Iranian Journal of Health Education and Health Promotion
Year:2018 | Volume:6 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:12

Background and Objective: Increasing academic engagement is one of the most important priorities in higher education. It seems that with the increasing use of the Internet, how to use the Internet plays an important role in the level of student academic engagement. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of “ cyberloafing” on the “ sense of happiness” and academic engagement of medical students. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study. The research sample consisted of 195 medical students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who were selected by random sampling method. The research tools included the triple scales of cyberloafing, academic engagement and happiness, which after calculating their validity and reliability, were distributed between samples and data were analyzed using structural equation model. Results: Cyberloafing has a significant and negative effect on students’ academic engagement (β =-0. 14 & t=-2. 08) and happiness (β =-0. 15 & t=-2. 85), while the feeling of happiness has a positive and significant effect on their academic engagement (β = 0. 99 & t=12. 05). Conclusion: To increase students’ s happiness and academic engagement, university authorities should direct the Internets use, and decrease their cyberloafing behavior.

Background and Objective: Women with postpartum depression have problems in executive functions especially in conceptualization, mental flexibility, initiation and design, inhibition and auditory memory. As a result, this research aimed to determine the effect of cognitive training on promotion of executive functions in women with postpartum depression. Methods: This research was a semi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design with an experimental and a control groups. The population of research included all women with postpartum depression that referred to health care centers of bushehr city in 2017 among which 40 persons were selected by available sampling method and randomly assigned to two equal groups. The experimental group took 10 sessions of 45 minutes of cognitive training. Groups were evaluated for conceptualization, mental flexibility, initiation and design, inhibition, auditory memory in pre-test and post-test stages. The data were analyzed using SPSS19 and by multivariate analysis of covariance method. Results: Results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in all five executive functions. In other words cognitive training significantly led to promote the conceptualization, mental flexibility, initiation and design, inhibition and auditory memory of women with postpartum depression (P<0/001). Conclusion: The results indicate that cognitive training can promote the rate of conceptualization, mental flexibility, initiation and design, inhibition, auditory memory of women with postpartum depression. So, counselors and therapists can use cognitive training method to promote the executive functions of mothers with postpartum depression.

Background and Objective: Excessively use of the Internet causes mental disorders and endangers the health and mental health of the individual. Therefore; this study aimed to investigate the relationship between internet addiction, social development and health behaviors in adolescents. Methods: The present study is descriptive-correlational. The statistical population is all students of high school students in Tehran during the academic year of 2016-2017 among which 350 students were selected by using cluster random sampling method. Data were collected using the Yang Internet Addiction Questionnaire, Weitzman’ s Social Development Questionnaire and standard health behaviors Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and Multivariate regression by using SPSS19. Results: The results showed that there is a significant and negative correlation between internet addiction and social development. Also there is significant and negative correlation between Internet addiction and health behaviors. The correlation between Internet addiction with a subset of personal health, nutrition, exercise, sleep and rest, and stress control are meaningful and negative (P<0. 001). By increasing the dependence on the Internet in adolescents, each of the dependent variables will decrease. Conclusion: Internet addiction in adolescents prevents social development and decreases the quality of their social relationships. Extreme use of the Internet can also have a significant impact on health behaviors caused by reducing mobility and lack of planning. Therefore checking Internet addiction in adolescents and teaching them how to manage their time is essential.

Background and Objective: Adolescence obesity and overweight is one of the most common health problems in different countries; it is also considered a factor affecting the quality of life and health. Obesity prevention and treatment strategy have the highest priority in public health. This study aimed to determine the effect of education based on health belief model on improving eating behaviors and weight control in overweight and obese high school female students of Ahvaz city in 2014-2015. Methods: This research is a pretest-posttest study with control group performed on 120 overweight and obese high school female students who were randomly assigned to two groups of control and test. The data collecting tool was the health belief model based and nutrition behaviors questionnaire that was completed twice, before and 3 months after the education. Educational intervention was performed in 6 sessions for the test group. Finally data was collected and analyzed by SPSS19 and by using paired t– test, independent t-test and Chisquare. Results: Before the intervention, the two groups had no significant difference in terms of demographic variables, mean scores of different structures of model and nutritional behavior. There were significant differences between test and control group in the levels of behavior, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived efficacy, cues to action and self – efficacy after the intervention (P<0. 05). Though no significant difference was observed in the mean score of students’ BMI and weight in both test and control group (P>0. 05). Conclusion: The findings of this study show the effect and efficiency of the health belief model in promoting nutritional behaviors and weight control of students.

