Health assessment skills lead to enhancement of nurses' self-confidence at work. The aim of the present study is to investigate the challenges that nurses face in conducting health assessments in Iran and another country. This study was conducted in integrated review study based on Russell's method. The inclusion criteria were; related to the objectives of the study, English or Persian writings, published during the past 35 years and access to their full text. The nonscientific articles as well as the articles that lacked a specific name or transparent data were excluded from the study. Health assessment, nurse, history taking, and physical examination were used as keywords. We used Persian and international databases such as SID, Magiran, Iranmedex, Google Scholar, Medline, Scopus, Elsevier, PubMed, and Science Direct. Finally, 20 articles were included in the study. the scattered data were summarized for data analysis and interpretation purposes. All of the data reviewed, obtained, compared, and finally, classified into six groups. The most important challenges in the use of these skills in order are Individual -motivational, professional, environmental, educational, cultural, and communicational factors as well as factors that are related to patients and their culture. The results showed that the challenges that nurses face in performing clinical health assessment skills are mostly shared in Iran and across the world. Although all of the factors have been involved in execution of these skills, the health assessment skills are significantly dependent on the need for them as felt by the nurses themselves.

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Context: Despite reporting a high prevalence of fatigue among nurses, few studies have been examined the impact of measures to reduce their fatigue. Aims: The present study aims to examine the impact of core stability exercises on nurses' fatigue. Settings and Design: The present study is a field trial study. The study population has been included all nurses who are employing in Shahid Rajaie hospital of Gachsaran. Materials and Methods: A total of 46 eligible nurses were selected through convenience sampling but allocated between experimental and control groups based on block randomization. Nurses in the experimental group did a core stability exercise based on the protocol as three times a week for 6 weeks. The impact of exercise was evaluated using multidimensional fatigue inventory before and after the intervention. Statistical Analysis Used: The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software through descriptive and analytical statistics such as the Chi-square test and t-test, taking into account the 95% confidence intervals. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in the mean score of total fatigue and its dimensions between two groups on precore stability exercises (P > 0.05). However, the statistical significant difference was observed in mean scores of total fatigue and physical and mental subscales between the two groups after core stability exercises (P < 0.05). Within-group comparison in the experimental group also showed the statistically significant difference by total fatigue, physical, and mental fatigues after core stability exercises compared to before one (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Core stability exercises were able to reduce nurses' fatigue, particularly mental and physical fatigues.

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Context: Awareness of types of triage methods in different situations and locations is one of the most important needs of the medical staff, especially due to the high number of patients, and is necessary for nurses in the emergency department. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of nurses working in the emergency department. Setting and Design: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in 2017, the study population was all nurses working in the emergency departments of educational hospitals affiliated to Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, who were included by the census method (n = 73). Materials and Methods: The data collection tool included a questionnaire on individual characteristics and an assessment of the emergency department personnel's awareness level of triage systems in Iran. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive-inferential statistics in the SPSS version 16. Results: Totally 47 female nurses (64.4%) and 26 male nurses (35.6%), with a mean age of 30.37 ± 3.83, participated in the study. The results showed that 64 nurses (87.7%) had poor awareness, 9 nurses (12.3%) had a moderate awareness about different methods of triage, and the mean score of total knowledge of nurses was poor (20.75 ± 8). There was a significant statistical relationship between knowledge score and marital status, employment status, and teaching methods of triage principles (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Due to the employed nurses' knowledge low score, it is necessary to organize training courses of the triage.

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Context: Various factors can hamper the hemodynamic status and the arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂) percentage in patients. Aims: The study has been performed pursuing the goal to compare the effect of two methods, namely, Qur'an recitation and scheduled visits on the hemodynamic status and SpO₂of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) suffering patients. Setting and Design: This study was conducted in myocardial infarction patients of Mazandaran heart center. Materials and Methods: The present study is a single-blind clinical trial. One hundred and twenty (n = 120) AMI patients were randomly divided into three groups. For one group, the chanting of the surahs “Ya Sin and Al-Hashr” was played. The intervention group had a 30-m scheduled visit with the desired individuals and the control group did not receive the usual cares. The patients' symptoms of hemodynamic and SpO₂percentage were measured before, during, and after the intervention. Statistical Analysis Used: The data analysis was performed using the statistical tests (multiple comparison test of Bonferroni, ANOVA test, and repeated-measure variance analysis). Results: The changes in the respiratory rate and arterial blood SpO₂percentage in the pre- and post-Qur' a recitation intervention group patients were meaningful. Quranic recitation improved the symptoms of hemodynamic and the arterial blood SpO₂percentage more than the scheduled visit. Conclusion: The medical team can employ Quranic recitation to enhance the symptoms of hemodynamic, to reduce the anxiety, and to improve the arterial blood SpO₂percentage.

