Journal of Health System Research
Year:2010 | Volume:6 | Issue:3|Papers Count:30

Background: Various chemicals are used to produce polymers, leakage of polymer materials over the time, can cause health problems The aim of this research was to evaluate the leakage of heavy metals from the PVC and polypropylene pipes used in the water distribution system in Isfahan.Methods: Four brands of PP pipes and two various types of PVC pipes were analyzed in this study. Concentration and leakage of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel, chromium, zinc and tin) at 20oC were measured and compared with national standards of Iran, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.Findings: Mean lead concentration in used and new PVC pipes was higher than other pipes and there was significant difference between these two PVC pipes and other pipes in lead concentration. Mean leakage of lead was higher in PP pipes produced in A and B manufacturing plants. Lead leakage was lower than Iranian standards, but exceeds than EPA standards and WHO guidelines in PP pipes produced in A and B manufacturing plants. Cadmium leakage from PP pipes produced in C manufacturing plant exceeds all standards and guidelines.Conclusion: Inappropriate plastic production process increases the possibility of stabilizers and plasticizers releasing. Regarding direct relation between use of polymer pipes and consumer’s health, control of pipes producer by related institutions is proposed in accordance with make changes in stabilizers and preventing application of heavy metal-based pigments to overcome the mentioned problems.

Background: Today oro-dental health is one of the health problems in our country and throughout the world. One of the useful educational methods is using appropriate educational posters. This research studies the effects of educational posters and charts on knowledge and attitude of addressee about oral health.Methods: This study was a quasi experiment research. Ten units of apartments in different areas of Isfahan city was selected as research sample (126 persons) in 2008 (five units as case and five as control group). The intervention was done by installing educational posters and charts in the lift and on the apartment’s board. Data collected by a questionnaire in two stages before and after the educational posters and charts use and analyzed by statistical analytic tests using SPSS software.Findings: 62.5% of samples were women and 37.5% were men. Diploma graduated were 43%, more than the other degrees. Inappropriate level of knowledge and attitude were present in 25.8% and 86.7% of participants, respectively. The rank of scores of knowledge and attitude before and after education did not have significant difference between case and control groups (P>0.05).Conclusion: Since educational posters and charts did not have enough efficacy to promote the knowledge and attitude about oro-dental health, it is better to use them with other educational methods.

Introduction: There are many varieties of compounds in chemical and petrochemical wastewater. One of the important members of the Chlorophenols (CPs) family is r-chlorophenol. This pollutant is introduced into the environment through various human activities such as waste incineration, uncontrolled use of wood preservatives, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, as well as via bleaching the pulp with chlorine, chlorination of drinking water and wastewater.Methods: Experiments with microwave irradiation were carried out in a modified domestic microwave oven with the cooling system (2450MHz, SAMSUNG Co.). The oxidation rate was influenced by many factors, such as the pH value, the amount of hydrogen peroxide, the irradiation time, the initial concentration of organic material and the microwave power.Findings: The result showed that the optimum conditions obtained for the best degradation rate was pH= 10.5, the H2O2 concentration of about 0.1 mol/L and the microwave irradiation power of about 600W for the microwave/H2O2 system at constant r-chlorophenol concentration. The degradation of r-chlorophenol by different types of oxidation processes were followed by the first order rate decay kinetics.Conclusion: The energy consumption for UV/H2O2 in degradation of r-Chlorophenol (93%) and the reaction time of 180 min was 17460 KWh/kg r-Chlorophenol removing.

Background: Web 2.0 tools and environments are a new trend in sharing information and communication. Its significant characteristic is concentrating on Website users’ and developers’ interaction. This study aimed to determine the knowledge of medical science university students’ about web 2.0 environments in west of Iran by emphasizing on use of these environments in learning- teaching process.Methods: In this descriptive study, 303 medical science university students in the west of the country selected by stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire was used to collect data which its validity confirmed by a panel of experts and its reliability was turned out as acceptable by Cronbach Alpha coefficient (0.896). Descriptive statistical indexes such as mean, medium, standard deviation, frequency, simple frequency were used to analyze and classify the data and analytical statistics including Chi square test and Phi and V-Cramer coefficient were used to test the hypotheses.Findings: The knowledge score of most respondents (58.4%) on web 2.0 tools was low or very low and 26.7% of them had medium score of knowledge and skill in this area. There was a significant difference between the knowledge score of male and female respondents on web 2.0.There was a significant relationship between knowledge score and average of respondents, but it was not significant with their educational level.Conclusion: The students’ knowledge of web 2.0 tools and environments was not desirable. A comprehensive educational plan is necessary to improve the knowledge of students for these new high technologies in order to encourage learners to use them in learning process.

