Modern Care Journal
Year:2019 | Volume:16 | Issue:2|Papers Count:6

Background: The prevalence and the intensity of mental health problemsamong university students are increasing. Entering university may require students to change their place of residence and hence, put them at risk for mental health problems. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationships of personality traits and homesickness with mental health among dormitory students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 205 students were recruited from the dormitories of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Homesickness Questionnaire, Eysenck Personality Inventory, and Goldberg General Health Questionnaire. Data were analyzed through the stepwise multiple linear regression, Pearson correlation analysis, and independent-sample t test. Results: Married students had significantly poorer mental health than their single counterparts. The significant predictors of mental health were the two personality traits of extroversion (B =-0. 616, P = 0. 032) and neuroticism (B = 1. 44, P < 0. 001), the two homesickness dimensions of disliking the university (B = 0. 619, P < 0. 001) and attachment to home (B =-0. 346, P = 0. 002), and marital status (B = 6. 29, P = 0. 023). These five predictors explained 40% of the total variance of mental health. Conclusions: Personality traits, homesickness, and marital status affect mental health among dormitory students.

Dear Editor, A traffic accident is a serious problem globally. It is the 8th cause of death in the world for people of all ages. Based on theWorld Health Organization (WHO) global status report on road safety 2018, the number of road traffic deaths continues to rise steadily, reaching 1. 35 million in 2016 (1). Road accidents are among the leading causes of death in Iran too. There are 20% more road accidents in Iran last year than in other countries worldwide (2). Risky driving and stress-related psychological reactions can be among the causes of increased traffic accidents (3). Therefore, paying attention to traffic psychology and periodic psychological examinations of drivers, especially in the public transportation and applicants for driving licenses, can lead to a reduction in the number of traffic accidents in the long term.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder associated with impaired serum lipid and glucose levels. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the effects of zinc supplementation, yoga exercise, and zinc supplementation plus yoga exercise on serum apelin level and kidney function among women with type II diabetes mellitus. Methods: This was a four-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study. Thirty twowomenwere selected and randomly allocated to either of the following four groups: control; yoga exercise (thrice weekly for eight weeks); zinc supplementation; and zinc supplementation plus yoga exercise. Body composition, insulin resistance, and serum levels of glucose, insulin, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and apelin were measured before and after the study intervention. Data were analyzed through the one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference post hoc test at a significance level of less than 0. 05. Results: There were significant differences among the study groups concerning the serum levels of glucose (P = 0. 001), insulin (P = 0. 012), apelin (P = 0. 001), and urea nitrogen (P = 0. 02) as well as insulin resistance (P = 0. 016) after the intervention. However, groups did not significantly differ from each other concerning the serum level of creatinine (P = 0. 264). Conclusions: Eight-week yoga exercise and zinc supplementation are useful to women with type II diabetes mellitus.

Dear Editor, Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) remains a major global concern, especially in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, 1. 4 million deaths occurred among all 10. 4 million TB cases in 2016.

Background: The rate of cigarette smoking has increased among students. Smoking prevention behavior has significant relationship with health literacy. Moreover, health literacy has potential effects on the constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the predictors of health literacy based on HBM constructs for smoking prevention among university students. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2016 on 337 dormitory students recruited through one-stage cluster sampling from ShahidBeheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using the Health Literacy for Iranian Adults scale as well as a researcher-made questionnaire on students’ perceptions about smoking prevention developed based on HBM constructs. Chi-square test, Pearson correlation test, and multiple linear regression analysiswere used. SPSS software (v. 16. 0) was used to analyze the data. Results: Health literacy had significant relationships with cigarette smoking and all HBM constructs (P < 0. 05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy constructs of HBM significantly predicted 32. 9% of the total variance of health literacy(P < 0. 05). Conclusions: Health literacy is significantly related with cigarette smoking. Moreover, the significant predictors of health literacy based on HBM constructs for smoking prevention are perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy. Therefore, educational programs based on these HBM constructs can be used as an appropriate framework for developing strategies to promote health literacy and prevent cigarette smoking.

Background: Children and adolescents are the potential capitals of communities. Therefore, their physical, mental, social, and spiritual health is of great importance. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in Southern Khorasan province, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2017. Study population consisted of children and adolescents aged 6– 18 who lived in Southern Khorasan province, Iran. A sample of 1029 children and adolescents was selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) and analyzed using the SPSS software (v. 19. 0) and by conducting the Fisher’ s exact test. Results: The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents in Southern Khorasan province, Iran, was 15. 2%. The prevalence of these disorders among male and female participants was 15. 5% and 14. 8%, respectively. Moreover, the prevalence was 13. 1% in the 6-9 age group, 15. 5% in the 10-14 age group, and 17% in the 15-18 age group. In addition, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among participants who lived in urban and rural areas was 18. 9% and 6. 3%, respectively. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders were respectively separation anxiety (5. 2%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (3. 5%), generalized anxiety disorder (3%), enuresis (2. 9%), oppositional defiant disorder (2. 4%), depression, special phobias, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (1. 6%), agoraphobia (1%), and social phobia (0. 8%). Conclusions: Need-based age-appropriate mental health services are needed to promote mental health among children and adolescents.