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Purpose In some countries, telephone-based support is one of the key services used for supporting patients with cancer. However, there is a lack of research on the efficacy of this method in Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of telenursing on supportive care needs (SCNs) of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy who were randomly assigned and allocated to two groups, an intervention group and a control group. Patients' SCNs were assessed in the baseline, and 1 and 2 months after commencement of the intervention using the SCNs Survey-Short Form 34. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, t-test, and repeated measure test, by SPSS version 16. Results There were no significant statistical differences in the mean score of dimensions and total SCNs between the two groups in baseline (p˃0.05). However, the results showed that the mean score of dimensions and total SCNs in the intervention group were significantly less than the control group, after the intervention (p˂0.05). Conclusions Telephone-based support is an effective method to address and reduce SCNs of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy through increasing access to support for this population especially who may be in rural and remote settings. During the COVID_19 pandemic and given the vulnerability of patients with cancer, telephone support can be used to avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals and reduced the risk of transmitting the virus to the patients. Trial registration number IRCT20170404033216N1 Keywords Cancer. Supportive care needs. Tele-nursing. Quality of life * Nazi Nejat

Religious and/or spiritual beliefs formed an important source of support for all Iranians and the majority of New Zealand participants living with cancer. The ability of nurses to identify, recognise, and support these beliefs is important in the provision of holistic care.

Abstract:The aim of this study was to translate and test the psychometric properties of a Farsi and an English version of the spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ) a measure originally developed in German. The World Health Organization guideline for translating and validating questionnaires was used. Participants were recruited from hospitals in Iran and New Zealand during an outpatient follow-up appointment after cancer treatment. People diagnosed with cancer in Iran (68) and New Zealand (54) completed and returned the SpNQ (at time 1) and within the two week time period (time 2). Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.79 to 0.92, except for the existentialistic domain of the SpNQ (0.53-0.54). The coefficient of variation (CV) indicated minimal random variation between the assessments; the measures were generally stable, except for the item "existentialistic". The translated versions of the SpNQ have the potential to support a comprehensive assessment of cancer patients' spiritual needs.Keywords: cancer; spiritual care; needs BackgroundThe provision of holistic care is recognised and promoted as best practice in caring for people with cancer [1], and involves assessing and treating physical, emotional and spiritual needs [2]. Spirituality has been defined as "an inherent quality of all humans that drives the search for meaning and purpose in life" and "involves relationships with oneself, others and a transcendent dimension" ([3], p. 324). Taylor [4] states spirituality reveals itself as spiritual needs in three levels: intrapersonal, interpersonal and transpersonal. The need to have purpose, hope and transcend challenges is an example of intrapersonal spiritual needs. The desire to forgive and be forgiven and to love and be loved by others illustrates an interpersonal level of need. Examples of transpersonal spiritual needs include the desire to relate to and worship an ultimate other (often God).In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that spirituality and/or religiosity can be a source of comfort for cancer patients [5,6] and is linked to self-esteem, sense of hope, a sense of meaning and purpose, and the provision of emotional comfort [6]. Spirituality is a much broader concept than religion, although it may be expressed through religion [7]. Koenig [2] believes that spirituality and religion can be used interchangeably, because most research linking spirituality to health has measured religious beliefs or practices.There is a growth in the evidence of a positive association between spirituality and other health outcomes [8], which suggests the importance of considering spiritual needs in health care [9]. There is

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The prevalence of self-prescribed complementary medicine (CM) use is an area of concern across the Middle East. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study to describe women’s use of CM during their childbearing years in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. The study conducted using face to face audio-recorded interviews with 70 participants. Our findings showed that women used several herbal plants to ease pain and discomfort during menstruation and/or during pregnancy and in postpartum care. Acupuncture, meditation, and massage were less likely to be used by women. The impact of CM was often described in relation to perceived usefulness and safety of herbs. Cultural beliefs and roles of women contributed to the use of herbs among women. Given the high use of herbal medicine, there is a need for discussion about the potential of adverse effects of some plants or their metabolites following self-medication during the childbearing years.

Introduction: By increasing the incidence of cancer, the use of antineoplastic drugs and consequently, oncology nurses' exposure to the drugs during daily activities has increased. Because of the importance of professional Nurses' health, the purpose of this study is to answer the question of what risks contact with antineoplastic and chemotherapy drugs in nurses? Method: Studies on the hazards exposure to antineoplastic drugs in nurses were summarized. The articles were written in English and Farsi published between 1950 and 2018, were identified in Databases Web of Knowledge, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase, Science Direct ،Springer، Google scholar، SID، Irandoc، Iran Medex, Magiran, using the following keywords "Chemotherapy Adverse Events for the Nurse", "Occupational Hazards of Anti Neoplastic drugs", ", "Chemotherapy / Nursing Side Effects" and "Occupational Hazards for Nurses". Results: In 49 studies, the complications of exposure to antineoplastic drugs in nurses were reported including spontaneous abortion, preterm labor and fertility disorder, embryo abnormalities and low birth weight, cell nucleus damage, chromosomal changes and gene mutations, various cancers especially leukemia, allergic reactions (rash, redness, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, headache, weakness, Vertigo, edema), the presence of mutagenic factors in urine, liver and kidney damage, and menstrual dysfunction have been reported. Conclusion: The current review suggests that exposure to antineoplastic drugs can be cause threatening and dangerous complications for Nurses. The high prevalence of these can be due to a lack of personal safety equipment for handling the drugs, nurses' inadequate knowledge and attitude toward, a lack of safe handling guidelines in chemotherapy.

Purpose Nowadays, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used by cancer patients all over the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CAM use in patients with cancer in Iran. Methods This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 320 cancer patients in Arak. For gathering information, a researcher-made questionnaire was used. This questionnaire was consisted of two parts: demographic and clinical information; and patient’s attitude toward using complementary and alternative medicine treatments and their effectiveness, as well as how much they used different kinds of these treatments. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results Our findings showed that average age of participants was 55.11 ± 15.58. Most of them had leukemia (25.9%) and underwent chemotherapy (55%), and 141 (44.3%) of individuals were using CAM. Majority of patients (73.2%) were using CAM to improve physical conditions, 61.4% were using it simultaneously with conventional medical treatments, and 25% to reduce pain. Participants have reported visiting holy places, yoga, prayer therapy, and using medicinal plants and special diets, respectively. Conclusion Considering the high number of patients using CAM treatments, proper planning and implementation to educate professional members of health team, especially doctors and nurses about CAM treatments is essential. The most important CAM treatments to be educated are spiritual therapies, yoga, medicinal plants, and diet therapy. Moreover, support and education about using these kinds of treatment should be considered in the supportive care program for patients with cancer.