Exploring the lived experience of mothers of children with leukemia: a qualitative study from Iran.

BACKGROUND: Leukemia, as one of the most common pediatric cancers, has negatively affected many children around the world. Parents often experience increased feeling of distress shortly after being informed about their child's diagnosis. The distress experienced by parents can adversely affect various aspects of their life. This study aimed to develop an understanding of the lived experience of the mothers whose children suffer from leukemia in Shiraz, Iran. METHODS: This phenomenological study was performed from April to August 2023, and 10 people were selected as participants by purposive sampling. In-depth and semi-structured interviews were performed for collecting the data. RESULTS: The participants' lived experiences during their children's leukemia were classified into five main categories, namely behavioral problems, spiritual issues, psychological problems, issues related to treatment, and economic matters. CONCLUSION: Knowing the experiences of parents, especially mothers, in managing and planning for the care of these children seems essential.

Effects of the Problem Solving Technique in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder, one of the lesser known of whose consequences is cognitive disorder. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of problem-solving technique in type 2 diabetic patients with cognitive impairment. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in the south of Iran between December 2014 and April 2015. 96 type 2 diabetic patients with cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in the intervention group attended classes on problem-solving skills, while the patients in the control group attended the usual classes in the clinic. The quality of life, self-management profile, metabolic indexes of the patients in both groups were measured before and three months after the experiment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Paired t-test, independent t-test, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square tests were used. RESULTS: The differences between the groups' levels of HbA1c (P=0.02) and HDL (P=0.02) were significant, but the differences between their FBS, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL were not significant (P>0.05). The mean difference of the changes in the quality of life (P<0.001) between the intervention and control groups was significant. The differences between the two groups in the area of self-management were as follows: patient's anxiety management (P<0.001), patient's capability in using medicine (P<0.001), healthy eating (P<0.001), weight management (P=0.02), and confidence in one's ability to manage his/her diabetes (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Applying problem-solving technique significantly enhanced self-management, quality of life and metabolic indexes in type 2 diabetic patients with cognitive impairment. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2014041517283N1.