RELIGION AND HEALTH
Year:2018 | Volume:6 | Issue:1 |Papers Count:8

Background and Purpose: Continuous evaluation of the functions of Islamic Knowledge courses is critical in responding to the needs of students and transfer of Islamic values. Therefore, the present study was carried out to examine the students' attitude toward Islamic courses in Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in the academic year of 2015-2016.Materials and Methods: In this quantitative descriptive-analytical study, according to the Morgan’s table, 352 subjects were selected by random stratified sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose Cronbach’s alpha reliability was estimated at 0.874. Data were analyzed in SPSS, version 16, using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and ANOVA.Results: Considering mean scores in each domain as a cut-off point, 58% and 42% of the students were satisfied and dissatisfied with the content of Islamic Knowledge courses, respectively; in the domain related to professors’ performance, 77.4% and 22.6% of the students were satisfied and dissatisfied, respectively. Further, in the domain of educational environment, 67.8% and 32.2% of the students were satisfied and dissatisfied, respectively. In general, the obtained data indicated the students’ positive attitude towards the performance of the three domains, particularly the professors’ performance domain.Conclusion: In this study, students had a positive attitude towards the content, performance of professors, and educational environment of Islamic Knowledge courses. Continuous and periodic assessments must be conducted to improve students’ views regarding the drawbacks of these courses.

Background and Purpose: Defense mechanisms are solutions that people choose to reduce stress. It seems that religion can affect individuals’ functioning and reactions. Thus, we investigated the role of religious orientation in the use of defense mechanisms in medical students of Gonabad University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: In this analytic cross-sectional study, 213 students from different grades and subjects in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences in 2014 were selected using the multi-stage sampling method. The data were collected using Allport's Religious Orientation Questionnaire and defense mechanisms. To analyze the data, Spearman correlation coefficient, independent t-test, and ANOVA were run in SPSS, version 19.Results: Results showed a significant positive correlation between external religious orientation and defense mechanisms (r=0.43, P<0.001).However, there was no significant correlation between intrinsic religious orientation and defense mechanisms (r=0.2, P=0.009). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between external religious orientation and all components of defense mechanisms, except for intellectualization (P=0.606) and denial (P=0.296). Finally, a significant positive correlation between internal religious orientation and intellectualization (P=0.001) and a significant negative correlation between internal religious orientation and fancying (P=0.019) were found.Conclusion: According to our results, religious orientation can affect certain types of defense mechanisms and improve mental health of students. Thus, authorities should address the need for familiarization of students with appropriate psychological mechanisms and emphasize the role of religion in their plannings.

Background and Purpose: Ethics is an integral part of medical and nursing professions, and care in pediatric ward is different from other wardsdue to patients’ age and sensitivity of their medical conditions. Therefore, we aimed to compare the severity of moral distress among nurses working in pediatric wards and pediatric intensive care units.Materials and Methods: This descriptive comparative study was performed in 111 nurses working in pediatric wards and pediatric intensive care units of selected hospitals affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, in 2017. Data were collected using a demographic checklist and Corley’s Moral Distress Scale. To analyze the data, we used descriptive statistics and inferential tests such as Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis.Results: In this study, moral distress severity in 75% of the nurses in pediatric wards was low, and in 25%, it was at a moderate level. In 58.8% of pediatric intensive care unit nurses, the severity of this condition was low, and in 41.2%, it was moderate. In other words, the average severity of moral distress in the pediatric ward nurses was 37.48, and in the pediatric intensive care unit nurses, it was 58.02. The comparison of severity of moral distress among nurses working in these two wards showed a significant difference (P<0.005).Conclusion: The results indicate a higher moral distress level in pediatric intensive care unit nurses than in nurses of pediatric wards. Therefore, professional ethics education planners are suggested to develop professional ethics workshops based on the needs and religious ethics and using advice from Islamic experts.

Background and Purpose: Chronic diseases such as heart failure could disrupt mental, physical, and spiritual health. Religious practices such as prayer enhance spiritual energy and create positive attitude in patients. We aimed to investigate the effects of prayer on spiritual health of patients with chronic heart failure.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 140 patients with chronic heart failure who were hospitalized in cardiology ward of 22 Bahman Hospital of Neyshabour, Iran, in 2015. The data collection tools included Palutzian and Ellison spiritual health questionnaire and Meraviglia's prayer frequency questionnaire. To analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistical tests (i.e., Chi-square tests, Pearson correlation coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis test, and linear regression) were run in SPSS, version 16.Results: The results showed a significant direct relationship between prayer and spiritual health (P<0.0001, r=-0.63). There was also a significant relationship between the age, frequency of prayer, previous prayer experience, and attitude toward prayer (P<0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between gender, frequency of prayer, previous prayer experience, and attitude towards praying (P<0.06). The results of this study showed an inverse correlation between educational level, frequency of prayers, previous prayer experience, and attitude toward prayer (P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant positive association between marital status, frequency of prayer, previous prayer experience, and attitude toward prayer (P<0.0001).Conclusion: The findings indicate that spirituality originates from both beliefs and experiences of the individual. If a person merely holds some beliefs with no experiences, then they would lack many physical and mental benefits of spirituality. The role of prayer in patients with chronic illnesses is undeniable, and it could be beneficial in the maintenance of spiritual health and in effective defiance against diseases.

