Iranian Journal of Health Education and Health Promotion
Year:2013 | Volume:1 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Introduction: Road accident is one of the main leading causes of mortality and disability in the world. The purpose of this study was to predict the driving behaviors of truck drivers based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in Bandar Abbas.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 truck drivers in Bandar Abbas terminal in June 2013.The data were collected by a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and a questionnaire based on the TPB constructs. Multiple regression and correlation analyses were used to predict safety driving behaviors base on theory of planning behavior Results: The mean age of drivers was 38.3 (SD=9.8) years and the mean experience of driving was 13.8 (SD=9).Multiple regression analyses revealed that attitude and perceived behavioral control could predict the intention for safe driving behavior (R2=0.21, F=14, p<0.001). Drivers who had more positive attitude and more perceive behavior control were more likely to have intention toward driving safety. Furthermore, behavioral intention and perceive behavioral control predicted safety driving behaviors (R2=0.14, F=27, p<0.001). The drivers who had more intention and more perceived behavioral control were more likely to drive safety.Conclusion: Based on the results, the attitude and perceived behavioral control predicted the safety behavior; therefor it is suggested to design programs for improving attitude and perceived behavioral control of truck drivers.

Background and objective: Considering the importance of Brucellosis and its different consequences on human and animals and also its high prevalence in the city of Gilan-e Gharb, Kermanshah Province over the whole country, this study with the purpose of measuring the effects of an educational package on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on brucellosis preventive behaviors in rural population of this city conducted.Method: This study is Quasi-experimental. The sample included 174 people from rural areas of the city of Gilan-e Gharb. Subjects were randomly selected from six villages, three villages were randomly selected as case group (n=87), and another three as a control group (n=87). Data was gathered through a questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS16 through T, paired T, Mann-Whitney, and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests.Results: Mean score of knowledge, attitude and brucellosis preventive behavior after intervention increased from: 26.54+9.03, 6.11+2.05, 4.48+1.55 to 34.37+6.24, 6.86+1.73, 7.58+1.4, respectively. Also, the results showed that difference between knowledge, attitude and brucellosis preventive behavior scores between case and control groups and in case group before and after the intervention were statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study showed that the educational intervention has had a positive effect on knowledge, attitude and behavior of the rural population of Gilan-e Gharb.

Background and objective: Along with with aging problems among nations and depression as the most common mental disorder in the elderly has been growing and becoming aglobal problem of human life as a central concern in the health of the elderly. The purpose of this study to determine the impact of exercises on depression among older people.Method: In this experimental study, 48 elderly people attending day centers for the elderly were randomly selected divided into test and control groups. This study design was based on Solomon proposals. Groups had 4 weeks of regular exercises during the 16 sessions of 15- 25 minutes and control group had routine activities performed in the center. Both groups completed questionnaires assessing demographic information and depression using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (two-way ANOVA) were used to analyze the data.Results: Controlling for the impact of pre-test results of two-way ANOVA revealed significant difference between intervention and control groups in depression scores (p‹0.001) of seniors exercise program.Conclusion: This study showed regular exercise is effective in reducing depression among the elderly. Thus it is expected that regular exercises be used as a complementary effective measure with other current treatments and low complications as a non-drug treatment of depression.

Background and objective: There is a strong positive correlation between the onset of smoking in adolescents and young adults, and exposure to media and movies which shown consumption of smoking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the views of the people of Yazd, Iran on the impact of visual media on the prevention and incidence of smoking among adolescents and young adults.Materials and methods: This was a descriptive (crosssectional) study. Participants were 582 individuals living in the city of Yazd. The self administrative questionnaire was used which validity and reliability was measured. After completing the questionnaires, the data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 16.Results: Based on participants’ view role of family, friends and media respectively were more important in the tendency of adolescents and young adults smoking users. Almost 80% of subjects showed that influence of smoking in the media on a positive attitude towards tobacco smoking among adolescents and young people was very high. More than 55% of participants confirmed that the lack of smoking in movies doesn’t affect the quality of films.Conclusion: The present study suggest control and monitoring on media, limitation or lack of smoking on media and films is an important factor to decreasing and control of smoking in adolescents and young adults.

