Clashing Perspectives: Cannabis Users and Swedish Drug Policy

In a Swedish study treatment staff, youth cannabis users and adult cannabis users are interviewed about the risks of taking drugs. They all mobilize evidence-based arguments for their standpoints but arrive at quite different conclusions. Drug policy becomes “a matter of concern rather than a matter of facts”.

Relationship between Job Stress and Job Performance among Nurses Facing Covid-19 Virus in Zahedan Teaching Hospitals In 2021

Introduction: Coronavirus is an infection disease with respiratory symptoms and it is a virus that can be transmitted between humans as a mutated virus. Coronavirus-19 disease can lead to stress and anxiety among hospital staff. At present, one of the most important factors affected the occupational performance of the treatment staff and their ability to perform the overshadowed tasks effectively is Covid-19 disease. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between job stress and job performance of nurses in the covid-19 epidemic from the perspective of nurses in Zahedan teaching hospitals in 2021. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed by available sampling method. Data were obtained using forms collected during three months in the inpatient ward of covid-19 in Zahedan teaching hospitals. The research samples were 235 nurses working in different wards of the hospital participated in this study and answered the three-part questionnaire containing demographic and job information, stress resulted by covid-19 and job performance. The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software, version 20. There were used the descriptive and analytical statistics including frequency, mean, standard deviation and t test. Results: Most of the participants in this study were women (68%) under the age of 30 (59.4%). There is a significant relationship between the effect of Covid-19 on job stress and job performance. Thus, the effect of Covid-19 on job stress is direct, i.e. with the greater effect of Covid-19, the amount of stress increases by 39% ) p = 0.00, r = 0.39(. The effect of Covid-19 on the job performance was inversely so that with increasing the effect of Covid-19, job performance decreased by -20% (-r= 0.20, p=0.01). The findings showed there is a significant relationship between stress resulted by Covid-19 and the job performance. Discussion: The level of stress in nurses working in Covid-19-related wards in Zahedan teaching hospitals is moderate. It seems that paying attention to nurses' education to deal with critical situations similar to Covid-19 and increasing personal protective equipment can be effective in preventing nurses from developing stress and anxiety, and then their job performance will be improved. Keywords: Nurses, Covid-19, Job stress, Job performance

Multiple Logics: How Staff in Relapse Prevention Interpellate People With Substance Use Problems

This study analyzes how staff in Swedish alcohol and other drug (AoD) treatment interpellate service users as people who can benefit from relapse prevention. Relapse prevention is a widely used intervention. Research is scarce, however, on how relapse prevention is practiced locally and how treatment staff perceive the relationship between AoD use as a problem and relapse prevention as a solution. Drawing on Actor-Network Theory and critical studies of AoD issues within this tradition, we elucidate how staff through specific interpellative logics enact service users, their individual characteristics, and living conditions. The data derive from interviews with 18 professionals working with assessment, counseling, case-management, therapy, and healthcare at AoD treatment agencies in the Stockholm region. The results show that the participants drew on four interpellative logics, and thereby enacted service users as four different object types. Region and network logics pinpointed that individuals have stable observable characteristics that determine their problems and eligibility for treatment (e.g., living conditions, diagnoses). Fluid and fire logics emphasized that their characteristics also vary depending on context and can be present and absent at the same time (e.g., harms, agency). This flexible interpellation of service users echoes the tendency among treatment staff to embrace sometimes irreconcilable understandings of AoD problems and to enact multiple realities of addiction. This suits a professional field where many factors are thought to cause and help resolve problems, but where the treatment supply is often limited to specific interventions. We conclude that it is easier to create a reasonable match between the service delivered and the potential service user if the characteristics of the latter are considered diverse and flickering. This exemplifies Carol Bacchi’s tenet that problem representations are adjusted to fit the solution at hand.

Therapeutic Relationship and Dropout in High-Risk Adolescents’ Intensive Group Psychotherapeutic Programme

ObjectiveDropout rates are a prominent problem in youth psychotherapy. An important determinant of dropouts is the quality of the therapeutic relationship. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the therapeutic relationship and dropouts in an intensive mentalization-based treatment (MBT) for adolescents with personality disorders.MethodsPatients (N = 105) included were either dropouts (N = 36) or completers (N = 69) of an intensive MBT. The therapeutic relationship was measured with the child version of the Session Rating Scale (C-SRS), which was completed by the patient after each group therapy session. For each patient, the treatment termination status (dropout or completer) was indicated by the treatment staff. The reliable change index (RCI) was calculated for the C-SRS to determine significant changes in the therapeutic relationship.ResultsWhile both groups started with similar scores on the C-SRS, the scores between dropouts and completers differed significantly at the end of the treatment period. On average, during therapy, an increase was seen in the scores of completers, and a decrease was seen in the scores of dropouts. While dropouts could not be predicted based on the C-SRS scores, a significant decrease (RCI) in C-SRS scores during the last two sessions occurred more often for dropouts than for completers.ConclusionOur findings show that to prevent dropouts, the patient’s judgment of the quality of the therapeutic relationship should be monitored continuously, and decreases discussed with the patient and the group.

