Purpose: In this study, the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on death anxiety and depression was investigated in patients with heart failure. Design and Methods:In this quasi-experimental study, 66 patients with heart failure were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 33) and control (n = 33) groups. Data collection was done using a demographic questionnaire, Templer death anxiety scale, and Beck depression inventory. Findings: It was found that the overall scores of death anxiety and depression in posttest were significantly lower than those at the follow-up stage in the intervention group. Practice Implications: CBT could significantly reduce death anxiety and depression in patients with heart failure. Therefore, it is recommended to equip nurses with CBT trainings to manage patients with heart failure better. K E Y W O R D S cognitive-behavioral therapy, death anxiety, depression, heart failure 1 | INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially heart failure, are the leading cause of death worldwide. Merely in 2019, more than 18.5 million people died from CVDs globally (Roth et al., 2020). Heart failure is a complex and progressive clinical syndrome caused by a functional or structural cardiac abnormality, leading to failure or inability of ventricles to fill or eject blood. Common signs and symptoms of this disease include shortness of breath with activity or when lying down, fatigue and weakness, swelling in the legs, rapid or irregular heartbeat, persistent cough or wheezing, increased need to urinate at night, abdominal swelling (ascites), very rapid weight gain due to fluid retention, loss of appetite, and nausea (McDonagh et al., 2021). It is

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused many adverse effects, including increased stress in patients. The present study aimed to determine the effect of an online self-care training program on perceived stress in COVID-19 patients.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was fulfilled by recruiting 132 COVID-19 patients, referred to two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, from February 20 to August 22, 2021. These patients were selected using the convenience sampling method, and were then randomized into experimental (n=63) and control (n=63) groups. The online self-care training program was subsequently presented to the patients in the experimental group, during six sessions of 30 minutes for two weeks. E-learning and educational content introduced through lectures, multimedia, and instructional videos using web platforms. Then, daily follow-up sessions continued until one month after the intervention. The data were collected administering an individual characteristic form and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at three stages before, immediately, and one month after the intervention.Results: The mean scores of perceived stress before, immediately, and one month after the intervention in the experimental group were respectively 30.51±6.31, 24.59±4.66, and 26.57±3.82, and they were 29.78±4.81, 29.4±4.57, and 29.11±4.73 in that order in the control group. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between both groups at the pre-intervention stage (p=0.467), while the mean scores of perceived stress in the experimental group were lower compared with those in the control group immediately (p<0.001) and one month after the intervention (p=0.001). The mean scores of perceived stress in the experimental group before, immediately, and one month after the intervention had also changed in a significant manner (p<0.001), whereas there was no significant variation in the control group in this respect (p=0.298).Conclusions: The online self-care training program led to a reduction in perceived stress in COVID-19 patients. It is thus recommended to implement this cheap, safe, and efficient method to relieve perceived stress in such cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of emotional freedom technique (EFT) on sleep quality and happiness of women who underwent breast cancer surgery and lived in military and nonmilitary families.Design and Methods: The patients were randomly divided into four groups of military intervention (n = 34), nonmilitary intervention (n = 33), military control (n = 31), and nonmilitary control (n = 35). Data were collected using demographic information form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Findings:The mean scores of sleep quality and happiness in military and nonmilitary intervention groups improved significantly immediately and 1 month after the intervention compared to control groups (p < 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the military and nonmilitary intervention groups regarding the mean scores of sleep quality and happiness before, immediately, and 1 month after the intervention (p > 0.05).