Showing 9 results for Intensive Care Unit
Dr Masoud Fallahi Khoshknab , Mahdi Farzadmehr, Dr Mohammd Ali Hosseini, Dr Hamid Reza Khankeh, Zahra Noorabadi,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (2-2016)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Anxiety is the most common psychological reaction of the families of the patients in cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU). Since nursing consultation is an approach to controlling anxiety, we aimed to determine its effect on anxiety of the patients' families in CSICU.
Material and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on fifty-four family members, of the patients in CSICU of a hospital in Kurdkoy, Iran, allocated into intervention and control groups. For intervention group, nursing consultation program was carried out from admission to discharge while for control group just routine was performed. The data was collected via a demographic checklist and state- anxiety Spielberger inventory, and analyzed by chi-square, independent and paired t-tests.
Results: The results showed that the two groups had similar demographic characteristics. Using independent t-test, their anxiety levels were not significantly different before intervention while they were after intervention. This means that nursing counseling was effective in reducing family's anxiety level (P<0.001). Based on paired t test, there was a significant difference between before and after anxiety in case group (P<0.01) but in control group the difference was not significant (p>0.01).
Conclusion: Nursing consultation can be helpful in mitigating in family's anxiety in cardiac Surgery intensive care unit.
Atif Mahmood, Mahvish Mansoor Ali, Farahnaz Shoukat Ali Punjwani, Sana Sadruddin Bardai, Sonia Sultan, Omar Shamim,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (4-2020)
Abstract
Background: Stressful situation are among the challenging experiences especially in clinical setting. The aim of this study was to compare the level of work-related stress among nurses working in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), General ward and Emergency setting.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at different private tertiary hospitals of Karachi in 2017-2018. Two stage sampling technique including quota and convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data. A total of 225 participants were recruited. Pre-validated questionnaire was used which contained different stress related categories. Midwives, nursing assistants, part time nurses and nurses employed at management positions were excluded from the study. Data were presented as frequency and percentage and mean and standard deviation. The chi-square test was used for examine association of categorical variables. The SPSS used for data analysis.
Results: The mean age of participants was 26.5±2.4 years. Stress among nurses working in emergency department was found to be highest in all categories. Management related stress was 77.3% and 69.3% due to criticism by supervisor and inadequate support by supervisor, respectively. Patient related stress was 72% and 64% due to health risk posed by patient contact and communication about death to patient. About 81.3% of the nurses of emergency department reported high level of stress due to covering work for another employee followed by 66.7% related to working overtime. Moreover, 86.7% and 62.7% of participants had high level of stress due to inadequate salary and lack of recognition.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the level of stress varies within different departments in the hospitals. There are several work-related stressors that found more in Emergency department than ICU or General ward.
Mohammad Shokrzadeh , Danial Jafari, Reza Hoseinpoor, Azam Delaram , Akram Pouyan Sadr , Elham Masodi, Mehrnosh Deylami, Gholamali Lashkarboloki, Yaghoub Shayeste, Narges Fatemi,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (5-2021)
Abstract
Background: Poisoning is a common cause of hospitalization in intensive care units (ICU). The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of poisoning leading to hospitalization in the intensive care units of an educational hospital, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, in Gorgan in 2008-2018.
Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on patients with acute poisoning admitted to the ICUs of 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan from 20 March 2008, to 20 March 2018. We collected data from all patients' medical record using a checklist. Data was presented in proportions, mean and standard deviation.
Results: All of 631 patients with poisoning were admitted to the ICUs were male (61.3%) and 40.3% were in the age range of 20-29 years. The mean length of hospital stay in the ICU was 4.21±3.45 days. The most common type and cause of poisoning were suicide attempt (65.3%) and drugs (65.6%), respectively. The common drugs were used including the benzodiazepines (38.9%) and narcotic drugs (18.6%). The rate of death of poisoning was 11.1%, of which 44.3% was due to aluminum phosphide.
Conclusion: Benzodiazepines and aluminum phosphide were the most common causes of poisoning and death due to poisoning in the ICU. Due to the high mortality rate, it seems necessary to provide more education and information via the media, especially in the field of aluminum phosphide hazards.
Farzaneh Hosseyni, Hosseyn Rahmani, Mahin Tatari, Elham Kashani, Mahnaz Modanloo,
Volume 19, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Background:Professional commitment is one of the factors that can improve performance and job satisfaction in nurses. It can also play an important role in nurses’ willingness to stay in the profession. This study was conducted to determine relationship between professional commitment and the intention to leave the job in nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs).
Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019, on 202 nurses working in the ICUs of hospitals affiliated to the Golestan University of Medical Sciences, northeastern Iran. Eligible nurses were enrolled via census. Data were collected by using the Nurses' Professional Commitment Scale (NPCS) and the Hanshow's Anticipated Turnover Scale (ATS). Data were analyzed in SPSS (version 16) using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results:The mean score of professional commitment (90.40±16.69) and its dimensions had a significant inverse association with intention to leave the job (36.87±4.87) (P<0.05). There was also a significant relationship between professional commitment and age, clinical experience, and work experience in ICUs (P<0.05). However, the intention to leave the job had a significant inverse relationship only with clinical work experience (P<0.05).
Conclusion:According to the results, necessary measures should be taken by healthcare policy makers and hospital managers to reduce the turnover intention rate among nurses. Officials can increase the nurses’ job satisfaction by considering the factors that promote professional commitment and by incorporating incentive systems to encourage nurses to remain in the profession.
Shohreh Kolagari, Mohammad Najafi, Mahboobeh Brojerdi, Mahnaz Modanloo,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (10-2023)
Abstract
Background: Clinical competency is one of the performance indicators of nurses requiring the use of technical and communication skills, knowledge, clinical reasoning, emotions, and professional values at the bedside. The present study’s aim was to assess the clinical competency of nurses working at intensive care units (ICUs) and explore some of its associated factors in hospitals affiliated with the Golestan University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on ICU nurses working at the hospitals affiliated with the Golestan University of Medical Sciences in the northeast of Iran. A total of 160 eligible nurses were recruited using the simple random sampling method. The data were collected through the Intensive and Critical Care Nursing Competence Scale (ICCN-CS), which evaluates the 4 areas of knowledge, skill, attitudes and values, and work experience via 80 statements. The data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at a significance level of 5%.
Results: Most of the participants (69.2%) attained an excellent clinical competency score, and the overall level of clinical competency was excellent. Also, the highest level of competency belonged to the knowledge area (85.11 ± 82.63), and the lowest level was related to the field of skills (80.40± 17.19). Clinical competency showed a significant association with demographic features, including age (P<0.001), type of contract (P<0.001), work experience (P<0.001), marital status (P<0.001), and average overtime hours (P<0.003).
Conclusion: Evaluation of nurses’ clinical competency can help improve the quality of care. It is suggested that health policymakers focus on upgrading the clinical competency of ICU nurses by improving their clinical skills.
Fatemeh Tahmasbi , Khadijeh Yazdi, Navisa Sadat Seyedghasemi , Shohreh Kolagari ,
Volume 21, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Background: The use of information technology improves the competency of nurses at the bedside. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between informatics competency and clinical competency in nurses working in intensive care units.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 135 nurses employed in intensive care units affiliated with Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were included. The inclusion criteria were having at least a bachelor's degree in nursing, a minimum of six months of work experience in the ICU, and current employment in the ICU. The participants were enrolled in 2023 using a stratified sampling method with proportional allocation. Data were collected using demographic information forms, clinical competency questionnaires, and informatics competency questionnaires. Statistical inferential tests included Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, multiple linear regression, and generalized multiple linear regression models. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at 0.05.
Results: The mean scores of the nurses' clinical competency and informatics competency were 58.41±8.80 and 45.67±18.88, respectively. There was no statistically significant correlation between these two variables (r = -0.07, p-value = 0.42). When examining the simultaneous effect of explanatory variables, only work experience in the ICU had a significant association with clinical competency (β = 0.3, P = 0.02). Moreover, informatics competency was significantly associated with gender (β = -12.93, P = 0.001) and the duration of using health information systems (β = -6.22, P = 0.008).
Conclusion: There is no significant relationship between informatics competency and clinical competency among ICU nurses. It is suggested that health system policymakers introduce the components of nurses' informatics competence and emphasize their importance in the clinical setting to improve the quality of care. In addition, nurses should be encouraged to enhance their professional skills and acquire competency in new approaches by gaining updated knowledge.
