Hospital Practices and Research

Abstract Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transitional stage between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia. In this population, psychological factors such as hope and self-efficacy are frequently impaired, contributing to reduced quality of life and potential progression to dementia.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of cognitive rehabilitation (CR) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on self-efficacy and hope in individuals with MCI.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up was employed. The study population comprised patients with MCI attending memory and cognitive rehabilitation clinics in Tehran in 2024. Forty-five participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly allocated to three groups: CR (n = 15), MBSR (n = 15), and control (n = 15). Each intervention group received 10 sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Outcomes were assessed using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Adult Hope Scale. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Results: CR significantly improved self-efficacy at posttest (P < 0.01), with effects well maintained (and slightly numerically increased) at the three-month follow-up. MBSR showed no significant immediate effect on self-efficacy but was superior to control at follow-up. Both CR and MBSR significantly increased hope (P < 0.05), with CR showing greater improvements at posttest (P < 0.05). Direct comparisons indicated CR superiority over MBSR mainly at posttest for both outcomes.
Conclusion: Both interventions provide psychological benefits for individuals with MCI, but CR appears to be more effective in strengthening self-efficacy beliefs and future-oriented motivation. Clinically, this suggests CR as a valuable adjunct to support autonomy in MCI patients.

Abstract Background: Menopause represents a significant physiological and psychological transition, often accompanied by negative attitudes and considerable challenges in health adjustment.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness training in improving attitudes toward menopause and health adjustment among menopausal women.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test, post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included menopausal women referred to a health center in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2024. A sample of 30 eligible women aged 51-65 years was selected using convenience sampling and randomly allocated into two equal groups (experimental, n = 15; control, n = 15). The experimental group received eight 70-minute sessions of mindfulness training, while the control group was placed on a waitlist. Data were collected using the Attitudes Toward Menopause Questionnaire and the Health Adjustment subscale of the Bell Adjustment Inventory. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) via SPSS 25.
Results: Initial analysis indicated no significant differences in age and educational level between the two groups (P > 0.05). The MANCOVA results showed that the mindfulness intervention significantly improved both attitudes toward menopause (η²p = 0.60) and health adjustment (η²p = 0.57) in the experimental group compared to the control group (P < 0.001), with large effect sizes.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that mindfulness training is an effective, non-pharmacological intervention for enhancing psychological resilience and improving women's adaptation during the menopausal transition. Specialists and therapists are encouraged to incorporate mindfulness protocols into women's health promotion and counseling programs.

Abstract Background: Patients undergoing hemodialysis often experience significant suffering, encompassing various psychological and existential components that negatively impact their quality of life.
Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Spiritual Self-Care Training (SSCT) in reducing the components of suffering—physical, psychological, and existential—among patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Methods: This study utilized a three-group quasi-experimental design, employing a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up protocol with MBCT, SSCT, and control groups. The target population comprised hemodialysis patients residing in Isfahan, Iran, during the autumn of 2024. A convenience sample of 60 participants was drawn from this population and subsequently randomly allocated to three distinct groups (n = 20 per group). The Life Suffering Questionnaire served as the instrument for measuring the dependent variable across all three assessment time points. The experimental groups received 10 weekly therapeutic sessions each lasting for 90 minutes, with MBCT and SSCT administered, while the control group was a waitlist control receiving no intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), supplemented by Bonferroni post-hoc tests, via SPSS version 26.
Results: The findings revealed statistically significant differences across three domains of suffering—physical, psychological, and existential—when comparing MBCT, SSCT, and the control group (P<0.01). Notably, SSCT exhibited superior efficacy relative to MBCT in alleviating both physical and psychological suffering (P<0.05). Conversely, no significant difference in effectiveness was observed between the two intervention groups with respect to existential suffering.
Conclusion: SSCT outperformed MBCT in reducing physical and psychological suffering in hemodialysis patients, while both interventions equally mitigated existential suffering. These findings highlight the need for tailored interventions, specifically by integrating spiritual components into cognitive therapies, to address the multifaceted suffering of chronically ill patients. Clinically, incorporating such integrated interventions into hemodialysis care could enhance patient well-being and quality of life.

Abstract Background: Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience significant social stigma and challenges with distress tolerance, impacting their well-being and parenting effectiveness.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based parenting training and transdiagnostic therapy in reducing social stigma and improving distress tolerance among these mothers.
Methods: This study utilized a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design with three-month follow-up assessments. The target population comprised mothers of children aged 5 to 12 years, diagnosed with ASD, who were attending autism centers in Mashhad during 2024. A convenience sample of 45 mothers was recruited and subsequently randomly allocated to two experimental groups and a single waitlist control group. Data collection instruments included the Social Stigma Scale and the Distress Tolerance Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), with Bonferroni post-hoc tests employed for pairwise comparisons.
Results: Findings demonstrated that both the mindfulness-based parenting intervention and transdiagnostic therapy yielded statistically significant reductions in perceived social stigma and increases in distress tolerance at both the post-test and follow-up assessments when compared to the control group (P<0.001). Additionally, no statistically significant difference was observed in the effectiveness between the two intervention modalities, indicating that they were statistically equivalent in their impact on social stigma and distress tolerance.
Conclusion: This research demonstrated that both mindfulness-based parenting and transdiagnostic therapy effectively reduced social stigma and improved distress tolerance in mothers of children with ASD, with sustained benefits observed during follow-up. Clinicians can consider either, or a combined approach, as both yielded equivalent improvements. This allows tailored interventions based on individual needs and preferences.

Abstract Background: Infertility is a significant psychosocial stressor associated with adverse mental health outcomes. Given the intricate link between mental health and self-concept, enhancing self-concept may be crucial for improving overall well-being among infertile women.
Objectives: The present study aimed to enhance self-concept in infertile women through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a three-wave (pre-test, post-test, 45-day follow-up) assessment and two groups: experimental and control. To conduct the research, 40 infertile women referring to the Isfahan Infertility and Infertility Center in 2023 were selected conveniently based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 20) and control (n = 20) groups. The participants completed the Beck Self-Concept Test in three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The experimental group participated in an eight-week MBCT intervention, consisting of one 90-minute session per week. The control group received no intervention during this period. Data were subjected to repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS-24.
Results: The findings indicated that MBCT significantly improved self-concept in infertile women in the social skills dimension (P <0.01). The significant improvement in self-concept, particularly in the social skills dimension, suggests that MBCT can be a helpful intervention for this population.
Conclusion: Infertility-related social isolation and diminished self-concept may be ameliorated through MBCT. This study demonstrates that MBCT can enhance social interaction skills in infertile women, thereby positively influencing their overall self-concept. These results support MBCT as a beneficial approach for enhancing the mental health of women facing infertility.