Background: Using the sludge as fertilizer on farms is one of the options to dispose it, which due to its variety of pathogenic microorganisms, it may cause a wide range of bacterial and parasitic diseases in human and livestock. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using dried sludge produced in municipal wastewater treatment processes to fertilize agricultural lands in accordance to the health and environmental standards.Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, three sewage treatment plants of Chahar Mahal and bakhtiary province were selected as the sample plant, including Shahrekord, Farsan and Borujen due to their similarity in the weather condition and the treatment process. In order to investigate the sludge in its lowest and the highest rate of evaporation, in the freezing cold winter and burning hot summer respectively, two winters and two summers were selected as the timeframe. In this study, faecal coliform and total coliform were determined as the sludge microbial indexes and examined in accordance to the EPA standards.Findings: The findings of this study indicated that the mean value of faecal coliform for the three treatment plants in winter were 1.63 × 106, 1.93 × 106 and 1.98 × 106 respectively. Also in summer they were 4.51 × 106, 5.75 × 106, and 9.23 × 106 respectively.Conclusion: The evaluations of this study indicated that the biological sludge generated from the three treatment plants in the winter after drying off naturally were located in class B of the EPA standards.Thus, based on recommendations of the organization, such sludge can be used with regards to standard restrictions for agricultural purposes. However, the microbiological quality of the sludge in summer was lower than the U.S. EPA standards for Class B sludge, and thus is not applicable in agricultural use.

Background: Nowadays, because of sexual dissatisfaction 50% of marriages are not successful. Since unhealthy relationship between couples makes them dissatisfied and misunderstanding which along with other circumstances make the foundation of the family unstable and increase the possibility of divorce. Therefore, marital counseling can give couples the necessary information for a good sexual life and helps the stability of the family and creates a healthy society. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of marital counseling on sexual satisfaction of couples’ referring to Nader Kazemi health center in Shiraz.Methods: In this quasi-empirical study 60 couples who are selected voluntarily enrolled and randomized in two experimental and control groups. All the data are gathered by a questionnaire in two parts, demographic characteristics (with 6 questions) and Larsson ISS sexual satisfaction questionnaire. In pretest, data was based on a questionnaire which its validity and reliability were approved. Then a 4-session educational intervention program was used for experimental group. After one month post-test was done for the two groups and the data was analyzed by statistical tests in the P£05.Findings: 46.67% of women in experimental group and 53.33% in control group were 20-24 years old (P³0.05).53.3% of men in experimental group and 50% in control group were 25-29 years old (P³0.05). In post-test there was a significant difference in men’s and women’s sexual satisfaction (P=0.002).Conclusion: The research findings showed that marital counseling effects on the quality of sexual relationship and increase couples’ sexual satisfaction. Marital counseling, with the prevention of sexual diseases and sexual dysfunctions, is one of the most effective methods of health education to help people to improve their quality of life through the improvement of sexual satisfaction and their relationships.

Background: Today, the positive role of physical activities and exercise, especially walking in the health of human society and in the prevention and control of many diseases including diabetes has been approved. The purpose of this study to determine predictors of walking behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes in Yazd based on Health Belief Model.Methods: In this cross-sectional study 111 type 2 diabetes patients referring to Yazd Diabetes Center were selected randomly. Data collecting was done by a questionnaire with health belief model structures (knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, self efficacy & cues to action) and demographic variables and questions regarding walking behaviors. Reliability and validity were assessed and approved. Data analyzed using the SPSS software and descriptive statistics, the correlation coefficient and regression testes.Findings: 111 individuals with type 2 diabetes of both sexes (78 females and 33 males) with mean age of 44.7±18.49 were participated in this study. Mean score of knowledge and walking behavior were, 6.93±3.22 and 4.46±3.73, respectively that showed subjects had acquired only 43.12% of knowledge maximum score and 31.85% of walking behavior maximum score. The Findings showed that there was a significant relationship between walking behavior with knowledge, perceived severity and perceived benefits.Conclusion: According to this study behavior of walking was weak. It seems that the use of theoretical based models such as Health Belief Model can be used to predict weakness of walking and as a framework can be used for the implementation of educational interventions to control diabetes.

