Journal of Education and Community Health
Year:2018 | Volume:5 | Issue:2 (18) |Papers Count:9

Background and Objective: Pediculosis capitis (Head lice) is a worldwide parasitic infection that often occurs in nurseries and school with poor hygiene. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of educational program based on protection motivation theory (PMT) on the promotion of preventive behaviors against pediculosis in female elementary school students. Materials and Methods: The present randomized controlled trial was conducted in Neyshabur in 2015. Sixty female students in the fifth grade were randomly selected, using randomized cluster sampling. They were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. A standard questionnaire was designed and administered based on socio-demographic characteristics and PMT constructs. An educational intervention was, then, designed based on focus group discussions and role-playing method during the educational program consisting of two sessions (each taking 50 minutes), held for the experimental group. Independent and paired t-test, Pearson’ s correlation coefficient, chi-square, mann-whitney, and Wilcoxon tests were conducted by SPSS 16 software to analyze the data. Results: There was no statistically significant differences between the two groups before the intervention (p>0. 05). After the intervention, the mean scores of the perceived vulnerability, perceived intervention, response efficiency, self-efficacy, cost response, and protection motivation after intervention were significantly improved in the experimental group (p<0. 05), but there was no significant difference in the mean scores of the PMT constructs in the control group (p>0. 05). Conclusion: PMT-based intervention program is effective in promoting preventive behaviors against pediculosis on female elementary school students.

Background and Objective: Smoking has various socio-economic consequences and is related with social support. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the association between smoking and social support from families, friends, and significant others in adults. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted between 2014 and 2016 in the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) on 1068 adults. Perceived social support was assessed, using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The data were analyzed by SPSS 20, using Chi-square and Mann Whitney tests as well as and binary regression method. Results: The mean age of the participants was 49. 9± 15. 0 years and 59. 4% of them were female; 0. 9. 2% of the participants were smokers and most smokers were male (76. 5%). Non-smokers reported higher scores in perceived social support from family (p=0. 040) and significant others (p=0. 036) compared to smokers. After moderating the intervening factors, smokers were more likely to report low perceived social support from family 2. 04 times more than their non-smoker counterparts (95%CI: 1. 11-3. 73; p<0. 05). Conclusion: Smokers are more likely to report low perceived social support from family compared to non-smokers.

Background and Objective: Adolescence is one of the most important periods of life, in which the lifestyle is formed and established. On the other hand, the use of appropriate amounts of fruits and vegetables in daily diet is one of the important strategies for preventing illness and promoting health, especially during adolescence. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating barriers and strategies of fruit and vegetable consumption in high school students. Participants and Methods: This qualitative study was conducted, using a semi-structured questionnaire in a focused group discussion among high school students (male and female) in Snandaj in 2017. The participants included 20 females and 16 males, who participated in 4 group discussions in the high schools. All group discussions were recorded, analyzed, and categorized immediately after completion. Due to the similarity of the propositions extracted from the group discussions with the Pen-3 pattern, this model was used for analysis. Results: The concepts extracted based on the model were categorized in six sections including positive and negative perceptions, positive and negative enablers, and positive and negative amplifiers. Some of the findings of the present study were low nutritional knowledge, beliefs and values, the impact of peers, the role of parents, the media, and access. Conclusion: Adolescent barriers to the consumption of fruits and vegetables are not merely dependent on the person themselves and are influenced by external factors. Therefore, in designing interventions to improve the consumption of fruits and vegetables, all effective factors should be addressed.

Background and Objective: Considering the increase in smoking among university students and the effect of health literacy on the adoption of preventive behaviors, this study aimed at determining the effect of educational intervention on health literacy and adoption of smoking preventive behaviors among students. Materials and Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental interventional study that was conducted in 2016 among dormitory students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. In this study, 130 students (65 in each intervention and control group) were selected, using random multi-stages sampling method and entered the study. Educational intervention was performed using Telegram application and educational messages were sent to the students of the intervention group in 6 sessions. The data gathering tools were demographic and background characteristics questionnaire, Health Literacy for Iranian Adults (HELIA), and smoking preventive behavior questionnaire, which were completed in 3 stages including before, immediately, and 3 months after the intervention. The data were collected and analyzed, using SPSS 16 software. Results: Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between demographic and background variables, underlying level of health literacy, and adoption of preventive behaviors in both groups (p>0. 05). After the intervention, the mean scores of health literacy and adoption of smoking preventive behaviors increased significantly in experimental group compared to control group (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Educational intervention through Telegram application is effective in promoting health literacy and the adoption of smoking preventive behaviors among university students.

Background and Objective: Communication skills are one of the factors that may affect the general health of the students. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between communication skills and general health of nursing students. Instruments and Methods: This analytical-descriptive cross sectional study was carried on 320 undergraduate nursing students in Hamadan University in 2017. The students were selected by stratified random sampling method. The data gathering tools were Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Gerabek’ s communication skills, which were completed by the students through self-administration method. Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Spearman correlation coefficient, multiple linear regression model and SPSS 16 software were used. Results: Most of the students (75%) had a weak general health with a mean score of 29. 71± 8. 68. There was a negative correlation between communication skills and general health (r=-0. 33, p<0. 05). Also, general health had a significant relationship with all aspects of communication skills, except for the dimension of decisiveness (p<0. 05). Communication skills had a significant relationship with most aspects of general health, except social function (p<0. 001). There was no correlation between demographic variables and communication skills (p<0. 05). Moreover, the students, whose mothers had a governmental job or were housewives, had a better score of general health (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Communication skills affect mental health, including reduction of physical symptoms, anxiety and sleep disorders, social dysfunction, and depression.

