Effectiveness of Family-oriented Education on Self-care behaviors of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Proper self-care practices play a crucial role in the well being and longevity of patients with cardiovascular disease. To effectively engage in self-care, it is imperative for patients to receive adequate education and training on the self-care process. This study was conducted to determine the effect of family-oriented education (FOE) on the self-care behaviors of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 70 patients hospitalized in two hospitals in Shiraz during November 2021-April 2022 participated after the first AMI. Patients were randomly assigned into control (N=35) and intervention groups (N=35) based on random allocation. In the intervention group, an educational program was conducted for patients and active family members during three sessions of 45 to 60 minutes. The control group received routine care. Demographic information form and Self-Care Agency scale was completed by the patients before the educational intervention, one month, and two months after the educational intervention. Data analysis was done through SPSS 22 using Chi-square test, independent t-test, Fisher's exact, and Friedman test. P˂0.05 was considered as the statistical significance level. Results: There was no significant difference in self-care behaviors between the two groups before the intervention (P=0.71). The mean score of self-care behaviors in patients one month (P<0.001) and two months (P<0.001) after FOE in the intervention group showed a statistically significant difference with the control group. Also, the mean score of self-care behaviors two months after the education in the intervention group was significantly higher than before and one month after the intervention (P<0.001). Conclusion: Given the positive effect of FOE on self-care behaviors of patients with AMI, it is recommended that educational interventions related to the treatment plan of these patients with the participation of families should be conducted.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20211116053078N.

Investigating the relationship between resilience and professional ethics in nurses: a cross-sectional study in southern Iran.

INTRODUCTION: All businesses that deal directly with clients need to observe ethics, but in the nursing profession due to its nature, compliance with professional ethics becomes more necessary. On the other hand, nurses face tensions and difficult conditions in their daily work environment. Resilience is one of the most important abilities of human beings, which in difficult conditions causes effective adaptation to stress-causing factors. Therefore, the relationship between resilience and professional ethics becomes important. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between resilience and professional ethics in nurses of Shahid Ganji Hospital, Borazjan 2022-2023. METHODS: The current study is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. The study environment was Shahid Ganji Hospital in Borazjan, Bushehr, Iran. The research method of the current study was census, so all 400 nurses of this hospital were invited to participate in the study. Finally, 340 of them were included in the study based on the inclusion criteria. Data collection tools included a demographic information form, Connor-Davidson questionnaire, and Cadozier professional ethics questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22 software. RESULTS: Most of the participants were between 25 and 30 years old. The average overall score of resilience and professional ethics of nurses participating in the study was 64.1 ± 16.3 and 34.3 ± 9.4, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the demographic characteristics of nurses with resilience and professional ethics. The Spearman correlation coefficient indicated a statistically significant and inverse relationship between professional ethics and resilience levels (r = -0.265, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a significant and inverse relationship between professional ethics and resilience among nurses. Furthermore, professional ethics were at a moderate level, while resilience was at a good level. Therefore, it is recommended that enhancing professional ethics skills through the organization of educational workshops for nurses should be considered by nursing managers.

An educational program of reducing moral distress (PRMD) in nurses; designing and evaluating.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress is common phenomenon that has negative consequences on nurses, patients, and healthcare systems. This study aims to design and evaluate an educational program to reduce moral distress in nurses. METHODS: This multiphase mixed-method study was done in three stage on February 2021 in Shiraz/Iran. In pre-implementation stage, a content analysis study was conducted on 12 participants were interviewed using purposive sampling and then the program was designed according to qualitative data, panel of expertise and literature review according the seven steps of Ewles and Sminett's model and implemented in one group on 40 nurses using a quasi-experimental design. In Post-Implementation stage, effectiveness of program was evaluated through quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data were gathered by Hamric's 21-question moral distress questionnaire analyzed via SPSS v.25 and analysis of variance repeated measures test. Also, a content analysis study was conducted on 6 PRMD participants using purposive sampling. In Program evaluation stage, convergence of quantitative and qualitative data and the effects of the program were examined. Trustworthiness of qualitative data was accomplished by Lincoln and Guba criteria. RESULTS: First quantitative study revealed the causes of moral distress consisted of deficiency in professional competency, unsuitable organizational culture, personal factors, environmental and organizational factors, management factors, insufficiencies in proficient and efficient communication and nurses' observation of moral dilemma. Results of quantitative stage showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the mean score of moral distress before, after, 1 and 2 months after the intervention. The participants in secondary qualitative stage, reported increasing their moral knowledge and skills, improving ethical climate, and moral empowerment. CONCLUSION: The use of different educational tools and teaching methods and the participation of managers in designing strategies had a very effective role in the effectiveness of this educational program.

