The relationship between teamwork and moral distress among NICU nurses.

BACKGROUND: In the demanding environment of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), quality nursing care hinges on effective teamwork and communication among nurses. However, this requirement for close cooperation can expose nurses to significant levels of moral distress. This study aims to explore the connection between the quality of teamwork and the experience of moral distress among NICU nurses. METHODS: Employing a cross-sectional, multicenter descriptive correlational design, this study surveyed female NICU nurses across the cities of Khorramabad and Semnan. Census sampling was utilized over five months, from July to November 2023, resulting in the participation of 190 nurses. Tools for data collection included demographic questionnaires, the Team-STEPPS Teamwork Perception Questionnaire (T-TPQ), and the Moral Distress Scale-Revised (MDS-R) for nurses. RESULTS: The findings revealed an average teamwork score of 3.73 ± 0.78, denoting an acceptable level, and an average moral distress score of 91.2 ± 56.7, indicating a low level. In multiple linear regression, marital status showed a direct positive correlation (ß = 38.5, SE (ß) = 9.3, p < 0.001), while the number of children (ß = -14.6, SE (ß) = 4.9, p = 0.003) and the teamwork score (ß = -1.1, SE (ß) = 0.12, p < 0.001) were inversely correlated with moral distress. CONCLUSION: The study's results suggest that stronger teamwork among nurses correlates with reduced moral distress. Enhancing teamwork within NICUs could lead to policy development focused on the safety and quality of newborn care, also potentially alleviating moral distress experienced by nurses.

Effect of propolis mouthwash on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit patients: a comparative randomized triple-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) increases the length of hospitalization and mortality rate. This study aimed to determine the effect of propolis mouthwash on the incidence of VAP in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Triple-blind, comparative randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted over one year, with 110 ICU patients at Imam-Hossein and Bahar hospitals (Shahroud) and Kowsar Hospital (Semnan) in Iran. The intervention group used 15 cc of 0.06% propolis mouthwash solution twice daily at 8 AM and 4 PM for seven days. The control group used 15 cc of 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash at the same times and duration. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, APACHE II, Beck Oral Assessment Scale, and Modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (MCPIS). RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic information, disease severity, and oral health between the two groups before and after intervention (P > 0.05). The incidence of VAP in the intervention group compared to the control group was 10.9% vs. 30.9% on the third day (P = 0.0166, 95% CI: 0.53-0.83 and RR = 0.35), 23.6% vs. 43.6% on the fifth day (P = 0.0325 and 95% CI: 0.31-0.95 and RR = 0.54), and 25.5% vs. 47.3% on the seventh day (P = 0.0224, 95% CI: 0.32-0.92, and RR = 0.54). The Mann-Whitney indicated the incidence of VAP was significantly lower in the intervention group on the third, fifth, and seventh days. CONCLUSION: Propolis mouthwash can be considered as an alternative to chlorhexidine mouthwash for ICU patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Propolis mouthwash serves as a simple, economical intervention to potentially reduce incidence of VAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: (IRCT20110427006318N12, date 02.04.2019).

The Effect of the Holy Quran Recitation on Inflammatory Markers in Hemodialysis Patients in Iran: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Increased inflammation is a common complication in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Addressing the psychological symptoms of patients may help reduce inflammation and its negative impact on the body. Considering the calming effects of listening to the Holy Quran, this may help reduce mental, psychological, and physical problems in Muslim patients. The present study sought to examine the effects of listening to Holy Quran recitation on the level of inflammatory markers in HD patients. This was a randomized controlled trial involving 50 HD patients at Kowsar Hospital in Semnan, Iran, in 2019-2020. The participants were divided into experimental and control groups using simple randomization by sealed envelopes. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in blood were measured before the intervention. The participants in the experimental group listened by headphones to the Holy Quran being recited three times a week, 20 min each time, for one month. For those in the control group, headphones were placed but on silent mode. At the end of the intervention one month later, inflammatory markers were measured again for participants in both groups. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16 using descriptive and inferential statistics (t test, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney U). Mean IL-6 level decreased by 20.2 pg/ml, mean ESR level by 16.8 mm/hr, and mean CRP level by 19.9 mg/dl in the experimental group, while these values increased in the control group. The between-group differences in the intervention and control groups at follow-up were significant for all three inflammatory markers (p < 0.05). Listening to the Holy Quran being recited is recommended as a complementary therapy for reducing systemic inflammation (as indicated by inflammatory markers) in Muslim HD patients.Trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, Trial No: IRCT20120109008665N9. Registered 4 Nov 2019.

