Spiritual Well-being in Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

As a significant health challenge, chronic disease can have critical spiritual consequences for patients. Therefore, the study of spiritual well-being as an aspect of health is essential but has been less considered with regard to chronic diseases. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate spiritual well-being in patients with chronic diseases. For this purpose, in the initial search that was performed of valid databases, a total of 615 descriptive studies published between 2000 and 2018 were found. After carefully assessing these, only 24 studies were included in the review. Overall, the spiritual well-being of 3289 patients with chronic disease was investigated. This study showed that the total mean score of the spiritual well-being of patients with chronic diseases was 86.65 (P < 0.001, 95%, CI: 80.34-92.96), indicating a moderate level of spiritual well-being in these patients. Thus, patients with chronic diseases are recommended to consider spiritual consultation programs.

Opium and Cigarette Smoking are Independently Associated with Bladder Cancer: The Findings of a Matched Case - Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer disproportionally affects the communities. While it is the ninth most common cancer in the world, in some parts of Iran including Kerman province it is the most common cancer among men. This study aimed to determine potential risk factors of bladder cancer in Kerman province, Iran. METHODS: During February to July 2020, in this matched hospital-based case-control study, 100 patients with bladder cancer and 200 healthy individuals (matched in age and sex) were recruited. Socio-demographics status, occupational exposures, common diet, history of drug use and family history of cancer, were collected using a structured questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were applied and crude and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) along with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated. Data were analyzed using Stata version 14 software. RESULTS: Opium consumption, cigarette smoking and low level of income were associated with increased chance of bladder cancer. Compared to never use, use of opium up to 18000 Gram -year was associated with increased chance of bladder cancer (AOR: 6; 95% CI =2.3, 15.5). The chance was higher among those who used opium more than 18,000 Gram - year (AOR: 11.3; 95% CI =2.3, 15.5). In comparison with never smokers, the chance of bladder cancer increased among those who smoked up to 20 pack-year cigarette) (AOR: 3.4; 95%CI= 1.3, 8.9) and those who smoke ≥ 20 pack-year (AOR: 15.8; 95% CI= 5.9, 42.4). CONCLUSIONS: The observed strong dose-response association between opium consumption, cigarette smoking and bladder cancer highlights the need for extension of harm reduction programs especially in regions with high burden of disease.

The Comparative Effect of Biofeedback and Auriculotherapy on Alleviating Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Menopause is associated with a plethora of problems particularly hot flashes. This study aims to compare the effect of biofeedback and auriculotherapy on hot flashes in menopausal women in Kerman, Iran. METHODS: This study, a pilot clinical trial with a pretest-posttest control group design, was conducted on 39 postmenopausal women referring to the private offices of obstetricians and gynecologists in Kerman, Iran, in 2019. The participants were divided into 3 groups (n = 13 in each group) using simple random assignment. In the first and second intervention groups, the biofeedback program and auriculotherapy were conducted by the researcher 10 times in 45- and 30-min sessions twice a week, respectively. In the control group, routine care was provided. The participants completed the checklist of severity and frequency of hot flashes before, immediately, and 4 weeks postintervention. RESULTS: Immediate and 4-week postintervention biofeedback and auriculotherapy had a significant effect on reducing the severity and frequency of hot flashes (P < 0.001). However, the effect of auriculotherapy on mitigating the severity and frequency of hot flashes immediately and 4-week postintervention was more significant than that of biofeedback (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Biofeedback and auriculotherapy may be effective in the treatment of hot flashes. Hence, they can be recommended as therapeutic methods for postmenopausal women.

Comparing the effect of acupressure with or without ice in LI-4 point on labour pain and anxiety levels during labour: a randomised controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of acupressure with or without ice on reducing pain and anxiety during labour. The anxiety level of mothers was measured before and after study using Spielberger Inventory along with the labour pain. To improve the strength of this study, a meta-analysis was conducted on the effect of acupressure in point LI-4 on anxiety during labour. Ninety women in labour were randomly divided into three groups: acupressure with ice, acupressure without ice and the control group. The result suggested that women receiving both acupressure with ice (p = .005) or without ice (p < .001) experienced less labour pain in comparison with the control group. Also, the labour pain severity in acupressure without ice was lower than the group with ice (p < .001). Acupressure with (p = 1) or without (p = .09) ice was not significantly different from the control group in terms of the anxiety level. However, women in the group of acupressure without ice experienced less anxiety in comparison with acupressure with ice (p = .04). The difference in pain severity before and after treatment with acupressure with (RCI = 2.86) or without ice (RCI = 5.54) was clinically significant. The intervention was not clinically meaningful in terms of anxiety.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Previous trials have exhibited that acupressure with/without ice reduced pain and anxiety during labour.What do the results of this subject add? The results of this research was consistent with previous studies, suggesting that acupressure, with or without ice, is more effective than the control group regarding labour pain. However, the group of acupressure with ice was not different from the control group with respect to the anxiety level.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In light of advantages, such as growing preference of women, researcher and health care providers for physiological delivery coupled with its safety and simplicity, it can be used as an effective technique to manage labour pain. Further studies are required to assess the effect of acupressure at L4 on the anxiety level.