Strategies of Iranian Psychiatric Nurses to Deal with Moral Distress.

Context: Moral distress is a common phenomenon in nurses that causes feelings of anger, fatigue, reduced quality of patient care, and leaving the nursing profession. To reduce the negative effects of this phenomenon, it is necessary to study the strategies and mechanisms to deal with it. Aims: It has been less studied in psychiatric nurses, so this study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms and strategies of psychiatric nurses in dealing with situations of moral distress. Settings and Design: This qualitative study was conducted based on a conventional content analysis of 12 psychiatric nurses selected by a purposive sampling method in the 2020 winter in Shiraz, Iran, considering the maximum diversity. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with participants for an average of 40-60 minutes per interview until data saturation. Results: We obtained strategies for dealing with moral distress in psychiatric nurses in four categories. The categories included "Coping strategies," "Establish therapeutic and professional communication," "Managerial support for nurses," and "Commitment to religious beliefs." Conclusions: Psychiatric nurses use personal, team, and management strategies to reduce moral distress in themselves and their colleagues and reduce its adverse effects on patients. Management support and organizational cooperation are necessary for the better implementation of these strategies.

Moral distress in psychiatric nurses in Covid-19 crisis.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has put heavy pressure on nurses. Psychiatric nurses are also exposed to moral distress due to the special conditions of psychiatric patients and patient's lack of cooperation in observing health protocols. This study has been conducted to explore and describe factors that caused moral distress in Iranian psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: This qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach involved 12 nurses at the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. This study was conducted in the winter of 2021. Data collection was performed by semi-structured interviews, data analysis was performed based on the five steps of Graneheim and Lundman. RESULTS: By continuous comparison and integration of data, 17 subcategories, 8 subcategories, and 3 categories were extracted from 252 initial codes. The causes of moral distress in psychiatric nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified as emotional responses (Fear and Doubt), relational factors (Nurses' Relationship with Each Other, Nurse-physician Relationship, and Relationship whit Patients), and Institutional factors (Lack of Attention to Health Instructions, Failure to complete the treatment process for patients and Institutional Policies). CONCLUSION: New dimensions of the causes of moral distress associated with the COVID- 19 pandemic are discovered in this study. Managers and planners should equip psychiatric hospitals with isolation facilities and Personal Protection Equipment for patients and nurses. Strengthening the ethical climate by improving communication skills and individual nursing empowerment to prevent moral distress is recommended.

Evaluation of the Moral Distress Intensity and Its Relationship with the Quality of Work Life among Nurses Working in Oncology Wards in Shiraz, Southwest of Iran.

Background: Moral distress defined as an incident that prevents the appropriate functioning of individuals in spite of having the required knowledge. Nurses are commonly exposed to moral distress while doing their professional roles, which can influence the quality of their work life. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the moral distress intensity and work life quality amongst nurses. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 180 nurses working in oncology wards were selected through census based on inclusion criteria (associate or higher degrees, having at least six months of clinical work experience, and not suffering from anxiety disorders). The data were collected using Corley's questionnaire (2001) and Brooks' investigation of work life quality of nurses (2001). Then, the data were entered into the SPSS 22 software and were analyzed using the Independent Sample t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: The nurses' mean scores of moral distress and work life quality were 136.63 ± 27.39 and 133.83 ± 25.40, respectively. The results revealed a negative significant relationship between the nurses' moral distress and work life quality (P < 0.001) (r = -0.53). There was also a significant difference between the nurses' sex and work life quality (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Identifying the moral distress intensity and work life quality of nurses and proper planning from the authorities can improve job satisfaction in nurses and resulting to higher quality of care.

