Background: Health assessment skills are of the most important skills which nurses require. The more precise assessment, the better results would be obtained and the quality of patient care would be improved. However, in Iran, few studies have investigated nurses' assessment skills. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess nurses' evaluation of the learned skills of health assessment and their use. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 nurses in Isfahan province hospitals. Data was collected by a questionnaire including demographic data and 120 health assessment skills. Nurses scored their frequency of using and proficiency in skills. Statistical analysis was conducted by ANOVA, Tukey test and independent sample T-tests. Results:The highest level of using and proficiency in skills was related to taking history. Nurses received 87.25% of score in this field. The lowest level of application was in assessment of the urogenital system so that nurses received 16.37% of score in this area. Also the lowest proficiency was in assessment of the nervous system and nurses received 34.58% of score in this area. Conclusions:The level of nurses' proficiency in the health assessment skills was not satisfactory. Modifying the curriculum and cooperating of nurse managers and nursing schools can help to improve the situation.

Background: Traumatic injuries in the elderly often lead to permanent disabilities and long-term treatments that can adversely influence their activities of daily of living (ADL). The effect on ADL is an important outcome in elderly trauma. Objectives: The present study was designed to evaluate the predictive factors of dependency in ADL following limb trauma in elderly referred to Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran, in 2013. Patients and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 200 traumatic patients admitted to the trauma emergency ward of Shahid Beheshti hospital in 2013. The questionnaire used in this study had three parts: demographic data, information related to trauma, and an independence scale of ADL (ISADL). The ISADL was completed in the emergency ward to declare pre-traumatic status; it was also completed one and three months after trauma. Statistical analysis was conducted by the t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The repeated measure was used to study the trend of the ISADL and other demographic variables. The multiple regression analysis was also used to declare the predictive variables related to the ISADL.

Background:Activities of daily living (ADL) are an important indicator of health and independence in elderly. It provides useful information for proper planning in the field of elderly care. Trauma in elderly population is frequent and can negatively affect the independence in ADL.Objectives:The purpose of the present study was to evaluate elderly independence in activities of daily living (ADL) following limb trauma and its related factors in patients referred to trauma emergency ward of Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran, in 2013.Patients and Methods:This descriptive study was conducted on 200 traumatic patients admitted to trauma emergency ward of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in 2013. The questionnaire used in this study had three parts as demographic data, information related to trauma and ISADL (independency scale of activities of daily living). ISADL was completed in emergency ward to declare pretraumatic status; it was also completed 1 and 3 months after trauma. Statistical analysis was conducted by Chi-square test, One-way and two-factor ANOVA, and Multiple regression analysis. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 16.Results:The average age of participants was 70.57 ± 9.05 years. In total, 80.5% of the elderly were completely independent in ISADL before trauma; this decreased to 13.5% one month after trauma. Besides, 32% of the elderly were completely or relatively dependent three months after trauma. Two-factor ANOVA showed a significant association between the scores of ISADL, the time interval and the type and location of an injured organ, and having the surgery as a treatment.Conclusions:More than three-quarters of the elderly were independent in ISADL before the trauma, but trauma in elderly patients had a substantial negative effect on patients' ability and ADL function.

No abstract

Prevalence of high-risk behaviors has become one of the most important concerns in nowadays society. Aim of this study is was investigation of assay high-risk behaviors and their relations with demographic characteristics in adolescents. This study was performed on 400 of high school adolescents that were selected by randomized classify method. Data were collected by using of questionnaire including individual-social characteristics questionnaire and high-risk behaviors scale in assault and battery, tobacco, high-risk physical and sexual relations, lack of exercise and law breaking domains and then were analyzed. Prevalence of high-risk behaviors was 28.7% in boys and 22.5% in girls. Significant difference was founded between general high-risk behaviors and tobacco; sexual high-risk behaviors and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) behaviors, AIDS and law breaking domains in girls and boys also significant relationship was found between high-risk behaviors and some individual, family and social factors. Findings of this study could empowerment health systems in accurate planning for screening and counseling of high-risk behaviors.

Background After losing their child, elderly parents look for a meaning in this phenomenon. This meaning comes out from their experiences, and their responses to and actions in life are shaped based on this meaning. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of “understanding the meaning of losing a child in older adults.” Methods This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis method. Using semi-structured face-to-face interviews, data were collected from 15 older adults who had experienced of losing their adult child. Data analysis was performed according to the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman, 2004. To prove the trustworthiness of the data, credibility, dependability, confirmability and transferability were used. Results The age range of participants was between 61 and 83 years and 73.3% of them were female. The two main categories of “tasting the bitter flavor of life” and “searching for a positive meaning in losing a child” together with the theme of “finding hope in the heart of darkness” were extracted from the participants’ experiences. Conclusions Despite the grief of losing a child, which had cast a dark shadow over the parents’ lives, the child’s liberation from worldly sufferings, his/her presence in a better world, and being hopeful about the grace of God had caused the elderly parents to find hope in the heart of darkness. After identifying the parents with a deceased child, they should be helped through psychological counseling and care of the healthcare team so that they can adapt to this situation by finding a positive meaning in losing their child.

BackgroundPrevention and management of compassion fatigue (CF) is one of the most serious issues facing the nursing profession today because CF is a complex phenomenon with many negative and destructive consequences. Given that cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences can affect nurses’ perception about preventive strategies of CF; this study was conducted to obtain greater understanding about prevention and management strategies of CF among Iranian nurses. MethodsInductive content analysis study was conducted by the method proposed by Elo and Kyngäs. It includes three steps of open coding, creating classes and abstracting it. Purposive sampling was used to select the nurses in Tehran and Kashan (two cities in the center of Iran). Data was gathered by semi-structured interviews from June to October 2020. ResultsThe following two main themes, 5 categories and 13 subcategories were extracted. The labels of themes included "self-care strategies" and "social support strategies ". Self-care strategies consisted of 2 main categories of problem-based strategies and escape/ avoidance strategies. Social support strategies included 3 main categories of family support, organizational support and community support. ConclusionThe results showed that Iranian nurses use self-care strategies and social support strategies to prevent and manage CF; nevertheless, it seemed social support strategies outweighed self-care strategies. As a result, in addition to the importance of family and organizational support, the governmental support is also noticeable, thus, appropriate policy- making and culture-building activities to promote nursing dignity are necessary.

No abstract