Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND: One of the important challenges faced by health‑care system is to raise the level of 
knowledge of nurses about cerebrovascular accident(CVA) nursing care in the emergency department. 
Therefore, the aim of this study was comparison of two new educational techniques (noninteractive 
multimedia learning and workshop) on knowledge of nurses about CVA nursing care in the emergency 
department.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This experimental study was conducted with a two‑group design. 
Sixty‑four eligible nurses working in the emergency department in selected hospitals affiliated to 
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, were selected as the study participants. Nurses 
were randomly assigned into two groups of noninteractive multimedia (n = 32) and workshop (n = 32) 
using random number table. The data‑gathering tools including a demographic questionnaire (6 items) 
and knowledge questionnaire (24 items) were completed before and 2 weeks after the intervention in 
both the groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 and descriptive (mean and standard deviation) 
and analytical statistics (ANOVA, independent t‑test, and paired t‑test). The level of statistical 
significance was P ≤ 0.05.
RESULTS: The result shows that independent t‑test showed that there was not a significant difference 
between the mean total scores of nurses’ knowledge before intervention in the two groups (P > 0/05). 
Furthermore, the results of paired t‑test showed a significant difference in the knowledge score 
2 weeks after compared to before the education in both the groups (P < 0.005). In addition, the 
results of independent t‑test showed a significant difference in the knowledge score 2 weeks after 
the intervention in the two groups (P < 0.005). The average knowledge score in the workshop group 
was significantly higher than in noninteractive multimedia learning group.
CONCLUSION: According to the result, new educational techniques such as noninteractive 
multimedia learning and workshop could improve knowledge of nurses about CVA nursing care in 
the emergency department.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Nursing is a scientific profession, based on theory and art of care. However, the
theory‑practice gap has become the biggest challenge of this profession and decreases the quality
of service both in teaching and practice. Thus, it seems necessary to search for these reasons in
situations such as emergency department – which has an effective role in patients’ health.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to find the perceived reasons for the theory‑practice
gap in the process of emergency nursing education from the perspective of professors, nurses, and
students, as well as doctors, since they cooperate with nurses and students in the training environment.
METHODS: A qualitative study was carried out; this included 18 deep, semi‑structured interviews in
7 months with the people involved in the process of emergency department apprenticeship alongside
with observing the activities of stakeholders. The data analysis was done in accordance with content
analysis method including three steps of preparation, organization, and reporting.
RESULTS: The perceived reasons for theory‑practice gap were classified into 13  secondary
categories. At the end of data analysis, five main categories of student, instructor, environment,
culture, and the organizational process, and finally, two themes of “input” and “process” emerged.
CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students in emergency department face a number of challenges in
implementing theory into practice which stems from the faculty as an academic environment and
the hospital as an educational environment. These underpinning reasons for the theory‑practice
gap influence the quality of nursing education and care delivery in emergency department. Hence,
decreasing the theory‑practice gap lies in the amendment of any of these factors.

Abstract Background and Objectives: Congestive heart failure is one of the most common
cardiovascular diseases that have a progressive and chronic trend and influences individuals’
and their families’ various dimensions. Social support is one of the psychosocial factors that
can have a positive effect on individuals’ physical, mental and social status. Despite the
existence of evidences, revealing the importance of family’s support on patients’ condition,
family centered supportive interventions with goal of clinical outcomes improvement have
been less conducted among these patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate
the effect of family supportive intervention on the level of the support, received among heart
failure patients. Materials and Methods: This is a two‑group two‑stage clinical trial, conducted
on 64 patients with cardiac failure, referring to selected educational centers and meeting the
inclusion criteria, who were selected through convenient sampling. They were assigned to
study (n = 32) and control (n = 32) groups through random allocation. Data were collected
by questioning through a two‑section medical records questionnaire and were analyzed by
SPSS. Results: Results of the study showed that mean scores of received support score were
13.7 (3.8) in the study and 0.8 (2.4) in the control group. Independent t‑test showed a significant
difference in mean changes of perceived support scores after the intervention between study
and control groups (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Based on familial dimension in social support
have a positive effect on patients’ perceived support. Nurses, as professional members of
health care team, and with an important role in education and care of cardiac failure patients,
can support, educate and guide these patients through designing appropriate care plans and
educating their family members.

Abstract Background: Today, lumbar herniation discs, a prevalent problem with a sign of lumbar and feet
pain in society. Removal of disk by surgery decrease pain but reduce quality‑of‑life (QOL). In some
cases, lake of following and caring of patient after surgery, herniation disc recurrent. Previous
studies show that patient education and followings is important, therefore, this study aimed to
investigate the effect of continuing care on patient QOL after disc surgery in neurosurgery and very
important person (VIP) ward in Al‑Zahra Hospital. Materials and Methods: This study is a clinical
trial conducted on 64 patients hospitalized in the neurosurgery and VIP wards of Al‑Zahra Hospital,
in Isfahan, Iran, in 2013. The patients were selected by simple sampling method and were randomly
assigned to two groups (study and control). Patients’ response to short form‑36 questionnaire
before and 4 weeks and 3 months after continuing care in study group, and simultaneously, in
the control group. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference in mean
of physical and psychological dimensions before and 4 weeks and 3 months after intervention in
study group (P < 0.05), but in control group, the difference was not significant (P = 0.8). Pairwise
comparison of mean physical and psychological dimensions at different time points by Fisher’s
least significant difference showed that there was a significant difference in the intervention
group (P < 0.022). But in the control group, there was no significant difference between pairs of
time points (P > 0.18). Conclusion: Continuing care improves dimensions of patients’ QOL, and
it is recommended as a nursing and nonmedical intervention in disc surgery patients.

Abstract Introduction: Health and healthy human being as a core concept of nursing have attracted
considerable attention in the Western literature but have received less attention in the context
of Eastern philosophy contexts. Methods: This study was done based on philosophical inquiry;
this method could be accomplished by means of different approaches like philosophical analysis
through concept analysis. There are different methods for concept analysis. Mors’s method
was employed to analyze the concept of health and healthy human being, we sought to clarify
them according to ideas deriving from the Islamic thought. To achieve the research objective,
Islamic texts were studied and analyzed based on the criteria of concept analysis (definition,
attributes/characteristics, and beaneries). Results: Our analysis revealed in the Islamic
thought human being is an integrated entity. Therefore, his health not only consists of each
single dimension, but also the full health together with the health of society gets meaning in
a balanced and coordinated set. Conclusion: Based on the results, in this study, there are
a series of similarities and differences with the perspectives of health in Islamic thought and
holism paradigm available in nursing.