Healing of diabetic foot ulcer with topical and oral administrations of herbal products: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

This systematic review aimed to qualitatively synthesize recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the effect of topical application and oral intake of herbal products on the healing of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). Also, we sought to pool the obtained findings in a meta-analysis using a random-effects model, if RCTs were relatively comparable and homogenous. A comprehensive search was performed on five electronic data sources from their inception through 23 January 2024. The RCTs, without restriction on the country of origin, were included if they compared the effect of administering standard treatments and/or placebo (i.e. control condition) to applying standard treatments and/or herbal products in topical or oral routes (i.e. experimental condition). Out of 1166 retrieved records, 28 RCTs were included. Studies used different poly and single herbal formulations. Based on the meta-analysis, administration of standard care plus daily dressing of the ulcer site with olive oil for 28 days significantly increased the total ulcer healing score (3 RCTs; weighted mean difference [WMD] = 89.30; p < 0.001), raised frequency of complete ulcer healing (2 RCTs; risk ratio [RR] = 12.44; p = 0.039) and declined ulcer degree (3 RCTs; WMD = -22.28; p = 0.002). Also, daily use of the bitter melon leaf extract in oral form for 28 days significantly increased the total ulcer healing score (2 RCTs; WMD = 0.40; p = 0.001). Additionally, based on qualitative synthesis, the adjuvant use of herbal agents seems an intriguing choice to manage DFU. Nonetheless, considering the undesirable methodological quality of most studies and the high heterogeneity in administered herbal formulations, more robust trials are required to build a solid conclusion regarding the use of herbal products for healing DFU.

Application of "Partnership Care Model" in chronically ill adults and children: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: "Partnership Care Model (PCM)", which is the first partnership conceptual framework founded on the Iranian culture to control chronic diseases, has been recently used in different fields of nursing research with no levels of valid evidence to support its application. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis sought to clarify the impacts of interventions developed based on PCM on quality of life (QoL), sleep quality, anxiety, and depression among adults and children with chronic diseases. METHODS: International data sources (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) and national databases (e.g., SID, MagIran, IranDoc, IRCT) were searched from 2001 to September 23, 2023, to find Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) on PCM-driven interventions for the experimental groups versus no intervention or standard care groups. The studies' methodological quality and evidence quality were rated utilizing the Cochrane risk of bias instruction and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Data were pooled by a random-effects approach employing STATA (vers. 11.2). RESULT: Eighteen RCTs, reported in 22 publications, were qualified. The PCM compared to the standard care significantly improved the QoL among both adults (10 effect sizes [ESs], mean difference [MD]: 3.17, P < 0.001) and children (4 ESs, MD: 4.45, P < 0.001). Likewise, the intervention enhanced adults' sleep quality (3 ESs, MD: 7.15, P < 0.001). The anxiety of adults and children was also significantly lower in the PCM group (4 ESs, MD: -4.52, P = 0.001; 2 ESs, MD: -4.04, P < 0.001, respectively). However, regarding depression, a significant effect of PCM was found only among children (3 ESs, MD: -7.99, P = 0.011). The methodological quality of the studies and the evidence quality were undesirable. CONCLUSION: The PCM had a promising influence on the caring of adults and children suffering from chronic diseases. However, additional high-quality RCTs are needed to generate a higher quality of evidence concerning the clinical benefits of the PCM. PROSPERO NO: CRD42021253790.

Application of Orem's theory-based caring programs among chronically ill adults: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

AIM: This study aimed to clarify the value of caring programs developed according to Orem's Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory regarding quality of life and self-care as the primary outcomes and self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and stress as the secondary outcomes among individuals aged 18-70 years with chronic diseases. BACKGROUND: Chronically ill patients need to receive appropriate self-care training, counseling, and support. In this regard, the use of caring programs developed based on theories is highly suggested. Orem's Nursing Theory is the most well-known theory that provides a structure to involve patients in their self-care activities. INTRODUCTION: Orem's Nursing Theory has been increasingly applied to guide practice for patients with chronic health conditions. However, recent trials have reported conflicting findings on the value of its application. METHODS: Eight information sources (e.g., Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed, and Scopus) and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched up to 30 March 2022. RESULTS: A total of 46 studies and 11 study register entries were eligible. Orem's theory-based interventions significantly improved the quality of life, self-care, and self-efficacy as well as significantly reduced anxiety and depression. However, the value of the interventions on stress was uncertain, as performing the meta-analysis was not possible. DISCUSSION: Orem's Nursing Theory can help nurses in different fields to dynamically and carefully evaluate patients' self-care ability and implement appropriate nursing measures tailored to their needs, interests, and problems. Considering the inconsistent evidence to support the empirical adequacy of this theory, high-quality reviews are essential. CONCLUSION: Orem's theory-based programs had a favorable effect on taking care of adults with chronic diseases. IMPLICATIONS: This study augments the previous reviews related to the applicability of Orem's Nursing Theory. Considering the undesirable evidence quality and the high between-study heterogeneity, further well-designed trials are required to draw an evidence-based conclusion.

