Activity status of elderly residents

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208Activity status of elderly residents141141Professor Nursing Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences20101113Introduction: Growing needs of the elderly patients is an essential concern in many societies specially in the field of treatment and health care, prevailing safe 1ife style and a supportive environment. Activity can build self-confidence in these patients and protect them against immobility. Methods: In a descriptive study on the elderly patients over 65 years of age, 125 subjects were randomly selected. Their daily activities were investigated by Barthel index and a checklist including 10 activities through interviews and observations. Personal characteristics and questions on personal health evaluation were asked simultaneously. The data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA and Pearson coefficient test using SPSS software. Results: The subjects were 44% male elderly patients and 59% females with the mean age and SD of 70.78±5.6 years. Their residence status was 94% permanent and 6% temporary. Their attitudes concerning their health in 83% was average to very negative. Other findings based on Barthel index showed that 2% had average physical activity and 98% had low physical activity. Daily physical activity had an association with sex, type of residence and having a physically restrictive disease. ANOVA showed a significant association of time of residence and the attitude towards health as a result of elderly daily physical activities. Conclusion: Physical disability can be a major factor in health satisfaction feeling. The elderly actually have more disabilities and need help for their daily activitieshttp://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/141

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208Effect of massage therapy on pain severity and labor of primipara women14214220101113    Introduction: Labor pain is a sort of pain experienced by most women. This pain is more severe and longer among primipara women. This can result in invert effects such as fear, loss of self-confidence and anxiety. New supportive methods such as massage therapy can change the labor to a pleasant event. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study. The subjects were hospitalized in two elective maternity hospitals in Tehran in 2003. Samples of the research were 60 primipara women having qualifications to enter the research. Sampling was done with convenient sampling method. For data collection, questionnaires and pain evaluation scales were used. Technique of massage was Effleurage that is a kind of Swedish massage exhibited for the first time in labor by Linda Kimber. Before administrating any interventions, severity of pain was measured (in the beginning of active phase). After massage therapy, severity of pain in 4 and l0 cm dilatations of cervix was measured and compared with those of the other group. Then, final results of labor, duration of the phases 1 and 2 and type of labor in the two groups were compared and assessed. For data analysis, SPSS software and descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used. Results: The findings showed a significant difference between mean pain severity in the first phase in massage therapy group and that of the control group in three initial phases of active phase (P=0), in the beginning of transitive phase (P=0.014) and at the end of first phase (P=0.01). Duration of the first labor phase in the two groups was different. Conclusion: This method is highly recommended as a non-pharmacological method to decrease pain, duration of phase 1 labor and even fear and anxiety of normal labor in women. http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/142

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208Survey of research problems from the viewpoints of managers, scientific staffs and research experts in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences143143MSc of Health Education, School of Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences, IsfahanSchool of Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences, IsfahanSchool of Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences, IsfahanMSc of Nursing, Operating Room, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences, Isfahan20101113   Introduction: Research is a key factor in developing a country. Its importance is secondary to the ability of solving problems and demands of a society. Evaluation of research problems and obstacles has its importance in any scientific fields. It explains defects of that field and can improve it. According to the importance of above-mentioned subjects, we designed a survey to evaluate problems of research policies and services from the viewpoints of managers, scientific staffs and experts of Isfahan University of Medical Science. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in 2001 with a 38-item questionnaire. Our samples included all managers and research experts of Isfahan University of Medical Science (IUMS) and random samples of scientific staffs of different faculties of IUMS. The data of the survey were analyzed by SPSS version 10 with t-test, Mann Whitney, Kruskall Wallis and ANOVA tests and Cronbach alpha coefficient. Results: The most important research problems from the viewpoints of managers were as follows: 1) Low relation between researchers. 2) Insufficient time of scientific staffs for performing research due to educational duties and 3) Lack of aims and programs of research policies. The most important research problems from the viewpoints of scientific staffs were the same. These problems from the viewpoints of research experts were: 4) Lack of aims and programs of research policies. 5) Insufficiency of the research budget and 6) Lack of a team work culture. Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that the most useful actions are amending informational services, defining research positions against educational systems and explaining the aims and plans in research policies. <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/azimi/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif" alt="" width="685" height="6" />Keywords: Research problems, managers, viewpoints, scientific staffs, research experts, medical university.http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/143