The effect of Teach-back method education on the control of asthma and family care pressure of patients in Iran.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of teach-back education on patient asthma control and family care pressure of patients with asthma. METHODS: The present study is a clinical trial and the study population was patients referred to Shahid Faghihi and Shahid Motahhari clinics in Shiraz, Iran. 58 patients with asthma and their caregivers were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, for a total of 29 subjects in each group. In the intervention group: the teach-back method was delivered individually to the patient and his or her primary caregiver in three sessions of approximately 60 minutes at one-day intervals. each session included presentations, practical techniques and a booklet. In this study, patients and caregivers in the control group were not trained. Before the intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention, asthma control test and spirometry test were performed to evaluate asthma control; Also, before the intervention and 8 weeks after the intervention, Zarit test was performed to evaluate the care burden. RESULTS: The findings of repeated measures tests showed that, compared to the control group, the intervention group obtained a greater increase in the vital capacity index (p=0.028) and in the disease control score (p=0.001), as well as a reduction in the burden of care on family members (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that teaching asthma related topics to the patient and her caregiver along with the follow-up and supervision of the nurse improves the asthma control of the patient and also reduces the caregiver pressure.

The effect of Teach-back method education on the control of asthma and family care pressure of patients in Iran / El efecto de la educación del método Teach-back en el control del asma y la carga del cuidado familiar de los pacientes en Irán / O efeito da educação do método Teach-back no controle da asma e a carga do cuidado familiar dos pacientes no Irã

Objective. To investigate the effect of teach-back education on patient asthma control and family care pressure of patients with asthma. Methods. The present study is a clinical trial and the study population was patients referred to Shahid Faghihi and Shahid Motahhari clinics in Shiraz, Iran. 58 patients with asthma and their caregivers were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups, for a total of 29 subjects in each group. In the intervention group: the teach-back method was delivered individually to the patient and his or her primary caregiver in three sessions of approximately 60 minutes at one-day intervals. each session included presentations, practical techniques and a booklet. In this study, patients and caregivers in the control group were not trained. Before the intervention, 4 and 8 weeks after the intervention, asthma control test and spirometry test were performed to evaluate asthma control; Also, before the intervention and 8 weeks after the intervention, Zarit test was performed to evaluate the care burden. Results. The findings of repeated measures tests showed that, compared to the control group, the intervention group obtained a greater increase in the vital capacity index (p=0.028) and in the disease control score (p=0.001), as well as a reduction in the burden of care on family members (p<0.001). Conclusion. The present study showed that teaching asthma related topics to the patient and her caregiver along with the follow-up and supervision of the nurse improves the asthma control of the patient and also reduces the caregiver pressure.

Objetivo. Investigar el efecto de la educación con el método teach-back sobre el control del asma y la carga del cuidado familiar de estos pacientes. Métodos. Ensayo clínico cuya población de estudio fueron los pacientes remitidos a las clínicas Shahid Faghihi y Shahid Motahhari en Shiraz, Irán. Se asignaron aleatoriamente 58 pacientes con asma y sus cuidadores a los grupos de intervención y control, con un total de 29 díadas en cada grupo. Las personas del grupo de intervención recibieron formación con el método teach-back que se impartió individualmente al paciente y a su cuidador principal en tres sesiones de aproximadamente 60 minutos en tres días consecutivos. Cada sesión incluía presentaciones, técnicas prácticas y un folleto. Los pacientes y cuidadores del grupo de control no recibieron formación. Antes de la intervención y a las 4 y 8 semanas después de la misma, se aplicaron las escalas de control del asma y la de Zarit para evaluación de la carga del cuidado y, además se practicó una espirometría. Resultados. Las pruebas de medidas repetidas entre los grupos de estudio mostraron que, comparando con el grupo control, el grupo de intervención obtuvo mayor aumento del índice de capacidad vital (p=0.028) y del puntaje de control de la enfermedad (p=0.001), además, se redujo la carga del cuidado en los familiares (p<0.001). Conclusión. El presente estudio mostró que con la enseñanza de temas relacionados con el asma al paciente y a su cuidador, junto con el seguimiento y la supervisión de la enfermera, se mejora el control del asma en el paciente y también se reduce la carga del cuidador.

