Journal of Health System Research
Year:2017 | Volume:13 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:28

Background: Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief in his/her own ability to perform a behavior successfully and can affect his/her behavior, thought patterns, and reactions. Mothers with high self-efficacy, cope with natural childbirth by overcoming their fears. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of physiological childbirth preparation classes during pregnancy on vaginal delivery self-efficacy.Methods: This single-blind, clinical trial with two groups was conducted on 72 pregnant women referring to selected health centers of Isfahan, Iran, in 2014. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups. Individuals in the intervention group received 8 sessions of physiological childbirth classes, each lasting 2 hours. The control group participants were selected from centers which did not have physiological childbirth education classes. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics form, obstetric history form, and the researcher-made women's self-efficacy questionnaire (17 questions). The questionnaires were completed by mothers in the 3 stages of before the education, and 1 week and 1 month after the education. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney test in SPSS software. Findings: The results of Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference in self-efficacy score before the intervention between the two groups (P=0.51). However, 1 week after the intervention (P=0.05) and 1 month after the intervention (P=0.04), a statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups.Conclusion: Physiological childbirth education classes are effective on the improvement of self-efficacy score and selection of delivery method.

Background: Symptom management is an important caring issue among leukemia patients. However, still little attention has been paid to symptoms in this group of patients from different dimension (frequency, severity, and distress).Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 400 patients with different types of Leukemia in Alzahra, Seyyedalshohada, and Hojjatiyeh Hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were selected through convenience sampling in 2016. For data collection, a demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Memorial Symptoms Assessment Scale (MSAS) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS software. Findings: The most common symptoms (with a prevalence of higher than 50%) were lack of energy, sleeping disorder, feeling sad, pain, nervousness, feeling ill, worrying, feelings irritable, loss of appetite, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, weight loss, sweating, and dry mouth. Moreover, most common symptoms in terms of frequency, severity, and distress were worrying, lack of energy, pain, sleeping disorder, feeling sad, nervousness, and feeling irritable.Conclusion: Results of this study showed that symptoms related to the psychological dimension are experienced more by patients with Leukemia than physical symptoms. Thus, psychological support and counseling is necessary for these patients.

Background: Developing a culture of safety is a core element of many efforts to improve patient safety in hospitals and medical centers. This study aimed to assess patient safety culture in a hospital in Shiraz, Iran.Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 clinical staff of a hospital in Shiraz. The Persian version of the Modified Stanford Instrument (MSI), after assessing its validity and reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.744), was used for data collection. Patient safety culture was classified into 4 levels of poor (101-125), medium (126-150), good (151-175), and high (176-200). The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software. Findings: The mean age and work experience of the participants were 28.60±11.68 and 4.80±11.68, respectively. The mean score of safety culture was 150.140±0.806. Among the studied variables, job, hospital department, and age had a significant correlation with safety culture (P<0.05). The highest level of safety culture was related to the laboratory, radiology, and surgery departments.Conclusion: Although the status of patient safety culture in the studied hospital was classified as good, it is essential to plan and execute the required interventions to enhance it to the high level. These interventions include continuing education for staff and continuous improvement of clinical governance in the hospital.

Background: Organizational commitment of hospital employees is a strategic factor in their performance and serving, due to the unique characteristics of this organization. One of the new social concepts in hospitals that can strengthen organizational commitment is the social capital of employees. Therefore, this study was implemented with the aim to determine the correlation between social capital and organizational commitment in a hospital in Tehran, Iran.Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, 337 expert employees of a hospital in Tehran, including doctors, nurses, and assistants, participated. The participants were selected through simple random and classified sampling methods. Data was gathered using Allen and Meyer's Organizational Commitment questionnaire and the researcher-made Social Capital Questionnaire, and its validity and reliability were, respectively, calculated using face validity and Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software. All P values of less than 0.05 were considered significant. Findings: The results showed a positive and significant correlation between social capital and organizational commitment (P=0.001) and also the structural dimension of social capital and organizational commitment (P=0.030). The correlation between the cognitive dimension of social capital and organizational commitment was weak and significant (P=0.280). The correlation between the relational dimension of social capital and organizational commitment was positive and significant (P<0.001).Conclusion: Social capital in an organization or a part of that organization can reinforce the organizational commitment of that organization or that part of the organization and employees who have stronger social capital have higher organizational commitment.

