نشریه پرستاری ایران
پیاپی 120 (آبان 1398)

The progressive and debilitative nature of multiple sclerosis (MS) affects various aspects of the life of the patient and their caregivers. Care provision to MS patients may give rise to death anxiety and decrease the quality of life of the caregivers. The present study aimed to assess the correlation between death anxiety and quality of life in the caregivers of patients with MS.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 200 caregivers of the MS patients referring to the MS Society for the Protection of Patients in Tehran, Iran in 2018, who were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using Templer death anxiety scale and quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 21 using independent t-test, Pearson's correlation-coefficient, and Scheffe test.

The mean age of the subjects was 40.39±11.75 years. Among the caregivers, 58.5% were male, and 40% were female. The mean scores of death anxiety and quality of life in the caregivers of the patients were 5.92±3.82 and 55.42±14.82, respectively. A significant, reverse correlation was observed between death anxiety and quality of life (r=0.42; P<0.05). In addition, death anxiety was significantly correlated with the relation of the caregiver to the patient (P=0.001), duration of patient care (P=0.036), occupation status (P=0.021), and insurance type (P=0.006). On the other hand, quality of life was significantly correlated with age (P=0.032), education level (P<0.001), income status (P<0.001), occupation status (P<0.001), and insurance type (P<0.001). 

According to the results, increased death anxiety in the caregivers of MS patients was associated with reduced quality of life. Considering the difficulties and disability experiences of these caregivers, it is recommended that patient care and caregivers be highlighted in the fields of nursing management and nursing education through the constant training of nurses.

Despite the rapid prevention, diagnosis, and management of stroke, the patients are still at a high risk of complications. From hospital admission to discharge and at home, liaison nurses help the patients with the complicated care issues caused by stroke. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the performance of liaison nurses on the incidence of motor complications in stroke patients after discharge from the hospital.

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 patients in a hospital in Shiraz, Iran during 2016-2017. The patients were selected via purposive convenience sampling and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. Before discharge, the patients in the intervention group were examined, and a care and educational program was provided by the liaison nurse based on their needs and to prevent the incidence of motor complications (e.g., constipation, fall, bedsore). The educational contents were handed to the patients or their caregivers in the form of a booklet. If needed, the nurse would attend at the patient's bedside at home to address their problems, and the contact between the nurse and patients was maintained. The patients in the control group received routine care and were discharged. Two weeks and two months after discharge, the patients were followed-up in terms of the prevalence of bedsore or fall based on self-report or reports provided by their families. In addition, the prevalence of constipation was assessed based on the Rome 3 criteria. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square.

The two groups were homogenous in terms of the mean age and stroke criteria, and the patients were distributed homogenously in terms of gender based on the Braden and Mors criteria. No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the frequency of bedsore (P=0.068), while they were significantly difference in terms of constipation (P<0.001) and fall (P=0.041).

According to the results, the program involving the liaison nurse for the monitoring of stroke patients based on their individual needs after discharge could effectively decrease the incidence of constipation and fall following stroke.

Sleep is a restorative process for the psyche and body, and lack of sufficient sleep with proper quality causes various physical and mental disorders in individuals over time. Quality of life is the perception of an individual toward their life conditions within the cultural beliefs and value system of the society. The present study aimed to determine the association between sleep quality and quality of life in the operating room technologists employed in the teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences. 

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 134 operating room technologists engaged in the teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, who were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using multivariate analysis (MANOVA) and Pearson's correlation-coefficient.

A significant, direct correlation was observed between the quality of life and sleep quality (P<0.05). However, sleep quality and quality of life had no significant associations with demographic variables (P>0.05).

According to the results, increased sleep quality was associated with the higher quality of life of the operating room technologists. Considering the correlation between these variables, authorities must improve sleep quality and quality of life through implementing educational workshops to provide training on the adjustment of sleep and enhancement of quality of life for operating room technologists.

Secondary traumatic stress could be described as an occupational hazard for those providing care to victims of trauma. Nurses in psychiatric wards are faced with severe and complicated challenges in the workplace to provide mental health care. Resilience and the associated behaviors help overcome negative experiences and turn them into positive experiences. The present study aimed to investigate secondary traumatic stress and resilience in the nurses at the psychiatric medical centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Science in 2018.

This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on 200 nurses engaged in the psychiatric medical centers affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The participants were selected via stratified proportional allocation and convenience sampling. Data were collected using the secondary traumatic stress questionnaire and resilience scale. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16.

In total, 30%, 21.5%, and 26% of the nurses reported high and severe, moderate, and mild secondary traumatic stress. The mean score of secondary stress was 37.64 ± 10.03 69.71 ± 13.63.

According to the results, the mean score of secondary stress was moderate in the nurses, while the mean score of resilience was above the median of the questionnaire. The adoption of strategies such as the reduction of workload, increased staff oversight, and improvement of staff support are recommended for the management of secondary traumatic stress. Furthermore, the resilience of psychiatric nurses could be enhanced through proper physical and mental health management and promotion of mental health in these healthcare providers.

Provision of proper care by nurses without considering their prosocial tendencies is not possible. This concept is an important component of nursing care quality. The present study aimed to determine the prosocial tendencies among nurses.