Background and objective: Safety in the oil refining companies is considered as an important issue. These companies consider improving the safety culture as their main priorities. This study aimed to assess the safety culture of an oil refinery with the use of Geller model.Methods: According to Geller model, which is composed of three main dimensions, questionnaire and the Checklists were prepared. After a pilot study and descriptive study and estimating the reliability of checklists and questionnaires, 190 personnel were selected for sample group. There was a performance assessment of the staff’s performance along with the questionnaires filled by staffs. The environmental assessment was completed by checklists. Data from questionnaire and the checklists were transferred to the database. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS15 through Chi Square and Pearson Tests.Results: The mean age was 35.46 years with SD=10.68.Most of the personnel under study were married (70.50%); most of them had diploma (62.1%). Based on the view of the staff, 29.5% of them in their work life had a job-related accident. They also had a medium attitude and relatively good performance. Using Pearson test, There was a significant relationship between employees’ perception and their performance (p=0.009).Conclusion: Although there was a significant relationship between staff perception and performance with kind of employment, work unit, work type, & education, which in most cases due to obeying standard safety rules, had good performance, staff had a weak attitude in relation to applying safety rules. It seems that we need to work on this issue so that safety and applying safety rules become a value at work.

Background and objective: Imagining the world without computers is getting harder and harder every day. They play an important role in scientific improvement and public access to information. Children and youngsters who use computers in the virtual world are exposed to the dangers of this virtual world. The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between playing computer games with aggression among middle school students.Methods: This descriptive and analytical study used 360 of girl and boy students of middle school in Rasht who had been selected with multiphase sampling. The tool of the research was a questionnaire with three sections including demographic information, the information related to the position of playing computer games and Data were analyzed using SPSS software through analytical statistics (T test, analysis of Variance test).Results: There was a significant relationship between accompany of friend in playing computer games with physical aggression and with increasing playing action games and playing with friends the amount of aggression increases (p<0.05). There was a significant relationship between the duration of the hours of playing computer games with verbal and physical aggression (p<0.05).Conclusion: The contents of computer games and their playing duration is very important. The additional use of computers can cause serious mental problems. The proper use of these devices needs to be taught to students and their families.

Background: Postgraduate education is positioned at the intersection of research and education were the most outstanding scholars sharing their knowledge, research findings and skills. Little has been done to study the impact of teaching approaches on the level of students’ learning.This study aimed to explore the views, experiences and perceptions of Iranian post-graduate students and their lecturers of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) about learning and teaching practices.Methods: The informants were recruited purposefully and voluntarily. They were post-graduate students and their lecturers employed in TUMS. Data reached its saturation with25 participants. We used participatory observation and focused group discussions were the main methods of data collection. Participationary observance in classrooms and focused interviews with students and lecturers were used to gather data. Content analysis based on Graham model were used for analyzing the data.Results: Our findings extracted into three main themes: characteristics, student expectations, & the Lecturers› interaction between lecturers and students.Conclusion: The findings suggest that teaching approaches need to be revised and reformed in order to promote and fulfill students› learning needs.

Background and objective: The reason behind many psychological problems is that there is no meaning in life.This study aimed to determine the relationship between meaning in life with depression, anxiety and stress status among college students of Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) in 2013.Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 222 college students living in dormitories at IUMS completed a questionnaire consisting demographic characteristics, depression, anxiety, and stress and meaning in life scales.The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS18 through the independent-samples t, Pearson correlation and Oneway ANOVA tests.Findings: The mean age of the participants was 23 (±3.6) years.50.5% of students had some degrees of depression; 30.9% had some degrees of stress, and 73% had anxiety to some degree (mild to extremely severe). The results showed that the average score of anxiety was significantly related to meaning in life (p=0.04). Also, there were significant associations between the mean scores of depression, anxiety and stress among students (p>0.05).Conclusion: Meaning in life is a factor influencing the college students, anxiety. In the psychological counseling, logotherapy methods can improve the meaning in life and mental health of college students.