Banafsheh Ghorbani , Joel Simbeye , Majed Dehghani , Fatemeh Bahramnezhad ,
Volume 22, Issue 2 (6-2025)
Abstract
Background: Inadequate pain management among critically ill nonverbal patients in ICUs is a significant public health issue that can lead to prolonged mechanical ventilation and poor quality of life. Critical care nurses play a vital role in mediating pain management, and identifying barriers they face is essential for developing effective pain relief policies. This study aimed to assess nurses' perceived barriers to pain management in ICUs.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design, adhering to STROBE reporting guidelines, and was conducted from January to May 2022 across four national referral hospitals in Tanzania, including university-affiliated and public hospitals. It utilized the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) barrier tool to assess critical care nurses' perceived barriers to pain management in the ICU, with data analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. A total of 202 nurses were recruited through census sampling. Data collection involved demographic questionnaires alongside the ECOG barrier tool to evaluate the challenges faced by nurses in managing pain effectively.
Results: The findings revealed that there were perceived nurse barriers related to medical staff and patients with the overall mean 4.57± 1.25 and 3.90±1.17 respectively. ICU nurses did not perceive barriers related to the healthcare system with an overall mean 2.33±0.78.
Conclusion: Critical care nurses perceive barriers related to medical staff and patients as significant obstacles to effective pain management in ICUs. Intensive training on diagnosis and assessment, along with the use of tools like the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) and Critical Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT), is essential for improving outcomes. Additionally, integrating patients' cultural backgrounds into pain assessments is crucial for effective management.
Reihane Moghimian Shahrbabaki , Saide Arya, Zohreh Khoshnood , Najmeh Soltaninejad, Monirsadat Nematollahi ,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (6-2026)
Abstract
Background: Preterm neonates are frequently exposed to painful procedures in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), including endotracheal suctioning. Non-pharmacological interventions such as white noise may help reduce pain and improve physiological stability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of white noise on pain intensity and physiological parameters in preterm neonates during airway suctioning.
Methods: This parallel-group randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 preterm neonates admitted to the NICU of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran. Eligible neonates were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using a random number table. Allocation concealment was ensured using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes prepared by an independent researcher. Neonates in the intervention group were exposed to white noise at 45 dB from 5 minutes before until 10 minutes after suctioning, whereas those in the control group received routine care. Pain was assessed using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS). Physiological parameters, including heart rate, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and body temperature, were recorded before, during, and after suctioning. Body temperature was measured using the skin temperature probe integrated into the neonatal vital signs monitor. Data were analyzed using SPSS v23. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with Greenhouse-Geisser correction was used to evaluate changes over time between groups. Independent t-test, Chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were applied where appropriate. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The intervention group showed significantly lower pain scores (P=0.001), heart rate (P<0.001), and respiratory rate (P=0.010) during suctioning compared with the control group. Oxygen saturation levels were significantly higher in the intervention group during the procedure (P<0.001). No significant differences were observed in body temperature between groups (P=1.000).
Conclusion: White noise reduced pain scores and improved heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation during airway suctioning in preterm neonates. These findings support the use of white noise as a complementary non-pharmacological intervention in NICU care.
Arifa Iran, Shima Sadat Aghahosseini , Rukhsana Nazli, Saifullah Abbas , Farnaz Ahsan ,
Volume 23, Issue 2 (6-2026)
Abstract
Background: Pain is a prevalent and distressing symptom among intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and inadequate management may lead to serious complications and adverse outcomes. Roy’s Adaptation Model provides a structured nursing framework for improving patient adaptation and health outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the Roy Adaptation Model on pain levels in ICU patients.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2026 among 100 patients admitted to the ICU in Pakistan. Two comparable ICU wards were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group before participant recruitment. Eligible patients were then consecutively enrolled and assigned to the study groups according to the ICU ward to which they were routinely admitted. Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Patients in the intervention group received care based on the Roy Adaptation Model for 7 days, whereas those in the control group received routine care. Data were collected using the Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Descriptive statistics (Mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and inferential statistics (Independent t-test and ANOVA) were applied. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: Pain scores decreased over the seven-day follow-up period in both groups; however, the reduction was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group. For daytime pain, repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant effects of group (F = 16.84, P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.147), time (F = 6.54, P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.063), and the time × group interaction (F = 4.72, P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.046). Similar findings were observed for nighttime pain, with significant effects of group (F = 18.32, P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.157), time (F = 6.87, P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.066), and the time × group interaction (F = 4.15, P < 0.001, ηp² = 0.040). Independent samples t-tests showed no significant between-group differences during the first two days and nights (P > 0.05); however, pain scores were significantly lower in the intervention group from day 3 to day 7 and from night 3 to night 7 (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that Roy’s Adaptation Model may contribute to pain reduction among ICU patients, supporting the potential value of theory-based nursing care in critical care settings. Incorporating this model into routine ICU practice may enhance pain management and facilitate patient adaptation.