Background and Objective: Investigating factors affecting the adoption of self-care behaviors in diabetic patients is necessary, especially by using a model that would identify and reinforce the factors affecting behavior. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictor factors associated with self-care behaviors among type2 diabetic patients by using social cognitive theory. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study 320 patients with type2 diabetes mellitus were selected based on multistage random sampling. The data collection tools were a demographic researcher-made questionnaire based on the cognitive social model constructs-the validity and reliability of the questionnaires were calculated-and the standard self-care questionnaire for diabetes. After data collection, data were analyzed using independent t-test, one – way ANOVA and spearman’ s correlation coefficient in SPSS21 at a significance level of 0. 05. Results: According to the findings, Outcome Expectation(r =0. 263, P<0. 05), Outcome Values(r =0. 151, P<0. 05), Self-Efficacy (r =0. 350, P<0. 05, Barrier Efficacy (r =0. 432, P<0. 05), the Environmental (r =0. 173, P<0. 05), Observation Learning (r =0. 416, P<0. 05), Understanding the Situation (r =0. 251, P<0. 05), Self-Regulation (r =0. 462, P<0. 05) and Emotional Coping (r =0. 374, P<0. 05) variables were positive correlated with self-care behaviors. Also, Emotional Coping variable was the most predictive variable (Beta=0. 283). Conclusion: To maintain and improve the health of diabetic patients, social cognitive theory can be used to design and implement educational interventions for the self-care of diabetic patients.

Background and Objective: Considering the prevalence of obesity, it is important to examine the factors that affect it. Recent study investigated the relationship among brain-behavioral systems, impulsivity, alexithymia, cognitive emotion regulation (adaptive and maladaptive) and eating behaviors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The statistical population consisted of women and men with overweight and obesity referring to health centers, and sports clubs of Tehran in autumn and winter of 2016-2017, selected by convenient sampling, 500 of them were selected. The data were collected through the Duct behavior questionnaire, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Measurement of Inhibition / Behavioral Activation Systems, Barrett-11’ s impulsiveness and Toronto’ s alexithymia. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in SPSS21 and AMOS software. Results: Except for the regression coefficient, all direct and indirect path coefficients between adaptive cognitive emotion regulation and eating behaviors are significant (P<0. 05), and predictive variables explain 58. 6% of the variance of eating behaviors (P<0. 05). Also, the findings showed that adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation, relatively mediated the relationship between brain-behavioral systems, impulsivity, alexithymia and eating behaviors. Finally, it was determined that the model (after the modification was conducted based on statistical results and theoretical views) fit better the observed data. Conclusion: The variables of brain-behavioral systems, impulsivity, alexithymia and cognitive-emotional regulation play an important role in predicting eating behaviors in overweight and obesity patients, thus, in their efforts to prevent and treat overweight and obesity, as well as to preserve the therapeutic effects, these variables should be considered.

Background and Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effects of a training intervention program based on health belief model on adopting behaviors preventing dental caries in students. Methods: This interventional semi-experimental study was conducted on 120 fifth-grade elementary school students in Sanandaj in 2017. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect the required data including demographic information and the constructs of the health belief model. After random assignment of the participants into control and intervention groups (60 student in each group) the primary data were collected. Then, the training intervention was performed for the intervention group. Eight weeks after the intervention, the data were analyzed by SPSS 22, independent t-test, paired t-test, and ANCOVA. Results: The results showed no significant difference between intervention and control groups in most of the constructs of the model, including perceived susceptibility (P=0. 06), perceived severity (P=0. 7), perceived benefits (P =0. 6), self-efficacy (P =0. 8), and cues to action (P =0. 08). Although there was a significant difference between the two groups only in terms of perceived barriers (P=0. 001), the results of ANCOVAs showed no significant difference between two groups in terms of the mean scores of the constructs of the model. Conclusion: Our finding showed that training students in elementary schools alone cannot play a significant role in adopting preventive behaviors. Hence, it is necessary to have parents, health instructors, and teachers to cooperate in health care programs to improve the adoption of dental and oral health strategies by students.

Background and Objective: Ischemic heart disease is one of the most common cardiac diseases all over the world. Patients with ischemic heart disease encounter with multiple physical, psychological, and social stressors. The social support is one of the factors that decreases problems of patients with ischemic heart disease and enhances their adjustment power versus problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of social support in improving the health of patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods: The present study was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population included all patients over 30 years old who referred to health centers of Birjand city in 2016 and were diagnosed with ischemic heart disease by a trusted doctor. Out of this statistical population, 310 people were selected by available sampling method. The research tools used in this research included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (21) and the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (23). Data were analyzed by SPSS22 and simple linear regression test. Results: The results of the research showed that there is a significant relationship between some of the components of perceived social support (family, friends, and other important persons) with the total score of psychosocial adjustment with the disease (P< 0. 05). Conclusion: The subscales of perceived social support can predict psychosocial adjustment of patients with ischemic heart disease.

