SADRA MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL
Year:2015 | Volume:3 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background: Determination of the correct working length is one of the main factors that lead to success in root canal therapy. This laboratory study aimed to compare the accuracy of conventional (F, E-speed) radiography and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) digital radiography in working length measurement.Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, access cavities were prepared in 40 extracted maxillary central incisors with straight and single canals. Size 15 K-file was introduced into the each canal until it was appeared through the apical foramen. The file was then removed and measured by a digital caliper with precision of 0.01 mm. Actual working length was considered 1 mm less than the measurement showed by the caliper (Gold standard). At the next stage, each tooth together with its related K-file was positioned in a dried skull and then, periapical conventional and digital radiographies were taken with parallel technique. All the radiographs were measured by two radiologists. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test.Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between conventional and digital radiographies regarding working length measurement (P>0.05). Conventional and digital radiographies demonstrated significantly higher scores of working length measurement compared to the Gold standard (P<0.001).Conclusion: Although CMOS had no significant superiority over conventional radiography, if both techniques are available, using CMOS is recommended due to significant reduction of radiation dose.

Background: Each organization aims at responding to external costumers’ needs and fulfills its responsibilities by internal ones. Thus, satisfaction with services can be an appropriate index for assessment of services quality. This study aimed to evaluate outpatients’ satisfaction with specialized clinics affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2014.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the outpatients referred to Motahhari and Imam Reza clinics, Shiraz from the beginning of July to the end of August 2014. A total of 714 patients were selected through quota sampling. The study data were collected using a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software, version 16 and were analyzed using ANOVA and independent t-test.Results: The mean of patients’ satisfaction with the services provided at Motahhari and Imam Reza clinics was 3.03+0.65, which was above the average level. Besides, the lowest and highest means of patients’ satisfaction were related to medical records ward and physicians, respectively. Moreover, the mean of patient satisfaction was significantly related to sex (P<0.001) and type of clinic (P=0.003).Conclusion: The study findings indicated that level of satisfaction with services provided at the two study clinics was above the average level. Considering the existing short comings, steps should be taken towards appropriate planning to eliminate weaknesses and improve the present situation.

Background: High level of self-awareness together with emotional intelligence enables nurses to have more self-confidence and be more respectful among patients by providing more optimal care. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and general health among nurses working in the hospitals of Ilam province.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conduct on all the nurses (N=335) working in 12treatment centers and hospitals of Ilam province selected through census method in 2014. The study data were gathered using Sieberia Shrink’s questionnaire and 28-item Goldberg’s questionnaire. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software, version 18 and were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient, t-test, and one-way ANOVA.Results: The mean age of the nurses was 34.48±16.8 years. Besides, their mean score of general health was 90.28±14.17, indicating somewhat desirable status. Their mean score of emotional intelligence was also 32.53±5.43, representing desirable status. The results revealed a significant correlation between general health and emotional intelligence (r=-0.40, P<0.001). Moreover, general health was significantly associated with age (P=0.01), gender (P=0.03), marital status (P=0.02), and emotional intelligence dimensions (P<0.05).Conclusions: The findings of this study showed a relationship between general health and emotional intelligence. Hence, improvement of the factors affecting emotional intelligence through development of plans for training emotional intelligence components and providing the ground for enhancing nurses’ emotional intelligence can directly affect their general health.

Introduction: The prevalence of mental disorders is 3-4 folds higher among prisoners compared to normal individuals. In Iran, the prevalence of these disorders is 25-30% in the general population and 52-87.5% in prisons. The present study aimed to examine the effects of Michael Frey's cognitive group therapy method on reduction of the symptoms of anxiety and depression among prisoners.Method: In this quasi-experimental research with pre-post-test design and a control group, the research community included all the male prisoners. Among these prisoners, 30ones with moderate to severe anxiety and depression scores were selected and randomly divided into a control and an intervention group each containing 15 subjects. The study data were collected using Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory in the pre-test and post-test. Then, the data were analyzed using ANCOVA.Results: The results showed that depression scores of the intervention and control groups were respectively 38.46 and 37.06 in the pre-test and 17.60 and 36.93 in the post-test. Besides, the mean scores of anxiety in the intervention and the control group were respectively 41.40 and 40.33 in the pre-test and 17 and 37.80 in the post-test.Conclusion: The results showed that cognitive group therapy could improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression among the prisoners. Therefore, Michael Frey's cognitive group therapy is suggested to be used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression among prisoners.