Background: There has been growing interest in adolescents’ emotional intelligence. The strengthening of its various components including general health, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and self-esteem seems necessary. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and general health, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and self-esteem in second grade students in public high schools of Isfahan, Iran.Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 second grade students in high schools in 2015. The subjects were selected through multistage random sampling. They completed a demographic characteristics questionnaire, Shiring’s Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Self-regulation Questionnaire, General Self-Efficacy Scale (Sherer et al.), and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, Spearman’s correlation, and independent t-test in SPSS software. Findings: Based on the correlation test, there was significant relation between emotional intelligence and self-efficacy (P=0.001), self-esteem (P=0.001), and general health (P=0.001), but the relation between emotional intelligence and self-regulation was not significant (P=0.221).Conclusion: Attention to the improvement of emotional intelligence considering gender differences can be effective on the improvement of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and self-regulation skills and general health, and thus, it is important in educational programs for students.

Background: With regard to the carcinogenic, mutagenic, and pulmonary effects of hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] and its impact on the kidney and liver, a study of different methods of its removal from drinking water is essential. In this regard, although the adsorption process has been introduced as an effective method for the removal of chromium, no Iranian study has ever investigated the simulation of the adsorption process with granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of Cr (VI) using the Bohart-Adams model. Hence, the aim of the present study was to simulate the kinetics of GAC columns for the adsorption of Cr (VI) from the continuous flow of water.Methods: In this experimental-interventional study, the Bohart-Adams model was used to determine the rate coefficient and adsorption capacity of GAC columns in Cr (VI) removal from aqueous solutions in continuous flow. In this regard, three GAC columns in laboratory scale with bed depths of 31, 45, and 62 cm were operated to treat water containing 20 mg/l Cr (VI) in overflow rates of 1.41, 2.43, and 3.85 ml/cm2. minute. The longevity of columns was considered up to the moment of providing maximum acceptable concentration of chromium in water. Chromium concentration was determined using the standard method of diphenylcarbazide. Findings: By changing the depth of columns from 31 cm to 62 cm in the overflow rate of 1.41 ml/cm2. minute, the longevity of GAC columns increased from 2.5 hours to 6 hours. By increasing the overflow rate to 3.85 ml/cm2. minute, the longevity of these columns was reduced to 0.5 hour and 1.5 hours, respectively. By changing the overflow from 1.41 ml/cm2. minute to 3.85 ml/cm2. minute, the adsorption capacity of the columns declined from 191.31 mg/l to 148.57 mg/l. This procedure was consistent with the change in adsorption rate coefficient of GAC from 0.005 l/mg.minute to 0.01 l/mg. minute.Conclusion: GAC columns can be used to treat the continuous flow of water containing 20 mg/l Cr (VI) to the extent of providing the relevant standards.

Background: Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has received much attention as a new approach for air sampling. SPME is an efficient solventless sample preparation method which can be easily applied to a variety of chemical compounds.Methods: In this study, the efficiency and accuracy of SPME method for analysis of benzene exposure inside public vehicles was investigated and compared with results of present analytical and separation methods. In the first phase, different concentrations of benzene were standardized in specific volume of air and the calibration graph was drawn. In the next stage, SPME samplers were installed for specified periods inside and outside the bus. Then, the average concentration of benzene in the air was measured by injection of SPME fiber into the gas chromatography (GC) device. Findings: Maximum concentration of benzene was about 26 mg/m3 inside the bus and 8 mg/m3 outside the bus. The comparison between measured values of SPME method and adsorbent tubes method provided a high degree of correlation (R2=0.98), indicating that SPME method can measure benzene concentration with reasonable accuracy.Conclusion: According to the present study results, a noticeable increase in the concentration of benzene was observed inside the bus during summer which exceeded the standard level and the measured values of benzene outside and inside the bus during spring, which was at the standard level. The results of the measurements using the conventional method of pumps and absorbent and SPME showed acceptable similarity.

