Designing a national model for assessment of nursing informatics competency.

BACKGROUND: Due to the need for informatics competencies in the field of nursing, the present study was conducted to design a psychometric instrument to determine the qualification of informatics competencies of employed nurses in educational care centers. METHODS: The questionnaire was made by reviewing existing scientific resources and assessment tools. Two hundred nurses were selected using simple random sampling. Structural equation modeling was used using the measurement model technique and the average variance was calculated. Linear structural relations (LISREL) software was used to test the assumptions and correlations of the model. RESULTS: Findings showed relatively good estimation in the fit of first-order measurement model. The informatics knowledge subscale with a determining rate of 0.90 had the greatest explanatory effect among the subscales and informatics skill with a determining rate of 0.67 and basic computer skill with a determining rate of 0.60 were observed. The second-order measurement model of fitness indicators showed that the three factors can well explain the multidimensional construct of informatics competency. CONCLUSIONS: The designed tool can be used to develop educational strategies in relation to nursing students in the field of informatics and prepare them in the rich environment of information technology, which can be helpful in training nursing instructors.

On twelve types of covering-based rough sets.

Covering approximation spaces are a generalization of equivalence-based rough set theories. In this paper, we will consider twelve types of covering based approximation operators by combining four types of covering lower approximation operators and three types of covering upper approximation operators. Then, we will study the properties of these new pairs and show they have most of the common properties among existing covering approximation pairs. Finally, the relation between these new pairs is studied.

Routine use of EmbryoGlue(®) as embryo transfer medium does not improve the ART outcomes.

PURPOSE: The aim was to investigate assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes after routine use of EmbryoGlue(®) as a human embryo transfer (ET) medium with high concentration of hyaluronan (HA, hyaluronic acid). METHODS: A cohort of total 229 patients was retrospectively enrolled for the present study. They were subjected for embryo transfer on day 2 either in EmbryoGlue(®) (n = 117) as study group or in conventional ET medium with low concentration of HA as control group (n = 112). RESULTS: Patients in the both groups, in regards to the mean level of day 3 FSH, the etiology of infertility, the history of implantation failure and the rate of good quality embryos showed similar characteristics. There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of clinical and ongoing pregnancies, implantation, delivery and live birth rates. In spite of a decreased abortion and increased multiple pregnancy rates in the study group compared to the control group (15.8 vs. 19 % and 20.6 vs. 15.6 respectively), the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Routine use of EmbryoGlue(®)as a HA enriched ET medium for cleavage stage embryos does not have advantage to the conventional one for infertile patients undergoing ART.

Effect of self-efficacy enhancement program on self-care behaviors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Given the importance of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and role of different factors in self-care behaviors of COPD patients, this study was conducted to determine the effect of self-efficacy program on self-care behaviors of COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this semi-experimental study, 62 COPD patients were recruited in which 31 subjects were in control group and 31 were in experimental group. Subjects were selected based on purposive sampling from Imam Hospital affiliated to the Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2011. Two valid and reliable questionnaires were filled after completing informed consent form. A month later, and after implementing the planned intervention, the questionnaires were completed by the subjects again. RESULTS: The mean standard deviation of age were 64.1 (9.1) years in the control group and 65.2 (8.0) years in the experimental group. There was a statistically significant difference between self-efficacy state before and after intervention. Self-care scores in the experimental group were significantly higher after intervention (t = 25.18, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Given the high potency of self-efficacy factors on self-care behaviors of the COPD patients, enhancement of self-efficacy in these patients can be very effective in disease control, prevention of complications, reduction of hospitalization costs, and improve their quality of life. Hence, it is suggested that in empowerment programs of these patients, special emphasis will put on the strengthening of their self-efficacy.