moloud farmahini farahani

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive disease of the central nervous system that can have a devastating effect on the patient's quality of life. Self-care behaviors is one of the effective factors in preventing MS symptoms and recurrence. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of patient education and telephone follow-up (telenursing) on self-care and quality of life of patients with MS. 

This clinical trial study was conducted on 70 patients with MS in the MS Association of Arak city in 2021. The subjects were selected by convenience sampling method and assigned randomly into intervention and control groups (N=35 per group). Data were collected through Miller's self-care questionnaire and quality of life questionnaire for patients with MS by both groups before and after the intervention. For patients in the intervention group, educational sessions were held one day a week for two weeks, then telephone follow-up was conducted for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed by using SPSS-20 software and chi-square and independent and paired t-test.

The study findings showed before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the average score of self-care and quality of life of the two groups (p<0.05), but there was a significant difference between the mean self-care scores of the patients in the control and experimental groups after the intervention (p=0.031). Also, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the patients' quality of life in the control and experimental groups after the intervention (p=0.028).

The findings of the present study showed that education and telephone follow-up on self-care and quality of life of patients MS is effective.

The disease of Covid-19 has many physical and psychological effects. One of the psychological effects of this disease is anxiety, which can reduce the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to effect of Benson relaxation on the anxiety of patients with covid-19.

This research was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group, which was conducted on 64 patients with covid-19 admitted to Amiralmomenin Hospital in Arak in 1400. After obtaining written consent, the subjects were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the divided into two experimental groups (32 people) and control (32 people. After teaching the Benson relaxation technique, the patients in the experimental group performed relaxation exercises for 15 minutes twice a day for 2 consecutive days. In the control group, there was routine treatment without any intervention. The data gathering tool were demographic questionnaire and the Spielberger ‘s state anxiety questionnaire. The questionnaires were completed before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 with using the descriptive and analytic statistics (chi square test, t-test and independent t) was performed.

The results showed that before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the patients in the two experimental groups (55.21 ± 8.85) and control (54.75 ± 6.62) (P>0.05), but between the average the scores of the experimental group (40.43 ± 9.97) and the control group (52.03 ± 6.35) after the implementation of Benson's relaxation showed a significant difference (P<0.001).

Benson relaxation technique has an effect on the anxiety of corona patients, the use of this method is recommended as a complementary method in reducing the anxiety of these patients.

Hospitalization of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) often causes anxiety and psychological problems in family members. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of communication skills training to nurses on the anxiety in family members of patients admitted to ICUs.

This semi-experimental study was performed in the ICU of Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz in 2017.The population consisted of nurses and family members of patients of admitted to internal and neurology ICU. Internal ICU and neurology departments were randomly divided into two groups. The nurses of the internal ICU department were in the intervention group and the nurses of the neurology department were in the control group. Fifty-five family members of patients from each department were selected through convenience sampling method. A communication skills training workshop was held for the nurses of the intervention group in three consecutive days. Family members’ anxiety was evaluated using Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory the day of admission and the sixth day of hospitalization.

The results showed that there was no significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P=0.38), but there was a statistically significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the intervention and control groups after the intervention (P<0.001). The results showed that there is a significant difference between the average anxiety scores of the intervention group before and after the intervention (P<0.001), but in the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between the average anxiety scores before and after the intervention (P=0.61).

Based on the findings of the present study, communication skills training for nurses reduced the anxiety of patients' family members. Moreover, since the favorable mental state of families has a significant effect on caring for the patient, the use of this method is recommended as an effective strategy in supporting patients' families.

 Physical activity increases mental health, enhances feelings of worth, reduces depression, and increases mental strength. This study aimed to determine the effect of exercise on the self-esteem and happiness of operating room students.

 This research is a quasi-experimental study. The Participants were 80 undergraduate students in the operating room of Arak University of Medical Sciences. After obtaining written consent, the subjects were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (40 students in each group). The experimental group walked 30 minutes per day for eight weeks. The self-esteem and happiness of both groups were measured before and after the intervention using the Rosenberg self-esteem questionnaire and the Oxford happiness questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using an independent t test and paired t test in SPSS v.16 software. 

