Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery

The Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery (J Res Dev Nurs Midw) celebrates 28 years and announces Quarterly Publication

The Journal of Research Development in Nursing and Midwifery (J Res Dev Nurs Midw) commemorates its 28th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone in its journey of scholarly contribution. Inaugurated in 1996, the journal garnered recognition for its scientific contributions in 2012 and was subsequently indexed in the esteemed Scopus database in 2019. The editorial team extends its profound gratitude to the distinguished faculty, authors, researchers, and readers for their continuous support and contributions to the journal's success.
In a strategic move to enhance the dissemination of research findings, the J Res Dev Nurs Midw is transitioning from a biannual to a quarterly publication schedule. This decision is driven by the increasing volume of submissions, particularly from young researchers and PhD candidates, which necessitates a more efficient publication process. The journal anticipates a reduction in review times and an increase in acceptance rates, thereby expediting the availability of new research to the academic community. Authors are reminded of the importance of adhering to the journal's submission guidelines to ensure a streamlined review process and to avoid potential delays or rejections. The editorial team remains committed to providing comprehensive support to authors through various communication channels, including email, phone, and messaging services, available seven days a week.
Upholding the highest ethical standards is paramount for the J Res Dev Nurs Midw. All research articles and case reports must be accompanied by an ethics statement, and all submissions undergo rigorous plagiarism screening using specialized software. Corresponding authors are promptly notified of any ethical concerns identified. The journal engages expert reviewers to conduct thorough evaluations, and confidentiality is strictly maintained throughout the review process. Manuscripts with potential significant clinical implications are prioritized for expedited review.
The J Res Dev Nurs Midw actively welcomes submissions from authors across the globe, fostering an international exchange of knowledge and perspectives in nursing and midwifery. The journal is dedicated to disseminating the most compelling and impactful research findings worldwide, contributing to the advancement of the field. The journal takes pride in its diverse editorial board, which includes esteemed nursing and midwifery professors from various countries, ensuring adherence to the highest international standards of scholarship.
Prof. Leila M Jouybari
Editor in Chief
J Res Dev Nurs Midw

Assessing the practical relevance of nursing students' theses in clinical environments:A Letter to Editor

Saldy Yusuf

Letter to the Editor

Factors associated with the implementation of nursing documentation in a psychiatric hospital

Iswa Ramadhansyah Purnomo

Background: Nurses constitute a significant portion of the health care workforce, playing a crucial role in enhancing the quality of hospital services, particularly in the context of nursing documentation to ensure the precise recording of patient information in accordance with established standards. This study examines the factors associated with implementing nursing documentation in a psychiatric hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in June 2023 in a psychiatric hospital in Indonesia. A convenience sampling method was employed to recruit 144 nurses working in the hospital. Data collection methods encompassed supervision questionnaires, Unified Motive Scales (UMS), and observation sheets used for recording nursing care activities. Data analysis involved the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. Data analysis was performed with a significance level set at 0.05 and a CI of 95%, utilizing STATA 13.
Results: We found significant associations between nursing documentation and supervision techniques (p = 0.01), need for power (p = 0.001), and need for affiliation (p = 0.002). Notably, the need for power emerged as the most influential factor in nursing documentation (odds ratio [OR] = 8.46; 95% CI, 3.53-20.28).
Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of supervision techniques, power needs, and affiliated needs in the context of nursing documentation. The statistically significant associations between these factors emphasize their role in ensuring accurate and comprehensive record-keeping within health care settings. Particularly noteworthy is the substantial influence of the need for power, with a high OR, suggesting that addressing power dynamics may be an essential strategy for improving nursing care documentation practices.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of flipped classroom approaches in developing clinical skills among nursing students