Effect of clove mouthwash on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit patients: a comparative randomized triple-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the most common nosocomial infections in intensive care units (ICUs), and the use of mouthwash is the most widely used method to prevent its incidence. The aim of this study was to investigate effect of clove mouthwash on the incidence of VAP in the ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This comparative, randomized, triple-blind, clinical trial was conducted on 168 eligible ICU patients at Kosar Hospital in Semnan, Iran, during 2021-2022, who were divided into intervention and control groups using random blocks. The intervention group received clove extract mouthwash at 6.66% concentration, and the control group received chlorhexidine 0.2% twice a day for 5 days (routine care). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, and disease severity was measured based on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, oral health status was examined using the Beck Oral Assessment Scale (BOAS), and VAP diagnosis was made based on the Modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (MCPIS). RESULTS: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in disease severity (p = 0.412) and oral health status (p = 0.239) between the patients in the two groups. After the intervention, 20.2% of the patients in the intervention group and 41.7% of those in the control group acquired VAP. The risk of VAP was 2.06 times higher in the control group than in the intervention group (p = 0.005, 95% CI: 1.26-3.37, RR = 2.06), but the severity of VAP did not differ significantly between the patients in the two groups (p = 0.557). CONCLUSION: The findings showed that clove mouthwash reduces the incidence of VAP significantly. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clove mouthwash can be used as a simple and low-cost method to prevent VAP in ICU patients.

Effect of chamomile oil on the intensity of nonspecific low back pain in prehospital emergency technicians.

INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) are prevalent in prehospital emergency (PE) technicians. This study aimed to investigate effect of chamomile oil on the intensity of LBP in PE technicians. METHODS: In this three-blind randomized clinical trial study, 90 PE technicians with LBP were randomly assigned to three groups: intervention, placebo and control. Intervention and placebo used 1.5 cc oil of chamomile and paraffin respectively, in lumbar region, three times a day for three weeks. Control group did not receive any intervention. Pain intensity and its interference with daily activities were measured by brief pain inventory (BPI), before intervention and end of first, second, and third weeks. RESULTS: Intervention group showed a significant drop in pain intensity and pain interference with daily activities at end of first, second, and third week (p < 0.001). At the end of first and second weeks, the mean pain reduction in intervention was significantly higher than that in placebo and control (p < 0.001), but at end of third week, there was no significant difference between three groups in this respect (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Topical chamomile oil application can reduce the intensity of LBP in PE technicians and its impact on their daily activities for a period of two weeks.

The impact of Propolis on catheter exit site infection and peritonitis in peritoneal Dialysis patients: a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Peritonitis is one of the major complications of peritoneal dialysis. The most common cause of peritonitis is infection at the catheter exit site. This study aimed to determine the effect of propolis on the incidence of catheter exit site infection and peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients. METHOD: This study was a double-blind clinical trial (2019-2020) with peritoneal dialysis patients. Ninety peritoneal dialysis patients were allocated to three groups (placebo, control, intervention) using block randomization method. Catheter exit site was washed with 0.9% normal saline and dressing was done every other day after the morning peritoneal dialysis exchange by use of normal saline in placebo, mupirocin in control, and propolis in intervention group, for 6 months. DISCUSSION: 10% of the patients in the placebo and 6.7% in the control group developed catheter Exit Site Infection, but none patient in the intervention group developed this infection (P = 0.469). Whereas 6.7% in both the placebo and control groups developed peritonitis, but none patient in the intervention group contracted peritonitis (P = 0.997). No significant differences in the incidence of catheter exit site infection and peritonitis among the three groups were observed. Considering that mupirocin is of chemical origin and may lead to drug resistance whereas propolis is of plant origin and does not produce drug resistance, the use of propolis is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials [ IRCT20110427006318N10 ] (17/01/2019).

