Background: Cervical cancer is one of the major health problems and the third prevalent cancer in women all around the world. As a simple, inexpensive, and with no side-effects, Pap test is a reliable way to screen cervical cancer. This study aimed to investigate, the effects of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on doing Pap smear tests among the rural women of the north of Iran. Methods: In a quasi-experimental study, 160 rural women were randomly divided into control and experimental groups to experience a three-session intervention. The experimental group received the usual educational programs of rural health center and educational programs based on the HBM constructs through personal consultation, asking/ answering questions, and an educational pamphlet. The control group, received the usual educational programs of rural health center. The post-test data were collected 2 months after the intervention and analyzed in SPSS-18. Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the control and experimental groups regarding the mean score of knowledge, performance and constructs of the HBM. After the intervention, however, there was a significant difference in the mean scores of knowledge performance and all constructs of the HBM in two groups (p < 0.001). Rate of doing the Pap smear test in the experimental group increased from 18.7 to 78.7% in the intervention group. Conclusion: These findings support the effectiveness of cervical cancer prevention programs based on the HBM. Therefore, conducting similar programs in other regions is recommended.

ObjectiveSexual function is an important part of each human being's personality and in the general couple relationship, with an obvious impact on quality of life and safe sexual performance during pregnancy is important for couples. The objective of this study was to assess effects of pregnancy on sexual function of couples.MaterialsIn a prospective cohort study 123 couples were enrolled in the study when women were first diagnosed to be pregnant. During their pre-natal visits, Sexual function of couples was evaluated using the Iranian Version Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) in men and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in women in three trimesters. Statistical analysis was performed.ResultsIndices of sexual function showed significant regressions over time during pregnancy. The greatness of the problem was highest during the third trimester. Female sexual arousal and sexual satisfaction domain scores had the major correlation to IIEF total score. On the other hand, male intercourse satisfaction domain score had the maximum correlation to FSFI total score. A strong correlation between male and female sexual function was observed.ConclusionSexual function is a widespread problem during pregnancy among Iranian couples. Therefore, pregnant women and their husbands need counseling about healthy sexual function in pregnancy.

No abstract

Introduction: Labour pain is among the most challenging experiences a woman could face during life. Non Pharmacological modalities like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) are rather new methods, introduced for relieving this pain. Aim: To investigate the effect of concurrent use of TENS application on the labour pain relief. Materials and Methods: This is a double-blind randomised clinical trial study where, a total of 104 eligible pregnant women qualified for normal vaginal delivery. They were randomly divided into four groups treated with Lumbar-TENS or Acupuncture points-TENS as A: both inactive (placebo group), B: Active Acupuncture points TENS, C: Active Lumbar TENS and D: both active. TENS was applied on four points of toraco-lumbo sacral, while Acupuncture points-TENS was applied on Hegu and Sanyinjiao points. The pain scores were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) criteria, four times during the study for each individual. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the final impression of the subjects about the TENS method. The groups were compared using chi-square or Kruskal Wallis test. The trend of pain score over the study time points were assessed using Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE). Results: The mean age of the women were 27.86±5.92 years. There were no significant differences between the groups based on the pain scores over the study periods (p-value=0.588). There was a statistically significant difference between groups for satisfaction about the procedure and the placebo group had the lowest rate of tendency to reuse TENS at the future Labour (74%) compared to the other three groups (93-100%) (p-value=0.046). Conclusion: Lumbar or Acupuncture points-TENS had no significant relieving effects on Labour pain among the participants.

Background Breast cancer patients face various material, and the mutual impact of patients and caregivers on each other show the need for further supportive care from the community and family. This study aimed to identify the predictors of the direct and indirect relationships of the duration of cancer and care time with the supportive needs of the patients and the quality of life of their family caregivers.Methods This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on 150 patients and their caregivers in Iran. Data were collected using the Supportive Care Needs Survey-short form (SCNS-SF34), the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) scale, and a socio-demographic checklist and were then analyzed in SPSS-24 and Lisrel-8.8 software using descriptive-analytical statistics and path analysis. ResultsThe mean age of the patients and caregivers was 45.76±10.44 and 43.46±9.5, respectively.Based on the test results, the duration of cancer was positively correlated with the total score of supportive needs in both paths (B=0.799). The patients' sexuality needs had the highest negative correlation with their duration of cancer in the direct path (B=-0.87) and psychological needs the highest negative correlation in the indirect path (B=-0.32). The care time (in hours) had the highest positive correlation with the total score of supportive needs (B=15.6) in both the direct and indirect paths, and the highest positive correlation with physical needs in the direct path (B=10.65). The caregivers' quality of life had a negative and direct relationship with the duration of cancer (B=-0.27) and there was a positive and direct relationship between care time and the caregivers' quality of life (B=3.09).Conclusions Duration of cancer and care time had the highest positive correlation with the patients' supportive needs, and the caregivers' quality of life had a negative correlation with the duration of cancer and a positive correlation with care time. It is therefore vital to emphasize the design and implementation of supportive care programs for breast cancer patients and their family caregivers.