Background and Objective: Individual self-care is a kind of self-care that a person is responsible for taking care of himself, his family and others. The role of Islamic councils in advancing health policy is very important. Present research aimed to investigate the effect of empowerment of Islamic councils on the implementation of individual self-care programs. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted among the members of Rural Islamic Council of two villages of Johkhah and Behesht-Abad close to Tabas city. The empowerment program was implemented for members of the Council of Jokahah Village as an intervention group and the Behesht-abad village was considered as a control group. Two months after the intervention, the status of individual self-care program in two villages was examined and compared with before intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS17 software and single-sample T-test method. Results: The results showed that after intervention, the number of health ambassadors which had increased up to 31 people in Johkhah however the growth was up to two in Behesht-Abad. Also, in the two months after the intervention, there was no change in Behesht-Abad village, and the registered ambassadors did not perform any activities in the area, but in the village of Jokhah, ambassadors of health had a significant activity. Conclusion: Empowerment of members of Islamic councils causes the participation of people in health system programs and in particular in individual self-care programs. This increase is not just voluntary, it creates a partnership in which we see dynamic and influential activities.

Background and Objective: To establish patient safety culture, first the current status of it should be assessed. The aim of this study was to measure personnel perceptions of patient safety culture in selected University of Medical Sciences hospitals in Tehran city. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study four educational hospitals which are under supervision of University of Medical Sciences in Tehran city were selected. The sample consisted of 600 clinical and Para clinical personnel that were asked to complete the Farsi version of Hospital Survey )HSOPSC( on Patient Safety Culture. The data was analyzed using t-test for two independent samples. Results: The results showed that the highest score on two dimensions of patient safety culture included teamwork within units (62%), and frequency of event reporting (62%). While the overall understanding of patient safety (56%) and the non-responsive response to errors (58%) had the lowest score among different dimensions of the patient’ s safety culture. Score two dimensions of non-punishment response to errors and overall understanding of patient safety in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences hospitals were significantly higher than Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospital. Conclusion: Improving patient safety culture should be a priority among hospital administrators. Healthcare staff should be encouraged to report errors without fear of punitive action. It needs strong support from senior managers of the organization.

Background and Objective: “ Gender Identity” is defined as the image and emotionality that a woman or man has of themselves, as well as expectations of being a distinct and different gender. Many factors are involved in the formation of gender identity. This article aims at investigating the role of family and school interactions in promoting girls’ gender-health. Methods: This study is a qualitative study using content analysis method. The sampling of this research was purposeful sampling and continued until data saturation. 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with expert and knowledgeable individuals in the fields of psychology, education, and Islamic studies. Data analysis was performed through qualitative content analysis method, and simultaneously while interviews being done. Results: The process of data analysis led to the extraction of the 3 main elements in formation of gender identity, which included: the role of family, the role of school, and the role of school-home based interactions. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the family and school are among the most important institutions for the development of healthy gender identity, and the proper interactions between these two institutions are essential factors in formation of healthy gender identity, as it contributes to the harmonious upbringing of girls being institutionalized. The results of this paper can be used to determine the necessities and priorities of educational measures in girls’ schools, as well as to implement the guidelines of the document on the fundamental transformation of education.

Background and Objective: Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders with some mental disorder. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavior therapy on symptoms severity, quality of life and self-focused attention of patients with IBS. Methods: The study was a quasi-experimental study with pretest – posttest design with control group. Among patients who were referred to Gastroenterology Clinic in Tehran, 32 patients with IBS were selected based on convenience sampling and were randomly divided into two groups; experimental and control. Medical treatment along with cognitive-behavior therapy individually was conducted for 8 sessions in the intervention group and the control group received only medical treatment. IBS Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS), quality of life questionnaire for IBS (IBS-QOL-34) and Focus of attention questionnaire (FAQ) were completed in pretest, posttest and follow up stages by the patients and data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that there was a significant relation between symptoms severity, quality of life and self-focused attention in two groups (P<0/05). Conclusion: The results indicated Cognitive-Behavior therapy can be an effective treatment on Protective and Physical-Psychological Health Promotion in Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients. Therefore to prevent people from IBS psychological therapy and educaton is necessary.