Background: In many work environments, especially in the summer, heat stress assessment is necessary. The present research aimed to determine the feasibility of the application of infrared (IR) beams instead of the intensity of solar radiation in the environmental stress index (ESI) equation.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from 8 am to 18 pm from June to October 2013 in the weather conditions of Isfahan, Iran. IR intensity was measured in 4 main directions and top and bottom of the globe thermometer. Moreover, wet bulb temperature, dry bulb temperature, and globe temperature were measured. The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and environmental stress index (ESIIR) were calculated based on the IR intensity instead of solar radiation. Pearson correlation test and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings: The results showed that there is high correlation between WBGT and ESIIR in all 6 directions (P>0.01). The correlation coefficients between the two indices were 0.963 for all 6 directions. The estimate of WBGT of ESIIR, the predictor variable, was gained through the following equation, WBGT=0.959 ESIIR+1.427 (R2=0.94).Conclusion: To evaluate heat stress in the outdoor work environment, ESIIR, calculated based on dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, and IR, is a good estimator for WBGT.

Background: Anthracene is an aromatic hydrocarbon recognized as a component that is carcinogenic to humans. Components known as zeolite have been used to remove contaminants, including aromatic hydrocarbons. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of natural zeolites and zeolites modified by copper and iron oxide nanoparticles in the removal of anthracene from water.Methods: In this study, with the use of natural and modified zeolites, anthracene removal process was evaluated and uptake of the desired solution was read using ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectrometry. The effect of pH, initial concentration of anthracene, adsorbent dose, and contact time in the adsorption process was also studied. Findings: According to the results, the highest efficiency in the removal of anthracene was obtained in acidic pH. In addition, the maximum removal was achieved by raw zeolite at a concentration of 10 mg of anthracene and by zeolite modified with zerovalent iron and copper oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 1 ppm. Finally, the maximum removal using zeolite was achieved at 120 minutes. Moreover, the mechanism of adsorption isotherm obeyed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm.Conclusion: According to the results obtained, the removal efficiency of zeolites modified with copper oxide and iron nanoparticles was higher than that of raw zeolite. In spite of the high performance in measuring the residue concentration using spectrophotometry to optimize the results through the application of total organic carbon (TOC), the results showed that the total removal of anthracene using the studied adsorbents was low.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the quality control of probiotic products marketed in retails in Isfahan, Iran, in terms of the number of viable lactobacillus count in comparison to non-probiotic dairy product. In addition, the isolated strains were studied in terms of the manufacturers’ claim of using lactobacillus acidophilus.Methods: Probiotic products (n=14) and non-probiotic products (n=8) of commercial dairy brands were sampled from Isfahan market. Serial dilutions were made using normal saline, and surface plate count agar was carried out by inoculation of 100 μl of concentrations on the MRS (de-Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe) plates containing cysteine hydrochloride. After incubation and counting of colonies, 6 colonies with different morphological characteristic were sampled and purified from each plate. Double purification step was performed for the selected isolates in the MRS culture media with bromocresol green and cysteine hydrochloride. To separate probiotic and non-probiotic strains, growth test against X-Gal was used. Findings: Among the probiotic products, the average number of lactobacilli in yoghurt, kefir, and cheese was counted as 5.7 Log CFU, 6.32 Log CFU, and 6.27 Log CFU, respectively. Among non-probiotic products, an average lactobacillus population of 5.22 Log CFU, 3.6 Log CFU, and 3.62 Log CFU was found in yoghurt, doogh, and cheese, respectively. Only 5 probiotic labeled dairy products out of 14 tested samples (35%) were shown to contain the lactobacilli isolates capable of growth under bile containing MRS.Conclusion: In conclusion, although the average count of viable lactobacilli in commercial probiotic products appeared to be slightly higher than that of non-probiotic dairy products, yet, this index differs greatly from the standards in the majority of the products offered in the market as probiotic foods. Particularly, commercial probiotic yogurts were shown to have lower L. acidophilus count than the standard level.

