Pattern of Internet Use by Iranian Nursing Students. Facilitators and Barriers

Abstract Objective. To evaluate the pattern of internet use and factors that facilitate or dissuade its use among nursing students from a university in Urmia, Iran. Methods. A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted with 162 nursing students selected through simple random sampling. Results. The findings indicated that 49.1% of the students used the internet from 15 to 60 min per day. The principal use of the internet was to search for scientific content in the Web. Factors that facilitated internet use were "ease of use" and "Access to experts to solve problems and answer questions", while the dissuasive factors were "lack of concentration", "cost of internet services", and preference for information provided by professors or available directly in textbooks. Internet use by the students was related with the use of this tool in classroom activities and with English fluency. Conclusion. Students have an internet use pattern aimed at self-study that should be strengthened with knowledge of English, assignments online, familiarization with the use of electronic databases, and other strategies to motivate them to use this technology with greater frequency.

Resumen Objetivo. Evaluar el patrón de uso del Internet y los factores que facilitan o disuaden su uso entre los estudiantes de enfermería de una universidad en Urmia, Irán. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en 162 estudiantes de enfermería seleccionados a través de un muestreo aleatorio simple. Resultados. Los hallazgos indicaron que el 49.1 % de los estudiantes usaron Internet de 15 a 60 minutos por día. El principal uso del Internet fue la búsqueda de contenido científico en la Web. Los factores que facilitaron el uso de internet fueron la "facilidad de uso" y el "acceso a expertos para resolver problemas y responder preguntas", mientras que los factores disuasivos fueron la "falta de concentración", el "costo de los servicios de Internet" y la preferencia por la información suministrada por profesores o disponible directamente en los libros. El uso del Internet por los estudiantes estuvo relacionado con empleo de esta herramienta en las actividades del salón de clase y con el dominio del idioma inglés. Conclusión. Los estudiantes tienen un patrón de uso del Internet encaminado al auto-estudio que debe fortalecerse en conocimiento del idioma inglés, asignaturas en línea, familiarización con el uso de bases electrónicas y otras estrategias para motivarlos a usar esta tecnología con mayor frecuencia.

Resumo Objetivo. Avaliar o padrão de uso da Internet e os fatores que facilitam ou dissuadem seu uso entre os estudantes de enfermagem de uma universidade em Urmia, Irã. Métodos. Se realizou um estudo descritivo de corte transversal em 162 estudantesde enfermagem que foram selecionados através de uma amostra aleatória simples. Resultados. As descobertas indicaram que 49.1% dos estudantes usaram Internet de 15 a 60 minutos por dia. O principal uso da Internet foi a busca de conteúdo científico na Web. Os fatores que facilitaram o uso de internet foram a "facilidade de uso" e o "acesso à especialistas para resolver problemas e responder perguntas", enquanto que os fatores dissuasivos foram a "falta de concentração", o "custo dos serviços de Internet" e a preferência pela informação subministrada por professores ou disponíveis diretamente nos livros. O uso da Internet pelos estudantes esteve relacionado com emprego desta ferramenta nas atividades da aula e com o domínio do idioma inglês. Conclusão. Os estudantes têm um padrão de uso da Internet encaminhado ao auto-estudo que deve fortalecer-se em conhecimento do idioma inglês, matérias em linha, familiarização com o uso de bases eletrônicas, e outras estratégias para motivá-los a usar com maior frequência esta tecnologia

An evaluation of adherence to ethical codes among nurses and nursing students.

Ethical codes are instructions that shape ethical behavior and determine which values and beliefs should be accepted. These codes act as a practical guideline in the nursing profession. The present study aimed to compare adherence to ethical codes between the nursing students and working nurses of Valiasr Hospital, affiliated with Fasa University of Medical Sciences in Fars Province, Iran. In this descriptive-analytical study, the data collection tool was nurses' self-reporting questionnaire on adherence to ethical codes devised by Mahdavi Lenji and Ghaedi Heidari, who have also confirmed its validity and reliability. This questionnaire consisted of 3 sections: personal information, ethical codes related to clinical service provision (23 items), and relationship with the treatment team (8 items). A total of 400 individuals (178 nursing students and 222 nurses) were selected through census sampling method. Data were analyzed through descriptive, ANOVA and t-test statistical methods using SPSS 22 software. There was no significant difference between nurses and nursing students in terms of adherence to ethical codes related to clinical service provision, but the latter achieved a significantly higher score in codes on relationship with the treatment team (P = 0.04). Although the score of nursing students was higher than nurses in comparison to the treatment team, they lacked the necessary technical competency to adhere to ethical codes. Therefore, we recommend that nursing instructors and educational managers pay more attention to teaching nursing ethics and supervise their implementation and practicality in clinical environments.

Effect of education on quality of life of family caregivers of children with leukemia referred to the Oncology Clinic at Kerman's Afzali-Poor Hospital (Iran), 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of education on the quality of life of parent of children with leukemia referred to the oncology clinic at Kerman's Afzali-Poor hospital (Iran). METHODOLOGY: This was an interventional study with 80 parents of children with leukemia; all of the caregivers were mothers and were included in the research. They were chosen using the convenience sampling method and categorized randomly into two groups (intervention and control, each with 40 participants). Research tools included demographic information and Quality of Life (QoL) scale (a specific form for first-degree family caregivers of patients with leukemia). Questionnaires were applied at the beginning of the research and after three months; this second evaluation coincided in the study group with the end of the intervention. The intervention lasted four sessions of 45- to 65-minute classes, with lectures and question and answer sessions, educational booklets, and posters in groups with 4 - 6 members. RESULTS: In the first evaluation, mean QoL scores in the study and control groups were 224.9 and 225.7, which, after three months changed to 338.2 and 226.7, respectively. T-test verified these increases (p<0.05) in quality of life in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: According to the effectiveness of the education on the parent's quality of life, it is recommended to implement consulting and educational programs for parents, especially parents of children with leukemia, to promote care, reduce anxiety, and consequently, enhance quality of life.