 The mean scores of self-esteem and happiness before the intervention in the experimental group were 3 ±4.23 and 43.08±19.01, and in the control group were 3.47±4.30 and 39.40±19.48, respectively. After the intervention, The mean scores of self-esteem and happiness were 6 ± 3.85 and 52.16±19.28 in the experimental group and 3.97±4.75 and 41.05±18.80 in the control group. The results showed a significant difference in the experimental group (P <0.05), while in the control group, no significant difference was observed before and after the intervention (P> 0.05).

 Exercise can play an influential role in increasing students’ self-esteem and happiness, thereby promoting their mental health and improving their quality of life. Therefore, it is recommended that sports programs be held at the university to promote happiness and increase students’ self-esteem.

One of the most important aims of rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) is regaining autonomy, which can affect individuals’ Quality of Life (QOL). This study was conducted to understand the experiences of individuals with SCI in terms of regaining autonomy during transition from hospital to community.

The present study was conducted using a qualitative research design. In this study, 15 semi‑structured, in‑depth interviews were conducted with individuals with SCI in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Association of Arak, Iran, from June 2018 to May 2019. The interviews were analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.

Data analysis emerged four core categories of “self‑management” (adaptation to a new life, self‑care, responsibility, and seeking information), “social support” (family and friends’ support, health care providers’ support, and peer support), “access to facilities and resources” (home modification, use of various rehabilitation techniques, and use of mobility equipment), and “spiritual and religious beliefs” (believing in divine destiny and performance of religious rites).

The present study showed that several factors influenced the regaining of autonomy in individuals with SCI. It is important to consider the impact of these factors during transition from hospital to community. Health service providers can use the findings of this research to help these individuals regain their autonomy.

Transition of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) from hospital to home often involves a shift in caregiving responsibility from health‑care providers to family caregivers. Poor care transition may lead to poor care‑related outcomes.

The aim of this study was to explore experiences of care transition from hospital to home among the family caregivers of patients with SCI.

This qualitative study was conducted in 2018–2019. Participants were 17 family caregivers of patients with SCI who were purposively recruited from two specialty SCI care centers in Iran. In‑depth semi‑structured interviews were held for data collection. Interviews were audio‑recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using conventional content analysis.

The following four main categories were developed during data analysis: lack of knowledge (with two subcategories), excruciating care (with two subcategories), emotional burden of caregiving (with three subcategories), and need for support (with two subcategories). The nine subcategories of these main categories were lack of medical and care‑related information, seeking for information, heavy burden of daily caregiving, need for providing professional care at home, feelings of sadness and sorrow, feeling of insufficiency, restriction of life, limited support by family members and relatives, and limited financial support by the government.

Family caregivers of patients with SCI experience many challenges and problems during care transition from hospital to home, which can affect the quality of their care services for their patients. Therefore, they need ongoing support throughout the process of care.

Education is the most effective and economical part of diabetes treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a training program with multimedia software on the knowledge and self-care behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes.
This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial in which 60 patients referred to diabetes clinic at Arak city were divided randomly into experimental (n=30) and control (n=30) groups. The instruments for collecting data were "Summary of Diabetes self-care activities questionnaire" and "knowledge of self-care in patients with diabetes". Data were collected before and 2 months after the intervention in the both groups. Educational program with equal content was applied for both experimental group (self-care program with multimedia software support) & control group (lecture and presentation with PowerPoint). Data analysis was done using SPSS Ver.13.
Implementation of the self-care program with multimedia software support resulted in improvements in patients’ self-care behaviors in the experimental group, whereas these behaviors had not significant changes in the control group after eight weeks. There was a significant difference in the mean score of knowledge in both the experiment and control groups before and after the intervention.
Considering beneficial effects of training program with multimedia software support on the knowledge and self-care behaviors and the importance of this issue, suggested that the patients preferably provide terms of use of educational software for themselves.

