Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Donated Milk and their Socio-demographic Predictors in Healthcare Providers in Tabriz, 2021: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Donated milk is the best choice for infants who cannot receive breast milk from their mothers. Researchers in this study evaluated the knowledge and attitude of healthcare providers regarding milk-donation and examined their socio-demographic predictors in Tabriz-Iran, 2021. Methods: In this cross-sectional analytic study, the total sample size consisted of 535 healthcare providers including 272 nurses and midwives working at maternal hospitals and 263 healthcare providers working at healthcare-centers. Census-sampling method was used during October 2020 to February 2021, and data collection tools included socio-demographic, knowledge and attitude questionnaires. Pearson-correlation test, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and adjusted general linear model were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 16. Results: The mean (SD) of the knowledge score was 12.04±4.30 (score range of 0-22) and that of the attitude score was 134.27±20.23 (score range of 42-210). Results of general linear model was adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics and showed that predictors of knowledge variable were associated with having prior experience of breastfeeding another infant (P=0.006) and encouraging others to breastfeed (P=0.008); also, the predictor of attitude variable was aligned with encouraging others to breastfeed (P<0.001). Conclusions: The findings of this study affirm that knowledge and attitude of healthcare providers were moderately influential for breast milk donation. Since they could play a responsible role in providing education, positive atmosphere for specialized training for the general public, the efforts to improve their knowledge and attitudes can contribute to acceptability of a milk-bank in the community and reduction of the rate of neonatal mortality in Iran.

Design of a Palliative Care Program for Nursing Students in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Mixed-Method Study.

This study introduces an innovative design for a palliative care program by nursing students in an internship in a neonatal intensive care unit. An embedded mixed-method approach simultaneously collected quantitative and qualitative data. Themes identified were supporting and encouraging palliative care, changing the nursing culture, and promoting quality of care. Teaching palliative care during this internship rotation helped promote quality care by the students, with positive results for infants and their families, and empowerment of the students through increased knowledge and awareness of human needs for high-quality nursing care.

Internet gaming disorder and its relationship with behavioral disorder and mother's parenting styles in primary school students according to gender in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The problem of students' gaming addiction has been related to the individual student's characteristics and the influence of family environment. Researchers aimed to investigate if and how internet gaming disorder (IGD) of the elementary school boys and girls is related to behavioral disorder and their mother's parenting style in Iran. METHODS: This is a descriptive correlational study, involving 657 fifth and sixth-grade elementary school students in 2019. Researchers used a multistage stratified random sampling of students, their parents and their teachers. Data were collected using internet gaming disorder questionnaire (IGD 20), Rutter teacher behavioral disorder questionnaire and Baumrind Parenting Styles questionnaire (PSI). Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version16 for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient test. RESULTS: Findings showed that IGD prevalence was 5.9% among primary school students with significant relationship between IGD and behavioral disorder among all participants (r = 0.23, p = 0.04); although it was insignificant among boys (r = 0.13, p = 0.11). Also the relationship between IGD and mother's parenting style was significant in the total sample (r = 0.12, p = 0.03), in particular for girls and their mothers (r = 0.2, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate the importance of family and parental involvement in prevention and management of IGD chiefly among girls. Healthcare professionals will benefit from knowing the problematic consequences of online gaming among school-age children and try to promote safe and healthy online behavior supported by a supervised family environment.

The most important risk factors affecting mental health during pregnancy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women comprise a vulnerable population owing to the changes they experience in various stages that affect their mental health. Mental health problems affects nearly one-fifth of pregnant women during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 focus on maternal and child health and specify that overall health cannot be reached without mental health. AIMS: The aim of this comprehensive systematic review was to evaluate research evidence on the determinants of antenatal mental health disorders among Iranian women. METHODS: Using a systematic literature review of observational studies in English and Farsi we focused on Iranian women being evaluated for the determinants of antenatal mental health problems. PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Scientific Information Databases (SID), Global Medical Article Limberly, Iranian Biomedical Journal and the Iranian Journal Database were independently searched to identify articles published during 2000-2016. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies met the inclusion criteria and the results showed a significant relationship between antenatal mental health risks and variables such as lack of social support, marital status, domestic violence, unintended pregnancy and socioeconomic status. The paucity of high quality research evidence limited proper evidenced-based planning and generating results deemed essential to address antenatal mental health issues for Iranian pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that socioeconomic status and marital quality are the most important risk factors for disturbing mental health among Iranian pregnant women.