Nursing Students' Professional Competence in Providing Spiritual Care in Iran.

Providing spiritual care as a dimension of holistic nursing care is a task that requires competent caregivers. The present study seeks to examine the relationship of personal characteristics with perceived competence in Iranian nursing students and their professional competence in providing spiritual care. This cross-sectional study was conducted on all the nursing students at Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran, using the census method (n = 224). The research sample consisted of 179 students who met the eligibility criteria. Data were collected using the Spiritual Care Competence Scale (SCCS). The mean SCCS score for respondents was 3.66. Using the cutoff point of >3.5, approximately three quarters of respondents (72.1%) perceived themselves to be competent in delivering spiritual care. The scores of competence and its domains were not significantly different in terms of history of participation in ethics training workshops, gender and marital status (P > 0.05). The scores were also not significantly correlated with age, semester and work experience. Although more than 70% of the nursing students perceived themselves competent in providing spiritual care, nursing curriculum planners should seek to promote the spiritual capacity and competence of nursing students in providing spiritual care through education and training.

The emergence of the hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) strains among circulating clonal complex 147 (CC147) harbouring blaNDM/OXA-48 carbapenemases in a tertiary care center of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a public health concern because of its ability to develop multidrug resistance and hypervirulent genotypes, of those capsular types K1 and K2 cause community and nosocomial life-threatening infections. This study aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genotypic traits of a collection of Klebsiella spp. isolates. Furthermore, the clonal relatedness of blaNDM producing strains was investigated. METHODS: During a 19-months  surveillance study, 122 Klebsiella spp. isolates were cultured from extraintestinal specimens of patients admitted to the tertiary referral hospital in Semnan, Iran. Isolates were identified using biochemical tests and subjected to determination of phylogroups, capsular types and virulence/resistance genes content. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) strains were detected genotypically, and Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC)-PCR fingerprinting was used to determine the clonality of blaNDM producing strains. RESULTS: Multidrug resistant phenotype was detected in 75 (61.5%) isolates and amikacin was found as the most potent antibiotic with the susceptibility rate of 85.2%. The carbapenemase genes were detected in 45 (36.8%) strains, including 21 (17.2%) blaOXA-48, 7 (5.6%) blaNDM-1, 14 (11.4%) blaNDM-1/OXA-48 and 3 (2.4%) blaIMP- carrying strains, while 55 (45.08%) isolates showed carbapenem resistant phenotype. The first blaNDM-1 carrying strain was cultured from a sputum specimen on March 2015, while the last positive one was recovered from blood culture on September 2016. Most of the isolates (80.3%) belonged to phylogroup I, and blaNDM-1 was identified among all three phylogroups. The ERIC-PCR clustered the 101 blaNDM negative and 21 blaNDM-1 positive isolates into 25 and five clusters, respectively, and the latter group belonged to clonal complex 147 (CC147). One K1 and 15 K2 blaNDM-1 negative isolates were detected, of those three strains were identified as hvKp. Five K2 positive strains, including four blaOXA-48 producer and one hvKp sequence type 86 (ST86) were carbapenem resistant. Among carbapenem resistant isolates, CC147 strains harboured higher rates of siderophores iutA and ybtS. CONCLUSION: The present findings showed a hospital circulation of CC147 blaNDM-1 or blaNDM-1/OXA-48 producing strains, disseminated in different wards. The hvKp/ST86 strain expressing K2 capsular type and carbapenem resistant phenotype wasn't reported from Iran so far. So, it seems that we must be aware of the emergence and spread of new K. pneumoniae clones associated with resistant and hypermucoviscous phenotypes.

