Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research最新文献

{"title":"The Impact of Local Heat Therapy on Comfort and Physiological Parameters in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"Mahtab Farahani, Mohamad Golitaleb, Azam Moslemi, Mohadese Shahrodi, Elahe Dolati, Saeed Sadrnia, Masoumeh Garshasbi, Mehdi Harorani","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_367_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_367_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Acute coronary syndrome leads to disturbances in physiological parameters and reduces patient comfort due to the nature of the disease and its associated complications. This study examined the effect of local heat therapy on the comfort and physiological parameters of patients with acute coronary syndrome.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This clinical trial utilized a block randomization method to allocate 80 patients with acute coronary syndrome into two groups of 40 participants each. In the intervention group, a heat pack warmed in water to 75 °C was wrapped in a special towel and applied to the posterior thoracic region (T4-T11 vertebrae). During the intervention, the patient lay in the supine position on the heat pack. Each heat therapy session lasted 23 minutes. In the control group, a similar heat pack was used at a temperature of 37°C. Heat therapy was performed every 12 hours for 2 days (a total of four sessions). The Kolkaba Comfort Questionnaire and physiological parameters were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Data analysis was performed with statistical significance established at <i>p</i> < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Before the intervention, no significant differences were found between the groups. However, at the end of the intervention, heat therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome significantly increased comfort, regulation of physiological parameters was observed, and enhanced oxygen saturation (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Heat therapy can be used as a safe and complementary intervention alongside modern medicine to enhance comfort and regulate physiological parameters in patients with acute coronary syndrome.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 5","pages":"928-934"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657652/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149185021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Topical Effects of Tarragon Oil Extract on Pain Intensity, Stiffness, and Physical Function of the Knee Joint in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.","authors":"Soheila Abedpour, Zahra Unesi, Ahmad Nasiri","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_327_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_327_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Knee osteoarthritis is the most prevalent chronic joint condition. This study investigates the topical effectiveness of tarragon oil extract in managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 90 eligible participants were recruited for this clinical trial through convenience sampling from patients visiting the outpatient rheumatology clinic at Taleghani Hospital in Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran. Participants were randomly divided into three groups: intervention (tarragon oil extract applied topically three times daily, every other day for 3 weeks), placebo (sweet almond oil applied topically three times daily, every other day for 3 weeks), and control (routine care). The severity of osteoarthritis was measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) at four time points: baseline, immediately, 1 week, and 3 weeks after the intervention period (3 weeks). Data analysis also carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The group treated with tarragon oil extract showed a statistically significant improvement in knee joint pain, stiffness, and physical function scores immediately following the intervention compared to both baseline measures (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and the control and placebo groups (pain F_2,87 = 41/725, stiffness F_2,87 = 30/277, physical function F_2,87 = 102/276, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η</i>² = 0.007). However, these benefits were not sustained at subsequent assessment points, with no notable differences over time relative to baseline or between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The topical application of tarragon oil extract demonstrates potential as a short-term therapeutic option for managing knee osteoarthritis symptoms, representing a complementary approach in nursing care. Nonetheless, further standardized comparative studies are required to validate its long-term efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 5","pages":"849-855"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657636/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149185032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development Accreditation Modules for Maternity Hospitals: A Mixed-Methods Study.","authors":"Ali Ghaffarian, Azam Cheraghi, Masoud Ferdosi","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_291_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_291_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>One of the most important and widely used approaches to assessing the quality of hospital services is accreditation. Now, most accreditation organizations worldwide use the same standards for all types of hospitals. The study aimed to address this gap and to develop accreditation modules for Maternity Hospitals.