Nursing and Midwifery Studies
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Jan-Mar 2017

Context: Various studies in Iran on the role of menopause and age at menarche in breast cancer reported different results..
The current study aimed to estimate the overall odds ratio and explore the association between early menarche and menopause with breast cancer..
Data Sources: Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar and Iranian databases such as Magiran and SID, breast cancer key journals (Asian pacific journal of cancer prevention, Iranian quarterly journal of breast) and conferences (international breast cancer congresses in Iran, annual breast cancer conferences and seminars in Iran) were searched from 2004 to 2014..
Study Selection: The observational studies in Iran that had reported the relationship between menopause and early menarche with breast cancer were searched. The exposure was menopause and early menarche and the outcome was breast cancer with pathological confirmation..
Data Extraction: Using strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) checklist, quality assessment of the articles and data extraction were performed separately by two authors..
Of 4396 articles, 12 studies with a sample size of 27734, 11 studies with a sample size of 4039 and 20 studies with a sample size of 53417 were analyzed to estimate the overall odds ratio (OR) for early menarche and the standardized mean difference (SMD) of the average menarche age and overall OR of menopause, respectively. A significant relationship was observed between early menarche and breast cancer (OR = 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05, 2.34). The mean menarche age in patients was also significantly lower than in healthy females (SMD = -0.087, 95%CI = -0.151, -0.02). Postmenopausal female had a higher risk for developing breast cancer; however, this relationship was not statistically significant (OR=1.35, 95%CI=0.98, 1.86)..
Menopause and early menarche increase the odds of breast cancer. Therefore, breast cancer prevention and screening programs are needed to reduce the burden of this cancer and improve the quality of females` lives..

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Prophylaxis and treatment of DVT in these patients is very difficult because there are some limitations regarding the use of anticoagulant drugs..
The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of knee-high and thigh-high graduated compression stockings in preventing DVT in patients with hemorrhagic stroke..
In this clinical trial, 88 patients with hemorrhagic stroke were randomly assigned to two groups to receive either thigh-high or knee-high graduated compression stockings as prophylaxis for DVT. The prevalence of DVT was studied using clinical symptoms and Doppler ultrasound. Chi-square and Mann Whitney U tests were used to analyze the data..
In the thigh-high stockings group, 11 patients (26.8%) and in the knee-high stockings group, 18 patients (38.3%) were affected by DVT during the study. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (P = 0.25)..
There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of DVT. Therefore, either knee-high or thigh-high stockings can be used as prophylaxis, depending on patients’ will, cost and ease of use..

The emerging number of cesarean sections among nulliparous women due to high pregnancy-related anxiety is a major concern of maternity care providers. Childbirth preparations enable women to cope with pregnancy anxiety and enhance pregnancy outcomes. Limited studies evaluated the impact of childbirth educational interventions on pregnancy-specific anxiety and pregnancy outcomes..
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of childbirth educational intervention on nulliparous women’s knowledge on childbirth preparation, pregnancy anxiety, and pregnancy outcomes..
A randomized controlled trial approach with a two-group pretest/ posttest design was used among hundred nulliparous third trimester pregnant women. All participants were pretested for their knowledge on childbirth preparation and pregnancy anxiety level using knowledge questionnaire, state trait anxiety inventory, and pregnancy-specific anxiety inventory. The experimental group (n = 50) received three sessions of childbirth education. All participants were post- tested before delivery, and their pregnancy outcomes were noted from labor records. Data were collected from a major maternity hospital in Kerala, India. GLM repeated measures analysis and paired t-test were used for data analysis..
The experimental group demonstrated a significantly higher level of knowledge on childbirth preparation (P Childbirth education significantly reduced pregnancy-specific anxiety and the adverse pregnancy outcomes. The emerging number of cesarean sections on maternal request due to childbirth anxiety could be reduced by empowering nulliparous women through childbirth education..

According to existing theories, supportive cares provided through specific kinds of stimuli affect the growth, development and neurobehavioral functioning of preterm infants. Some of the studies indicate that the fetal heart rate response to mother’s voice begins in the week 32 of pregnancy. However, the fact that whether preterm infant is able to recognize mother’s live voice from the voice of a stranger woman is unknown..
The present study aimed to compare the effects of mother’s voice and a stranger’s voice on the heart rate of preterm infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)..
In a clinical trial study, 66 preterm infants hospitalized in the NICU were randomly assigned into three groups of 22 (i.e. mother’s voice and stranger’s voice groups and a silent group). The infants’ heart rates were recorded by a monitoring system in all of the three groups each five minutes for 30 minutes overall (10 minutes before, during and after the intervention) in three consecutive days. Both one-way and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data in terms of significant differences. Also, the chi-square test and analysis of variance were used to compare the demographic variables of the groups..
The heart rate of the infants in the mother’s voice group, stranger’s voice group and the silent group were 133.99 ± 2.72, 134.26 ± 2.43 and 137.94 ± 2.92 per minutes, respectively (P > 0.588) and changed to 143.42 ± 2.85, 133.22 ± 2.15 and 138.28 ± 2.21, respectively (P = 0.016). Moreover, the infants’ heart rates were respectively 136.87 ± 3.38, 132.68 ± 2.22 and 138.19 ± 2.65 per minutes, 10 minutes after the intervention (P > 0.345)..
No significant difference was found between the mean heart rates of the three groups neither before, nor 10 minutes after the intervention. However, a significant difference was observed among the three groups during the intervention. Therefore, we can conclude that the preterm infants can recall and differentiate their mothers’ voice from the voice of a stranger. Then, an opportunity can be provided during the developmental care for the infants to hear their mothers’ voice..

