This study aimed to examine the prevalence and types of medication errors (MEs), as well as barriers to reporting MEs, among nurses working in 7 teaching hospitals affiliated with Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2016. A convenience sampling method was used to select the study participants (n=500 nurses). A self-constructed questionnaire was employed to collect information on participants' socio-demographic characteristics (10 items), their perceptions about the main causes of MEs (31 items), and barriers to reporting MEs to nurse managers (11 items). Data were collected from September 1 to November 30, 2016. Negative binomial regression was used to identify the main predictors of the frequency of MEs among nurses. The prevalence of MEs was 17.0% (95% confidence interval, 13.7 to 20.3%). The most common types of MEs were administering medications at the wrong time (24.0%), dosage errors (16.8%), and administering medications to the wrong patient (13.8%). A heavy workload and the type of shift work were considered to be the main causes of MEs by nursing staff. Our findings showed that 45.0% of nurses did not report MEs. A heavy workload due to a high number of patients was the most important reason for not reporting MEs (mean score, 3.57±1.03) among nurses. Being male, having a second unrelated job, and fixed shift work significantly increased MEs among nurses (p=0.001). Our study documented a high prevalence of MEs among nurses in the west of Iran. A heavy workload was considered to be the most important barrier to reporting MEs among nurses. Thus, appropriate strategies (e.g., reducing the nursing staff workload) should be developed to address MEs and improve patient safety in hospital settings in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Iran has experienced an increasing number of earthquake disasters in the past three decades. Due to nurses’ unique role as professional and volunteer responders in times of disaster, more information is required regarding the capabilities they need to provide more effective care during the crisis. The aim of this study was to identify professional capabilities needed by nurses to provide care to the injured of earthquake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was conducted as a qualitative conventional content analysis, and data collection was carried out through 16 semi-structured and in-depth interviews with the nurses involved in providing care to the injured in the Kermanshah earthquake. The data were analyzed following Graneheim and Lundman's approach. RESULTS: Data analysis led to the emergence of 427 primary codes, 10 subcategories, and four categories. The four categories included clinical competence (professional knowledge and clinical skills), personal competences (communication skills, resiliency, and creativity and innovation in providing care), ethical competence (commitment to ethics and professional responsibility), and essential skills in caring for the injured (skills in triage, psychological care skills, and skills in observation and monitoring) CONCLUSION: The present study identified a wide range of professional capabilities required by nurses in disasters. Given that nurses do not acquire some of these specialized and technical skills during their education, it is recommended to enhance the professional capacity of nurses in disasters. In addition, special training programs in this field can be incorporated into the curriculum of nursing programs and in-service nursing education.

Background: Iran has experienced an increasing number of earthquake in the past three decades. Nurses are the largest group of healthcare providers that play an important role in responding to disasters. Based on previous studies, they experienced challenges providing care in the previous disasters. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the nursing challenges to provide care to the injured in the Kermanshah earthquake, Iran. Methods: This is a qualitative study with conventional content analysis using Granheim and Landman approach. In this study, 16 nurses involved in providing care to the injured in the Kermanshah earthquake were selected by purposeful sampling method. Data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The criteria proposed by Guba and Lincoln were used to ensure the validity of the study. Results: Data analysis led to the emergence of 453 primary codes, 14 subcategories, and 5 categories. The five categories were as follows: (a) organizational and managerial challenges; (b) human resources; (c) infrastructure; (d) educational preparations; (e) and ethical. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that nurses faced several challenges in providing care to earthquake victims. Based on these findings, better educational management and planning, infrastructure reform, and establishment of a crisis nursing national team seem necessary.

Measurement of Quality of Educational Hospital Services by the SERVQUAL Model: The Iranian Patients’ Perspective

The clinical readiness of newly graduated nurses is crucial in meeting the growing demand for health services. Consequently, it is essential to develop a scale that accurately evaluates the clinical readiness of these novice nurses. This study aimed to translate and psychometrically evaluate the Persian version of the Nursing Practice Readiness Scale (NPRS) for new graduate nurses. This methodological and cross-sectional study was conducted on new graduate nurses from June to November 2023 in Kermanshah City, Iran. The translation of the scale was performed using the forward–backward translation method. Construct validity was assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with a sample of 180 participants and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with a sample of 318 participants, both employing the convenience sampling method. The internal consistency of the tool was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Additionally, the tool’s reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27 and LISREL version 8 software. The results of EFA and CFA confirmed the tool’s structure, comprising five factors and 35 items. The CFA results showed a well-fitting model (CFI = 0.96, NNFI = 0.96, GFI = 0.893, RMSEA = 0.062, SRMR = 0.049). Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated a significant relationship between the items, subscales, and the main scale. Additionally, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the tool was 0.932, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.891(0.724–0.957). The Persian version of the Nursing Practice Readiness Scale (NPRS) is a valid and reliable tool, comprising 35 items and five factors. This scale can be effectively used to evaluate the clinical readiness of newly graduated nurses within the Iranian community.

Background. Family-centered intervention can be used as a therapeutic intervention to improve the quality of life (QOL) in clients with ostomy. This study aimed to determine the effects of family-centered intervention on the QOL in ostomy clients. Methods. A quasi-experimental study was carried out with participation of 70 clients with colostomy and 70 caregivers (family members). The participants were selected through convenient sampling and randomly allocated into the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received family-centered education. The education program included four sessions, 50–60 min each, that were implemented in two weeks at hospital wards or clients’ houses for the clients’ companions. Afterwards, the caregivers implemented the care at home for one month. The subjects in the control group received routine care before being discharged. The QOL of the clients in both groups was measured using the city of hope-QOL-ostomy questionnaire before and one month after the intervention. Results. The mean scores of the QOL after family-centered intervention in the experimental and control groups increased from 197.97 to 207.49 and from 195.2 to 199.03, respectively. The paired t-test showed a significant change in the experimental and control groups after the intervention at a confidence level of 95% ( ; ). In addition, after the intervention, however, there was a significant difference between the two groups in all these areas except for social aspects ( ). Conclusion. Family-centered intervention can be used as a therapeutic intervention to improve the QOL in clients with ostomy. The intervention was effective in the physical, spiritual, psychological, and social health of these clients.