Evaluating Self-care Behaviors in Nurses of Mazandaran, Iran Cardiac Center in ۲۰۱۴

Background & Objectives: Job strain of nurses always causes impaired self-cars behaviors in nurses’ daily lives. Therefore, this study was performed with the aim of evaluating self-care behaviors in nurses. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۱۰۰ of nurses of Mazandaran Cardiac Center were selected through available sampling. For the purpose of data collection, a researcher-designed questionnaire was used which included two parts (demographic information and the rate of self-care). The validity of this questionnaire was verified by ۵ nursing professors and its reliability was confirmed by using ۱۵ samples which rendered Cronbach's alpha of ۰.۸۸. Self-care section consisted of ۳۴ questions about nutrition, physical activity, personal hygiene, social-psychosocial status, and belief status each of which was scored from ۰ to ۴. The scores were rated as following: ۰-۳۴=poor, ۳۵-۶۸=average, ۶۹-۱۰۳=good, and ۱۰۴-۱۳۶=excellent status of self-care in people. Data analysis was performed by administering descriptive and inferential statistical tests using Spss version ۱۶ software. Results: The data analysis indicated that women constituted the majority of research units (۸۹%). In this study, the best behavior was related to belief status and the worst self-care behavior was nutrition status of nurses. A significant correlation was found between age, gender, marital status, employment history, BMI, salary , illness history, shift work, education, and the rate of self-care (P<۰.۰۵). The minimum obtained score was ۴۶ and the maximum was ۱۲۳ (out of ۱۳۶). ۱۷% of the samples had an average rate of self-care, ۷۰% of them enjoyed from good rate of self-care, and ۱۳% had excellent self-care level (there were no cases with poor selfcare); and the mean score and standard deviation were ۱.۶۸±۸۴.۵۶. Hence, the level of nurses' self-care was evaluated to be good. Conclusion: Regarding the findings of this study, the rate of performing self-care behaviors in nurses (which are the main pillars of patient education) can be increased by enhancing knowledge about these behaviors and improving working conditions.