Transition from intensive care unit to a general ward is a stressful situation for patients. It is believed that a liaison nurse can prevent adverse events during the transfer process..
This study aimed to examine the effect of a liaison nurse on anxiety related to the transportation of patients from the cardiac surgery intensive care unit to a general ward..
This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 68 patients that were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The demographic information and disease profile were collected at the baseline of the study. Liaison nurse services were provided for the experimental group during the transfer process. The Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) was used to measure the patients’ anxiety at the start of the transfer and two hours after admission to the general ward. Independent samples and paired t-tests were used to compare the anxiety mean scores in the experimental and control groups..
Before the intervention, the mean anxiety was 45.61 ± 12.42 and 40.11 ± 10.95 in the experimental and the control groups, respectively (P = 0.057). However, after the intervention, the mean anxiety score was significantly decreased to 33.20 ± 6.22 in the experimental group (P Liaison nurse services affected the patients’ anxiety in the process of transition from the cardiac surgery intensive care unit to the general ward..

The frequency of overweight among children in developing countries is increasing. Parents play a significant role in the successful prevention and treatment of overweight in their children. However, parents will be unable to take effective action against overweight if they cannot correctly perceive their children’s weight status..
The aim of the study was to investigate parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight status and the factors associated with parental misperceptions about their children’s weight status..
In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 886 children aged 6 - 13 years and their fathers or mothers were selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire about the subjects’ sociodemographic characteristics and the parents’ perceptions of their children’s weight status. The children’s anthropometric parameters were measured using standardized equipments. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data..
Approximately 50% of the parents misperceived their children’s weight status, -4.29% overestimated, and 45.26% underestimated it. The frequency of weight status underestimation was high among the parents of overweight and normal weight children (47.65% and 55.08%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the underestimation of weight status by parents was associated with the child’s body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR]: 0.93 and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89 - 0.97), the younger children (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.13 - 1.99), a higher parental educational level (OR: 1.54, 95%CI: 1.02 - 2.33), and irregular BMI screening (OR: 1.34, 95%CI: 1.01 - 1.77)..
Parents often have misperceptions about their children’s weight status. Nurses should help parents to correctly perceive their children’s weight status. This study also emphasizes on the need for periodic follow-up of BMI among children..

As the ability to cope with challenging conditions, resilience results in personal growth and development after experiencing tragic conditions. There are limited studies regarding resilience and its associated factors in elderly patients in Iran. Given that the cultural, social, religious characteristics might affect the level of resilience, we conducted the present study among an elderly population in Kashan..
This study aimed to evaluate the resilience and its associated factors among elderly in Kashan City, Iran..
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 individuals who were selected through a two-stage randomized cluster sampling methods among elderly residents of 8 urban health care facilities in Kashan, Iran. Data collection was performed using a five-part instrument including a demographics questionnaire and abbreviated mental test scale, the Connor-Davidson resilience scale, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and general health questionnaire28. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, t-test, analysis of variance and multivariate regression analysis..
A significant direct association was found between resilience and the self-esteem scores (r = 0.461, P Several factors including personal characteristics, self-esteem and mental health of the elderly can affect their resilience. Choosing some strategies to modify and improve some of the influencing variables may be effective in increasing the resilience in older adults..

Job stress is one of the most common health problems with clinical and psychological consequences, which can affect work ability among emergency nurses. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to shed light on the status of this disorder and its relevance to work ability in nurses in the emergency departments (EDs)..
The current study aimed to determine job stress among emergency nurses and its association with work ability..
This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 in hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. Two hundred nurses who worked in the EDs were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire and special scales to assess their job stress and work ability. T-tests, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to analyze the data..
The mean job stress and work ability scores were 151.09 ± 0.01 and 26.9 ± 8.2, respectively. Fifty-five percent of the subjects had high job stress and fifty-seven percent showed low work ability. A significant indirect correlation was found between job stress and work ability scores in the subjects (P = 0.015)..
Nurses working in the EDs experience a high level of job stress and low work ability. This may decrease the quality of care and patients’ safety. Fulfilling the staff shortage in ED and improving management behaviors are important in this regard..

Spiritual care is central to holistic nursing. It is essential for the well-being of patients and enable them to access their inner strengths and resources that will enhance the overall health. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the concept of spirituality and spiritual care in nursing and to suggest the role of advanced practice nurses in spiritual care. The discussion includes the attributes and importance of spiritual care and integrates the perspectives of patients and nurses, professional nursing organizations, and the nursing theorists to suggest the role of advanced practice nurses..