Background & Aim: Job burnout is defined as the response to the chronic psychological distress caused by one's occupation, leading to poor efficiency and loss of human resources. The present study aimed to evaluate the rate of job burnout and its influential factors in the midwives employed at the hospitals and health centers in Sanandaj, Iran in 2016. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 200 midwives employed at the hospitals and health centers in Sanandaj city. The subjects were selected via simple random sampling using a random number table. Data were collected using Maslach burnout inventory. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 18 using descriptive and inferential statistics at the significance level of 0.05. Results: In terms of job burnout dimensions, low cynicism was observed in 62 subjects (31%), moderate cynicism was observed in 72 subjects (36%), and severe cynicism was observed in 66 subjects (33%). Low emotional exhaustion was detected in 70 subjects (35%), moderate emotional exhaustion was observed in 74 subjects (37%), and severe exhaustion was reported in 56 subjects (28%). With regard to personal efficiency, high self-effectiveness was denoted in 71 subjects (35.5%), while the level was moderate and low in 78 (39%) and 51 subjects (25.5%). Conclusion: According to the results, the rate of job burnout was moderate among the studied midwives. Given the importance of midwifery in health care, preventive programs are recommended in order to promote the quality of care services and satisfaction of healthcare professionals, as well as reducing the rate of job burnout.

Background & Aim: Professional ethics is defined as ethical commitment and conscience in regards to every profession, duty or responsibility in order to prevent patient harm, which in turn accelerates recovery. The present study aimed to determine the level of knowledge regarding professional ethics and its influential factors among midwives in Sanandaj, Iran in 2017. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 midwives employed in the hospitals and health centers in Sanandaj city. The subjects were selected via simple random sampling. Data were collected using a two-part questionnaire. The first section consisted of demographic characteristics, and the second section contained data on the knowledge of various aspects of professional ethics. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 18 using descriptive and inferential statistics at the P-value of less than 0.05. Results: The general knowledge of the majority of the midwives (92%) regarding professional ethics was favorable. In addition, significant associations were observed between marital status (P=0.046), workplace (P=0.010), and interest and motivation (P=0.013) with the general knowledge of professional ethics. Conclusion: According to the results, the midwives employed in the hospitals and health centers in Sanandaj had proper knowledge of professional ethics.

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Background: Assessing the progress of labor is a primary step in intrapartum care. This study was performed to assess comparison of the effects of date syrup with saffron–honey syrup on the progress of labor in nulliparous women. Materials and Methods: A randomized single-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 189 women who were referred to Bea'sat Hospital of Sanandaj from October 2019 to March 2020. Patients were randomly divided into three groups saffron–honey syrup, date syrup, and placebo syrup each including 63 cases. Each participant in the intervention and control groups received a maximum volume of 150 ml of saffron–honey syrup, date syrup, or placebo syrup. The syrups were given at the 4 cm dilation, and every 30–60 min until the end of the active phase of the first stage of labor. Data collection tools included a two-part questionnaire and a partograph form. The results were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 24 using Chi-squared test, analysis of variance, and last significant difference as a post hoc test, the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: The duration of the active phases of the first (F 2 = 92.70, p < 0.01), second (F 2 = 66.76, p < 0.01), and third (F 2 = 12.34, p < 0.01) stages of labor was shorter in the date syrup and saffron–honey syrup groups than in the control group (p < 0.01). Additionally, both experimental groups exhibited no significant difference in terms of duration between the first (p = 0.312), second (p = 0.724), and third (p = 0.911) stages of labor. Conclusions: Date syrup and saffron–honey syrup can be used as one of the safe and available herbal methods to facilitate labor.