Incidence and Factors Contributing to Low Back Pain in the Nonobstetrical Patients Operated Under Spinal Anesthesia: A Prospective 1-Year Follow-Up Study.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence and factors contributing to postspinal anesthesia (SPA) low back pain (LBP) in patients undergoing nonobstetrical surgeries. DESIGN: A prospective 1-year follow-up study. METHODS: Patients having nonobstetrical surgery using SPA were included. The patients were followed up through phone calls and interviews every postoperative day for the first week, weekly for a month, and then monthly for a year after SPA. Patients' duration of LBP, duration of surgery, and need for LBP treatment were recorded. FINDINGS: Of 410 patients, 5.8% (24 patients) experienced LBP. The incidence of LBP did not have a significant correlation with the recorded variables (P > .05). There was a negative significant correlation between duration of LBP and duration of surgery (r = -0.5096; P = .001). Of the 24 patients experiencing LBP, 16.7% (four patients) experienced it for less than 1 day, 66.7% (16 patients) 1 to 7 days, 16.7% (four patients) more than 7 days, and only one patient (4.2%) for up to 17 days. Special LBP treatment was not needed in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of LBP was very low, and those patients undergoing nonobstetrical surgery and receiving SPA did not experience persistent LBP.

The Effect of Spiritual Care Based on the Sound Heart Model on the Spiritual Health of Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Meeting the spiritual needs of patients with cardiovascular diseases has a significant effect on their speed of recovery and spiritual health, especially in coronary care units (CCUs). The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of spiritual care based on the sound heart model on the spiritual health of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) admitted to the CCU of Chamran Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, in 2016. This clinical trial was conducted on 92 patients with AMI selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 46) and control (n = 46) groups. The spiritual care program based on the sound heart model was regularly carried out for the intervention group over 3 days at 5-8 PM during their hospital stay, and continued for 1 month at home after discharge from the hospital, and the control group only received routine nursing interventions. The patients completed Paloutzian and Ellison's Spiritual Well-Being Scale at baseline and a month after the intervention. Data were ultimately analyzed using Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney's test, the Chi-square test, and the t test. The spiritual care program was able to improve the mean scores of religious health (7.8), existential health (9.3) and the total score of spiritual health (17.1) in the intervention group, while these scores reduced to 0.9, 3.4 and 4.2 in the control group. A significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of the spiritual health score (P < 0.001). The present findings confirmed the effect of spiritual care based on the sound heart model on promoting spiritual health in patients with AMI. Its application as a holistic care approach is therefore recommended for improving the signs and dimensions of spiritual health in patients with coronary artery disease, especially MI.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in beta-thalassemia major (ß-TM) patients assessed by 36-item short form health survey (SF-36): a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The main purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the impact of beta-thalassemia major (BTM) on the health-related quality of life as assessed by the medical outcomes short-form-36 questionnaire (SF-36). METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed on Cochrane library, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, ProQues, Medline/PubMed, Scholar Google until March 17, 2017 to obtain eligible studies. A fixed effect model was applied to summarize the scores of each domain. The radar chart was used to compare the scores of BTM patients with other health conditions. Spearman's correlation analysis and meta-regression were used to explore the related factors. RESULTS: 26 studies were included in this study, which were all reliable to summarize the scores of the SF36. Pooled mean scores of the physical health domains ranged from 52.74 to 74.5, with the GH and PF domains being the lowest and the highest, respectively. Further, the pooled mean scores of the mental health domains varied between 59.6 and 71.11, with the (MH-VT) and SF domains being the maximum and the minimum, respectively. Patients with BTM had a substantially compromised HRQoL in comparison with the general population. CONCLUSION: BTM could adversely affect the HRQoL of patients. Measuring HRQoL should be considered as an essential part of the overall assessment of health status of BTM patients, which would provide valuable clues for improving the management of disease and making decisions on the treatment.

Evaluation of emotional intelligence, sleep quality, and fatigue among Iranian medical, nursing, and paramedical students: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Sleep disorders and fatigue in students may affect emotional intelligence, which is associated with increased risk of cognitive and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to determine sleep quality, fatigue, emotional intelligence, and related factors in Iranian medical students. Methods: This cross-sectional research was conducted in 2016. A total of 400 students were randomly selected from Semnan University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools included questionnaires for demographic information, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Bradbury-Graves's Emotional Intelligence Inventory and Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF). Results: The quality of sleep was unsatisfactory for 38.5% students, 86.2% did not have general fatigue, and 13.8% were suffering from low overall fatigue. Moreover, 6% displayed low, 24% normal, and 70% high emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence showed a positive correlation with sleep quality (p = 0.044) and a negative correlation with general fatigue (p = 0.018). Sleep quality showed a negative correlation with general fatigue (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a significant relationship between sleep quality and fatigue with emotional intelligence and a significant relationship between sleep quality and fatigue.

