Payesh
Year:2003 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:9

Objective(s): To develop an analysis of the adolescents' perceptions of health related issues. Material & Methods: A qualitative study was carried out to investigate on adolescent(s) perception on health. To collect data a sample of 52 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years living in Tehran were interviewed on several health related issues. Then, a content analysis was performed.Results: Several topics were emerged indicating that adolescents believed that having a healthy community, social and cultural facilities, mental health and a healthy family are the most important health perquisites. Also they said were unemployment, social limitations and inappropriate education were the most important barriers that contributed to reduced health status in adolescents.Conclusion: The findings suggest that to improve health for young age groups there is an urgent need to recognize issues that are important to adolescents.

Objective(s): To study the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression and its relationship with duration of infertility in Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran, Iran.Material & Methods: Using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Cattle Inventory, 370 infertile women with different reasons of infertility in Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research Center were screened for the relationship of anxiety and depression with duration of infertility. The age of the subjects ranged from 17 to 45 years and duration of infertility of the subjects ranged from 1 to 20 years.Results: Depression and anxiety was reported by 40.8% and 86.6% respectively. Significant difference found between depression and reasons of infertility, duration of infertility and education but not with employment status. Significant difference found between anxiety and duration of infertility but not with education and reasons of infertility. Findings showed that anxiety and depression increased at 4 to 6 years of infertility especially sever depression increased at 7 to 9 years of infertility.Conclusion: The high prevalence of depression and anxiety in infertile women demands serious attention and appropriate treatment. This might lead to a better mental health and quality of life.

Objective(s): To investigate about attitudes of health professionals towards the status of cancer patient education in Iran.Material & Methods: The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer(s) questionnaire (MASCC), professional version, was used. Seventy-one health professionals (a sample of physicians and nurses) from Iranian Cancer Institute were entered into the study. Results: Most respondents (54%) said that they tell the real diagnosis to less than 20% of their patients, although they would like to tell more information to patients (85%). When respondents were asked: "What kind of information would you like to tell the patients" the majority pointed out: general information about cancer (45%) and giving pamphlets (20%). When it was asked: "What are the most barriers or reasons that limit cancer patient education?" families request not to tell the patients the truth (18%) and time limitations (16%) were the most stated barriers by the respondents.Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that cancer patient education in Iran is very poor and there is an urgent need to develop policy guidelines and educational programs regarding cancer patient education.

Objective(s): To determine iron intake, blood indices and some dietary components that affects the iron situation among adolescent girls.Material & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 336 adolescent girls. Iron intake and some effective components in diet were measured with 3 days 24 hour recall and food frequency questionnaire and blood indices determined with 10 cc sample of blood using CBC and serum ferritin. Results: The results indicated that the mean iron intake and blood indices of iron deficiency anemia were in acceptable ranges (19.6±7.8, 19.0±4.6) respectively. Although there were some inhibiting factors such as phytate and tea consumption for iron absorption but the effect of increased absorption factors such as vegetables and fruits and meat intakes were more effective.Conclusion: The situation of anemia among adolescent in this study was found to be better than the other studies in the country. Although the study subjects had good habits and behaviors in their daily food intake but planning educational programs is recommended.

Objective(s): To investigate on accuracy of axillary temperature measurement. Material & Methods: A total of 400 individuals with or without fever attending the Shariati Hospital in Tehran were entered into the study. Oral and axillary temperatures were measured and recorded for each subject. Results: There were 276 male (66.7%) and 133 female (33.3%) cases in the study. The mean age, oral and axillary temperature were 46.39 (± 17.4), 37.05 (± 0.51), 36.6 (± 0.56) respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 98% respectively at two cut off points (36.85 and 37.35 Centigrade). Conclusion: It appears that the use of axillary temperature measurement is an accurate assessment to detect or exclude fever if used appropriately.

Objective(s): To compare the attitudes of interns before and after a training course in Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Material & Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. Data were collected using an especially designed questionnaire. A sample of 100 interns filled in pretest (before the course) and posttest (after the course) questionnaires. Data were analyzed using parametric and non parametric tests.Results: There was significant difference between attitude scores pre and post testing in the expected direction (P<0.05). In order to compare the ranking of each attitude statements during the two stages the sing test was performed. All 27 statements, showed significant difference (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between male and female interns in pre and post training courses.Conclusion: The study indicated that social medicine training courses had considerable effect on interns' attitudes.

Objective(s): To determine HCV infection in hemodialysis patients in Guilan, Iran.Material & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all 298 hemodialysis patients with regard to their sex, age length of time on dialysis and previous kidney transplantation were evaluated in Guilan Province. Blood samples screened for anti HCV antibodies by a second generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA II). Positive samples were retested for confirmatory immunoblotting assay. Analysis was carried out using the Epi6 software. Results: An overall prevalence of 24.8% (95%CI: 19.9-29.7) was found, ranging from 9% to 40% depending on the dialysis unit. Of the 298 cases, 80 were found to be seropositive by ELISA and 74 were confirmed positive by Western blot assay.The relationship between sex, age and seropositive results was not significant but relationship between length of time on dialysis and history of kidney rejection with seropositive results was significant. Eleven patients had rejected kidney. Of these 7 cases were seropositive.Conclusion: These data suggest that nasocomial transmission may play a role in the spreed of HCV in the dialysis units. A separate hemodialysis system should be used for seropositive HCV patients.

This article reviews very intensive definitions of economics and its rout and evolution. Distinctions between health and goods markets then are explained and relevant areas are emphasized. Then, policy-making issues as well as management of resources, are briefly explored and the process of change and new approaches to a healthy system management, is discussed.Finally, the implications of the topic for developing countries are presented.