Communication and cooperation challenges in the online classroom in the COVID-19 era: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of COVID-19 affected all aspects of life, including education. Communication and interaction are vital in any form of education. This study explained health profession educators' and students' experiences regarding the challenges of communication and cooperation in exclusively online classrooms during the COVID-19 era. METHODS: The present descriptive explanatory qualitative study examined health profession educators' and students' experiences with exclusively online classrooms during the COVID-19 era. They were included in the study by purposive sampling. In-depth and semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to collect data. The content analysis presented by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data. The present study employed four strength criteria: credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability. RESULTS: The results of the present study included communication and cooperation challenges in exclusively online classrooms related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two themes emerged from 400 open codes: lack of students' socialization and communication-related concerns, which each had subcategories. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of students' socialization and communication problems were identified as the participants' main experiences. Defects in teacher training due to the sudden transition to virtual education, acquiring a professional identity that is possible in in-person education was also flawed. The participants experienced challenges in their class activities, leading to a decrease in trust, a lack of motivation to learn from students, and teachers' teaching. Policymakers and authorities should adopt new tools and techniques to improve exclusively virtual education outcomes.

Exploring the barriers related to the healthcare system in implementing quality intravenous chemotherapy: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore barriers related to the healthcare system (HCS) in implementing quality intravenous (IV) chemotherapy (CT) from the perspectives of cancer patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs). METHODS: Using an explanatory descriptive qualitative method, this study was conducted in 2019. Forty-one participants (6 patients, 5 family caregivers, 12 oncologists, and 18 nurses) were selected through purposive sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews and field notes were conducted to collect the data, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Lincoln and Guba's criteria of rigor were employed to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. RESULTS: Data analysis showed two categories, each with three subcategories: barriers related to healthcare professionals (HCPs) comprised of "educational and communication barriers," "failure to establish trust," and "unskilled healthcare professionals"; barriers related to the health care system management (HCSM), which consists of "inadequate physical and care infrastructures to provide services," "lack of support in the disease trajectory from diagnosis to rehabilitation," and "mismanagement of CT wards/procedures." CONCLUSION: The identification and removal of the barriers related to HCPs and HCSM in routine care are crucial. Education of and communication with cancer patients and their family caregivers are two important pillars in the quality of intravenous chemotherapy (IV CT) and this education and communication should be based on individualized care and tailored to the unique needs of each patient.

The Effect of Monovalent Influenza Vaccine on the Risk of Hospitalization and All-Cause Mortality According to the Results of Randomized Clinical Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In recent years, various studies have been conducted to investigate the role of the influenza vaccine in reducing the risk of hospitalization and mortality; however, the results of these studies are clearly contradictory. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the effect of monovalent flu vaccines on the risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Methods: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) studies published in databases (Web of Science (ISI), Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar) from 1980 to Dec 2022. All analyzes were performed by Stata15 statistical software and the significance level in this study was considered 0.05. Results: In the initial search, 375 articles were retrieved which, considering the study criteria, finally 8 RCT were included in the meta-analysis of the effects of monovalent Flu vaccine on the risk of hospitalization, and 10 RCT on the risk of all-cause mortality. Based on the results of meta-analysis, the overall Odds Ratio (OR) of hospitalization is equal to 0.71 (95% CI: 0.56-0.90; P <0.001) and the overall OR of all-cause mortality is equal to 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68-0.98; P=0.033). There was no publication bias in the study of the effect of monovalent flu vaccine on the risk of hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Conclusion: Getting the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization by 29% and the risk of overall death by 18%. Therefore, it may be promising to receive this vaccine as a preventive intervention for deaths and hospitalizations.

Individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown: Family members' experiences.

Introduction: Understanding the psychological and behavioral reactions to emerging infectious diseases is crucial in managing outbreaks. This study sought to explain family members' experiences of individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative research was conducted by content analysis in Lorestan province, Iran. The purposive sampling was continued by achieving data saturation, reaching 29 samples. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to family members who stayed at home during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The data was collected from October 2020 to February 2021. Content analysis presented by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings of this study contained 100 codes and five categories with its respective subcategories. Categories included taking advantage of opportunities (increasing intimate communication in the family; compensation and progress), coping mechanisms (creating fun and creativity at home; trying to spend leisure time; sports, reading books, music; increasing patience and tolerance; and forced Internet communications), social aspects (positive and negative), outcomes (gratefulness, pleasure, and happiness; concerns; psychological aspects; and damage and challenge to the foundation of families), and economic aspects (cost savings; recession/job loss/financial downturn; and low-income families' unaffordability to prepare electronics for education). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and its induced-lockdown have affected various aspects of family life and its pros and cons have been presented by the participants. Policymakers must design and implement programs in line with this change in the public's lifestyles so that families are not damaged.