Background: In the presence of chloride, bromide and iodide the reported values for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are not real and contain error. The purpose of this study was determining the error in calculating the COD based on Water and Wastewater Standard Testing Methods, in presence of the chloride ion, in various concentrations of COD.Methods: The experiment was done via two methods: without any removal of the chloride ion in the first method and using the proposed method of removing the chloride ion by Water and Wastewater Standard Testing Methods in the second method. In order to remove the impact of the chloride ion a HgSO4: Cl ratio equal to 10: 1 was used in this method. There were 22 samples that were evaluated twice. NaCl and COD ratios in samples were varied between 1.5-5 g/L and 400-1500 mg/L respectively. Samples divided into two groups, one group without NaCl, the spike sample, and other group unspike sample that had various concentrations of NaCl.Findings: The error value in the first method was 16% and in second method was 10.2%. In the second methods 63.6% of the values were lower than the real values; however in the first method 36.4% of values were lower than the real values that can be due to oxidation of chloride ion with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7).Conclusion: Presence of chloride ion in saline wastewater can lead to an error in determining the COD value. Sometime this error is positive and sometime negative. These errors are greater in high concentration of COD which could be due to chloride ion oxidation by dichromate and remained some non oxidation organic materials.

Background: Eclampsia is associated with 14 % of maternal mortality in developing countries. Considering that identification of at risk mothers and improving the level of knowledge and awareness of family care experts would lead to better control of the disease and its complication, the aim of this survey was to evaluate the level of knowledge and attitude concerning this disease among pregnant women before and after targeted education.Methods: In this prospective before-after trial the level of knowledge and attitude of 70 pregnant women regarding eclampsia was evaluated before and after targeted education using a reliable and valid self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included 15 questions of knowledge and 6 questions of attitude based on Likert response scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, using ANOVAs and t test.Findings: Mean score knowledge among studied pregnant women before and after education was 44±20.3 vs.76.4±16.5, respectively (P<0.05).Mean score of attitude among studied pregnant women before and after education was 57.5±19.7 and 92.3±8.4, respectively (P<0.05).52.4 % and 21.3 % of mothers showed low and very low level of knowledge and attitude, respectively. There was no significant correlation between knowledge and attitude scores of pregnant women with gravity, parity and maternal age.Conclusion: The low level of knowledge in more than 50 % of women before education and significant improvement of their knowledge and attitude after education emphasize the necessity of developing and revising education programs for high risk population and family health experts.

Background: Exercise increase the production of free radicals and lipid peroxides which result in oxidative injury and consequently tissue damage.It is suggested that vitamin C and E could decrease the increased level of lipid peroxides. The aim of this research was to study antioxidant vitamins intake in athlete women who attended in aerobic sport saloon in two different socio-economic regions in Isfahan.Methods: In this descriptive study 99 athlete women aged 15-50 years were selected by random sampling method. Nutritional information of the studied population was obtained by a 24 hours questionnaire for two consecutive days. Mean intake of vitamin C and E was measured and compared with RDA levels and in two studied groups from two regions. Collected data analyzed using SPSS and N4 software.Findings: Mean intake level of vitamin E in regions with high and low economic level was lower significantly than RDA level. Mean intake level of vitamin E in regions with high economic level was significantly higher than low economic level region (P=0.033). Mean intake level of vitamin C in regions with high and low economic level was higher significantly than RDA level. There was no significant difference in the level of vitamin C in two studied regions (P=0.098).Conclusion: Our findings indicated low intake level of vitamin E among athlete women, which emphasize the necessity of developing appropriate strategies to improve vitamin E intake among this group of population.

