Background: Patients’ satisfaction with their nursing care is an important issue in assessing the quality
of nursing care. In Iran, cancer patients’ satisfaction at teaching hospitals of Tehran City has not been
investigated. Aim: A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the level and identify factors that contributed to patients’ satisfaction in nursing care provided at selected teaching hospitals in Tehran City, Islamic Republic of Iran. Method: A proportional stratified sampling method was used and data were collected via face-to-face interview based on a validated Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). A total of 384 cancer patients aged 14 years and above were selected. Result: The majority of respondents were males (201, 52.4%), age group 45-54 years (102, 26.4%); employed (202, 52.6%) and with a family monthly income of US$200-500 (234, 60.9%).The majority (314, 81.8%) of respondents were hospitalized between 2 to 5 days, and most (204, 54.0%) of them were admitted to teaching hospital B of The University of Medical Science.1 A majority of the respondents (318, 82.8%) was satisfied with the nursing care provided, while the others (66, 17.2%) were not. Generally, most of the respondents were satisfied with the amount of information given by the nurses (294, 76.6%), technical quality (295, 76.8%), interpersonal relationship (371, 96.6%), and physical environment (267, 69.5%). There was a positive significant relationship between patients’ satisfaction and type of hospital ( 2=4.985; df=1; p=0.026, n=384). Using the University’s hospital type was found to be the best predictor for level of satisfaction. Conclusion: Most of the respondents were satisfied with the nursing care. However, the respondents suggested several improvements such as increasing the number of doctors, improving socioenvironment factors in terms of privacy and interpersonal relationship, and improving on the existing facilities. Further research is needed to study in depth the socio-cultural and environment parameters which are relevant to patients’ satisfaction with nursing care.
Background. Hemipelvectomy amputation is a surgical procedure in which lower limb and a portion of pelvic are removed. There are a few studies in the literature regarding the performance of subjects with hip disarticulation during walking. However, there is no study on gait analysis of hemipelvectomy subject. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the gait and stability of subject with hemipelvectomy amputation. Case Description and Methods. A subject with hemipelvectomy amputation at right side was involved in this study. He used a Canadian prosthesis with single axis ankle joint, 3R21 knee joint, and 7E7 hip joint for more than 10 years. The kinetic and kinematic parameters were collected by a motion analysis system and a Kistler force platform. Findings and Outcomes. There was a significant difference between knee, hip, and ankle range of motions and their moments in the sound and prosthesis sides. In the other side, the stability of the subject in the anteroposterior direction seems to be better than that in the mediolateral direction. Conclusions. There was a significant asymmetry between the kinetic and kinematic performance of the sound and prosthesis sides, which may be due to lack of muscular power and alignment of prosthesis components.
Lower-limb amputation is mainly a result of trauma, vascular disease, diabetes, or congenital disorders. Persons with amputation lose their ability to stand and walk on the basis of the level of amputation. Contribution of level of amputation, type of amputation, or cause of amputation to balance impairment has not been clearly defined. Furthermore, it is controversial how much the mentioned parameters influence standing stability. Therefore, the aim of this review article was to find the relationship between the abovementioned factors and balance impairment in the available literature. It was also aimed to find the possibility of improving standing stability by the use of different prosthesis components.
BACKGROUND: Flexible flat foot is described as a reduction in the height of the medial longitudinal arch and may occur from abnormal foot pronation. A foot orthosis is thought to modify and control excessive pronation and improve arch height.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the immediate effect of three types of orthoses on foot mobility and the arch height index in subjects with flexible flat feet.
STUDY DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study.
METHOD: The dorsal arch height, midfoot width, foot mobility and arch height index were assessed in 20 participants with flexible flat feet (mean age = 23.2 ± 3 years) for three different foot orthosis conditions: soft, semi-rigid and rigid University of California Biomechanics Laboratory (UCBL).
RESULTS: Maximum midfoot width at 90% with arch mobility in the coronal plane was shown in the semi-rigid orthosis condition. The semi-rigid orthosis resulted in the highest mean foot mobility in 90% of weight bearing, and the rigid orthosis (UCBL) had the lowest mean foot mobility. The soft orthosis resulted in foot mobility between that of the rigid and the semi-rigid orthosis. UCBL orthosis showed the highest arch height index, and the semi-rigid orthosis showed the lowest mean arch height index.
CONCLUSION: Due to its rigid structure and long medial-lateral walls, the UCBL orthosis appears to limit foot mobility. Therefore, it is necessary to make an orthosis that facilitates foot mobility in the normal range of the foot arch. Future studies should address the dynamic mobility of the foot with using various types of foot orthoses.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although there are many studies focussed on flat foot and the use of foot orthoses, the mechanism of action is still unclear. This study explored foot mobility and the influence of foot orthoses and showed that a more rigid foot orthosis should be selected based on foot mobility.
KEYWORDS: Foot orthosis; arch height index; foot mobility magnitude
BACKGROUND: Flat foot in children is a common deformity in which the medial longitudinal arch is reduced or eliminated.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article was to compare flat foot and healthy children on the displacement of the center of pressure and walking parameters in children with two common orthoses (functional foot orthosis and medical shoe).
STUDY DESIGN: Comparative study.
METHODS: This study included 30 children with flat foot and 20 healthy children as a control group. The step length and width, walking velocity, symmetry, and center of pressure (CoP) displacements were recorded and compared for three conditions: functional foot orthosis and regular shoe, a medical shoe and barefoot.
RESULTS: The results from the CoP displacements showed that the regular shoe with functional foot orthosis caused a significant decrease in the level of displacement of the CoP in flat foot children. The findings indicated a significant improvement in symmetry of steps and walking speed with the functional foot orthosis in comparison to the medical shoe in flat foot children.
CONCLUSION: The CoP displacement was decreased and the percentage of gait symmetry and walking speed were increased by the use of regular shoes with a functional foot orthosis in comparison to the medical shoes.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An orthopaedic shoe can be expensive, and in particular heavy with most children reluctant to wear it. This study focussed on the CoP displacement and selected gait parameters with an orthopaedic shoe and functional foot orthosis, and showed that a combined prescription of a functional foot orthosis and with regular shoes may be a useful alternative for children with moderate flat foot.
KEYWORDS: Center of pressure; flexible flat foot; functional foot orthosis; gait; medical shoe