Predictors of emotional intelligence among family caregivers of cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Family caregivers of cancer patients must have strong emotional intelligence skills essential for understanding one's and others' feelings and learning how to cope. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to determine the predictive factors of emotional intelligence and its relationship with spiritual intelligence, coping, and knowledge and experience about pain among family caregivers of cancer patients in Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in 2020-2021. Two hundred twenty-six family caregivers of cancer patients participated in this study. The data collection tools were Wong and Law's emotional intelligence, King's spiritual intelligence, Brief Cope, and the family pain questionnaire. Following determining the variables' correlation, linear regression was carried out. RESULTS: Emotional intelligence had a significant correlation with age (r = 0.20, p = .003), academic degree (r = 0.15, p = .032), duration of care (r = 0.15, p = .032), and spiritual intelligence (r = 0.30, p < .001). The regression model accounted for 12.4% of the variance in emotional intelligence; age (ß = 0.16, p < .021) and spiritual intelligence (ß = 0.26, p < .001) were significant explanatory variables. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional intelligence is correlated with age, academic degree, duration of care, and spiritual intelligence, but only age and spiritual intelligence were found to be predictive factors for emotional intelligence in the family caregivers of cancer patients.

Efficacy of olive leaves extract on the outcomes of hospitalized covid-19 patients: A randomized, triple-blinded clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Since the emergence of the novel coronavirus, herbal medicine has been considered a treatment for COVID-19 patients. This study was done to determine the efficacy of olive leaf extract on the outcomes of COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized, triple-blinded clinical trial was conducted on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Using block randomization, eligible patients were allocated to the following groups: intervention A received olive leaf extract (250 mg every 12 hours for five days), intervention B received olive leaf extract (500 mg every 12 hours for five days), and the control group received placebo (every 12 hours for five days). The outcomes (vital signs, laboratory tests, and length of hospitalization) were compared by group. RESULTS: Of the 150 patients randomized into groups, 141 completed the follow-up and were analyzed. On the fifth day of hospitalization, body temperature (MD=0.34, P<0.001), pulse rate (MD=5.42, P=0.016), respiratory rate (MD=1.66, P=0.001), ESR (MD=13.55, P<0.001), and CRP (MD=15.68, P<0.001) of intervention A were significantly lower than the control group, while oxygen saturation (MD= -1.81, P=0.001) of intervention A was significantly higher than the control group. Furthermore, body temperature (MD=0.30, P=0.001), pulse rate (MD=5.29, P=0.022), respiratory rate (MD=1.41, P=0.006), ESR (MD=14.79, P<0.001), and CRP (MD=16.28, P<0.001) of intervention B were significantly lower than the control group, while oxygen saturation (MD= -2.38, P<0.001) of intervention B was significantly higher than the control group. CONCLUSION: Olive leaf extract can improve the clinical status of the patients and decrease the length of hospitalization.

The efficacy of olive leaf extract on healing herpes simplex virus labialis: A randomized double-blind study.

OBJECTIVE: Herpes simplex virus (HSV), as a common infection in healthy individuals, is treated symptomatically, but drug resistance and the side effects of drugs have drawn the attention of researchers to complementary medicine. Olive Leaf Extract (OLE) has antiviral effects that may treat HSV. The current study aimed to compare the clinical effects of OLE and Acyclovir on HSV-1. METHODS: This randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 66 patients who had already been diagnosed with HSV-1. The participants were randomized into two groups, receiving 2% OLE cream or 5% acyclovir cream five times a day for six days. The symptoms were evaluated before, and three and six days after the interventions. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software through the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, chi-squared, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The results showed clinical symptoms decreased in both groups during the study and both medications were effective in the treatment of HSV-1. However, the OLE group experienced less bleeding (P = 0.038), itching (P = 0.002), and pain (P = 0.001) on the third day as well as less irritation (P = 0.012), itching (P = 0.003) and color change (P = 0.001) on the sixth day compared to the acyclovir group. The treatment course for participants in the OLE group was shorter than in the acyclovir group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The evidence from these trials suggests the OLE cream is superior in the healing of episodes of HSV-1 over the acyclovir cream. Future studies are recommended to investigate if OLE could be an adjunct to acyclovir treatment.

