Kobra Rahzani

Cognitive and psychological disorders are among the most important outcomes of the end stage of renal disease. Treatments have neither definitely prevented the disorders' progression nor cured them. This study aims at evaluating the effect of solving a Sudoku puzzle on memory and anxiety in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This randomized controlled clinical trial study was conducted on 64 HD patients. The samples were randomly assigned either to the control group (n = 32) or Sudoku (intervention) group (n = 32). The study lasted for four weeks. The anxiety and memory of the participants were measured by the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) at the beginning and end of the study. The intervention group solved the Sudoku puzzle within 20 min for four weeks, three times per week (12 times), 15 min after the HD onset, the control group received no intervention. To evaluate the effect of the Sudoku puzzle on momentary anxiety, the state anxiety of all samples was measured and recorded in the first session of the study, 40 min after the onset of the first HD session. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 25. The mean and standard deviation of the anxiety score were 82.71 ± 5.1 and 70.93 ± 18.0 in the Sudoku group (p = 0.001) and 82.43 ± 5.77 and 82.06 ± 4.55 in the control group at the beginning and the end of the study, respectively (p = 0.778). Moreover, the mean and standard deviation of the state anxiety score in the first session were 41.37 ± 3.29 and 38.5 ± 2.9 in the intervention group (p = 0.001) and 39.5 ± 2.9 and 42.15 ± 2.73 in the control group (p = 0.001) before the HD onset and 40 min after the HD onset, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in memory scores in the Sudoku group before and after the intervention. However, the covariance test showed that at the end of the study, there was a statistically significant difference between memory scores in the control and intervention groups(p = 0.048). The results showed that there is a statistically significant difference in the post tests between the two groups in terms of anxiety, state anxiety and memory (p ≤ 0.05). Sudoku solving seems to play an effective role in reducing anxiety and state anxiety in HD patients, but it has little effect in improving memory. Therefore, it is recommended to use it as an adjunctive treatment to control anxiety and improve memory in hemodialysis patients.

Introduction: The coronavirus crisis is a multidimensional phenomenon that affects even the family. The impact of the situation on the family has been less discussed. Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted to explain families' experiences with patients suffering from COVID-19. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a content analysis approach in 2021. Sampling ...

Introduction: The COVID-19 disease, which has become a health crisis in the world, has affected various aspects of the personal and professional life of nurses. This study investigated the experiences of nurses diagnosed with COVID-19. Methods: This was a descriptive qualitative study. Ten nurses with COVID-19 were purposefully selected. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed by Granheim and Lundman content analyze. Results: In this study, the final five categories included (1) physical deterioration (verity of physical disorders – intensity of physical disorders), (2) Psychological reactions (anxiety, denial, anger, acceptance), (3) Making of sense of life (developing and transformation), (4) Economic burden (family economy restrictions - high cost of treatment- lack of financial support), and (5) Dual reactions of the people around (closeness and isolation - supportive and unsupportive). Conclusion: Nurses suffering from COVID-19 encountered multiple physical, psychological, economic and empathy challenges. The nurses were transformed to the holistic meanings of their personal and professional life, prioritizing the patients’ interventions and education, sharing experiences with the patients, and paying attention to the psychological aspects of care.

