Health and Development Journal
Year:2012 | Volume:1 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among females. Breast selfexamination leads to early diagnosis and better prognosis of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education on the sustainability of breast self-examination practice among health care volunteers in Kerman, Iran.Methods: This experimental study included all female health care volunteers of Baghodrat Health Center, Kerman, Iran (n=35). A checklist was used to monitor their practice of breast self-examination before and after the first, second, and third stages of education. Dunnett’s test and related samples analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the collected data.Results: Scores of practicing breast self-examination were significantly different before and after education (P<0.001). In other words, education was beneficial and increased the scores. After two years, the scores were still significantly higher than before education.Conclusion: Education has a significantly positive and sustained effect on the practice of breast self-examination.

Background: Neoplasms of the parotid glands are rare and constitute 3-4% of all head and neck tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of parotid surgeries at the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department of Shafa Hospital, Kerman, Iran.Methods: In a cross-sectional study from March 2006 until March 2011, all patients who had had parotidectomy at Shafa Hospital (n=47) were included. Their tumor type, pathology, age, gender, type of surgery, and early surgery complications were evaluated.Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.1 years and 20 of them (42.6%) were male. Seven cases (14.9%) had malignant tumors and 37 (78.7%) had benign tumors. Total and subtotal parotidectomy were performed for 21.3% and 78.7% of the patients, respectively. Early complications of surgery were detected in eight cases (17.0%), i.e. four cases (8.5%) had facial paralysis, three patients (6.4%) had hematoma, and one individual (2.1%) had an infection. Malignancy was not significantly related with either age or gender.Conclusion: The prevalence of benign and malignant tumors and complications of surgery in this center was similar to other national and international studies. Systematic data collection and appropriate databases should be established to increase accuracy and reduce errors in similar research.

Background: Low compliance with drugs regimens in diabetic patients is one of the greatest challenges in the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate compliance with medical orders in diabetic patients referred to the Endocrinology Clinic of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran.Methods: In this cross sectional study 345 of the 3000 patients, who visited the Endocrinology Clinic and had medical records, were chosen randomly in 2010. Information including demographic characteristics and variables about the disease and treatment of diabetes were collected. Lab tests including FBS and HbA1c were done.Results: 74.6% of patients had good compliance (90% and more). Compliance, in educated patients and those who visited their physician with an interval of more than 3 months, was better than others (P<0.05). The mean of FBS and HbA1c were respectively 143±54.2 and 7.4±1.3 in good compliance and 172.8±72.2 and 8.1±1.7 in the bad compliance group. Both differences were statistically significant.Conclusion: This study shows that educated patients have higher compliance, and less educated patients are at higher risk and need more support and surveillance for glycemic control. We suggest that more studies be undertaken on the different factors related to diabetic patients’ compliance.

Background: Assessment of policies and determining their challenges are necessary to improve and reform health systems. Family physician and rural insurance policies have been the second important phase of changes in health services provided in Iranian villages and towns with populations under 20, 000. This study aimed to identify the challenges of implementing these policies in Kerman Province, Iran.Methods: This qualitative study was carried out in 2010 through semi-structured focus group discussions and document reviews. Purposive sampling was used to select 10 policy executives from Kerman University of Medical Sciences and Medical Insurance Organization and family physicians. Data from the focus groups and document reviews was analyzed by content analysis.Results: The challenges were categorized into seven main groups including improper motivation initiatives, inadequate educational effectiveness, poor comprehensiveness in instructions and arrangements, deficient per capita resources, low efficacy of health information management systems, lack of a suitable referral chain, and inadequate cultural infrastructure.Conclusion: The success of every policy depends on periodical assessments of its implementation challenges. Considering the expansion of family physician policy in larger urban areas, more attention should be paid by the national and local authorities to eliminate the identified barriers and constraints.

Background: Waiting time indicates the feasibility of access to medical services and can be measured as a performance indicator. Long waiting times prohibit the provision of good services, waste patients’ time, and jeopardise patient satisfaction. Therefore, patients’ satisfaction from waiting time plays a significant role in quality assurance and management.Methods: In this qualitative study, 12 secretaries and 12 physicians were selected purposefully. Data was collected through focus groups and analyzed by qualitative methods.Results: Cultural weakness, lack of integrated appointment systems, public unawareness, and difficulties in access were among the problems listed for private practice in Kerman, Iran. Physicians’ delay and people’s wrong beliefs were other barrieres. The best method of appointment fixing in Kerman seems to be a combination of both the Internet and the interactive voice response.Conclusion: Developing an appropriate appointment fixing method, informing patients, and obliging all offices to use this method can alleviate the problems related to appointment times in Kerman.

Background: The ABO blood types are thought to affect the roots of human behavior and act as a predictor of individuals’ personality. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between personality factors and the ABO blood group.Methods: This cross-sectional study used quota, convenience sampling to select 160 students from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran). The Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) was used to determine the subjects’ personality traits. Blood type of the participants was confirmed based on official documents. The collected data was analyzed using chi-square test in SPSS16.Results: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of personality traits between different blood types or the two genders. In other words, prevalence of personality traits was not significantly related with either ABO blood types or gender.Conclusion: According to the controversial and inconsistent results from different sources, ABO blood types do not seem to have significant associations with personality traits.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common types of occupational injuries. They are also a major cause of workers’ disability. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among the assembly workers of an electronic factory in Nishabur, Iran.Methods: This descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted on 61 workers. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire was used to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders. Working postures were also recorded by photography and observation and evaluated by the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) method. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS18.Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the wrist (33.0%), neck (21.3%), and waist (21.3%) was more than other parts of the body. The results of posture assessment in 32 groups of workers in the assembly saloon showed that 3.3% and 96.7% of the working postures needed first and second priority corrections, respectively. Weight and work history were significantly related with most disorders.Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in workers with short work experience, appropriate education and management are required to prevent the increased prevalence of these disorders in the future.

Background: Cesarean section is a surgery to deliver a baby and remove the placenta and membranes through an incision made on the mother’s abdomen and uterus. While the rate of cesarean section is 10-30% of all deliveries in the world, it is 50-65% in Iran. The aim of this study was to identify factors leading to cesarean section in Bam, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 mothers who visited the Women’s Pregnancy Clinic in Bam were enrolled from October 2010 to October 2011. Data was collected by interviewing the women and reviewing their health records. The collected data was analyzed using t-test, chi-square test and logistic regression analysis in SPSS15.Results: Overall, 59% of the deliveries were performed through cesarean sections. There were significant relations between cesarean section and a history of cesarean section, mother’s gestational diabetes, parents’ education level, nonreactive nonstress test, cephalopelvic disproportion, high maternal body mass index, and fear of vaginal delivery.Conclusion: Although cesarean section can save mothers and neonates in emergency situations, non-medical factors such as higher education of parents and mothers’ fear of vaginal delivery are also responsible for high rates of this surgery. However, more research in this field is warranted.