Journal of Research and Health
Year:2013 | Volume:3 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

There is a common view that human must be considered the centre of sustainable development in any and all fields. Many governors and decision-makers have been making their plans based on this approach. Nonetheless, it seems that in our country, the other concerns such as technology, budget and probably political considerations overshadow this essential issue, the workforce; otherwise, there would be few examples for this approach.

Myocardial infarction is the most common cause that threatens one’s life by causing disability and limitation. According to Orem’s theory, people such as a person suffering from myocardial infarction have some degrees of self-care which are shown in their behavior through using knowledge, motivation and skill. The present study aiming to determine the level of self-care, educative and supportive needs and its relevant factors was carried out based on Orem’s model on such people. In this cross sectional analytical study, 100 patients suffering from myocardial infarction in Khorasan Razavi Province, having at least one time history of hospitalization, were selected by simple random sampling method. Data were collected by using a questionnaire based on Orem’s model in various domains such as knowledge, motivation and skill and analyzed in SPSS software version 16. Based on the results, the subjects were 27 to 97 years old, 74% were male, and 72% have experienced heart attack for the first time. The level of self-care was 58% in knowledge domain, was 42% in motivation domain, and was 44% in skill domain. There was a significant relationship between sugar and blood lipid level with self-care in skill dimension and knowledge, but no significant relationship was observed between other variables and self-care level. Finally, it is concluded that the level of selfcare among patients suffering from myocardial infarction is far from the favorable level, thus more self-care training and support based on the scientific method (Orem’s model) is proposed to increase their self-care ability.

In the world, the trend of increasing water pipe smoking was more than the cigarettes. The aim of this study was to determine of effectiveness of an educational intervention based on theory of planned behavior (TPB) to reducing water pipe smoking in the male college students who were living in dormitories of Tehran Univercity of Medical in 2011. In quasi-experimental study, 90 university were selected by random sampling method. Data collection was performed by designed questionnaire based on TPB constructs and demographic variables. The participants filled out questionnaires before the intervention. Education intervention was designed according to pre-test results and performed for intervention group. Two groups were followed- up two-months after completion of intervention and filled out questionnaires again. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software, Chi- Square test, One-wayANOVA, independent-samples T test and Student’s paired-samples t test. Findings of the present study showed that there were significant differences between the mean score of attitude, behavioral intention, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control in the experiment group compared with the control group after intervention. In addition, significant reductions in the frequency of water pipe smoking were observed in the intervention group as compare to the control group. The results showed that developed educational intervention based on TPB constructs can be modified positive perceptions of college students toward water pipe smoking and also reducing of smoking it.

Beliefs about smoking are considered important predictors of smoking behavior among adolescents. The aim of the current study was to evaluate an educational program based on theory of planed behavior (TPB) at reducing intentions to smoke among adolescents. In a quasi-experimental, 150 students were selected using multistage sampling procedure from boy-specific high schools in Qazvin and were randomly assigned either experimental (n=75) or control group (n=75). A self-constructed questionnaire was administered consisting of demographic and the theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs (i.e. attitudes towards smoking, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention to smoke. The educational program was developed based on results arose from pretest and was delivered on the experimental group within four sessions. The randomization unit was the school. Both experimental and control groups were followed up after three months of educational intervention. Data was collected before and three months after the educational intervention and then inputted into SPSS-16 and were analyzed using descriptive analyses, Chi square test, Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon test and independent t-test. The educational intervention resulted in improving for attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention in the experimental group. While, in the control group, there was no significant improvement in terms of the TPB constructs. The results suggest that an intervention based on the TPB could be reduced intentions to smoke among students and to prevent smoking behaviors can bring about promising results among adolescents and preventive strategies based on the TPB can be used to designing of school based programs.

Pre-eclampsia is a common problem among pregnant women, and is associated with many complications such as preterm labor, spontaneous abortion, etc. Knowledge of how this phenomenon occurs and identifying its most common factors are essential to planning preventive measures. The present study was designed and conducted with the aim to determine the relationship between periodontal infections and pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. In this case-control study, 30 pregnant women in their 20- 40 gestational weeks, hospitalized with pre-eclampsia in of Gonabad were selected as the case group and the same number of healthy women who were matched to the women in the case group for age, number of pregnancies, and education level were selected as the control group. Both groups were referred to the dentist for dental examinations and were examined for periodontal infections. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16 software using Chi-square test. The two case and control groups were similar in terms of demographic and obstetrics parameters, but in terms of prevalence of periodontal diseases, there was a significant difference between them. Since no significant correlation was found between other studied variables and pre-eclampsia, a larger sample size is recommended for future studies.