Experience of Iranian Women With Multiple Sclerosis About Urinary Dysfunctions Consequences: A Qualitative Study

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to identify the experiences of women with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) about urinary dysfunctions consequences. Methods: This qualitative study with the content analysis approach included 10 women with MS (age range: 29 to 59 years), who were recruited using a purposive sampling method with maximum variation. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews, the participants explained their experiences of urinary dysfunctions consequences. The obtained data were analyzed based on the content analysis method of Graneheim and Lundman. Results: The content analysis revealed three key themes: Physical consequences, psycho-emotional consequences, and economic consequences. Conclusion: Urinary dysfunctions cause widespread physical, psychological, and economic problems for women with MS. Therefore, treatment staff should address the MS patient’s concerns caused by urinary dysfunctions, in a non-threatening atmosphere, and help them to fearlessly manage their urinary problems.

The Effect of Using Nutritional Guideline by Nurses on the Incidence and Severity of Malnutrition in Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Units

Background: Malnutrition is still one of the most important and common problems in hospitals and increases the incidence, side effects, and mortality in hospitalized patients. In this regard, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients are more at risk due to critical conditions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nurses’ nutritional guidelines on the severity of malnutrition in ICU patients. Methods: This single-blind clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients hospitalized in the ICU of Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ahwaz in 2012. Available patients were randomly divided into the control and intervention groups. The data collection tool was a checklist of demographic data and the Maastricht index for malnutrition assessment. Patients were evaluated based on the Maastricht index at baseline and 10 days after feeding. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. Mean and standard deviation of albumin, pre-albumin, and lymphocyte parameters before the intervention were 3.13 ± 0.571, 1.28 ± 0.31, 1638.2 ± 489.59, whereas, after the intervention, they were 536 3.32 ± 3.88, 1.88 ± 0.36, 2195 ± 40.85, respectively. Also, the amount of malnutrition intensity by the Maastricht formula before and after the intervention was 4.89 ± 2.17 and 2.00 ± 2.10, at a significance level of 0.001. Regarding the normal distribution of data, using the T-test, two groups showed significant differences (P = 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of malnutrition is high in patients admitted to the ICUs, which is mainly due to inappropriate nutrition of patients in these sectors. Although nurses play a significant role in feeding patients, their knowledge in this field is less than needed. According to the results of this study, the use of the guideline by nurses reduced the severity of malnutrition. Therefore, it is essential to create the necessary backgrounds for increasing the knowledge of this group of treatment staff and to educate valid nutrition guides for them to improve the nutritional status, and subsequently accelerate the treatment process of the patients.

Observance of patients’ rights in emergency department of educational hospitals in south-east Iran

Purpose Patient right is the most important ethical right in the hospital, which equally, belongs to every human kind. Observance of patient right is responsibility of all treatment staff when they offer treatment and care for patient. This study aims to investigate observance of patients’ rights in emergency department of educational hospitals in south-east Iran. Design/methodology/approach This study used a cross-sectional design and was conducted in four educational hospitals affiliated with the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2018. Using a two-section standard questionnaire of Patients’ Rights Charter, this study assessed patients’ rights observance using a census method, N = 382. The data from the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviations and analytic statistics such as Kolmogorov – Smirnov, ANOVA, t-test and Pearson test using SPSS 21. Findings Means of total score for observing all essentials of patients’ rights in emergency department of educational hospitals were at a moderate level (43.10 ±15.05) from the viewpoint of patients. The area of “providing health services based on respecting patient’s privacy and observing the essentials of secrecy and confidentiality” enjoying the highest mean score (86.89 ± 24.39), was at a good level compared to other areas. The area of “having access to effective complaint management system” showed the lowest mean score (23/85 ± 23/07) from the participants’ perspective proving a poor level. Between the patient rights observance and gender, education level, resident status and duration of hospitalization, a significant relationship was observed. Originality/value As regarded in this study, the degree of patients’ rights observance was moderate so, culture, paying attention to the rights of all stakeholders, identifying barriers and various factors, including the professional and environmental differences in the assessment of the need, should be considered by policymakers to design promotional and regulatory programs for improving the rights of the patient.