review indicated that in most curriculums of western and eastern countries, instruction of spirituality and spiritual care is included; however, due to different reasons, nurses still do not have necessary preparations to identify and satisfy spiritual needs of their clients and require further academic education. In Iran, no study was found related to the necessity of inclusion of spirituality and spiritual care in the curriculum of baccalaureate nursing students.

Conclusion

Nursing educators play a critical role in the preparation of students to diagnose and satisfy clients’ spiritual needs. The principles of spirituality and spiritual care should be included and taught in the curriculum of the students.

Keywords: Spirituality, Spiritual care, Nursing education, Curriculum.

^*Corresponding Author: Abdollah Khorami Markani, PhD Student, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Shariati, Tehran, Iran.

 E-mail: Khorami.Abdolah@gmail.com