Background: The national nosocomial infection surveillance program was established in Iran since 2007 to control and manage nosocomial infections. Since the evaluation of this program can assist in the nosocomial infections control, the present study aimed to evaluate the implementation of this program in hospitals in Isfahan, Iran.Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2015. Through census method, 11 hospitals and academic medical centers affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, located in Isfahan city, were entered into the study. Data were gathered using a checklist that was developed based on the national guideline for nosocomial infection surveillance and its validity and reliability were tested. The checklist consisted of 47 closed items, and was completed through on-site visiting and reviewing of documents and was analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS software. Findings: The percentage of scores for different dimensions of nosocomial infection surveillance program were 96.50% (desirable) for organization, 82.81% (desirable) for planning and policy, 80.00% (desirable) for preparing and distribution of report, 75.00% (average) for interventions, 58.50% (average) for controlling antibiotics' resistance, and 96.30% (desirable) for designing and implanting educational programs.Conclusion: Regarding the status of the intervention and the controlling antibiotics' resistance dimensions which were moderate, adopting new guidelines for the purpose of preventing the prescription of antibiotics without an antibiogram and a general decrease in the usage of antibiotics of all kinds are recommended. Moreover, designing local intervention programs for the purposes of decreasing the occurrence of nosocomial infections and the evaluation of the efficiency of these strategies are also suggested.

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the components of individual empowerment and organizational agility in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and to examine the relationships between them.Methods: This descriptive-correlational research was conducted based on purpose and through developmental-applied method. The present study was a combination of a library study, field study, and an expert opinion poll. The statistical population of the study consisted of 25000 employees of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2016. Sample size was determined using Cochran’s formula and 265 individuals were selected randomly. Two researcher-made questionnaires were used which were compiled based on a Likert scale and validated (Cronbach's alpha, individual ability=0.94, and organizational agility=0.97). Data were analyzed using AMOS and SPSS software. Findings: The results indicated that in addition to the components of individual empowerment (sense of meaning, sense of competence, sense of autonomy, feeling of influence, feeling of trust) and organizational agility (leadership and management, culture, innovation, strategy, change and learning, organizational structure, information technology, coherence and integrity, the use of potential opportunities, shared values), components of field studies and experts' survey (idealism, sense of participation, self-control, and creativity), and multiplicity could predict each of the variables.Conclusion: Individual empowerment in the current research had a positive and significant effect on organizational agility in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

Background: Accidents are of the most important problems in developed and developing countries. Human factors and personality characteristics are the main causes of accidents. The purpose of this study was to compare the personality characteristics between the workers had and had not accident.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Isfahan City industries, Iran, in 2014. The Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was completed by 200 workers; 100 workers had and 100 workers had not accident. We used independent t test for data analysis. Findings: The mean age of workers was 33.19 years (SD=7.39) and their mean work experience was 9.56 years (SD=6.32). Independent t test showed significant differences in neuroticism (P=0.020), agreeableness (P=0.001), extroversion (P=0.035), and conscientiousness (P=0.001) between the two groups. But, in openness to experience figure (P=0.100), there was no significant difference.Conclusion: According to the results, we can predict accident-prone workers via their personality characteristics and forbid them to work in sensitive tasks.

Background: Pesticides are a group of chemical compounds which are used in vegetables to control or remove some pests. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantity of some pesticides in cucumbers used in salad production plants.Methods: In this study, 22 cucumber samples were collected from 3 salad production plants in Isfahan City, Iran. Simultaneous determination of 16 permitted pesticides defined in Iranian national standard including bromopropylate, permethrin, pirimicarb, tetradifone, deltamethrin, diazinon, dichlorvos, dimethoate, famoxadone, fenazaquine, fenpropathrin, carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, malathion and metalaxyl were determined via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Findings: This procedure showed satisfactory recovery (86-119 percent) with relative standard deviation (RSD) of £ 20.22%. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were between 3.54-14.91 and 11.81-49.92 mg/l, respectively. Dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos detected over than maximum residue limits (MRLs) defined in Iranian national standard in 6 out of 22 cucumber samples (27%) in the range of 95-188.75 and 230-771 mg/kg, respectively. Dimethoate and metalaxyl were detected less than maximum residue limits in national standard in all samples. Contamination with other pesticides was not observed in the samples.Conclusion: Pesticides including dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos were found in one third of cucumber samples of current study. Regarding the importance of vegetables consumption as well as the adverse effects of pesticides on human health, it is necessary to perform and manage the routine monitoring of pesticides in supervision organizations.