Background: Diabetic foot is considered as an important issue among diabetic patients requiring further investigation. This study aimed to determine the diabetic foot status among the patients referred to special clinics for diabetes in Sabzevar in 2013.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the patients referred to a special clinic for diabetes in Sabzevar. To collect the data, a questionnaire was developed based on the extended parallel process model that acts as the main theoretical framework of behavior change. After confirming the reliability and validity of the questionnaire, it was completed by 400 patients. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software and analyzed using chi-square and t-test.Results: The patients’ mean score of knowledge was 50.8+17.95 indicating moderate knowledge level. Besides, their mean score of perceived sensitivity of the risk of diabetic foot and its outcomes was 67+12.79, their mean score of perceived efficacy of the suggested strategies regarding observing health issues was72.1+14.04, and their mean score of perceived severity of risk of diabetic foot was 60.9+17.42. Finally, the mean scores of self-control and self-efficacy were 69.8+14.4 and 73.4+15.43, respectively. The results showed a significant relationship between the patients’ age and the mean score of knowledge, perceived severity of the disease, and perceived efficiency of the recommended strategies. Also, a significant correlation was found between perceived severity and sex as well as between job classification and self-care.Conclusion: This study showed that the patients had moderate knowledge regarding diabetic foot and its consequences. Their perceived severity of diabetic foot was also at moderate level. Therefore, interventions based on the extended parallel process model are recommended to increase such patients’ perceived severity of diabetic foot.

Background: Men’s involvement in reproductive health programs is one of the most important principles in reproductive health and the important goals of reproductive health will not be achieved without their involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the viewpoints of men participating in a family planning educational program in this regard.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 104 men referring to Fayaz Bakhsh health center, Gonabad, Iran to participate in premarital counseling. The subjects were selected through convenience sampling. They were required to complete a questionnaire evaluating their viewpoints about family planning and the training session. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 19.Results: Most of the participants (46.6%) referred to necessity of family planning programs and 65.5% of them believed that they had much information about family planning. The sources of information about family planning were books and CDs in 53% of the samples. Moreover, 48.1% of the participants mentioned the high quality of the training session and 69% of them reported that this session was highly effective in increasing their information about family planning. Furthermore, 59% of the subjects believed that this session would improve their relationships with their spouses and 64%of them indicated that the contents of this session were moderately applicable for beginning of marital life.Conclusion: According to the findings, the majority of the men declared the effectiveness of this session in increasing their information about family planning as well as their need for more sessions and privet counseling. Thus, health centers are recommended to increase the number of training sessions and also prepare a suitable place for privet family planning counseling.

Verdict extraction method and responding to the problems of a field of science is undertaken by the methodology of the same science. Various methodologies have been presented in order to explain medical ethics in the European and American universities, one of which being the experimental method. At the time, the considerable question is that “could this method be used in medical ethics methodology in Islam?” Explanation of this method and its position to extract and presume the considered verdicts and laws from viewpoint of Islam have been analyzed in this article. In this library, descriptive study, efforts were made to clarify the role of experimental method in medical ethics methodology after explaining this method and determining its position in extraction of medical laws and verdicts. The study results showed that methodology in experimental science is based on elements, such as observation, classification of discussing tasks and accidents, theory, experience, and induction. Although this method is useful and meets some human demands, it is not able to provide its ideals in the field of medical ethics, which is responsible to explain the dos and don’ts of the field of medicine. However, in case the findings of this methodology could be proved by rational reasoning, it will have a role in medical ethics methodology. According to the current study findings, medical ethics methodology in Islam is based on resources, such as Quran, tradition, wisdom, and unanimity. Therefore, only the experimental method findings, which have been rationally proved, will be useful in this methodology. Experimental methodology could also be used to specify the verdicts in medical ethics.

Proper physical development is one of the reliable criteria for evaluation of children’s health status, especially in the first two years of life. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between mother’s general health and growth of below-6-month-old infants referred to health centers of west of Ahvaz. This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study was performed on mothers of 200infantsunder 6months old who had referred to health centers in west of Ahvaz. The study data were collected using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, version 15. The results indicated that the mean score of the mothers’ general health was 13.52. Besides, 54% of the mothers (N=107) were mentally healthy, while 46% (N=93) had mental disorders. Moreover, mean scores of anxiety and insomnia (4.2) and social function (3.54) were higher compared to other indicators of general health. The results showed a significant relationship between mothers’ mental health status and infants’ weight and head circumference at birth and two months of age. Besides, a significant correlation was found between mothers’ education level and head circumference growth trend. Also, mothers’ age and economic status were significantly associated with infants’ weight gain and head circumference growth trends. The study results indicated that maternal risk factors, such as age, mental status, and education level could play an important role in infants’ growth. Therefore, identifying other risk factors and focusing on their reduction in health programs are necessary to guarantee community’s health.