The effects of electronic nursing handover on patient safety in the general (non-COVID-19) and COVID-19 intensive care units: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: The unprecedented increase in the nurses' workload is one of the issues affecting the quality and safety of patient care in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The electronic nursing handover can share sufficient, relevant, and necessary data about patients with greater efficiency and accuracy and prevent their information from being deleted. Therefore, this study aimed to determine and compare the effect of the Electronic Nursing Handover System (ENHS) on patient safety in General ICU and COVID-19 ICU. METHOD: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted during an 8-month period from 22 to 2021 to 26 June 2022 using a test-retest design. A total of 29 nurses working in the General and COVID-19 ICUs participated in this study. Data were collected using a five-part questionnaire consisting of demographic information, handover quality, handover efficiency, error reduction, and handover time. Data analysis was conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) using the chi-squared test, paired t-test, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: The results showed that the mean scores of handover quality and efficiency, reduction of clinical error, and handover time in the electronic handover were significantly higher than those obtained in the paper-based method. The results showed that the mean score of patient safety in the COVID-19 ICU was 177.40 ± 30.416 for the paper-based handover and 251.40 ± 29.049 for the electronic handover (p = .0001). Moreover, the mean score of patient safety in the general ICU was 209.21 ± 23.072 for the paper-based handover and 251.93 ± 23.381 for the electronic one (p = .0001). CONCLUSION: The use of ENHS significantly improved the quality and efficiency of shift handover, reduced the possibility of clinical error, saved handover time, and finally increased patient safety compared to the paper-based method. The results also showed the positive perspectives of ICU nurses toward the positive effect of ENHS on the patient safety improvement.

Single and Combined Use of Benson Relaxation Technique and Oxygen Therapy on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Gastric Cancer Patients.

BACKGROUND: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complications of chemotherapy encountered by cancer patients. To alleviate these complications and reduce patients' problems, it is necessary to use complementary methods. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of single and combined use of the Benson relaxation technique and oxygen therapy on chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and retching in patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: This is a single-blind, four-arm, 2 × 2 factorial-design randomized clinical trial, in which a total of 100 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled and assigned to four groups of relaxation therapy, oxygen therapy, combined therapy, and control (n = 25 in each group) using simple random allocation. The intervention program included the application of Benson relaxation technique, supplemental oxygen therapy, and a combination of both. The control group merely received routine care. Data were collected using the Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting Form 2 (INV-2). RESULTS: The results of the Kruskal-Wallis H test showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of nausea, vomiting, retching, and acute phase between the four groups (p = 0.001). However, there was a statistically significant difference only in the mean score of retching in this regard for the delayed phase (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Overall, the single use of Benson relaxation technique and the combined use of this technique and oxygen therapy were shown to be more effective in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Investigation of Relationship between Occupational Stress and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Nurses.

BACKGROUND: One of the major causes of various work-related health problems among nurses is occupational stress. Hence, the main purpose of the present research was to find association between occupational stress of nurses and risk factors of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the Osipow job stress questionnaire was employed to assess the occupational stress among the 250 nurses in Emam Khomeini hospital of Tehran in 2018. Based on stress score for participants, subjects divided into two groups: Scoring of group one was 60-179 (mild and average stress) and group two between 180 and 300 (average to acute and acute stress). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were recorded for subjects after 10hrs fasting. Then the blood samples were collected to measure cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels. For determining the association between education level, job experience and study groups, the Chi-square test and for comparing job stress between two groups of study the Mann-Whitney U test was used. RESULTS: Subjects with job stress in group one was 70(28%) and group two was 180(72%). The association between level of education and two study groups was not significant (P=0.129) while between job experience and two study groups was significant (P=0.004). Mean of Blood glucose levels for group I (98.0± 37.5), was higher than group II (82.5±12.0) and statistically significant (P=0.001). No significant difference was found between two groups of study for other parameters. CONCLUSION: High level of work-related stress among subjects affected the values related to blood glucose level, but no significant relationship was found between other risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and occupational stress among nurses.

Study of the role of regular physical activity on promoting hedonism and eudaimonia in breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Individuals who have completed cancer treatment may have psychological and physical challenges. Participating in regular physical activity is considered as one of the most important factors for improving postcancer experience. AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of participating in physical activities on hedonism and eudaimonia among breast cancer survivors. METHODS: The research method was a semi-experimental design in the form of time-series using two experimental and control groups. 42 breast cancer survivors participated in this study in Urmia. Data using motives for activation of hedonism and eudiamonia (HEMA) were gathered before the intervention program (pre-test), at the end of intervention (the first post-test), and two weeks after the first post-test (the second post-test). For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (T-test, Chi-square, and repeated measures ANOVA) were used. RESULT: Repeated measures ANOVA analysis in the three different periods of pre-test, post-test, and a month later post-test showed that changes in the mean score of hedonism and eudaimonia motivation were not similar in the two groups and indicated the improvement of dialysis adequacy in the intervention group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Generally, the results showed that participating in regular physical activity is an effective intervention on enhancing the motives for hedonism and eduaimonia in breast cancer survivors.

