Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed nurses, who are a very important group involved in the care of these patients, to many stresses that may affect their quality of life. This study aimed to determine the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and the quality of life among Iranian nurses. Method This online cross-sectional study enrolled 1,131 of Iranian nurses working at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak in treatment centers in different parts of Iran from April to May 2020. The convenience sampling strategy was used. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS). The stepwise multiple linear regression models were used to examine the relationships among self-reported anxiety concerning COVID-19 and SF-36 quality of life, its components, and subscales. Partial r was used as an estimate of effect size. Result The mean SF-36 score was 65.2 (SD=17.6). The mean score of the mental component summary (MCS) (M=56.8, SD=22.3) was lower than the mean score of the physical component summary (PCS) (M=71.6, SD=17.5). The mean score of COVID-19 anxiety was 17.8 (SD=10.5). Of the participants, 378 (33.4%; 95% CI [30.7%, 36.3%]), and 152 (13.4%; 95% CI [11.5%, 15.6%]) reported moderate and severe anxiety, respectively. According to the results of stepwise multiple linear regression model, after adjusting for possible confounding variables, the SF-36 quality of life was still significantly negatively associated with COVID-19 anxiety, with a large effect size (The partial r = -0.515, p < 0.001). The relationship between the SF-36 components and COVID-19 anxiety were also significant, and moderate to large effect sizes were observed (The partial r for (PCS; COVID-19 anxiety) = -0.404; p < 0.001, and for (MCS; COVID-19 anxiety) = -0.521; p < 0.001). In addition, significant correlation coefficients for every subscale of the SF-36 were found for COVID-19 anxiety and its two components, with small to large effect sizes (The partial correlations= -0.211 to -0.524, all ps< 0.001). Conclusions The results showed that higher COVID-19 anxiety in nurses decreases their quality of life. In order to increase nurses’ quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is recommended to design and implement programs to reduce their COVID-19 anxiety.

Objectives: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis and health outcomes are among the major human social events of the 21st century. The unknown nature of the disease and the fear of contagion have caused emotional reactions, including the self-consumption of drugs in the elderly. Therefore, this study investigated factors affecting the self-consumption of drugs for COVID-19 prevention in the elderly. Methods & Materials: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed on 342 elderly in Sabzevar City, Iran, in 2020. The research units were selected as clusters from 16 health centers. The necessary data were collected by an online self-medication questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS. Results: The Mean±SD age of the study participants was 66.2±5.67 years. The frequency of self-medication to prevent COVID-19 was 190(55.5%); analgesics, vitamins, anti-cold, and antibiotics were the most common drugs used. The major factors associated with self-medication in the COVID-19 pandemic were disease prevention, home quarantine, financial problems, experiencing previous self-medication, and others’ advice. There was a significant relationship between self-medication and education and insurance coverage. No significant relationship was observed between gender, occupation, and marital status, and self-medication. Conclusion: Self-Medication in the COVID-19 epidemic is notable as a crisis threatening the elderly’s health. Controlling and monitoring how the drug is used is among the requirements for protection and health promotion in the elderly.

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Introduction and aim: Pain is a distressing symptom of patients undergoing surgery. Therefore, it is essential to achieve non-invasive methods in order to relieve postoperative pain. The aim of the present study was to compare of the effect of two methods, acupressure and ice massage on the Hugo point on the severity of pain after appendectomy surgery. Methods: The present one-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 90 patients undergoing appendectomy. Samples were selected using available sampling method and then randomly divided into three groups of acupressure, ice massage and control. All three groups received routine treatment. The severity of pain was measured and compared with the standard visual standard of pain before, immediately after and one hour after intervention in all three groups. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21. Findings: The severity of pain before intervention in all three groups did not have a significant relationship with each other, while the intensity of pain immediately after and one hour after the intervention had a significant relationship. Both acupressure and ice massage helped relieve pain after appendectomy, but the effect of ice massage was higher. There was no significant difference before and after the intervention in the acupressure group. Conclusion: Considering the positive effects of Hugo point ice massage on relieving pain after appendectomy and considering the non-invasive nature, this method is considered as a valuable technique for relieving postoperative pain in patients; therefore, it is highly recommended after appendectomy surgery.

Background: Today, nurses face with caring for Covid-19 patients, consider as a new occupational stressor in the nursing profession.Primary Study Objective: To investigate the effect of Benson's relaxation technique (BRT) on occupational stress of nurses exposed to Covid-19 patients.Methods/Design: The present study is a two-group clinical trial with parallel design.Setting: The samples were and randomly allocated into BRT and control groups based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Participants: 70 nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) in the Covid-19 treatment center in Sabzevar, IranIntervention: Intervention group were performed the BRT exercises twice a day for 1 month during 20 minutes each time. The data was collection through Osipow Occupational Stress Questionnaire. Primary Outcome Measures: Occupational stressResults: The mean occupational stress score in the BRT group immediately and after 1 week of intervention, was significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.001). The repeated measure analysis of variances test showed a significant difference in the mean occupational stress score in the 6 subscales after the intervention between the two groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion: This study showed BRT reduces occupational stress among nurses working in the ICU, caring for Covid-19 patients.Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT20131113015393N6. Registered 30 March 2020, https://en.irct.ir/trial/46609

Background: The Apgar score of newborn babies is a determining factor involved with mortality of newborns after birth. Regarding the disagreement on advantages and possible disadvantages of propofol and thiopental in the available references, the study was triggered with the aim of analyzing effects of two mentioned drugs on babies’ Apgar score. Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, a total of 100 healthy women who volunteered to undertake cesarean operation were selected and then divided randomly into two equal groups using statistical blocking. One group was treated by propofol while other one was treated by thiopental. The prescribed drugs for both groups were identical. Babies’ Apgar score 1 and 5 minutes after birth and recovery period and some of the critical maternal parameters after operation were recorded. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 19 software. Results: Apgar score I minute 1 (p=0.317) and Apgar score in minute 5 (p=1.00) for propofol group were not different meaningfully. The groups had significant differences in the indices such as first systolic (P=0.00) and diastolic (P=0.00) pressure in recovery, last diastolic pressure in recovery (P=0.001) and duration of postoperative recovery (P=0.001). Statistical analysis of nausea and vomit in both groups showed that they are lower in propofol group rather than the thiopental group (p=0.000). Conclusion: Propofol and thiopental did not differ significantly in Apgar score, but it seems that propofol can be a better option to induce anesthesia for an elective cesarean operation.

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