Different studies have shown that health level, performance statutes and quality of life in chronic patients are less than the expected level especially in patients with diabetes.. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a self-care program with a multimedia software support on quality of life in patients with diabetes type II..Patients and This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial in which 60 patients who had been referred to the diabetes clinic of Arak city were randomly divided to experimental (n = 30) and control (n = 30) groups. Diabetes Quality of Life Brief Clinical Inventory was used for determining the quality of life. Data were collected before and two months after the intervention for both groups. An educational program with equal content was conducted for both the experimental group (self-care program with multimedia software support in two sessions) and control group (lecture and presentation with PowerPoint in one session). Data analysis was made by the SPSS 16 software.. There were no significant differences between the two groups in mean scores of quality of life before the intervention (P = 0.97) while after the intervention, the difference between the two groups was significant (P = 0.029). Applying the self-care program with software support improved quality of life of the experimental group after the intervention (P < 0.0001) while there was no significant difference in mean score of quality of life in the control group after eight weeks (P = 0.051).. According to the results of this study, the examined method is a simple, cheap, effective and attractive intervention program for patients with diabetes..

Patient satisfaction is essential and must be taken into account when decisions are being made about changes and enhancements to services.. The aim of the current study was to assess patient satisfaction with the medical and nursing services provided to patients admitted to teaching hospitals affiliated to Arak University of Medical Sciences.. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2009. The study population consisted of all patients admitted to the study setting. The instrument consisted of a demographic questionnaire and patient satisfaction questionnaire. Study data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Pearson''s and Spearman''s rho correlation coefficient.. In terms of the medical and nursing care provided, 67% and 69% of the participants were satisfied, respectively. The ‘access to opportune nursing care’ and ‘physician’s manner’ items received 82.7% and 81.7% of scores, respectively. Satisfaction with medical and nursing care was significantly correlated with the participants’ education levels (P < 0.05).. The study showed that patient satisfaction was at an average level, therefor, policy makers in the organizations should consider customer-based feedback and apply various methods to improve it..

Nurses are an important part of the care team that in the care of the elderly plays a major role that their attitudes towards working with older people have an impact on the quality of care. This study was aimed to determine the attitude of teachers and nursing students towards the nursing care of the elderly.

In this descriptive analytical study, all of 116 nursing students of third and fourth year and 22 clinical instructors in Arak University of Medical Sciences participated in this study in 2012. Samples were selected with census method. Data collection instrument was an investigator- made questionnaire that its validity and reliability was established. Scores of attitudes were arranged to three levels of weak, average and good after recoded in terms of accepted scores.

In terms of attitudes toward care of older people, findings showed that teachers (3.69±0.42) have more positive attitude toward caring for the elderly compared to students with an average of 3.45±0.32. This difference was significant (P=0.01). The majority of nursing students (83.6%) and teachers (72.7%) had moderate attitude towards the care of elderly patients.

Although obvious weakness of this approach was less visible; teachers can be a suitable model by knowledge and a change in their attitude for their students and try for induction understanding of health value for all members of society, and create better living conditions for them.

Managers’ self-efficacy and belief to fulfill their managerial performance is considered as an indicator for quality of nursing services, it also determine their needs to participate in continuing education programs and promote awareness.

This study was done for assessing charge nurse 's managerial self-efficacy in teaching hospitals in Arak in 2012.

This study was descriptive - cross. All of the nurses who worked in teaching hospitals in Arak city were samples that 199of them took part in this study. A self-administered questionnaire " assessment charge nurse 's managerial self-efficacy" was designed in the five areas of planning, organization, staffing, directing / leading and controlling / monitoring that measures charge nurse's confidence about their ability to perform managerial functions. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were measured respectively with content validity and test - retest reliability (α=0.76). Data with descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS software.

Data analysis showed that (88.1%) of charge nurses were female; the mean of work experience were (6.45±5.10) years and (44.2%) of them had more than (30) year's old. The majority (62.3 %) of them determined their self-efficacy in moderate level. The highest their efficacy was in the control domain (3.73 ± 0.47) and the lowest their efficacy was in staffing domain (3.32 ± 0.57).

