Effect of a smartphone-based online electronic logbook to evaluate the clinical skills of nurse anesthesia students in Iran: a randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate a smartphone-based online electronic logbook used to assess the clinical skills of nurse anesthesia students in Iran. METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted after tool development at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz, Iran from January 2022 to December 2022. The online electronic logbook involved in this study was an Android-compatible application used to evaluate the clinical skills of nurse anesthesia students. In the implementation phase, the online electronic logbook was piloted for 3 months in anesthesia training in comparison with a paper logbook. For this purpose, 49 second- and third-year anesthesia nursing students selected using the census method were assigned to intervention (online electronic logbook) and control (paper logbook) groups. The online electronic logbook and paper logbook were compared in terms of student satisfaction and learning outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 39 students participated in the study. The mean satisfaction score of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P=0.027). The mean score of learning outcomes was also significantly higher for the intervention than the control group (P=0.028). CONCLUSION: Smartphone technology can provide a platform for improving the evaluation of the clinical skills of nursing anesthesia students, leading to increased satisfaction and improved learning outcomes.

How do nursing students experience the clinical learning environment and respond to their experiences? A qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: On entry into the clinical environment, nursing students are confronted with many challenges. It is a common problem throughout the world, including Iran. Although many studies have been conducted on the problems of nursing students in the clinical environment, limited information is available on nursing students' experiences of the clinical learning environment and the way they respond to these experiences. Identifying nursing students' experiences is essential to develop interventions to reduce challenges. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore nursing students' experiences in a clinical learning environment and the way they responded to these experiences. DESIGN: The present study was conducted based on the qualitative research design of the grounded theory methodology. SETTING: This study was conducted at schools of nursing in academic settings in Iran. PARTICIPANTS: The participants included 19 nursing students, 4 nursing instructors and 3 clinical nurses. METHODS: The data were collected using semistructured interviews, field notes and observation, and were analysed using Strauss and Corbin's approach. RESULTS: Students, as a result of the inadequacy of the educational environment, were faced with 'confusion of identity', stating this as their main concern. When confronted with this concern, they employed specific strategies, some of which prevented them from getting into unpleasant conditions. These strategies did not help students solve their problems and also prevented them from accepting their professional roles and responsibilities. Conversely, some other strategies led them to advanced professional development and enabled them to accept their role and the clinical environment. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, educational policymakers should focus on improving the clinical environment. Identifying professional models and increasing their influence on management, education and clinical education, as well as teaching positive and constructive strategies, will promote positive strategies in coping with inadequate educational contexts. This is necessary for the professional development of nursing students.

Investigation of the Relationship between Psychological Variables and Sleep Quality in Students of Medical Sciences.

OBJECTIVES: Students of medical sciences are exposed to many emotional and mental problems. In light of the importance of sleep quality in learning and liveliness, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between psychological variables (stress, anxiety, and depression) and sleep quality of students. DESIGN: This research is a cross-sectional analytical study, where all students studying at Fasa University of Medical Sciences in 2012-2013 year were selected. To examine the students' stress, anxiety, and depression values, the standardized 21-item DASS-21 was used, and to examine their sleep quality, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used. RESULTS: The results of the study demonstrated that 73% of the students have moderate and severe stress, and 46.4% of them have PSQ scores ≥ 5. The students' mean sleep quality score was 4.65 ± 2.37, and their stress score was 8.09 ± 5.14. A statistically significant relationship was found between the students' stress levels and sleep quality (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The high stress levels decrease students' sleep quality. High stress levels and also the significant relationship between stress value and decrease in students' sleep quality call for more attention to and care for students' emotional and mental issues and timely proper interference on the part of authorities.

The Challenges of Nursing Students in the Clinical Learning Environment: A Qualitative Study.

Background/Aim. Clinical learning is a main part of nursing education. Students' exposure to clinical learning environment is one of the most important factors affecting the teaching-learning process in clinical settings. Identifying challenges of nursing students in the clinical learning environment could improve training and enhance the quality of its planning and promotion of the students. We aimed to explore Iranian nursing students' challenges in the clinical learning environment. Materials and Methods. This is a qualitative study using the content analysis approach. The participants consisted of seventeen nursing students and three nursing instructors. The participants were selected through purposive sampling method and attended semistructured interviews and focus groups. Results. Three themes emerged after data analysis, including ineffective communications, inadequate readiness, and emotional reactions. Conclusion. Nursing students in Iran are faced with many challenges in the clinical learning environment. All challenges identified in this study affected the students' learning in clinical setting. Therefore, we recommend that the instructors prepare students with a specific focus on their communication and psychological needs.

Effectiveness of video information on coronary angiography patients' outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography is a widely used invasive procedure for diagnosis of coronary artery diseases. The patients benefit from information about an invasive diagnostic procedure. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two educational methods (video information vs. verbal information) on the level of satisfaction, comfort, tolerability and on the heart rate and blood pressure of patients undergoing coronary angiography. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial design was employed in this study. 128 patients candidate for coronary angiography were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 64) and control (n = 64) groups. The data were collected from January to April 2009. The experimental group watched an informative video about the procedure of coronary angiography as well as pre- and post-angiography care, while the control group received only routine verbal education by nurses. Heart rate and blood pressure were obtained at baseline and after educational intervention. The levels of comfort, satisfaction, and tolerability were measured after the procedure. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS soft ware (Version, 11.5). RESULTS: The experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease in the heart rate and blood pressure after the educational intervention compared to the control group (P < .001). The patients in the experimental group had significantly higher levels of comfort, satisfaction, and tolerability than the control group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients' education using an informative video before coronary angiography can effectively maximize the patients' outcome. The results of this study confirm the usefulness of video information prior to an invasive coronary angiography procedure.