vahid monsef kasmaei

Awareness of the changes concerning the clinical guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is essential for nurses. This study aimed at assessing the nurses’ knowledge of the 2015 American Heart Association basic life support guideline algorithm.

In a cross-sectional study, the knowledge of 183 nurses working in emergency departments, intensive care unit (ICU) and coronary care unit (CCU) regarding the 2015 American Heart Association basic life support guideline algorithm was investigated. Data were collected by a 20-item questionnaire regarding the knowledge needed for resuscitation operations as well as the identification of the early stages of cardiac arrest. Nurses with a score of 10 and less were put in the poor group, 11-15 in the fair group, and score of more than 15 in the good group .

Results showed that the highest percentage of the right answer was observed in questions 20 (98.4%), 11 (93.4%), and 1 (88%), while the lowest percentage of the correct answer was found in questions 13 (30.6%), 2 (31.1%), and 3 (32.8%). Mean ± SD of knowledge score was 12.3±2.2. A statistically significant difference was observed between knowledge of ICU nurses with an experience of basic life support educational course and those with no experience of such education. The knowledge score of educated and noneducated nurses was 11.5±2.2 and 13.2±2.5, respectively.

This study indicated that ICU nurses do not have enough knowledge about basic life support of the 2015 American Heart Association guideline. Development of knowledge is one of the important components of professional expansion in nursing education programs.

Pelvic fracture is the second most common cause of death in patients with multiple trauma, after head trauma. The present study was performed with the aim of determining the frequency of genitourinary tract injuries in patients with pelvic fractures referring to Poursina Hospital, Rasht, Iran, so that the initial steps required for treating patients (with pelvic fractures) in the emergency department can be specified.

In this retrospective study, the records of 170 patients with pelvic fractures, who referred to Poursina Hospital in Rasht from the beginning of January 2018 until the beginning of January 2019 were reviewed. Using the prepared checklist and based on the patient's clinical examination by the resident, information including age, sex, level of education, presence or absence of hematuria, type of trauma, and type of pelvic fracture were collected. Data were analyzed using STATA - Se v 13.1 software.

Out of the 170 patients referring to the hospital due to pelvic fracture, 70% were male. The patients’ mean age was 45.02 ± 20.10 years and their mean length of hospital stay was 8.11 ± 7.13 days. Motor vehicle accidents were the most important cause of pelvic fractures and urethral injury. Fifty-five patients (33.4%) with pelvic fractures had a genitourinary tract injury. Hematuria was present in 48 of them, and blood at the tip of the meatus and perineal hematoma were symptoms that were significantly associated with genitourinary tract injury following pelvic fracture.

Considering the relatively high prevalence of genitourinary tract injury in pelvic trauma, it is best to perform a complete examination in all patients who present with high-energy trauma, especially in people with pelvic fractures; and if any of the above-mentioned symptoms are observed, genitourinary tract injuries should be suspected and the location of the injury should be further investigated and treated.

Emergency medical services (EMS) is a critical component of health care system and the forefront of stroke care. The prominent role of EMS in stroke care is timely and accurate diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke and transfer of the patients to stroke centers. The present study aimed to assess the “awareness” and “attitude” of EMS personnel concerning prehospital stroke care based on American Stroke Association (ASA) guideline in Rasht town.

This was an analytical cross-sectional study. The participants, consisted of all EMS personnel (n = 115) in Rasht town in 2012, entered the study based on census method. Awareness and attitude of EMS personnel toward prehospital stroke care were assessed using a questionnaire based on ASA guideline. The questionnaire had two sections. The first part contained demographic data and the second part had multiple choice items (Likert-type scale response anchors) to assess awareness and attitude of the personnel. The questionnaires were filled out by the personnel. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 20. P-value less than 5% was considered significant.

Ninety people participated in this study. The average of age and working experience of participants were 36.84 ± 8.02 and 11.36 ± 5.71, respectively. Most of the participants had bachelor degree (n = 33, 36.7%) and majored in medical emergency (n = 43, 47.8%). Most of them were contract employees (47.8%). Mean scores of awareness and attitude of the personnel were 26.68 (the total number of score = 51) and 32.56 (the total number of score = 80), respectively.

Findings revealed poor awareness and attitude of EMS personnel toward prehospital stroke care based on ASA guideline in