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208Study of obedience of nursing-patient relationship principles from the viewpoints of patients and nurses144144Instructor of Psychiatric Nurse, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences20101113Introduction: Relationship is like an umbrella covering and affecting all interpersonal deals. It is important not only for daily life but for the time of diseases when preserving the life is crucial. Pain and diseases are reported through interrelation communications, which give the health team necessary information about inside feelings of the patients to be treated. Nurses assess patients' needs by their art of interrelation communications and then, plan their interventions. Patients' reliance and security towards the health team are made through interrelation communications, which result in decreasing patients' anxiety. Methods: This was a descriptive analytic two-group one step study in which 126 patients as well as 61 nurses attended and their viewpoints regarding efficient obedience of interrelation principles were measured. This study focused on comparative study of obedience of nurse-patient interrelations in Al-Zahra hospital in Isfahan. The data were analyzed by regression tests, ANOVA and correlation tests in SPSS software. Results: The findings were classified in 5 tables reporting a significant difference between viewpoints of patients and nurses regarding obedience principles of nurse-patient interrelations (P=0.001). There was no significant difference in viewpoints of patients and nurses concerning obedience principles of mutual respects (P=0.054). Regarding the self-value feeling, there was a significant difference between viewpoints of nurses and patients (P=0.002). Concerning obedience of sympathetic principles in efficient interrelations, there was a significant difference between viewpoints of patients and nurses (P=0). Conclusion: Since there was a significant difference in viewpoints of patients and nurses regarding obedience of efficient nurse-patient interrelations, it is a need for nurses to be familiar with patients' viewpoints through continued education to have obedience in efficient nurse-patient interrelations. http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/144

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208Investigating international management and organization standards in midwifery and proposing appropriate national standards145145Ms of Midwifery Education, Group of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical SciencesInstructor of Fundamental Nursing, Dept of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences20101113  Introduction: Nowadays, it is essential that educational systems to move towards effective and optimal education. The necessity of adaptation of managerial and educational programs with professional improvement and standards is felt well. Since midwifery education plays an important role in the public health improvement, this study tried to determine international management and organization standards in midwifery education and to suggest appropriate national standards. Methods: This was a triangulation study conducted in 2003. The research samples consisted of managers of midwifery department with bachelor degree and also, the members of the division of midwifery board who were selected by convenience and census sampling, respectively. In order to suggest domestic standards, data collection was performed in 6 stages. After a vast research and collecting the standards of different countries through stages 1-3, the proposed areas and standards were determined by experts in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Through stages 4-6, Delphi method was used to take votes. Finally, the results were analyzed via descriptive statistics. Results: The findings of this study included 2 distinct areas and 37 suggested standards for mission and goals (13 standards) and management and organization (24 standards). Conclusion: Extracting management and organization standards in midwifery education and suggesting appropriate national standards can help the planner collect midwifery mission and goals. These are important for designing management structures and finally, for evaluation of management systems in midwifery disciplineshttp://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/145

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208The effect of husbands' social support on their wives' postpartum depression14614620101113Introduction: Postpartum depression is a serious disorder not only for the mother but also for her husband and children. The husbands' support, as the most important person in their spouses' life, is very significant and can cause impression on their mood. This research was done to study the effects of husbands' support on their wives' postpartum depression. Methods: This study was an experimental research. The population included all pregnant women referred to Isfahan clinics during their seventh month of pregnancy in 2003. By random sampling, 60 pregnant women were selected, 30 were selected as experimental group and 30 as control group. Beck depression inventory was used as pretest and post-test. The independent variable was husbands' social support. A booklet and a cassette on stresses and changes during pregnancy and various supports of husbands were given to the experimental group. A follow up was delivered to be sure that husbands' social support were given. Three months after the social support delivery, all subjects took part in the post-test. Results were analyzed by SPSS, descriptive statistics and covariance analysis. Results: Findings showed significant effects of husbands' support on the rate of postpartum depression. Also, comparison of average values of Beck depression inventory in experimental group before and after instruction showed significant effect of husbands' support on decreasing postpartum depression. The results did not show any association between demographic characteristics and postpartum depression. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, husbands' support is the most accessible and an easy way to decrease their wives' postpartum depression. It can be used in preventing postpartum depression.http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/146

