BackgroundThere is disagreement among studies of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes in breast cancer patients over time. Reportedly, assessment of HRQoL prior to diagnosis may be crucial to provide a clear point of comparison for later measurements. The aims of this study were (1) to investigate changes in HRQoL, sense of coherence (SOC), spirituality and religious coping in a group of women with breast cancer from the pre-diagnosis phase to 6 months later in comparison with a control group, and (2) to explore the predictor role of SOC, spirituality, and religious coping within the breast cancer group at the 6-month follow-up.MethodsA sample of women with breast cancer (n = 162) and a matched control group (n = 210) responded to the following instruments on both occasions: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, the SOC Scale, the Spiritual Perspective Scale and the Brief Religious Coping Scale. A series of General Linear Model (GLM) Repeated Measures was used to determine changes between the groups over time. Also, Multiple Linear Regression analyses were applied to each of the HRQoL dimensions, as dependent variable at the 6 months follow-up.ResultsPhysical and role function, fatigue, and financial difficulties were rated worse by the women with breast cancer during the first 6 months in comparison to the controls, which was both a statistically (p < 0.001) and clinically significant difference. Women had better scores for global quality of life (p < 0.001), and emotional functioning (p < 0.01) during the same period of time. The degree of SOC (p < 0.01) and baseline ratings of several dimensions of HRQoL (p < 0.05) were the most important predictors of HRQoL changes.ConclusionsCollecting HRQoL data before a final diagnosis of breast cancer is important to identify women at risk of deterioration in HRQoL during and after treatment. Special attention should be paid to physical and role functioning impairment, fatigue, and financial difficulties experienced by these women. These results underscore that the degree of SOC may be more important as a predictor for HRQoL changes in this sample than spirituality and religious coping.

Background Chronic renal failure is one of the major causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Although dialysis treatment is considered as a life‐saving treatment for these patients, their caregivers face various problems making the atmosphere of caring uncertain. Aims This study is aimed to explore and describe the experiences and perspectives of family caregivers of the patients undergoing haemodialysis. Methods In this study, 20 haemodialysis family caregivers were selected by purposeful sampling. Data gathering techniques in this research were in‐depth and unstructured interview and field observation. The researchers used an inductive thematic analysis approach to analysing the interviews' data. Findings Three main themes emerged from the data indicating the patients' care are conducted in a state of uncertainty including constant struggle to learn, effort and adherence to the divine thread, and in disease's captivity. Conclusions Caring in an uncertain atmosphere leads to decreased efficiency and quality of family caregivers' care. To promote and improve the efficiency of care, healthcare planners should pay attention to the challenges and perspectives of caregivers of the patients undergoing haemodialysis.

One of the shared common goals of World Hypertension League (WHL) and World Health Organization (WHO) is the control of hypertension. Despite many local and international interventions, the goal has not been achieved. This study evaluated an intervention based on the partnership care model to control hypertension in a rural population in the north of Iran. The results showed that the intervention was effective in decreasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure and in increasing the rate of controlled hypertensives (based on criteria of WHO/WHL). The intervention also had positive effects on health-related quality of life, body mass index, anxiety, high density lipoprotein level and compliance score. Based on these results, the partnership care model is effective in hypertension control and is recommended as a model to replace previous approaches in hypertension control.

Background:To respond efficiently to the increasing and new needs of people in health issues, it is necessary for nurses to develop their knowledge from hospital to society and to be equipped to play entrepreneur role in different levels of care. The present study was conducted to describe Iranian entrepreneur nurses’ perceived barriers to entrepreneurship, in order to identify the existing barriers.Materials and Methods:This is a qualitative study in which Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis method was employed. Thirteen entrepreneur nurses were chosen purposively, and data were gathered by unstructured interviews.Results:As a result of the data analysis, five major themes were extracted: Traditional nursing structure, legal limitations, traditional attitudes of governmental managers, unprofessional behaviors of colleagues, and immoral business.Conclusions:The findings of the present study show that Iranian nurses are confronted with various problems and barriers to enter entrepreneur nursing and keep going in this area. By focusing on such barriers and applying appropriate changes, policymakers and planners in health can facilitate nurses entering into this activity.