BACKGROUND: One of the typical complaints in females with multiple sclerosis (MS) is Sexual dysfunction (SD). AIM: This study aimed to compare the sexual function of women with and without MS and to recognise factors that possibly related to sexual dysfunction of women with MS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sexual function of 64 women with MS as a case study group were compared to a group of control comprised of 64 women. Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used accordingly to assess sexual function and severity of depression of case and control groups. Functional status of MS Patients was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). The data were analysed using chi-square, independent Samples t, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression tests. RESULTS: There were no differences in the Total FSFI and 4 FSFI subscale scores (i.e. sexual desire, arousal, lubrication and satisfaction) between women with MS and controls. The only significant difference between the two groups was the dimension of orgasm (p = 0.016). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only BDI and FSFI total scores have significantly related (B = -0.436, P < 0.001). In women with MS, a significant negative correlation was found between FSFI and EDSS scores (rho = -0.35, P = 0.032), as well as between FSFI scores and disease duration (rho = -0.25, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Depression was associated to sexual dysfunction in women. It could be advantageous to evaluate and treat depression in women with MS who suffer from sexual dysfunction.

ObjectivesThis paper seeks to determine the perception of Medical, Nursing and Midwifery students about their educational environment and compare their perceptions in terms of disciplines, demographic attributes and academic level. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, Medical, Nursing and Midwifery students in Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran, were selected using stratified random sampling method (N=378). They completed the standard Persian version of Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze data. ResultsThe mean score of DREEM was 106 ± 24.6. The mean scores in five domains of DREEM questionnaire including students’ perception of learning, perception of teachers, scientific abilities, students’ perception of educational environment and students’ perception of social conditions were 23±8, 23.4±6, 18±5.5, 25.5±7.7 and 15.8±4, respectively. In the first four domains (p=0.000, F=27.35), (p=0.000, F=9.9), (p=0.000, F=18.5), (p=0.000, t=18.7) and for total scores (p=0.000, F=22.77), the three disciplines were significantly different. Also, there was a significant difference between mean total score (p=0.021, t=2.3) and scores of students’ perception of learning (p=0.008, t=2.65) and social conditions (p=0.022, t=2.3) with respect to gender. ConclusionsAccording to these results, students tend to have a positive attitude towards their educational environment. The findings of this study are useful to identify areas in need of improvement by employing more specialized tools and planning for improvement.

Background and Aim: Academic burnout is the feeling of inadequacy and mental fatigue induced by chronic stress in students lacking the necessary resources to carry out their duties and tasks assigned to them. This study aimed to determine academic burnout and some related factors in medical students of Islamic Azad University of Mashhad in 2015-2016. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 181 medical students in degrees of basic sciences, traineeship, and internship were selected by convenience sampling. The data collection instrument was the Persian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Student Survey and a checklist of demographic variables. The collected data were analyzed using SPSSv. 18 software, descriptive and analytical tests, such as t-test and ANOVA. Results: The mean total score of academic burnout was 34.69 ± 14.69. It was concluded that 23.2% of the subjects had a high level of burnout and 51.4% a moderate level. No significant relationship was found between age, marital status, having the second job, and the educational level without any of the dimensions and the total score of the burnout questionnaire (P>0.05). The mean of academic dissatisfaction was higher in men than in women (p = 0.01). With regard to the place of residence, the mean score of inefficiency in the student home was significantly higher than that of the dormitory (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that a significant percentage of students suffer from academic burnout. In this study, female gender played a protective role in the dimension of academic dissatisfaction and living in a dormitory in the area of inefficiency.

Background:The responsibility of breaking bad news (BBN) to patients is one of the most difficult tasks of a medical profession.Aim:The current study aimed to investigate the preferences of mothers of children with cancer about BBN.Materials and Methods:In this cross-sectional study was conducted in Mashhad during years of 2016, 62 mothers of children with cancer at Dr-Sheikh hospital were recruited by convenience sampling and completed a questionnaire including demographic data and 20 questions about the mothers’ preferences to BBN. Data displayed as percent by SPSS V20 software.Results:Mothers preferred that BBN conducted by their child's doctor (93.5%), with an emotional and compassionate way (83.9%), and in a private setting (90.3%). Be told completely about the process of diagnosis (98.4%), meet people with similar conditions (83.9%), receive psychological (85.5%), and religious (79%) support after getting bad news, being in touch with a close relative (82.3%) and applying another term-like malignancy instead of cancer (95.5%).Conclusion:We tried providing helpful information for developing national guidelines about how to breaking news in Iran, by doing this study.

Background:Delivering bad news to patients is one of the most difficult tasks of physicians that play a big role in the process of treatment and cooperation of patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the ability and skills of physicians in delivery bad news to cancer patients.Methods:This study is a cross-sectional study performed on 70 specialist physicians in two hospitals of Mashhad in 2016. Data were collected by Persian questionnaire of SPIKES included 16 questions and were analyzed by SPSS software.Results:In this study, among the questionnaire items, the most prevalent item was not giving the bad news by phone (100%) and the least prevalent item was putting the hand on the shoulder (24.3%). This study showed that 81.4% of doctors agreed on giving the bad news in private, 72.9% agreed on giving relative hope to patients and 67.1% agreed on evaluating patients knowledge of his/her disease when giving bad news.Conclusion:The results of this study show that the ability of physicians in giving bad news is not enough in some aspects. Therefore, holding educational courses during physicians’ education and after graduation are recommended to increase patients’ trust and decreasing worries and inconvenience of physicians in difficult situations of delivering bad news.