Hamdoni Pangandaman

Background: Acquiring clinical skills is vital in nursing education as it directly impacts students' competency and preparedness to provide safe and effective patient care. Flipped classroom approaches have gained attention, restructuring the teaching model to promote active learning and student engagement.
The effectiveness of flipped classroom approaches in developing clinical skills among nursing students was evaluated through a systematic review.
Methods: A systematic review methodology was employed to identify relevant studies. From the period 2013 to 2023, seven databases, namely ScienceDirect, Scopus, ProQuest, EBSCOhost, Sage Journal, Taylor and Francis, and PubMed, were searched through search strategy and the use of Boolean operators. Articles were assessed based on criterion and appraised using standardized tools: Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for quasi-experimental research & ROBVIS RCT checklist for assessing the risk of bias in randomized controlled trials. The authors employed the synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines for data analysis PRISMA checklist in finally appraising articles included for review.
Results: Eight articles (quasi-experimental and RCTs) out of 17,374 reviewed were conducted in Egypt, the United States, Turkey, Spain, and Taiwan. The studies involved 733 nursing students, and the duration of the interventions ranged from 10 to 16 weeks. Studies showed an overall low risk of bias and flipped classrooms significantly improved nursing students' clinical skills. The specific clinical skills that were improved included cardiopulmonary resuscitation, urinary catheterization, and safe medication administration.
Conclusion: Flipped classroom approaches are a promising pedagogical method for enhancing the clinical skills of nursing students. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify the best practices for implementing flipped classroom approaches in nursing education.

Maternal-Fetal attachment in unplanned pregnancies following an antenatal training program: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Marjan Ahmad Shirvani

Background: Women have less interaction with the fetus in unplanned pregnancies. This study aimed to determine the effect of an antenatal training program on maternal-fetal attachment in unplanned pregnancies.
Methods: This single-blind clinical trial was performed in the north of Iran in 2019. By simple randomization, 76 mothers with unplanned pregnancies were allocated to the intervention and control groups. Mothers in the intervention group attended three sessions (90 minutes per session) of training based on interaction with the fetus in small groups. The control group only received routine care. Data collection instruments included a demographics checklist, London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy, and Cranley’s Maternal-Fetal Attachment scale. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Fisher’s Exact test, t-test, analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of variance were used for data analysis.
Results: The mean difference of maternal-fetal attachment before and after training was 3.41±2.08 (P=0.112) in the intervention group and 3.96±2.17 (P=0.078) in the control group. However, the differences between and within groups were not significant. The differences in the subscales of attachment with the fetus were not also significant between the groups after the intervention. Although the post-intervention attachment score for unwanted pregnancy was lower than mistimed pregnancy in the intervention (mean difference: 14±3.61) and control groups (mean difference: 3.70±1.87), it was not significantly different based on the type of pregnancy between the groups.
Conclusion: Maternal-fetal attachment training did not boost interaction with the fetus in mothers with unplanned pregnancies; thus, deeper psychological interventions are needed.

The observance of midwives' rights from the perspective of midwives and related managers

Maryam Nasirian

Background: Mutual rights in the medical system have always been considered an important component of medical ethics. Observance of midwives' rights could affect the quality of their services. This study was conducted to determine the methods for improving the observance of midwives' rights from the perspective of midwives and related managers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 346 midwives and 19 hospital managers in 9 hospitals in Isfahan (Iran) 2018 -2019. The sample was selected from the midwives using the census method and from the managers using the purposive method. Data were collected using a questionnaire containing demographic, managerial-organizational, and individual methods to improve the observance of midwives' rights. Findings were analyzed using descriptive/inferential statistics (T- test) in SPSS v. 18 software.
Results: Managerial-organizational and individual methods from the perspective of midwives and managers (total view) were not significantly different (P>0.05). The most important managerial-organizational method to improve the observance of midwives' rights included "increasing the level of awareness of midwifery staff about their rights and their recognition" with a mean and standard deviation (SD) of 4.32 ± 0.78, and one of the most important individual methods was to "improve work conscience" with a mean and SD of 4.35 ± 0.80.
Conclusion: Managerial-organizational and individual methods are important to increase the observance of midwives' rights in the hospital. In order to improve midwifery services and midwives' health, hospital managers must make the necessary efforts to increase the observance of midwives' rights by considering related factors.

