Background: A great number of people who have survived after stressful events experience positive psychological changes. These positive changes are recognized as posttraumatic growth. Objectives: The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between posttraumatic growth and meaning in life in patients with myocardial infarction. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study conducted on 191 patients referring to the largest cardiology center (Bu-Ali Sina) in Qazvin, Iran. The sample was selected through a convenience sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the posttraumatic growth inventory, and the meaning in life questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis. Inferential statistics (Pearson's test) were used to evaluate the relationship between posttraumatic growth and meaning in life. Results: The sample included 49 (25.7%) women and 142 (74.3%) men with the mean age of 59.6 ± 1.2 years. The mean total score of posttraumatic growth was 64.6 ± 11.5 and the mean total score of meaning in life was 49 ± 6.04. Based on the results, there was a significant positive correlation between posttraumatic growth and meaning in life (r = 0.71, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The occurrence of myocardial infarction can lead to some positive psychological changes called posttraumatic growth. Nurses, informal caregivers, and policymakers can use these findings to help patients cope with challenging conditions after myocardial infarction.

Background Healthcare workers perform various clinical procedures for COVID-19 patients facing an elevated risk of exposure to SARS-COV-2.This study aimed to assess the healthcare workers’ exposure to COVID-19 in Qazvin, Iran in 2020. Methods We conducted this descriptive-analytical study among all healthcare workers on the frontline of exposure to COVID-19 in Qazvin province. We entered the participants into the study using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method. We utilized a questionnaire, "Health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of COVID-19 disease", designed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to collect data. We analyzed data using descriptive and analytical methods with SPSS software version 24. Results The results showed that all participants in the study had occupational exposure to the COVID-19 virus. So of 243 healthcare workers, 186 (76.5%) were at low risk and 57 (23.5%) at high risk of COVID-19 virus infection. Also, from the six domains mentioned in the questionnaire, health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of COVID-19 disease, the mean score of the domain of the type of healthcare worker interaction with a confirmed COVID-19 patient, the domain of health worker activities performed on a confirmed COVID-19 patient, the domain of the adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) during health care interactions, and the domain of the adherence to IPC when performing aerosol-generating procedures in the high-risk group were more than the low-risk group. Conclusion Despite strict WHO guidelines, many healthcare workers are exposed at contracting COVID-19. Therefore, healthcare managers, planners, and policymakers can revise the policies, provide appropriate and timely personal protective equipment, and plan for ongoing training for staff on the principles of infection prevention and control.

Background: Living with hemodialysis is a permanent challenge due to the need for adaptation to the treatment plan, related complications, and dietary constraints. Therefore, the quality of life in such patients is influenced by physical and psychological stressors posed by these challenges. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stressors and coping strategies in hemodialysis patients, Qazvin, Iran. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was used to investigate the relationship between physiological and psychosocial stressors and coping strategies among Iranian patients undergoing hemodialysis in 2018. Samples consisted of 140 patients recruited through the simple random sampling method from a large referral hemodialysis center affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Iran. A demographic variables form, hemodialysis stressors scale (HSS,) and Ways of Coping Scale-revised (WOCS-R) were employed for data collection. SPSS version 24 was used for data analysis. Results: The majority of the patients (49.2%) had moderate and 3.6% of them had severe physiological stressors. With regard to psychosocial stressors, 51.4% had moderate and 3.6% of the participants had severe stressors. The majority of the participants used "distancing" strategies. Pearson's correlation showed that strategies of escape avoidance and physiological stressors had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.2, P = 0.004), and strategies of problem solving (r = 0.2, P = 0.01), escape avoidance (r = 0.3, P = 0.000), and self-control (r = 0.1, P = 0.03) had a significant positive correlation with psychosocial stressors. Conclusions: The majority of the hemodialysis patients had moderate to severe stress in physiological and psychosocial dimensions. They often used negative strategies for coping with stressors. The above-mentioned challenges are considered as risks to patients' well-being and require the attention of policy-makers and managers to provide comprehensive and high-quality services.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Posttraumatic growth following traumas such as chronic illnesses can occur in some people. The psychological factors, such as cognitive emotion regulation (CER), can influence its formation. CER is a type of coping strategy that helps to efficiently deal with trauma. Due to the importance of the topic and the lack of sufficient studies on posttraumatic growth and CER in hemodialysis patients, this study aims to investigate the relationship between posttraumatic growth and CER in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This is a descriptive study performed on hemodialysis patients in Bou Ali and Velayat hospitals in Qazvin. One hundred and sixty-two patients were selected by the convenience sampling method, and Garnefski Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (α =0.92) and Tedeschi Posttraumatic Growth Questionnaire (α =0.96) were used. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and ANOVA tests. RESULTS: The results showed that the majority of the hemodialysis patients experienced some degree of posttraumatic growth. The participants achieved high scores in the domains of spiritual development and communication with others. Moreover, posttraumatic growth was positively and significantly correlated with CER ( r = 0.67, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hemodialysis provides the basis for the positive mental reactions known as posttraumatic growth in hemodialysis patients. Nurses and other authorities can use this phenomenon to adapt to illness and care planning.

Introduction: Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) are more vulnerable to mental, physical and spiritual disorders. These disorders may have a significant impact on their treatment process and quality of life (QoL). Given the importance of some experiences in these individuals, such as daily spiritual experiences and life expectancy, evaluating their predictive role seems necessary. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the role of daily spiritual experiences and some demographic variables in predicting the level of hope among HD patients. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the predictive role of daily spiritual experiences and some demographic variables in the level of hope in 262 HD patients were evaluated. The demographic variables checklist, the Daily Spiritual Experiences Scale (DSES), and the Adult Hope Scale were employed for data collection. Results: Analysis with multiple linear regression showed that the variables of gender, level of education, duration of diagnosis of renal failure, number of HD per week and daily spiritual experiences predicted 31% of the level of hope changes in HD patients. Conclusion: Nurses and provincial health care providers can help HD patients to promote their spiritual wellbeing and hope. This can be achieved by applying a holistic care approach as well as emphasizing the spiritual aspect of care and its predictive demographic variables.