title: Effect of Ramadan fasting on emotional reactions in nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today anxiety, depression, and stress are among the fundamental problems, and nursing due to ongoing relationships with patients is one of the stressful jobs. The present study has been carried out to investigate the effect of fasting on emotional reactions among nurses in selected hospitals of Tehran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a descriptive analytical study, 313 nurses working nurses of selected hospitals in Iran with the mean age of 37.82 ± 7.17 years were sampled with randomized cluster sampling method from two selected hospitals, and level of their emotional reactions was assessed by DASS21 questionnaire in two stages over 1-2 weeks before and after Ramadan. Then, using the statistical software SPSS15 and with Wilcoxon and paired t-test, data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings showed that depression and stress levels were significantly reduced after in comparison with before the holy month (P < 0.05). Despite the reduction of anxiety level in fasting caregivers after Ramadan, the difference was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fasting has been effective in diminishing stress and depression levels among nurses.
authors: Department of Nursing and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali Noruzi
authors: AN
authors: Koushali
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Hajiamini
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Ebadi
authors: Nushin
authors: N
authors: Bayat
authors: Feryal
authors: F
authors: Khamseh
keywords: Anxiety; depression; fasting; nurses; stress
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