Objetivo. Investigar o efeito da educação com o método teach-back sobre o controle da asma e a carga do cuidado familiar destes pacientes. Métodos. Ensaio clínico no qual a população de estudo foram os pacientes enviados às clínicas Shahid Faghihi e Shahid Motahhari em Shiraz, Irã. 58 pacientes com asma e seus cuidadores foram designados aleatoriamente aos grupos de intervenção e controle, com um total de 29 díade em cada grupo. As pessoas do grupo da intervenção receberam formação com o método teach-back que se transmitiu individualmente ao paciente e ao seu cuidador principal em três sessões de aproximadamente 60 minutos em três dias consecutivos. Cada sessão incluía apresentações, técnicas práticas e um folheto. Os pacientes e cuidadores do grupo de controle não receberam formação. Antes da intervenção e às 4 e 8 semanas depois dela, se aplicaram as escalas de controle da asma e a de Zarit para avaliação da carga do cuidado e, além disso se praticou uma espirometria. Resultados. As provas de medidas repetidas entre os grupos de estudo mostraram que, comparando com o grupo de controle, o grupo de intervenção obteve maior aumento do índice de capacidade vital (p=0.028) e da pontuação de controle da doença (p=0.001), ademais de que se reduziu a carga do cuidado nos familiares (p<0.001). Conclusão. O presente estudo mostrou que o ensino de temas relacionados com a asma ao paciente e ao seu cuidador, junto com o seguimento e a supervisão da enfermeira, se melhora o controle da asma no paciente e também se reduz a carga do cuidador.

Examining the views of operating room nurses and physicians on the relationship between professional values and professional communication.

PURPOSE: Professional communication and professional values are two basic concepts in operating rooms and should be studied more closely in view of the nature of work and the high circulation of patients in operating rooms. METHODS: The present work is a descriptive-analytic study with a cross-sectional design. The sample was 603 operating room physicians and personnel selected from the public hospitals of Shiraz. The data collection instruments were the 41-item professional communication questionnaire and the 26-item professional values scale. RESULTS: The results showed that the operating room nurses and physicians perceived the status of professional communication and professional values to be satisfactory. As for professional communication, the participants' perception of the domains of mutual respect and trust (p ≤ 0.001), teamwork (p ≤ 0.001), ethical competence (p ≤ 0.017), and workplace conflicts (p ≤ 0.001) was significant. As for professional values, only the dimension of care (p ≤ 0.016) was perceived to be significant. Moreover, a significant positive relationship was found to exist between professional communication and professional values (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Considering the significance of the concept of professional communication and its connection with professional values, it is recommended that operating room personnel and physicians receive systematic education about professional communication and the harms of destructive attitudes as part of their academic education and afterwards.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Teach-back Training on Asthma Control Indicators.

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases that cause respiratory problems. Different training programs can effectively alleviate its symptoms and minimize the complications. This study aimed to determine the effect of a training program on asthma control. Materials and Methods: This interventional study was performed on patients referred to clinics affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Cases were selected by convenience sampling and divided into two intervention and control groups, each consisting of 29 patients. Before the training program, data were collected using an asthma control questionnaire and a spirometry test, and they were analyzed using statistical tests and software. Results: The results showed that after the intervention, the mean of all spirometry test indices and asthma control scores of the questionnaire increased in the experimental group. Alterations in the mean scores of the clinical manifestations and spirometry indices (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25%-75%) before and after the intervention in the experimental group were significant. After the intervention, all spirometry indices were increased in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed the effectiveness of teach-back training in managing asthmatic patients. Therefore, this intervention can be used as an effective method to control asthma along with other methods such as exercise and medications.

Challenges Associated With Patient Transfer From Postanesthesia Care Unit to Surgical Unit in Iran: A Mixed-Method Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the entire spectrum of challenges associated with the process of patient transfer from the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) to the surgical unit. DESIGN: The study employed a mixed-method design with concurrent triangulation approach. METHODS: The study was conducted during July-December 2018 at three teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. A total of 23 health-care providers involved with the patient transfer process from the PACU and surgical unit were recruited. Data were collected using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative study included 25 structured observations. The qualitative study included 12 unstructured observations, individual semistructured in-depth interviews (n = 13), and focused group sessions (n = 3). Data were managed using MAXQDA.10 software and analyzed using SPSS software (version 22.0). FINDINGS: Based on qualitative data, 4 main categories and 14 subcategories were extracted. The main categories were "Multifarious Activities of Nurses", "Insufficient Organizational Resources", "Task-oriented Approach", and "Deficient Professional Performance". Results showed that 51% of patient-specific information, 64% of anesthesia information, and 74% of surgical information was not transferred during patient handoffs. CONCLUSIONS: Insufficient organizational resources and deficient professional performance were identified as the main challenges associated with the transfer process of postoperative patients. Our findings provide a better understanding of these challenges and encourage health policymakers and planners to resolve these issues to promote patient safety during handoffs.