Comparison of the effects of virtual training by serious game and lecture on operating room novices' knowledge and performance about surgical instruments setup: a multi-center, two-arm study.

BACKGROUND: Game-based training is increasingly implemented in different nursing fields, as it allows students to learn experientially, with the flexibility to regulate their training based on their personal progresses and abilities. This study aimed to compare the effects of virtual training by the "Playing with Surgical Instruments (PlaSurIn)" game and the lecture on the surgical instruments setup knowledge and performance of Operating Room (OR) novices. METHODS: This study was conducted on 51 s-semester undergraduate OR technology students taking the course "An Introduction to Surgical Instruments and Equipment." An additional virtual training session was held via a learning management system using two different methods. The students of the Game Training Group (GTG, n = 27) played individually with the "PlaSurIn" game during a week, while the students of the Lecture Training Group (LTG, n = 24) received the lecture-based training during a week. To measure knowledge, all the students participated in a theoretical test with 10 multiple-choice questions before and immediately after the training. They also participated in an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) after the training, and their performance was evaluated by the remained time for setup completion and the scores, errors, and bonuses. RESULTS: The mean score of the theoretical test was significantly higher in the GTG than in the LTG after the training (p = 0.040). Additionally, the GTG participants had higher scores (p = 0.016), fewer errors (p = 0.001), and higher bonuses (p = 0.011) compared to the LTG ones. The remained time for setup completion was also significantly longer in the GTG than in the LTG (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Virtual training by "PlaSurIn" was superior to the lecture-based method for the enhancement of surgical instruments setup knowledge and performance amongst OR novices.

The association between obesity and migraine in a population of Iranian adults: a case-control study.

AIM: To assess the association between obesity and risk of migraine with aura and features of migraine attacks among a population of Iranian adults. METHODS: In this case-control study, 102 confirmed cases of migraine with aura were matched based on age and gender with 102 healthy subjects. Data on demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements were collected from all cases and controls by the same methods. Overweight and obesity were considered as body mass index ≥25-30 kg/m2 and ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively. Features of migraine attacks including frequency, duration and headache daily result were determined for patients based on international headache society criteria. RESULTS: Mean age of subjects was 34.5 ±â€¯7.4 years and 77.9% of them were female. Compared with subjects with normal body mass index, those with obesity had greater odds for having migraine with aura (OR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.11-8.43). Such finding was also seen even after adjusting for confounding variables; in a way that subjects with obesity were 2.92 times more likely for having migraine with aura compared with those with normal weight (OR: 2.92, 95% CI: 1.03-8.33). Among migraine with aura patients, we found that those with obesity had higher headache daily result compared with subjects with normal weight. However, obesity was not associated with frequency and duration of migraine attacks. CONCLUSIONS: We found that obesity was positively associated with risk of migraine with aura. In addition, subjects with obesity had higher headache daily result compared with those with normal weight.

Effect of Face-to-Face Education on Anxiety and Pain in Children with Minor Extremity Injuries Undergoing Outpatient Suturing in Emergency Department.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of face-to-face education on anxiety and pain in children with minor extremity injuries undergoing outpatient suturing. METHODS: Children in intervention and control groups received face-to-face education (10 minutes) and no specific education, respectively. The anxiety and pain was measured using Modified-Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale, and pain by Faces Pain Scale-Revised, respectively in 3 stages viz, pre-procedure and pre-intervention, post-procedure. RESULTS: Children in the intervention group were less anxious than the control at pre-procedure and post-intervention stage (41.1 (13.8) vs. 46.3 (19.1), respectively, P=0.03) and post-procedure and post-intervention stage (32.3 (17.2) vs. 40.2 (12.9), respectively, P=0.01). Children in the intervention group experienced less pain than the control at pre-procedure and post-intervention stage (3.9 (3.8) vs. 4.9 (3.1), respectively, P<0.001) and post-procedure and post-intervention stage (3.1 (1.2) vs. 4.0 (2.1), respectively, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Face-to-face education could reduce anxiety and pain in children undergoing suturing in the emergency department.