Although in this study there was no weak self-efficacy; yet the current situation is far from the ideal charge nurse self-efficacy. So, nurse managers could be improving charge nurse's performance with proper supportive planning and motivational mechanisms.

Medication administration process is a critical aspect of professional nursing care. Prevention from medical errors needs awareness and appropriate decision-making and performance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of using feedback strategies with an emphasis on medication care standards on knowledge of nursing students and their medication errors.

During two semesters of 2011-2012 academic year، a quasi-experimental study was conducted on 59 nursing students of Arak nursing school، who were passing training course in cardiopulmonary ward. Students were divided into 2 groups of intervention and control. Data-gathering tool was a researcher-made observation checklist about the types and frequency of medication errors which was completed by an observer. In order to evaluate pharmaceutical knowledge، a questionnaire of 26 items was developed by the researcher. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney statistical tests.

There was a significant difference between mean scores of medication errors in both groups before and after intervention. After intervention، the mean score of knowledge was higher in intervention group (19. 86±2. 43) compared to that of control group (13. 70±2. 92). In addition، a statistically significant difference was observed in mean of medication errors between experiment (0. 48±0. 63) and control group (1. 23±1. 04) after intervention (P=0. 001 and Z=3. 20).

There was an enhancement in the students’ awareness of medication care and a reduction in their medication errors. This reveals the positive outcome of giving feedback along with an emphasis on medication care standards and its helpful effects on students’ knowledge and their failures. Therefore، in order to enhance the efficacy of education and to reduce medication errors as well، clinical instructors can enrich the clinical training practices by choosing proper programs designed in accordance with objectives and educational contents.

Mental health is one of the most important factors in the promotion and development of people، especially in students. Studies show that there are different percentages of students with a variety of disorders and psychological problems. The purpose of this study is the effect of prayer on mental health of nursing students in the second year. This is quasi-experimental study with two groups of pre-post test method. All second year nursing students (n=58) with census methods were randomly assigned to two groups of intervention (n = 31) and control (n = 27) group. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) was used for data collection. In the intervention group، Tavassol prayer was recite twice a week for 4 weeks. Mental health was assessed before and one month after intervention for two groups. Data analyzed using SPSS ver16software and tests of mean، standard deviation، paired and independent t-tests. the paired t test determined that there was no significant difference in scores of mental health before and after intervention in the intervention group (P=0. 19). But determined significant differences in rates of mental health before and after the intervention group for anxiety and depression scale (P<0. 05). the paired t test determined that there was no significant difference in scores of mental health before and after intervention in the control group (p>0. 05). Tavassol Prayer had an impact on the mental health in anxiety and depression subscales; it is suggested that interested researchers do studies with direct supervision on reciting prayers in the groups in order to add to the findings.

Instructors’ leadership styles and characteristics are affected on learning and clinical experiences’ students. If situational leadership model used by nurse instructors effectively, it would be applied as a way for overcoming difficulties and obstacles in clinical education.

The aim of this study was to assessing the level of adaptability nurse instructors’ leadership style in clinical education.

This study was descriptive cross-sectional that was done in 2010 in nursing-midwifery school in Arak city. Data were gathered by “Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire“and nursing student’s “Readiness level questionnaire“. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) in order were (α=0.88 and α=0.76). All 15 clinical educators and 186 nursing students (11 people in the former, 2nd year 71, 3th year 76, and in the fourth year; 28 people) were selected to complete questionnaires. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS 13 software.

findings showed that nursing instructors were 13.3% male and 86.7% female. Their mean of work experiences were 5.5 years. Also, nursing students were 35.5% male and 64.5% female that their mean of age were 21.18 years. Findings showed that the selling leadership style and then delegating were as the dominant styles of nurse instructors. The majority of nurse instructors (46.8%) had moderate adaptability and 23.7% of them had low.

The ability nurse instructors must be improve for assessing ability and willingness of students for performing the tasks and skills in clinical practicum correctly and their selection the appropriate leadership style. Application scientific principles of management and leadership especially situational leadership would be improve professional development for students.