Effect of valerian on cognitive disorders and electroencephalography in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, cross over, double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cognitive disorders in hemodialysis patients is twice as high as the general population, while these disorders often are undiagnosed. Timely prevention and treatment can improve their personal and social functions. Aim of study was determined the effect of Valerian on cognitive disorders and electroencephalography (EGG) in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This crossover, double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 39 hemodialysis patients. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (n = 19) took Valerian capsules and Group B (n = 20) received placebo capsules 60 min before bedtime for one month. The type of treatment was replaced between the two groups after a one-month wash-out. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) questionnaire was completed and EGG was performed before and after intervention in both periods. RESULTS: The cognitive scores of the Group valerian were increased significantly in the first (p = 0.003) and the second (p = 0.005) periods. In addition, the mean increase in the cognitive scores in the Group valerian was significant in the first (p = 0.028) and the second periods (p = 0.030). However, the changes in EGG showed no significant difference before and after intervention in two groups. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicated that valerian could be effective and significantly improve patients' cognitive status; however, no significant changes were observed in the electroencephalography of the hemodialysis patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT201606076318N7 -2016-06-17.

Treatment challenges and outcomes for pediatric intracranial ependymoma at a single institution in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The scarcity of information on pediatric ependymoma in Iran motivated this study. Our main objectives were to determine outcomes, identify clinical management challenges at a nongovernment hospital in Iran, and devise guidelines for improving care. PROCEDURE: A retrospective chart review was performed for pediatric patients with ependymoma who were younger than 15 years and treated at MPCTRC between 2007 and 2015. Records included patient demographics, treatment regimens used, duration of follow-up, and outcomes. Clinical outcomes [ie, 3-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)] were determined based on the age at diagnosis (younger or older than 3 years) by using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: In total, 73 eligible patients were enrolled; 20 patients were in the younger group, and 53 were in the older group. The majority (91.8%, n = 67) of patients underwent initial gross-total or partial surgical resection, and 6 (8.2%) had a biopsy. Twenty-one patients experienced ependymoma recurrence. The median time to relapse was 1 year. The median duration of follow-up and PFS were 25 and 17 months, respectively. The 3-year OS and PFS were 61% and 59.5%, respectively. At the time of this project, 27 patients had died, and 35 were alive with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated inferior outcomes of Iranian children with ependymoma. To improve our care for these children, a paradigm shift must occur that includes radiation therapy as standard of care, second-look surgery, a multidisciplinary team approach, and potentially twinning initiatives.

Attitudes Toward Spirituality and Spiritual Care among Iranian Nurses and Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Addressing spiritual needs is taken into account as an integral part of holistic health care and also an important component of nursing practice. The aim of present study is to evaluate attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care among nurses and nursing students at Semnan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. In this cross-sectional study, all nurses (n = 180) working in the teaching hospitals affiliated to Semnan University of Medical Sciences as well as senior nursing students (n = 50) selected by the census method. Finally, 168 individuals meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated as the study sample. The data collection instrument was the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale. The mean and standard deviation scores of attitudes toward spirituality and spiritual care among nurses and nursing students were 59 ± 10.9, and the scores obtained by the majority of study population (64.3%) ranged between 32 and 62 which were at a moderate and relatively desirable level. Nurses and nursing students working in aforementioned hospitals reported positive attitudes to spirituality and spiritual care. Given the importance of spiritual care and also the moderate level of spirituality and spiritual care among nurses and nursing students in this study, institutionalization of the concept of spirituality, provision of an appropriate context to deliver such care, and also implementation of interventions in order to improve spiritual care along with other nursing skills were assumed of utmost importance.

Development a Reverse Triage System Based on Modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment for Increasing the Critical Care Surge Capacity.