Effect of rosa damascene aromatherapy on anxiety and sleep quality in cardiac patients: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety and sleep disorders are the most common disorders of patients admitted to the cardiac care units. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Rosa damascene fragrance on anxiety and sleep quality of hospitalized patients in the cardiac care units. METHODS: In this Randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who had the inclusion criteria were conveniently sampled and randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Patients were enrolled in the study 24 h after hospitalization. Those diagnosed with dysrhythmia, ACS, and CHF were included. Patient recruitment lasted from October 2018 to December 2019. In these groups, in addition to the routine care, the intervention was performed for three consecutive nights from 22:00 to 06:00. In the experimental group, patients inhaled five drops of Rosa damascene essence 40% in distilled water, while in the control group, patients inhaled five drops of distilled water as placebo. In both groups, anxiety and sleep quality were examined before and after three consecutive nights using the St. Mary's Hospital Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SMHSQ) and the Spiel Berger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the use of Rosa damascene aroma in patients hospitalized in the cardiac care unit significantly reduces anxiety and increases the improvement of sleep quality in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The significance level for anxiety and sleep quality was (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy with Rosa damascene reduces anxiety and increases the sleep quality of patients hospitalized in the cardiac care unit. Therefore, along with other treatment measures, Rosa damascene can be used as a complementary method to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.

The Perceived Health Needs of Primiparous Mothers Referring to Primary Health Care Centers: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Since the first step in meeting the health needs of primiparous women involves understanding their conditions, the present study aimed to determine the health needs of primiparous women from their own viewpoints. METHODS: This study had a qualitative approach based on the conventional qualitative content analysis method, in which the purposive sampling method was used. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews. Data saturation was achieved by interviewing 12 participants. To ensure the study was rigorous, the four criteria of credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were taken into account. RESULTS: The findings of this study consisted of 150 codes, 19 subcategories, and 6 categories, as follows: 1) the intense need for social support, 2) the need for prior preparation for pregnancy, 3) fears and worries, 4) the necessity of the availability of the needed infrastructures and requirements in the health center, 5) falling in love with the baby, and 6) seeking information from appropriate sources. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that primiparous women need to receive more social and psychological support from family members and healthcare workers and that it is essential to improve the available infrastructures and services in healthcare centers and to provide the needed counseling to pregnant mothers to enable them to go through the pregnancy period smoothly.

Sharing the power through promoting heart health literacy: A participatory action research in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Low health literacy can act as a barrier to effective disease self-management. The study aimed to promote heart health literacy in Iranian society. METHODS: This study was conducted as a participatory action research (PAR) based on Zuber-Skerritt Model to design and implement a program for promoting heart health literacy in Iranian society. Participants were selected among adults with heart diseases and their family members, as well as their health care providers in Chamran Hospital, Isfahan Heart Friends association and researchers, and Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan, Iran. Data collection was conducted using interviews. Content analysis was used to analyze the data to promote heart health literacy. Promoting of heart health literacy was implemented in different levels in Isfahan from March 2017 to October 2017. The effect of the program was evaluated based on interviews, feedback, and focus groups at the individual level. RESULTS: Finally, at the World Heart Week, a healthy heart campaign was formed with the slogan "Share the power". At the end of this program, participants experienced significant empowerment during the project to promote heart health literacy. The three main themes indicating this feeling of empowerment were "Being worried about the hearts of others", "Sensitization to the care of the heart", and "General understanding of heart health". CONCLUSION: PAR can be an effective way to promote heart health literacy in Iranian society. It integrates the voices of the marginalized group promoting heart health literacy in Iranian society.

Individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown: Family members' experiences

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the psychological and behavioral reactions to emerging infectious diseases is crucial in managing outbreaks. This study sought to explain family members' experiences of individual memories and coping with the COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative research was conducted by content analysis in Lorestan province, Iran. The purposive sampling was continued by achieving data saturation, reaching 29 samples. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to family members who stayed at home during the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The data was collected from October 2020 to February 2021. Content analysis presented by Graneheim and Lundman was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The findings of this study contained 100 codes and five categories with its respective subcategories. Categories included taking advantage of opportunities (increasing intimate communication in the family; compensation and progress), coping mechanisms (creating fun and creativity at home; trying to spend leisure time; sports, reading books, music; increasing patience and tolerance; and forced Internet communications), social aspects (positive and negative), outcomes (gratefulness, pleasure, and happiness; concerns; psychological aspects; and damage and challenge to the foundation of families), and economic aspects (cost savings; recession/job loss/financial downturn; and low-income families' unaffordability to prepare electronics for education). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic and its induced-lockdown have affected various aspects of family life and its pros and cons have been presented by the participants. Policymakers must design and implement programs in line with this change in the public's lifestyles so that families are not damaged.

Pressure to the p6 acupoint and post-appendectomy pain, nausea, and vomiting: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The use of acupressure is growing. Several studies have applied pressure to the P6 to reduce postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pain but have reported conflicting results. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pressure to the P6 point on pain, nausea and vomiting after appendectomy. METHODS: A single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 88 patients after appendectomy. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. After the patients in the intervention group had regained their consciousness, pressure was applied to the P6 acupoint using special Acubands. In the control group, the Acubands were fastened loosely on the patients' wrists. The bracelets were kept for seven hours and pain, nausea, and vomiting were measured hourly. Student's t-test and chi-square test were used to analyze data. All analyses were performed in SPSS11.5. RESULTS: The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age, body mass index, duration of anesthesia, and length of incision. The mean pain intensity in the two groups was not significantly different at different times. Overall, 45.4% of the P6 group and 47.7% of the control group experienced postoperative nausea. The two groups were not significantly different in the mean intensity of nausea at different postoperative hours. In total, 12 patients in the P6 group and 18 in the control group had vomiting CONCLUSION: Pressure to the P6 did not significantly reduce pain and nausea after appendectomy. However, the incidence of vomiting was less in the P6 group. This method can be used to reduce vomiting after appendectomy. Similar studies are suggested to apply pressure with the onset of pain or nausea and vomiting.