Background and Purpose: Given the role of religious teachings in the health and education of students as created and qualified workforce, the investigation of the sources of these teachings is a matter of paramount importance. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to investigate the source of religious teachings in students of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (MAZUMS), Sari, Iran.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 160 students studying at all faculties of MAZUMS in 2016. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 20) using inferential statistics, including Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests.Results: According to the results, family played the role of the first, second, third, and fourth source of information in 92.5%, 4.4%, 1.9%, and 1.3% of the students, respectively. In addition, mosques were the first, second, third, and fourth sources of information for 1.3%, 21.3%, 18.1%, and 58.8% of the participants, respectively. The results of the Fisher's exact test showed that the ratio of choosing an information source for religious teachings in the second, third, and fourth priorities considerably varied across different colleges (P<0.05).Conclusion: As the findings indicated, 92.5% and 58.8% of the students considered family and mosque as the first sources of information for religious teachings, respectively. Consequently, it is necessary for the families to make proper plans targeted toward making religious sites, such as mosques, more attractive for the younger generation.

Background and Purpose: The importance of paying attention to mosques, as sacred places, and the emphasis of Islam on its hygiene is clear. Overlooking this issue leads to the dissemination of pathogens and endangers the health of people visiting these places. In this study, we aimed to investigate the environmental health status of mosques in Sari, Iran, with respect to personal health, tools and equipment, as well as construction status.Materials and Methods: The information of each mosque was recorded in a questionnaire comprised of 45 variables, and each response was allocated a percentage. Overall, 50 mosques were randomly selected in 2016. After collecting hygiene information, data were entered into Excel software and analyzed using descriptive cross-sectional statistical methods.Results: Overall, 42.9%, 26.7%, and 30.4% of the mosques had undesirable, desirable, and moderate health statuses, respectively. In terms of construction, 13.5% of the mosques lacked the variables under investigation. In this regard, 53.7%, 25.6%, and 7.2% of the mosques were in desirable, moderate, and unfavorable conditions, respectively. In terms of tools and equipment, 9.7% of the mosques did not have the variables under study, and 48.8%, 32.8%, and 8.7% of the mosques were in desirable, moderate, and unfavorable conditions, respectively.Conclusion: The obtained findings indicate the poor individual health status of mosques, which is very important for the health of the people using them. The health status of mosques in Sari city in terms of tools and equipment and construction was moderate. Generally, the health status of mosques in Sari city was lower than expected.

Background and Purpose: Academic procrastination is an issue of fundamental importance among students. Regarding this, the purpose of this research was to predict academic procrastination based on religious orientation and communication technology overuse among the students of Islamic Azad University of Azadshahr, Iran.Materials and Methods: This correlational study was conducted on 343 students of Islamic Azad university of Azadshahr, selected by means of the cluster sampling technique. The data were collected using the demographic form, Religious Orientation Scale by Alport and Roth (1950), Cell-phone Overuse Scale by Jenaro (2007), and Academic Procrastination Questionnaire by Savari (2011). Data analysis was performed in SPSS 19 software.Results: The results showed that external religious orientation and communication technology overuse predicted 18% of academic procrastination.Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it seems that academic procrastination could be decreased with suitable training and change of religious orientation, as well as the normal use of communication technology.

In Islamic ideology, nutrition impacts man's body, mind, and faith. In Islamic resources, there are many propositions regarding food, nutrition and food technology, which could be considered as the basis of designing processes and food systems to develop a superior brand named as Tayyib food on a national and international scale. This paper reviews and analyzes the opinion of Islam on Tayyib food, the necessity of standardization of Tayyib food, determination of Tayyib food indicators, and comparison of the obtained indicators with Halal, organic, and functional food standards. Halal brand is the result of converting the Islamic criteria in the context of foods to food products and standards. Deeper analysis of religious propositions directs us to the higher presumptions, using which leads to the formation of a superior food brand, named as Tayyib brand with a quality far higher than the Halal brand. Holy Quran offers the highest standards for food hygiene and safety entitled as Tayyib to reach all aspects of quality in terms of cleanliness, health, safety, and nutrients. The implementation of such standards depends on precise realization of Quran, knowledge of modern sciences, education, promotion of the culture of Halal and Tayyib, as well as the implementation of safety and quality assurance systems.