Background: The quality of the compost produced is one of the most important and effective parameters in its marketing and external materials presence in the compost have specific consideration. This study was conducted to investigate the quantity and quality of foreign materials in the compost produced by Khomein and Tehran plants.Methods: This study was conducted on the compost produced by Khomein and Tehran plants in 9 months; 10 composite samples were gathered and the external constituents such as glass, plastic, metal, miscellaneous and sand were analyzed, then to compare the data t-test analysis was used.Findings: The average percentage of glass, plastic, metal, miscellaneous and sand in Tehran and Khomein compost were 0.62, 0.22, 0.84, 2.24 and 1.17, 0.17, 0.02, 1.36, 3.61, respectively; which were in accordance to the considered standards. Moreover, the statistical analysis showed that except the plastic, there was a significant difference (P<0.0001) between the other parameters average in Tehran and Khomein’s composts.Conclusion: The average percentage of glass, plastic, metal, miscellaneous and sand in Tehran and Khomein compost were 0.62, 0.22, 0.84, 2.24 and 1.17, 0.17, 0.02, 1.36, 3.61, respectively; which were in accordance to the considered standards. Moreover, the statistical analysis showed that except the plastic, there was a significant difference (P<0.0001) between the other parameters average in Tehran and Khomein’s composts.

Background: Nowadays diabetes considered as the most common metabolic disorder and an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Diabetes has not definitive treatment but the progression of the disease and its related complication could be prevented properly by proper diet. The aim of current study was to determine the relation between fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity with the level of glycosylated hemoglobin in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: In this cross-sectional study 105 diabetic patients referred to khomeynishahr diabetes center in 2010 selected by simple sampling method. General profile and food intake of studied population was assessed by a general and Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) Blood sample was obtained for measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin level. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS and Nutritionist 4 softwares.Findings: In this cross-sectional study 105 diabetic patients referred to khomeynishahr diabetes center in 2010 selected by simple sampling method. General profile and food intake of studied population was assessed by a general and Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) Blood sample was obtained for measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin level. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS and Nutritionist 4 softwares.Conclusion: Diabetic patients with high level of fruit and vegetable intake level had lower level of glycosylated hemoglobin.

Background: Noise is one of the harmful factors of industrial environments that may cause defect such as hearing defects, high blood pressure, irritation, sleep disturbances, increased respiratory rate and oxygen consumption. The residents and personnel working in industries around Mehrabad airport continuously exposed to noise pollution caused by the traffic of passenger, war and training airplanes. The aim of this research was to evaluate the noise exposure in personnel of various industrial and administrative units of the Aerospace university research complex next to Mehrabad airport.Methods: In this research due to variations in air transportation system and changing the number of flights during the day eight-hour personal dosimetry in a one-week period and octa and band analysis in wind tunnel room was performed. Sound level meter (CEL-440) and dosimeters (CEL 281 & 282) were used as measurement equipment. Obtained data was compared with the standards of Iranian Occupational Health Technical Committee and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH-2005).Findings: Values obtained from noise dosimetry were as follows; build hall 96.7 (dB), welding 99.6 (dB), aerodynamic 94 (dB), modeling 99.6 (dB), shielding 95 (dB), administrative building 77 (dB), planning office 77 (dB) and security station 76 dB.The result of octave-band analysis on the frequencies of 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 (Hz) were 93.1, 95.5, 93.1, 90.2, 85.5, 77.6 and 68.46 (dB) respectively.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that noise rate was above the standard rate (ACGIH-2005) and that was recommended by the country’s occupational health technical committee, so, in order to prevent the consequences of noise exposure recommendations were presented.

Background: The greatest pressure in the physiological life of women is caused during pregnancy due to the occurrence of most important changes in their biological status. Weight gain considered as one of the valid indicators of proper nutrition during pregnancy which is evaluated by Body Mass Index (BMI). The aim of this study was to compare the effect of nutrition education program based on health belief model with classical training on the recommended weight gain during pregnancy in pregnant women in Gonabad.Methods: In this quasi-experimental controlled study, 110 pregnant women referred to urban health centers in Gonabad in 2009 were included in two case (54) and control (56) groups.. Pre-test data was collected in two studied groups during their first pregnancy care visit by a self-administrated questionnaire. Its validity and reliability had been approved previously. The intervention was two educational sessions in case and control groups based on health belief model and traditional model, respectively. Post-test data was collected in the last pregnancy care visit. Obtained data analyzed by SPSS software.Findings: There were no significant differences between two studied groups regarding age, the education, parity, abortion and jobs. After intervention the most influencing external cue of action was husband in experimental group (%87.03) and healthcare workers in control group (%51.78). After intervention mean score of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, threat, benefits and barriers and nutritional behavior in the experimental group and mean score of knowledge in control group changed significantly (P<0.05). There was significant difference in gaining recommended weight during pregnancy between two studied groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: While 77.78% of experimental group members achieved recommend MBI, just 32.29% of control group members gained this criterion. This study proved that HBM application in nutritional education was successfully effective to gain recommended weight in pregnancy, so that increasing suitable weight gain reached maximum and unstandardized weight gain reached minimum in accordance with women’s BMI.