Impact of olfactory training on enhancing olfaction sense among patients with COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial

Mitra Zandi

Background: Olfactory dysfunction, a prominent complication of COVID-19, significantly impacts patients' quality of life, persisting for months after infection. Exploring diverse methodologies to address this issue necessitates scholarly investigation. Therefore, our primary objective was to assess the impact of olfactory training on enhancing olfaction sense among COVID-19 patients.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial employed a pretest-posttest design to assess COVID-19 patients experiencing olfactory dysfunction at the Babol Health Center in northern Iran. Patients were allocated to either the control or intervention group using closed envelopes. Both groups, consisting of 50 patients each, completed the Olfactory Disorders - Negative Statements (QOD-NS) questionnaire before the intervention. Over a six-week period, participants in the intervention group were exposed to Phenylethyl alcohol, Eucalyptus, Citronol, and Eugenol twice daily, rotating each scent for 20 seconds with ten-second breaks in between, while the control group received no intervention. Independent and paired t-tests were utilized to analyze the relationship between the groups before and after the intervention, with analysis conducted using SPSS 16. The significance level was set at less than 0.05.
Results: The mean score of olfactory disorder among patients before the intervention in both the intervention and control groups was 24.32 ± 6.60 and 22.85 ± 8.04, respectively, showing no significant difference (P = 0.33). However, following the intervention, the scores decreased to 19.60 ± 5.74 and 22.52 ± 7.39 in the intervention and control groups, respectively, with a statistically significant difference observed (P = 0.034).
Conclusion: Olfactory training demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing olfaction sense among patients with COVID-19 experiencing olfactory disorders. Consequently, it is recommended that nurses be trained to administer this program to COVID-19 patients with olfactory disorders upon discharge, facilitating their recovery process.

Emergency nursing approach to trauma cases in Türkiye

Azize Aydemir

Background: Defining the emergency nursing approach to trauma patients and identifying deficiencies is crucial for providing effective, fast, safe, and high-quality emergency nursing care in the future. This study aimed to describe the nursing activities of emergency nurses working in a tertiary university hospital in the province of Samsun, located in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye, regarding the emergency nursing approach to trauma cases over a 1-year period.
Methods: The research was conducted with a mixed method using data from 2018. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed to define the emergency nursing approach to trauma cases in the emergency department (ED). Data were collected through a retrospective review of medical records of trauma patients (N=2540) in the ED and focus group discussions with 10 emergency nurses. The data extracted from the medical records of ED trauma patients were compared in terms of compliance with the emergency nursing job descriptions specified in the Nursing Regulation (NR) and the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) emergency nursing guide. Quantitative data were reported using frequency and percentage, while content analysis was performed for qualitative data. Content analysis involved coding, identifying themes, and organizing data according to the codes and themes that were determined.
Results: The study revealed that ED nurses primarily assessed vital signs (81.5%) and consciousness (34.8%) and focused on activities related to the circulatory system (56%) in their nursing interventions. The research also indicated that the nurses' knowledge regarding the primary and secondary evaluation of emergency patients was insufficient. Although not currently a requirement in Türkiye, nurses expressed that obtaining emergency nursing education should be a prerequisite for working in the ED.
Conclusion: The study found that ED nurses in Türkiye lacked a systematic guideline for approaching trauma patients, and there was inadequate adherence to ENA guidelines in practice. Additionally, independent nursing interventions that enhance the influence, visibility, and autonomy of the nursing profession were not being implemented in the ED.

Presence signifies always being accessible, even telephonically, even during holidays: A glimpse into the experiences of oncology nurses

Akram Sanagoo

Background: The presence of nurses plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety and delivering necessary nursing care. This study aimed to explore the process of nurses' presence at patients' beds in cancer wards.
Methods: Employing a grounded theory approach, this qualitative study was conducted in a cancer ward, involving 34 participants including nurses, patient companions, and hospital staff. Participants were purposefully selected for their involvement. Interactive interviews were conducted for data collection, and data analysis followed the approach proposed by Corbin and Strauss in 2015.
Results: The data analysis revealed the core category of "Striving to be with the patient", which encompassed the following axial categories: "Challenges of accompanying patients with diverse needs" (Context), "Striving to be with the patient" (Process), "Motivational factors driving the desire to be with the patient"(Mediating facilitator), "Difficulties encountered in maintaining patient presence"(Mediating inhibitor), and "Mixed feelings of satisfaction and sorrow accompanying the presence" (Outcome).
Conclusion: Nurses in oncology wards demonstrate tremendous dedication as they strive to maintain a delicate equilibrium between their own emotional well-being and the diverse needs of their patients. This task can be highly demanding, but through the implementation of customized strategies and drawing inspiration from personal sources, these nurses effectively navigate the emotional challenges associated with patient care.