Background and Objective: High-risk behaviors in addicts are one of the most important risk factors for the health of the community. Regarding the negative consequences of insecure sexual behaviors in addicts, this study aimed at investigating the effect of educational program based on the theory of planned behavior on increasing the safe sexual behaviors among addicts covered by addiction treatment centers. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in two stages in 2017 among addicts covered by private addiction treatment centers in Shiraz. At first, a descriptive-analytic and cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the factors related to safe sexual behaviors based on the theory of planned behavior on 200 addicts covered by addiction treatment centers in Shiraz. At this stage, the sampling method was random cluster sampling. In the second stage, a semi-experimental interventional study was performed on 100 addicts (50 people in experimental group and 50 people in control group), who participated in two educational sessions. In this stage, the samples were selected by simple random sampling. Data gathering tools consisted of questionnaire containing demographic information and the theory of planned behavior constructs. After coding, data analysis was performed, using SPSS 22 software by statistical tests such as logistic regression, paired t-test, independent t-test, Chi-square, and McNemar’ s tests. Results: After educational intervention, the mean scores of all planned behavior structures (attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and safe sexual behaviors) in the intervention group significantly increased (p<0. 001). These changes were not significant in the control group (p>0. 05). Conclusion: Implementation of educational programs to encourage safe sexual behaviors based on the theory of planned behavior increases safe behavior of addicted people.

Background and Objective: Today, third wave therapy in psychotherapy, instead of a challenge with cognition, emphasizes the awareness and acceptance of emotions, cognition, and behaviors. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of group psychotherapy based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the degree of difficulties emotion regulation and distress tolerance of substance abusers. Materials and Methods: This research, which was conducted in 2017-18, was quasi-experimental and a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with the control group were used. The statistical population of this study is all abusers of materials referring to addiction treatment centers in Kermanshah. The sample consisted of 40 people, who were selected by convenience sampling method. They were divided into experimental (n=20) and control group (n=20 ACT was performed on the experimental group for 10 sessions. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scales and distress tolerance were completed in 3 stages including before intervention, after the intervention, and follow-up 3 months later by all participants. The data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS 20. Results: There was a significant difference in the difficulty in emotional regulation and distress tolerance after intervention between the experimental and control groups (p<0. 01). There was also a significant difference between the mean scores of difficulty in emotional regulation and distress tolerance before, after intervention, and follow-up in the experimental group (p<0. 001). Conclusion: ACT has a significant effect on reducing the difficulty in emotional regulation and increasing the distress tolerance of abusers.

Background and Objective: Nowadays, the use of digital devices such as televisions, DVDs, smartphones, tablets, and computer games is increasing among children. The present study was conducted with the aim of understanding the potential effects of the use of media in children. Instruments and Methods: In the present systematic review, domestic and International articles investigating the effect of using digital devices on children's health were examined (International articles published from 2007 to 2017). This study was conducted in accordance with the Publishing Requirements for Industry Standard Metadata (PRISM) guidelines. After the screening, by attention to the articles outcome variables, results in 3 categories including physical, cognitive, social-emotional-behavioral effects were analyzed and deduced. Results: The extreme use of media is associated with increased risk of overweight and obesity, changes in food habits and the pattern of sleep, structural changes in the brain, motor and language delays, weaknesses in the vocabulary domain, verbal intelligence and executive functions, emotional, communicative, social, and behavioral problems. Conclusion: Due to the adverse effects of digital devices on the health of children, the use of digital devices should be limited and parents. Parents should enrich the child's environment with social, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral stimuli by creating a lifestyle that is full of human interaction so that the children will be less inclined towards digital devices, thus preventing the harmful effects of using digital devices.

Introduction: Corruption is one of the major obstacles to achieving progress and development in the communities and countries. Hence, understanding the phenomenon of corruption, types, and measurement parameters and negative consequences of corruption in various aspects of political, administrative, social, and economic fields may help strategies to fight with corruption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to present the definition of corruption, types, and its political, social, cultural, and administrative consequences. This study was carried out, using a documentary and library method in 2018. In this study, definitions and various categories of corruption, the general outlook of the concept of corruption and its various types, and its consequences from different aspects and relying on social health were discussed. Conclusion: Corruption has consequences such as waste of national resources, weakening incentives, preventing competition growth, increasing transaction costs, poverty, poor health, low life expectancy, unequal distribution of income and wealth, inappropriate use of domestic and foreign resources, and lack of possibility of institutional reform. Given the wide-ranging outcomes and consequences of corruption in regard of political, social, and economic in society, it is recommended to adopt efficient strategies to combat with corruption and prevent its spreads