Journal of Education and Community Health
Year:2016 | Volume:3 | Issue:2|Papers Count:8

Background and Objectives: Identifying the effective factors on oral health behaviors could have an important role in promotion of oral health in diabetic patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the assessment of cognitive-behavioral determinants of oral health in students using Pender's Health Promotion Model.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 251 subjects were selected from Azad University, Payame Noor University and Sarab Faculty of Medical Sciences by multistage random sampling in 2016. To collect data, a standard instrument was applied based on Health Promotion Model (HPM) structures. This questionnaire consisted of three parts: demographic variables, Pender’s HPM constructs items based on oral and dental health promotion, and health behavior.Results: The mean age (standard deviation) was (21.9±1.67). Oral health behaviors had statistically significant correlations with all of the HPM structures except for situational influences (r=0.048). The HPM structures were able to predict 43.6% of oral heath behaviors and 24.6% of commitment to action. Self-efficacy (b=0.342) was the strongest predictor to behavior and perceived barriers of commitment to action (b=-0.217).Conclusions: According to the results, self-efficacy was the strongest predictor of oral health behaviors and perceived barriers was the strongest predictors of commitment to action plan. Generally, based on the present study findings, HPM may be used as an appropriate framework for identifying factors and developing educational interventions, aiming at improving oral health behaviors among students.

Background and Objectives: Illness perception is an important predictor for adherence to therapeutic regimens. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between illness perception and adherence to therapeutic regimens in patients with hypertension.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two teaching hospitals in Qom, Iran. A convenience sample of 135 patients was performed in this study in 2016. Data was collected using a questionnaire which included three parts: socio-demographic and clinical variables, brief illness perception questionnaire, and Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. Descriptive and analytical analyses and linear regression analysis were performed for statistical assessment in SPSS-16.Results: The mean age of the patients was evaluated 60.4 (SD=11.21) years and 57% of them were female; 35% of patients showed higher than mean scores in adherence to therapeutic regimens. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that personal control and disease understanding were associated with more adherence to therapeutic regimens with b=0.25 and 0.22, respectively.Conclusions: According to the findings, it is to strengthen patients’ illness perceptions, especially personal control and disease understanding, as an important strategy in educational interventions in order to increase adherence to treatment.

Background and Objectives: Cervical cancer is one of the most important female reproductive system diseases. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of abnormal Pap smears of pregnant females in public health centers and hospitals of Hamadan.Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study, 36046 Pap smears of females was extracted from the records referred to government health centers affiliated to Hamadan University of Medical Sciences and Fatemiyeh Hospital Hamadan, between 2012 and 2016. After checking the resutls of Pap smear, abnormal information (605 cases) were collected and investigated. Data were then analyzed using the SPSS21- software and descriptive statistics and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).Results: The majority of females with abnormal Pap smear results (%30.4) were aged 45 to 36 years, and %48.6 of females with abnormal Pap smear had parity (1-3). From a total of 36046 cases, 605 cases of abnormal Pap smear were observed. The highest and lowest frequency of abnormal Pap smear were related to ASCUS and LSIL, at a prevalance of %78 and %1, respectively. There was a positive relationship between abnormal Pap smear results and age (P=0.037).Conclusions: The prevalence of abnormal Pap smear in Hamadan was %1.67. Malignant cervical cancer and invasive cancer risk increased with age, hence, screening and Pap smear, especially from age 35 and above, is recommended.

Background and Objectives: Attention to marital life and trying to increase the components associated with marital life has dramatically increased, since a healthy society cannot be achieved without a healthy family. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of relationships enrichment teaching on the improvement of quality of life and marital satisfaction in students at the University of Khomeini Shahr. Materials and Methods: This was a semi-experimental study with pretest post-test and control group research design. The statistical population of the study included all married females at the University of Khomeini Shahr. In order to perform the study, 32 married female students were selected through convenient sampling method and divided equally to experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in relationship enrichment teaching courses during seven 90-minute sessions and there was no intervention for the control group. The study instrument was quality of life and marital satisfaction scale. Covariance analysis was applied via the SPSS 20 software to analyze the data.Results: The data analysis revealed that there was a significant difference between quality of life and marital satisfaction of the participants, according to group membership (experimental and control groups) after adjusting the effect of pretest variables (P˂0.001).Conclusions: Considering the positive effect of relationships enrichment training on quality of life and marital satisfaction, this method could be used to increase quality of life and marital satisfaction and finally couples’ life satisfaction.