Translation and Psychometric Assessment of the Postoperative Handover Assessment Tool.

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to translate and validate the Postoperative Handover Assessment Tool (PoHAT) in the Persian language. DESIGN: The study used a descriptive, mixed-method design. METHODS: The present descriptive, mixed-method study was conducted in 2018 at Shahid Rajaee Hospital and Shiraz Nursing and Midwifery School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran), to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the PoHAT. The original version of PoHAT was translated into the Persian language and then back-translated for comparison. The face validity (qualitative), content validity (qualitative and quantitative), construct validity (experimental intervention method), and reliability (inter-rater reliability, internal consistency) of the Persian version of the PoHAT were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 22. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. FINDINGS: The content validity ratio of all the 34 items of the Persian version of the PoHAT ranged between 0.66 and 1. The content validity index for all items was within the acceptable range (between 0.92 and 1). The result of construct validity, using the experimental intervention method, showed a significant difference between before and after intervention (P < .05). The correlation coefficient for inter-rater reliability of all subscales (information, tasks, teamwork) and the total checklist was 0.89, 0.80, 0.94, and 0.85, respectively; the coefficient was significant for all subscales (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The validity and reliability of the 34-item Persian version of the PoHAT were confirmed. The application of the PoHAT to assess the process and quality of postoperative handover in Iran and other Persian-speaking countries is recommended.

The Effect of Benson's Relaxation Technique on Pain Intensity, Belief, Perception, and Acceptance in adult Hemophilia Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Most hemophilia patients experience pain in their lives. Some complementary interventions might affect pain belief. This study aimed to determine the effect of Benson's relaxation technique on pain intensity, pain belief and perception, and pain acceptance in hemophilia patients. METHODS: In this clinical trial study, 80 hemophilia patients were divided into an intervention (relaxation technique) and a control (routine care) group based on block randomization. This study was conducted in the hemophilia center of Shahid Dastgheib hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from October to December 2018. The intervention group listened to a voice containing relaxation technique twice a day for eight weeks. Numeric rating scale, pain belief and perception inventory, and chronic pain acceptance questionnaires were completed at the beginning and eight weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 using independent t-test, Paired-t-test, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test, and ANCOVA. P-value <0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: After the intervention, the mean scores of pain intensity, pain belief and perception inventory, and pain acceptance in the intervention group were 4.26±2.17, -13.35±1.50, and 67.24±9.49 and in the control groups were 5.85±2.61, -2±1.70, and 56.57±11.04, respectively. After the intervention, a difference was found between the groups regarding the mean score of pain intensity (P=0.007), pain belief and perception inventory (P<0.001) and its subscales (P<0.05) as well as total pain acceptance (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed relaxation technique can be applied to reduce these patients' pain intensity, improve their pain belief and perception, and enhance their pain acceptance. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: IRCT20180311039037N1.

The characteristics that propel Iranian MS students of nursing into self-directed learning: A qualitative research.

BACKGROUND: Rapid scientific progression in today's world has caused a significant decrease in the half-life of knowledge in different scientific fields. An effective way to be up-to-date in this ever changing world is to be a self-directed learner. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the characteristics that propel Iranian MSc students of nursing into self-directed learning. METHODS: A qualitative design using conventional content analysis approach was used in this study. Totally, 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with fourteen MSc nursing students and three instructors from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences selected using purposive sampling. Data collection and analysis were run concurrently and continued until data saturation. RESULTS: Data analysis indicated that self-directed students had various characteristics that motivated them towards learning. These characteristics were categorized into three main themes, including "openness to experience", "motivation to improve", and "socio-professional commitment", and sixteen subthemes. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that some characteristics facilitated and directed the process of self-directed learning and helped the students to attain their learning goals. Since some of these characteristics can be acquired and improved during education, their recognition can provide a foundation for their development in different levels of academic learning, especially in higher education.