Effect of education on quality of life of family caregivers of children with leukemia referred to the Oncology Clinic at Kerman's Afzali-Poor Hospital (Iran), 2012 / Efecto de la educación en la calidad de vida de los cuidadores familiares de menores con leucemia referidos a la Clínica Oncológica en el hospital Afzali-Poor en Kerman (Iran), 2012 / Efeito da educação na qualidade de vida dos cuidadores familiares de menores com leucemia referidos à Clínica Oncológica no hospital Afzali-Poor em Kerman (Iran), 2012

Objective. To investigate the impact of education on the quality of life of parent of children with leukemia referred to the oncology clinic at Kerman's Afzali-Poor hospital (Iran). Methodology. This was an interventional study with 80 parents of children with leukemia; all of the caregivers were mothers and were included in the research. They were chosen using the convenience sampling method and categorized randomly into two groups (intervention and control, each with 40 participants). Research tools included demographic information and Quality of Life (QoL) scale (a specific form for first-degree family caregivers of patients with leukemia). Questionnaires were applied at the beginning of the research and after three months; this second evaluation coincided in the study group with the end of the intervention. The intervention lasted four sessions of 45- to 65-minute classes, with lectures and question and answer sessions, educational booklets, and posters in groups with 4 - 6 members. Results. In the first evaluation, mean QoL scores in the study and control groups were 224.9 and 225.7, which, after three months changed to 338.2 and 226.7, respectively. T-test verified these increases (p<0.05) in quality of life in the intervention group. Conclusion. According to the effectiveness of the education on the parent's quality of life, it is recommended to implement consulting and educational programs for parents, especially parents of children with leukemia, to promote care, reduce anxiety, and consequently, enhance quality of life.

Objetivo. Investigar el impacto de la educación en la calidad de vida de padres y madres de menores con leucemia referidos a la clínica de oncología del hospital Afzali-Poor en Kerman (Irán). Metodología. Estudio intervencional con 80 padres de menores con leucemia; todos los cuidadores de familia fueron madres y se incluyeron en la investigación. Fueron seleccionados utilizando el método de muestreo por conveniencia y asignados aleatoriamente en dos grupos (intervención y control, cada uno con 40 participantes). Las herramientas de investigación incluyeron información demográfica y la escala de calidad de vida (formulario específico para familiares de primer grado de consanguinidad cuidadores de menores con leucemia). Las encuestas se aplicaron al inicio de la investigación y luego de tres meses; esta segunda evaluación coincidió en el grupo de estudio con el final de la intervención. La intervención se hizo en cuatro sesiones de clases de 45 a 65 minutos, con conferencias y sesiones de preguntas y respuestas, cartillas educacionales y afiches en grupos con 4 - 6 integrantes. Resultados. En la primera evaluación, las puntuaciones promedio basales de calidad de vida en los grupos de estudio y control fueron 224.9 y 225.7, que, luego de tres meses cambiaron a 338.2 y 22.7, respectivamente. La prueba t verificó estos incrementos (p<0.05) en calidad de vida en el grupo de intervención. Conclusión. Según la efectividad de la educación sobre la calidad de vida de los padres, se recomienda implementar programas educacionales y de consultoría para los padres, específicamente los padres de menores con leucemia, para promover cuidados, reducir ansiedad y, en consecuencia, mejorar la calidad de vida.

Objetivo. Pesquisar o impacto da educação na qualidade de vida de pais e mães de menores com leucemia referidos à clínica de oncologia do hospital Afzali-Poor em Kerman (Irã). Metodologia. Estudo intervencional com 80 pais de menores com leucemia; todos os cuidadores de família foram mães e se incluíram na investigação. Foram selecionados utilizando o método de amostragem por conveniência e atribuídos aleatoriamente em dois grupos (intervenção e controle, cada um com 40 participantes). Ferramentas de investigação incluíram informação demográfica e a escala de qualidade de vida (formulário específico para familiares de primeiro grau de consanguinidade cuidadores de menores com leucemia). As enquetes se aplicaram ao início da investigação e depois de três meses; esta segunda avaliação coincidiu no grupo de estudo com o final da intervenção. A intervenção durou por quatro sessões de classes de 45 a 65 minutos, com conferências e sessões de perguntas e respostas, cartilhas educacionais e cartaz em grupos com 4 - 6 integrantes. Resultados. Na primeira avaliação, as pontuações média de qualidade de vida nos grupos de estudo e controle foram 224.9 e 225.7, que, depois de três meses mudaram a 338.2 e 226.7, respectivamente. A prova t verificou estes incrementos (p<0.05) em qualidade de vida no grupo de intervenção. Conclusão. Segundo a efetividade da educação sobre a qualidade de vida dos pais, recomenda-se implementar programas educacionais e de consultoria para os pais, especificamente os pais de menores com leucemia, para promover cuidados, reduzir ansiedade e, em consequência, melhorar a qualidade de vida.