A comparison between the effects of simulation of basic CPR training and workshops on firefighters' knowledge and skills: experimental study.

BACKGROUND: One of the most common causes of death worldwide is cardiopulmonary arrest. Firefighters are among the first responders at the scenes of accidents and can, therefore, play a key part in performing basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for victims who need it. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of simulation training against workshops on the CPR knowledge and skills of firefighters in the south of Iran. METHODS: This experimental (Interventional) study was conducted on 60 firefighters of south of Fars province, Iran. The study was undertaken from March to July 2023. Through random allocation, the participants were divided into two groups: simulation-based training (30 members) and traditional workshop training (30 members). The participants' CPR knowledge and practical skills were measured before, immediately after, and three months after intervention. RESULTS: The findings of the study revealed a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest CPR knowledge and skill mean scores of the simulation groups as compared to the workshop group (p < 0.001). As measured three months after the intervention, the firefighters' knowledge and skill mean scores were still significantly different from their pretest mean scores (p < 0.001); however, they had declined, which can be attributed to the fact that the study population did not frequently exercise CPR. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of the study, even though both methods of education were effective on enhancing the firefighters' CPR knowledge and skill, simulation training had a far greater impact than training in workshops. In view of the decline in the participants' knowledge and skill scores over time, it is recommended that short simulation training courses on CPR should be repeated on a regular basis.

Ethical challenges as perceived by nurses in pediatric oncology units.

BACKGROUND: Providing care to children with cancer is one of the most challenging areas of ethical care for nurses. Few studies have addressed nurses' perception of the barriers to giving ethical care in oncology departments. Thus, it is essential that the ethical challenges in caregiving as perceived by oncology nurses be investigated. OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to investigate the ethical challenges as perceived by nurses in pediatric oncology units in the south of Iran. RESEARCH DESIGN: The present study is a qualitative work of research with a conventional content analysis design. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis method. PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT: The participants were 21 nurses from pediatric oncology units in state hospitals who were selected by purposeful sampling. Sampling continued until the data were saturated. The study lasted from April to October 2022. FINDINGS: Three main themes, promoting psychological safety in the children, respect for the dignity of the children, and expansion of support for families, and nine subthemes were extracted from the data. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study's protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Medical Sciences and ethical principles were followed throughout the study. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: From the nurses' perspective, the major ethical challenges in providing ethical care in pediatric oncology units were reducing tension toward promoting the patients' psychological safety, showing respect for the identity and dignity of the children with cancer, and expanding support of the patients' families. By creating the right cultural and professional context and establishing proper protocols, healthcare policymakers and administrators can take effective steps toward eliminating the barriers to providing ethical care.

Death anxiety, resilience, and family cohesion in parents of children and adolescents in the end stages of life.

Purpose: Adolescents in the end stages of life impose a lot of psychological stress on other family members, which may affect their resilience and quality of life. So, the aim of the present study was to investigate death anxiety, family adaptability and cohesion, and resilience in the parents of children and adolescents who were at the end stages of life. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. Two hundred and ten parents were selected by convenience sampling and completed the questionnaires such as demographics survey, the death anxiety scale, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, family adaptability, and cohesion scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation), independent t-test, ANOVA, and multiple linear regressions. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Result: The findings showed that death anxiety in parents of children and adolescents in the end stages of life has a significant inverse correlation with family adaptability and cohesion (p < 0.001, r = -0.92) and resilience (p < 0.001, r = -0.90). The variables of family adaptability and cohesion, resilience, number of children, the children's illness duration, and marital status can predict 61.34% of the death anxiety variance in these parents. Conclusion: The parents of children and adolescents in end stages of life reported high death anxiety and moderate family adaptability and cohesion, but low resilience. Accordingly, pediatric nurses and healthcare policymakers should develop comprehensive support plans for these parents to facilitate their adaptation and increase their family adaptability and cohesion.