Background: Crude oil is a very complex composition with harmful effects in human health such as carcinogenesis and blood effects. Using the bioassay method to assess the effect of purification process produces useful results. In this study the effect of ozonation to reduce the toxicity of crude oil in the water is investigated.Methods: Standard sample of the water soluble fraction were prepared with one part of crude oil and 9 part of water. For toxicity assessment, different concentrations of water soluble fraction of crude oil and larvae of rainbow trout were used. Before and after ozonation, TOC and the bioassay tests were performed.Findings: Ozonation is effective in reducing the toxicity of the crude oil in drinking water. By increasing the time of bioassay experiment, the toxicity is increased too. LC 50%, 98 hours of the sample TOC was 60 and 54.98 mg/l before the ozonation process and after that in 1 and 10 mg/l, LC 50%, 98 hours was increased to 113.3 and 205.5 mg/l and the TOC reached to 42.8 and 205.5 mg/l.Conclusion: Increasing the ozone doses to reduce the toxicity was highly effective, but intensity of TOC removal was not the same as the toxicity removal. In order to investigate the effectiveness of one treatment process to remove special pollutants, using bioassay test could produce useful and valuable results.

Background: The family physician program and referral system considered as one of the important programs of country’s health that has been implemented since 2005.Considerng that health is a spontaneous phenomenon and information in this regard should be given to individuals, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between knowledge and attitudes of rural people with information resources about family physician program in Shahrekord.Methods: In this descriptive analytic survey, 1100 individuals under the program of rural family physician in Shahrekord were selected by multistage sampling method. Data collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by t-test and ANOVA tests.Findings: Mean age of studied population was 34.23.5% of rural population have been trained regarding family physician program. There was significant relationship between the mean scores of knowledge and attitude of rural people with the training giving (p<0.05). Most of the rural population had received their information in this regard from health workers and health centers employee (34%).There was significant relationship between information resources and knowledge and attitudes of villagers (P<0.001).Conclusion: The findings of current study indicated that people’s information about the program was moderate. Considering that most of the rural population had received their information from health workers, so, implementation of educational programs for doctors and health workers and transfer to other members of society can improve the quality and effectiveness of this program.

Background: Obesity is an independent risk factor in developing CVD, type II diabetes, and gall bladder disease, different types of cancers, osteoarthritis and mortality. Weight gain during adult life, especially during the third and fourth decades, is associated with increased blood pressure.Methods: Random samples of nearly 1493 men and women aged between 16 to 85 years old were selected from the 12 Villages around Isfahan. In this cross- sectioned experiment, participants visited a survey clinic, where blood pressure, anthropometric measurements were collected. Age and sex were also used in the analysis. Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to measure obesity.Findings: The mean BMI of the studied population was 23.37, Systolic blood pressure 122 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 76mmmHg. Most of the population had BMI 20-24.9. A small group had BMI>40. Another important finding was the correlation between blood pressure and BMI; Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly correlated with BMI (p<0.0001). ANOVA indicated significant difference in Systolic blood pressure among different groups of BMI (p<0.0001). Diastolic blood pressure was also significantly different among BMI groups (p<0.0001).Conclusion: The finding of this study confirms the correlation between the blood pressure and BMI.These results are consistent to the other studies that showed blood pressure changes are affected by BMI changes. Increasing weight is resulted in the increase of the salt retention. The findings strongly suggested that weight control is a necessary element of the hypertension control. Interventions to control hypertension are emphasized through primary prevention i.e. by identifying the new cases of hypertension development.