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This applied mixed-methods study was conducted in Iran from 2023 to 2025 and proceeded in two phases. In Phase 1, a descriptive qualitative approach solicited participant input on potential modules. After iterative discussions among the research team and expert input, Phase 2 combined Phase 1 findings to develop an initial accreditation model, which then entered the Delphi phase. An expert panel convened for one session and a separate Delphi round to refine and validate the model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 11 modules proposed by the participants, seven were approved in the second phase and included in the model. The detailed modules for Maternity hospitals were finalized under the following categories: leadership and management, continuous quality improvement, patient safety and infection control, outpatient and para-clinical services, patient engagement, medication management, and Infertility care. The only difference between the accreditation modules for maternity hospitals and those for other hospitals was the infertility criterion.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The overarching accreditation framework at the module level is uniform mainly across all hospital types. However, through the systematic development and implementation of tailored standards, this approach will enhance the accreditation process further and elevate the quality of healthcare services provided in Maternity hospitals.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 5","pages":"825-832"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657645/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149184861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging Applications of <i>Scrophularia striata</i> in Healthcare: A Scoping Review for Nursing Care.","authors":"Azadeh Nouri, Alireza Khazaee, Reza Lavaee Arkavaz, Magid Bahalou, Rasool Nouri","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_330_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_330_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Complementary therapy, such as herbal medicine, is one of the basic principles of nursing care and plays an important role in providing comprehensive care. The present scoping review aims to investigate the relevant evidence regarding the efficacy of <i>Scrophularia striata</i> in nursing practice, identify the major research areas, and recognize the knowledge gap to improve future studies.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The six-step methodological framework of Arksey and O'Malley was used in the present scoping review. A total of 1155 studies were retrieved from domestic and international databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). Sixty-nine of these studies were analyzed after applying the exclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers. The synthesis involved analyzing recurring key themes across the studies to map and describe the included literature.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analyzed studies revealed that the effects of <i>S. striata</i> on healthcare outcomes are divided into the following five groups: (1) antimicrobial effect, (2) antioxidant effect, (3) analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, (4) neuroprotective and anti-anxiety effect, and (5) wound healing effect. A few studies have investigated the anti-nephrotoxic activity, antidiabetic, anti-asthmatic, and protective effects, which have been classified as other categories.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A small number of studies investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of <i>S. striata</i>. Thus, it is recommended to conduct more clinical trials on the efficacy of <i>S. striata</i>. The results of these studies can have an impact on holistic nursing practice as an adjunct treatment alongside routine nursing care.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 5","pages":"762-772"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149184959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Educational Intervention to Promote Respectful Maternity Care: Improvements in Midwives' Knowledge and Practice as well as Mother Satisfaction of Childbirth.","authors":"Simin Haghdoost, Mina Iravani, Saeed Ghanbari, Simin Montazeri","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_353_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_353_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Respectful maternity care (RMC) is a key strategy for improving maternal-neonatal outcomes. However, in Iran, a persistent gap remains between policy recognition and clinical implementation, largely due to limited knowledge among midwives. Although educational interventions are considered an important solution, there is still insufficient empirical evidence on their effectiveness. Thus, this study assesses a structured educational intervention's ability to bridge the knowledge-practice gap and sustainably improve maternal satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This quasiexperimental study was conducted in three educational hospitals in Ahvaz from March to August 2025. Fifty-five midwives were enrolled by convenience sampling. Each midwife was assessed by two mothers before and two different mothers post-intervention, leading to assessments from 220 mothers. Further, midwives' performance was also appraised by the supervisors of each shift. Data were collected via demographic and standardized tools (MKP-RMC, WP-RMC, McKay). Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent <i>t</i>-tests, and paired <i>t</i>-tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The educational intervention significantly improved midwives' awareness in emotional support, safe care, and avoidance of mistreatment (t₁ = 106.375, <i>p</i> = 0.01). Shift managers' evaluations revealed marked improvement in midwives' performance across these domains compared to pretraining (83.18 vs. 58.81; t₂₀ = 196, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Postintervention, 80.9% of mothers reported a positive overall experience of receiving RMC. Mothers' satisfaction scores with childbirth were also significantly higher postintervention (Mean (SD): 17.98 (3.09) vs. 15.6 (2.91), t = Z, <i>p</i> = 0.012).