Coping mechanism against high levels of daily stress by working breastfeeding mothers in Iran.

OBJECTIVES: Breastfeeding mothers returning to work undertake multiple conflicting roles at home and work that can result in high levels of stress. Exploring coping skills amongst these mothers can help in planning useful programmes to promote family wellbeing. This study aims to explore the experiences of working breastfeeding mothers and their coping mechanism against high levels of daily stress. METHODS: In this qualitative study, we described the experiences of 20 Iranian breastfeeding mothers through in-depth and semi-structured interviews. All interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Two main themes emerged as follows: 1) self-management with subthemes of a) attitude reconstruction, b) order and planning, c) creating a boundary between work and family and d) reprioritising life affairs; and 2) seeking help with subthemes of a) family member support, b) childcare facilities and c) spirituality. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that women need support from family members and family-friendly policies at the workplace. Breastfeeding mothers may benefit from educational programmes that focus on effective coping strategies.

Dealing with Chronic Illness: Experiences of Iranian Families of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis-A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Today family members are providing care and support to each other during illness. In particular, in chronic illness, such as multiple sclerosis, the families are more involved in caring for and supporting their patients, so they use several strategies to cope with this situation. The purpose of this study was to explore the coping strategies in family caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis in Iran. METHODS: This is a qualitative study that was conducted through 18 family caregivers of persons with multiple sclerosis. A purposeful sampling method was used. Data were collected through semistructured and in-depth interviews conducted in Multiple Sclerosis Society and hospitals of Tabriz in Iran. The collected data was analyzed according to qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Five main categories were elicited from interviews: "using spirituality," "living with hope," "experiencing persistence and stability," "seeking support," and "seeking alternative treatments." Conclusion. The study findings can help to inform the support given to families to help them cope with the effects of caring for someone with multiple sclerosis. Health system managers and professionals by using these results are able to support patients and their families appropriately in order to improve their quality of life and alleviate the complications of disease.

Addressing barriers to health: Experiences of breastfeeding mothers after returning to work.

Breastfeeding mothers returning to work often feel exhausted as they must feed on demand and attend to family and employment responsibilities, leading to concerns for their personal health. This study was prompted by a desire to understand and identify barriers to mothers' health. We describe the experiences of 12 Iranian breastfeeding and employed mothers through in-depth and semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Two main themes emerged: (i) working and mothering alone and (ii) facing concerns about health. The findings highlight the need for a support system for breastfeeding mothers within the family and in the workplace. Family-friendly policies targeting mothers' and employers' views are needed to support working mothers and promote breastfeeding.

Towards an understanding of clinical nurses challenges that leads intention to leave

Abstract Objective: Clinical nursing is the most important feature of the nursing profession and similar to the global community. The study objective was to identify and describe the challenges and why Iranian nurses leave their profession. Methods: Qualitative methods were applied to describe nursing practice challenges through in-depth and semi-structured interview of 16 Iranian nurses with 2 to 15 years of work experience in 2014 by asking: “Please tell me about your challenges at work and why nurses are leaving the nursing profession?” Obtained data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Analyzed data revealed four thematic categories as 1) unfriendly workplace, 2) lack of opportunity for professional advancement, 3) work stress, and 4) ethical issues. Conclusion: Recognizing nursing challenges in clinical setting can help faculty in academia and administrators in healthcare institutions to develop policies to reduce pitfalls and prevent attrition.

The relations between marital quality, social support, social acceptance and coping strategies among the infertile Iranian couples.

OBJECTIVE: Researchers aimed to assess marital quality among the infertile couples undergoing assistive reproductive treatments and their coping strategies, social support and social acceptance. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 133 infertile couples undergoing assisted reproductive treatments were assessed for marital satisfaction, conflict resolution and marital communication, and coping strategies, using a self-report questionnaire. Also, the level of perceived social support and social acceptance as moderator variables were measured. Data were analyzed using independent t test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regressions, after adjusting for age, cause of infertility and the duration of infertility. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the use of various coping strategies between couples. The correlation for marital satisfaction, marital communication and conflict resolution by using some coping strategy and the level of perceived social acceptance were significantly positive among women. Also, marital relationships had a positive and significant correlation with the level of perceived social support for men. But, unlike women, the couples' scales were significant for the perceived social support. The use of different coping strategies by men and women had a positive correlation with their perceived social support. CONCLUSION: Coping strategies used by the infertile couples had an important role in different aspects of their married life in search of marital satisfaction, and intermediates by the perceived social acceptance for women and social support for men.