Background: Healthy nutrition especially the energy intake and the essential nutrient in female student is so important. This study aimed to assess micro and macro nutrient intakes in female students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.Methods: This cross-sectioned study was carried out on 100 female students aged between 18 to 25 years old in 1387-1388. Anthropometrics measures were performed and two 24 hours food recalls were used to collect the dietary information and then they were analyzed using food processor 2 and then were compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes 2008 (DRI).Findings: 61.1% of subjects were residing in dormitories and 12.7% were married. Prevalence of overweight or obesity and abdominal obesity in the studied subjects were 6.9% and 46.1% respectively. The mean (±SD) systolic blood pressure was 105.2±15.6 mmhg and the diastolic was 62.2±10.4 mmhg. Totally 3.9% of the subjects had hypertension. The analysis of food intake indicated that B12, folate, magnesium, potassium, calcium were in a level below the recommended ones, and vitamin C, E, pantothenic acid, B1, B3, phosphate, zinc in a level above the recommended ones, and energy intake, macronutrient, vitamin A, pyridoxine, iron, selenium were in the general appropriate level.Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated that the appropriate level of macronutrients intake was used and the problem was mainly existed in micronutrients’ consumption. It is recommended to increase the intakes of important food groups such as dairy, vegetable, fruit that are good sources of micronutrients, and it is also suggested to improve strategies and the competence in this area of nutrition.

Background: life style is the ordinal and daily activities of individuals in their own lives that they accepted so, these activities affect their health status. The aim of the current study was to determine teachers’ life style in Gorgan city in 2009.Methods: In a Cross-Sectional study 336 teachers of elementary, mid and high school were recruited through random stratified sampling method. Data gathering instrument was a questionnaire that its validity and reliability approved in other studies. Obtained data analyzed using SPSS software (11.5 ver.) and descriptive and appropriate statistical tests.Findings: In this study, 268 teachers (84%) had semi favorite life style.251 (74.7%) were used the safety belt when driving.14 (4.2%) was current smoker and 80 (23.6%) have regular physical activity. According to Body Mass Index 181 (54%) was obese or overweight.148 (44.1%) had healthy nutrition and 239 (71.1%) have favorite position in unhealthy nutrition.302 (82.9%) were in semi favorite position in stress management. There was a significant relationship between life style and teaching category was (p=0.005) and between regular physical activity and gender (p=0.002).Conclusion: Because the majority of the people had semi favorite or non favorite life style it is necessity to organize a structured and extensive intervention in consistent with the individual situations.

Background: The Age in which menarche occurs is considered as age at menarche and it is the good indicator of female gender maturation. The aim of the current study was to determine age of menarche and its relation with height and socioeconomic status of students in Aq Qala city 9.Methods: This Cross-Sectional study conducted in April, 2009 on 145 students of Aq Qalq city that selected by census method. Data gathering instruments were a valid and reliable questionnaire and height and height measurement devices. Data analyzed using t independent, ANOVA, and Pearson Correlation tests in SPSS (Ver.11.5) software.Findings: Mean of menarche at age was 12.15±0.98 years. Mean of current height, weight and BMI was156.35±5.37cm, 49.51±9.34Kg and 20.2±3.4 Kg/M2 respectively. There was no significant relationship between menarche at age and current height, weight, BMI, parents educational levels, sibship, family size, type on residence and ethnicity (p>0.05).There was significant difference between menarche at age and seasons (p<0.05).Conclusion: To achieve more definitive results in this field, it is necessity to conducting a wider prospective study with larger sample size and considering all relevant factors is essential for adolescent health programming.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the most important factors of absent from work, increased costs and human damages experienced by workers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of nurses in Al-Zahra hospital and the effect of eight-week selected corrective exercises and ergonomic interventions on them.Methods: Nordic questionnaire was used for studying the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders; also, for checking risk exposure of musculoskeletal disorders in 6 occupational tasks, quick exposure check (QEC) was applied. Nordic questionnaire was distributed among 216 nurses; 29 out of them were suffering from musculoskeletal disorders who were identified and participated as final samples in the selected corrective exercise and ergonomic interventions for 8 weeks.Findings: The most frequent musculoskeletal disorders were in the following order: lumbar disorders 64.4%, knee pain 51.4%, neck problems 48.6%, shoulder pain 43.5%, wrist disorders 40.7%, lower back pain 29.6%, foot and ankle problems 29.2%, thigh pain 24.5% and finally, elbow pain 15.3%. According to the QEC score, 89% of the tasks of nurses were in high or very high level risk. Scores of QEC in different surveillance techniques showed that among the other tasks, the highest score was allocated to patients transfer (more than 70%). In other words, with respect to the risk level, it was on the very high level and corrective exercises had to be enforced immediately. Having done exercises for eight weeks and ergonomic interventions, patients found a significant improvement in lumbar, shoulder, neck and wrist/hand disorders (P<0.05); i.e.,, neck (63.3%), lumbar (50%), shoulder (61.5%) and wrist pains (55.5%) were relieved.Conclusion: In conclusion, the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the nurses studied was relatively high. The corrective exercises applied for nurses reduced the severity and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Then, correction of patients transfer and improving conditions to move up patients are recommended.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate short-term application of nutritional education program based on the BASNEF Model on the elderly people with type-2 diabetes.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 100 diabetic elders (³60 years) were chosen who were divided into intervention and control groups, randomly. Data of control and intervention groups were collected at baseline and after three months of follow-up. The intervention consisted of four educational sessions, each one for 70 minutes. Finally, data were analyzed using chi-square, t-test and paired t-test.Findings: After implementing educational programs, mean score of all aspects of BASNEF Model (knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, enabling factors) in the experimental group had significant difference in comparison with the control group (P<0.001). Also, HbA1c (P<0.001), FBS (P<0.001), TG (P<0.001) and LDL (p=0.02) improved significantly in the experimental group.Conclusion: BASNEF-based nutritional education led to improved knowledge and attitude of diabetic elders and improved indices of metabolic outcomes during a 3-month intervention.