Improving daily spiritual experiences and hope among infertile women: The impact of spiritually integrated psychotherapy

Anahita Khodabakhshi-Koolaee

Background: Infertility can lead to depression, anxiety, a loss of hope, and a sense of meaninglessness in the lives of affected women. Implementing spiritual/religious interventions may help alleviate the psychological and social stress experienced by infertile women. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of spiritually integrated psychotherapy (SIP) in enhancing hope and daily spiritual experiences in infertile women.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre-posttest design with a control group. The study population consisted of all infertile women who had visited the Omid Royan Fertility Center in Arak (Iran) in 2022. A sample of 40 infertile women undergoing infertility treatment was selected through convenience and voluntary sampling. These women were divided into 2 groups, an intervention group and a control group, each consisting of 20 participants, using a randomized block design. Subsequently, participants in the experimental group attended 10 SIP intervention sessions. Data were collected using the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES) and the Adult Hope Scale (AHS). The collected data were analyzed using univariate ANCOVA with SPSS v. 16.
Results: The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of hopes (pre-test: 20.02 ± 4.01, post-test: 11.59 ± 2.81; P = 0.02) and daily spiritual experiences (pre-test: 32.81 ± 5.24, post-test: 33.07 ± 5.01; P = 0.01) in the participants of the 2 groups in the post-intervention phase. However, this difference was not significant for hope in the control group (pre-test: 12.02 ± 3.14; post-test: 11.59 ± 2.81; P = 0.52) and the DSES (pre-test: 32.61 ± 4.96, post-test: 33.07 ± 5.01; P = 0.81).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that integrative fertility treatment can effectively blend psychosocial interventions with spiritual/religious treatments. Furthermore, SIP intervention can be considered a complementary, supportive, and ongoing treatment option for infertile couples.

The relationship of communication skills with leadership style and conflict management strategies of head nurses: A cross-sectional study in Northern Iran

Alireza Heidari

Background: Head nurses, as operational managers of hospitals, require robust communication skills, comprehensive leadership knowledge, and proficient conflict management strategies. By utilizing appropriate management techniques based on these skills, head nurses can actively contribute to enhancing efficiency, improving performance, and delivering high-quality services within the hospital setting. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between communication skills, conflict management, and leadership style among head nurses.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021, involving 166 head nurses employed across 16 hospitals affiliated with Golestan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The sampling method employed was a census approach, encompassing the entire population of interest. After obtaining ethical approval, data were collected using established instruments, including Robbins' Evaluation of the Conflict Resolution Questionnaire, Queendom's Interpersonal Communication Skills Test, and Bass and Avolio's leadership style Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlation tests were utilized to analyze the collected data. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: The findings revealed that the total score of communication skills, particularly the dimensions of emotional control and listening skills, exhibited a significant positive association with the overall score of conflict management and its three distinct strategies. Moreover, a significant positive relationship was observed between the ability to receive and send messages and the contingent leadership style (P-value = 0.043). Conversely, the orientation strategy demonstrated a negative impact on leadership quality, as it was found to diminish leadership quality across all dimensions for head nurses. Furthermore, the control strategy exhibited a significant negative correlation with the charismatic leadership style (P-value = 0.037). Lastly, the overall score of conflict management displayed a significant negative association with the charismatic leadership style (P-value = 0.031).
Conclusion: The assessment of head nurses' communication skills indicated an average proficiency level. The prevailing leadership style adopted by supervisors was charismatic, while the predominant conflict management strategy employed was non-confrontation. It is recommended that effective plans aimed at improving communication skills, fostering effective leadership, and enhancing conflict management be implemented within hospital departments to enhance the current situation. This can be achieved through organizing impactful training workshops and utilizing supportive and motivational mechanisms.