Introduction: The study investigated the effect of mandala coloring on pain and anxiety associated with dressing changes in burn patients. Method: This clinical trial was conducted on 60 patients in two groups. At the beginning of the study [baseline (T1)], anxiety and pain were assessed using the BSPAS and VAS. A mandala pattern with colored pencils was provided to the patients in the intervention group. Each patient was given 30 min to color. Anxiety was measured at the 35th minute (T2). A dressing change was performed and 15 min later, the variables were measured again (T3). The control group received no intervention. Results: The mean anxiety at the baseline (T1), 35th minute (T2), and 15 min after dressing changes (T3) in the intervention and control groups were 38.73 ± 5.55, 26.20 ± 6.08 and 28 ± 8.53, and 39.17 ± 4.17, 41.27 ± 3.68 and 41.63 ± 2.97, respectively. Anxiety at T1 was at the same for both groups. The anxiety in the intervention group decreased (P < 0.001) at T2 and T3 and increased in the control group. The mean pain intensity at the baseline (T1) and 15 min after dressing changes (T2) in the intervention group was 8.47 ± 1.432 and 5.9 ± 1.9, respectively, and in the control group was 8.33 ± 0.802 and 8.77 ± 0.626. Pain intensity at T1 was at the same level for both groups. The pain in the intervention group decreased at T2 (P < 0.001), whilst it increased in the control group. Conclusion: Mandala coloring can reduce pain and anxiety during dressing changes in burn patients. It can be used as adjuvant treatment. Lay Summary: Wound dressing in burn patients is accompanied by pain. This painful experience can lead to wound dressing anxiety in these patients. For this purpose, a study was conducted to check whether coloring before wound dressing can reduce the pain and anxiety of dressing in adults. Two groups of patients were included in the study; before the dressing, one group received a pre-prepared image of mandela designs along with colored pencils and colored the design to their taste. The other group did not receive any intervention. The intensity of pain and the level of anxiety of the two groups were measured before and after the dressing. The results showed that the coloring of the mandela design before dressing reduced the pain and anxiety related to the proceedure.

Background: Treatment of wounds and burn injuries is very important. Nowadays, the tendency to research complementary medicine has increased. Method: In this clinical trial, 60 patients hospitalized in the burn ward who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 30). In addition to treatments, the intervention group received one capsule (2 g) of Calendula officinalis daily, for two weeks, and the control group received the placebo. Wound status was assessed with the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) on the 1st, 7th, and 15th days of the study in both groups. Results: The mean total score of wound status using BWAT at the 1st, 7th, and 14th days in the intervention group was 48.23, 35.93, and 22.97, respectively, and in the control group was 48.90, 42.57, and 37.8. Statistically, wound condition on the first day was at the same level for both groups. Wound healing scores in the two groups increased during the 1st to 15th days of the study (P <0.001). However, in the intervention group, the range of wound healing changed on days seven and 15 and was greater than in the control group. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, C. officinalis may have beneficial healing properties and be effective in accelerating the healing of second-degree burn wounds and can be used as a supplement to treat wounds.

One of the most common orthopedic problems is the incidence of pressure ulcer followed by immobility. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Aloe Vera gel on the prevention of pressure ulcer in patients hospitalized in the orthopedic ward. This study is a randomized, triple-blind clinical trial which was done on 80 purposefully selected patients in orthopedic ward in Arak town, Iran, 2016. Patients were randomly assigned into two intervention and control groups based on blocking sampling method. In each group the routine daily cares to prevent bed sores were performed by nurses. In the intervention group in addition to routine nursing care to prevent bed sores, twice a day (hours of 9 and 21) pure Aloe Vera gel on the areas of hip, sacrum and heel were rubbed, but in the control group placebo (gel of water and starch) were used. Then sacral, hip and heel of both groups on days 3, 7 and 10 for of signs of pressure ulcers was evaluated. The mean age of patients in the control group was (42.34 ± 12.19) and in the intervention group Was (41.71 ± 11.50) years, respectively. In the intervention group 1 patient afflicted with sore of hip and two people with sacral pressure ulcer. In the control group 3 patients affiliated with sore of hip, 8 people with sacral pressure ulcer, and 1 person had pressure sore of heel. Analysis of the data showed that both groups had statistically significant differences in the incidence of pressure ulcers (P = 0.047). This means that Aloe Vera gel could prevent the occurrence of pressure ulcers in the intervention group. Due to the effect of Aloe Vera gel to prevent a rise in temperature, non-blanchable redness, swelling and pain of the skin of regions under study in hospitalized patients in the orthopedic ward, applying of it toward the prevention of pressure ulcers in patients at risk of pressure ulcer development is recommended. This study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical. Trials in 07/09/2016 with the IRCT ID: IRCT2016051027825N1 .