The Effect of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Cardiac Chest Pain Management Training on Perceived Control, Depression, Stress and Anxiety in the Spouses of the Patients with Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death is the most common cause of mortality worldwide. Most cases occur at home and the individuals most likely witnessed are family members. Spouses play a significant role in the recovery of such patients. We aimed to investigate the effect of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and cardiac chest pain management trainings on the perceived control, depression, stress and anxiety in the spouses of the patients with Myocardial Infarction (MI). METHODS: The present randomized controlled trial study was performed on 78 spouses of the patients admitted to Cardiac Care Unit of the hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from August 2013 to April 2014. The subjects were randomly assigned into intervention (n=40) and control groups (n=38). The intervention group took part in educational workshop on CPR and cardiac chest pain management and followed-up for six weeks. Data were collected using Depression Anxiety Stress (DASS) Scale and Rotter's internal-external locus of Control Scale. Statistical methods of data analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi-squared test, paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test, one way analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of covariance. RESULTS: There were significant differences between intervention and control groups in perceived control and DASS subscales. After the intervention, perceived control scores reduced from 9.42±3.33 to 8.15±3.65 (P=0.001); depression from 28.85±11.99 to 21.65±8.64 (P=0.001); anxiety from 26.6±9.46 to 20.70±6.29 (P=0.02); and stress from 30.20±10.91 to 24.32±10.23 (P=0.01) in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: CPR and cardiac chest pain management trainings could effectively improve the perceived control, depression, anxiety, and stress in the spouses of the patients with MI. Trial Registration Number: IRCT201310128124N2.

Development of Parental Competence Scale in Parents of Children with Autism.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to develop and psychometrically of parental competence scale in parents of children with autism. DESIGN & METHODS: This mixed-methods design with a sequential exploratory approach was conducted in May 2017 until June 2018 in the south of Iran. In the first phase, a conventional content analysis method was performed with the participation of 16 parents of children with autism. Interviews were held in the autism association offices in an urban area of Iran. In the second phase, validity and reliability of this instrument were assessed with 300 parents of children with autism. RESULTS: During content validity testing, 12 items were deleted. Content validity ratio and index were 0.75 and 0.85, respectively. In face validity, impact scores for all items were reported as >1.5. Factor analysis led to the development of a 2-factor solution accounting for 71.4% of the observed variance. Reliability of the instrument using the calculation of the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was reported as 0.98 for the entire instrument. No statistically significant difference was reported between the pre and post-test scores of parental competence (p = 0.46). The parental competence scale demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. CONCLUSION: The parental competence scale demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. Therefore, this scale can be used for assessing parental competence in parents of children with autism. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This scale can be used in future research and for educational and practical purposes with the aim of identifying parents' issues and improving the quality of life of parents of children with autism.

Parental Competence in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: This work aimed to define and assess the parental competence of parents with autistic children. METHODS: This study was conducted through a systematic review. The search was done in databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, Wiley Scopus, Pro Quest, Web of Science, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and Ovid by using keywords, like "children, autism, parenting, competence, and scale" from 1974 to 2019. Inclusion criteria were that the article should be quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies in nursing, psychology, and medicine; the full text of the article should be available and the article should be in English or Persian. RESULTS: Competence among these parents was affected by more factors and they reported lower competence compared to other parents. Moreover, only two instruments were available to assess parenting competence, which were not designed for parents of autistic children. Variables and factors affecting parenting competence has not been examined well in parents of children with autism, and no specialized instrument is available to evaluate parenting competence in parents with autistic children either. CONCLUSIONS: Although parental competence has been known as the main element to improve the quality of care, it has been studied restrictively from the viewpoints of the parents of children with autism. Therefore, the development of this concept is highly essential for clinical application and investigating its outcomes support.

Parents' Perspectives on Family Violence against Children with Autism.