Background: Water shortage, especially fresh water, is mandated recycling it in different facilities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of recycling wastewater from the sterilization facility units in Alzahra training clinical hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in order to reuse in the water feeder boilers of the hospital.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 28 samples of feed water and sterilization units autoclaves effluents were evaluated regarding the microbiological, heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and chemical parameters, total hardness, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, pH, turbidity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO).Findings: The average results of the measurement of various parameters in feed water and sterilization units effluents were obtained total hardness of 85.0, and 16.5 mg/l, electrical conductivity of 270.0 and 235.9 mS/cm, total dissolved solids of 146.4 and 137.8 mg/l, pH of 7.2, and 7.1, turbidity of 0.61, and 3.08 NTU, temperature of 22.98, and 73.35°C, heterotrophic plate count of 8.4, and 16.6 cfu/ml, and dissolved oxygen 7.76, and 3.8 mg/l, respectively.Conclusion: The results showed that the quality of effluent from the central sterilization unit facilities of the Alzahra hospital was acceptable in terms of water quality guidelines and just by doing a series of actions, such as physical connection of the sterilization unit outlet pipe to the feeding water pipe and by pH adjustment, it can be used repeatedly as sterilization unit feed water. In this case, it is expected to a significant decrease occurs in water consumption of the medical unit. It is suggested due to the drought conditions and water shortage that this method is also used for other affiliated hospitals.

Background: Adsorption method has been considered as one of the most effective approaches for removal of heavy metals, as hazardous pollutants, in water resources.Methods: In this study, a hydrogel nanocomposite based on the acrylic acid, wheat bran, and montmorinollite was synthesized using in-situ polymerization and utilized for the removal of Cu cations from aqueous solution. The effect of various parameters such as initial Cu concentration, pH, and amount of montmorillonite on the amount of adsorbed ion was investigated. The adsorption behavior of the nanocomposite hydrogel was studied using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.Findings: Increasing initial Cu concentration tended to increased adsorption capacity of the hydrogel. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent occurred in pH of 7.0, and 3% weight nano-sized montmorinollite in hydrogel structure. The Langmuir model showed a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.99.Conclusion: The synthesized acrylic-based montmorillonite hydrogel has a considerable capacity in Cu removal from industrial wastewater.

Background: In recent years, food security has become a global problem. Therefore, identifying and recommending a comprehensive index that can provide an accurate image of food security situation is necessary.Methods: In this study, Global Food Security Index (GFSI) was used for the first time to identify Iran food security situation during 1981-2013. This index was introduced by Economist Intelligence Unit in 2012 and is a quantitative and qualitative dynamic model that consists of unique dimensions of food security such as affordability, availability, quality and safety. To identify the factors affecting food insecurity, this index focuses on unique qualitative components that illustrate government policies. To calculate the index, the data of macro-level gathering from Food Agricultural Organization, World Bank, Central Bank, and Budget Law were used. If index level rates at 75.1-89.7, it is identified as the best condition, and 57.8-75 as good, 44.2-57.7 as average and 16-44.1 as critical condition.Findings: Food security situation increased with fluctuations; increases and decreases were seen in some years. So, the lowest level of food security was in 1981 with a score of 28% showed the critical situation and the best levels were in 2011 with a score of 71.6% and last year of studying (2013) with a score of 65% had good situations.Conclusion: Given the undeniable importance of food security, the need to identify new index of GFSI is necessary. According to results, the food security situation increased in Iran; but has distance from the best performance. So, the efforts of policy makers are required to promote the condition.