CONTEXT: The capacity completeness are one of the serious problems in the bed's managements of the critical care units in a crisis and disaster situation. Reverse triage can help to hospital surge capacity in this situations. AIMS: The aim of this study was to develop a reverse triage system based on Modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (MSOFA) for increasing critical care surge capacity. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was a prospective design that performed on the medical patients in critical care unit. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The MSOFA score for each patient was calculated in admission time and be continued until discharging time from critical care unit. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The Cox regression method was used to determine the relative risk values. At last, the patients were divided into three levels for reverse triage. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty patients were participated in this study. The mean of patients' MSOFA scores in the 1st day of admission in Critical Care was 5.40 ± 3.8. The relative risk of internal patients discharge from critical care was (8.2%). Death relative risks were <25%, higher than 70% and between 25.1% and 69.9% for three color level of green, black, and red, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MSOFA scores can contribute to the design a leveling system for discharging patients from critical care unit. Based on this system, the members of the caring team can predict the final health status of the patient.

The Effect of Holy Qur'an Recitation on Depressive Symptoms in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Patients with advanced renal failure often face considerable sociopsychological stress as a result of lifestyle changes due to the disease and its treatment. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of the Holy Qur'an recitation on depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. In this clinical trial, 54 hemodialysis patients were randomized to either an experimental (n = 27) or a control (n = 27) group. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at baseline and at 1 month after the intervention. Participants in the experimental group listened to recitation of the Holy Qur'an, while those in the control group received no intervention. The mean BDI-II score at baseline was 33.6 (±6.7) for the experimental group and 29.3 (±9.0) for the control group; at the end of treatment, BDI-II scores in the experimental and control groups were 14.5 (±4.8) and 31.6 (±9.2), respectively. Results from the repeated-measures general linear model controlling for baseline differences indicated a significant treatment effect (F = 9.30, p = 0.004, Cohen's d = 0.85). Holy Qur'an recitation has a significant effect on lowering depressive symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Holy Qur'an recitation is an easy-to-implement and cost-effective strategy that may be used to supplement the treatment of depression in this setting in Iran.

Prayer Attendance and General Health in the Iranian Adult Urban Population.

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between prayer attendance and general health among adult urban population in Iran. A total of 470 males older than 17 years, chosen by multistage sampling, were investigated. The results showed that people who did not perform prayers compared to those who said prayers on time and performed Nafilahs (supererogatory prayers) were 2.87 (OR 2.87, 95 % CI 1.23-6.70, p = 0.015) times at risk of general health problems. In conclusion, the findings show that increasing the degree of people's belief in prayer can lead to improve general health.

The Effect of Holy Qur'an Recitation on Anxiety in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Kidney disease and its related psychological costs have significantly increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Qur'an recitation on anxiety in hemodialysis patients. Sixty hemodialysis patients were randomized to either Qur'an recitation or a control group. Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was completed by patients at baseline and 1 month afterward. The intervention involved listening to the recitation of the Qur'an in traditional cantillation voice. The control group received no intervention. The data were analyzed using Student's t test and general linear models. Recitation of the Qur'an was effective in reducing anxiety in the intervention group, decreasing STAI score at baseline from 128.5 (SD = 13.0) to 82.1 (SD = 11.3), compared to the control group which experienced no change in anxiety scores from baseline to follow-up (118.3, SD = 14.5, vs. 120.1, SD = 14.4, respectively. Between-subject comparison at follow-up, after adjusting for baseline differences, indicated a significant reduction in anxiety in the intervention versus the control group (F = 15.5, p = 0.0002, Cohen's d = 1.03). Listening to the Holy Qur'an being recited is an effective intervention for anxiety in patients undergoing hemodialysis in Iran.

Cigarette smoking and risk of pressure ulcer in adult intensive care unit patients.

The objective of this study was to assess relationship between smoking, some other risk factors and ulcers development in intensive care unit. This prospective cohort study was performed in two university-affiliated hospitals. The sample consisted of adult male patients who were admitted to medical-surgical intensive care units. All eligible patients were grouped according to their cigarette smoking status as smoker and non-smoker. The final sample included 160 smokers and 192 non-smokers. Pressure ulcer occurred in 62 smoker patients and 28 of non-smoker who showed significant difference. Also number of pack-year of cigarettes smoking showed significant association with ulcer development. Ulcer stage was significantly different between the two groups. Besides of smoking, age, length of stay, faecal incontinency, diabetes mellitus, anaemia and trauma were significantly associated with pressure ulcers. Our study showed significant association between smoking and development of pressure ulcers.