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Structured educational interventions effectively improve midwives' knowledge and practice, leading to significantly higher maternal satisfaction.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 5","pages":"856-866"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657650/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149184968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mobile-Health Intervention on Body Image Fear and Fatigue in Women with Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Ameneh Behroozian, Sareh Shakerian","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_118_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_118_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Breast cancer represents a major public health concern and is associated with significant psychological challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention on fatigue and body image fear among breast cancer survivors.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 104 women with breast cancer in Mazandaran Province, Iran during 2023-2024. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (<i>n</i> = 52) or a control group (<i>n</i> = 52). The intervention was delivered through social media platforms. Data were collected at pretest, post-test, and follow-up using a demographic questionnaire, the Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS), and the Littleton Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI). Independent <i>t</i>-tests, ANCOVA, and repeated-measures ANOVA were used for data analysis at a 0.05 significance level using SPSS software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean (SD) age of participants was 51.43 (8.47) years, and 91 (87.50) had a diploma-level education or lower. Results showed that body image fear and fatigue scores at post-test and follow-up were significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (F = 300.1, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <i>Post hoc</i> tests indicated that the mean total fatigue score in the intervention group differed from the control group by 8.83 points, and the mean total body image fear score differed by 19.30 points.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings demonstrate that the mHealth intervention had a positive effect on reducing fatigue and body image fear in breast cancer survivors. These results support the incorporation of mHealth as an effective approach within the health sector for decision-making and policy development.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 4","pages":"623-629"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13481023/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Miscarriage Trends and Blood Group Associations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study in Ramsar, Iran.","authors":"Kamelia Yaghoubinia, Masoumeh Roodgar, Jamshid Yazdani Charati, Babak Mokhtari, Atefeh Omrani, Samaneh Farrokhfar","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_188_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_188_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has placed significant physiological, physical, and psychological burdens on populations worldwide. Childbearing, as a fundamental aspect of human life, can be negatively affected during such crises. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on miscarriage rates and to investigate the potential association between spontaneous abortions and maternal blood groups.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using 8,613 hospital records from two healthcare centers in Ramsar and Tonekabon, Iran. Miscarriage rates were analyzed relative to total delivery requests during the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2022) periods. In the second phase, unexplained spontaneous abortions were examined in relation to maternal ABO and the Rhesus factor (Rh) blood groups across both periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis revealed a significant increase in miscarriage rates during the pandemic, despite a general decline in delivery requests. In the study sample, blood group distribution was A: 29.86%, B: 21.53%, O: 43.06%, and AB: 5.56%, while 9.72% were Rh-negative and 90.28% Rh-positive. Although abortions appeared more common in certain blood groups (notably B and O), statistical analysis showed no significant association between miscarriage and maternal individual blood types before or during the pandemic.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings suggest that physiological and psychological stressors during the pandemic may have contributed to increased miscarriage rates. Health systems should implement integrated strategies, including mental health support and enhanced prenatal care, to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes during pandemics or similar crises.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 4","pages":"652-656"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13481029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Sleep Quality in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial.","authors":"Fatemeh Miryounesi, Sima Ghezelbash, Mousa Alavi","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_22_24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_22_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) would experience elevated levels of stress and psychological distress. This study examined the effect of an online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program on sleep quality in mothers of children with ASD.