This cross-sectional, descriptive study was on 200 nurses employed in four teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. The participants were selected via quota sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and validated and reliable prosocial tendencies scale by Carlo et al. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 19 using descriptive and analytical statistics.

The mean total score of prosocial tendencies in the nurses was 88.9±15.74. Among the prosocial tendencies, unknown dimensions (3.81±0.88), critical dimension (3.72±0.92), emotional dimension (3.72±1.1), compliant dimension (3.68±0.78), and altruistic tendencies (3.15±0.82) had the highest to the lowest mean scores, respectively. No significant correlations were observed between the demographic data and prosocial tendencies.

Nursing managers must recognize the elements involved in the prosocial tendencies of nurses in order to promote the quality of nursing care. Among these tendencies, the strengthening of the altruistic tendency for nurses should be more prominent, which could be achieved through implementing workshops in this regard.

Improvement of work engagement in the nursing workplace required the identification of the influential factors for their enhancement and modification if necessary. Perceived social support is one of these factors. The present study aimed to determine the correlation between the work engagement of nurses and perceived social support.

This cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study was conducted at the teaching hospitals in Birjand, Iran in 2018. In total, 120 nurses were selected via multistage sampling. Data were collected using Utrecht work engagement questionnaire and Zimet social support. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation-coefficient, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and independent t-test.

Positive correlations were observed between vigor, attraction (r=0.20; P=0.02), and total score of work engagement with the family aspect of social support (r=0.20; P=0.02), while the correlations were not considered statistically significant. In addition, a significant association was observed between dedication (P=0.02) and gender, and the female nurses achieved higher scores. Significant correlations were also denoted between vigor (P=0.03), dedication (P=0.02), and the total score of work engagement (P=0.02) with the workplace in the hospital.

According to the results, perceived social support from the family and work engagement of the nurses were weakly associated. In addition, the female nurses had higher score in the dedication dimension of work engagement compared to the male nurses. Our findings could be provided to nursing managers and supervisors in order to raise their awareness regarding the work engagement of nurses and its influential factors, so that they could promote motivational work environments to enhance the work engagement of nurses.

Background &

Schizophrenia is a severe psychological disorder, which adversely affects the life quality of the patients and their caregivers. The present study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the schizophrenia caregiver quality of life questionnaire (S-CGQoL).
Materials &

This psychological study was conducted on all the caregivers of schizophrenia patients in Isfahan, Iran in 2018. In total, 200 caregivers of schizophrenia patients were selected via continuous sampling from three mental hospitals and three nursery centers during three months. Data were collected using the S-CGQoL by Richieri et al. (2011), which was translated in this study, and the World Health Organization (WHO) quality of life (WHOQOL) questionnaire by Skevington et al. (2004). In addition, 13 participants were selected to assess the retest reliability, and the reliability of the S-CGQoL was confirmed based on Cronbach's alpha.

The results of the conformational factorial analysis indicated significant correlations between the factorial load of all the items in the S-CGQoL with the related factor (P<0.05) with relatively appropriate efficiency indices. Moreover, the results of internal reliability indicated the Cronbach's alpha range of 0.54-0.92 in various sub-indices of the questionnaire. The results of the retest reliability showed that Pearson's correlation-coefficients for all the sub-indices of the S-CGQoL were significant in the two performed stages (P<0.05), with the overall correlation-coefficient of 0.96. In addition, the results of concurrent validity the sub-indices of the S-CGQoL with WHOQOL with the correlation-coefficient was 0.56. Therefore, the two scales had a potent, inverse association.

According to the results, the Persian version of the S-CGQoL had proper validity and reliability and could be used for the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in the healthcare centers in Iran.

Background &

Evidence suggests that the prevalence of chronic diseases (e.g., coronary heart disease) is on the rise in elderly patients, which is associated with increased psychological complications, such as hospital anxiety and depression. The present study aimed to investigate hospital anxiety and depression in the elderly patients with chronic heart failure in Firooz Abadi Teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2018-2019.
Materials &

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 hospitalized elderly patients with chronic heart failure, who were selected via continuous sampling in 2019. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the abbreviated mental test score (AMTS) for cognitive assessment, and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). The data collection tools were completed for each subject via face-to-face interviews with the researcher (15-20 minutes). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 16 using descriptive and inferential statistics, independent t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the significance level of P≤0.05.

The majority of the patients (64.8%) were aged 60-74 years, and 52% and 48% of the patients were male and female, respectively. The mean score of anxiety was 1.52±1.14, and the mean score of depression was 2.18±1.51, which indicated the normal levels of hospital anxiety and depression. Significant correlations were observed between hospital anxiety and depression with gender, so that the female elderly patients had significantly higher hospital anxiety and depression scores compared to the male elderly patients (P=0.024).

According to the results, hospital anxiety and depression in the elderly patients with chronic heart failure had low levels. Since even low levels of these conditions could disrupt the interactions and care process between healthcare providers and elderly patients, evidence-based data could be used to promote the quality of standard nursing care in the planning of elderly-friendly hospitals by healthcare managers and policymakers.