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208Effect of muscular relaxation on diabetic children147147Ms of Pediatric Nursing, Pediatric Nursing Dept, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical SciencesMs of Pediatric Nursing, Pediatric group, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan university of Medical SciencesProfessor of child and adolescent psychiatry, Behavioural Sciences Research Centre/Khorshid(nour) Hospital Ostandari St. Esfahan, Isfahan university of Medical Sciences,20101113Introduction: From the time that diabetes mellitus was diagnosed, different methods were applied to treat this condition. The most routine ones are administration of insulin, diet therapy and exercise. A recently introduced complementary treatment is progressive muscular relaxation. It is working based on decrease in stress and anxiety among diabetic children. This procedure is vastly carried out by nurses and other health team members in clinical fields. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study carried out in Endocrinology Research Center of Esfahan University of Medical Science. The samples included 52 diabetic children aged 7-15 years quite identical in research qualifications to enter the study in two groups of controls and muscular relaxation. The data were collected by laboratory reports (glycosylated hemoglobin), patients' profiles and interviews. Sampling method was random. After selecting the subjects, educational sessions were held for intervention group. In relaxation group, all body parts of the children were contracted and relaxed for 45 minutes just before going to bed for two months. Then, glycosylated hemoglobin was checked. This procedure of relaxation was continued by giving a relaxation cassette to the subjects for home use. The subjects were checked four times through random phone calls to investigate and to be sure that the intervention was precisely followed. Glycosylated hemoglobins were again checked after two months. Descriptive, inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The findings showed that mean HbAlc changes in relaxation group was 62.5% while it had a descending trend of 50% in controls. Mean glycosylated hemoglobin before the study in relaxation group was 10.27 while thereafter it was 10.13 (about 14% decline in glycosylated hemoglobin). According to paired t-test, this decline was significant (P=0.036). Conclusion: Since this technique is economical and effective in decreasing anxiety in diabetic children, it is suggested to be applied as a non-medication intervention in health and treatment clinics.http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/147

Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906610320100208A comparative study on quality of life of mothers in two methods of normal delivery and caesarean section14814820101113Introduction: Statistics indicate that elective caesarean section is increasing at an alarming rate in Iran. Caesarean section deliveries might increase the incidence of surgical interventions and hospitalizations that affect quality of life of mothers. Methods: This was a cohort prospective analytic study with the purpose of assessing and comparing the postnatal quality of life in normal and caesarean section deliveries. A specific questionnaire was designed. Then, its validity and reliability were confirmed. Fifty mothers with normal delivery and 50 mothers with caesarean section completed the designed questionnaire, EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and SF-36 (Short Form 36) in 6 to 8 weeks and 12 to 14 weeks after childbirth. The data were analyzed with statistical tests. Results: In comparison with 6 to 8 weeks after childbirth, the scores of most of the specific and generic postnatal quality of life subscales during 12 to 14 weeks after delivery improved in both normal delivery and caesarean section. Nevertheless, the normal delivery group had better status than caesarean section group. In 6-8 weeks after childbirth, postnatal depression was significantly more common in caesarean section group than in normal delivery group (P=0.04), but it was not significant in 12-14 weeks after childbirth. Results of both specific and SF-36 questionnaires analysis showed better results of postnatal quality of life after normal delivery than in caesarean section in some subscales and equal results to caesarean section in other subscales. Conclusion: In general, the findings suggest that normal delivery leads to a better postnatal quality of life especially resulting in a superior physical and mental health. Therefore, it is better to be considered as the first priority in elective termination of pregnancyhttp://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/148