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This was a randomized single-blinded controlled trial that was conducted in 2022 on 72 mothers of children with ASD from Fatemeh Zahra and Parnian Autism Centers in Isfahan City, Iran. Participants were recruited through a convenient sampling and randomly assigned to intervention (<i>n</i> = 36) and control (<i>n</i> = 36) groups. The intervention group underwent eight 90-min MBSR sessions twice a week. Data were collected using a demographic information form and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using independent samples: <i>t</i>-test, Chi-square, and one-way repeated-measure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The intervention group showed significantly improved sleep quality scores immediately after (<i>F</i> = 107.004, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and one month after (<i>F</i> = 107.004, <i>P</i> < 0.001) the intervention compared to the control group (lower PSQI score indicates better sleep quality). Repeated-measure ANOVA indicated a significant change in sleep quality scores over time within the intervention group (<i>F</i> = 107.004, <i>P</i> < 0.05), but no significant change was found in the control group (<i>F</i> = 1.292, <i>P</i> > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings of this study demonstrate that MBSR effectively improves sleep in mothers of children with ASD. Given its cost-effectiveness, MBSR should be integrated into healthcare protocols.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 4","pages":"576-582"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13481033/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Apixaban vs Enoxaparin for Preventing Postoperative Thromboembolic events in Women Undergoing Surgery for Gynecologic Cancers: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study.","authors":"Fariba Behnamfar, Tahereh Khalili, Amirreza Sajjadieh, Minoo Movahedi, Zahra Anaei","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_205_24","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_205_24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, presents a significant clinical risk for women undergoing surgical intervention for gynecologic malignancies. Enhanced prophylactic strategies are vital to mitigating these complications. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of oral apixaban compared to subcutaneous enoxaparin for postoperative VTE prevention in this high-risk population.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 2022 to March 2023. One hundred eligible patients undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery were randomized to receive either oral apixaban (2.5 mg twice daily) or subcutaneous enoxaparin (40 mg daily). The primary endpoints included the incidence of thromboembolic events and bleeding complications, monitored up to 12 weeks postoperatively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This cohort consisted of 48 patients in the apixaban group and 52 in the enoxaparin group. Postoperative complications included vaginal bleeding (8.32% apixaban vs. 3.85% enoxaparin), hematoma (2.15% apixaban vs. 3.85% enoxaparin), and ecchymosis (6.37% apixaban vs. 9.62% enoxaparin). None of these differences achieved statistical significance (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Both groups demonstrated comparably high levels of treatment adherence and patient satisfaction.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Apixaban and enoxaparin demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety profiles in preventing postoperative VTE following gynecologic cancer surgery. Given its oral administration route, apixaban may serve as a feasible alternative to enoxaparin, potentially enhancing patient compliance. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 4","pages":"725-729"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13481044/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transitional Care in Long Covid Patients, The Missing Link in the Healthcare Systems in Iran: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"Monireh Babashahi, Ahmadreza Yazdannik, Somayeh Ghafari, Ramin Sami","doi":"10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_173_25","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_173_25","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Long COVID, a chronic and multisystemic consequence of coronavirus infection, significantly reduces patients' quality of life due to persistent symptoms. Transitional care (TC) is essential to ensure continuity and coordination of care and to reduce the risk of hospital readmissions. This study aims to identify the barriers to providing effective TC for long COVID patients within the Iranian healthcare system.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This qualitative descriptive study used thematic analysis. Participants-10 long COVID patients, 5 family caregivers, and 16 healthcare providers-were selected via purposeful sampling from outpatient clinics and rehabilitation centers affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Between November 2022 and May 2023, 33 semistructured, in-depth interviews (30-40 min each) were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using MAXQDA (v. 20) until data saturation. Trustworthiness was ensured using Guba and Lincoln's criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Barriers to effective TC for long COVID patients were systematically classified into three main themes with 10 subthemes. The main theme included inefficient healthcare infrastructure, nonintegrated management, and lack of comprehensive continuous care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings revealed that the Iranian healthcare system lacks integrated TC for long COVID patients. Addressing these barriers requires policy-level reforms, standardized care pathways, and investment in community-based and rehabilitation services. Strengthening TC could bridge the current gaps and significantly improve outcomes for long COVID patients in Iran. The findings provide insights into structural and operational challenges in TC delivery and highlight the need for policy reforms to improve outcomes for long COVID patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":44816,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research","volume":"31 4","pages":"645-651"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13481047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}