Workplace Violence Against Iranian Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Nurses are exposed to workplace violence more than other healthcare professionals. This study aims to examine the prevalence of different types of workplace violence against Iranian nurses. A systematic review and meta-analysis were designed according to the PRISMA statement. To avoid bias, all stages of the research were done independently by two researchers. Eligible studies were retrieved from comprehensive search of several electronic databases included Magiran, Barakat Knowledge Network System, IranDoc, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICST), Scientific Information Database (SID), Iranian National Library, PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, and Google Scholar until April 2017. A random effects model was applied to combine studies. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2. In 26 studies, 10,858 nurses entered the meta-analysis process. The mean age and work experience of the nurses were 33.5 ± 7.5 and 10.85 ± 10.1 years, respectively. The prevalence of workplace verbal, physical, sexist, and racist violence and threat against Iranian nurses was 80.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] [74.2, 86.0]), 24.8% (95% CI [17.4, 34.0]), 6.7% (95% CI [4.9, 9.2]), 14.6% (95% CI [10.1, 20.7]), and 44% (95% CI [30.1, 58.8]), respectively. The prevalence of verbal and physical violence against the emergency department nurses was 89.7% (95% CI [69.4, 97.1]) and 21.0% (95% CI [12.6, 32.9]), respectively. The highest prevalence of verbal, physical, sexist, and racist violence was from patient's relative (42.3%, 95% CI [30.7, 54.7]), patients (12.6%, 95% CI [5.9, 25.0]), healthcare workers (5.1%, 95% CI [2.4, 10.4]), and patients (2.3%, 95% CI [0.9, 5.4]), respectively. Given the high prevalence of violence against the nurses in Iran, it is highly necessary to take certain intervention measures and design new policies.

Investigation of Correlation between Communication Skills and Self-Reported Elder Mistreatment in Family Abuse.

Introduction In today's world, old age has become an important global phenomenon following the increase in life expectancy and the decrease in birth rates. Communication skills are an important requirement in old age. Changing role of the family and existing tensions, mental pressures, and modern life undermine the social position of the elderly and lead to abuse of the elderly by family members. The goal of the present study is to determine the relationship between communication skills and family self-reported domestic abuse among older adult in Iran. Materials and Methods For this cross-sectional-analytical study, 153 elderly adult people admitted in hospitals of the Guilan province were randomly selected. The research instruments were the following questionnaires: demographic characteristics, abbreviated mental test (AMT), the Persian version of Domestic Elder Abuse Questionnaire, family mistreatment of the elderly (Heravy), and Queendom Communication Skill Test-Revise (QCSTR). The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) using descriptive (frequency distribution tables, mean, and standard deviation [SD]) and analytical statistics (Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman's correlation tests) considering the significance level of 0.05. Results A majority of the elderly were men (51%), were in the age group of 60 to 69 years (72.5%) and married (75.5%), did not hold high school diploma (88.8%), had four to five children (41.2%) with low income (75.9%), and suffered from chronic diseases (68.6%). The mean score of communication skills was 129.09 ± 12.60. The mean score of domestic elder abuse was 2.89 ± 3.97. Communication skills have a significant relationship with age and marital status, but not with sex, education level, income, and chronic disease. There is an inverse correlation between communication skills and domestic elder_abuse ( p < 0.001, r = -0.468). Conclusion Communication skills are one of the influential factors of domestic violence. Therefore, to prevent or reduce the amount of violence, it is recommended that family members increase the communication skills of the elderly.

Geriatric nutritional risk index in prediction of muscular strength of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis.

PURPOSE: Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is one of the new tools to determine nutritional status in the elderly. This study assessed the association between GNRI and muscular strength through handgrip strength (HGS) in patients undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: This cross-sectional analytical study assessed 110 hemodialysis patients at Guilan, North of Iran, (mean age of 70.3 ± 6.93), 57 men and 53 women through simple random sampling. Demographic characteristics, GNRI, and HGS of patients were determined. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t test, AVOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear multiple regression tests. RESULTS: The mean values of the GNRI and HGS were 93.90 ± 11.06 and 14.82 ± 3.72, respectively. Finally, it was identified that there is a direct and significant association between GNRI and HGS (p = 0.001, r = 0.734). Linear multiple regression showed that GNRI is an independent predictor of HGS (Adj.R2 = 0.67, ßGNRI = 8.13). CONCLUSION: GNRI can be used as a predictor of muscular strength in hemodialysis patients.

Investigating the relationship between social support and quality of life in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Dynamic aging depends on providing opportunities to improve the quality of life of the elderly. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between social support and quality of life in the elderly in Guilan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in the elderly who visited urban public places in the East of Guilan (mosques, parks, weekly markets, and clubs). A total of 168 elderly who met the inclusion criteria were selected through two-stage, cluster, and convenience sampling. Data were collected using Phillips Standard 23-item social support scale and 12-item quality of life scale-short form. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient). RESULTS: The mean score of social support in the elderly in Guilan was 73.25 ± 9.18 and the mean quality of life was obtained at 24.67 ± 7.06. Data analysis showed that there was a significant and positive correlation between social support and quality of life (r = 0.29, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased social support leads to a higher quality of life in the elderly. Thus, it is necessary to timely identify the needs and promote comprehensive social support to improve the quality of life in the elderly.

Iranian Physicians' Perspectives Regarding Nurse-Physician Professional Communication: Implications for Nurses.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nurse-physician professional communication affects the effectiveness and performance of the health care team and the quality of care delivered to the patient. This study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of physicians on nurse-physician professional communication in an urban area of Iran. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 15 physicians selected using a purposive sampling method. Physicians from different medical specialties were chosen from 4 teaching hospitals in an urban area of Iran. The data were analyzed with content analysis and themes developed. RESULTS: Three themes developed during data analysis: "seeking the formal methods of communication to ensure patient care," "nurses' professional attributes for professional communication," and "patients' health conditions as the mediators of professional communication." IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses need to be informed of the perspectives and experiences of physicians on professional communication. Our findings can improve nurses' understandings of professional communication that could inform the development of educational and training programs for nurses and physicians. There is a need to incorporate communication courses during degree education and design interprofessional training regarding communication in clinical settings to improve teamwork and patient care. Open discussions between nurses and physicians, training sessions about how to improve their knowledge about barriers to and facilitators of effective professional communication, and key terms and phrases commonly used in patient care are suggested.