Effects of a peer- led group education on fear, anxiety and depression levels of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of the peer group education on the fear, anxiety and depression levels of the patients undergoing angiography. METHODS: In this clinical trial, 70 patients referred to Vali-E-Asr clinic of Fasa (Iran) for undergoing coronary angiography were selected by random sampling and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group (n=35) received the necessary instructions about coronary angiography by those in a trained peer group (Two former patients, having experienced in the procedure), while in the control group (n=35) the routine instructions were presented by the department's nurses. The levels of fear, anxiety and depression of the patients were measured both before and after conducting this intervention. RESULTS: The mean score of the patients' fear and anxiety after the intervention of the peers in the experimental group was reduced compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). But for the mean of the score of the depression test, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that utilizing the peer group education is effective for reducing the fear and anxiety of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Efectos de la educación grupal realizada por pares sobre los niveles de miedo, ansiedad y depresión de los pacientes sometidos a angiografía coronaria / Efeitos da educação grupal realizada por pares sobre os níveis de medo, ansiedade e depressão dos pacientes submetidos a angiografia coronária / Effects of a peer- led group education on fear, anxiety and depression levels of patients undergoing coronary angiography

Objective. To investigate the effect of the peer group education on the fear, anxiety and depression levels of the patients undergoing angiography. Methods. In this clinical trial, 70 patients referred to Vali-E-Asr clinic of Fasa (Iran) for undergoing coronary angiography were selected by random sampling and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group (n=35) received the necessary instructions about coronary angiography by those in a trained peer group (Two former patients, having experienced in the procedure), while in the control group (n=35) the routine instructions were presented by the department's nurses. The levels of fear, anxiety and depression of the patients were measured both before and after conducting this intervention. Results. The mean score of the patients' fear and anxiety after the intervention of the peers in the experimental group was reduced compared to that of the control group (p<0.05). But for the mean of the score of the depression test, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion. The results of this study showed that utilizing the peer group education is effective for reducing the fear and anxiety of patients undergoing coronary angiography. (AU)

Objetivo. Investigar el efecto de la educación grupal realizada por pares sobre los niveles de miedo, ansiedad y depresión de los pacientes sometidos a angiografía. Métodos. En este ensayo clínico, 70 pacientes remitidos a la clínica Vali-E-Asr de Fasa (Irán) para someterse a una angiografía coronaria se seleccionaron por muestreo aleatorio y divididos en dos grupos. El grupo experimental (n=35) recibió las instrucciones sobre la angiografía coronaria por parte de pares (dos pacientes que habían sido sometidos previamente a angiografía), mientras que al grupo de control (n=35) las enfermeras del departamento les brindaron la instrucción de rutina. Los niveles de miedo, ansiedad y depresión de los pacientes se midieron antes y después de realizar esta intervención. Resultados. La puntuación media del miedo y la ansiedad de los pacientes después de la educación grupal efectuada por los pares en el grupo experimental fue menor en comparación con la del grupo control (p<0.05), pero para la media del puntaje de la prueba de depresión no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos. Conclusión. Los resultados de este estudio mostraron que la utilización de los pares para la educación grupal de los pacientes que serán sometidos a angiografía coronaria es efectiva para reducir el miedo y la ansiedad. (AU)

Objetivo. Investigar o efeito da educação grupal realizada por pares sobre os níveis de medo, ansiedade e depressão dos pacientes submetidos a angiografia. Métodos. Neste ensaio clínico, 70 pacientes remitidos à clínica Vali-E-Asr de Fasa (Irão) para submeter-se a uma angiografia coronária foram selecionados por amostragem aleatório e divididos em dois grupos. O grupo experimental (n=35) recebeu as instruções sobre a angiografia coronária por parte de pares (dois pacientes que haviam sido submetidos previamente a angiografia), enquanto que ao grupo de controle (n=35) as enfermeiras do departamento lhes brindaram a instrução de rotina. Os níveis de medo, ansiedade e depressão dos pacientes se mediram antes e depois de realizar esta intervenção. Resultados. A pontuação média do medo e a ansiedade dos pacientes depois da educação grupal efetuada pelos pares no grupo experimental foi menor em comparação com a do grupo de controle (p<0.05), mas para a média da pontuação da prova de depressão, não se encontraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os dois grupos. Conclusão. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que a utilização dos pares para a educação grupal dos pacientes que serão submetidos a angiografia coronária é efetiva para reduzir o medo e a ansiedade. (AU)

Hyaluronic acid compared with corticosteroid injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized control trail.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints that takes place when the cartilage or a low friction surface between joints breaks down which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) in comparison to corticosteroids (CS) for knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: 140 patients with knee osteoarthritis, who were followed for 3 months, were randomized to receive intra-articular injection of either hyaluronic acid or corticosteroid. By receiving one injection of drug during the enrollment in the study, the patients were treated. With the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the visual analog pain scale, an independent, blinded evaluator assessed the patients three times. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the corticosteroid group were 57 ± 1.9 years and in Hyaluronic acid group were 58.5 ± 8.3 years. WOMAC score represented that pain and stiffness did not improve in neither groups at any time points after intervention (P > 0.05). KOOS score suggested that symptoms improved after 3 months in both CS and HA groups. Besides, daily activity improved in both groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As a conclusion, it is argued that the most important difference between the two intervention groups is the duration of effectiveness. HA is suggested to be superior in the duration of pain relief when compared to CS. We can propose that HA can be administered every 3 months intra-articular for knee joint OA. Therefore, when CS has to be injected every 2 months, it will be more convenient to use HA.