Effect of aromatherapy with Melissa essential oil on stress and hemodynamic parameters in acute coronary syndrome patients: A clinical trial in the emergency department.

Stress and hemodynamic changes are among the most significant symptoms and signs that could be observed in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) upon admission to the emergency department. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of the fragrance of lemon balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oil on stress level and hemodynamic parameters in patients with ACS in the emergency department. METHODS: In this double-blind clinical trial, 72 patients were allocated to two groups of Melissa and placebo based on stratified block random sampling. The Melissa group inhaled two drops of Melissa essential oil, whereas the placebo group inhaled two drops of sunflower oil in two aromatherapy phases for 10 min with 90-min intervals. Stress level was measured using the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), and hemodynamic parameters were measured and recorded in six time points by a cardiac monitoring system. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and ANOVA statistical tests, Chi-square test, independent t-test, and post-hoc Tukey's test. RESULTS: Interaction between the time and group indicated the significant decrease in the mean score of stress and heart rate in the time points 2 and 5 (5 min after every occasion of aromatherapy) (p < 0.001) and also the remarkable decrease in the mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the time point 2 in the Melissa group in comparison with the placebo group (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the mean changes in stress, heart rate and MAP in the two group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy via the inhalation of Melissa essential oil with temporary impacts on certain time points could relieve stress and regulate hemodynamic changes in patients with ACS in emergent and acute conditions.

The Efficacy of Topical Basil Essential Oil on Relieving Migraine Headaches: A Randomized Triple-Blind Study.

OBJECTIVE: Complementary therapies have been increasingly used for the prevention and treatment of migraine so that there is a need for studies in this setting. This study sought to determine the effects of basil essential oil on the severity and frequency of migraine attack headaches. METHODS: A triple-blind clinical trial study was performed on 144 patients diagnosed with migraine. Patients were randomly allocated by a stratified method to four groups of 36 titled basil essential oil 2, 4, 6%, and placebo groups. Medications were used topically every 8 h for 3 successive months. In addition, each individual received 325 mg of acetaminophen every 12 h. The severity and frequency of migraine attacks were measured prior to the study, at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. The visual analog scale was used to measure pain intensity. The marginal model and generalized estimation equations were used to compare changes in the intensity and frequency of pain over time. RESULTS: The interaction of the dose and time factors was significant on both pain intensity (p < 0.001) and frequency of attack (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of higher pain intensity and rate ratio of higher frequency of attack in the intervention groups compared to the placebo group were decreased over the study time. CONCLUSION: Time lapse and higher doses of basil essential oil would reduce both the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks.

The combined effects of cold therapy and music therapy on pain following chest tube removal among patients with cardiac bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Chest tube removal is an extremely painful procedure and patients may not respond well to palliative therapies. This study aimed to examine the effect of cold and music therapy individually, as well as a combination of these interventions on reducing pain following chest tube removal. METHODS: A factorial randomized-controlled clinical trial was performed on 180 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. Patients were randomized into four groups of 45. Group A used ice packs for 20 minutes prior to chest tube removal. Group B was assigned to listen to music for a total length of 30 minutes which started 15 minutes prior to chest tube removal. Group C received a combination of both interventions; and Group D received no interventions. Pain intensity was measured in each group every 15 minutes for a total of 3 readings. Analysis of variance, Tukey and Bonferroni post hoc tests, as well as repeated measures ANOVA were employed for data analysis. RESULTS: Cold therapy and combined method intervention effectively reduced the pain caused by chest tube removal (P < 0.001). Additionally, there were no statistically significant difference in pain intensity scores between groups at 15 minutes following chest tube removal (P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: Cold and music therapy can be used by nursing staff in clinical practice as a combined approach to provide effective pain control following chest tube removal.