Background: Asking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) symptoms through face-to-face interviews (FTFI) or self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) is one way to indirectly estimate the prevalence of STIs in the general population. The aim of the present study was to investigate self-report bias of STIs symptoms via FTFI in comparison with SAQ.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013. Using a multi-stage sampling method, 496 were selected from among women living in Kerman. From among the participants, 248 filled out a standardized questionnaire containing 12 questions about experience of STIs symptoms at the time of the study (current) and the preceding six months (recent). Moreover, the rests of the subjects (n = 248) answered those questions through FTTI. Descriptive analysis, logistic regression, and odds ratio (OR) were used to analyze data considering the significance level of 5%.Findings: OR of self-reporting of current STIs symptoms in FTFI was 23% less than SAQ (P<0.001), while OR of self-reporting of recent STIs symptoms by FTFI was 26% more than SAQ (P = 0.001). This trend persisted after adjusting confounders’ effects. Educational level had more contribution in increasing OR of self-reporting in SAQ compared to FTFI (OR = 1.34).Conclusion: It seems that FTFI does not always cause bias in self-reporting of STIs symptoms; it depends on the time of experience of STIs (current or recent). However, in interpreting the results, a greater consideration of the weakness of both FTFI and SAQ which may be biased in reporting is recommended.

Background: Due to the stability, water and environmental pollution, and health concerns of phenol compounds, phenol removal is important. For this purpose, the present study evaluated the efficiency of phenol removal of activated carbon derived from Moringa oleifera pod from aqueous solutions.Methods: In this study, the Moringa oleifera pod was used as carbon source in activated carbon preparation. The activated carbon preparation protocol included dehydration, debris removal, and thermal activation. After preparation of activated carbon, the effective parameters on phenol adsorption process including solution pH, contact time, initial concentration of phenol, and activated carbon doses were studied. In addition, the obtained data was tested via Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.Findings: The obtained results showed that the highest phenol adsorption was achieved at neutral solution pH. With increasing or reducing of solution pH, phenol removal efficiency decreased. Moreover, with increasing of contact time from 5 minutes to 840 minutes, phenol removal efficiency improved from 23% to 94%. In addition, with increasing of initial concentration of phenol, phenol removal efficiency had a descending trend. Thus, with the use of 0.5 g/l activated carbon and initial concentration of 7.5 mg/l, phenol removal efficiency was 76%, and at the concentrations of 10 and 15 mg/l, removal efficiency reduced to 71% and 66%, respectively. The obtained results were in line with the Freundlich isotherm and maximum adsorption capacity varied from 6.5 to 7.2 mg/g in the studied initial phenol concentration.Conclusion: The obtained results demonstrated that activated carbon derived from Moringa oleifera pod had high efficiency in phenol removal from aqueous solutions. With respect to the fact that the Moringa oleifera is grown in southern Iran and does not have a specific application, the Moringa oleifera pod could be considered as a low cost source for activated carbon preparation.

Background: Formaldehyde is considered as one of the most important air pollutants due to both its high toxicity, and the vast application in industries and medical centers. Many concerns have emerged, therefore, on the sensitivity and the accuracy of analysis methods for this compound. This study was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of the field application of headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) in preparation of formaldehyde-contained samples for gas chromatography analysis.Methods: In this experimental and cross sectional study, air samples were collected from a rock wool manufacturing company using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 3500 method. The samples were analyzed once using the standard method of NIOSH 3500 and the other time using HS-SDME and gas chromatography. Finally, the values of formaldehyde concentration calculated in the two methods were compared.Findings: Paired t-test indicated that formaldehyde average concentration in HS-SDME (1.27 mg/ml) was significantly lower than that in NIOSH method (2.31 mg/ml) (P<0.001). In moderate (1-3 mg/ml) and high (3-5 mg/ml) concentrations, the average formaldehyde concentration in HS-SDME was significantly lower than that in NIOSH method. In addition, in low concentrations (0.1-1 mg/ml), formaldehyde average concentration in HS-SDME was lower, but the difference between the values was not statistically significant (P = 0.420).Conclusion: According to the results, HS-SDME method is possible to be efficiently applicable in the extraction of formaldehyde samples with low concentrations. However, it would not be accurately feasible in moderate and high concentrations.