Intention to Leave the Nursing Profession and Its Relation with Work Climate and Demographic Characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Because of the importance of staff shortage in health systems, considering the intention to leave the job and its related factors among nurses is very important. The aim of this study was to identify the association between the intention to leave the nursing profession and work climate and demographic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 206 nurses, by random sampling method from six hospitals (response rate = 92%). A set of self-administered questionnaires were applied for the evaluation of intention to leave and work climate. RESULTS: The high level of intention to leave the profession was expressed by 23.70% of the participants; 25.10% of the participants had the moderate intention. Data analysis revealed that work climate, type of employment, marital status, and overtime working were significant predictors of nurses' intention to leave after controlling other independent variables (R2 = 0.10, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that work climate and some demographic characteristics can be seen as indicators for intention to leave among nurses; therefore, considering the so-called variables is required. Further studies are needed to identify other aspects of the issue.

Social support and posttraumatic growth in Iranian burn survivors: The mediating role of spirituality.

BACKGROUND: Social support and spirituality are important issues among burn survivors that appear to affect their posttraumatic growth (PTG). AIM: To investigate the relationship between social support and PTG in Iranian burn survivors, as mediated by their perceptions of spiritual well-being. METHOD: This is a correlation study with a cross-sectional design, and it uses anonymous questionnaires as study instruments (i.e. Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Spiritual Well-Being Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support). A total of 118 questionnaires were sent to participants by post. Nine envelopes were not returned, and seven questionnaires were incompletely filled. Data were collected from 102 burn survivors who had a history of hospitalisation at Imam Khomeini Teaching Hospitals of Urmia, the capital of Western Azerbaijan Province, northwest of Iran. Structural equation modelling and bootstrapping procedures were employed to identify the mediating role of their perceptions of spiritual well-being. RESULTS: The mean scores of social support (ranging from 12 to 84), PTG (ranging from 0 to 105) and the spirituality (ranging from 20 to120) among the participants were 56.96, 78.13 and 92.15, respectively. The results confirmed our hypothesised model. All the latent variables (variables that are not directly observed but are rather inferred from other variables that are observed (directly measured by items of an instrument)) of study were significantly correlated in the predicted directions. Social support and spirituality were significant predictors of PTG. Spirituality partially mediated the relationship between social support and PTG. The mediating role of the spirituality suggests that social support increases PTG, both directly and indirectly. CONCLUSION: The mediating role of spirituality should provide new visions for the augmentation of PTG in burn survivors.

Relationship with Emotional Intelligence and General Health among Male Smoker Staff in Urmia University of Medical Sciences.

Introduction: One of the important factors in determining success in life is emotional intelligence. It could be considered as a protective factor against health threatening behaviors, including smoking. Considering the effect of emotional intelligence on the health of people and the amount of smoking in smokers, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and general health in the male smokers. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 350 male smokers who were working in Uremia University of Medical Sciences were recruited, using convenience sampling. The instruments used in this study were demographic information questionnaires, Cyberia Shrink standard questionnaire, and 28-Question General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results: The mean score (SD) of emotional intelligence and the mean score (SD) of general health were 110.26 (16.24) and 23. 60 (13.27), respectively. There was a significant negative relationship between emotional intelligence and general health scores. Conclusion: Individuals with higher emotional intelligence scores had a better physical and mental health status. Therefore, teaching emotional intelligence can increase physical and mental health of the individuals through reducing risky behaviors.

Hypnosis for reduction of background pain and pain anxiety in men with burns: A blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION: 'Background pain' and 'pain anxiety' are among the numerous problems of patients with burns. Non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions have been used to reduce background pain and pain anxiety. This study compared the effectiveness of hypnosis and 'neutral hypnosis' (as a placebo in the control group) in decreasing the background burn pain and pain anxiety of adult male survivors with burns. DESIGN: This is a blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled study. METHODS: Sixty men with burns were included in the minimisation method (30 individuals in the intervention group and 30 individuals in the control group). Four hypnotherapy sessions were performed every other day for each participant in the intervention group. Four neutral hypnosis sessions were performed every other day in the control group. Burn pain and pain anxiety of the patients in both groups were measured at the end of the second and fourth sessions. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in the reduction in background pain intensity. There was a significant reduction in background pain quality and pain anxiety in the intervention group during the four hypnosis sessions. After two hypnotherapy sessions, a significant reduction was observed in the level of background pain quality and pain anxiety of participants. CONCLUSION: Hypnosis is effective in reducing background pain quality and pain anxiety of men with burns.