Background: Quarantine during COVID-19 disease may be associated with psychological distress and other behavioral problems. This study aimed to investigate depression, anxiety, and stress in self-quarantined pregnant women at home for 14 days during the coronavirus disease outbreak in Iran.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional web survey was carried out on 874 pregnant women in all governmental health centers of two cities in Iran using the census method in 2020-21. Survey data were collected with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analytical tests (Chi-square, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and logistic regression) at significance level less than 0.05.
Results: Approximately 40.04% (N = 350) of the participants were classified as a self-quarantine group. The mean (SD) of the stress score was higher for the quarantine group compared to nonquarantine (8.12 (4.95) vs. 5.96 (4.51)) (F2,874 = 25.180, p < 0.001). But there was no significant difference in the depression and anxiety scores between the quarantine group compared to nonquarantine, respectively. Additionally, the adjusted odds ratio for stress score was associated with an unwanted pregnancy (1.993, 95% CI: 1.108-3.587; p = 0.021), younger age (1.707, 95% CI: 1.082-2.692; p = 0.022) and uninsured coverage (2.240, 95% CI: 1.320-3.801; p = 0.003), and complete quarantine (2.027, 95% CI: 1.548-2.654; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Self-quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic has been related to high-stress levels, specifically, among women of younger age, uninsured, and unwanted pregnancies. Thus, quarantined pregnant women will need more mental health support and medical supplies.
Background: Comprehensive palliative care for patients with heart failure can be developed by educating cardiac nurses. The current study aimed to design a heart failure palliative care educational program for nurses.
Materials and methods: This study was carried out using the multi-method approach based on two out of four steps of Uys educational program development at Dr. Chamran Hospital, Isfahan, in 2020-2021. In step 1, educational needs were collected through literature review, interviews with 15 patients and 10 nurses, examination of patients' documents and medical records, and observation. Then, in step 2, the importance and necessity of teaching the proposed topics and the teaching and evaluation method of the items were assessed through two rounds of delphi technique (15 expert panel members). Eventually, the educational program was finalized.
Results: In step 1, the educational needs of nurses were identified in 6 general fields and 26 general learning topics. In step 2, educational needs [specialized knowledge (55% necessity and 55% importance) and social support (33% necessity and 33% importance)], teaching methods (role-playing, experiential learning, and journal club), and evaluation method (the information analysis method) were removed due to a lack of consensus (11%). Finally, the main parts of the program, including the program mission and vision, general learning topics, general goals, objectives, teaching strategies, and evaluation strategies, were compiled.
Conclusions: This program provides nurses with up-to-date information on various aspects of the physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and educational needs of heart failure patients and ensures the provision of better services to them.
Background: The magnitude of postpartum depression in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic is under-documented, and little is known about its potential social, demographic, and clinical correlates. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and related factors of postpartum depression among Jordanian mothers with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy or after childbirth.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in March-June 2021 among a convenient sample of 109 women with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy or after childbirth, who were at a leading hospital equipped to care for COVID-19 cases in North Jordan. An online survey using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to collect information from mothers with a history of COVID-19-positive tests.
Results: Among the total number of women who participated in the study (n = 109), 73 women had postpartum depression. The prevalence of postpartum depression in the present study was 67%. In addition, the study found a positive statistically significant correlation between EPDS scores and being a smoker, delivery method, experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, and being hospitalized.
Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, women had a high level of postpartum depression. It would be necessary to follow further the confirmed cases of COVID-19, and mothers should be screened for depressive symptoms during pregnancy and followed up for antenatal and postnatal care.
Background: Cerebrovascular accident dramatically impacts patients' lives. However, this chronic disease could be managed by boosting self-care and following healthy behaviors. Accordingly, this trial sought to specify the impact of a training program established on the theory of planned behavior on the self-care of clients with this condition.
Materials and methods: This trial was performed on 80 clients, who were selected using a random numbers table and divided into two equal groups to receive either usual care alone or usual care plus a training program based on the theory of planned behavior (five in-hospital individual sessions for 5 weeks and weekly phone follow-ups for 2 months after discharge). Self-care and the dimensions of the theory of planned behavior were investigated at baseline and 2 months after the last in-hospital session using the standardized Shah version of the modified Barthel index and a researcher-made questionnaire, respectively.
Results: The mean score of self-care was significantly higher in the experimental arm at the posttest (Mann-Whitney = 506.00, p = 0.005). Also, the increase in mean change of self-care from baseline to posttest was significantly more in the experimental arm (t78= -6.6, p < 0.001). Such findings were also found for all dimensions of the theory of planned behavior.
Conclusions: Based on results, nurses and health policymakers can incorporate training based on the theory of planned behavior into routine care programs for patients with cerebrovascular accident to boost their self-care. The implemented intervention also could be reproduced in other contexts. Hence, further trials are requested to specify the sustainability of the findings.