BACKGROUND: Children are among the most susceptible groups of family violence and this is an important and worrying issue all over the world. Children with disabilities are more vulnerable to family violence. Children with autism are exposed to various types of violence due to their wide range of disabilities, as well as high tensions that are imposed on their families. Family violence against children with autism has not been studied in Iran, therefore, this study was conducted to explain the concept of family violence against children with autism from the perspectives of parents in Iran. METHODS: This is a qualitative research study. Data were gathered using individual and semi-structured interviews. Eighteen parents of autistic children were selected using purposeful sampling. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze and interpret the data. RESULTS: Four themes for family violence were defined with 9 sub-categories including physical violence, emotional violence, verbal violence and Sexual violence. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the present study from the perspective of parents, autistic children need to be cared and educated in a safe environment where they are free from any kind of violence. Their privacy and individual identities are respected, and they are provided with the required treatment and education. These conditions would maintain the dignity of such children and consequently result in appropriate behavioral outcomes. Therefore, it is suggested that a culturally sound, and stable background be provided, which when supported by professional caregivers, will ensure that the rights of autistic children are protected and emphasized.

Parental Competence in Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Objective. This work aimed to define and assess the parental competence of parents with autistic children. Methods. This study was conducted through a systematic review. The search was done in databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, Wiley Scopus, Pro Quest, Web of Science, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and Ovid by using keywords, like "children, autism, parenting, competence, and scale" from 1974 to 2019. Inclusion criteria were that the article should be quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies in nursing, psychology, and medicine; the full text of the article should be available and the article should be in English or Persian. Results. Competence among these parents was affected by more factors and they reported lower competence compared to other parents. Moreover, only two instruments were available to assess parenting competence, which were not designed for parents of autistic children. Variables and factors affecting parenting competence has not been examined well in parents of children with autism, and no specialized instrument is available to evaluate parenting competence in parents with autistic children either. Conclusion. Although parental competence has been known as the main element to improve the quality of care, it has been studied restrictively from the viewpoints of the parents of children with autism. Therefore, the development of this concept is highly essential for clinical application and investigating its outcomes support.

Objetivo. Evaluar la competencia parental de los padres con hijos autistas. Métodos. Revisión sistemática narrativa. La búsqueda se realizó en las bases de datos de la Biblioteca Cochrane, PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, Wiley Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Elsevier, Google Scholar y Ovid, mediante el uso de las palabras clave "niños, autismo, crianza, competencia y escala". Los criterios de inclusión fueron: artículos originales o de revisión publicados entre 1974 a 2019; estudios cuantitativos, cualitativos o de métodos mixtos en las disciplinas de enfermería, psicología o medicina, y estar disponible en texto completo en inglés. Resultados. La competencia de los padres de niños con trastorno del espectro autista fue menor en comparación con padres de niños sin este trastorno. Existen dos escalas para la evaluación de la competencia parental, pero no se diseñaron para su evaluación en padres de niños autistas. Los factores que afectan la competencia parental tampoco se han examinado exclusivamente para estos padres. Conclusión. Aunque se sabe que la competencia de los padres es un elemento primordial para mejorar la calidad del cuidado del niño con autismo, el tema se ha estudiado de manera restrictiva. Es necesario el desarrollo de este concepto para la aplicación en la práctica clínica y para la investigación de sus resultados.

Objetivo. Avaliar a competência parental dos pais com filhos autistas. Métodos. Revisão sistemática narrativa. A busca se realizou nas bases de dados da Biblioteca Cochrane, PubMed, CINAHL, Science Direct, Wiley Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Elsevier, Google Scholar e Ovid, mediante o uso das palavras clave "crianças, autismo, criança, competência e escala". Os critérios de inclusão foram: artigos originais ou de revisão, publicados entre 1974 a 2019, ser estudos quantitativos, qualitativos ou de métodos mistos, nas disciplinas de enfermagem, psicologia ou medicina, e estar disponível em texto completo em inglês. Resultados. A competência dos pais de crianças com transtorno do espectro autista foi menor em comparação com pais de crianças sem este transtorno. Existem duas escalas para a avaliação da competência parental, mas não foram desenhadas para sua avaliação em pais de crianças autistas. Os fatores que afetam a competência parental tampouco se hão examinado exclusivamente para estes pais. Conclusão. Embora se sabe que a competência dos pais é um elemento primordial para melhorar a qualidade do cuidado da criança com autismo, o tema se há estudado de maneira restritiva. É necessário o desenvolvimento deste conceito para a aplicação na prática clínica e para a investigação de sus resultados.