Pre-conception care is one of the most important components of health care for women in reproductive age that seek to improve women’s health by pregnancy risk-assessment, education, and diagnostic interventions. This study aimed to assess health care providers’ knowledge, attitude and practice about preconception care. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study comprising all health care providers in the city of Khoy as the study population, selected in method (218 persons). Data were collected through a field survey using a researcher constructed questionnaire, to which 167 subjects (77%) responded. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistic and c2 tests. Findings of present study showed that physicians (63.6%), health technicians (68%), and healthcare social workers (74.6%) had moderate knowledge and Bachelors of Science in family health (66.7%) had a good knowledge about preconception care. All groups had a positive attitude toward preconception care. Practice of nearly 70% of physicians and 75% of Bachelors of Science in family health in all preconception care fields was poor, but majority of family physician project midwives (64.7%) and healthcare social workers (52.4%) had a moderate practice in this area. A significant correlation was observed between study subjects’ educational qualifications and their knowledge, attitude, and practice. Given the results obtained in this study, staff training, preparation for applicability of information, and increased sensitivity of health care providers and others involved in providing obstetrics and health services to pre-conception care appear necessary for improvement of services in this area.

Although we do not know the exact number of addict women in our country, but Ministry of Health reports show that we have a ratio of one woman per eight addict men. Our data show that, different factors are playing role at the beginning of drug abuse between women and men. This case-control study have been done on 160 randomized samples of addict women in two groups, vulnerable addict women (in prison) and addict women (without history of being in prison), in Mashhad between 2011 and 2012, respectively, in order to investigate methods and patterns of substance abuse in young addict women. The results showed that the most common methods in vulnerable addicts were inhalation and oral methods, respectively. Of them, up to 6%’s used drugs by injecting method. Considering the substances they used, the most common drug (with regards to multi-addict groups), were Cristal and methamphetamine, respectively. The less common substance was tablets, which have been abused in combination with all other drugs in all cases. The most drugs abused simultaneously, were Cristal and methamphetamine together. Also, heroin, cannabis and psychotropic tablets were far more abused in vulnerable group. The results of this study showed that a history of imprisonment was associated with a change in the method of abusing to the intra venous drug abuse. The result showed that Cristal and methamphetamine co- abuse is more common and they were the most drug abused in women.

Health is one of the most important factors affecting human ability and functions and accordingly has the key role in determination of human capital quality through manufacturing processes. During the past decades, many studies have been done to identify the various factors affecting human health. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of income distribution on life expectancy and under-5 mortality rate during 19762007- in Iran. For this purpose Johansen- Juselius co-integration approach has been used. Empirical results show that, there is a long-run convergent relationship between above-mentioned variables. Furthermore, results revealed that income inequality has negative effect on health indicators. Therefore, it could be argued that improvement in income distribution can lead to higher standards of health in Iran.

Concern about physical appearance is a psychiatric disorder. This mental preoccupation about physical appearance is a major concern of female students. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between coping styles and body dysmorphic concern in female students of Shahid Chamran University in Ahwaz. In this study, 141 female students were randomly selected from students living in dormitories, and they completed Coping Styles for Stressful Situations questionnaire and Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire. Data obtained were analyzed using statistical Pearson’s correlation and stepwise regression analysis tests in SPSS-16 software. Pearson’s correlation test results showed a significant correlation between coping styles of emotion-oriented, distraction, and preoccupation with body dysmorphic concern. Also, stepwise regression test indicated that coping styles of emotion-oriented and distraction are considered the strongest predictors of dysmorphic concern, respectively. Results obtained in this study revealed that coping styles can be important predicting factors of body dysmorphic concern. Hence, teaching students effective coping skills can help them to enhance their mental health.

The present study is a cross sectional study conducted on 268 employed women in Hamadan university of medical sciences. Census sampling was applied through visiting the various faculties of the medical sciences university in Hamadan. The data were gathered by means of a questionnaire which was divided into three sections: demographic information, BASNEF model constructs and standard International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Then data were analyzed by using statistical tests such as Chi-square,T-test and logistic regression analysis in SPSS software version 16. According to the results, 189 participants (70.5%) had light physical activity, 60 participants (22.4%) had moderate physical activity and 19 participants (7.1%) had severe physical activity. There was a significant relationship between marital status and doing physical activities. Among the BASNEF model constructs, attitude and enabling factors were found to be the most important predicting factors in doing the physical activity. Since enabling and attitude factors are the predicting factors in performing the physical activity, it seems that providing facilities and exercise equipment and offering educational programs for employed women could improve their physical activity performance.