Sociopolitical development of the nursing profession in Iran: a historical review.

Significant sociopolitical changes in recent decades have not only influenced the nursing profession, but also the entire Iranian healthcare system. This study describes the historical evolution of the nursing profession within a sociopolitical context. This historical review of unpublished and published literature endorsed personal accounts of historic events by 14 of the oldest nurses in Iran chosen through purposive sampling method, as they shared their nursing experiences. Individual recollections were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews and later analyzed through oral history analysis method. From the results, the 3 categories of the White Revolution, the Islamic Revolution, and Iran-Iraq war and 8 subcategories emerged, where participants identified factors that fundamentally changed the Iranian nursing profession. The nursing profession continues to develop and help revise policies to improve the healthcare system and quality of care. The findings of this study facilitate the better understanding of the influence of sociopolitical events on the nursing profession and guide the revision or development of new healthcare policies.

Experience of Menarche Among Jordanian Adolescent Girls: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Menarche is a significant physical and emotional experience for adolescent girls, especially in certain cultures, where it is viewed as a rite of passage, affecting the meaning of lived experiences. The purpose of the study was to explore the menarche experience among Jordanian adolescent girls when they reach menarche. DESIGN: Interpretive phenomenological analysis. SETTING: Az-Zarqa City, Jordan. PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A homogenous sample of 7 Jordanian girls, ages 12-14 years, who had their first menstruation within the past 6 months. Participants were asked to narrate their experiences through journal writing; their reports to be used for interpretive phenomenological analyses by 2 independent researchers, to ensure the findings' trustworthiness. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged as: (1) menstruation as a forbidden topic; (2) keeping the "topic" to oneself; and (3) no more secrets. Each theme was characterized according to distinct sets of emotions and knowledge-seeking patterns because Jordanian culture and Islamic teachings had greatly influenced the girls' experience of menarche. Menarche was considered a social taboo; not to be openly discussed. At the first signs of menarche, participants were shocked, scared, confused, and anxious. They had limited information and support from their family or school system. Therefore, they relied on self-perceptions about menarche, and viewed the experience of menstruation with profound negative emotions. Participants hesitated to share their experiences with their mothers and close friends. They felt alone and experienced their emotional turmoil in isolation and without support. CONCLUSION: Jordanian adolescent girls need formal health education to understand and manage the reproductive changes that occur in their bodies.

Enhancing Knowledge, Beliefs, and Intention to Screen for Prostate Cancer via Different Health Educational Interventions: a Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men globally, constituting the sixth leading cause of cancer related death in males, and the eleventh leading cause of death from cancer in all age groups. In Jordan, prostate cancer is the third most common cancer in the male population, accounting for one third (6.2%) of cancer related deaths and in 2010 alone, 218 (9.4%) new cases were identified. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of different health education interventions aimed at enhancing knowledge, beliefs and intention to screen for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search from January 2000 to April 2015 was conducted using the key words "prostate disease," "educational program," "knowledge," "prostate cancer," "demographic factors and prostate cancer," "knowledge and prostate cancer," "education for patients with prostate cancer," "factors that affect intention to screen," "knowledge, beliefs, and intention to screen for prostate cancer," "impact of prostate educational program on beliefs," and "impact of educational program on intention to screen." RESULTS: Majority of studies reviewed indicated that men had low levels of knowledge regarding prostate cancer, and mild to moderate beliefs with good intention to screen for prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Most studies indicated that men's knowledge levels about prostate cancer were poor and they had mild to moderate beliefs and intentions to screen for prostate cancer. Therefore, development of an assessment strategy based on the Health Belief Model seems essential. An effectively designed and implemented educational program can help identify the needs and priorities of the target population.

The image of nursing, as perceived by Iranian male nurses.