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Context: Infertile women may have a lot of problems in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) area. Some of these problems are sexually transmitted infections, sexual risky behaviors, high-risk pregnancy history, HIV/AIDS, and sexual violence. There are some reliable questionnaires for infertility health needs, but no comprehensive instrument was available to address their SRH needs. Aims: This article aimed to assess validity and reliability of Persian version of SRH needs questionnaire among Iranian infertile women. Settings and Design: In this psychometric study, validate SRH needs questionnaire in infertility Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari. Material and Methods: The Persian version of the SRH needs questionnaire by Khani et al. was selected to validate for infertile women. Face validity, content validity and reliability were assessed. Impact score to assess quantitative face validity, content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) to assess the content validity and Cronbach's alpha and intera-class correlation coefficient (ICC) to assess its reliability were calculated. Statistical Analysis: Analysis of ICC, Reliability was used for data analysis. Results: In the qualitative content validity process, 25 questions were added and 5 questions were omitted in the panel of experts. Furthermore, 29 questions achieved a CVR <0.62 and 13 questions had a CVI <0.79. The Cronbach's alpha and ICC of the questionnaire were 0.895 and 0.945, respectively. Conclusions: The Persian version of SRH questionnaire prepared for infertile women is a valid and reliable questionnaire and can be used by healthcare providers for assessing of infertile women's SRH needs. Context: Infertile women may have a lot of problems in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) area. Some of these problems are sexually transmitted infections, sexual risky behaviors, high-risk pregnancy history, HIV/AIDS, and sexual violence. There are some reliable questionnaires for infertility health needs, but no comprehensive instrument was available to address their SRH needs.

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Context: Gastric cancer is the most prevalent among gastrointestinal cancers, and one of the deadliest diseases in Iran. It is very important to understand the factors that affect this disease. Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting gastric cancer patients in Ahvaz in 2018. Settings and Design: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 105 gastric cancer patients were included in this study within 3 months after obtaining the signed informed consent from them. The study population was selected using the census. Materials and Methods: The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire on the factors affecting the disease. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests, one-dimensional Chi-square and binomial and SPSS-16. Results: Of 105 patients with gastric cancer, 75 (71.4%) were male, 85 (81%) were married, 15 (14.3%) had an alcohol history, and 75 (71.4%) had a history of fast food consumption. A positive blood group with the number 25 (23.8%) was the most common type of blood. In examining the effective variables, it was also found that gender, residence, smoking, and alcohol were significantly affected by the binomial test on gastric cancer (P < 0001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that many factors, such as fast food and urban life, smoking and alcohol, and a positive blood-type A group affect the disease.

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Context: Identification and investigation of the prevalence of factors that may cause needlestick injuries can provide a field ground about preventive planning. Aims: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of sharp object injuries among the operating room staff of Ahvaz educational hospitals in 2017. Settings and Design: In the present cross-sectional descriptive study, attempts are made to assess the prevalence of needlestick injuries among 104 operating room staff (Bachelor of Science) of Imam Khomeini, Razi, Golestan hospitals of Ahvaz. Materials and Methods: Researcher-made questionnaire was sued for data collection. Statistical Analysis Used: The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and descriptive statistical tests (mean, standard deviation, and relative frequency) and analytical tests (independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher test). Results: The results of this study showed that suture needle is the most common cause of needlestick injury. Factors that affect the frequency of needlestick injuries include overhastiness (76%), significant workload (70.2%), and not taking precautions (63.5%). Most needlestick injuries occur during surgery (90.4%), removal of needle (19.2%), washing of contaminated instruments (13.5%), and blood drawing and injection (6.7%). The most frequent taken measure after sustaining needlestick injuries is washing of hands with soap and water (82.7%). Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of needlestick in the operating room, it is necessary to develop programs to prevent this problem.

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