Background and Objectives: Back pain is the most common pain in pregnancy. This research aimed at exploring the influence of exercise program training on behavior change that leads to back pain prevention in pregnant females.Materials and Methods: This research was semi-experimental with pretest-post-test and control group research method, and included 120 pregnant females that referred to the Karaj Health Center. These females were selected randomly and divided to 2 groups, including control (60 persons) and intervention (60 persons). The research used 3 tools, the demographical questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and awareness and attitude questionnaire, in order to specify back pain preventive behavior. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software and appropriate tests. Data were then analyzed using SPSS 21 with the paired t test, Mann-Whitney, and Tukey tests.Results: There were significant differences between average awareness, attitude and preventive behaviors, and rate of back pain in the third trimester of pregnancy in the intervention group before and after the intervention (P<0.05). Also, there was a significant difference in the mentioned items between the intervention and control groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: This research showed that the training intervention could improve awareness, attitude, and behavior of pregnant females in back pain prevention.

Background and Objectives: Malnutrition is one of the most common health problems around the world, which effects millions of people. This study aimed at determining the effect of an educational program on nutritional behavior of female students (8- to 10-yearolds) in Chabahar, Iran.Materials and Methods: This was a semi-experimental study with before and after method. The statistical population included all 8- to 10-year-old female students of Chabahar, during year 2014. In order to perform the study, 65 female students were selected through simple sampling method and enrolled in the study. Data were collected by a questionnaire consisting of 4 parts, including demographic information and questions concerning nutrition knowledge, attitude and behavior, which was completed before the intervention, immediately, and 2 months after the last intervention. The intervention program was conducted through lectures and using multimedia equipment in three 30-minute sessions. Repeated measures and chi-square tests were applied via the SPSS-16 software to analyze the data.Results: Results showed that the mean score of students' knowledge before, immediately, and 2 months after the intervention was statistically different (P<0.05). However, attitude and behavior of the students were not significantly different (P>0.05).Conclusions: The results showed that the educational program could increase knowledge of the students after 2 months. Further research is required to show the effects of the program on attitudes and behaviors.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 6 sessions of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on fat oxidation, VO2max and body fat percentage in sedentary overweight young males.Materials and Methods: Overall, 16 inactive young males voluntarily participated in this study and were randomly divided to 2 Groups: Group A (HIIT-1) and Group B (HIIT-2). Two groups performed 3 HIIT sessions per week for 2 weeks. Group A (4 × 1 min /4 min R) and Group B (4×30s /2min R) performed maximal sprint running within a 20 m area. Respiratory gas was collected 24 hours before and after the exercise protocol in a fasting state. Independent t test and paired t test were applied using the SPSS-18 software to analyze the data.Results: Statistical analysis showed that 6 sessions of HIIT led to an increase of 43% of fatty oxidation in Group A during the exercise test; these changes were significant compared to Group B (P<0.05). Changes in weight and body fat were significant in group A (P<0.05). Also, results showed a significant increase in VO2max in Group A (5.19%) and Group B (4%).Conclusions: According to the results of this study, it appears that 6 sessions of HIIT led to improvement of fatty oxidation and store glycogen. In conclusion, it appears that HIIT, in addition to reducing body fat and increasing aerobic fitness, is a time efficient means for decreasing weight and improving oxidation capacity in sedentary overweight young males.

Background and Objectives: Tobacco smoking has increased among youth in recent years. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of educational programs on prevention of tobacco smoking among post-secondary students in Lorestan, Iran based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 126 male students were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups in Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, west of Iran. Data was collected using a questionnaire, including the TPB constructs and demographic variables. The intervention comprised four sessions, applied on the experimental group during one month. Both groups were followed for three months after the intervention. Data were then analyzed in SPSS 18 using chi-squared, independent t-test, paired t-test and McNemar.Results: After the educational intervention, significant differences were observed in average scores of attitude, subjective norms and behavioral intention, between the experimental and control groups (P<0.05). Results also showed that there was a significant difference in tobacco and hookah smoking rates between students in the experimental and control groups after performing the educational program (P<0.05).Conclusions: Implementing the TPB-directed instructional sessions resulted in preventing and decreasing tobacco smoking in the students.