The stereotypical public image of nursing is a major concern for male nurses around the world. In this study, we explored how Iranian male nurses perceived the public view of nurses, and their perceptions of themselves. A qualitative descriptive design and content analysis were used to obtain data from 18 purposely-selected male hospital nurses with a baccalaureate nursing degree in Tabriz, Iran. Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed. Two main themes emerged: (i) the outsider's view of nursing, which referred to the participants' perceptions of their public image; and (ii) the insider's view, which related to the male nurses' perceptions of themselves. Results included personal transition into a positive professional self-image through the educational process, and continued public perception of nursing as a female profession ill-suited for a man. Strategies to improve the insider's and outsider's views of nursing are listed to help recruit and retain more Iranian male nurses.

Involuntary and persistent environmental noise influences health and hearing in Beirut, Lebanon.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the effects of involuntary and persistent noise exposure on health and hearing among Lebanese adults in Beirut, Lebanon, where people are exposed to noise from construction sites, power generators, honking cars, and motorcycles. METHODS: Using a descriptive and exploratory design with mixed methods, participants were surveyed, interviewed, and tested for hearing while street noise levels were measured near their residents and work places. RESULTS: Self-reports of 83 Lebanese adult, who lived and worked in Beirut, helped identify common patterns in experiences such as irritability, anger, headaches, and sleep disturbances due to noise annoyance. Of those tested, 30% suffered from high-frequency hearing impairment. Our results showed that environmental sound dB had increased by 12% and sound intensity by 400% above the maximum standard level when compared to the WHO report of 1999. CONCLUSION: Environmental noise contributes to premature hearing loss and potentiates systemic diseases among Lebanese.

Perceived ethical values by Iranian nurses.

Nursing, a scientific and practical discipline, faces continuing challenges of finding new direction in order to decipher its core values and develop current ethical codes for nursing practice. In 2009-10, 28 nurses were purposely selected and interviewed using a semi-structured format in focus groups and individually. Thematic Content Analysis helped explore the perception of Iranian nurses on ethical values in patient care. Seven major themes emerged: respect for dignity, professional integrity, professional commitment, developing human relationships, justice, honesty, and promoting individuals and the nursing profession. Iranian nurses revealed a unique and culture-based set of ethical values. This study found that Iranian nurses place a greater emphasis on preserving the dignity of those accompanying the patient and in showing regard for patients' religious beliefs in a gender appropriate environment.

Gender influence on nursing education and practice at Aga Khan university school of nursing in Karachi, Pakistan.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was three fold: (1) increase the understanding of gender sensitivity in nursing education and practice; (2) explore male and female nursing student and faculty perceptions on effective classroom and clinical teaching; and (3) clarify the necessity of both bedside teaching and role modeling in a Pakistani nursing program. DESIGN: Five successive focus groups were held to explore perceptions and views of twenty undergraduate, four graduates, and five Pakistani faculty members through guided interviews. Thematic analysis of transcribed data from observation and shorthand notes reached saturation after two rounds of transcription. Triangulated thematic analysis corroborated faculty and student perceptions. FINDINGS: Data extracted two major categories and four themes. The classroom teaching themes emerged as (1) feeling misplaced and disapproved, and (2) gendered teaching style. The clinical teaching themes were identified as (1) feeling bewildered, and (2) preferences for bedside teaching and role modeling. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings highlighted the need for gender sensitivity and cultural awareness in teaching and practice of nursing. Innovative teaching strategies can effectively resolve the contributing barriers to learning among nursing students. IMPLICATION FOR PRACTICE: Awareness of gender differences among the students in addition to faculty enthusiasm communicates positive professional attitudes. Role modeling at bedside requires balancing essential cultural issues in nursing education and practice.

Therapeutic tears and postpartum blues.

A qualitative study of 9 American women explored personal experiences with postpartum blues in relation to crying, breastfeeding, lactation suppression, and prior pregnancy loss. A greater understanding of postpartum rituals and cultural aspects benefits the nursing profession in order to better educate women in childbearing years.

The healing effects of crying.

How does crying improve and enhance the emotional state? A personal, life-changing event experienced by the author helped postulate an answer to this question. This article explores tear production, crying across cultures and eras, the gender factor in tears and crying, and the author's ethnographic study of Pakistani men and women's views of crying in terms of its spiritual, cultural, and psychosomatic ramifications. Greater understanding of natural human emotions and the language of tears benefits the nursing profession and gives a better understanding of the phenomenon of crying.