Background: Several studies showed the relationship of obesity and overweight with body mass index. According to these studies, because of severe complications of obesity and overweight we wanted to indicate the outbreak rate of obesity and overweight in the certain group of veterans.Methods: This study was cross-sectional in design. The numbers of subjects was 106 individuals in Isfahan city. Anthropometric data and medical history were collected and handled with SPSS 10 statistical software.Findings: The mean and standard deviation of anthropometric indices were as follow: height, 168.39±8.04 cm, weight, 78.75±13.44 kg, body mass index, 27.98±4.68 Kg/m2, mid-arm circumference, 33.19±4.12 cm, calf circumference, 31.96±7.38 cm, mid-arm muscle circumference, 27.34±11.02 cm, biceps skinfold, 12.10±5.47 mm, triceps skinfold, 16.35±6.08 mm, scapular skinfold, 30.17±8.10 mm, suprailiac skinfold, 32.62±7.33 mm, total fat, 89.13±24.16 mm.Conclusion: According to the findings, more than half of the study population were obese and overweight, however spinal cord injured patients with the same body mass index had excessive fat mass compared to other veterans. The main reason is sedentary life style but, additional investigations with larger samples size are encouraged.

Background: The food hygiene and its distributing places are very important. Tourists go to the places that provide them with enough assurance, trust and security. In this situation, providing proper services and appliances like food distributing places with appropriate environmental health condition is effective in attracting their interest. The objective of this research is evaluating the environmental hygiene of the restaurants and hotels dining areas in the central tourist area of Isfahan city that attracts many tourists every year.Methods: This research was descriptive and the non- probable purposive sampling method was used. The environmental health inspection reports of the restaurants and hotels dining areas covered by Khajoo and 16 Malek health and treatment centres during 2008 and 2009, were collected and summarized, then was descriptively analyzed by SPSS 15 and Excel software 2007.Pictures of Isfahan were produced using Google Earth and Corel Draw software, and then were analyzed by Arcview 2.0 software according to the environmental health information.Findings: The Research area covers 26 units, which 17 of (65 %) are covered by 16 Malek and 9 (35 %) by Khajoo.65 % of the units are restaurant and 35% hotels dining areas. Average visit number to each unit in the whole area, 16 Malek and Khajoo in two years were 11.41, 12.07 and 10.25 visits respectively, this number for the year 1 and 2 was 6 & 5.32 and for the restaurants and hotels were equal to 11.77 and 10.89 respectively.Conclusion: Environmental health status of year 2oo8, in Khajoo area and in hotels was better than that in year 2009, in 16 Malek area and the restaurants respectively. The environmental health condition in 2 units (9 %) were in level 1 (Excellent), 10 units (45 %) in level 2 (Good), 8 units in level 3 (moderate) and 2 units in level 4 (Poor).